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Lagada or Lagkada is an area / village in the south of Crete, on the eastern edge of the villages of Analipsi and Makrigialos. Here in this part of Crete there are many small bays and beaches. The scenery is rugged, with beautiful cliffs and with rocks in the sea. Off the coast lies the uninhabited island of Koufonisi. A little further to the east lies the village of Kalo Nero, where even more beautiful small beaches can be found. Some beaches around Lagada and Kalo Nero are also suitable for naturists, and none of the beaches have ameneties in the shape of sun beds and parasols. There are a number of taverns in the area where you can have a drink or have something to eat, but it is wise to bring your own a bottle of water if you are planning a long visit to one of these beaches.

The largest beach in this area is called Lagada beach and it is right in front of the Lagada Resort complex where we often stay. It is a long and wide sandy beach where it is very quiet. I got the impression that most people do not even know it is there, because you can not see it from the road (we also missed it on our first stay at the Lagada Resort). I estimate it is about a kilometer long and 50 meters wide in some places. On this beach there is also room for naturists (there is a sign saying that the first 150 meter of the beach is naturist friendly). You will get visits from cute little yellow birds.

Across the hill on the west side of Lagada beach is the equally quiet sandy beach of Diaskari, which is also called Green beach because of the many green pebbles and stones that you will find there (these green stones can also be found on Lagada beach). There is a tavern on the beach and there are There is a taverna on the beach and there are a number of beach huts with hammocks for rent. The rest of the beach is free of umbrellas and sun beds.

Over the hill on the east side of Lagada beach you can find Psalidia beach. You go over the hill at Ville du Soleil and then walk down. When you see the greenhouses where tomatoes are grown, take the exit just before that. You now come to a path along which there are many greenhouses. You will also encounter a number of barking dogs along the way, but they are on a chain. Some climbing is required to reach the beach. It is easier to go there by boat. The walk from Lagada takes about 30 minutes.

I really recommend this one. We stayed here for the first time a few days in October 2011 and we have been returning almost every year, sometimes for a few days, sometimes for a week, but sometimes for much longer because it is a place for us where you can completely relax. In 2021 we were there for 17 days and loved every minute. The people who work there are very friendly and helpful and Manager Areti is top and always happy to see us. For us it feels like coming home. We enjoy the tranquility and the beautiful view, with the sunset being the highlight of every day. That is the moment we pour a glass of wine and look at the beautiful colors that the sunset causes and after it goes down it turns the sky above the sea red. Every day it seems different again and it never gets boring.

The Lagada Resort is situated on the edge of Makrigialos / Analipsi if you take the exit Kalo Nero from Analipsi. Lagada (sometimes called Lagkada) is a quiet area with many small and often deserted beaches. The complex enjoys a quiet location about 800 meters from the edge of Analipsi and in front of it lies a large and quiet sandy beach: one of or favourites. You can reach the beach on foot in about 5 to 10 minutes depending on what path you take. This is my "happy place" each morning when after I wake up early I go to the beach when it is still totally deserted and I sit down on my rock to stare at the waves. The last part of the beach (about a hundred meters long) on the west side is especially nudist friendly. The east side is qualitatively a bit better (sandy and easier to go into and out of the sea).

The bungalows have an area of 88 m2 and are situated around two large and lovely communal pools with sun beds and umbrellas. The decor of the bungalows and other accommodations is sleek and modern, yet very cosy. We felt immediately at home upon arrival, even so when we visited the first time we only went out for dinner in the evening one time and the rest of the days we stayed in the bungalow and I cooked something myself ;).

From the hallway you can reach all the rooms. Each bungalow has two bedrooms (one double and one twin) and the master bedroom has an ensuite with shower and toilet. There is also a bathroom with bath and toilet. In the large living area is a very comfortable L-shaped sofa with a coffee table. There is satellite TV (with good channels, not the crap channels that you sometimes find on satellite TV) and a DVD player. The living room flows into the area with the kitchen and the dining table. Outside there is also a 30 m2 terrace with comfortable seats and via a staircase you can go to enormous roof terrace to enjoy the beautiful sunsets with a glass of wine in your hand.

Over the years we have stayed in such a bungalow four times, but in recent years we have been renting a "townhouse". A two-storey house with two bedrooms and two bathrooms below and the living room and kitchen on the floor above that. From the balconies you have a beautiful view of the sea. There are also townhouses with a roof terrace as an extra. Other options are penthouses with one or two bedrooms and different kinds of apartments and studios, so something for everybody.

The nearest supermarkets and restaurants are about a twenty or thirty minute walk from the complex, but you can also have food delivered by Obelix (very good and fast delivery) and a local resident sells fruit and vegetables a 5-minute walk away in front of his house.

For more information and pictures - click here.

Check availabilities and prices & book Lagada Resort in Makrigialos - click here.

This pizzeria / fast food service delivers at your home. They also have a restaurant on the right hand side of the main road of Makrigialos as you drive through Makrigialos towards Ierapetra. The have pittas, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, grilled chicken, gyros en other meat dishes, omeletes, salads and several other snacks. Cheap, fast delivery and not bad at all. Especially the pittas are delicious.

Our verdict: an 8,5 out of 10

The Diaskari Taverna is situated on the western side of Diaskari beach and can be reached via an exit at the end of Analipsi, which says "Green beach". It is therefore on the east side on the outskirts of Analipsi, between the beaches of Analipsi and the large beach of Lagada. It is set in a beautiful spot on a pretty and quiet beach, and everywhere there are trees and flowers in pots. The owner has made it very cozy and the taverna is also quite popular. We order the grilled sardines, a Greek salad, the fried sargos (small fish that have been stripped of the bone), the tzatziki and half a liter of white wine. The service is very friendly and the food is good.

Our verdict: an 8 out of 10

This restaurant, the Cave of the Dragon, has several billboards placed in Makrigialos and just outside. It lies just outside Lagada en route to Kalo Nero. We decided to go there and give it a test. It employs three people that serve the food in the restaurant, but when we sit down we are totally ignored, although it is at that time still very quiet. One of the waiters is talking to a few Greek guests and the rest of the waiters don't show their face. If after five minutes we think that we are invisible we go for a look in the kitchen to see if there is anyone who can bring us a menu.

You can choose from a variety of appetizers, salads, grilled meats and fish. An unfriendly and humorless lady takes our order. The bread that is brought to the table is not fresh, but roasted and there's nothing done with it in the form of a little garlic and olive oil on it. The house wine is simple. The Dragon Cave salad includes red cabbage, white cabbage, apple, tomato and bacon. The saganaki (fried cheese) is dry, the tomatoes balls are good and so is the fish (Dorato) which is served with a small salad and a butter sauce. Afterwards no raki, no grapes or something sweet, like you will normally get all Greek restaurants if you ask for the bill. When we go away there's a crowded bus coming in with football fans on it. Not really a place for a cosy or romantic evening.

Our verdict: commercial, all about the money and unfriendly service, a 5 out of 10