Best things to do in Pentamodi village in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Pentamodi is an inland village in the Heraklion region of Crete, 17 km from Heraklion city, set in the valley of the Gazanos river at an altitude of 350 m. The village has a population of 278 and counts as one of the oldest settlements in this part of Crete. Agios Myron is the nearest town, 4 km away by road, and Petrokefalo is the closest village at 1 km.
Heraklion airport lies 17.3 km from Pentamodi in a straight line, so the drive runs longer than that on these inland roads. Pentamodi suits a stay built around village life, wine, gorge walks and the archaeology of the Heraklion hinterland, with the city beaches a short drive away.
Things to do in and around Pentamodi
Six outings sit within about 12 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Find the Quirini fountain. The 15th-century fountain in the village carries the coat of arms of the house of Quirini and is the landmark Pentamodi is known for.
- Walk over to Petrokefalo. The neighbouring village 1 km away stands on a rocky hillside shaped like a human head, which is where its name, meaning stone head, comes from. Its settlement was fortified, and recent digs there have turned up significant ancient finds.
- Taste wine at a local estate. The Silva Daskalaki Winery stands 4.5 km from the village.
- Hike the Agios Antonios gorge. The descent into the canyon starts 5.4 km away beside the Byzantine church of Saint Anthony, which has a drinking water spring, and the trail through the Agios Antonios gorge forms part of the European E4 route.
- Stroll the Venerato gorge. The walk 6.1 km away is only 500 m long, running from Avgeniki to the church of Agios Fanourios beneath a tall cliff, so the Venerato gorge pairs easily with a look around Venerato village.
- Swim at Ammoudara. The organised sand of Ammoudara beach starts 11.3 km from Pentamodi and runs 7 km west from the edge of Heraklion.
About the village and its setting
Pentamodi is a working hill village rather than a resort, and its calendar shows it. The village holds cultural festivals every summer at Agia Paraskevi, a spot with thick vegetation outside the settlement, and celebrates its patron saint, Agios Nikolaos, with a feast on 26 July.
The setting is the Gazanos valley, 350 m up in the hills inland from Heraklion, where villages of a few hundred people sit within a kilometre or two of each other. Petrokefalo, 1 km away, has 248 inhabitants, stands at 340 m and keeps its own patron saint’s feast for Agia Paraskevi on 8 September. Agios Myron lies 4 km off by road, Kato Asites 5.6 km away and Prophitis Ilias 8.1 km away.
Beaches in and around Pentamodi
Pentamodi has no beach of its own, because the village sits 350 m up in the hills and well back from the coast. The two nearest beaches both lie on the shore west of Heraklion, 10.6 km and 11.3 km from the village, so a swim means a short drive to the coast.
- Ellinoperamata lies 10.6 km away, also called Linoperamata, a sandy beach up to 7 km long that runs from Linoperamata to the Pancretan Stadium and is bordered by the Almiros river in the west. The water is clean and the beach quiet, though a power station and heavy industry to the west keep local people away.
- Ammoudara sits 11.3 km away, a 7 km organised beach of fine brown sand with shallow water, sunbeds, beach bars and water sports. Ammoudara begins at the Giofyros river mouth by the Pancretan Stadium, and a low rock strip about 50 m inland marks the ancient shoreline.
Gorges near Pentamodi
Four gorges start between 5 km and 10 km from the village, and they range from a 500 m stroll to a stage of the E4 long-distance path.
- The Agios Antonios gorge starts 5.4 km away, west of Ano Asites, deep and dramatic, thick with plane trees and other vegetation. The trail belongs to the European E4 route and ends at Kerasia, near the Faneromeni church.
- The Venerato gorge lies 6.1 km away, beside Venerato village and the Paliani Monastery, 500 m long but deep at its narrowest point. Venerato was home to Venetian nobles and was once called “Little Venice”.
- The Agios Charalambos gorge is 8.3 km away, fed by the same river that later forms the Agios Antonios gorge.
- The Almiros gorge sits 9.9 km away, a short and easy hike west of Heraklion.
Where to eat in Pentamodi
Eating here starts in the village itself and spreads through the neighbouring settlements, none of them more than 5 km away.
- I Nota Tou Meze is in Pentamodi itself.
- Sweet Corner stands 1.7 km from the village.
- To Steki Ton Korfon sits 2.2 km away.
- Mpaxés lies 2.6 km away.
- Taverna Trapeza is 4.4 km from Pentamodi.
- Karampoutze Cafe, a village kafeneio, stands 4.5 km away.
Getting to Pentamodi
Pentamodi is reached on the inland roads that climb out of Heraklion towards Agios Myron. The village lies 17 km from Heraklion and 4 km beyond Agios Myron, with Petrokefalo 1 km short of it on the same run of hills.
Heraklion airport sits 17.3 km away in a straight line, and the road takes longer than the number suggests. A car is worth having, because the gorges at Venerato and Asites, the winery and the city beaches all sit 4 km to 12 km apart in different directions.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Pentamodi in Crete?
Pentamodi lies 17 km from Heraklion, inland from the city, in the valley of the Gazanos river at 350 m above sea level.
Does Pentamodi have a beach?
Pentamodi has no beach, and the nearest sand is 10.6 km away at Ellinoperamata. Ammoudara, the organised beach that runs west from Heraklion, is 11.3 km from the village.
What is Pentamodi known for?
Pentamodi is known for its 15th-century fountain, which carries the coat of arms of the house of Quirini. The village also holds summer cultural festivals at Agia Paraskevi and a feast for its patron saint, Agios Nikolaos, on 26 July.
How big is Pentamodi?
Pentamodi has a population of 278. Neighbouring Petrokefalo, 1 km away, has 248 inhabitants, which gives a fair idea of the scale of the villages in this valley.
Can you walk a gorge from Pentamodi?
The nearest gorge walk starts 5.4 km away at the Agios Antonios gorge, on the E4 route. The Venerato gorge, 6.1 km out, is a gentler option at 500 m long.
Where Pentamodi village is
Best things to do in Pentamodi village in 2024 is located at Pentamodi village. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
