Gavdos

the southernmost point of Greece and the whole European continent

Gavdos

Gavdos

Gavdos is a small island near the south shore of Crete, opposite Chora Sfakion in Chania region. It is known as the southernmost point not only of Greece but if the whole European continent. It is also considered a paradise for campers, naturists and hikers as it is remote and undeveloped, away from daily conveniences and civilization. Fresh water and electricity were absent on Gavdos until recently but today it has power generators and water pumps which supplies the entire island. Despite that you should keep in mind that generators do not always work and that you cannot leave the place any time you want because ferries run a few times weekly.

The port of Gavdos is called Karave and it is connected via small ferries to Chora Sfakion and Paleochora, some of them carrying both cars and passengers and others passengers only. There are also organized trips which make a full day trip to Gavdos, touring the island around the coast and then allowing you to spend a few hours in some of the villages or beaches. Usually the journey takes approximately 1-1.5 hours, depending on the vessel and the weather conditions.

The official residents are about 150 but only 50 live on the island all year round. Except for the port of Karave, Gavdos has a few settlements: Kastri (the capital), Vatsiana and Ambelos. They are really small and have only clusters of houses, facilities are basic and there is only one bakery and one or two mini markets on the entire island, providing basic goods. A doctor`s office is available as well, with young medical specialists rotating every 6 months. Accommodation is provided in small guesthouses and rooms to rent, and the friendly locals will be more than happy to welcome visitors. There is also a public bus which runs on a regular schedule everyday and connects all the village with the port and some of the beaches.

The largest beach on Gavdos, Sarakiniko, is located on the north side and it is the most developed area, with 9 restaurants and a cafe. It is very wide and long, with sand mixed with small pebbles and shallow water. The rest larger beaches are Potamos, Korfos, Agiannis and Tripiti, as there are also smaller coves between them like Pyrgos, Lavrakas and Lakoudi. Most people on them are naturists and camp lovers and in the summer their number may reach to a few hundreds to even thousands! Namely Tripiti (Trypiti) is the southernmost point of Europe, a beach which ends with a rocky promontory with three arches partially merged in the sea. The beach is accessible by boat or on foot from Korfos and Vatsiana. Although long, the hike is not difficult but there is no shade on the route and the sun can be quite hot on Gavdos, so plenty of water and sun protection is a must for such a walk. On the rocky promontory you will find a monument of oversized chair on which you can climb for photos.

Hotels in Gavdos

highlights: the southernmost point of Greece and the whole European continent, island in Crete, Greece

Gavdos photo galleryx