Best things to do in Mathes in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Mathes is a village in the Rethymno region of Crete, 2.1 km from the coastal resort of Georgioupolis, which our own pages place 21 km west of Rethymno and 38 km east of Chania. Mathes lies west of Rethymno city and south-east of Chania, set back from the shore rather than on it. The nearest beach is at Georgioupolis, 2.2 km away, and Lake Kournas sits 2 km from the village.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Mathes. The village serves as a base for the Georgioupolis stretch of the north coast: 4 beaches lie within 8 km, the lake is 2 km out, and 4 gorges sit between 9 km and 13 km away.
Things to do in and around Mathes
Six outings lie within about 10 km of Mathes, listed here from nearest to furthest.
- Visit Lake Kournas. The lake stands 2 km from the village, the closest outing on this list, and our page on Lake Kournas covers what to expect there.
- Spend a morning in Georgioupolis. The coastal village sits 2.1 km away in the bay of Almiros, in green country crossed by rivers and springs, and it carries the accommodation, shops and tavernas that Mathes does not. Summer brings a considerable number of visitors to Georgioupolis.
- Swim at Georgioupolis beach. The sand starts at the Almiros river 2.2 km from Mathes and runs 2 km east to Kavros, at the western edge of a 10 km stretch of shore. Dunes, shallow water, lifeguards, umbrellas, showers and food stalls make up the Georgioupolis beaches.
- Take children to Kalivaki. The westernmost beach of Georgioupolis bay lies 2.7 km from Mathes, at the mouth of the Almyros river, where the shore stays sheltered from the wind. That shelter makes Kalivaki a choice for children on days when the open beaches turn rough.
- Cross to Kavros. The beach begins 3.6 km from the village, 4 km east of Georgioupoli, with sand and transparent shallow water. Development here has been substantial yet less commercialised than its neighbour, and parts of Kavros beach remain unorganised.
- Hike the Petres Gorge. The ravine lies 9.1 km from Mathes, opens at Petres beach 13 km west of Rethymno, and narrows to a section about 1 km long near the village of Karoti. The longest river in the Rethymno province runs through Petres Gorge all year and forms ponds along the course that people swim in.
About the village and its setting
Mathes sits back from the coast in the Rethymno region, among villages that each play a different part. Mathes takes its beaches and its restaurants from Georgioupolis, 2.1 km away, and that resort is the built-up side of the district: a village in a verdant valley on the bay of Almiros that fills through the summer and keeps a full set of visitor facilities.
Inland the pattern changes to villages on the older roads. Episkopi stands 6.9 km from Mathes at 120 m above sea level on the old Rethymno-Chania national road, looks out over the Mousselas river valley and the north coast, and holds a 14th-century Church of the Holy Cross alongside the remains of an ancient settlement. Our write-up of Episkopi covers the church and the viewpoint, and the springs village of Argyroupolis lies 9.3 km from Mathes.
Beaches in and around Mathes
The nearest beach to Mathes is Georgioupolis beach, 2.2 km away, and 5 beaches lie within 10 km. They range from organised sand with lifeguards to a rocky cove with no facilities.
- Georgioupolis lies 2.2 km away, sandy and dotted with dunes, shallow and child-friendly, with lifeguards, umbrellas, showers and food stalls; sea currents make windy days worth treating carefully.
- Kalivaki sits 2.7 km away at the mouth of the Almyros river, west of the Georgioupolis port, sheltered from the wind and cool underfoot in the shallows.
- Kavros is 3.6 km away between Georgioupoli and Pyrgos, sandy with clear shallow water, open to the wind, backed by restaurants and bars, and unorganised in parts.
- Episkopi beach lies 7.3 km away, 3.5 km of sand between the Mouselas river and the river from the Petres gorge, organised at its western end and quiet near the Petres bridge.
- Ombros Gialos sits 9.2 km away on the Drapanokefala peninsula, a rocky bay whose harbour dock drops straight into deep water, with one fish tavern and no sunbeds.
Where to eat near Mathes
The places to eat nearest Mathes stand about 2 km away, in and around Georgioupolis, and run from taverna cooking to Italian food, grilled meat and cocktails.
- Almyra Fish & Sushi serves fish and sushi, 2 km away.
- Taverna Glaros cooks taverna food 2 km away.
- Panorama Lounge Café & Cocktail Bar pours coffee and cocktails, 2 km away.
- Levantes Italian Restaurant cooks Italian food, 2.1 km away.
- Ostria Meat & Grill Restaurant is a grill house 2.1 km away.
Getting to Mathes
Reach Mathes from Georgioupolis, 2.1 km away on the north coast. Our Georgioupolis pages put that resort 21 km west of Rethymno and 38 km east of Chania, so the village falls between the two cities. Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport.
The old Rethymno-Chania national road runs through Episkopi, 6.9 km from Mathes, which gives the area a second approach away from the coastal route. Everything here except Georgioupolis needs a short drive, since the beaches spread 2 km to 9 km out and the nearest gorge is 9.1 km away.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Mathes in Crete?
Mathes lies in the Rethymno region of Crete, 2.1 km from Georgioupolis, which our pages place 21 km west of Rethymno and 38 km east of Chania. The village stands west of Rethymno city and south-east of Chania.
Does Mathes have a beach?
The nearest beach to Mathes is Georgioupolis beach, 2.2 km away, and 5 beaches lie within 10 km. Georgioupolis is the organised sandy option, while Ombros Gialos at 9.2 km is a rocky bay with no facilities.
How far is Lake Kournas from Mathes?
Lake Kournas is 2 km from Mathes, closer to the village than any beach, which makes the lake and the Georgioupolis shore an easy pair in one day.
Which airport is nearest to Mathes?
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Mathes. Our pages put Georgioupolis, 2.1 km from the village, at 38 km east of Chania city.
Can you walk a gorge near Mathes?
Yes. The Petres Gorge lies 9.1 km from Mathes and opens at Petres beach. Its narrow section runs about 1 km from near Karoti village, and the river flows through it all year.
Where Mathes is
Best things to do in Mathes in 2024 is located at Mathés. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
