After our first Crete adventure to Balos Beach in September 2025, we headed west to Falasarna Archaeological Site. This site has been on our list to see for quite some time, especially since the harbor of Falasarna was once a notorious pirate base. Part of the reason we love the Greek Island of Crete so much is there are so many wonderful archaeological sites as well as so many beautiful beaches. Both are something we enjoy and we often plan our trips around sites and surrounding beaches. The Falasarna Archaeological Site is open everyday, 8:30-16:00 except it is closed on Tuesdays like many of the sites in Crete and Greece.
Location
Falasarna Archaeological Site in Crete is due West of Balos ATV where we had rented our ATV to reach the trailhead. Unfortunately, you can’t drive straight west from there, instead you must drive south and then turn north to reach the site. It takes about 25 minutes. You will also pass Falasarna Beach, (one of the top beaches on Crete), and the Archaeological Site is just to the north.
History of Falassarna
Falasarna, also spelled Falassarna or Phalasarna, is an Ancient Crete harbor, unique in the fact it was a closed harbor. Once sitting along the sea, it is now inland due to an earthquake changing the landscape in 365 AD. The City-State is named after the heroine nymph and diety, Falasarni who is represented by nature and water. She was credited with these key elements that give life to the area. Ancient Falasarna also minted silver and copper coins with the head of a woman on them, most likely Falasarni.
Golden Years
Falasarna was the major trading center of the west coast of Crete and had a direct sea route to Alexandria, Egypt. It was founded by the Dorians during the 7th century BC, although not much is known about those years. It is believed the area was inhabited earlier than this but the Dorians are credited with the first civilization here.
In addition to trade, Falassrna also boasted a powerful Navy. The city-state of Falasarna especially flourished during the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. This is when the city built defensive walls and also the enclosed harbor. The port was dug directly into rocks around a lagoon and linked to the sea by two channels. There were four large towers joined by walls and quays with docking stakes. There was a large submerged chain that could be pulled up to totally close off the port. All of this made invading Falasarna difficult. Lots of innovation for this era. The city also boasted temples, public buildings and an Acropolis. Falasarna was first mentioned in writing by the geographer, Pseudo-Skylax in the 4th century BC and described as being the “established on the side where the sun sets” (Perilous, 47).
Piracy
At some point around the 3rd century BC, Falasarna became a feared pirate base. The pirates plundered ships and took captives who they enslaved. The high walls along the closed harbor helped give refuge to these pirates, defending them and providing them a safe place of operation. These were not your typical pirates that you might envision. They were a civilization with a thriving society with culture including art, pottery and they also worshiped in their temple. They continued to run as a city-state with laws and all in all were an organized society.
Roman Invasion
The Romans were not happy with the piracy which eventually led the Romans to target and destroy the city in 67 AD . This was in part due to their effort to rid the Mediterranean of piracy and to also secure the Mediterranean for Rome. The Romans stormed the city, destroying and leveling it. To add insult to injury the Romans filled the harbor with the rubble to prevent any pirate use then and in the future. This reduced the city to a small settlement.
Earthquake and Tsunami
In 365 BC a large earthquake further ruined Falasarna and the subsequent tsunami raised the western shore of Crete 6.6 meters. As a result, the once glorious harbor town was now inland about 300-400 meters from the shore. After this catastrophe the city was abandoned as the port was useless.
Touring the Falasarna Archeological Site
The Archaeological site of Falasarna is a bit rough for walking, which is not unusual in Crete. The paths are dirt and rock; sometimes there is not much of a path at all . In addition, the heat of of the sun is relentless. Therefore, wear good shoes, hat, and take water. You won’t find shade within the site itself.
Although the site is small, there is a lot to see and it is fun to view the signs with depictions of what Falasarna looked like in its prime. You can almost imagine the boats pulling in to trade their goods, or the pirates coming in with their bounty. It must have been quite the place back in the 3rd and 4th centuries BC. It is easy to let your mind slip away as there were so few people here and so little noise you can imagine those walking here centuries ago.
