Bali

Bali is a small seaside village on Crete's northern coast, roughly halfway between Rethymno and Heraklion, within the Mylopotamos municipality of the Rethymno regional unit. It occupies the site of the ancient settlement of Astale and its harbour, known in antiquity as Axus, though little of that early history survives above ground today. For most of its existence, Bali was a modest fishing hamlet tied to the nearby community of Melidoni.

That changed as Crete's tourism industry grew: Bali's sheltered coves and easy coastal position made it an attractive spot for development, and the village now has a cluster of hotels, spas, and wellness resorts built around its small bays. Despite sharing its name with the Indonesian island, the Cretan Bali is pronounced with the stress on its final syllable, a small but often-noted distinction among visitors.

Its position along the coast between two of Crete's main port towns, combined with its calm, well-protected anchorages, makes Bali a natural, low-key stop for boats working their way along the island's north shore — worth a visit if you're chartering a gulet in Greece and want a quieter alternative to the busier harbours nearby.