Anissaras Holidays

Anissaras is a place located just over twenty kilometers east from the capital Heraklion, and only one kilometer west of the nearby resort Hersonissos. Interestingly, Anissaras is not a town and not a village. It is just a vast area with several hotels, dispersed everywhere. Outside of the hotels there are no dining options or clubs and bars. However, Hersonissos is just a kilometer away where there are plenty of options for dining out and a more lively night scene. In Anissaras, July and August have average temperatures of 26 C, while the winter months are also mild and relatively warm with average temperatures of 12 C in December and January.

Accessing Anissaras

Accessing Anissaras is not very easy, because there is no direct bus line that leads to the place. Busses go straight to Hersonissos and stop a couple of kilometers away from Anissaras. Your only option is to call a taxi or walk to the place.

Hotels in Anissaras are pretty good and self-contained. There is no nightlife and no clubs in the place, which makes Anissaras ideal place for those that want to have a very quiet vacation. Most of the hotels are based on all inclusive services, so some tourists never even leave the hotel when coming to the place. However, in Anissaras you can still find a few mini-markets, car rentals and a couple of tavernas. For everything else, you need to go to the neighboring resort Hersonissos which offers everything you need. Hersonissos can be easily reached just by walking for fifteen minutes along the beach. Hersonissos also has a nice choice of nightclubs for those that want to go partying.

Anissaras Shoreline

Anissaras shoreline is mostly rocky, but there are still some artificially made sandy beaches. Beaches are equipped with loungers, sunbeds and umbrellas, and there is also a fair share of water sport facilities. On the eastern side of Anissaras you will also find a nudist beach, if that is what you are interested in. This beach is not protected from curious looks, but most of the people here do not mind it.

Exploring the Region

If you want to explore the region a little bit then you can go to the farthest eastern point of Anissaras. This place is called Cape Sarandaris, and there you can go to the small chapel dedicated to St.George. It is a very nice chapel that offers great views on the Hersonissos bay. Reaching Cape Sarandaris is easy, as there is a paved walking path that leads to the top of the cape. Besides that, you can go visit the nice traditional and quiet villages of Koutouloufari, Piskopiano and Ano Hersonissos – all located at the top of the hill near Hersonissos. In the villages there a few nice tavernas and shops that sell handmade things. Outside of Hersonissos there is a nice Lychnostatis Folk Museum where you can get familiar with the Cretan culture. Also the historical spot of Malia is just about ten kilometers away from Anissaras, where you can go and visit a large Minoan Palace.