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.
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.
Situated 36km to the south of Rethymno city, Plakias is a charming tourist haven nestled at the mouth of a fertile valley just beyond the Kouroupa range, where the Kotsifos river meets the sea. It owes much of its popularity to the impressive Gialia beach, stretching for 1.3km from the edge of the town to the east, ending at Cape Mouri. This fully-equipped beach, characterized by its crystal-clear, cool waters, is an ideal location for leisurely walks or cycling along the adjacent road. It features numerous hotels and restaurants, as well as beach essentials such as umbrellas, water sports facilities, beach volley courts, snack bars, changing rooms, and showers.
Paligremnos, the eastern portion of the beach, boasts fine sandy shores and is well-appointed with various amenities close to local accommodation and eateries. Noteworthy are the tall, vertical cliffs nearby that prove to be a magnet for climbing enthusiasts. This spot, also known as “Gonates” (knees), is steeped in local lore; it’s said that the epic hero Digenis knelt here to drink from a local spring. An intriguing phenomenon takes place here every full moon from September to January, as the moon’s reflection on the sheer cliffs draws large squids to the beach, which locals catch with long sticks. A few meters south of Paligremnos, you can also discover tunnels once used for transporting coal to waiting cargo ships.
Situated 37km south of Rethymno, nestled between Plakias and Souda’s beach, Fotinari (also known as Foteinari) offers two serene beaches resting in a compact bay rich with vegetation. The rocky seabed provides a perfect spot for fishing and snorkelling activities.
These adjoining pebbly beaches lack organisation, however, you can easily find accommodation and dining options nearby. As you approach from Plakias, heading towards Souda beach, the first beach you’ll encounter is the Small Fotinari, also referred to as Fotinaraki, due to its smaller size compared to the following beach, the Big Fotinari.
Both beaches are conveniently located near the main road, which runs directly over them. Two brief stone paths cut through a pair of small woods, leading straight to the beach. Additionally, Big Fotinari offers shade beneath the towering rocks that surround it.
Damnoni is an organized sandy bay on Crete’s south coast, about 35 kilometres south of Rethymno and 5 kilometres east of Plakias, with clear turquoise water, coarse pale sand, and a busy west end that gives way to a quieter east end and secluded coves. Damnoni faces the Libyan Sea at the mouth of a green, olive-covered valley ringed by mountains, and it is one of the most popular and well-developed beaches in the Plakias area.
Damnoni beach lies on the south coast of Crete, about 35 kilometres south of Rethymno city and 5 kilometres east of the resort village of Plakias. Damnoni sits at the mouth of a wide valley covered with olive groves and fed by mountain streams, so the land stays green right behind the sand. The beach belongs to the Agios Vasilios area of the Rethymno regional unit and faces the Libyan Sea. A short dirt road along the eastern side links Damnoni to the neighbouring Ammoudi coves.
Damnoni is a long, wide bay with clear turquoise water and coarse, whitish sand. Damnoni has two distinct ends that give the beach its character. The west end is the organized, busier part, and a small river reaches the sea here and keeps water almost all year round. The east end is calmer and quieter, and it leads along a short dirt road to the smaller Ammoudi and Ammoudaki coves. Just west of the main bay, beside the area’s small harbour, a few secluded coves of sand and rock offer a spot to get away from the crowd.
Damnoni beach is a fully organized beach with the facilities for a full day by the water. Damnoni offers the following facilities along and behind the sand:
Damnoni is reached by a paved road, is handicap friendly, and has parking beside the beach.
Damnoni is well suited to swimming and snorkelling, because the water is shallow near the shore, usually calm, and clear. Damnoni draws snorkellers to its clear water and to the rockier edges of the bay, where small fish gather. The wider stretch of coast around Damnoni holds some of the finest snorkelling and diving spots in the Plakias area, and the neighbouring Skinaria and Ammoudaki coves reward a mask and fins. Families use the shallow, gentle entry at the main bay, and stronger swimmers explore the rocky coves toward the harbour.
