Best Beaches near Geráni in Rethymno region, Crete Island

Kamari beach is located 1.0 km away.

Kamari Beach is situated roughly 7km west of Rethymnon, close to Gerani village, at the entrance of Vederi Gorge. The coastal highway linking Chania and Rethymnon runs adjacent to the beach and over the Gerani bridge.

The beach is relatively compact, featuring pebbles and rocks in certain areas, making it a favourite among snorkelers. Despite being exposed to frequent northerly winds, it offers some amenities such as a few umbrellas, taverns, and rooms. Additionally, a quaint harbour and the charming Panagia Kamariani church can be found nearby.

A short distance south of the beach, one can find the sealed entrance to the Gerani cave, a significant archaeological site in central Crete, discovered unexpectedly during the construction of the main road. Moreover, visitors can explore the scenic narrow streets of Gerani village and visit the St George church along with several smaller churches.

Petres beach is located 3.4 km away.

Situated at the eastern edge of the expansive Episkopi beachfront, Petres beach, or Stones beach, is a 46km journey east from Chania and 13km west from Rethymnon. The beach owes its name to the majestic Petres Gorge that concludes at this point. The area is dotted with facilities such as accommodations, eateries, and even a diving school. The Vythos cove, positioned north of the other areas, offers umbrellas and a less sandy terrain. The rocky underwater landscape makes it a hotspot for fishing and snorkelling. However, the frequent northern winds can cause the sea to become wavy.

Koumbes beach is located 5.4 km away.

Koumbes, situated 2km west of Rethymnon’s center, is the only beach on the city’s western side. The beach offers stunning vistas of the impressive Fortezza fortress, located several hundred meters to the east. Koumbes derives its name from the Turkish word ‘Kubbe,’ which translates to ‘dome.’ This expansive beach, adorned with sand and fine pebbles, has seen significant growth in recent years, and its development has become a top priority for the Rethymno Municipality. This growth has led to numerous improvements, including the addition of walkways and similar enhancements along the coast.

At Koumbes, visitors can avail themselves of all necessary tourist amenities, such as lifeguard services, umbrellas, showers, changing rooms, and water sports. The area also boasts numerous hotels, accommodations, restaurants, taverns, snack bars, and cafes. Access to Koumbes from the city center is convenient, either by bus or on foot. Walking takes no more than 20 minutes.

Episkopi beach is located 5.4 km away.

Episkopi beach is a 3.5 km sandy beach on the north coast of Crete, 14 km west of Rethymno and 45 km east of Chania. Episkopi beach sits in a fertile valley between the Mouselas river and the river that runs out of the Petres gorge. The water is shallow and usually a little wavy, like most beaches on Crete’s north coast, and it takes its name from the village of Episkopi, 2 km inland to the south.

At a glance:

• Length: about 3.5 km of sand
• Water: blue and clear, shallow, usually light waves
• Family friendly: soft sand and a gentle, shallow entry
• Organized western section: lifeguard, umbrellas and sunbeds, showers, snack bars, water sports
• Quiet zone: the eastern end near the Petres bridge
• Access: coastal road, KTEL bus, and parking at the beach

The beach and the water

The sand is soft, with a short pebbly strip at the waterline that turns sandy underfoot as you walk in. Mornings are usually calm and clear enough to see the bottom, while an afternoon breeze can raise small waves. The shallow, gently shelving water suits families with children and makes the beach a good spot for a slow swim or a snorkel.

Facilities and the organized section

The western part of the beach is well organized. There you find lifeguards, showers, changing rooms, umbrellas and sunbeds, snack bars, and water sports. Tavernas and bars line the shore, several renting sunbeds under thatched umbrellas. Because the beach runs for about 3.5 km, you can still find a quieter, less developed stretch toward the eastern end near the Petres bridge.

Getting there and parking

The main coastal road between Rethymno and Chania runs parallel to the beach, so access by car is easy. Frequent KTEL public buses connect Chania and Rethymno and stop on the highway beside the beach, and parking is available at the shore. The simplest way to reach Episkopi and explore the rest of the north coast is to rent a car.

Sea turtles

Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) nest along this coast between May and September, and Episkopi is a recorded nesting point. If you visit in those months, keep clear of any marked nests and take your litter home with you.

