Best things to do in Kastellos in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Kastellos is an inland village in the Rethymno region of Crete, 16.7 km west of Rethymno city in a straight line and about 3 km from the town of Episkopi. The village sits in the hills behind the north coast, with the nearest beach 4.7 km away at Kavros and the spring village of Argyroupolis 3.7 km off. Lake Kournas lies 3.7 km from Kastellos.
Chania airport is 28.4 km away in a straight line, and the roads through these hills run longer than the map shows. Kastellos suits a stay spent between the Georgioupolis beaches, the gorges of the Mouselas and Petres valleys, and the archaeology around ancient Lappa.
Things to do in and around Kastellos
Six outings sit within 6 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- See the Fylaki domed tomb. The tomb stands 900 m from the village, which makes Fylaki the one site here you can reach on foot.
- Walk around Episkopi. The town 3 km away sits 120 m up with views over the Mousselas river valley and the north coast, and Episkopi keeps the 14th-century Church of the Holy Cross.
- Visit ancient Lappa. The ruins of the ancient city lie 3.6 km from Kastellos, and Lappa is the ground that Argyroupolis was later built on.
- Spend a morning at Argyroupolis. The spring-fed hill village 3.7 km away is known for its waterfalls, its old grain mills that now serve trout and its shady tavernas beside running water, and Argyroupolis layers Roman, Byzantine and Venetian history at 260 m above the Mouselas valley.
- Take the family to Lake Kournas. The lake sits 3.7 km from the village, and Lake Kournas makes the obvious wet-weather or windy-day alternative to the beaches.
- Hike the Kollita gorges. The twin ravines start 5.7 km away near Argyroupolis and finish near Kato Poros, and the Kollita gorges are easy enough for first-time gorge walkers.
About the village and its setting
Kastellos is a small village set among larger neighbours, with its nearest taverna 1.2 km away. The everyday services of the area are at Episkopi, 3 km away on the old national road between Rethymno and Chania, and the resort facilities are at Georgioupolis on the coast, 7.1 km off.
The setting is the fertile country between the Mouselas river and the Petres gorge, whose river drains almost half of the Rethymno prefecture. Water shapes this corner: Argyroupolis, 3.7 km away, is built around its springs and mills, the Petres river runs all year and forms a wetland near Episkopi, and Lake Kournas sits 3.7 km off. Agios Konstantinos is 5.4 km away.
Beaches in and around Kastellos
Kastellos has no beach of its own, and the 5 nearest lie between 4.7 km and 10.3 km away on the north coast. Most belong to the long sandy run around Georgioupolis.
- Kavros lies 4.7 km away, a wide sandy beach 4 km east of Georgioupoli with clear shallow water, restaurants, cafés and bars, and unorganised stretches for anyone who wants quiet. It is open to the wind, so waves are common.
- Episkopi sits 5.1 km away, 3.5 km of soft sand with a gentle shallow entry, named after the village 2 km inland. The western section has a lifeguard, sunbeds, showers, snack bars and water sports, while the eastern end near the Petres bridge stays quiet.
- Georgioupolis is 7 km away, a 2 km sandy stretch with dunes and shallow water running east from the Almiros river to Kavros, with lifeguards, umbrellas, showers and food stalls. Currents make it worth care on windy days.
- Kalivaki lies 7.6 km away, the westernmost beach of Georgioupolis bay, at the mouth of the Almyros river. The river keeps the water cool and the shore sheltered, which suits children on windy days.
- Kamari sits 10.3 km away, a compact beach of pebbles and rock near Gerani village at the entrance of the Vederi gorge, popular with snorkellers.
Gorges near Kastellos
Four gorges start between 5.7 km and 11.9 km from the village. The Skaloti gorge, 11.9 km away, is the furthest of them.
- Kollita gorges lie 5.7 km away, two parallel canyons near Argyroupolis that end near Kato Poros. The eastern ravine, Moundros, runs between the Vigla peak at 567 m and Nissiani hill, where the abandoned settlement of Nissi stands, and the western one takes its name from the village of Vilandredo at its entrance. Both are gentle enough for beginners.
- Petres gorge sits 5.9 km away, opening at Petres beach and carrying the longest river in the Rethymno province. The narrow section near Karoti runs about 1 km and has ponds deep enough to swim in.
Where to eat near Kastellos
Eating starts with one taverna near the village and widens around Argyroupolis, where the mills beside the springs serve trout.
- Babis Tavern is 1.2 km from Kastellos.
- Taverna Koundourakis lies 3.5 km out, towards Argyroupolis.
- Tavern Arhaia Lappa stands 3.5 km away and is named after the ancient city.
Getting to Kastellos
Kastellos is reached from the old national road between Rethymno and Chania, which runs through Episkopi 3 km away. Rethymno lies 16.7 km east of the village in a straight line and Chania 34.7 km west.
Chania airport sits 28.4 km from the village as the crow flies, while Kissamos is 62.7 km away. A car makes the difference here, because the beaches at Georgioupolis, the gorges and the springs at Argyroupolis lie in three different directions within 8 km.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kastellos in Crete?
Kastellos lies in the Rethymno region, 16.7 km west of Rethymno city in a straight line, inland from the north coast and about 3 km from Episkopi.
Does Kastellos have a beach?
Kastellos has no beach of its own, but 5 lie within 10.3 km. Kavros, 4.7 km away, is the nearest, and Episkopi beach, 5.1 km away, has the gentlest shallow entry for children.
How far is Kastellos from Chania airport?
Chania airport is 28.4 km from Kastellos in a straight line, and the drive runs longer because the roads here bend through the hills.
What is there to do near Kastellos on a rainy day?
Argyroupolis and Lake Kournas both sit 3.7 km from Kastellos and work without a beach. The springs, mills and tavernas of Argyroupolis stay green and shaded, and the ruins of ancient Lappa are 3.6 km away.
Can you walk a gorge from Kastellos?
The nearest gorge walk starts 5.7 km away in the Kollita gorges. The Petres gorge, 5.9 km out, adds swimming ponds along its narrow 1 km section near Karoti.
Where Kastellos is
Best things to do in Kastellos in 2024 is located at Kástellos. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
