Guide to Sissi Crete, one of the prettiest villages on the island

Crete is an absolutely stunning island, packed with beautiful beaches, breathtaking mountains and gorges and charming fishing villages. It can be hard to decide where to head first. I highly recommend a trip to Sissi, Crete which is by far one of the prettiest villages in Crete.

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Have a look at my guide to Crete for more great places to visit on the island.

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Is Sissi in Crete nice?

Absolutely! Sissi is incredibly laid back and relaxed. It’s almost impossible to feel stressed whilst taking in the beautiful bay view, white-washed buildings and a short wander around town highlights just how pretty it is. Being slightly tucked away the village feels very quiet and safe making it the perfect place for a romantic getaway or family holiday.

This is not the village to visit for hedonistic nightclubs (you can head to nearby Malia for that!) or amusement parks, more for slow days swimming in the sea, collecting stones and eating in one of the many excellent sea view restaurants.

Top things to do in Sissi

Whilst there’s not heaps to do in Sissi you’ll still find plenty to keep you entertained when you don’t fancy a full day at the beach.

The Happy Train

Sissi is in fact so very nice they even operate a happy train which will take you from the harbour and around the rest of the village. This is particularly popular with little kids. The whole route takes half a day and takes you up the nearby mountains to an ancient monastery and surrounding area and is about €20 for an adult, €13 for a child.  But you can always try the one hour route which is just €8 for an adult and €5 for a child. Just note that the Happy train does not run over the winter months.

Sissi Sunsets

You’ll absolutely want to watch a sunset during your visit, Sissi absolutely comes alive as the sun goes down with the sky turning every colour imaginable. The best views are either from the beach or up high.

Mini Golf

Surely everyone loves a game of mini golf and Sissi has a brilliant course. It has tunnels, bridges, inclines and turns offering 18 holes in all. Sissi Mini Golf is only €7.50 for a round. It also has a lovely little bar so you can even have a celebratory drink to finish.

Sissi beach, Crete

Sissi has three main beaches in town, all of which you can walk to from the town centre.

Charming Sissi Beach or Limani beach is the easiest one to get to. This is not a sandy paradise, it’s pretty rocky and basically the harbour. The shallow waters and sheltered location however make it perfect for swimming and it’s especially popular with little ones.

15 minutes walk East of Sisi is Avlaki beach, a beautiful sand and pebble beach with all the amenities you could need. If you don’t fancy walking there is a large carpark just across the road from the beach.

Boufos Beach is located to the East of the village and is a lovely sandy stretch of coast although I do suggest wearing water shoes in the sea as the rocks can be pretty sharp. It’s around a ten minute walk from town so you can easily pop back for refreshments or a break in the shade. Boufos beach is currently only open to those staying at the beachside resorts or you have to pay a fee to visit. To get round this you’ll need to walk around the rocks from Avlaki to access Boufos.

Take a boat trip

When the weather is good, nothing beats a day at sea and Sissi is a wonderful place to start a boat trip. You can try sea fishing, booze cruises or visits to deserted beaches. The sheltered harbour will make the start and end of your trip easy and simple. You can book your trip from the tourist shop in town.

Hiking

Sissi is in a fantastic location for hiking and there are plenty of trails you can follow either straight from the village or a short drive away.

For some amazing sea views you could follow the coastal path to Potamos Beach. For a longer hike you can continue on to Malia, you’ll pass a stunning archeological site on the way. There are plenty of places to refuel and rest before the trek back to Sisi.

You can can also head the other way to the sweet village of Milatos which takes about an hour. Make sure to stop for lunch at one of the many fish restaurants in town.

Restaurants in Sissi, Crete

For such a small and seemingly fairly local village, Sissi has a huge number of restaurants to try. Food all over Crete is exceptional and that absolutely holds true for Sissi. Most use seasonal ingredients sourced locally and all is freshly cooked and served with a smile. And pretty much all of them come with a view.

Taverna Amelia is one of the most popular in town serving traditional Greek food at an extremely high standard. It’s family run and consistently good value.

Paradosiako Restaurant overlooking the sea is another popular spot especially as it as plenty of parking. We tried the moussaka and it was absolutely fabulous.

Another brilliant restaurant for views is Paradise Cove which overlooks the harbour. For such a great location it’s pretty good value and again serves super fresh seafood and traditional Greek dishes.

Sissi, Crete shops

You can easily buy everything you might need in Sissi village. if you are self catering there is a reasonably sized Phaistos supermarket at the top of the road just outside of the village. You’ll also find some delightful bakeries in town selling sweet and savoury fresh goods perfect for a picnic on the beach. For everything else there are several touristy shops in town selling Cretan made goods and cheap toys for kids. I picked up some beautiful dresses and a pair of water shoes for my daughter which were both pretty good value.

Where to stay in Sissi, Crete

Vasia Resort and Spa

Top of the list has to be the 5 star Vasia Resort and Spa. This is the perfect option for relaxing with a massive spa centre and outdoor pool. You can book generously sized family rooms, some even have a private pool.

