Sitia is Crete’s most eastern town, 64 km from Agios Nikolaos. This small town has about 15,000 residents and welcomes a modest number of tourists yearly. The port of Sitia has ferries running to Milos, Rhodes, Kassos, Karpathos, and Piraeus. You can also see great efforts are being put to improve tourist facilities. There are hospitals, banks, and a road network that links to other cities in Crete. Before your sailing cruise in Sitia, you can visit the Archaeological Museum, exhibiting findings from many eras of history. Moreover, the Folklore Museum features beautiful costumes from the 19th and 20th centuries. You will find high-quality embroidery that was part of Crete’s traditional life. Today, Sitia does not only reflect its ancient past but stands out as a buzzing tourist hub. It is definitely a little gem in Crete you must explore with a private sailboat charter.

With a sailing trip to Sitia, you can discover some beautiful beaches along the coast. 24 km east of Sitia, you can explore Vai Beach. Near the beach, there is a natural date palm forest, also one of Europe’s largest. Just above Vai, you can swim in any of the three sandy coves of Itano Beach. On the other side of Vai, there is a long sandy beach known as Koremenos, a favorite to windsurfers from all over Europe. For a more relaxing trip, you can rent a sailboat and stop for a swim on the beach of Kato Zakos. Here you can combine your swim with a visit to the ruins of the Palace of Zakro. The fantastic deserted beaches of Xerokambos are ideal for those in search of peace. You can anchor your sailboat in the turquoise coves that form a fairytale landscape, where mountains and olive groves merge in the background.

If you are up for a little more adventure, you can rent a luxury sailboat for your cruising excursions in Sitia. Southeast of Xerokambos is the island of Koufonisis. This is where remains of Minoan and Roman dwellings have been discovered. You can also visit the small uninhabited island of Psira, west of Mochlos. For a two-day or three-day cruise, you can head to Ierapetra or the port of Agios Nikolaos. The beaches near Elounda are mesmerizing and wor. Finally, you can always hire a sailboat with a skipper from Sitia and visit islands such as Karpathos or Milos for the perfect 3-day trip.