What is nearby

Episkopi sits within a short drive of these stops:

• About 2 km east lie Petres beach and the Petres gorge, with a diving school and a rocky seabed that snorkelers and anglers favor.
• Argyroupolis, an inland village known for its springs and lush greenery.
• Lake Kournas, the only natural freshwater lake on Crete, a short drive inland.
• Further west, the sandy resort beaches of Georgioupolis and Kavros.

The name Episkopi means “Diocese”: the village was the seat of the local diocese in the Byzantine period, and the old Episcopal church of St Nicholas nearby now stands in ruins. Almost unknown to travelers, the area is also the ancestral home of the Vardinoyannis family.

FAQ

Where is Episkopi beach?

Episkopi beach is on the north coast of Crete in the Rethymno area, 14 km west of Rethymno and 45 km east of Chania. It lies below the village of Episkopi, between the Mouselas and Petres rivers.

Is Episkopi beach good for families?

Yes. The water is shallow and the sand is soft, and the organized western section has a lifeguard, so it suits children and less confident swimmers.

Is Episkopi beach organized, with sunbeds and facilities?

The western part is organized, with lifeguards, showers, changing rooms, umbrellas and sunbeds, snack bars, and water sports. The eastern end near the Petres bridge is quieter and less developed.

Are there water sports at Episkopi beach?

Yes, water sports are offered in the organized western section, alongside the lifeguard, showers, umbrellas, and snack bars.

How do I get to Episkopi beach, and is there parking?

The coastal Rethymno to Chania road runs next to the beach, so you can drive or take a KTEL public bus that stops on the highway. Parking is available at the beach.

When is the best time to visit Episkopi beach?

The main season is June to September, when the weather is warm and dry. Late May, June, and September are usually quieter than midsummer.

Is Episkopi beach good for snorkeling?

Yes. The water is clear and shallow, and the rockier seabed near Petres beach to the east is a favorite for snorkeling and fishing.

Rethymnon beach is located 8.0 km away.

Rethymno beach is the organised town beach of Rethymno, a strip of golden sand and shallow, clear water on the city’s seafront. Rethymno beach sits about 500 metres east of the old town and next to the Venetian port, so you can walk there from the centre in a few minutes without a car. It marks the westernmost end of Rethymno Bay’s long beachfront, which runs east from the harbour toward Skaleta. Entry to the sand is free, and you pay only to rent a sunbed and umbrella. The beach stays busy through the day yet rarely feels packed, and the seafront promenade, Eleftheriou Venizelou, runs alongside it for an evening walk.

Where Rethymno beach is

Rethymno beach lies on the north coast of Crete, at the edge of Rethymno town. Rethymno beach is a short walk east along the seafront from the old town and the Venetian port. From there you can keep walking east past the town beach toward the suburbs of Perivolia and Platanes and on to Skaleta, because the town beach is the western end of the bay’s continuous sandy beachfront.

Facilities and services

Rethymno beach is a well-organised beach, with amenities lined up along the sand and the promenade behind it. Entry to the beach is free, and you pay only for a sunbed and umbrella. The services along the shore include:

• Sunbeds and umbrellas for hire
• A seasonal lifeguard service
• Beach bars, cafes and restaurants on the seafront
• Showers and changing rooms
• Water sports
• Blue Flag status

The beach is wheelchair accessible, sits on a paved road, and is served by local buses, so you can reach it without a car.

Swimming and conditions

Rethymno beach is a safe choice for swimming, and its shallow, clear water suits families with young children. The sea faces open water, so the surface can turn choppy when the wind picks up, and calm mornings are the easiest time to swim. In peak season the sand fills quickly, and arriving early is the surest way to find shade and a quiet spot.

Loggerhead turtles at Rethymno beach

Rethymno beach is a nesting site for the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Rethymno Gulf is one of Greece’s 3 most important nesting areas for the species, with more than 400 nests recorded here each year. During nesting season, roped-off patches of sand mark protected nests where eggs have been found, so keep clear of the marked areas and leave them undisturbed.

Beaches near Rethymnon beach

Several more sandy beaches line the same bay on either side of Rethymno beach, listed below by distance.

