Sfakia, Crete: Practical information for visitors

All information about the region of Sfakia, Crete in general, accommodations etc. can be found through our summary page. This site contains over 360 printed pages and most information you are looking for can easily be found here.

A visa to enter Greece (and Crete) is not required for citizens of the United States, Canada, and the European Union. Citizens of all other countries should contact their nearest Greek consulate.

(Started 6 November 2006) new rules for hand luggage during flights apply!

All prices for accommodations, taxi transfers and car rentals: click here

All info about flights, ferries, local bus transport and timetables: click here

All info about taxi transfers from the airports, harbours etc. to your accommodation in Sfakia and back: click here

All info about car rentals: click here

It's not possible to rent a motor bike or scooter or bicycle in Sfakia. Most nearby is Plakias. Your accommodation manager however can arrange a motor bike for you.

How to reach our accommodations in Sfakia by road: click here

For a map of the village of Chora Sfakion: click here

Weather and climate information for Sfakia, Crete and Greece: click here

Sfakia Webcam

Currency in Crete and Greece is the Euro. Electricity is 230 V AC. Time is GMT/ UTC +2 hours.

• There are 2 money cash machines/ cash dispensers/ ATMs in Chora Sfakion, one on the village square, on the corner with the ferry pier, and another in Samaria restaurant at the boulevard. One ATM accepts at least VISA, MasterCard, Maestro and American Express cards, and you will need your card's PIN CODE. The second ATM is a general cash machine, and accepts all credit and cash cards. Bring your PIN CODE !
  (You nowadays can pretty much rely on these machines, since there are two of them, working independently with different banks and systems)
• Credit cards are not (widely) accepted in hotels, shops and restaurants. In Chora Sfakion it is also possible to cash Euros with your VISA card in 2 tourist shops. (commission can be up to 7%)
• There are no banks in Sfakia. You can change foreign non- Euro currencies and Travellers cheques in Hotel Stavris in the village of Chora Sfakion at good rates and low commission
• There is also a bank with a general ATM/ cash machine is in the village of Vrisses, one hour driving north of Sfakia, or in Plakias one hour to the east.
• In Chora Sfakion is a post office, opened on week days until 14.00 PM.

• In Chora Sfakion and Agia Roumeli is a first aid center with a doctor.
• A General Practitioner (2) can be found in Giourgoupoli.
• There is a 24 hours health center in the village of Vamos.
• Hospitals are in Chania, both private and from the government. The manager of your accommodation is always willing to help you in case of health problems. They can phone for you or take care you'll get the help you need.
• In case of serious problems an ambulance can come over from Chania.
• There is also a rescue helicopter available.
• A pharmacy can be found in Vrisses and several in Chania.
• A dentist also can be found in Vrisses and Kalives.

International telephone and fax is available for your use in all accommodations at low costs per counter click. Your own mobile phone will work while in Sfakia. You can make a choice for the networks of several providers. Please note that while in the mountains (walking or driving) your connection may get lost for a moment when a mountain or ridge gets between you and the 2 antennas in Anopoli (650m).

In Sfakia is a police station. Tourist Police operates an emergency telephone line on a 24 hour basis (just dial 171 any day, any time, from all over Greece).

The other emergency numbers that you can use in Greece:

Fire Service 199 (including search and rescue on the mountains)

Police Emergency 100

Medical and Ambulance Emergency 166

Paneuropean Emergency Service 112

Food in Sfakia: All villages have restaurants and tavernas, most of them are open from 07.00 AM until midnight. In both Chora Sfakion and Frangokastello are two supermarkets, opened until about 22.00 PM. Chora Sfakion has also a bakery and a butcher. Groceries kan be found in the supermarkets. Almost all accommodations serve breakfast.

Drinking water: it's no problem to drink the water from a tap in Sfakia. It comes from natural springs in the mountains and is of good quality and taste. To be absolutely sure there is plenty of bottled mineral or table water available at low cost. Be sure to take enough bottled water with you when you go mountain hiking!

Mountain hiking: please be sure to bring walking boots with you with ankle protection.

Maps of Crete: very detailed maps of Crete are not available, since Crete is a border region of Greece and their government forbids the making and possession of them. There are several good road maps and some hiking maps. The latter are suitable for trip planning, but are not detailed and accurate enough to rely on for serious mountain hiking. The best map we could find is from Harms Verlag, 1:100.000. They have a map for West and one for East Crete. For West Crete: ISBN 3-927468-16-9.

Nightlife in Sfakia: if you are looking for discos and night clubs, this is not the right place. There aren't any. Life in the evenings is centered around your dinner in a restaurant or taverna or on a small terrace, having a drink and meeting other guests. Usually you have good contacts with the local people and the athmosphere is very gentle. All places close around midnight.

Tips for activities you can do in Sfakia: click here.

In Chora Sfakion is no longer a public laundry. You have to go to Vrisses or Chania.

You can make an online reservation for your Sfakian accommodation here.

In case you have any further questions you can send us an email.