Best things to do in Damnoni in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Damnoni is an organised sandy bay on the south coast of Crete, about 35 kilometres south of Rethymno and 5 kilometres east of Plakias. Damnoni faces the Libyan Sea at the mouth of a green, olive-covered valley that is ringed by mountains and fed by mountain streams. The water is clear and turquoise, the sand is coarse and pale, and the busy west end of the bay gives way to a quieter east end with secluded coves behind it. It is one of the most popular and well-developed beaches in the Plakias area.
Chania airport is the nearest airport to Damnoni. The bay works as a swimming and snorkelling base rather than a town: the coves either side of it hold some of the clearest water in the Rethymno region, and the resort village of Plakias sits close enough for shops, restaurants and a long town beach.
Things to do in and around Damnoni
Six outings lie within about 6 km of the bay, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Swim in the bay itself. The west end of the sand is the busy, organised part, and the east end runs quieter towards the coves. Our full write-up of the shoreline sits on the Damnoni beach page.
- Snorkel at Skinaria. The beach lies 900 m away and is known for exceptionally clear water over a rocky, marine-rich seabed. Skinaria has soft grey-beige sand mixed with fine pebbles, and small freshwater ponds sit on the shore, fed by springs coming down from the mountains.
- Swim off the rocks at Kalypso. The cove sits 1.6 km away between Plakias and Preveli Beach, at the foot of narrow rock passages that drop into deep, calm, deep-blue water. Kalypso suits confident swimmers, snorkellers and divers rather than paddling toddlers, and access on foot through the Kalypso Cretan Village Resort & Spa is free.
- Walk the length of Gialia beach. The beach at Plakias, 2.2 km away, stretches 1.3 km from the edge of the town eastwards and ends at Cape Mouri. Gialia is fully equipped, with umbrellas, water sports, beach volley courts, snack bars, changing rooms and showers, and a road runs alongside it for walking or cycling.
- Hike the Kourtaliotiko Gorge. The gorge runs for 3 km between the Kouroupa and Koules mountains, with its nearest point 5 km from Damnoni, and it is known for its waterfall, its year-round springs and the chapel of Agios Nikolaos at the base of the cliffs. A paved road cuts through the canyon, so the viewpoints and the trailhead need no long approach.
- Walk the Kotsifos Gorge. The gorge starts at Kannevos village and ends at Plakias, 5.5 km from the bay, running 1,800 m between almost vertical sides that reach 600 m. Kotsifos is about 10 m wide at its entrance and widens to 600 m, and a small temple dedicated to Saint Nicholas sits in a rocky cavity inside it.
Beaches near Damnoni
Four beaches lie within 3 km of Damnoni, and they cover a wide range: two are snorkelling and diving coves, one is a cliff-backed swimming hole and one is a full resort beach.
- Ammoudi lies 400 m away, recognisable by its distinctive green slippery rock, with white sand, a rocky seabed and bright green water. It carries umbrellas, nearby taverns and rooms and a scuba diving centre, and tamarisk trees along the shore give shade.
- Skinaria sits 900 m away, a small secluded beach 3 km south of Lefkogia village, with a mostly rocky seabed, a sandy northern end and deep turquoise water.
- Kalypso is 1.6 km away, a steep-cliffed cove with deep, calm water reached through narrow rock passages.
- Plakias lies 2.2 km away, the 1.3 km sweep of Gialia beach running east from the town to Cape Mouri, with hotels, restaurants and full beach facilities behind it.
Where to eat at Damnoni
Eating at Damnoni means a handful of places on the bay itself, with the wider choice 2 km away in Plakias.
- Akti sits 200 m from the beach.
- Ammoudaki Beach Bar is a beach bar 200 m away.
- Damnoni Taverna serves taverna cooking, 300 m from the beach.
- Plakias Bay Restaurant lies 1.6 km away, towards Plakias.
- Taverna Paligremnos stands at Paligremnos, 1.7 km away, and serves taverna cooking.
Getting to Damnoni
Reach Damnoni from the south-coast road below Rethymno, which lies about 35 kilometres north of the bay. The village of Plakias sits 2.9 km west at the mouth of the Kotsifos valley and is the nearest place with hotels, shops and a bus service, and the paved road that serves this stretch of coast drops down from the inland village of Lefkogia.
A car makes the coves and the gorges far easier to reach, because they sit several kilometres apart on winding roads. Two inland options lie further out: Rodakino, 10 km away at the foot of the Krioneritis Mountain and split into Ano and Kato Rodakino, and Spili, 11.7 km away.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Damnoni in Crete?
Damnoni lies on the south coast of Crete, about 35 kilometres south of Rethymno and 5 kilometres east of Plakias. The bay faces the Libyan Sea at the mouth of an olive-covered valley in the Rethymno region.
What is Damnoni beach like?
Damnoni is an organised sandy bay with coarse pale sand and clear turquoise water. The west end is the busy part, and the east end is quieter and leads to secluded coves.
Is Damnoni good for snorkelling?
The coves around Damnoni are among the finest snorkelling and scuba-diving spots in the Rethymno region. Skinaria, 900 m away, has exceptionally clear water over a rocky, marine-rich seabed, and Ammoudi, 400 m away, has a rocky seabed, bright green water and a scuba diving centre.
How far is Damnoni from Plakias?
Damnoni sits 5 kilometres east of Plakias. Plakias is the closest resort village, with a long sandy beach of its own, hotels and shops, and its own beach lies 2.2 km from Damnoni.
Which airport serves Damnoni?
Chania airport is the nearest airport to Damnoni. The bay sits on the south coast of the Rethymno region, so the drive crosses the island from the north shore either way.
Can you walk a gorge from Damnoni?
Two gorges start within 6 km of the bay. The Kourtaliotiko Gorge, 5 km away, runs 3 km between the Kouroupa and Koules mountains to a waterfall and a cliff-base chapel, and the Kotsifos Gorge, 5.5 km away, runs 1,800 m from Kannevos village down to Plakias.
Where Damnoni is
Best things to do in Damnoni in 2024 is located at Damnoni. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