• Pervolia beach (2.1 km): a long sandy beach fronting the Pervolia, Misiria and Platanias suburbs, part of the bay’s beachfront, with food, drink, lodging and Caretta caretta nesting.
• Koumbes beach (2.6 km): the one beach on the western side of the centre, a sand-and-fine-pebble shore with views of the Fortezza fortress, a lifeguard, umbrellas, showers and water sports, about a 20-minute walk from the centre.
• Misiria beach (2.7 km): a sandy suburb beach on the same bay, named after its fertile farmland, with a wide choice of dining and lodging and loggerhead nesting.
• Platanes beach (3.8 km): a long, well-kept sandy beach on the same beachfront in front of the suburbs, with food, drink, accommodation and Caretta caretta nesting.

The wider Rethymno bay, beach by beach

Rethymno beach opens a single run of sand that continues about 13 kilometres east from the town harbour to Skaleta, and 7 more named beaches sit along it within 8 kilometres of the town. Loggerhead turtles nest on the whole of that shore rather than on the town beach alone. Only one of the group, Koumbes, lies on the western side of the city, so a walk or drive east keeps you on the same continuous beachfront.

• Pervolia beach lies 2.1 kilometres east, the first stretch of sand past the town beach, fronting the Pervolia suburb with food, drink and rooms behind the shore.
• Koumbes beach sits 2.6 kilometres west, the only beach on the city’s western side, made of sand and fine pebbles and looking back at the Fortezza fortress a few hundred metres east. Its name comes from the Turkish word “Kubbe”, meaning dome, and the municipality has added walkways and a lifeguard service along it.
• Misiria beach is 2.7 kilometres east, a suburb beach on the same 13-kilometre strip, with a wide choice of places to eat, drink and stay.
• Platanes beach lies 3.8 kilometres east, where shallow, light-blue water meets sunbeds and lifeguards in season. The sand here runs in front of the Pervolia, Missiria and Platanias suburbs, which together carry the name Platanes.
• Adelianos Kambos beach sits 5.5 kilometres east, further along the same bay.
• Pigianos Kambos beaches lie 7.1 kilometres east, on the stretch beyond Adelianos Kambos.
• Kamari beach is 7.3 kilometres east, the furthest of the group from the town beach.

FAQ

Where is Rethymno beach?

Rethymno beach is on the north-coast seafront of Rethymno town in Crete, about 500 metres east of the old town and next to the Venetian port. It is the westernmost part of Rethymno Bay’s long beachfront.

Is Rethymno beach good for swimming?

Yes. The water is shallow and clear, which suits both swimmers and children. The surface can get choppy on windy days, so mornings are usually the calmest time to swim.

Is Rethymno beach family friendly?

Yes. The shallow, clear water, the seasonal lifeguard and the cafes and facilities along the promenade make it a practical choice for families with young children.

Is Rethymno beach free?

Yes. Entry to the beach is free, and you pay only to rent a sunbed and umbrella. Food, drinks and water sports along the seafront are charged separately.

What facilities does Rethymno beach have?

The beach is organised with sunbeds and umbrellas for hire, a seasonal lifeguard, showers, changing rooms, water sports, and beach bars, cafes and restaurants along the seafront. It also holds Blue Flag status.

Which beaches are near Rethymno beach?

7 beaches lie within 8 kilometres of Rethymno beach. Pervolia sits 2.1 kilometres east, Koumbes 2.6 kilometres west, Misiria 2.7 kilometres east, Platanes 3.8 kilometres east, Adelianos Kambos 5.5 kilometres east, Pigianos Kambos 7.1 kilometres east and Kamari 7.3 kilometres east.

Is there a beach west of Rethymno town?

Koumbes is the one beach on the western side of Rethymno, 2.6 kilometres from the town beach. Its sand and fine pebbles face the Fortezza fortress, and it has a lifeguard service, tourist amenities and walkways along the coast.

How do you get to Rethymno beach?

Walk east from the old town and Venetian port along the seafront, take a local bus, or drive in on the paved road beside the beach. The beach is also wheelchair accessible.

Why are parts of Rethymno beach roped off?

Rethymno beach is a nesting site for the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta. Roped-off patches of sand mark protected nests where eggs have been found, so swimmers keep clear of them.

