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Despotiko Beach

Rethymno, Rethymno · Free

Route

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

Organised

Nicht organisiert

Atmosphere

Abgelegen

Characteristics

Kiesel

Facilities

Parkplatz

About

A hidden rocky beach just west of Rethymno town.

Despotiko is a secluded beach of coarse sand and big rocks, with no facilities. A good escape from the busy town beaches.

It's a good escape from the busy town beaches, with clear water and a wild setting.

Despotiko lies a few kilometres west of Rethymno, near the villages of Atsipopoulo and Prines. The beach is small and rocky, with clear water, and it's mostly visited by locals who know it. The coast west of Rethymno is wilder and quieter than the long sandy strip to the east.

The area around Rethymno town mixes a lively Venetian old town with a long sandy coast and quiet villages in the hills. To the east, the beach runs for kilometres past Platanes and Adelianos Kampos, where loggerhead turtles nest in summer. Inland, villages such as Chromonastiri, Myloi, Atsipopoulo and Maroulas have old Venetian houses and tavernas with views. The Arkadi monastery and ancient Eleftherna are less than half an hour away. Try the local snails, staka with eggs and the town's famous pastries.

Around Rethymno

North coast, on the Cretan Sea
Nearest town: Rethymno, about 2 km by road
Nearest airport: Chania airport (CHQ), about 44 km by road

Rethymno sits between the mountains and two seas, and it is the easiest region to combine with the rest of the island. Its old town and Fortezza are among the best preserved on Crete, with Venetian doorways, Ottoman wooden balconies and a long sandy beach right next to the centre. More about Rethymno