Stalis is also known as Stalida

Stalis, also known as Stalida, is a beach resort on Crete's north coast, around 30 kilometres east of Heraklion town, between Hersonissos and Malia.

The beach is very long, with soft golden sand, and shelves gently, which makes it ideal for families with young children. There is a wide choice of places to stay, shop, eat and drink.

Stalis is good value, close to a lovely beach and lively at night, and it suits couples, families and groups. If you are looking for a quiet location, perhaps this is not the place for you.

We love Stalis, and we and our family have stayed here more than 20 times over the years.

Stalis serves everything from a full English breakfast all day, every day, to real Cretan dishes such as rabbit stifado and lamb kleftiko.

You'll also find cheap fast food outlets and fancy restaurants too.

You'll find cheap rooms to rent, 5-star hotels and everything in between. We can personally recommend the Filia Hotel Apartments, where 3 brothers, their wives and children all muck in to make holidaymakers feel welcomed, happy and satisfied. We'd personally recommend these apartments for families who are looking for a cheap but cheerful holiday.

We also loved the Sunshine Studios and Apartments owned and run by twin brothers.

We can also recommend the all-inclusive Blue Sea hotel on the beach. We've stayed there many times, when it was the 4-star Blue Sea Resort, and found it very good value for money. It is now the 5-star Hotel Blue Sea Beach Affiliated by Meliá.

Whenever we've stayed in Stalis we've had a brilliant time, and we're sure you will too.

Sightseeing around Stalis

Stalis is a long strip of shops, café bars, tavernas and restaurants behind the beach, with day trips to Minoan sites, museums and water parks a short drive away.

There are lots of tourist shops selling everything you could need for a beach holiday including swimwear, beach balls and lilos and buckets and spades for the kids.

The clothing shops are a good place to pick up bargains, and some are boutiques that carry designer clothing. The jewellers sell gold and silver jewellery, and in many of them the pieces are handmade by the resident goldsmith working at the rear of the shop.

Other shops sell local products like pottery and embroidered linen items, thyme infused honey, olive oil and herbs and spices.

You can hire cars, scooters and quad bikes from the many rental offices along the main road.

You can also book trips and excursions to the main sights of Crete from the travel agents in the village.

The Happy Train, a road train for tourists, runs between Stalis, Hersonissos and Malia, and also runs half-day tours up to the villages of Mochos and Krasi. It makes a lazy trip along this stretch of coast.

Take a trip up to nearby Mochos for a traditional "Greek Night" where tasty food and local wine and Raki are offered and Greek dancing takes place in the village square. Mochos is a hillside village with a few tiny tavernas, a huge church and very warm-hearted people. Take care with the local firewater – Raki – that comes free of charge at the end of your meal!

The Lychnostatis Open Air Museum, on the seafront just before Hersonissos, shows traditional Cretan village life, with old houses, crafts and gardens.

From Stalis you are within easy reach of the Minoan palace of Knossos and the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.

In nearby Malia you can visit the Minoan Palace of Malia, a short drive east.

The Acqua Plus water park, about 5 km from Hersonissos, is another good family day out. Our family loved its slides, including the Crazy River and the Black Hole, and the food was good value too.

The Cretaquarium, a large modern aquarium on the coast west of Hersonissos, is a good morning or afternoon away from the beach. We loved the sharks, stingrays and seahorses, and the little café served food and drink at reasonable prices.

Eating and Drinking in Stalis

Stalis is packed with bars, tavernas and restaurants, from Cretan tavernas to fast food, Irish pubs and Chinese and Italian restaurants.

You can find traditional Greek food in friendly tavernas such as the Efi Family Taverna. Our favourite used to be the Jannis Golden Heart, where we always ordered the fish kebab with Greek salad; the taverna at that address is now Ifalos Taverna. There are plenty of fast food outlets too, including Mary's gyros shop.

There are Mexican, Italian, Chinese and Indian restaurants too as well as British favourites such as full English or Irish breakfast, burgers and fish and chips.

No trip to Crete would be complete without tasting a Gyros - Donner Kebab.

Our favourite breakfast places are the Mythos Restaurant on the beach and, heading towards Hersonissos, Akti (now Akti Seaside Lounge & Restaurant, formerly the Akti Bar). Both serve a full British breakfast at reasonable prices, with friendly and attentive service.

For a big breakfast at a good price, try the Robin Hood. You can have their pick and mix breakfast - choosing your favourites from a wide range of eggs, bacon, sausage, tomato,  mushrooms etc. plus toast, jam and marmalade and a big mug of coffee or Tetley Tea.

Stalis has several Irish bars, including Slainte Irish Bar, the Irish House on Beach Road, Dwyers Irish Pub and the Leprechaun Irish Pub. They offer a warm Irish welcome in the heart of Stalis, with live music, sport and entertainment.

We once saw an Irish Elvis at the Irish House who thrilled the crowd Las Vegas style, with swivelling hips, a white lycra outfit and a wonderful singing voice. We loved him!

For a British pub experience, try the Britannia Inn or the Rose and Crown, or have a cocktail or two at Bar Code or the Relax Beach Bar. Our favourite bar in Stalis for a late nightcap of ouzo is the little Café Village bar, which plays 1950s and 1960s music.

For an evening meal we love both Amici, an Italian restaurant and steak house on the main street, and the Jasmine House Chinese restaurant.

For clubs and later nights, head to nearby Hersonissos or Malia, which have a much wider range of dance clubs.

Stalis Beach

Stalis beach has soft white sand and clear, shallow water, and it shelves gently, which makes it ideal for families with children. The sea can become choppy, so take care on windy days.

Water sports on the beach include jet skis, parasailing and banana boats.

The beaches along this stretch of coast are a mix of sand, good for swimming, and rocks, good for snorkelling.

More Hotels and Apartments in Stalis

Stalis has hotels and apartments for every budget, from large resorts to small family-run apartments on the beach.

Hotel Blue Sea Beach Affiliated by Meliá

Hotel Blue Sea Beach Affiliated by Meliá is a large 5-star, all-inclusive resort on Stalis beach. It is the same hotel that was called Blue Sea Resort and later Blue Sea Village. Rooms range from standard rooms with garden or sea views to suites, some with their own private pool. The hotel has buffet and à la carte restaurants, pools, a spa with an indoor pool and activities for families.

Talgo Suites

Talgo Suites (formerly Talgo Apartments) is a family-run complex right on the beach at Stalis, owned by Peter and Marianna. It offers maisonettes, studios and apartments, each with a kitchenette and a private balcony or terrace. The beachside restaurant serves Cretan dishes made with produce from nearby farms and olive oil produced by the owners.