Ammoudara - Heraklion, Crete

Ammoudara is a beach resort about 5 kilometres west of Heraklion, the capital of Crete, on one of the longest sandy beaches of the north coast. Hotels, apartments, tavernas and beach bars line the seafront road behind the sand, and locals from Heraklion come here to swim too.

The resort is a practical base for sightseeing, because Heraklion town, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum and the Palace of Knossos are all a short drive or bus ride away. Ammoudara Beach has toilets, showers, a lifeguard station, sunbeds and some water sports, and our guide to accessible beaches in Crete covers its walkways and ramps.

Accommodation in Ammoudara

Ammoudara has a wide choice of accommodation, from large beach hotels to smaller hotels, apartments, studios and rooms.

Apollonia Beach Resort

Apollonia Beach Resort is a large beach hotel in Ammoudara with its own stretch of beach. It has an indoor pool, 2 outdoor pools, a children's pool with slides, a children's play area and 2 floodlit tennis courts. The spa centre includes a gym, sauna and hammam, and the restaurants include a Greek taverna, an Italian à la carte restaurant and an Asian restaurant. A bus stop right outside the hotel makes trips along the coast and into Heraklion easy.

Poseidon Hotel

Poseidon Hotel is an apartment hotel 6 km west of Heraklion and 300 m from Ammoudara beach. Its 33 apartments each have a kitchen, bathroom, air conditioning and balcony, and the hotel has a swimming pool with a bar, a restaurant and parking. A bus stop and taxi rank sit outside the entrance.

Ammoudara Restaurants

Ammoudara's restaurants include several that cook modern Cretan food from local produce, alongside the beach tavernas on the seafront.

• Murelo Cretan Cuisine serves Cretan dishes with creative touches, and diners often mention its octopus.
• Thigaterra, on Andrea Papandreou Avenue, follows slow food principles, with seasonal vegetable dishes, Cretan wines and a list of olive oils.
• Ethimo Cretan Gastronomy, also on Andrea Papandreou Avenue, bases its menu on traditional Cretan and Mediterranean cooking with fresh local ingredients and herbs.

Places to Visit Near Ammoudara

Ammoudara is close to the main sights of central Crete, most of them within half an hour by car or bus.

• Palace of Knossos: the most famous Minoan site on the island, linked in legend with King Minos and the Minotaur.
• Heraklion Archaeological Museum: the main collection of Minoan finds, including the Phaistos Disc and the frescoes from Knossos.
• Heraklion's Venetian harbour and Koules Fortress: a walk along the harbour wall to the fortress, with waterside cafes and fishing boats.
• Archanes and Peza: wine villages in the hills south of Heraklion, where several wineries welcome visitors for tastings.

Further afield are 3 good day trips by car. They are the Monastery of Arkadi, the Minoan palace of Phaistos and the mountain village of Zaros.

Beaches Near Ammoudara

The coast west and east of Ammoudara has smaller, quieter beaches within a short drive.

• Agia Pelagia: a sheltered bay west of Ammoudara, popular with locals and visitors, with calm water for swimming and snorkelling and seafront tavernas serving fish and meze. Our Agia Pelagia guide covers the village.
• Lygaria Beach: a quieter pebbly cove next to Agia Pelagia with clear water and family-run tavernas. It has a Seatrac for wheelchair users, listed as in operation on seatrac.gr in October 2026.
• Palaiokastro Beach: a more rugged beach west of Ammoudara, with cliffs and deep blue water, for a natural setting away from the crowds.
• Karteros Beach: a long sandy beach just east of Heraklion with beach bars and shallow water, popular with families. Strong winds often bring out windsurfers.

Getting Around from Ammoudara

A hire car is the easiest way to see the sights around Ammoudara, although buses run along the coast road into Heraklion. We recommend hiring a car to get the most out of a stay in Crete. Book ahead for July and August, when demand is at its peak, and choose a well-known company that includes the right insurance. Our guide to driving in Crete covers the roads and local driving habits.