 View of Matala from the rock caves | ||
| Matala | ||
| region | Crete | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 67 (2011) | |
| height | 60 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Matala is a small fishing and tourist village on the south coast Crete.
background
getting there
The transfer for tourists to Matala takes place by bus or taxi, from Heraklion the journey takes about 1 to 1.5 hours on well-developed, but mostly mountainous and winding roads.
mobility
There is a car rental company in town, and public buses take you to other towns and cities in Crete. Organized bus trips are offered to the tourist attractions (e.g. Knossos, Iráklion, Réthymnon, Samaria Gorge).
Tourist Attractions
Matala's (coarse-grained) beach is located on a picturesque bay that opens to the west into the sea and on the north side of the main attraction, the Matala rock face is limited. In this rock face there are numerous caves that were carved and inhabited in the Neolithic Age, later redesigned as burial caves by the Romans. In the seventies of the 20th century, numerous dropouts of the hippie generation rediscovered the charm of these rock dwellings and lived in them for years. Her musical role models such as Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens (Yusuf), Bob Dylan and Georg Danzer also settled in the Matala caves for some time. Today the rock is open to visitors during the day, but it is no longer allowed to live in it or even just to stay overnight.
According to legend, the beach of Matala was the place where the father of gods Zeus turned into a bull with the kidnapped Europe, the king's daughter Agenor of Phenicia, rose from the sea.
Scotty - Matala's last hippie. With a bit of luck you will discover the walking sights of Matala, Scotty, the last survivors of the flower children. A bearded owl of German descent with a very interesting résumé. Incidentally, there is also a biography of him. Just ask him about it, he'll definitely have a copy with him. Incidentally, he is considered to be the inventor of the 1960s Kaleidoscopic imagesprojected on the wall, gave some hippies an additional sense of wellbeing.
activities
Beach, swimming in the sea or in the hotel pool, strolling through the lively village center, excursions to neighboring towns or to historical sites from Minoan times, e.g. the Phaestos palace (approx. 11 km) or the temporary capital Gortis (approx. 30 km). Outside the (well-frequented) main beach (Matala Beach) there are wide and almost empty beaches: In the north (Kommos Beach, 6 km long (about half of the beach guests are naturists), in the south the Rote Strand (Red Beach) , which is separated from the village by a rocky mountain range and can only be reached after a sweaty 30-minute climb. But it is managed and offers loungers, parasols and less rocky water entrances than the main beach. Rote Strand is also partially a nudist beach.
shop
In the small town center are the small shops and two ATMs that are typical of tourist resorts. Drinks, food and other daily necessities are offered in mini markets.
kitchen
The restaurants mainly offer what tourists know from Greek restaurants at home, i.e. international cuisine. Mediterranean dishes with fish and seafood are also offered.
nightlife
accommodation
The hotels are mostly smaller family-run houses, a pool is standard. A selection (2-3 stars):
- Hotel Eva Marina, in the town center.
- Hotel Zafiria, near town center (100 m).
- Hotel Frangikos, near town center (100 m).
- Hotel Matala Bay, on the outskirts (600 m).
- Hotel Europe, on the outskirts (600 m).
- Hotel Calypso, on the outskirts (600 m).
- Dimitris Villa Hotel, on the outskirts (600 m).
- Valley Village Hotel, on the outskirts (1 km).
- Hotel Armonia, on the outskirts (1 km).
- Hotel Marina, on the outskirts (1 km).
Practical advice
trips
literature
Trip to Matala by Arn Strohmeyer. Notes and stories about Matala, as well as a declaration of love to all of Greece. Written by someone who moved out in 1967 to get to know the hippies and himself. Self-published and can be ordered from: [1]
