Matala is the legendary spot where, in the 1960s and 70s, hippies passing through on their way to India would stop off. This legacy is still being nurtured and capitalised on in the 21st century, even though reggae has largely replaced the songs of Joni Mitchell and psychedelic rock!

The large cliff, riddled with caves where hippies once slept, now charges an entrance fee and serves only as a nesting site for countless swallows. It is, in fact, an archaeological site that remains somewhat of a mystery, as it dates back to the Neolithic period and was probably used as a cave dwelling before becoming a necropolis in Roman times.

The hippies were driven out by the Orthodox Church and the military junta in the 1970s, but, paradoxically, the whole village cherishes their memory and there is even a festival that keeps the legend alive: the Matala Beach Festival, which takes place every year in the second half of June.

Matala is probably the most colourful and psychedelic village in Crete, but it’s not the Grateful Dead or Jefferson Airplane you’ll hear on the terraces of its bars. Reggae has long since supplanted Californian psychedelic rock there! For those familiar with the music of the hippie era, this may come as a surprise, but ultimately, some good reggae on the beach really sets the mood!

Useful links

Incredible Crete (The official tourism website of Crete) - Wikipedia