Palm Beach Vai
Palm Beach Vai is a sandy beach on eastern Crete known for its large natural grove of Cretan Date Palms. The beach features soft white sand, shallow turquoise water, and thousands of palm trees that line the shore and provide shade throughout the area.
The palm grove was established over 2000 years ago in a valley fed by a local river and remains the largest of its kind in Europe. The nearby Toplou Monastery, built in the 1400s, reflects the region's long history of habitation and use.
The beach takes its name from the Greek word for palm, and it has served for decades as a gathering place where people enjoy nature together and rest in the shade. The palm forest creates a green oasis that contrasts with the rocky, dry landscape surrounding it.
The beach is accessible by car or bus from Sitia and other locations, with a large parking area nearby. Facilities include toilets, showers, a canteen, and water sports rentals, though parking and service prices tend to be higher than at other spots.
A chocolate advertisement from the 1970s made this beach world-famous, though it incorrectly showed coconuts falling from the palms when they actually bear dates. This accidental publicity brought hippies and backpackers from around the world and transformed it into a popular destination.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
