Sandy beaches

Agia Irini Beach

Agios Vasileios, Rethymno · Free

Directions

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

Organised

Partly organised

Characteristics

Sandy

Facilities

Sunbeds

About

A calm, secluded beach of white sand and pebbles south of Rethymno.

Agia Irini is a quiet beach with coarse white sand and fine pebbles, a few sunbeds and big rocks for shade.

It's a calm, secluded spot, good for a peaceful day by the sea.

Agia Irini lies on the south coast of Rethymno, west of Agia Galini, in an area with many hidden coves. Access is by a dirt road, and the beach is rarely busy. The water is clear and good for snorkelling around the rocks. Bring water and shade, as facilities are very limited.

Agios Vasileios is the south coast of Rethymno, a land of gorges, palm trees and beautiful beaches on the Libyan Sea. Plakias and Agia Galini are the main villages, and between them lie Preveli with its palm forest, Damnoni, Triopetra and Agios Pavlos with its sand dunes. Inland, Spili with its lion fountain and the Kourtaliotiko and Kotsifou gorges are worth a stop. The south coast is often calmer when the north wind blows, and the sea is warm well into autumn.

Around Agios Vasileios

South coast, on the Libyan Sea
Nearest town: Plakias, about 13 km by road
Nearest airport: Chania airport (CHQ), about 68 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