Hiona beach
Chiona is located 91 km east of Agios Nikolaos and 22km east of Sitia, 2km east of the small town of Palekastro. It is a nice sandy beach with whitish sand and shallow blue water. The beach is not too long but is renowned for its beauty and serenity.
Chiona means carob storehouse in the Cretan dialect and is taken after the storehouses that were usually built next to the Cretan beaches in order to transfer carobs with ships; roads were almost absent. Indeed the area was known for trading carobs.
Here you can have a perfect day, especially if you combine your visit to Chiona with eating at the famous local fish taverns. The beach is slightly organized (near the taverns) but there are some tamarisk trees along the coast, offering shade. East of the main beach, there are several small coves, where you can find a quiet place to swim alone and nude. The first sandy beach is called Bondalaki and is an amazing beach. maybe the best in the entire area.
Opposite Chiona you will see the small island of Grandes. Moreover, in the position of Roussolakkos, just next to the beach, you can visit the remains of an ancient Minoan port and settlement. North of Chiona, you will meet the long beach of Kouremenos, the most famous spot for windsurfing in Crete. Moreover, you can walk to the top of the hill Kastri on the west end of the beach, where you'll meet the ruins of an old fort and have amazing views of the sea.
