Anissaras beaches
The peaceful resort of Anisaras is located 21km east of Heraklion, west to the Cape Sarandaris. The area is now full with large hotels, most of which offer all-inclusive services. In front of the hotels, there are small sandy beaches with rocky seabed. All beaches are well-organized with umbrellas and sun beds, which are mainly offered for free to the customers of the hotels.
The beaches are beautiful, but the seabed is quite rocky in many places. This makes them popular to snorkelers, but waves are a regular problem. The beach close to Analipsi, the longest in the area, is "sandier" than the rest ones. From there starts the coastal road of Anissaras, which runs along the coast and stops before the big complex of Anissaras hotels. From there the road continues with south direction and "encircles" the hotels till Cape Sarandaris. If you want to swim on the beaches shaped in front of the hotels, you will have to walk along the coast until you find the cove you like. Otherwise, you should ask permission from the hotel guards, to let you walk across the hotels.
In the easternmost point of Anisaras, on Cape Sarandaris, you will find the small chapel of St. George, which is very picturesque and has spectacular views to the wert coves of Hersonissos. You can reach it either by keeping walking eastwards from the beaches of the hotels or by driving on the road that connects Anisaras with Hersonissos. Near the cape, you will see a stonepaved footpath heading to the church.
At Anisaras you won’t find any structured settlement or village, but only dispersed hotels and holiday houses. Thus, you will not have many options for dining or getting out outside the hotel; almost everything is all-inclusive here. Do not worry, because Hersonissos is very close. Access to Anisaras by bus is however a small problem, as there is no direct route to Anisaras from Heraklion. The buses running to Hersonissos stop about 2km away from the beach and you have to call a taxi.
Some people have spread the word that Anisaras takes its name after the plant anise. However, anise never existed in the area and the name comes from a corruption of the word agisaras. Agisaros is one of the Greek names of the plant Cistus creticus (the other name is aladania) that indeed abounds in the area.
