Tsoutsouros combines a large sandy beach with traces of the ancient city of Inatos and a cave sanctuary. Hiking trails and scenic destinations can also be found nearby. This means that trip planning can take in both the history of the town and places to discover beyond it.
The large sandy beach is one of Tsoutsouros’s defining features. If you are looking for accommodation in town, you can first consider whether your stay will focus mainly on the coast, archaeological sites, or excursions to the surrounding area.
Roman Remains and a Cave Sanctuary
Roman settlement and cemetery remains uncovered in present-day Tsoutsouros are identified with the ancient city of Inatos. The two types of remains offer different perspectives on the area: one points to a settlement, the other to a cemetery. Together with the cave sanctuary, they make for an archaeological focus that extends beyond a single structure.
The cave sanctuary in Tsoutsouros is dedicated to Eileithyia, the goddess of fertility. This dedication gives the site a distinct religious significance alongside the Roman settlement and cemetery remains. Prianos, an archaeological site near Tsoutsouros, is also among the historical points of interest in the area.
Visits to the Cave of InatĂa Eileithyia, near Tsoutsouros, are arranged in advance with the responsible Ephorate of Antiquities. If you plan to visit, make sure to arrange this beforehand.
Beach and Scenery Nearby
In addition to Tsoutsouros’s large sandy beach, there is another coastal landscape nearby: beyond Maridaki lies a sheltered bay with two beaches. Locals call it Nisiakia; the name refers to two small rocks in the sea. The town’s sandy beach and the bay beyond Maridaki therefore differ both in location and in the landscape described.
Maridaki is a small settlement also known as Agio Panteleimonas. The bay with its two beaches lies beyond the settlement. Those interested in the surrounding area will find not only archaeological points of interest, but also named coastal places and landscapes that can be explored as destinations in their own right.
Hiking Trails and Destinations Nearby
About 30 minutes after setting out, the Tsoutsouros–Maridaki hiking trail passes through the small settlement of Maridaki. This is an approximate time; it refers to reaching the settlement along the trail, not to the duration of the entire hike.
From the previous section of the hiking trail, it is about 2.5 kilometers to Agios Nikitas Monastery, along a path and a dirt track. The monastery is set amid greenery. Both the approximate distance and the two types of trail surface are useful guides for the route.
From the previous section of the hiking trail, it is also about 2.5 kilometers to the only palm forest in the Asterousia, along a path and a dirt track. A descent through the palm forest continues to the beach of the same name, Agios Nikitas. The monastery, palm forest, and beach are distinct destinations in the nearby area; the distances given refer to the route to the monastery or the palm forest.
For planning, you can use the different guides side by side: the approximate time to Maridaki and the approximate distances for routes to the monastery and palm forest. These figures are not directly comparable. Decide which destinations matter to you and use the relevant route description for each one.
Find a Hotel in Tsoutsouros
Choose your destination based on whether you want to focus more on the coast, history, or trails through the landscape.
Discover more destinations: Dafnes, Voros, Vorizia, Episkopi, Kounavi, Timbakion, Kroussonas, Kokkinos Pirgos
Return to the main travel overview: Heraklion.
