Getting here
In the middle of south Crete
Kamilari lies in the south of the Heraklion region, roughly halfway along the island. That is its great advantage: from here most of Crete is within a day trip, and you never have to drive across the whole island to see something. Most guests fly into Heraklion and are with us in about an hour and a quarter.
- 1 h 15 from Heraklion airport
- about 3 h from Chania airport
- 15:00 arrival from
- Free parking at the house
From Heraklion airport
Heraklion (HER) is the nearest airport, 62 kilometres away. The drive takes you south across the island to the Messara plain. Allow about an hour and a quarter, a little more in summer traffic.
From Chania airport
Chania (CHQ), in the west of the island, is about 135 kilometres away. Plan on around three hours by car, with a stop on the way.
Getting around
With a car, or without one
By car. If you want to explore, a car is the easiest way. Buses don’t reach every village, and with a car Phaistos, Matala, the beaches and the mountain villages are all short drives. In summer there is more traffic on the roads, so drive with care.
Without a car. If you come to rest, walk and swim, you can manage without one. The square, the shops and the tavernas are a two-minute walk away, the Minoan tomb is a walk through the olive groves, and the beach at Kalamaki is three kilometres down the road.
By bus. Kamilari has a bus stop, with buses to the nearby villages and on to the cities. The KTEL buses between Heraklion, Moires and Matala are the main line through the Messara. Coming all the way by bus is harder than driving from the airport, but it can be done. Check the current timetable on ktelherlas.gr before you travel.
When you arrive
We meet you at our house
The apartments are ready from 15:00. Tell Irini roughly when you expect to arrive, and we will meet you at our house in the village and walk you to your apartment. Arriving late at night is no problem if we arrange it beforehand. Park for free at the house. On the day you leave, the apartment is needed again by 11:00.
From the apartments
How far is everything
- On foot Village square Supermarket, bakery, cafés, tavernas 2 min0.1 km
- On foot Kamilari tholos tomb Minoan, about 2000 BCE 30 min2 km
- By car Phaistos Minoan palace 10 min4.5 km
- By car Agia Triada 10 min5 km
- By car Kalamaki beach 10 min3.5 km
- By car Kommos Beach and Minoan harbour 10 min5.5 km
- By car Tympaki Friday market, doctors 10 min7 km
- By car Matala 15 min8 km
- By car Moires Saturday market, health centre 15 min10 km
- By car Gortyn 25 min19 km
- By car Agia Galini 30 min20 km
- By car Zaros and Votomos lake 35 min25 km
- By car Heraklion airport 1 h 1562 km
Driving times are rounded up; allow a little longer in July and August.
Everyday needs
Shops, doctors and markets
In the village. Around the square, 120 metres from the apartments, there is a supermarket that is open all year, a bakery for breakfast bread, a pharmacy, a cash machine, and several tavernas and cafés.
Doctors. There are doctors in Tympaki and in Moires, and the health centre of the area is in Moires, about fifteen minutes away. Moires also has banks and a post office. In an emergency, call 112, or 166 for an ambulance.
Markets. For fresh fruit and vegetables from the plain, go to the street market in Tympaki on Friday or in Moires on Saturday. The Moires market is said to be the biggest in Crete; when Saturday is a public holiday, it moves to Friday.