Best things to do in Magnisia in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Magnisia is a village in the Rethymno region of Crete, east of Rethymno city on the north coast. The Skaleta beachfront begins 1.2 km away and marks the eastern end of the long beach that runs along the Bay of Rethymno. A monastery, a run of tavernas and 5 beaches all sit within about 5 km of the village.
Chania airport is the nearest terminal to Magnisia, with Chania city west of the village and Heraklion east, so Magnisia sits between the island’s two largest cities.
Things to do in and around Magnisia
6 things to do around Magnisia lie within about 9 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Swim at the Skaleta beachfront, where the sand starts 1.2 km from Magnisia and runs 3 km eastward, as the Skaleta beaches page sets out.
- Visit the Arsaniou monastery, which stands 1.3 km from the village, close enough for a short trip before or after the beach; see the Arsaniou Monastery page.
- Hike the Arkadi gorge. The trailhead is 7.2 km away, just north of Arkadi Monastery, and the walk is a moderate 4.5 km that takes about two hours along the eastern bank of a green rocky ravine. There is no entrance fee and no facilities, so carry water and food; the Arkadi Gorge guide has the detail.
- Walk the Prassano gorge, which starts 8.5 km from Magnisia, south of Prasses village, and takes about three hours through enormous rocks and some demanding passages. It opens only from mid-June to mid-October, which the Prasses Gorge page explains.
- See the potters at Margarites. The village 8.6 km away has a ceramic tradition that began in the Ottoman period and Venetian roots reaching back to the sixteenth century, covered on the Margarites page.
- Spend a day at Panormo, a former fishing village 8.8 km east keeps a natural harbour, sandy sheltered beaches and early-Christian history; read more on the Panormo page.
About the village and its setting
Magnisia sits where the bay’s long beach gives out and the coast turns rockier. West of the village the sand is continuous, because the Rethymno Gulf beachfront starts at Adelianos Kambos and runs east through Pigianos Kambos and Sfakaki to Skaleta, narrowing until it disappears at the end of the gulf. East of that point the shoreline breaks into small coves and river mouths.
The country behind the coast carries the region’s older settlements. Arkadi Monastery and its gorge lie 7.2 km inland, the pottery village of Margarites 8.6 km away near the ancient town of Eleftherna, and the monastery of Arsaniou barely more than a kilometre from Magnisia. Rethymno city, west along the coast, covers anything larger, as our Rethymno city page shows.
Beaches in and around Magnisia
5 beaches lie within 6 km of Magnisia, and they split into 2 kinds, organised sand to the west and small coves and river mouths to the east.
- Skaleta lies 1.2 km away, the nearest beach to the village. The beachfront begins 11 km east of Rethymno and extends 3 km eastward, ending the long beach of the Bay of Rethymno. The sand is mostly organised, with patches of pebbles and small rocks, and it thins out eastward.
- Pigianos Kambos sits 3.8 km away, also called Pigi beach, sitting centrally along the Rethymno Bay beach 8 km east of the city. The name means “Plane of Pigi”, after the fertile fields farmed by the nearby village of Pigi. It stays quieter than the other beaches of Rethymno and is less developed than Adelianos Kambos next door.
- Spilies opens 4.6 km away, a small sheltered pebble cove between Skaleta and Geropotamos, also known as Tou Maliou to Riaki. The water is clear and deep, cliffs rise above it and sea caves shelter endangered wildlife. It faces north, so the sea is often wavy and the cove suits confident swimmers and snorkellers rather than young families.
- Geropotamos begins 5.3 km away at the mouth of the Geropotamos river, beneath the bridge that carries the Heraklion to Rethymno highway. The small sandy beach stays uncrowded, and the water is clear but cold and deep.
- Adelianos Kambos stands 5.3 km away, known as Adele Beach, a seaside suburb of Rethymno on a flat plain that was vegetable ground for the village of Adele before it was built up. Local buses run to it regularly from the city centre.
Where to eat in Magnisia
Eating around Magnisia means tavernas and restaurants along the coast within about 2 km of the village.
- Romeo & Juliet Fusion Cuisine sits 1 km from the village.
- Corali Beach Taverna and Snack Bar works as a beach taverna and snack bar, 1.4 km out.
- Taverna-Restaurant Ilios stands 1.7 km out.
- Thalassi Restaurant lies 1.8 km out.
Getting to Magnisia
Reach Magnisia from the Heraklion to Rethymno highway, which runs close by east of Rethymno and crosses the Geropotamos river on a bridge 5.3 km from the village. Chania airport is the nearest terminal, with Chania city west of Magnisia and Heraklion east.
A car helps once you leave the coast road. The two gorges, the Arkadi monastery and Margarites all sit 7 km to 9 km inland, while the beaches, the tavernas and the monastery of Arsaniou are close by.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Magnisia in Crete?
Magnisia lies east of Rethymno city, in the Rethymno region on the north coast of Crete. Heraklion is further east and Chania lies west.
Does Magnisia have a beach?
The nearest beach to Magnisia is Skaleta, 1.2 km away. Four more lie within 6 km: Pigianos Kambos at 3.8 km, Spilies at 4.6 km, and Geropotamos and Adelianos Kambos at 5.3 km each.
Which airport is closest to Magnisia?
Chania airport is the closest airport to Magnisia. The village sits in the western half of the island, with Chania city west of it and Heraklion east.
Which beach near Magnisia is calmest for children?
Spilies and Geropotamos both suit confident swimmers rather than young children. The two face north into deep water, the sea at Geropotamos is cold and the cove at Spilies is often wavy. The organised sand at Skaleta, Pigianos Kambos and Adelianos Kambos is the alternative.
Can you walk a gorge from Magnisia?
Yes, 2 gorges start within 9 km of Magnisia. The Arkadi gorge, 7.2 km away, is a moderate 4.5 km walk of about two hours that ends near Pikris where the Gypofarago gorge joins it. The Prassano gorge, 8.5 km away, takes around three hours and is open only between mid-June and mid-October.
Where Magnisia is
Best things to do in Magnisia in 2024 is located at Magnisía. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
