I had Sitia on my list since I started to pen a 14 day vacation in Crete for 2021. Since that didn’t happen, I managed to see it 2 years later. 

Sitia (or Siteia, the literal translation in the Latin alphabet of its Greek name Σητεία) is a charming port town in the Lasithi region. It has a port that connects it to Heraklion, several other Greek islands and Piraeus, an airport (only serves internal routes to Athens and other cities in northern Greece and a few charters during the summer season) and the European route E75 starts here (and it ends in Vardo, in the northeast of Norway).

Its history dates back to the Minoan period and was an important port from the Classical to the Byzantine period. During the Venetian period, a fortress was built which can still be seen today, the Kazarma (from the Italian phrase “casa di arma” which means house of the weapon”). After the independence of Crete and joining Greece, the city has been modernized. 

Nowadays it is a charming city and most important – not so touristy 😊. The lack of an international airport has a saying in this, as most flights land at Heraklion or Chania. You will find accommodation here and it is mainly used as base for those that want to explore the extreme east of Crete, such as the Gorge of the Dead (Zakros), the beautiful beach of Xerokampos, the south-east part of the island, such as Makri Gialos, or to see the beautiful scenery and the archaeological sites from the mountains. 

Sitia has a nice sandy beach and a long promenade near the port, where you can enjoy a traditional Cretan meal or a coffee/wine with a view. You can also visit the Archaeological Museum and the Kazarma fortress or just have a stroll through its narrow streets and enjoy a peaceful time.

As a side note, the olive oil produced in this region is one of the best in Crete and in Greece as well. So make sure you get your supplies before heading home 😊

I will definitely use it as my start base for exploring the eastern side of the island