3 Best Sights in Vai, Crete

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We've compiled the best of the best in Vai - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

Palaikastro

A sprawling Minoan town, formerly known as Roussolakkos, is currently being excavated by archaeologists. Palaikastro is missing any Knossos-type drama; here, for instance, there is no large palace structure, but you get a strong sense of everyday life amid the stony ruins of streets, squares, and shops.

Nearby, Chiona and Kouremenos beaches make for pleasant diversions after clambering over the excavations.

Palm Beach at Vai

Even the classical Greeks recognized the beauty of this palm grove at the eastern end of the island, which is unique in Europe. It stood in for the Caribbean in a famous television commercial for a chocolate bar, and it's easy to see why. Nevertheless, the sandy stretch with nearby islets in clear turquoise water is such a stunner that many bus tours come all the way east just to show off the sand and palms, so Vai can get jammed in the summer. If the sand in front of the grove of 5,000 palms is too crowded, follow the path south over the headland to a slightly less crowded cove. Amenities: food and drink; parking (€2.50); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Xerokambos

Follow the coast south from Vai, passing through the resort of Zakros, an important harbor and commercial center of Minoan Crete, and its ruins of a palace. The drive corkscrews down to Xerokambos, less of a destination and more of a series of stunning beaches. There are a couple of tavernas, a mini-market, and not much more except idyllic white sand and nothing between yourself and Africa apart from the warm Libyan sea. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; walking.

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