Travel Eye on Istron (Crete)

Write a review or view peoples experiences in Istron.	Vacation Rentals & Holiday Rentals in Istron and surrounding area.	Hotels in Istron	Flights	Car Hire/Rental

Overview:

Just a 10 minute bus ride to the east of the bustling town of Agios Nikolaos, lies the village of Istron nestled invitingly in the Bay of Mirabello.

Istron refers to the beach area on the coast, named after the bay on which it is situated. It is a tiny, low-key resort, whose claim to fame is as the site of an ancient Minoan city of the same name. Nowadays little remains of its ancient heritage, apart from a small museum of local history and folklore, and such tourist accommodation and activities as there are straddle the main coast road overlooking the main beach.

The scenic coastline of the "Cretan Riviera" along the Gulf of Mirabello sweeps away in either direction. Meanwhile, life for the 800-odd inhabitants of the traditional inland villages of Kalo Horio, Pirgos and Prina remains relatively unchanged.

This resort is suitable for beach- and nature-lovers, walkers and anyone with an interest in archaeology. Popular with both young, budget-conscious families and independent mature visitors doing their own thing. Definitely not for midnight revellers.

There is a handful of hotels, but mostly self-catering apartments and rooms of reasonable standard and price.

Locality:

Istron is towards the east end of the north coast, 7 mls S of Aghios Nikolaos, 50 mls SE of Heraklion and its airport. It is nestled deep in the Gulf of Mirabello, backed by high, gently sloping hills with olive groves to the W. Fairly level terrain in the heart of the resort, but sloping seaward where 3 peninsulas form a series of coves and bays.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Here, there is three magnificent beaches including the famous Golden Beach, along with a dozen Tavernas, half a dozen Bars, Snack Bars and Cafes (including an Internet Cafe), Souvenir shops and Mini markets provide the ideal choice for holidaymakers.

Apart from these there are beautiful walks in the area, and Istro is full of archaeological interest. The new village of Istro sits on the site of the ancient town of Istrona, remains of which are still being found today. Because of this, the land closest to the sea has a conservation order and no new building may take place, which leaves the beaches uncrowded and unspoilt. The delightful beaches of Istro Bay are regularly awarded a Blue flag for cleanliness.

You can spend your days soaking up the sun by the pool, taking part in water sports on the beach or wandering through the olive groves and mountain paths. Following a short siesta you have a wide choice of eating places from the most simple traditional Greek Taverna to a more up-market Restaurant or why not have a meal delivered to your apartment so you can eat while relaxing and enjoying the view from your balcony .

After your meal you might like to stroll to a quiet Cafe or visit one of the lively Bars to join in one of the various Entertainment Nights including Karaoke, Quizzes, Films, Dancing and Family Games.
Alternatively you could just sit back, relax and sip a cocktail or beer, under the stars into the wee small hours.

Children are welcome everywhere and some Bars and Tavernas offer special Play Areas and Entertainment for kids, leaving parents free to relax and unwind. Local buses are cheap and frequent and will take you into the busier towns or to some of the tiny traditional Cretan villages where a donkey is the most popular form of transport.