Agia Pelagia, located just 21km west of Heraklion, is a bustling tourist resort surrounded by several picturesque coves and beautiful beaches. The main beach of the settlement is a long and narrow beach with sand and turquoise waters, often calm due to the protection of the nearby Cape Souda. This beach provides a variety of watersport opportunities, as well as food and accommodation, as well as umbrellas for hire. Just south of the main beach is the Evresi cavity, which is home to a small shrine honoring the place where the icon of Santa Pelagia was discovered centuries ago. Additionally, just west of the beach lies the former monastery of Agia Pelagia, which was a popular gathering place for worshippers during the Venetian era. Further along the Cape of Souda are two small coves, Fylakes, which can only be accessed by swimming or by going down along the rocky coast. Lastly, just east of Agia Pelagia is Vlyhada, a tiny artificial beach with pebbles that can only be reached by swimming from the main beach. Historically, Agia Pelagia was a busy port during the Venetian period, and was even used by the Arkadi ship during the Cretan Revolution.