Damnoni beach is about a 45-minute drive south from Rethymno, on a paved road that turns off toward Plakias. No public bus runs directly down to the beach, and the Rethymno to Plakias bus stops in Lefkogia or Plakias rather than at the sand, so most visitors arrive by rented car or taxi. Parking sits beside the beach and fills up on peak-season afternoons, so arriving earlier in the day helps. In summer, small boats also run from Plakias along the coast toward Preveli Palm Beach and call at Damnoni on the way.
The best time to visit Damnoni beach is from June to September, when the sea is warm and every facility is open. Damnoni is busiest through midsummer and along its organized west end, so an early start means easier parking and a quieter stretch of sand. Late spring and early autumn stay warm enough to swim and draw smaller crowds, which makes May and October good months for a calmer visit.
Damnoni sits within walking or short driving distance of several other south-coast beaches. Damnoni connects to the following beaches nearby:
A day at Damnoni is easiest with your own car, because no bus runs down to the beach and the coves nearby are spread along a rough coastal road. Driving lets you arrive early for a parking spot and the quiet east end, then chain Damnoni with Ammoudi, Skinaria and Kalypso or catch the boat to Preveli in one day. A car also carries the beach gear for a full day by the Libyan Sea without waiting on bus timetables. For that flexibility across the Plakias coast and the wider south of Rethymno, book a car rental in Crete.
Damnoni beach is on Crete’s south coast, about 35 kilometres south of Rethymno and 5 kilometres east of Plakias. The beach faces the Libyan Sea at the mouth of an olive-covered valley in the Agios Vasilios area of Rethymno.
Yes, Damnoni beach has coarse, whitish sand along a wide bay. Some pebbles and small rocks appear at the edges and in the secluded coves west of the main beach.
Yes, Damnoni is good for both, because the water is shallow near the shore, usually calm, and clear. Snorkellers explore the rockier edges of the bay and the neighbouring Skinaria and Ammoudaki coves.
To reach Damnoni beach, drive about 45 minutes south from Rethymno and turn off toward Plakias, since no bus runs directly to the beach. A rented car or taxi is the practical way to arrive, and parking sits beside the sand.
Damnoni’s main bay is a family beach, while naturists gather at the neighbouring Ammoudaki cove just east of Damnoni. A short dirt road from the east end of the beach leads to the Ammoudi and Ammoudaki coves.
Ammoudi and Ammoudaki lie about 0.6 kilometres east, Skinaria about 1.1 kilometres away, and Kalypso is a short walk to the west. Preveli Palm Beach, with its palm-lined river, is reachable by boat from Plakias or Damnoni.
The swimming season runs from late spring to October, and June to September brings the warmest, most settled conditions. May and October are quieter than the midsummer peak and stay warm enough to swim.
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.
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.
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:
The beach is wheelchair accessible, sits on a paved road, and is served by local buses, so you can reach it without a car.
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.
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.
Several more sandy beaches line the same bay on either side of Rethymno beach, listed below by distance.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Souda is nestled 41km to the southwest of Rethymno city, and a mere 3km east from the bustling resort of Plakias. Don’t mistake it for Souda Bay, the natural harbour of Chania city. It is, in fact, the final beach along the Plakias seafront, known as Yialia, commencing at Shinaria many kilometers away. Situated at the mouth of a verdant valley, Souda is crisscrossed by the Finikas river, which flows all year round. Cretan palm trees of Theophrastus, native to the area, flourish along the river and numerous other locations, establishing Souda as a significant refuge for the species.
In the midst of this stunning landscape, a sandy beach stretches out, adored by all who visit. However, this affection can quickly turn to annoyance when the northern winds whip up the sand, blasting unsuspecting swimmers. The landscape today bears no resemblance to the secluded paradise of the 90s, where a narrow dirt path led to a rocky shoreline and a sparsely populated nudist beach. While nudists still frequent the area, they no longer enjoy the same level of comfort. The beach is now more accessible with paved roads, organized facilities, umbrellas, and showers. There are several taverns and accommodations nearby. The rocky beach edges offer ideal conditions for fishing and snorkeling. A few benches can be found above the eastern rocks on the main road, offering panoramic views of the South Cretan Sea.
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.
