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Kaliviani is a small village situated a couple of kilometers east of Kissamos on the route from Kissamos to the beach of Balos, which is at the top of the Gramvoussa peninsula. There is an entrance fee for "keeping the area clean" if you want to drive to Balos (1 euro in 2012). In the area are small coves with small beaches. Kaliviani is surrounded by olive groves and farm fields, and vegetables are grown here. The village is a mixture of old restored houses and new houses. Kaliviani is becoming a popular place for foreigners to buy a second home and it is also a popular place for people that live in Kissamos and around to have a diner or a lunch.

We tried the Gramvoussa taverna, which is situated in the middle of the village next to the church, because it was recommended to us. Gramvoussa taverna is housed in a beautiful and old traditional stone building. The menu is extensive and has many different salads and original dishes on it. Next to the taverna you find the small village church with in front of it a memorial to a Cretan freedom fighter.

When driving to Kaliviani you will first pass the organized sandy beach of the village on the right hand side of you. Here the rare and protected white beach lily grows in the sand. The beach is clean and shallow. The other beaches take some more work to find, but they are more quiet (although the main beach itself is not particularly busy compared to some others). The not organised beaches are not cleaned up, so you will find rubble on them, but they are options for naturists. We had a swim at one of those beaches without our textiles on.

The Gramvousa Restaurant is a large restaurant next to the church of Kaliviani, a village not far from Kissamos, on the road to Balos. There are seating areas inside, but there is also a very large terrace. The menu of the restaurant is overwhelming: there is far too much on it, making it almost impossible to make a choice. The waiter has trouble taking the order, because we need to repeat each dish three times, because I think he himself doesn't know any more what he has got on his menu. We order the meatballs, the anthousa (stuffed zucchini flowers) and Gramvousa salad (with creamy goat cheese, potatos, tomato and onion). We immediately get a carafe with cold water on the table. All dishes look fantastic and nice, but there's not much flavour to them. Nice for a photo. The fries were not crunchy, and we are a little disappointed and not really impressed.

Our verdict: a 7 out of 10 because it looked so pretty

Balos Beach offers modern, self-catering accommodation in a beautifully rugged, unspoilt corner of Western Crete, overlooking Kissamos Bay, around an hours drive from the magnificent town of Chania. With a number of suites, apartments and studios to choose from, Balos Beach Hotel will satisfy your personal requirements. All the units have balconies with sea or mountain views, air conditioning, kitchen and satellite TV. At Balos Beach you can enjoy a romantic walk around the gardens, spend some time on the private beach, or have a drink and watch the sea and the sky becoming one. The pool area also includes a Jacuzzi and a childrens pool. In the central building, you will find the breakfast room, the main bar and the TV room. During your stay make sure you visit some of the best beaches in Crete, including Falassarna and Elafonissi, which are in close proximity

Check availabilities and prices & book the Balos Beach Hotel in Kaliviani - click here.

This traditional settlement, located at the tip of cape Gramvoussa, in the traditional village Kaliviani, offers affordable accommodation in Crete. This 2 storey building features a spacious lounge on the ground floor and bedroom on the first floor with balcony enjoying views of both the sea and the plain. The residence also hosts a tavern which serves traditional Cretan cuisine and local wine and raki. Kaliviani is located in the northwest of Crete, just a 5 kilometres distance from Kissamos and 35 kilometres from Chania. Hotel Kaliviani can serve as the ideal starting point to visit the lagoon of Balos, Falassarna beach and Elafonisi.

Check availabilities and prices & book the Kaliviani Hotel in Kaliviani - click here.