Best things to do in Pemonia in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Pemonia is an inland village in the Chania region of north-west Crete, about 8 km back from the coast at Kalyves on the south shore of Souda Bay. Kalyves itself lies about 20 km east of Chania, and the villages ringing Pemonia (Kalyves, Gavalochori, Almyrida and Plaka) all belong to the Apokoronas area. Pemonia keeps no beach of its own, so the swimming is a short drive north to Souda Bay, while the walking runs south towards the White Mountains.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport. The village works as a quiet inland base: 12 cafés, tavernas and mezedopolia sit within 5 km, the closest 1.3 km away, and 4 beaches lie inside 9 km along the bay.
Things to do in and around Pemonia
Five outings sit within 9 km of Pemonia, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Visit the Olive Oil Museum. The Olive Oil Museum stands 4.8 km from Pemonia, the nearest attraction to the village that is not a taverna.
- Hike the Diktamos Gorge. The canyon begins 6.5 km from Pemonia near Katochori at 300 m and ends 8 km further east at Faragi village at 40 m, close to Stylos, which is why it also goes by Katochori Gorge and Stylos Gorge. Its stream feeds the Kiliaris river and discharges at Kalives beach; allow about 3 hours and expect sections of the Diktamos route that need care.
- Walk around Kalyves. The seaside village 7.9 km away keeps old stone houses with red-tiled roofs, and the Xydas river splits its older west quarter from the newer east one. A water mill on the square is one of the oldest in the area, and the sandy beach where the river meets the sea carries a Blue Flag; the Kalyves page lists where to stay.
- See the Venetian wells at Gavalochori. The village 8 km from Pemonia is named after the Gavalas family, who lived there under Venetian rule, and it holds Venetian stone arches, an olive oil factory and Roman tombs. A complex of 24 Venetian wells stands about 1 km outside Gavalochori, ringed by trees with oddly twisted branches.
- Spend a day at Almyrida. The resort 8.9 km away sits near Cape Drapanos among olive groves, with a row of tavernas, sunbeds and a watersports centre behind two shallow sandy bays. Almyrida pairs with Plaka, the village about 1 km inland from it.
About the village and its setting
Pemonia is a working inland village rather than a resort, and its setting is the countryside behind Souda Bay. The nearest shoreline lies 7.9 km away, so nothing here is organised around a beachfront. What Pemonia does carry is eating: 5 cafés and mezedopolia stand within 2.2 km, and 12 within 5 km.
Behind Kalyves, 7.9 km away, olive-grove countryside rises towards the White Mountains, and the Diktamos Gorge cuts into the same range 6.5 km from Pemonia. The village of Plaka, 9.8 km away, and Kefalas, 10.3 km away, sit in the same band of hill settlements.
Beaches in and around Pemonia
Pemonia has no beach of its own, and the nearest sits 7.9 km away on the south shore of Souda Bay. Four beaches lie inside 9 km, and a fifth at Georgioupolis adds a different coast altogether.
- Kalives lies 7.9 km away and has two sandy beaches named Xidas and Maistrali either side of the Xidas river, both shallow, well equipped and open to northern winds. The rivers and the springs in the sea here keep the water cooler than the open coast.
- Kera sits 8.2 km away, soft sand with the occasional pebble under tall cliffs, shallow and clear, and unorganised. Karga island shows from the shore, and an elongated rock at the west end is called Karavos, meaning ship, by the people who live here.
- Kalami is 8.9 km away, rounded pebbles and deep water 500 m north of Kalami village, with a small harbour at its east end and a scatter of umbrellas and tamarisk trees. The ancient city of Aptera and the Turkish forts of Intzedin and Aptera stand nearby.
- Almyrida, 9 km away, has two shallow sandy bays calm enough for children on windless days, split by a small rocky peninsula topped with a white chapel. The uninhabited islet of Karga lies just offshore.
- Kalivaki at Georgioupolis is the westernmost beach of Georgioupolis bay, 38 km east of Chania, at the mouth of the Almyros river. River water keeps it cool and the bay shelters it from wind, which suits families on days when the open beaches cut up.
Where to eat near Pemonia
Eating near Pemonia means mezedopolia and village cafés, and the nearest stands 1.3 km out. Five of them fall within 2.2 km.
- The Lemonade Stand serves meze cooking, 1.3 km from Pemonia.
- The Passage is 1.9 km out.
- Aposperida stands 2 km from the village.
- The Rizitiko lies 2.1 km away and is named after the Cretan rizitika songs.
- Despina Coffee Road serves coffee, 2.2 km out.
Getting to Pemonia
Pemonia sits off the coast road, so the approach runs inland from the Souda Bay shore through the Apokoronas villages. Kalyves, 7.9 km away, is the coastal point to aim for.
Chania is the nearest airport, and the city sits on the same side of the island. A car is worth having, because the beaches, the gorge and the neighbouring villages all sit 5 km to 10 km out on roads no single bus route strings together.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Pemonia in Crete?
Pemonia lies in the Chania region of north-west Crete, about 8 km inland from Kalyves on the south shore of Souda Bay. Kalyves sits roughly 20 km east of Chania city.
Does Pemonia have a beach?
Pemonia has no beach of its own, but 4 lie within 9 km. Kalives is the closest at 7.9 km, and Almyrida, 9 km out, is the easiest of them for families because both its bays shelve shallow.
Which airport is closest to Pemonia?
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Pemonia. The village lies on the Chania side of the island, east of the city and inland from Souda Bay.
Can you walk a gorge from Pemonia?
The Diktamos Gorge starts 6.5 km from Pemonia. The route runs 8 km from Katochori at 300 m down to Faragi village at 40 m, takes about 3 hours, and has stretches that need care, so it is not a stroll.
Where do you eat near Pemonia?
The nearest taverna stands 1.3 km from Pemonia. Five cafés and mezedopolia fall within 2.2 km, and 12 within 5 km.
Where Pemonia is
Best things to do in Pemonia in 2024 is located at Pemónia. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