Ammoudi beaches are located 32 kilometers south of Rethymno and 5 kilometers east of Plakias village. Ammoudi beaches are accessible via a paved road from the village of Lefkogia. This road leads you directly to the first beach, Ammoudi, recognizable by its distinctive green slippery rock. Ammoudi beach has a slight organization, with available amenities such as umbrellas, nearby taverns and rooms, and even a scuba diving centre. Ammoudi Beach offers white sand, rocky seabed, and bright green waters, making it ideal for diving and snorkelling. There’s also the option to find shade and camp under the many tamarisk trees located next to the beach.
Heading west from Ammoudi, a dirt road begins that will take you towards Damnoni, passing by towering cliffs and impressive rocks. Just 200m west of Ammoudi, along this dirt road, you’ll discover a parking plateau that offers an unrestricted view of Damnoni. Here, you’ll see an enchanting miniature sandy beach, featuring turquoise waters and a unique rock in the sea. Known as Klisidi, this beach is an attractive choice when not crowded, though this is rare during peak season.
Adjacent to Klisidi, you’ll encounter the stunning nudist beach of Small Ammoudi or Ammoudaki. This small beach is popular among nudists for its turquoise waters and exceptional white coarse sand. It also has a small canteen offering umbrellas and sunbeds. On the beach’s west side, you can swim in a marine cave, where the sunlight turns the water a vibrant blue. You can easily walk on the sandy seabed. There’s also an underwater hole connecting Ammoudaki with Klisidi, allowing you to travel between the two beaches with just a dive. If you wish to reach the Ammoudi beaches on foot, simply walk east of Damnoni until you reach Ammoudaki.
Kalypso Beach is a small, steep-cliffed cove on the southern coast of Crete, 34 kilometres (21 miles) south of Rethymno, between Plakias and Preveli Beach. The beach sits at the foot of narrow rock passages that drop into deep, calm, deep-blue water, which makes it better suited to confident swimmers, snorkellers and divers than to paddling toddlers. Access is free on foot through the Kalypso Cretan Village Resort & Spa, a paved road reaches the site, and the Kalypso Dive Center runs guided tours and equipment rentals on the shore. Locals also call it Pirates’ Fjord Beach, because the sheltered inlet worked as a pirate hideout during the Byzantine era.
If you want the short version: come for the scenery, the diving and the cliff jumping, rent a sunbed for the day, and drive rather than rely on buses.
Kalypso Beach is a narrow fjord-like cove framed by towering cliffs on Crete’s Libyan Sea coast. Kalypso Beach reads more as a rocky swimming spot than a wide sandy resort beach, with rocks in places along the shoreline and sudden drop-offs a step or two from the water’s edge. The sea here is deep blue, the surface is usually calm, and crowds stay at normal levels rather than the crush you find at Crete’s headline beaches.
The setting is the draw. Steep cliffs, narrow passages and deep water give the cove a dramatic, enclosed feel and a genuinely distinctive geological shape, which is why it also carries the “Pirates’ Fjord” name. The same cliffs that make it photogenic are the reason it demands a little care in the water.
Reach Kalypso Beach most easily by car or taxi, because the cove sits off the main tourist routes near Plakias with no direct public transport to the shore. Drivers reach Kalypso Beach from Rethymno in about 45 minutes. The beach lies 97 kilometres (60 miles) from Chania International Airport and 115 kilometres (71 miles) from Heraklion Airport, and a paved road runs to the site.
Access to the beach itself is free of charge and on foot through the neighbouring hotel. The Kalypso Cretan Village Resort & Spa provides direct beach access, a pool and spa facilities, and hotel guests receive free use of the beach sunbeds.
You have three practical ways to arrive:
Yes, renting a car is the most practical way to visit Kalypso Beach, since the cove lies near Plakias with no direct public transport. Renting a car also removes the reliance on rigid bus timetables and lets you fold gorges, villages and other beaches into the same day trip. Narrow roads and limited signage lead to the site, so a compact model that handles tight bends on mountainous terrain suits the drive better than a large vehicle. Standard requirements across major and local agencies include a valid driver’s licence and a minimum age of 21. Travellers arriving through Heraklion or Chania airports often pick up a vehicle on arrival to keep their schedule flexible, and renting a car in Crete simplifies exactly this kind of multi-stop coastal trip.