Check the best prices for the Vasia Resort and Spa

Maritimo Beach Hotel

Another beautiful option is the Maritimo Hotel, a fabulous 4 star beachside property with a kids playground and outdoor pool. It will take you just 15 minutes to walk into the centre of town.

Check the best prices for the Maritimo Beach Hotel

Castello Village Resort

This hotel is more like a village within a village. It is a series of bungalows set around an outdoor pool with various bars and restaurants.

Check the best prices for the Castello Village Resort

All inclusive Sissi, Crete

Both The Vasia Village and the Castello Village Resort offer an All Inclusive option. This is always a great choice when travelling with kids as they can order as many snacks as they like without you constantly having to find change.

If you want something really special then its worth staying a bit further out. Try the Mitsis Rinela All Inclusive Hotel, it’s just half an hours drive from the village and is absolutely fabulous! You can read my full review of the Mitsis Rinela and see heaps of photos to see just why it is so special.

If you would rather have your own space then there are plenty of rentals to choose from. Have a look on VRBO for somewhere that fits your dates.

What else is near Sissi Village Crete

Sissi is a great base from which to explore Eastern Crete and there is plenty to keep you entertained for several weeks.

Tours to Spinalonga island

Nicknamed the Island of the Dead, Spinalonga Island was a leper colony in the early 1900’s. Whilst this may seem like a rather dark place to add to your Crete Itinerary it is stunningly beautiful and a fascinating place to learn about the islands History. It is based in Elounda Bay around an hours drive from Sissi. Get Your Guide has plenty of tours to Spinalonga from various parts of the island or you can drive yourself.

Visit nearby towns

Crete has some stunning larger towns and cities. Many of which are within an hours drive of Sissi. They’re great places to soak up the atmosphere, pick up some locally produced souvenirs and discover amazing restaurants. Heraklion with it’s stunning Venetian fortress is just 45 minutes from Sissi and Agios Nikolaos with its beautiful beaches and vibrant lake is half an hour the other way.  If you don’t have a car then you can easily get the bus to Heraklion, Malia and Agios Nikolaos from town.

Slightly further away (around two and a half hours) is stunning Chania. I highly recommend this as a day trip, the town is stunning, full of history and the Venetian port is my favourite place in Crete for lunch.

Read Next: Visiting Chania with kids.

Knossos Palace

If you’re in any way interested in Greek mythology, a visit to Knossos Palace is an absolute must. Legend has it that its vibrant frescoes and towering ruins were once home to the infamous minotaur and it is thought to be one of the oldest civilisations in Europe. You can read more about our Knossos Palace visit here.

Sissi, Crete nightlife

As mentioned Sissi is not a hive of nightlife but there are still several bars to entertain you after dark.

The Jolly Roger is a great place for live music and fun themed nights such as pub quizzes and pirate nights. Drinks are good value and staff are super friendly.

If you want something to remind you of home them your could give Peggy Gordons Irish Bar a try. This is a good place to watch live sports events and take part in the karaoke nights. You can even get a decent pint of Guinness!

Skipper Cocktail Bar is one of the best places in Sissi to enjoy a cocktail and watch the sunset. The drinks are plenty strong and always great value. It seems to stay open pretty late so is a good one for the night owls.

Sissi, Crete weather

The weather in Sissi is like much of Crete, baking hot over the summer months but pretty chilly in winter. Temperatures peak at around 30 in the summer and can drop to 10 in December/January. Spring temperatures range from 20 – 25 degrees c and there is very little rain. The Autumn months are when the rains come and there can be several pretty wet days.

When we visited in April it was plenty warm enough to wear shorts and T-shirts and sit outside although the sea was a little too chilly to swim for long. Late September / early October is a great time to visit as the air is a little cooler making it less oppressive whilst the sea temperature stays nice and warm.

Car Hire Sissi, Crete

Whilst Sissi is on a pretty decent bus route, to get the full Cretan experience from your holiday you’ll probably need to hire a car. You can easily book one from the airport where there are several operators available. Have a look at Discover Cars for the best prices for your dates. Or if you would rather pick up your car in Sissi, Auto rentals Crete has its main office in town. Cars are always modern, clean and there are no hidden costs. They will even deliver your car directly to where you are staying.

How far is Sissi from an airport

Sissi village is only 45 minutes drive from Heraklion airport or just under 3 hours drive from Chania airport.

Heraklion to Sissi

To get to Sissi from Heraklion you’ll be heading East along the A90. Sissi is well sign posted off the main road. In total the journey is around 25 miles and should take around 40 minutes.

Chania to Sissi

If you heading to Sissi from Chania airport you’ll again be driving East on the A90. This is a far longer drive of 120 miles lasting over 3 hours. But it is still very straightforward.

Sissi in Crete private transfer

A private transfer is probably the most stress free way to get to Sissi. We always use Holiday Taxis to pre book our transfers meaning we never get stuck waiting in a taxi queue at an airport or relying on a hotel to find us the best price.

Summary

Sissi really will steal a piece of your heart so be sure to add it to your next Crete itinerary. I promise you wont be disappointed.

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