Best things to do in Marathi in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Marathi is a coastal village on the south-eastern shore of the Akrotiri peninsula in the Chania region, and our Marathi beach page places it 17 km east of Chania. Marathi faces south across Souda Bay, 5 km east of the Creta Naval Base, and looks out to Cape Drapanos and the White Mountains. Marathi holds two sandy beaches with shallow, calm water, split by a small pier that doubles as a harbour for fishing boats and small ferries.
Chania airport (CHQ) stands 3.8 km from the village. Marathi is a known resort in the Chania area that fills with families and older visitors each summer, and its southern orientation shields both beaches from the wind.
Things to do in and around Marathi
Six outings lie within 10 km of Marathi, listed here from nearest to furthest.
- Swim at the village beaches. Two sandy beaches sit 300 m from the centre, both with shallow, calm water that suits children, and a small pier separates them. The sheltered southern aspect keeps Marathi beach out of the wind and opens a view across to Cape Drapanos and the White Mountains.
- Move along to Loutraki. The neighbouring cove lies 1.4 km away on the north-east edge of Souda Bay, with fine sand and shallow, clear water. Sunbeds, umbrellas and taverns under the shore trees organise Loutraki beach, which our page puts about 16 km east of Chania.
- Descend to Seitan Limania. The cove sits 5.3 km from Marathi on the eastern side of Akrotiri, a narrow inlet of deep-blue water between sheer cliffs with no facilities of any kind, reached on foot down a steep path. The name of Seitan Limania means Devil’s Harbours in Turkish and dates to the Ottoman period, after the strong currents and the cliff-walled landscape.
- Look into the Diplochachalo Gorge. The canyon lies 5.3 km away near the village of Chordaki, on the route towards Seitan Limania, and it is a purely technical descent of six drops rather than a walk. Two of those drops are tall, the highest reaching 38 m with a cave of stalactites and stalagmites about 20 m deep at its centre, and Diplochachalo Gorge exits straight onto sand.
- Swim at Kalami. The beach lies 5.3 km away on the southern shore of Souda Bay, 500 m north of Kalami village and 15 km east of Chania, with rounded pebbles, deep water and a small harbour at its east end. A handful of umbrellas and tamarisk trees serve Kalami beach, and the ancient city of Aptera with the Turkish forts of Intzedin and Aptera stands nearby.
- Hike the Avlaki Gorge. The 2 km route starts 9.7 km from Marathi at Gouverneto Monastery and drops 280 m to Katholiko Bay in about an hour, rating 2 on a scale of 1 to 10 and staying generally dry. Caves, hermitages and the abandoned Katholiko Monastery line Avlaki Gorge, which is why it also carries the name Katholiko Gorge.
About the village and its setting
Marathi is a small resort built around two beaches rather than a working village with a beach attached. Marathi draws a large number of visitors each summer, particularly families and older travellers, and the area carries the everyday amenities a stay needs. The pier between the two beaches still works as a harbour for fishing boats and small ferries.
The setting is the sheltered south-east corner of Akrotiri, a peninsula that turns rugged towards its far end. Cliffs and technical gorges fill the eastern side around Chordaki and Seitan Limania, while the monastic country above Katholiko Bay holds caves and hermitages. Across Souda Bay lies the Apokoronas shore: Kalyves, 5.8 km away, keeps stone houses with red-tiled roofs, a water mill on its square and a Blue Flag beach where the Xydas river meets the sea, and Almyrida, 6.7 km away near Cape Drapanos, is known for shallow sandy beaches, windsurfing and seaside tavernas.
Where to eat in Marathi
Eating in Marathi happens within walking distance of the beaches, with a second cluster at Loutraki 1.4 km on.
- Patrelantonis sits 300 m from the centre, beside the beach.
- Namfi Restaurant is 400 m away.
- Psamathi Living & Taste stands 500 m away.
- Restaurant Loutraki lies at the neighbouring cove, 1.4 km away.
- About Appetite Tavern serves tavern cooking, 1.5 km away.
Getting to Marathi
Drive out onto the Akrotiri peninsula from Chania and follow the road down its south-eastern side. Our Marathi beach page puts the village 17 km east of the city and 5 km east of the Creta Naval Base in Souda Bay. Chania airport (CHQ) sits 3.8 km from the village.
The road inland runs round the head of Souda Bay to the shore opposite. Souda lies 9.5 km from Marathi, and the Apokoronas villages follow on the southern side, Kalyves at 5.8 km across the water and Almyrida at 6.7 km.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Marathi in Crete?
Marathi lies on the south-eastern coast of the Akrotiri peninsula in the Chania region, 17 km east of Chania by our Marathi beach page’s reckoning. The village faces south across Souda Bay, 5 km east of the Creta Naval Base.
Does Marathi have a beach?
Marathi has two sandy beaches, separated by a small pier that also serves as a harbour for fishing boats and small ferries. Both shelve into shallow, calm water, and their southern orientation keeps them shielded from the wind.
How far is Marathi from Chania airport?
Chania airport (CHQ) stands 3.8 km from Marathi. The village sits on the south-eastern shore of the Akrotiri peninsula, with Chania city 17 km west of it.
Is Marathi good for families?
Marathi suits families, because both of its beaches carry shallow, calm water and sit out of the wind. Loutraki, 1.4 km on, adds sunbeds, umbrellas and taverns under the shade of the shore trees.
How do you reach Seitan Limania from Marathi?
Walk down the steep path, because no road runs into the cove. Seitan Limania lies 5.3 km from Marathi on the eastern side of Akrotiri, has no facilities of any kind, and takes its name, Devil’s Harbours in Turkish, from the strong currents and the cliffs around it.
Where Marathi is
Best things to do in Marathi in 2024 is located at Marathi. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