Kalypso Beach offers a modest but useful set of facilities for a small cove. The beach has sunbeds and umbrellas for hire, with a set of two beds plus an umbrella costing €10 ($11, £9), while hotel guests use the sunbeds for free. Food and water are available nearby, and the adjacent resort covers accommodation, an on-site restaurant, and spa and pool facilities.
The core facilities are:
Dogs are allowed at Kalypso Beach. Fishing is not, the beach falls within a natural park, so fishing is prohibited.
Snorkelling and scuba diving are the standout activities at Kalypso Beach, thanks to clear, deep water and a rich underwater world. The marine life here includes fish, sea turtles and other sea creatures, and there are underwater caves to explore along the rocky shore. The Kalypso Dive Center provides guided tours and equipment rentals for both snorkelling and diving.
The calm, clear water also makes plain swimming rewarding, provided you are comfortable out of your depth. The water is deep close in, so this is a swimmers’ beach rather than a toddler-friendly shallows.
Cliff jumping is the beach’s signature adventure, with jumps of up to 10 metres from the cliffs into the deep water below. Cliff jumping rewards confident, careful visitors, and it calls for the same caution near the rocks that the deep water demands. The surrounding cliffs and coastline also open up several hiking trails with views over the cove and the sea, and a 25-minute hike leads from Kalypso Beach to neighbouring Damnoni Beach. Biking is possible in the wider area too, which rounds out a spot that mixes adventure, relaxation and exploration.
Visit Kalypso Beach between June and September for the warmest, most reliable swimming conditions. During these months the sea temperature runs a pleasant 23°C (73.4°F) to 25.5°C (77.9°F), ideal for swimming, snorkelling and diving. May and October stay comfortable for slightly cooler swims, with sea temperatures between 19°C (66.2°F) and 22.5°C (72.5°F). Across the wider May-to-October window the climate is warm with minimal rainfall.
Kalypso Beach suits confident swimmers, snorkellers, divers and adventure-minded travellers more than families with young children. The beach welcomes families, but it fits older children who swim strongly, because the shoreline is rocky and the drop-offs are sudden. Parents of younger children usually have an easier day at shallower beaches such as Damnoni and Plakias, which offer gentler, safer water. Anyone who supervises children closely and keeps clear of the cliffs can enjoy the cove safely.
Kalypso Beach sits within easy reach of several notable beaches, gorges and villages. Kalypso Beach works well as one stop on a longer south-coast day, and the following places are the closest highlights:
The nearest dining sits in Plakias village and near Damnoni Beach, a short drive from the cove. These tavernas lean on Greek and Cretan cooking and same-day seafood:
The closest places to stay cluster around Kalypso Beach, Damnoni and Plakias, from the beachfront resort next door to family hotels a few kilometres away. Rates below reflect the nightly ranges published by each property:
Plan Kalypso Beach around its deep water, rocky shore and off-route location. Keep these points in mind:
Yes, Kalypso Beach is worth visiting for its scenery and water activities. The narrow cove sits below towering cliffs above crystal-clear water, and it offers snorkelling, scuba diving, cliff jumping and sunbathing, along with rocky shores and underwater caves to explore.
Yes, Kalypso Beach is a safe, well-maintained beach. Lifeguards are present during peak season to watch swimmers, and visitors stay safe by taking care near the rocky cliffs and during cliff jumping.
Yes, both children and pets are allowed at Kalypso Beach. The beach has a rocky shoreline and sudden drop-offs, so parents supervise children closely, and the cove best fits families with older children who swim strongly. Families with younger children often prefer the shallower water at Plakias and Damnoni beaches.
Yes, Kalypso Beach is suitable for swimming in its calm, clear, deep water. Swimmers stay aware of the rocks and drop-offs and keep an eye on conditions before heading out.
No, fishing is prohibited at Kalypso Beach because the beach lies within a natural park.
The water at Kalypso Beach is deep blue, calm and deep close to shore. The seabed is rocky in places, and the clear conditions make the cove a strong choice for snorkelling and diving.
Access Kalypso Beach on foot via a paved road through the Kalypso Cretan Village Resort & Spa, free of charge. Drivers and taxis reach the resort directly, while bus travellers connect through Rethymno and Plakias.
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