Beaches

Beaches you can visit

Spilies beach 

Spilies or “Tou Maliou to Riaki” (i.e. Maliou stream) is located 15km east of Rethymnon city, in a quiet area, just a few kilometers east of Skaleta and west of Geropotamos. It is quite unknown to most visitors, though it is very close to the highway that connects Heraklion and Rethymno. It is formed in a small rocky bay with a pebbly beach and crystal clear deep waters, protected by vertical cliffs. Characteristic of the cove are the beautiful cavernous rocks that protect the small beach on the west. Beyond the west and the east end of the beach, there are several sea caves and rocks with amazing formations. A part of the east caves collapsed in winter 2011-12. These caves are very important for species such as the endangered Mediterranean monk seal. A great idea is to explore the rocky shores east of the beach and walk to the amazing natural rocky arch of Geropotamos.

Ammoudaki Beach

Ammoudaki Beach is located on the south part of Rethymno, very close to the area of Plakias. It is one of the four beaches between Plakias and Preveli, Ammoudi, Klisidi and Damnoni beach and it is one of the smallest and most secluded ones.

The beach is organised with umbrellas and sunbeds, however there are no other facilities at the beach. The water here is fantastic, hence the beach is quite popular with tourists.

Preveli Beach

This beach is truly stunning and very unusual with the river flowing directly in from the mountains to the sea. Beach of Preveli, also known as Lake Preveli or Phoenix, is located at the exit of the imposing Kourtaliotikos Gorge, where the Grand River (Megalos Potamos) flows. It is certainly the most famous beach in south Crete, accepting thousands of visitors every summer. During the '60s and '70s, it was a favorite destination for the hippies. On the banks of the Grand River there is a large colony of Theophrastus palm trees, which give the region a sense of a tropical landscape. The river, forming a small lake, 500m long, before emptying into the sea, has water all year round. You can walk along the river, under the shade of palm trees and other trees, and start ascending in the beautiful canyon. You can swim in the cold ponds formed in the gorge.