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Voykit pocket guide · Greece
Agia Roumeli
Spend a night to hike Samaria Gorge and catch the ferry back; one night is enough for the hike and beach time.
Agia Roumeli is the coastal exit of Samaria Gorge. The village has no road access, so visitors arrive on foot or by ferry and stay one night to complete the 14 km gorge walk and enjoy the nearby beaches before returning by boat.
- Country
- Greece
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (restaurants closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted; card terminals are required in many businesses.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–45 excl. bed · Mid €45–70 excl. bed · High €70+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Cosmote, Vodafone and Nova sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at the airport; a passport is needed to register.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Ambulance 166
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European round two-pin plugs.
- Tipping
- Café: Leave the coins, €0.50–1.; Taverna or restaurant: 5–10% in cash on the table; not expected at gyros shops.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night.; Boat crew or guide: €5–10 per person for a day trip.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Athens, Thessaloniki and most of the mainland. On many islands it is desalinated or hard: ask locally and buy bottled if unsure.
- Toilets
- Use cafés (buy something), museums and sites. Paper goes in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at Faragi taverna | €3–9 per course |
| Water bottle | €0.5–1 |
| Ferry ticket | ≈€12 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CHQ · Chania International Airport (Ioannis Daskalogiannis)
- No road to Agia Roumeli: coach from Chania to Omalos for the gorge walk, or bus to Sfakia/Sougia/Paleochora then ferry; check timetables.
Typical fares
- Ferry Agia Roumeli → Sfakia
- ≈€12, 30 min (check schedule)
- Samaria Gorge entry
- €5 payable at park entrance
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The settlement is tiny; all sights are within a few minutes walk.
See and do
Known for
- Samaria Gorge exit
- Beachside camping
- Castle ruins
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Samaria Gorge (Omalos start) | Coach from Chania to Omalos (≈2 h), then hike 14 km (8.7 mi) to Agia RoumeliCoach from Chania to Omalos (≈2 h), then hike 8.7 mi (14 km) to Agia Roumeli | ≈5 h total (coach + hike) |
| Hora Sfakia | Ferry from Agia Roumeli (≈30 min) | ≈45 min including boarding |
| Mashali Beach | Walk 5 min east of village | ≈10 min round trip |
| Zeromouri Beach | Walk 10 min west of village | ≈20 min round trip |
Sleep
- Village guest rooms
- Rooms rented by local tavernas and supermarkets; basic facilities.
- Wild‑camping area
- Riverside spot, no services.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Excuse me | Γεια σας / ΣυγγνώμηYa sas / Signómi |
| How much? | Πόσο κοστίζει;Póso kostízei? |
| Where is the beach? | Πού είναι η παραλία;Poú eínai i paralía? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'kaliméra' (morning) or 'kalispéra' (evening) on entering shops and tavernas; avoid: Launching straight into a question
- Hospitality: Accept offered coffee, sweets or raki; it is part of the welcome; avoid: Refusing flatly — take a little
- Churches: Covered shoulders and knees; quiet voices; a small candle donation; avoid: Turning your back on the altar for photos during a service
- Gestures: Wave with the palm turned towards yourself; avoid: The open palm pushed forward (moutza)
- Conversation: Family, food and football are easy topics; avoid: Lecturing on the debt crisis, Türkiye or the name of North Macedonia
- Dinner at a home: Bring pastries or wine; arrive a little late; avoid: Leaving food on the plate if you have been served more
- Dress: Casual; long trousers or skirt for monasteries; avoid: Swimwear in town, shops and churches
Scams and watch-outs
- No road access – plan arrival by ferry from Sfakia, Sougia or Paleochora.
- All shops and restaurants close from November to March; check opening dates.
- Summer heat can make the gorge walk strenuous; carry water and wear sturdy shoes.
Generally safe; watch for heat, slippery rocks in the gorge, and limited night services.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Agia Roumeli yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Samaria Gorge exit
- Beachside camping
- Castle ruins
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Samaria Gorge official site: www.samaria.gr
- Ferry timetable (Anendyk): anendyk.gr/?page_id=97
- Wikivoyage: Agia Roumeli, revision 5314183 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5314183
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/agia-roumeli). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.