Best things to do in Nipos in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Nipos is an inland village in the Chania region of western Crete, set south-east of Chania town and west of Rethymno. Nipos stands back from the sea, with the nearest shoreline about 8 km away, so the village keeps the rhythm of a working settlement rather than a resort. The two villages nearest Nipos, Gavalochori and Kefalas, both belong to the Apokoronas area of the Chania region.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport. Nipos works as a quiet inland base rather than a beach destination: 5 beaches lie within 9 km, on the south shore of Souda Bay and at Georgioupolis, and 4 walking gorges lie within 16 km.
Things to do in and around Nipos
Six outings lie within about 10 km of the village, listed here from nearest to furthest.
- Eat in the village itself. The Tradition Tavern-Mezedopolio stands 100 m from the centre, the one place here you reach on foot.
- Visit the Olive Oil Museum. The museum sits 2.2 km from the village.
- Walk around Gavalochori. The village 6.2 km away keeps Venetian stone arches, churches, an olive oil factory and Roman tombs, and a complex of 24 Venetian wells stands about 1 km from Gavalochori.
- Climb to Kefalas for the view. Kefalas, 7.6 km out, is a hilltop village on the slopes of the Drapanos peninsula, looking over the Bay of Georgioupolis, the Lefka Ori and, on a clear day, Rethymno.
- Swim at Kera. The beach 7.9 km away lies on the southern coastline of Souda Bay below tall cliffs, with soft sand and shallow clear water. Kera has no organised facilities, so bring what you need.
- Hike the Diktamos Gorge. The route begins near Katochori at 300 m and finishes 8 km further east at Faragi, at 40 m, close to Stylos. The gorge takes about 3 hours, and parts of it call for care.
About the village and its setting
Nipos is a village set inland in the Chania region, and its setting is a cluster of small settlements rather than a coastal strip. Nipos has no beach within walking range, since the nearest lies 7.9 km away. What the village has instead is a centre that serves the people who live in it: one taverna-mezedopolio 100 m from the middle, and 11 more cafés and tavernas within 4 km in the villages around.
The settlements closest to Nipos give the district its character. Gavalochori, 6.2 km away, forms part of the Vamos municipality and carries a Venetian and Roman past in its arches, its olive oil factory and its tombs. Kefalas, 7.6 km away, has no beach either, and draws visitors for its lanes, its views and its churches.
Beaches in and around Nipos
Nipos has no beach of its own, and the 5 nearest lie between 7.9 km and 8.6 km away. They divide between the south shore of Souda Bay and the long open sands at Georgioupolis.
- Kera lies 7.9 km away, on the southern coastline of Souda Bay near Kalives and Plaka. Soft sand and the occasional pebble sit below towering cliffs, the water is shallow and clear, and the beach is unorganised.
- Kalives sits 8.0 km away, a coastal resort on the southern edge of Souda Bay, in a green valley crossed by rivers. Its name means “Huts”, after the shelters farmers once built for summer nights in the fields. Two sandy, shallow beaches, Xidas and Maistrali, lie either side of the Xidas river, and the river water keeps the sea cool.
- Almyrida is 8.2 km away, 2 shallow sandy beaches near Cape Drapanos, calm enough for children on windless days. A rocky peninsula topped with a white chapel separates the two bays, and tavernas, sunbeds and a watersports centre back the sand.
- Kalivaki lies 8.3 km away, the westernmost beach of Georgioupolis bay, at the mouth of the Almyros river. The sand stays sheltered from the wind and the shallow water runs noticeably cool.
- Georgioupolis sits 8.6 km away, at the western edge of a 10 km run of sand. The town beach spans 2 km east from the Almyros river to Kavros, with dunes, shallow water, lifeguards, umbrellas and showers.
Three more beaches lie further out. Ombros Gialos, 9.4 km away, is a rocky diving cove in Apokoronas, while Kalami is 10.3 km from the village and Koutalis 11.1 km.
Where to eat in Nipos
Eating around Nipos means village tavernas, cafés and mezedopolia rather than restaurants built for visitors. One stands in the village and the rest within a few kilometres.
- The Tradition Tavern-Mezedopolio sits in Nipos itself, 100 m from the centre.
- The Meeting Cafe-Mezedopolio lies 2.2 km out, the same distance as the Olive Oil Museum.
- The Rizitiko sits 2.4 km out.
- Parasia Tavern is 3.4 km out.
Getting to Nipos
Nipos is reached by road from the Souda Bay coast, where Kalyves and Almyrida lie about 8 km from the village. Chania town sits to the north-west and Rethymno to the east, which puts Nipos between the two rather than close to either. Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport, and both the village and the terminal fall inside the Chania region.
A car makes the difference to a stay here. The beaches sit 8 km out, the gorges 9 km and further, and the neighbouring villages 6 km to 9 km away, leaving only the village taverna within walking distance.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Nipos in Crete?
Nipos lies inland in the Chania region of western Crete, south-east of Chania town and west of Rethymno. The village stands about 8 km back from the south shore of Souda Bay.
Does Nipos have a beach?
Nipos has no beach of its own, but 5 lie within 9 km. Kera, 7.9 km away, is the closest, and Kalives, Almyrida, Kalivaki and Georgioupolis all follow within another kilometre.
Which airport is nearest to Nipos?
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Nipos. The village and the airport both sit in the Chania region, so arrivals stay in western Crete for the whole transfer.
Can you walk a gorge from Nipos?
The Diktamos Gorge is the nearest, 9.4 km from the village. It runs through the White Mountains from Katochori, at 300 m, down to Faragi at 40 m near Stylos, and it is also called the Katechori or Stylos Gorge. The walk takes roughly 3 hours and parts of it are demanding.
What is Nipos near?
Nipos sits within 10 km of 6 beaches, a gorge, an olive oil museum and 2 historic villages. Gavalochori and Kefalas are the closest villages, at 6.2 km and 7.6 km, and the Souda Bay coast at Kalyves and Almyrida is about 8 km away.
Where Nipos is
Best things to do in Nipos in 2024 is located at Nípos. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