When is the best time to visit Rethymno beach?

The beach is busiest in peak summer, when it fills quickly during the day. Arriving early in the morning is the surest way to find shade and a quiet spot, and mornings also tend to have the calmest water.

Getting there and getting around

Reaching Rethymno beach is simple, on foot from the old town and the Venetian port, by local bus, or by car on the paved road beside the sand. A car makes it easy to reach the quieter beaches further east along the bay and the villages inland on your own schedule. You can compare rates and pick up a vehicle for the trip through our car rental in Crete page.

Kavros beach is located 9.3 km away.

Located between Georgioupoli and Pyrgos, Kavros refers to the expansive beach situated just 4 km east of Georgioupoli, near the hotel bearing the same name. Though the area has experienced substantial tourist development, it’s somewhat less commercialized compared to the adjacent Georgioupolis. Kavros beach is a sandy stretch with transparent, shallow waters; however, its openness to the wind often results in notable wave activity. The beach provides several facilities for visitors, including an array of restaurants, cafes, and bars, making it a perfect spot for an all-day excursion. For those seeking tranquillity, parts of the beach remain unorganized, offering a more serene experience.

The place at its greatest part is developed and only a very small part of it has been left untouched. Between the remaining virgin parts of the beach, there is an extensive and very important ecosystem of dunes. The dunes of Kavros, like all dunes, host a significant and very fragile ecosystem that is home to its own plants. The most important role of the dunes in Crete is that they protect the inner lands from erosion. In the area, in winter we meet small ponds and the landscape is quite different from the summer.

Pervolia beach is located 10.1 km away.

Three neighbouring suburbs of Rethymnon, Pervolia, Misiria, and Platanias (also known as Platanes) are situated 3-5km west of the city. Initially independent settlements, they have been subsumed into Rethymnon’s urban region due to expansion in residential development.

A lengthy sandy beach, part of Rethymnon bay’s expansive beachfront, extends in front of these suburbs. The beach begins near Rethymnon’s harbour and continues eastwards for 13km until reaching Skaleta. The beach is well-maintained and offers a wide selection of food, drink, and lodging options.

A notable feature of this beach, like the entirety of the vast beachfront, is the nesting activity of the Caretta caretta sea turtle. These turtles, protected by international law, lay their eggs in the sand. Rethymno Gulf is one of Greece’s three critical habitats for Caretta caretta, with over 400 nests documented annually.

Misiria beach is located 10.7 km away.

Pervolia, Misiria, and Platanias, also known as Platanes, form a trio of suburbs that adjoin the city of Rethymnon, and are situated 3-5km west of the city. Previously individual settlements, they have now merged into Rethymnon’s urban district due to the growth of residential areas.

A sprawling sandy beach extends in front of these suburbs, forming part of a 13km long coastal strip that begins near Rethymno’s harbour and reaches as far as Skaleta beach. This well-maintained beach offers a wide variety of options for dining, drinking, and lodging. Along this extensive stretch of coastline, loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) come to nest. These turtles are at risk of becoming extinct, but the Rethymno Gulf stands as one of the three most crucial habitats for the species in Greece, hosting an average of over 400 nests each year.

The name Misiria originates from the Arabic term ‘Misr’, referring to a suburb of Cairo known for its fertile soil. In a similar vein, Misiria is so named due to its productive land, which continues to yield a bounty of vegetables.

Platanes beach is located 11.9 km away.

Platanes beach is a long, sandy, well-organised beach on Rethymno Bay, on the north coast of Crete, 3-5 km from the town of Rethymno. Platanes beach has shallow, light-blue water, sunbeds and lifeguards in season, and it is part of a protected nesting shore for loggerhead sea turtles. The sand runs in front of the Pervolia, Missiria and Platanias suburbs, which are also known together as Platanes, and joins the wider Rethymno Bay coastline that stretches about 13 km east from Rethymno harbour to Skaleta.

Where is Platanes beach?

Platanes beach lies on Rethymno Bay, 3-5 km from the centre of Rethymno, where the suburbs of Pervolia, Missiria and Platanias meet the sea. Platanes beach sits near the start of a long sandy strip that runs about 13 km east along the bay to Skaleta. These three suburbs were once separate settlements that merged into the urban area of Rethymno over the last century. The nearest airport is Chania International, about 75 km to the west.

