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Travel Destination Guide - Kalives
Kalives (Crete, Greece) 
Kalives Information
Slideshow of Photos
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Kalives is a real village, not just a tourist invention and this is part of the charm of the place. The countryside around Kalives is one of the greenest in Crete and the backdrop of the White Mountains is beautiful.
Measuring ¾ ml by 500 yds and comprising 1 narrow main street with a few minor side streets, the village is largely untouched by commercial tourism, with locals (totalling around 3,000 residents) still gathering at the tavernas near the church, close to the river.
The pace is slow and relaxed, with an air of traditional village life and an agricultural focus.
The area caters for the mature couples, nature-lovers, walkers and those seeking traditional village life. There is 1 hotel, a few low-key apartment and studio blocks; rooms for rent in local houses.
Locality:
Kalives is on the north west coast, on Souda Bay, 10 mls SE of Chania, 13 mls S of Chania airport, 75 mls W of Heraklion and its airport. It is at the coastal end of a small, fertile river valley with rocky hills either side. Hugging the shoreline, with spectacular views of the sea to the north and the snow-capped White Mountains, which rise behind the village.
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There is a good sandy beach, 600 yds long, with clear waters; the best swimming is close to the sheltered harbour.
For shopping the central street provides all the basics, such as a chemist, post office, bank, laundry, a couple of supermarkets, clothes, jewellery and souvenir shops; all fairly low-key.
Daytime activities consist of mainly beach, windsurfing and walks. The nightlife offers a dozen or so local tavernas with pleasant street terraces, plus a few lively bars in the side streets.
For food the tavernas offer a good range of local Cretan dishes, plus fresh seafood and a modest selection of international dishes; the local hotel offers more sophisticated dining beside the attractive river.
Kalives Suitability ProfileSun Snow Beaches History/Culture Romance Peace & Quiet Hustle & Bustle | Activity & Adventure Famous Landmarks Water Sports Natural Beauty Art & Architecture Family Entertainment Good Nightlife | Safari Plenty of Restaurants All Inclusive Hotels Luxury Accommodation Plenty of Shops |
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Population: 10.668.400
Languages: Greek 99% (official), English, French
Currency: euro
Currency code: EUR
Local Times:
Greece - Athens
Country Dialling Code: +30
Voltage: 220V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
   
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Greece appeals to different types of tourist, and very few could fail to find somewhere to suit their taste. From bustling Athens to blindingly bright islands, ancient fragments abound - the belly button of the cosmos at Delphi, fallen columns galore on the sacred island of Delos, frescoed Minoan palaces on Crete and even, quite possibly, the remnants of Atlantis at Santorini. Greeks are fierce guardians of tradition, but that doesn't mean they don't know how to have fun. In addition, hot sun and limpid seas conspire to make Greece a perfect place to relax. Whether you're supping in a beachside taverna , sipping coffee in a shady plateia or disco-dancing till dawn.
The Olympic Games were spawned in ancient classical Greece, along with democracy and the fundamentals of philosophy, science and mathematics. Modern Greece is better known as a great place to vacation rather than a centre of learning and culture. Today the country attracts by offering simple pleasures: delicious food at reasonable prices, local wine, beautiful beaches, sunshine, quaint villages, a seemingly endless lacework of coastline and little islands full of scenic surprises.
The country exudes traditional charm, particularly on its ever-popular islands, which cling to their stereotypical architecture and way of life despite being often over-run by tourists. Black-clad women still deliver vegetables to island tavernas on panniered donkeys, while bronzed, lined fishermen sit in the sun, drink thick coffee, and play dominoes or dice. The tourist infrastructure has intruded in many respects, but the timeless aspect of whitewashed buildings clustered on hillsides around narrow pebbled alleys has been retained. The myriad islands in the Aegean Sea are easily accessible from Piraeus, the historic harbour of Greece's mainland capital, Athens, by ferry or hydrofoil, offering a unique chance for 'island-hopping'. Many of the larger islands also have airports with connections to Athens or seasonally with major European cities.
On the mainland the city of Athens in the south is sprawling, overcrowded and polluted but nevertheless enthralls visitors, while Thessaloniki in the north is vibrant and modern with a Byzantine flavour. Athens is dominated by its major landmark, the Parthenon: the remains of other wonders of the ancient Greek classical world are to be found mainly on the Peloponnese Peninsula, south of Corinth, the gateway to a veritable treasure trove of history.
Greece and Greeks welcome with open arms the thousands of visitors that flock to admire their national assets every year - no-one leaves without having been warmed, both by the sun and the hospitality. |
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Local Area Weather
Heraklion, GREECE |
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19°C
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