​Palekastro is a large village (1100 inhabitants) with most people working in agriculture. With its good beaches the area around. The region was one of the most important commercial centres of the Minoan culture in the extreme east of the island of Crete.

Accordingly there are still a lot of remains of Minoan culture especially at Roussolakkos (near the beach of Chiona). About 20 minutes walk from the village. This small beach of fine sand offers a better protection from the meltemi (a north wind that often blows in the summer months) than Kouroumenos. This is a long (over 2 km) sandy beach popular with wind wind-surfers because of the frequent wind. Both these beaches are quiet beaches, even in high season but if you want it even quieter, there are more remote bays nearby.