Kum Kapi beach

Kum Kapi is located east of the picturesque port of Chania, in front of the historic district of Bedouins, who used to live here in huts made of rushes. They were African economic immigrants, who firstly arrived on the island as slaves during the Turkish occupation. Today, you will not see any huts, but only a long pedestrian street with cafes and clubs, where the heart of Chania nightlife beats.

The region is named after the Turkish word “Kum Kapisi”, meaning the Gate of Sand. Indeed, it is very close to one Gate (on the Venetian Walls), that is next to a sandy beach.

The beach of Kum Kapi, is shaped beneath the pedestrian road and extends to the east for 1km. The sandy beach of the Kum Kapi used to be one of the most popular beaches for swimming in Chania, many years ago. However, due to pollution of the sea, swimming was later forbidden. In the last years, after construction of the biological cleaning infrastructures of Chania, according to the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority of the city, water is now suitable for swimming. However, the beach of Kum Kapi still remains unorganized and locals still do not trust it.

On the west side, near the Sand Gate, the sea reaches the wall of the walkway without beach being shaped between them. On the eastern side, a strip of sandy beach is shaped.

Moreover, beyond the east end of the long beach, a beautiful cove is shaped. However, locals still avoid swimming there.

Photos

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