We started clockwise, but ended up following paths, rocky ruins, walls, and we wandered around checking out many places. Consequently, there ended up being no rhyme or reason to our self-guided tour. You can download an app on site which gives information, but unfortunately for us we did not have internet service that supported this. There are signs in many of the ruins along with a map and a leaflet with information.
The Baths
I do believe this photo is of Ancient Falasarna public baths. If I am wrong, feel free to let me know. I try to be as accurate as I can and appreciate any feedback. The baths here in Falasarna are from the 4th and 3rd century BC. There are 5 terra cotta lined, stone carved basins. They are located in the northern part of the site along the harbor area near the road to the acropolis. These 5 baths were in a separate room but part of a larger public bathing building. The water, most likely was supplied from a nearby source such as a spring, or the many channels in the harbor.
Ancient Harbor
What is really interesting about the harbor in Falasarna is it was a completely closed harbor. As I mentioned above, the entire port was enclosed by stone walls with two hand dug channels accessing the sea. The most interesting part of the harbor to me is the once submerged chain that could be lifted to block the harbor entrance for ultimate protection, closing it off completely. There were also quays along the wall with bollard holes for securing ships which you can still see. I found those facinating as well. In addition to the walls, this harbor was protected by five towers used for defensive purposes. As I mentioned above, the harbor is now located on land and is about 6.6 meters above sea level due to an earthquake and tsunami in 365 AD.
It is really amazing to walk around this ancient port, through the channels and on the walls. There are some marked off do not access areas so be sure to follow those guides. You get a good perspective of the engineering minds needed to construct this type of harbor, especially remembering much of it was along and even in the sea.
Round Defensive Tower
The defensive towers were a key component to protecting the city of Falasarna. Once part of the harbor they are now on land. The round tower is 9 meters in diameter and 4.5 meters high. Made of ashlar blocks and reinforced inside by two cross walls, this tower was built with no mortar. This tower connected to the other towers by a 50 meter wall offering defense to the city.
Rectangular Tower
Although the round tower is more interesting as it is more intact, most of the towers at Falasarna were rectangular. These towers were in various places along the fortification wall of the harbor. One of the rectangular towers is located almost next to the circular tower above. I do not know what the significance of this was. Another was located along the wall towards the acropolis. I did not locate where the other towers were.
The Throne
The Falasarna Throne, also known as the Throne of Poseidon, is located just before the Archaeological Site entrance on the side of the olive tree lined road. You could easily miss it. As a matter of fact, we did miss it on the way in but looked for it and found it easily on the way out. Its purpose is unknown. Some say it was a speakers chair, or perhaps a podium. Others believe since it is near the burial ground it may be Pre-Minoan. Regardless, it is impressive. Standing at 2 meters high and carved out of a single stone, we may never know the purpose of this ancient chair.
Walking Outside the Ruins
You cannot access the Acropolis, but we walked outside the Archaeological Site, around part of the base of the hill to see if we could get a view of the ruins of the Temple of Dictynna. Unfortunately, we did not. It was a nice little walk though and ended near the sea. We did not check out the sea from this point, it was hot, and it looked like more effort than we were feeling up to.
Falasarna Beach
We decided to access Falasarna Beach from the north which is just south of the Archaeological site. This area is unorganized with very few people. We parked in a small lot and took a path for a nice little walk down to the beach. The shore has many volcanic rocks and not a great spot for swimming. There are some unique flowers I have never seen before growing in the sand of the beach which I found fascinating. The rocks in the water were slippery and I was glad I had my water shoes on. We did not go to the organized and popular Falasarna Beach as we were ready to call it a day.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at Spilia Village Hotel and Villas in Spilia. This is a small village in the foothills of the mountains about 30 minutes west of Chania. We found this to be a good base for us while in the western part of Crete. I highly recommend Spilia Vilage and would stay here again. Our room was clean, comfortable and very spacious. The staff were friendly and informative. Very helpful too as we had a flat tire and they were able to get someone to come help us in no time. The breakfast was so good and bountiful and dinner was amazing as well.
Where We Ate
We ate at our hotel and it was delicious. The service was wonderful and the atmosphere lovely. We couldn’t have asked for a nice night.
