Sandy beaches · Agios Vasileios
Preveli Palm Beach
River-mouth beach with a palm forest, below the historic Preveli monastery.
Rethymno
Beaches, sights, villages and services in Rethymno.
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.
Inland, the Amari valley is full of small villages, olive groves and Byzantine chapels, and Anogeia on the slopes of Mount Psiloritis keeps Cretan music, weaving and shepherd traditions very much alive. The monastery of Arkadi is the symbol of the Cretan struggle for freedom and an easy stop on the way up.
The north coast towards Heraklion has the resorts of Bali and Panormo, small bays with fish tavernas and calm water. The south coast around Plakias, Preveli and Triopetra is wild and relaxed, with the palm forest at Preveli, long empty beaches and sunsets over the Libyan Sea. It is often sheltered when the north is windy.
Good to know: Rethymno is a central base, about an hour from both Chania and Heraklion. The south coast is roughly 45 minutes from town over the mountains.
Coming up
All events 
Churches & monasteries · Rethymno
Arkadi Monastery
Symbol of Cretan resistance and the 1866 revolt against Ottoman rule.
Forts & castles · Rethymno
Rethymno Fortezza
Massive late-16th-century Venetian fortress crowning Rethymno’s old town.
Hidden gem
Villages & Towns · Anogeia
Anogeia
Proud mountain village on Psiloritis, famous for lyra music, weaving and shepherd cuisine.
Hidden gem
Secluded coves · Agios Vasileios
Triopetra
Quiet south-coast beach named after three rocks rising from the sea.
Sandy beaches · Rethymno
Rethymno Town Beach
The endless sandy beach that starts at the Venetian harbour of Rethymno.
Sandy beaches · Agios Vasileios
Plakias Beach
A 1.3 km sandy beach in a mountain framed bay on the south coast.
Sandy beaches · Mylopotamos
Bali Beach
A picturesque village with five little coves of turquoise water between Rethymno and Heraklion.
Sandy beaches · Agios Vasileios
Damnoni Beach
A gorgeous turquoise beach with golden sand in a green valley next to Plakias.
Pebble beaches · Agios Vasileios
Agia Galini Beach
The main beach of a charming south coast village built on the hillside.
Sandy beaches · Mylopotamos
Panormos Beach
A pretty fishing village with a sandy beach and shallow water, east of Rethymno.
Sandy beaches · Agios Vasileios
Agios Pavlos Beach
A small cove near Cape Melissa with green blue water and huge sand dunes nearby.
Sandy beaches · Rethymno
Adelianos Kampos Beach
A 3 km resort beach in front of Adele village, east of Rethymno.
Sandy beaches · Rethymno
Platanes Beach
A calm, well organised beach in the Rethymno suburbs with shallow light blue water.
Sandy beaches · Rethymno
Misiria Beach
A long, serene sandy beach just east of Rethymno with shallow water.
Sandy beaches · Rethymno
Perivolia Beach
The continuation of Rethymno beach, where loggerhead turtles come to nest.
Sandy beaches · Agios Vasileios
Ammoudi Beach
Three small turquoise coves next to Damnoni, with a taverna and tamarisk shade.
Sandy beaches · Agios Vasileios
Skinaria Beach
A small beach with one of the best dive spots on Crete, near Plakias.
Sandy beaches · Agios Vasileios
Souda Beach (Plakias)
A long beach at the mouth of a little valley west of Plakias, with palm trees and rocks for snorkelling.
Sandy beaches · Rethymno
Episkopi Beach
A long golden beach west of Rethymno with shallow turquoise water.
Hidden gem
Pebble beaches · Agios Vasileios
Kalypso Beach (Pirate Fjord)
A narrow rocky fjord with a little bridge, near Plakias.
Sandy beaches · Agios Vasileios
Rodakino Beach
A quiet beach of coarse sand and pebbles with tamarisk shade, west of Plakias.
Sandy beaches · Rethymno
Pigianos Kampos Beach
A long sandy beach east of Rethymno with a few trees for shade.