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Lendas in southern Crete

Lendas, or Lentas, is located about 35 kilometres south of Zaros in Heraklion region and has about 80 inhabitants. Lendas was, just like Matala, a hippy resort during the happy sixties and seventies. There are no hippies left today, either in Matala or here in Lendas. But the cool atmosphere remains. Note that Lendas is just as often written with a T, i.e. Lentas.

Lentas beach in southern Crete.

The beach in Lendas in one direction.

In the good old days, most people stayed in tents or slept under the sky. Now the former hippies return with their families to stay comfortable in cosy pensions. Lendas is really something of a returning paradise. Once Lendas always Lendas seems to be the motto.

The beach in Lendas in southern Crete.

The beach in Lendas in the other direction.

The village is small and almost completely car-free. Almost all buildings are pensions or tavernas, but Lendas do still not feels like a touristy place. You get more of a feeling of visiting an adult day nursery where time has stopped. The few streets starts from the square and leads down towards the beach. Lendas can in a way be compared to Loutro in Chania Region, but they are really like two different worlds.

Read about Loutro in Chania Region here »

The village of Lendas in Heraklion region in southern Crete is similar to the village of Loutro in Chania region.

View of the Loutro-like village of Lendas. The tiny village of Dytikos on the right.

Lentas is located at the end of the road and the landscape is extremely barren. From my favorite village Zaros, it is about 35 kilometers to Lendas.To the right in the picture you see the tiny village of Dytikos peep out, there lies a beach that is better than the one in Lendas. Dytikos beach is located 2 kilometres west of Lendas.

The beach is quite okay and it is lined with tavernas and pensions with great location. Sitting down at one of the beachside tavernas and looking out over the sea is really worth the long journey here. Here you will find several nice tavernas serving great homemade Cretan food. One of the better tavernas at the beach is El Greco. Here I have eaten one of the best Fasolakia I have ever eaten.

At Taverna El Greco in Lendas you eat excellent food. Crete.

At Taverna El Greco in Lendas you eat excellent food.

In Crete you can feast on very good homemade Greek food. Among other things, the best Fasolakia in all of Greece.

I had the best Fasolakia I ever ate at Taverna El Greco in Lendas.

If you are fond of low-key tourist resorts where peace and quiet is the main brand, you will love Lendas. All facilities are available. There used to be no ATM, but there has been for a few years now. Previously, you had to bring cash when you travelled to Lendas. It is not common that you can pay by card.

On the square in Lentas there is a car park, ATM, hotels and restaurants.

The "square" in Lendas.

Tavernas, hotels and pensions above the beach in Lendas.

Svenska Kulturcentret Lendas Kreta is a non-profit association that organizes a variety of courses in Lendas during the summer months. The Cultural Centre offers courses in everything between heaven and earth, including yoga, choir singing, watercolour painting, photograph and theatre. Unfortunately, 2022 was the last year, the pandemic broke the last strength of the project.

But Peter Östman Hillered and Eva Östman Hillered continue to give workshops under their own auspices in their newly built house which they call Lendas East Hill. Read more on their website.

The Elephant Rock in Lendas in southern Crete.

Outside of Lendas is this strange rock called The Elephant Rock.

ACCOMMODATION IN LENDAS

There are more hotels and pensions than you might think. Looking for a room on site works depending on the season. The smartest thing to do is to book in advance because Lendas is at the end of the world.

Good hotels and pensions in Lendas on Crete.