Stalida beach
Stalis (or Stalida) is located 30km east of Heraklion, between Malia and Hersonissos. From a small seaside village set up by the residents of Mochos, Stalis today is a popular tourist resort that is merged with Malia town. The only difference with Malia is that Stalis attracts mainly families and things here are more peaceful. The resort is very well organized, with large and small hotels, restaurants, bars, and taverns. You will also find an ATM and a pharmacy.
The heart of Stalis pounds on the 5km long coastal road, which has the most shops in the area. A walk along the beach in the afternoon is a must! Beside the seaside road lies a long sandy beach with shallow water, which extends to the east till Malia. The beach is broken into two parts by a short rocky cape. Nearby there is the Byzantine Church of Agios Ioannis, dating back to 1600. The beach of Stalis is very well organized with umbrellas, lifeguards, beach volley courts, showers, beach bars, water sports, changing rooms, and generally anything that a well-organized beach has. There is also a small colony of Cretan Date palms, one of the few in north Heraklion prefecture. Stalis can be accessed from Heraklion by the bus running to east Crete, but you will stop on the Old National Road, just 500m from the beach.
The name Stalis is taken after the Greek verb stalizo, which means stop for resting. Here, the local shepherds stopped with their flocks so as to rest or get the sheep stalled. Note that the English word stall has the same Greek origin.
For lovers of hiking, there is the Bulgarian trail that ascends to Mohos and starts from Stalis. It is named so after the Bulgarian captives that built it during the Second World War. The distance from Mohos is 5km but the trail is long, ascending, and without shade. On the road, you will pass a pedestrian bridge that crosses the highway and after a while, you will find the modern monastery of Panagia Theogenitor (Virgin Mary). In Mohos, you can walk in the small streets and drink your coffee in the big square, accompanied by the hospitable locals. If you prefer, you can walk the trail in reverse or descend another trail from Mochos to Malia.
