Stalis

Picture of Stalis from the west, i.e. from Hersonissos (west) to Malia (east).

The coast road from Stalis to Malia.

The main street of Stalis, running parallel to the beach.

Walking along the main street of Stalis, the beach is sometimes visible and sometimes hidden by hotels and cafeterias. But it's always easy to get to the beach down the narrow alleyways.

Agios Ioannis is a small, old church in the centre of Stalis. There is a small square around the church where you can sit and enjoy your coffee.

Detail of Agios Ioannis church.

Along the main street of Stalis are all kinds of shops, including minimarkets and fast food shops.

Fresh fruit with inviting scents and colours.

"Gourounes" (sows), as quadbikes are known here, which flood the streets of Stalis and all the other coastal resorts of Crete.

Four-wheeled quadbikes may give a greater sense of security than motorbikes, but in fact you need to be extremely careful when driving them - they are not actually designed for use on tarmac roads or at high speeds.

Rent a quad for 2 days and get 2 days free. Stalis is full of similar offers.

You can also hire large motorbikes in Stalis for your holidays.

Of course there are also offers on hire cars in Stalis.

At sunset, the beach of Stalis empties and people move to the main street with its restaurants, bars and cafes.

A beautiful Stalis sunset.

8 to 9 pm is Happy Hour in Stalis, with two drinks for the price of one.

The sun has set and the streets of Stalis are full of people. In daytime, on the contrary, everyone's on the beach and the streets are deserted.

At dusk the lights are not yet on in the bars and cafes of Stalis, which will gradually fill with people later.

In Stalis, most of the bars and cafes line the beach, offering a lovely view.

It's still early for the Stalis bars, which are preparing for a busy night.

Unlike the bars, the restaurants of Stalis are busy in the early evening.

From 7 pm to 7 pm the main street of Stalis is closed to traffic, so pedestrians can enjoy a walk in safety.

The streets fill with people as night falls.

Despite constant development, Stalis is still a good place for family holidays too.

Stalis used to be a very quiet place but in recent years the nightlife has taken off, though it is not as hectic as that of neighbouring Malia and Hersonissos.

Night has fallen, the neon signs are lit and the streets of Stalis are full of people.

One of the many bars in Stalis.

The Stalis night is full of colours.

Many Stalis bars have giant satellite TVs for watching football and other sports.

Of course Stalis also has gold and jewellery shops.

Pretty pottery lamps light the night.

Clothes shop in Stalis

Colourful soaps and scented items.

Stalis welcomes thousands of visitors each year, so there are lots of tourist shops offering all you could possibly want.

Various products based on olive oil.

The tourist shop owner smiles into the camera and wishes you all happy holidays in Stalis.

Passers-by browse through tattoo designs.

A travel bureau in Stalis offering various excursions in Crete. The owner, Yannis Spanakis, provided the last four pictures of Stalis in winter.

Try the crepes in Stalis for a quick snack.

Of course Stalis has its own Chinese restaurant.

A taverna offering Cretan cooking. There are several of these in Stalis - the best are usually those patronised by the locals.

There is even a piano bar in Stalis.

Nikos, the owner of the piano bar, invites you to Stalis to try his cocktails.

There are at least two Irish bars in Stalis. Here you can see the mother of one of the owners, the "Lady of Stalis" as her son introduced her.

What can the young men in this bar be staring at?

If you get tired of bars one evening and want to get closer to nature, go for a walk on the beach at Stalis and enjoy the view of the sea with its waves foaming in the moonlight.

A unique picture of a Stalis sunset. The palm trees make Stalis beach stand out from its neighbours.

A winter sunset in Stalis, when the beach is free of the hundreds of summer umbrellas.

Another special picture of Stalis in winter, with a rainbow after a shower, something you are extremely unlikely to see in summer.

Palm trees reflected in a pool of rainwater on the sandy beach. A big thank-you to Yannis Spanakis, who lives and works in Stalis and who provided these special pictures.