Sand, sea and swimming

The sand at Platanes beach is soft and the water is shallow and light blue, so children can paddle safely close to the shore. The sea faces north and lies open to the wind, which keeps the water fresh but turns the calm morning surface wavy by the afternoon. Lifeguards watch the main organised stretch during the day in season, and a playground sits nearby for families. Mornings are usually the quietest and calmest time to swim.

Facilities and organisation

Platanes beach is a well-organised beach with a full set of services along the sand. Platanes beach offers sunbeds and umbrellas to rent, showers, and food and drink at the tavernas and cafes behind the shore. Water sports run from the beach in season, such as jet skiing, parasailing and banana-boat rides. The beach holds a Blue Flag, and you can reach it on foot, by bus from Rethymno, or along the paved coast road, with a handicap-friendly entrance and parking nearby for a fee.

Loggerhead turtles at Platanes beach

Platanes beach is a nesting ground for the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), a species protected by the Greek State. Rethymno Bay is one of the 3 most important nesting sites for the species in Greece, with more than 400 nests recorded each year. The turtles lay their eggs in the sand along the whole bay, so marked nests are sometimes roped off and visitors keep clear of them to protect the eggs.

Beaches near Platanes beach

The coast on either side of Platanes beach holds several more sandy beaches, listed below by distance.

• Misiria beach (1.1 km): a sandy suburb beach on the same bay, named after its fertile farmland.
• Adelianos Kambos beach (1.7 km): a developed resort beach about 6 km east of Rethymno, with hotels, umbrellas, lifeguards and beach sports.
• Pervolia beach (1.8 km): part of the same suburb strip, with a long sandy shore and food and lodging close by.
• Pigianos Kambos beaches (3.3 km): a quieter stretch about 8 km east of Rethymno, with small rocky coves that are good for snorkelling.

Getting to Platanes beach

Platanes beach sits just outside Rethymno, so buses from the town centre stop close to the sand and the paved coast road brings you to the door. A beach morning here fits easily with the old town of Rethymno, the turtle-nesting bays toward Skaleta, and the quieter coves further east. The simplest way to reach them all on your own schedule is by car, which you can compare on our car rental in Crete page.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Platanes beach?

Platanes beach is on Rethymno Bay, 3-5 km from the centre of Rethymno, on the north coast of Crete.

Is Platanes beach good for families and children?

Yes. The water is shallow and light blue, lifeguards watch the main stretch in season, and a playground sits nearby, so children can swim and play safely.

What facilities does Platanes beach have?

Platanes beach has sunbeds and umbrellas to rent, showers, lifeguards in season, a Blue Flag, and food and drink at the tavernas and cafes behind the shore.

Can you do water sports at Platanes beach?

Yes. Water sports run from Platanes beach in season, such as jet skiing, parasailing and banana-boat rides.

Is there parking at Platanes beach?

Yes. Parking is available near Platanes beach for a fee, and town buses and the paved coast road also reach the sand.

Why are there sea turtles at Platanes beach?

Platanes beach lies on Rethymno Bay, one of Greece’s 3 most important nesting sites for the loggerhead sea turtle, where more than 400 nests are recorded each year.

Georgioupolis beaches is located 12.5 km away.

Georgioupolis, a small coastal town located 38km east of Chania and 21km west of Rethymnon, is a seaside resort nestled in a verdant valley crisscrossed by rivers and springs. Situated on the western edge of a sprawling 10km beach, the town’s beach spans 2km to the east, beginning at the Almiros river and terminating at Kavros beach, a natural continuation of the former. The beach in Georgioupolis is sandy, dotted with dunes, and has shallow waters.

The beach is well-maintained and child-friendly, with lifeguards on duty. Caution is advised during windy conditions due to sea currents. Amenities such as umbrellas, showers, and food and drink stalls are available for beachgoers. Approximately 700m east of the port, the Perastikos river bifurcates the beach, which then widens as it continues eastward. On the opposite end, west of Georgioupolis’s port and near the Almyros river’s exit, lies the picturesque Kalivaki beach.