Akrotiri lies 10 km north- east from the Venetian harbour of Hania. Here are the tombs of Eleftherios and  Sofoklis Venizelos, the airport of Hania and the port of Souda.

Akrotiri is a place for nature lovers, with interesting walking and hiking paths through the unspoilt gorges with amazing diversity, natural beauty and living traditions.

Its dry climate combined with the sea breeze forms an ideal environment not only for people but also for the farm products which are renowned for their high quality and taste.

With picturesque sandy beaches, all awarded with the Blue Flag, century-old monasteries and churches, impressive caves with rich lithological and archaeological interest, historical monuments, Akrotiri attracts many visitors every year, who enjoy Cretan hospitality and nature at their best.

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"Akrotiri" (GR: Ακρωτήρι, the Cape) is the common name of the peninsula that lies to the north-east of the city of Hania and administratively belongs to the Municipality of Chania of the county of Kydonia of the prefecture of Hania.
The official name of the peninsula is "MELECHAS" while its ancient name was "Kyamon".

Its 10.000 residents live in around 20 villages and settlements. The town hall is at the village of Pithari 6.5 km away from Hania.
Other villages are : Sternes, Horafakia, Kounoupidiana, Mouzouras, Korakies, Argoylides, Aroni, Agios Nikolaos, Pazinos (or Paxinos), Anemomyloi, Marathi, Kathiana, Kalathas, Kampani, Stavros, Kalorouma, Hordaki, Rizosklopo, Agia Zoni and Profitis Ilias.

The road network is quite extensive and in good condition, reaching all the villages and beaches of Akrotiri. There is also a very frequent bus connection with Hania.

The biggest part of the area is flat except from the eastern side which is rocky with a rugged hill range (the highest being Sklopa: 528m high)-giving the impression of high mountains - and pierced by a few gorges that end to the sea in some very scenic rocky coves.
An other characteristic of those hills are the numerous caves that can be found there, with beautiful stalagmites and stalactites sometimes with amazing shapes. Findings of arcaeological and historical interest prove that the caves were used as a place of worship as well as a refuge from the invasions of pirates.

Gorges
• Kalathas (8km from Hania)
• Porofarago (14km from Hania)
• Agiofarago (18km  from Hania)
• Agios Antonios (18km  from Hania)
• Poro Mavre (16km  from Hania)
  
  Caves
• Lera /Stavros area 
• Arkalospilio /3km from the M.Gouvernetou
• Aherospilio & Agios Ioannis /  near M.Katholiko
• Arkoudospilio
• Koumarospilio

The coast line around Akrotiri is rocky and steep, with only a few sandy beaches, protected in small bays. There are also three small islets very close to the coast. The most important is the islet of Souda with a Venetian fortress and a light house.
The beaches are very clean and awarded evey single year with the blue flag.

Beaches
• Kalathas /9km from Hania
• Agios Onoufrios /8km from Hania
• Tersanas & Maherida / 12km from Hania
• Stavros / 15km from Hania
• Marathi / 16km from Hania

Akrotiri justifies its name as "The Holly Mountain of Crete" due to its monasteries and churches. The most important are:

• Holly Trinity - Tzangaroloi
  15.5 km from Hania. Named after its founders - end of 16th century - Jeremiah and Laurentius Giagarolo brothers from a noble Venetian family.
  
  
• Lady of the Angels - Gouverneto
  Built on a small plateau at 260m a.s.l. 18km from Hania. One of the oldest monasteries in Crete (15th century)
  
  
• Agios Ioannis the Hermit - Katholiko
  3km from M.Gouveneto is considered to be the oldest monastery in Crete (6th-10th century) with hermitages like those of Meteora.
  
  
• Nuns’ Monastery of Agios Ioannis
  At Korakies, 7km from Hania - 17th century
  
  
• Agios Ioannis Eleimon (merciful)
  17th century
  
  
• M. dependency of Agios Antonios & Temple in the bear's cave (Arkoudiotissa)
  near Katholiko monastery
  
  
• Cavernous Church of Agios Georgios Apidiotis
  in the gorge of Mavre, near Pazinos village.
  
  

All the monasteries are worth a visit as they are very close to the hotels and very easy to access.

In the area of Akrotiri have been found also remnants from the Minoan and Hellenistic period. At the south-eastern side near the village of Sternes, findings prove the existence of a town called MINOA.

USEFUL TELEPHONES:
Town Hall: +30 28210 69800
Ε.Ο.Τ. (GNTO) +30 28210 92943
Souda Port Authorities +30 28210 89240
KTEL BUSES +30 28210 93052
Olympic Airways  +30 28210 57701
ΑΝΕΚ LINES +30 28210 27500
MINOAN LINES +30 28210 45911
Municipal Police: +30 28210 92000