Kissamos is built along a nice sandy beach. It's a wonderful starting point for visiting the archaeological sites of Falassarna and Polyrinia, the Gramvoussa isles (pirate isles), the lagoon of Balos, etc. South of Kissamos, at a distance of 7 kms., are the ruins of the ancient city of Polyrinia. Polyrinia is considered to be the oldest city that the Dorians built in Crete (following the Minoan Period). One of its ports was Falassarna, the westernmost town in Crete. Polyrinia was a powerful city, its walls are still visible, and existed until the Byzantine period. Present day Polyrinia, is a small village, that is built with building materials from the ancient city.
