Sitia is Crete’s most eastern town, 64 km from Agios Nikolaos. This small town has about 15,000 residents and welcomes a modest number of tourists yearly. Sitia may be a small rural town but has a long history. It actually took its name from the ancient Minoan city, Eteia, also home to one of the seven sages of antiquity, Myson. Sitia prospered throughout the ages and became a commercial port during the Byzantine period. Today the port has ferries running to Milos, Rhodes, Kassos, Karpathos, and Piraeus. You can also see great efforts are being put to improve tourist facilities, hospitals, banks, and a road network that links to other cities in Crete. Before your boat trip in Sitia, you can visit the Archaeological Museum, exhibiting findings from many eras of history. You can also visit the Folklore Museum, featuring beautiful costumes from the 19th and 20th century, and high-quality embroidery that was part of Crete’s traditional life. Moreover, Sitia wins several international awards every year for its excellent olive oil. It is also famous for its wine and raki, as well as delicious local foods. Some particularly interesting dishes you can try, include chopped liver, a creamy cheese called xygalo, and omaties, a type of pork stuffed with rice. Today, Sitia does not reflect its ancient past and might not stand out as a buzzing tourist hub, but it is definitely a little gem in Crete you must explore with a private boat trip.

With a boat trip to Sitia, you can discover some beautiful beaches along the coast. 24 km east of Sitia, you can explore Vai beach. Near the beach, there is a natural date palm forest, also one of Europe’s largest. Just above Vai, you can swim in any of the three sandy coves of Itano Beach. On the other side of Vai, there is a long sandy beach known as Koremenos, a favorite to windsurfers from all over Europe. For a more relaxing trip, you can rent a catamaran and stop for a swim on the beach of Kato Zakos. Here you can combine your swim with a visit to the ruins of the Palace of Zakro. The fantastic deserted beaches of Xerokambos are ideal for those in search of peace, you can anchor your yacht in the turquoise coves that form a fairytale landscape with the mountains and olive groves in the background.

If you are up for a little more adventure, you can rent a motor yacht for your cruising excursions in Sitia. Southeast of Xerokambos is the island of Koufonisis, where remains of Minoan and Roman dwellings have been discovered. You can also visit the small uninhabited island of Psira, west of Mochlos. For a two-day or three-day cruise, you can head to Ierapetra or the port of Agios Nikolaos and the mesmerizing beaches near Elounda. Finally, you can always hire a sailboat with a skipper from Sitia and visit islands such as Karpathos or Milos for the perfect 3-day trip.