Best things to do in Atsipopoulo in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Atsipopoulo is a village in the Rethymno region of Crete, 4.6 km west of Rethymno city. The village stands back from the shore, so the nearest sand lies 2.5 km away at Koumbes rather than below the houses. A folklore collection, a grill house, a souvlaki shop and two tavernas sit within 200 m of the centre. Rethymno’s old town is a short drive east, which puts the Venetian port and the town beach within reach of a base that is not on the seafront.
Chania airport lies 32.6 km away and Chania city 41.8 km, while Heraklion sits 64.4 km east. The coastal highway between Chania and Rethymno passes 2.6 km from the village at Kamari, which leaves beaches on one side of Atsipopoulo and gorges and hill villages on the other.
Things to do in and around Atsipopoulo
6 outings lie within about 7 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- See the folklore collection. The Culture and Folklore Center stands in the village itself, 100 m from the centre.
- Walk the Gallos Gorge. The ravine runs 5.5 km from south-east of Gallos to Rethymno town, carrying water from the Armeni region down to Koumbes beach. Near the entrance, 2.3 km from Atsipopoulo, stands the Saounatsides watermill, which worked until the 20th century, and a path a few metres south of it leads to the cave-like temple of Saint Anthony. Shepherds have strung wires across the streambed in places, so the walk is harder than its length suggests; the route is set out on the Gallos Gorge page.
- Swim at Koumbes. The closest beach to the village is 2.5 km away and looks east to the Fortezza fortress a few hundred metres along the shore, as the Koumbes beach page explains.
- Snorkel at Kamari. Pebbles and rock give Kamari beach, 2.6 km from the village, its following among snorkellers, and the sealed entrance to the Gerani cave lies a short distance south.
- Walk Rethymno old town. The regional capital, 4.6 km east, holds the Loggia, the Neratze Mosque, the Veli Pasha Mosque and the Church of Agios Frangiskos in a Renaissance centre that mixes Ottoman and Cretan building styles, as the Rethymno city page describes.
- Hike the Mili Gorge. The signed trail runs 2.5 km past the abandoned mill village of Mili, takes about 2.5 hours and rates 1 out of 10 for difficulty, with watermills, spring-fed pools and rock-cut churches along the stream. The entrance sits 6.6 km from Atsipopoulo, and the walk is set out on the Mili Gorge page.
Beaches in and around Atsipopoulo
Atsipopoulo has no beach of its own, but 8 lie within 11 km of the village. The coast splits in two either side of Rethymno: Koumbes is the only beach on the city’s western side, while the long bay east of the Venetian harbour runs 13 km to Skaleta.
- Koumbes lies 2.5 km away, sand and fine pebbles with views of the Fortezza, named after the Turkish word kubbe, meaning dome. The Rethymno Municipality has added walkways and other works along this shore, and the beach has a lifeguard service.
- Kamari sits 2.6 km away near Gerani village, at the mouth of the Vederi Gorge. It is a compact beach with pebbles and rock, a few umbrellas, taverns and rooms, a small harbour and the Panagia Kamariani church nearby, and it takes the northerly wind often.
- Rethymno town beach is 5 km away, golden sand and shallow water beside the Venetian port, 500 m east of the old town. Entry is free and you pay only for a sunbed and umbrella, with the Eleftheriou Venizelou promenade running alongside.
- Pervolia follows 7.1 km away in front of one of the residential suburbs absorbed into Rethymno, on the sandy strip that begins at the harbour.
- Misiria comes 7.7 km away on the same beachfront, well kept and backed by places to eat, drink and stay.
- Episkopi lies 8.5 km away, with the town of Episkopi 9.3 km from the village.
- Platanes is 8.8 km away, in front of the third of the Rethymno suburbs, also written Platanias.
- Adelianos Kambos sits 10.5 km away, the furthest of the 8 from the village.
Loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, nest along the whole of that eastern beachfront, and the species is at risk of extinction. Pervolia, Misiria and Platanes all sit on nesting sand.
Where to eat in Atsipopoulo
Eating in Atsipopoulo means village cooking within a few hundred metres of the centre, with more choice on the roads towards Rethymno.
- Oil & Oregano is in the village, 100 m from the centre.
- Gaganis’ Souvlaki serves souvlaki 100 m from the centre.
- Subulus Grill House does grilled dishes 200 m out.
- Giannikos Tavern cooks taverna food 1.2 km out.
Getting to Atsipopoulo
Reach Atsipopoulo from the coastal highway that links Chania and Rethymno, leaving it near Gerani and Kamari beach and turning inland for the last 2.6 km. Rethymno lies 4.6 km east, close enough for a short drive in either direction through the day.
Chania airport is the nearer of the two airports at 32.6 km, with Chania city 41.8 km away and Heraklion 64.4 km east. Inland, the plateau village of Agios Konstantinos sits 8.7 km away at 250 m altitude among olive trees, vineyards, carobs and cypresses, and the springs village of Argyroupolis, built on ancient Lappa, lies 11.7 km out.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Atsipopoulo in Crete?
Atsipopoulo lies 4.6 km west of Rethymno city, in the Rethymno region of Crete. Chania is 41.8 km away and Heraklion 64.4 km east.
Does Atsipopoulo have a beach?
Atsipopoulo has no beach of its own, but 8 lie within 11 km. Koumbes, 2.5 km away, is the closest, and Kamari follows at 2.6 km.
How far is Atsipopoulo from Chania airport?
Chania airport sits 32.6 km from Atsipopoulo, which makes it the nearer airport. Heraklion lies 64.4 km east of the village.
Can you walk a gorge from Atsipopoulo?
Yes, the Gallos Gorge entrance is 2.3 km from the village. The ravine runs 5.5 km from south-east of Gallos down to Rethymno town, and wires put up by shepherds block the streambed in several places. The Mili Gorge, 6.6 km away, offers an easier signed trail of 2.5 km.
How far is Atsipopoulo from Rethymno old town?
Rethymno old town is about 4.6 km east of Atsipopoulo. The town beach sits 500 m east of the old town, 5 km from the village in total.
Where Atsipopoulo is
Best things to do in Atsipopoulo in 2024 is located at Atsipopoulo. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
