Best things to do in Dramia in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Dramia, also written Dhramia, is a village in the Rethymno region of Crete, 15.6 km west of Rethymno city. The village sits just back from the bay that carries Kavros and Georgioupolis, with the nearest sand 1.5 km away at Kavros. Episkopi, 2.7 km off, is the nearest town and stands on the old national road between Rethymno and Chania.
Chania airport lies 25.4 km away and Chania city 32.5 km north-west, while Rethymno is closer at 15.6 km east. 6 beaches and 4 gorges sit within about 14 km, so the village works for people who want the coast in the morning and a river valley in the afternoon.
Things to do in and around Dramia
6 outings lie within about 9 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Swim at Kavros. The wide sandy beach 1.5 km from the village has clear shallow water, restaurants, cafés and bars, and stretches of it are left unorganised. It catches the wind and the waves that come with it, which the Kavros beach page explains.
- Walk the length of Episkopi beach. 3.5 km of sand runs between the Mouselas river and the river out of the Petres gorge, 2.7 km from Dramia. The western section is organised, with a lifeguard, sunbeds, showers, snack bars and water sports, while the eastern end near the Petres bridge stays quiet, as the Episkopi beach page sets out.
- Visit Episkopi town. The town 2.7 km away stands at 120 m and looks over the Mousselas river valley and the north coast, and its Church of the Holy Cross dates from the 14th century, as the Episkopi town page sets out.
- Swim in the Petres gorge ponds. The gorge narrows to a section about 1 km long beginning near the village of Karoti, 4.5 km from Dramia, and ponds form along its course. Access is straightforward, though fences have been put up along parts of it, and the Petres Gorge page has the detail.
- Spend a day in Georgioupolis. The resort 4.9 km away sits in the bay of Almiros among rivers and springs, with a 2 km town beach of sand and dunes running east to Kavros; the Georgioupolis town page describes what is there.
- Hike the Kollita Gorges. The Twin Ravines 8.9 km from the village are 2 parallel canyons that finish near Kato Poros, easy enough for people who have not walked a gorge before. Vigla peak rises 567 m east of the Moundros branch, as the Kollita Gorges page explains.
About the village and its setting
Dramia sits in river valley country rather than on a resort strip. The valley around it is fed by the Mouselas river and by the river that drains the Petres gorge, and the Petres river runs all year and forms a wetland near its mouth at Episkopi. Its catchment gathers water from the Kollita Gorges in the west to Mount Vrysinas in the east, which covers almost half of the Rethymno prefecture.
The settlements around the village divide neatly between coast and hill. Georgioupolis, 4.9 km away, and Kavros, 1.5 km away, are the coastal side, both developed for summer visitors, with Kavros the less commercialised of the two. Inland, Argyroupolis, 7 km out, is the springs village built on ancient Lappa, and Agios Konstantinos lies 7.4 km away.
Beaches in and around Dramia
Dramia has no beach of its own, but 6 lie within about 10 km, and 3 of them sit around the bay of Almiros on a run of sand roughly 10 km long.
- Kavros lies 1.5 km away between Georgioupoli and Pyrgos, sandy and shallow, open to the wind, with unorganised stretches between the beach bars.
- Episkopi sits 2.7 km away, 3.5 km of soft sand with a gentle entry, organised at its western end and quiet at the eastern end by the Petres bridge.
- Georgioupolis is 4.8 km away, 2 km of sand and dunes with lifeguards on duty, where currents call for care on windy days.
- Kalivaki lies 5.2 km away at the mouth of the Almyros river, sheltered from the wind, with shallow water that runs noticeably cool.
- Kamari sits 8.8 km away near Gerani, compact and part pebble, a snorkelling beach with a small harbour and the Panagia Kamariani church beside it.
- Ombros Gialos is 10.1 km away, a rocky diving cove in Apokoronas rather than a sandy beach.
Wind is the thing to plan around here. Kavros, Episkopi and Georgioupolis pick up waves when it blows, while Kalivaki, tucked at the river mouth on the western edge of the bay, stays sheltered and suits children on those days.
Where to eat in Dramia
Eating around Dramia means tavernas and beach restaurants 600 m to 3 km from the village.
- Ktima & Taverna Alkioni lies 600 m from the village, the closest of them.
- Bonatsa serves Greek and Cretan cooking, 1 km out.
- Taverna Café Asteri is 1.3 km from the village.
- Taverna Pelagia’s Yard lies 1.5 km from the village.
- Vanilla Beach Bar is a beach bar 2.2 km away.
Getting to Dramia
Reach Dramia from the old national road between Rethymno and Chania, which passes through Episkopi 2.7 km away. Rethymno lies 15.6 km east and Chania 32.5 km north-west, with Dramia set between them near the coast.
Chania airport is the nearer of the two airports at 25.4 km, and Kissamos lies 61.7 km west. A car helps, because the gorges inland and the beaches on the bay all sit a few kilometres apart in different directions.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Dramia in Crete?
Dramia lies 15.6 km west of Rethymno city, in the Rethymno region of Crete. Chania is 32.5 km north-west, and Episkopi is the nearest town at 2.7 km.
Does Dramia have a beach?
Dramia has no beach of its own, but 6 lie within about 10 km. Kavros, 1.5 km away, is the closest, and Episkopi beach follows at 2.7 km.
How far is Dramia from Chania airport?
Chania airport sits 25.4 km from Dramia, which makes it the nearer airport. Rethymno, 15.6 km east, is the closest city.
Is Dhramia the same place as Dramia?
Yes. Dhramia and Dramia are two spellings of the same village. Both forms point to the same settlement west of Rethymno, near Episkopi and the bay of Almiros.
Which gorge is closest to Dramia?
The Petres Gorge is the closest, 4.5 km from the village. It opens at Petres beach and holds the longest river in the Rethymno province, and the Kollita Gorges follow at 8.9 km.
Where Dramia is
Best things to do in Dramia in 2024 is located at Dramia. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
