Georgioupolis
Georgioupolis is a coastal town on the north coast of Crete, 38 km east of Chania and 21 km west of Rethymno, sitting on the western edge of a 10 km run of beach. The town’s own sand covers 2 km of that run, beginning at the mouth of the Almiros river and ending at Kavros beach, which continues it without a break. The shore is sandy and dotted with dunes, the water is shallow, and lifeguards work the main stretch through the season.
Georgioupolis lies in a green valley crossed by rivers and springs, on the bay of Almiros, and that fresh water shapes the swimming. River mouths keep the western corner sheltered and noticeably cool, while the open sand further east catches the wind. Chania is the nearest airport.
Things to do in and around Georgioupolis
Six outings start from the town, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Swim off the town beach. The Georgioupolis beach runs 2 km east from the river mouth, with umbrellas, showers and food and drink stalls along it.
- Take small children to Kalivaki, 500 m west, past the port and the church of Agios Nikolaos. The Almyros river mouth shelters it from the wind when the open beaches are choppy.
- Spend a whole day at Kavros, which begins 4 km east, an expansive sandy beach with restaurants, cafés and bars along it and unorganised stretches in between.
- Drive up to Kefalas. The hilltop village of Kefalas, 5.6 km away on the slopes of the Drapanos peninsula, looks out over the Bay of Georgioupolis, the Lefka Ori and, on a clear day, Rethymno.
- Swim in deep water at Ombros Gialos, a rocky bay 7 km west whose harbour dock drops straight into deep, clear water, with one well-known fish tavern and no sunbeds at all.
- Walk the Petres gorge. The Petres Gorge opens at Petres beach, 13 km west of Rethymno, and narrows to a 1 km section that starts near the village of Karoti. The walk is easy to reach and the ponds along the riverbed are good for swimming.
Georgioupolis beach
Georgioupolis beach is a 2 km sandy stretch that begins at the Almiros river and ends where Kavros beach takes over. It forms the western end of a 10 km beach, so the sand opens a long shore rather than closing a cove.
The beach is well maintained and child-friendly, with dunes behind the sand, shallow water in front of it and lifeguards on duty. Umbrellas, showers and food and drink stalls line it. Sea currents build along the shore when the wind blows, and the open eastern stretches feel it first.
Beaches near Georgioupolis
Four more beaches sit within about 7 km of the town, and they divide neatly into sheltered sand and open water.
- Kalivaki lies 500 m west, the westernmost beach of Georgioupolis bay, at the point where the Almyros river meets the sea. The river keeps it sheltered from the wind and its shallow water noticeably cool, the family choice on blowy days.
- Kavros runs 4 km east, between Georgioupolis and Pyrgos, sandy with transparent shallow water. Kavros is open to the wind and often has real wave action, and although developed it stays somewhat less commercial than the town beach, with unorganised parts for anyone wanting quiet.
- Episkopi begins about 7 km east, 3.5 km of soft sand in a valley between the Mouselas river and the river out of the Petres gorge. Its western section has a lifeguard, sunbeds, showers and water sports, while the eastern end near the Petres bridge stays quiet.
- Ombros Gialos sits 7 km west on the east coast of the Drapanokefala peninsula, near Kefalas and Paleloni. This one is rocky rather than sandy, unorganised, and built around a harbour dock that lets swimmers step into deep blue-green water.
Where to eat in Georgioupolis
The tavernas, cafés and bars of Georgioupolis sit within a few hundred metres of the beach, packed close together in the village centre.
- Nostos stands in the centre, 100 m from the sand.
- To Sentouki serves village cooking 100 m from the beach.
- Gyropolis does gyros and quick food 100 m out.
- Mouragio Cafe pours coffee by the waterfront, 100 m away.
- La Tortuga Bar serves drinks in the centre, 100 m from the beach.
- Armonia Essential Gastronomy sits 200 m from the sand.
Getting to Georgioupolis
Georgioupolis sits between the two western cities on the north coast, 38 km east of Chania and 21 km west of Rethymno, so both work as a day out. Chania is the nearest airport to the town.
Inland runs are short from here. Kefalas is 5.6 km up the slope, Episkopi 7.7 km and Gavalohori 8.2 km, so the inland villages fill an afternoon away from the sand.
Walkers have more gorges further out. The Kollita Gorges are two parallel canyons near Argyroupolis, 22 km southwest of Rethymno, and their easy going suits beginners.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Georgioupolis in Crete?
Georgioupolis lies on the north coast of Crete, 38 km east of Chania and 21 km west of Rethymno, on the bay of Almiros. Our Georgioupolis town guide covers where to stay and what the village itself holds.
How long is Georgioupolis beach?
Georgioupolis beach is 2 km long, running east from the mouth of the Almiros river to Kavros beach. That 2 km is the western end of a 10 km beach, and the sand carries on east without an obvious break.
Is Georgioupolis beach good for children?
Georgioupolis beach is child-friendly, with shallow water, soft sand and lifeguards on duty. Kalivaki, 500 m west at the river mouth, is the more sheltered option of the two, and it holds up better when the wind picks up.
Is it safe to swim at Georgioupolis?
Swim with care on windy days, because sea currents run along this beach. Lifeguards cover the main stretch in season, and Kalivaki is the calmer corner when the open sand is rough.
Which beaches near Georgioupolis are quiet?
Ombros Gialos, 7 km west, is the quietest of the nearby beaches, an unorganised rocky bay with a single fish tavern and no sunbeds. The eastern end of Episkopi near the Petres bridge and the unorganised parts of Kavros are the other options.
Is there a river at Georgioupolis?
The Almiros river reaches the sea at the western end of Georgioupolis beach. The town sits in a green valley crossed by rivers and springs, and that fresh water keeps the shallows at Kalivaki cool.
Location
Georgioupolis is located at Georgioupolis, in the Chania region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
