Dörfer & Städte

Eleftherna

Rethymno, Rethymno · Free

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

About

A village next to a Homeric city.

The village of Eleftherna lies at the foothills of Psiloritis, about 30 km south-east of Rethymno. It's known for the archaeological site of Ancient Eleftherna, founded around the 9th century BC.

The modern museum next to the site displays the rich finds. The village itself is quiet, with a couple of tavernas, and nearby Margarites is famous for its pottery.

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

Nearest town: Bali, about 18 km by road
Nearest airport: Heraklion airport (HER), about 60 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