Best things to do in Amnatos in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Amnatos is an inland village in the Rethymno region of Crete, about 13 km south-east of Rethymno in a straight line and 2.8 km from Arkadi Monastery. The village stands in the hills behind Rethymno Bay rather than on the coast, so the nearest sand lies 6 km north of it. What Amnatos offers is position: a gorge, two monasteries, a pottery village and two archaeological sites all sit within 7 km.
Chania airport is about 48 km away as the crow flies, and the road runs longer than that figure suggests. Amnatos works as a base for the Arkadi country and the Milopotamos villages, with the Rethymno Bay beaches still within reach.
Things to do in and around Amnatos
Five outings lie within 7 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Hike the Arkadi gorge. The route starts just north of Arkadi Monastery, 2.1 km from Amnatos, runs 4.5 km along the eastern bank of a green rocky ravine and takes about 2 hours. It ends near the village of Pikris where the Gypofarago gorge meets it, and Arkadi gorge has no entrance fee and no facilities, so carry your own water and food.
- Visit Arkadi Monastery. The monastery stands 2.8 km from the village on the high ground above the ravine, so a morning at Arkadi Monastery pairs naturally with the gorge walk below it.
- See the Eleutherna Archaeological Museum. The museum stands 4.9 km from Amnatos, and the Eleutherna museum belongs to the ancient town of the same name nearby.
- Walk around Ancient Eleftherna. The ancient town lies 5.4 km from the village, close to Margarites, and Ancient Eleftherna is the site those finds come from.
- Explore Margarites. The village 6.5 km away is known for its pottery tradition, its picturesque alleys and its well-preserved architecture. Venetian roots take Margarites back to the sixteenth century, its ceramic tradition began under the Ottomans, and it is now the pottery capital of western Crete.
Two more places sit within about 6 km of the village. A second monastery, Arsaniou, is 5 km away, and the Margarites gorge 6.3 km away runs through the small parallel ravines around Margarites, Orthe and Eleftherna.
About the village and its setting
Amnatos is a working inland village rather than a resort, and the country around it carries the interest. Hills and farmland separate the village from Rethymno Bay, and the closest coast is the Skaleta beachfront, 6.3 km away. Three places to eat stand within 2 km, which covers an everyday meal without a long drive.
History sits unusually thick in this small radius. Arkadi Monastery is 2.8 km from the village, Arsaniou Monastery 5 km, the Eleutherna Archaeological Museum 4.9 km and the ancient town of Eleftherna 5.4 km. The gorges of the Margarites district, 6.3 km out, are cut into white-yellow marly limestone laid down 8 to 10 million years ago and carry small groups of horizontally branched cypresses.
Beaches in and around Amnatos
Amnatos has no beach of its own, and the nearest 5 lie between 6 km and 10 km north on Rethymno Bay.
- Skaleta lies 6.3 km away, the beachfront that begins 11 km east of Rethymno and runs 3 km eastward to close the Bay of Rethymno. The beaches here are mostly sandy and carefully organised, with patches of pebbles and small rocks.
- Pigianos Kambos sits 7 km out, also called Pigi beach, set centrally along the long Rethymno Bay beach and quieter than the other beaches around the city.
- Adelianos Kambos is 7.9 km away, also called Adele Beach, a seaside suburb of Rethymno where the sandy stretch of the Rethymno Gulf beach begins. Local buses run out to it from the city centre.
- Spilies opens 8.8 km away, a small sheltered pebble cove between Skaleta and Geropotamos, also known as Tou Maliou to Riaki. Clear deep water, towering cliffs and sea caves mark it out, and the north-facing sea is often wavy, so it suits confident swimmers rather than young families.
- Platanes closes the list at 9.1 km, a long, sandy, well-organised beach with shallow light-blue water and sunbeds and lifeguards in season, running in front of the Pervolia, Misiria and Platanias suburbs. It forms part of a protected nesting shore for loggerhead sea turtles.
Where to eat near Amnatos
Eating near Amnatos comes down to three places within 2 km of the village.
- Elaia Restaurant Kapsaliana sits 0.7 km away.
- Taverna Faragi is 1.4 km away.
- O Mikros Antonis stands 2 km away.
Getting to Amnatos
Amnatos sits inland from the north-coast national road, in the hills behind Rethymno Bay. Rethymno is about 13 km away in a straight line and Chania airport about 48 km on the same measure, with the roads in both cases running longer than the figures suggest.
A car is close to essential here, because the beaches, the monasteries and the archaeological sites are spread between 2 km and 10 km out. Panormo, a former fishing village built around a natural harbour 11.4 km from Amnatos, is the nearest coastal village with direct access from the national road.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Amnatos in Crete?
Amnatos lies inland in the Rethymno region, about 13 km south-east of Rethymno and 2.8 km from Arkadi Monastery. The village stands in the hills behind Rethymno Bay.
Does Amnatos have a beach?
Amnatos is an inland village with no beach of its own, but 5 lie within 10 km. Skaleta, 6.3 km north, is the closest of them and marks the eastern end of the Bay of Rethymno.
How far is Amnatos from the airport?
Chania airport is about 48 km from Amnatos in a straight line, and the road distance runs longer than that.
What is there to see near Amnatos?
Arkadi Monastery, the Arkadi gorge, Ancient Eleftherna and the pottery village of Margarites all lie within 7 km of Amnatos. Arsaniou Monastery, 5 km away, and the Eleutherna Archaeological Museum, 4.9 km away, sit inside the same radius.
Can you walk a gorge from Amnatos?
The Arkadi gorge starts 2.1 km from Amnatos, just north of Arkadi Monastery. The 4.5 km route takes about 2 hours along the eastern bank of a green rocky ravine and ends near Pikris, where the Gypofarago gorge meets it. There is no entrance fee and nothing laid on along the trail.
Where Amnatos is
Best things to do in Amnatos in 2024 is located at Amnátos. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
