Agia Fotia is a coastal village at about a quarter of an hour drive east of Ierapatra (13 kilometers), in the south east of the island of Crete. It is in between two other resorts, Ferma and Koutsouras. The area is very quiet compared to other pieces of Crete. In order to reach Agia Fotia you take the exit leading from the main road that runs between Ierapetra and the seaside resort of Makrigialos. The road down the hill is very steep. At the end of the road down at the beach you can park your car in front of the Agia Fotia Taverna / Apartments. Markos Studios also has its own parking lot.
There are a couple of tavernas where you can eat and in the valley you can see the Church of St. Foteini. There are beach beds and umbrellas for rent on Agia Fotia beach.
The beach of Agia Fotia I estimate about 150 a 200 meters long. It is a sandy beach and in the center is very wide. The beach is surrounded by very high mountains and it is very picturesque. Here and there you find trees for some shade, but there are also a number of umbrellas and sun beds for rent.
Between Agia Fotia and Koutsouras, about 1 kilometer east of Koutsouras, lies at 400 meters from the road the entrance to the Butterfly Gorge. The first two kilometers are pretty easy to walk, and after that it becomes more difficult. You can walk between the high rising mountains and depending on when you get there you can also see small streams and waterfalls. In 1993 there was a large fire in this area which destroyed many of the pine trees. Slowly the area has been recovering.
There are not many accommodations in the village. Agia Fotia Apartments has 6 rooms with sea view and Markos Studios has 11. Furthermore, there are only a few tavernas (three on the beach and one a bit inland towards the church - where there is one more place where you can rent a room) and a few private houses. It is a place to slow down and swim in the sea. Most visitors are day people. When we visited it was very quiet. Perhaps on the weekends when the Greeks themselves are free it can be more busy.
It is worth taking a look at Agia Fotia because this is one of the prettiest bays in the south east of Crete.
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Quietly situated by the wide sandy beach of Agia Fotia, this hotel features a beach bar and an all-day restaurant. Each of the rooms enjoys a furnished balcony with sea view.
Rooms are simple yet functional, each with wooden furnishings and tiled floors. Amenities include a satellite TV, fridge and bathroom with shower.
Breakfast, day-time snacks and Greek dishes are served at the on-site restaurant. Wine and traditional raki can also be enjoyed here, while the beach bar will entertain you with music and cocktails.
Agia Fotia hotel is 13 km from Ierapetra, and 3 km from the scenic coastal resort of Ferma. Agios Nikolaos is 45 km away.
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Set amidst blossomed gardens, the family-run Pefka lies within 200 metres from Agia Fotia Beach in Lasithi. It offers self-catering units with free Wi-Fi and a balcony overlooking the Libyan Sea or the mountain.
All studios and apartments of Pefka have a kitchenette with dining area, fridge and cooking hobs. Each is equipped with air conditioning and a TV. The private bathroom comes with a shower or bath tub.
Guests will find restaurants, bars and supermarkets within 300 metres from the property. Ierapetra Town is at 13 km, while Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport is at 110 km. Free private parking is possible on site.
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Set amidst a lush garden, the family-run Stefanos Apartments is located in Agia Fotia of Ierapetra, just 30 metres from the sandy beach. It offers self-catering units with balcony or patio and provides free Wi-Fi throughout. Overlooking the garden and the mountain, the air-conditioned studios and apartments have a kitchenette with fridge, microwave and small electric oven. Each unit is equipped with a flat-screen satellite TV and an iron. The private bathroom is stocked with hair dryer and free toiletries. Within a short walk from Stefanos guests will find traditional taverns, while a supermarket is located 2 km away. The town of Ierapetra is 15 km away and Agios Nikolaos Town is 45 km away. Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport is at a distance of 120 km.
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The Agia Fotia Restaurant is situated at a 10 meters distance from the beach of the village with a view of the sea. There is plenty of choice in appetizers and main courses and the service is friendly. It is also inexpensive. We ordered tzaziki, cheese pies, spinach pies and a tuna salad (without the sauce but with oil and vinegar instead) for our lunch. The bread was good and fresh and the tzaziki was thick and with plenty of cucumber. No complaints.
Our Verdict: an 8,5 out of 10
One of the nicest restaurants that we encountered on our travels through Crete. The River Taverna is located on the right hand side of the road that leads the main road along the south coast to the beach below. It is indicated by a sign. You have to go down a long staircase and then walk along a path that goes through the kitchen garden of the tavern.
The service is most friendly by a very sweet and modest man who is also the owner. We ate here a few times because it was very good. All the food is fresh and made on the spot, the portions are ample. The first time we got even such large portions that we had few dishes packed up to take home.
We tried during our visits the zucchini balls, spinach pies, the River Salad (very nica and a huge bowl), the tzatziki, stuffed cabbage leaves, fries and rocket salad with walnuts and Parmesan cheese. As desert they gave us some home made ice cream! Everything was fantastic and the prices are quite right: highly recommended.
Our verdict: a 9,5 out of 10