Vai is a beautiful unpopulated beach of fine sand and pebbles at the far eastern tip of Crete. Vai beach has a unique and luscious palm forest of a species found only on Crete island. Even without these wonderful tall, leafy palms, it is a spectacular beach with clear, clean water, excellent snorkelling and plenty of room for everyone.
Vai does not have a village or accommodation, in summer season (April to late Octomber) the carpark is full of temporary services such as food, beach gear, cameras and drinks. There are beach chairs and umbrellas to rent, and the nearby monastery runs a restaurant right on the beach which serves delicious traditional Greek food.

The beach itself is worth the drive of 25 kms from Sitia, and the palm forest, now protected by the EU, is well worth the visit. Nestled into a valley behind a fresh water pond and creek, the palm forest is home to local birds and animals such as the shy Cretan Marten, a small native mammal like a stoat which we saw darting out of the bushes as we walked near the forest. This palm forest is the largest in Europe, the palms are Phoenix Theophrastii and are unique to Crete. Windsurfing and jet-skiing are popular here, topless bathing is common and nudist bathing is popular at the south end of the beach. This is not a beach for the faint-hearted, it gets really, really crowded in summer.

Vai has been voted consistently as one of the top ten beaches in Greece in various publications. We found the beach nice, but its popularity is its downfall. The palm forest that frames the beach bestows unique character to the place, and offers a welcome spot for shade. Vai can get crowded even during the weekdays in the summer, and parking near the beach costs money. Ascent the steps up the rocky hill to the South for a bird-eye's view of the entire beach. There is a footpath that leads further up the hill (find a break in the fence near the observation post) and down to what seems like a spacious, secluded, and sandy beach. Climb the rocky hill to the South to access another very nice sandy beach.

The whole setting is spectacular as the beach is framed by huge rocks and a cliff that drops dramatically at the back. The village of Palekastro , on the way to Vai from Sitia, is 6km from the Vai beach, there are plenty of cafes serving local food and there is a folklore museum. The beach of Kouremenos, just 5 km from Vai, is a pretty beach, drawing visitors for its clear waters, great diving, fresh seafood and wind-surfing. There are plenty of accommodation at this beach.