10 Best Day Trips from Sitia — Beaches, Palaces & Hidden Eastern Crete Master Reference Table: Top Sitia Excursions 10 Best Things to Do Near Sitia, Crete 1. Drive from Sitia to Vai Palm Beach 2. Find Peace at Toplou Monastery 3. Step Back in Time at Zakros Palace & Kato Zakros 4. Hike the Gorge of the Dead (Zakros Gorge) 5. Escape the Crowds at Xerokambos 6. Discover the Ruins of Itanos 7. Trek to the Waterfall in Richtis Gorge 8. Relax in the Fishing Village of Mochlos 9. Explore Agios Nikolaos & Spinalonga Island 10. Sail to Chrisi Island from Ierapetra What to See in Sitia Town Itself Local Gastronomy & Wine Tasting Suggested Itineraries for Your Sitia Car Rental Vehicle Recommendations & Practical Driving Tips 10 Best Day Trips from Sitia — Beaches, Palaces & Hidden Eastern Crete Day trips from Sitia work best by car. Sitia, a town of about 10,000 in far eastern Crete, gives direct access to Vai Palm Beach, Toplou Monastery, Zakros Palace, Kato Zakros and Xerokambos, plus Itanos, Richtis Gorge, Mochlos, Agios Nikolaos, Spinalonga and Ierapetra. A rental car is usually more practical than relying on regional buses, which are infrequent and skip the best beaches and gorges entirely. Master Reference Table: Top Sitia Excursions Distance from Sitia Drive Time Road Surface Entry Fee Vai Palm Beach 17–24 km 20–30 min Natural palm forest Toplou Monastery 10–15 km 18–20 min Free / donation Monastery & organic wine Zakros Palace & Kato Zakros 36–37 km ~45 min €6 (reduced €3) 8,000 m² palace, 150 rooms Gorge of the Dead 36 km to trailhead ~45 min Paved to trailhead 12 km hike 37–45 km 1–1.25 hr Recently asphalted main access Remote beach coves ~17 km ~20 min Ancient port ruins Richtis Gorge ~12 km west ~15 min Paved to trailhead 20 m waterfall ~35 km west ~50 min Fishing village & Minoan islet Agios Nikolaos & Spinalonga ~72–80 km 1 hr 10 min–1 hr 20 min €20 + €12–15 boat Lake Voulismeni & fortress Ierapetra & Chrisi Island ~54–60 km ~1 hr €40–45 boat South-coast island trip 10 Best Things to Do Near Sitia, Crete 1. Drive from Sitia to Vai Palm Beach The Sitia to Vai Beach drive is the easiest first outing. Vai Palm Beach lies 17 to 24 km east of Sitia, the road is paved, and the drive usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. Vai Palm Beach is free, sunbeds usually cost €20 to €30 per pair, and the palm forest contains more than 5,000 endemic Phoenix theophrasti Vai Palm Beach parking fills early in July and August, so arriving before 10:00 is sensible. 2. Find Peace at Toplou Monastery Toplou Monastery sits 10 to 15 km from Sitia, and the drive usually takes 18 to 20 minutes. Toplou Monastery combines fortress architecture, religious history and a working estate known for organic wine, olive oil and raki. Toplou Monastery is generally free or donation-based and works well with Vai Palm Beach or Itanos. 3. Step Back in Time at Zakros Palace & Kato Zakros Zakros Palace is the fourth-largest Minoan palace in Crete, and Kato Zakros adds a beach stop to the same route. Zakros Palace lies about 37 km from Sitia, and the road is paved. The drive takes about 45 minutes. Zakros Palace covers around 8,000 m² with about 150 rooms and charges €6 standard or €3 reduced. Kato Zakros is the natural lunch stop after the visit. 4. Hike the Gorge of the Dead (Zakros Gorge) The Gorge of the Dead starts near Ano Zakros and finishes close to Kato Zakros. The Gorge of the Dead is a free 12 km round trip, and most walkers need 3 to 4 hours. The burial caves in the cliffs give the route real historical character. The Gorge of the Dead is best in spring or autumn, or at dawn in summer because shade is limited. 5. Escape the Crowds at Xerokambos Xerokambos is the best beach day if you want empty coves more than facilities. Xerokambos lies 37 to 45 km from Sitia, the drive usually takes 1 to 1.25 hours, and the main approach has been recently asphalted. Xerokambos has limited services, so fuel up before leaving Sitia. 6. Discover the Ruins of Itanos Itanos lies about 17 km from Sitia on the Cape Sidero side. Itanos was once a wealthy ancient port, and today the site combines ruins with clear swimming water nearby. Itanos usually costs about €2 and is an easy add-on after Vai Palm Beach. 7. Trek to the Waterfall in Richtis Gorge Richtis Gorge sits west of Sitia near Exo Mouliana. Richtis Gorge is about 12 km from town, the road to the trailhead is paved, and the hike ends at a 20 m waterfall.