Sougia Pictures

Sougia from above

The large beach of Sougia seen from the east.

You can play beach volley on the beach.

On the beach in front of the village you'll find umbrellas to keep the sun off.

This family is enjoying the sea at Sougia. Don't let small children enter the sea on their own, as it suddenly gets deeper.

A large tree on the beach provides shade for lots of tents.

Free camping is a Sougia tradition, at the east end of the beach.

Naturism is also a Sougia tradition, but not in front of the village.

A small beach favoured by naturists, at the east end of the beach, just past the rocks.

Beach art: Mr Pebble.

More painted pebbles.

Rock painting.

There are lots of beachfront cafes in Sougia for an enjoyable breakfast by the sea.

A restaurant in Sougia with a large tamarisk offering its shade to guests.

There are rooms for rent in lots of little hotels in Sougia. But if you come at the weekend, particularly in July or August, you may find them all full.

The tall palm tree, purple bougainvillea flowers, bright green shrubs and the street lamp make up a pretty picture in the alleyways of Sougia.

Agios Panteleimon is at the west end of the village, built on the ruins of an Early Christian church. The church is locked, so to admire the mosaic floor you need to get the key from the kiosk on the beach.

The interior of the church of Agios Panteleimon, with its 6th-century Byzantine mosaic floor.

The church icon screen.

A wonderful mosaic with two peacocks, the symbol of immortality and eternity.

The elaborate mosaics on the floor of the church depict wild animals like the deer in the picture, fish, birds and geometrical patterns.

The little harbour of Sougia west of Agios Panteleimon

The church of Agia Irini in the pinewood high above Sougia. To get here you take the accessible dirt road that starts just after Agios Panteleimon (see main Sougia article for details).

The little harbour seen from the dirt track up to the church of Agia Irini. You can see the little boat that plies between Chora Sfakion-Loutro-Agia Roumeli-Sougia and Paleochora.

The blue sea of Sougia

As you climb to Agia Irini, there is a magical view of Sougia and the Libyan Sea.

The south coast of Crete, mountains plunging into the azure waters.

The little church of Agia Irini in Sougia.

At dusk people leave the beach to return to the village and get ready for supper.

The colours of sunset in Sougia.

Night has fallen and a bright full moon rises in the sky.

A taverna full of people. They say that the sea and swimming give you an appetite, and they're probably right.

Supper is followed by a drink in one of the little bars of Sougia. There are various bars on the beach, in the village and at the exit to Chania.

The bar after the riverbed on the east side of the beach.

As I was walking along the beach taking these photos, somebody came out of a bar and insisted on showing me this beautiful cactus flower in his garden.

An old house in Sougia.

A shop selling folk art, mainly objects made of olive wood.

Olive, the tree that dominates Cretan life.

Mr Olive, a human face carved in olive wood

Is Sougia a paradise? There's no single paradise for everybody. Study the information on Sougia, look at the photographs and decide if Sougia's what you're looking for on your holidays in Crete.