The town of Ierapetra, with its Venetian fortress – the Kale, is known for its cultivation of greenhouse crops, as is the whole region. The southernmost town on the island, it also enjoys a warm climate that prolongs the bathing season. Four beaches are associated: West Beach, Kato/Lower Beach, that of Aghios Antonios and finally Peristeras.
West Beach
This, not surprisingly, gets its name from being located to the west end of the seaside front of the town: it runs up the Kale fortress, which is near the town’s centre. Well developed, with sand and shallow water, it gets crowded with people. At its centre is a small canal that ends in a small lake, the Nauvmachia.
The Kale, at the east end, marks the boundary between this and the Lower Beach.
Kato/Lower Beach
This starts at the Kale at its west end: it has coarse sand and quiet shallow waters. It is thus most suitable for swimming and different water-sports – such as scuba diving. Organized as well, there are nearby plenty of tavernas and cafeterias.
A little to the east again is the beach of Aghios Antonios.
Aghios Andreas
This starts by the church of Aghia Fotini at the west and stretches unbroken for 4 km. It is the biggest by far of the Ierapetra beaches: its west end is organized and known as the Plage tou Demou (the Municipal Beach). It is sandy, with small pebbles and quiet shallow waters.
East of this and at the east end of the beaches is that of Peristeras.
Peristeras
The beach at the east end of those of Ierapetra is a secluded spot: it has sand, rocks and shallow waters. A second, rockier, stretch of the same name lies to the east.
From the centre of Ierapetra town, and further east along the coast too, we can see opposite us a small island – Chrysi or Gaidouronisi. Which every summer gets a vast horde of visitors.
