Looking for a fun day trip on Crete? Chrissi Island is an uninhabited island with stunning white beaches that you reach after a lovely boat trip. That makes Chrissi Island a little paradise just off the coast of Crete.
We visited Chrissi during our holiday in Agios Nikolaos. From there, we booked an excursion with a boat trip of about an hour to Chrissi Island. You are dropped on the island with quite a large group of people, but it is still a fun outing during a relaxing holiday on Crete. Do not forget your towel, because you can chill on the beach here until it is time to head back.
Contents
Chrissi: the island of junipers and the golden beach
Chrissi Island has one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece (okay, many places will claim that, but at least here you find very few buildings along the coast). The famous Golden Beach has powdery white sand and crystal-clear water. The beach is exactly how you imagine it when you think of a tropical paradise. What truly makes Chrissi unique is the large juniper forest — often wrongly called a “cedar forest”. This is the largest naturally occurring Juniperus macrocarpa forest in Europe and covers about a quarter of the island (around 35 hectares). The trees are on average about 200 years old (some even older) and grow up to roughly 10 meters tall. The area is protected (Natura 2000): stay on the paths and respect closures, as the roots keep the sand and dunes together. Along the edges and paths you will find enough shady spots to sit and listen to the sea for a while, but do not expect too much shade.
Besides Golden Beach, there are other quiet spots, such as Kataprosopo Beach and Vlygadia. These beaches are much less crowded and offer a perfect place to completely unwind. Here you can swim, sunbathe and, if you bring a snorkel, look for fish in the sea.
A dive into the history of Chrissi Island
Although Chrissi is mainly known for its nature, the island also has a modest but fascinating history. As early as Minoan times, it was used for salt extraction and for producing a precious purple dye from sea mollusks. From the Roman period, remains of a cemetery have been found, indicating that the island was inhabited then or had an important function. In Byzantine times, the chapel of Agios Nikolaos was built to offer protection at sea to fishermen and sailors. The old salt pans also date from this period. Up until the last century, Chrissi was sporadically used by fishermen, but today it is primarily a protected nature reserve and a beloved day-trip destination.
How to get to Chrissi Island
Chrissi can only be reached by boat. Boats depart daily from Ierapetra to the island, but most tourists book a full-day boat trip. It is very convenient if you get picked up from your hotel! The crossing takes about an hour and is a calm experience during which you can enjoy views of the coast and the clear water. The boats are comfortable, and you can sit outside on deck, enjoy the sea breeze and the scenery. On the way, you can sometimes spot dolphins following the boats, which adds an extra magical moment to your trip.
From the harbour of Ierapetra, the island is easy to reach, but there are also boat trips to Chrissi from Makrigialos. The crossing is calm and gives you plenty of time to enjoy the views.
What to do on Chrissi Island
Once you reach the island, there is plenty to see and do. Chrissi is not big and is mainly about the beaches, but there is still a lot to discover.
- Walking among the junipers: If you love special trees, you will find many junipers here, as mentioned earlier. For the average tourist, they are simply trees that belong to a warm island landscape.
- Exploring the beaches: Golden Beach is the most famous beach on Chrissi, but there are other beautiful beaches such as Kataprosopo Beach and Vlygadia that are much quieter. These spots are ideal for a relaxed day in the sun.
- Snorkelling: The clear water around the island is perfect for snorkelling. Kataprosopo Beach is ideal if you want to discover Chrissi’s underwater world.
Practical tips for your visit
- Getting there: Boats depart daily from Ierapetra and Makrigialos. The crossing takes about an hour.
- What to bring: Do not forget to bring sunscreen, water and something to create shade. There is little shade on the island.
- Sustainable tourism: Chrissi is a protected nature reserve. Make sure you do not leave any rubbish behind and stay on the marked paths to help preserve the environment.
By the way, Chrissi Island is called an uninhabited island, but during our day trip we did spot a few tents on the island from tourists staying the night. Whether that is actually allowed, no idea. But that is why, to me, it is not completely uninhabited, haha!
Will you go on a fun boat trip too?
If you ask me, Chrissi Island is just a really fun outing during your holiday. A nice boat trip, a gorgeous beach to explore and a little break from all the buildings on the island.
Enjoy your time on Crete!
PS. During our last holiday on Crete, we stayed in Koutouloufari, a super charming Greek village full of restaurants and lovely hotels.
