20Kilometres east of Chania on the old national road (E65) lies Kolimbari, variously known on both maps and road signs as Kolimbari: Colymbari: Kolibari; and Kolimpari. The village starts at the unmistakable Kolimbari crossroads, where all life seems to pass at considerable speed and seemingly in all directions at once.
The first part of the road into sea-front Kolimbari, between the Hotel Taverna Lefka, the local co-op store and the war memorial at the bottom of the road is distinctly uninspiring right now. A once narrow quarter-mile strip of pot-holed tarmac lined with old Tamarisk trees now looks a bit like a modern building site! A newish wide tarmac strip with modern pavements and scattered development along the edges doesn't really seem an improvement
Walk down between the buildings and you will find yourself in a small open plateia facing the sea. The small fishing harbour is on your left and the Restaurant-Bar Mylos on your right.
This is the view from the small harbour to where you should be standing if you are following the guide. A new extension to this harbour is being built to attract yachts and I would think, other pleasure craft. But don't worry, the bay here is very shallow. There is no chance for car ferries and commercial vehicles spoiling the place
Kolymbari has a good beach and some pleasant small and cozy tavernas. A wonderful stone-built cafe on the beach is a very pleasing place to enjoy coffees and conversation at the sea-side. The Odigitria monastery just a kilometre on from the centre has fine buildings and a church with wonderful icons and frescoes. Smaller new and somewhat older groups of apartments and rooms are available on the sea front and also higher up overlooking this small town and the sea.
