29.10.2026
Living in Corfu Year-Round: The Basics Before Buying a House
Corfu is a well-known island in Greece, particularly popular as a vacation destination, but it’s much more than that.
Regional Guides
Some villages are known for their views. Kokkino Chorio is known for a film. When Michael Cacoyannis came to Crete in 1964 to shoot Zorba the Greek, he chose this small village in the Apokoronas region as his main set. Many of the people who lived here appeared in the scenes, playing versions of themselves. More than sixty years later, the village still looks much as it did then, and that is a large part of its appeal.
Life in the Village
Kokkino Chorio sits on the Drapano cape, looking out over Souda Bay towards the White Mountains. It is a working village rather than a resort. Fewer than two hundred people live here year-round. A handful of small shops and mini-markets cover everyday needs. The heart of village life is the plateia, the main square. There you will find a kafeneion for coffee and a taverna for a slow lunch.
The name means Red Village, a nod to the area's turbulent history. Above the houses rises the hill of Drapanokefala, whose name comes from the Greek for a sickle-shaped head. Walk northwest from the village and the landscape opens into caves and unusual rock formations. The same hill holds a network of tunnels dug during the Second World War, when German forces used the high ground to watch over Souda Bay.
Why Buyers Choose Kokkino Chorio
The appeal for buyers is the mix of quiet village life and easy access. Chania lies about 25 kilometres to the west, with its old harbour, its shops and its restaurants. The airport on the Akrotiri peninsula keeps the area connected for much of the year, so a holiday home here need not sit empty between summers. The coast is close too. Kalyves and the beaches around Almyrida are a short drive away. From the hills around the village, the sea views are wide and open.
Kokkino Chorio suits buyers who want character and calm rather than a busy tourist strip, with the practical comforts of Chania within reach. If you are drawn to this corner of Apokoronas, our team can show you what is available in and around the village and talk you through what owning here involves.
