Agios Onoufrios beach is a small but very nice beach which is located in a well protected bay only 8 kilometers from the city of Chania. It is a bit west of the fairly large village of Kounoupidiana, where also the University of Crete can be found. Agios Onoufrios is a quiet beach and is not frequented by tourists much. There are sunbeds and umbrellas for rent. At the beach is a cantina where you can get something to drink and there is also a cozy tavern where you can eat quite well. The Agios Onoufrios church that stands here has given its name to the beach. On the 12th of June every year there is a celebration. Near Agios Onoufrios are the beaches of Kalathas and Tersanas.

We found the beach of Agios Onoufrios a true discovery and we thought that the people there very friendly. There is a small fishing port with benches where you can sit under a tree in the shade, or in the sun just to stare around you. There is no supermarket and there are only a few houses near the beach. The atmosphere is great. We only saw just the locals and we got the idea that we had landed on another island. A kilometer away from Agios Onoufrios there are some fuel tanks and you can occasionally see a tanker, but the beach has the blue flag because it is clean and well maintained.

Here in this cozy restaurant on the harbor of Agios Onoufrios we had a delicious dinner. Super friendly hostess Ellen brought a large jug of cold water to the table right after we were seated. We ordered the tzatziki, the Cretan salad and we both had a fresh fish which we could choose from in the kitchen. It turned out to be a "fangri". I had never heard of, but he was lovely and came in a sauce with lemon, butter and fresh herbs. The Cretan salad also had fresh herbs, and the tzatziki was very good. When we asked for the bill, we were given some apples and a small bottle of raki. Absolutely great.

Our verdict: a 9 out of 10

We stayed at the Lemon Tree Villas for one night in 2016, which was unfortunate because it's definitely worth staying longer. We had to leave early for the airport, and this property was at only 8 km distance, so easy. The return trip to the airport (in the dark) was also very simple. The main part of the road you are driving on have street lights and the airport is well signposted. It takes about 10 minutes to reach it.

We had some effort to find the Lemon Tree Villas, but if you are coming from Chania, and you have past the University of Crete (on your left), you turn left at the next traffic light and then constantly go straight. You will arrive at Agios Onoufrios beach. From there it's easy if you drive back. You take the first road on your right, then the first road on your left and then you drive straight ahead. The small complex of villas is then on your left hand side on the hill. It is a very quiet location with no passing traffic and the owner is called Alma. The wifi was very good.

The villa we were in had a small living room with a couch and chair and a kitchen table with four chairs. The kitchen was small but was complete and had everything you needed. There was washing soap and a clean sponge and wipe, and there were a couple of bottles of water and a pack of fruit juice in the refrigerator. On this floor there was also a toilet and there was a master bedroom with a lovely comfortable double bed (four pillows). By the stairs down you reached a large double room with two single beds. Here was also was the spacious bathroom with a toilet a jacuzzi bath. On the terrace in front of the door there are loungers (sunbeds) and a table with chairs. The pool was actually much larger than we expected and it is fairly private as it is taken away from view by a wall. We looked out on a row of palm trees and behind that the sea, an island and the coastline.

Check availabilities & prices and book Lemon Tree Villas - click here.

Check availabilities & prices and book Villa Hibiscus - click here.