Aghia Galini is on the enclosed Messara Gulf, at the border with the Heraklion Prefecture. Built on a low hill above the sea, the settlement has a small harbour and a large beach a kilometer long east of the same. The beach runs on to Kokkinos Pyrgos.
The beach here has small pebbles, sand and shallow clear water; All along the coast to the west have formed caves reachable only by boat in the main.
One cave is accessible by foot – the Cave of Daedalus: here, as myth has it, was the workshop of the great inventor, and the place from which he and his son Icaros flew away on wings of wax and feathers to escape the wrath of King Minos.
Aghia Galini beach is well set-up with sunbeds and umbrellas, with facilities for water-sports.
Where to the east the river Amarianos (or Wide .. a relative term!) runs into the sea it cools the waters considerably; it also divides the strand. Close by are the ruins of an ancient temple to Artemis. The two banks are spanned by a small iron bridge. As well as hotels, tavernas and shops available in Aghia Galini, the east part of the beach operates as an organized camping site.
If you visit the area, apart from the lure of the seashore, you can enjoy long and peaceful walks in the mountains or visit other attractions Crete has to offer. Organized tours set off from Aghia Galini for Matala, Preveli, Plakias, Frankokastello, Chora Sfakion and the Samaria Gorge, and to various archaeological sites, such as Knossos, Festos, Gortyns and Aghia Triadha.