Conclusion
The Archaeological Site of Falasarna is a bit of a hidden gem in Crete. Although not one of the top visited sites, the history here is interesting and without the crowds, you can take your time and really enjoy taking yourself back to history. In addition, the fact that Falasara was a major pirate hub makes this site even more interesting. All things considered, I would return here if we are in the area. All in all it is a lovely site.
More Information
When traveling in Crete, we like to use DK Top 10 Crete Travel Guide which you can buy through Amazon. It is pocket size, includes a small map and orgainized by the top 10 of several specific areas and also top 10 of everything. In addition, it gives brief information about each site. It also contains a few itineraries. This is the reference I used when finding the Falasarna Archaeological Site and other sites in Crete.
I am a map person, although I do like GPS, it doesn’t always work, especially when you are in a remote area. We have found the National Geographic Map of Crete to be a lifesaver. All in all it works well for us. The map is sturdy, folds easily, and has been accurate for us. As a matter of fact, a map holding up and in great shape for 4 trips to Crete is pretty remarkable.
My last item I would recommend is taking along a portable phone charger as car chargers are different in Europe than the US. I like the IWALK Portable Charger for iPhone. It is easy to carry, holds a good charge, and doesn’t feel hot to the touch. It also fits nicely in my bag or purse.
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In addition to this post, you can also check out my other posts from our 2025 trip to Greece, our other Crete adventures, and also previous years Itineraries by following these links!
Beaches on Milos Island -Sept 2025
The Villages of Milos, Greece -Sept 2025
Sulfur Mines at Milos Island – Sept 2025
Kleftiko Boat Tour on Milos Island – Sept 2025
Discover the Quiet Beauty of Folegandros, Sept 2025
Hike to Livadaki Beach at Folegandros, Sept 2025
Hike to Agios Nikolaos Beach at Folegandros Sept 2025
Delos Island; A comprehensive Self Guided Tour September 2025
Mykonos One Day Itinerary Sept 2025
Great Places to Eat in Plaka, Athens and Nearby. Updated Sept 2025
Self Guided Tour to Acropolis Sept 2025
Tower of the Wind, Athens Sept 2025
The Roman Forum in Athens, Sept 2025
National Archaeology Museum Athens, Sept 2025
Crete Past Adventures
2023 Crete
Sunken City of Olous-September 2023
Elounda Peninsula Hotel-Revised 2023
Hike to Agiofarago Beach-Sept 2023
Preveli Beach, the Easy Way-Sept 2023
Swim at Kourtaliotiko Falls-Sept 2023
Boating on the South Central Sea in Crete-Sept 2023
A Challenging hike Loutro to Marmara Beach, Crete-Sept 2023
Anopolis, Arradena Bridge and Lykos Beach in Southen Crete-Sept 2023
Aptera Crete, Closed on Tuesdays Sept 2023
Return to Chania, Crete September 2023
Crete 2021
Ancient City of Lato, Sept 2021
Aforesmenos Lighthouse, Crete, Sept 2021
Avli Lounge Hotel, Rethymno, Sept 2021
Matala Beach Caves, Crete, Sept 2021
Hike to Martsalos Beach, Sept 2021
The Chapel at Georgioupoli, Sept 2021
Koutalas Beach and Sea Cave, Sept 2021
A Walk Through Chania, Sept 2021
Crete 2019
Elounda Peninsula Hotel, Sept 2019
Knossos Palace, Crete Sept 2019
Seitan Limania Beach, Sept 2019
Katholiko Monastery, Sept 2019
Greece Itineraries
8 Days in Greece, Athens, Milos,Santorini. Oct 2018
10 Days in Greece Athens ,Crete, Santorini Sept 2019
14 Days in Greece Crete, Naxos, Santorini, Athens Sept 2021
2 Weeks in Greece, Delphi, Meteora, Corfu, Santorini Sept 2022
10 Day Peloponnese Itinerary August/September 2024
The Gen-X Travels recommendations for hotels, restaurants, activities or tour companies are based on our own experiences unless noted. We are not sponsored by any business or company and all trips are at our expense. All photos are by myself or my husband unless otherwise noted. We are affiliates of some companies such as Amazon,Viator, and others which we do receive a small commission from, at no cost to you if you buy or book through one of our links.
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