Best things to do in Pigianos Kampos in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Pigianos Kampos is a coastal resort on Rethymno Bay, about 8 km east of Rethymno on the north coast of Crete. The name means the plain of Pigi and points back to the fertile fields farmed by people from the village of Pigi inland. The resort sits centrally along the long beach of Rethymno Bay, and it is less developed than Adelianos Kambos next door. It is also spelled Pigianos Kambos, and its beach goes by Pigi beach.
Chania airport lies about 41 km west and is the closest airport to the resort. Pigianos Kampos is a place for a quiet beach week, with apartments, rooms and larger hotels behind the shore and a run of dining, entertainment and shopping options among them.
Things to do in and around Pigianos Kampos
Five outings lie within 8 km of the resort, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Swim at the resort beach. The sand lies 0.7 km from the centre and is described in full further down this page.
- Walk east along Rethymno Bay. The sandy strip of the bay runs about 13 km from Rethymno harbour to Skaleta, and Pigianos Kampos sits in the middle of it. Heading east the sand narrows and fades out at the Skaleta beachfront, which starts 3.8 km away and marks the end of the bay.
- Follow the Prassano gorge. The gorge of Prasses begins south of Prasses village, 5.6 km from the resort, and gives a three-hour hike through enormous rocks and some demanding passages. Plane trees and thick vegetation shade the stream, and the Prassano gorge is open from mid-June to mid-October.
- Hike the Mili gorge. The trail runs 2.5 km past the abandoned mill village of Mili, takes about 2.5 hours and is rated 1 of 10 for difficulty. Old watermills, spring-fed pools and small rock-cut churches line the signed route through Mili gorge, 6.3 km away.
- Spend a day in Rethymno. The capital of the region sits 7.8 km west, and its preserved Renaissance centre mixes Ottoman and Cretan architecture. The Loggia, the Neratze Mosque, the Veli Pasha Mosque and the Church of Agios Frangiskos stand within the old town of Rethymno.
About the resort and its setting
Pigianos Kampos is a coastal tourist settlement on the plain behind Rethymno Bay, built on fields that belong to the inhabitants of Pigi. Accommodation runs from apartments and rooms up to larger hotels, with places to eat, drink and shop among them. The resort stays quieter than Adelianos Kambos, its neighbour 1.2 km along the coast.
The sandy strip of Rethymno Bay runs about 13 km from the harbour at Rethymno east to Skaleta, and the resort stands at the centre of it. Loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, nest along this coastline, and the species is at risk of extinction.
Pigianos Kampos beach
Pigianos Kampos beach sits 0.7 km from the resort at the centre of Rethymno Bay’s long beach, and it also carries the name Pigi beach. The atmosphere on it is peaceful and quieter than on the other beaches around Rethymno.
The sand forms one link in the continuous stretch that begins at Adelianos Kambos and runs east to Skaleta, so walking is easy in either direction. Places to eat, drink and shop stand behind the shore in the resort itself.
Beaches near Pigianos Kampos
Pigianos Kampos has 3 neighbouring beaches within 4 km, all of them part of the same Rethymno Bay strip.
- Adelianos Kambos lies 1.2 km away, also called Adele Beach, a seaside suburb of Rethymno on a flat plain that grew vegetables for the village of Adele before a century of building took it over. The sandy stretch of the Rethymno Gulf beach begins here, and local buses reach it from the city centre.
- Platanes sits 2.9 km away, a long, sandy, well-organised beach with shallow light-blue water and sunbeds and lifeguards in season. The sand runs in front of the Pervolia, Misiria and Platanias suburbs and forms part of a protected nesting shore for loggerhead sea turtles.
- Misiria is 4 km away, one of the trio of suburbs that merged into Rethymno’s urban district alongside Pervolia and Platanias. A sprawling sandy beach runs in front of them, with a wide choice of dining, drinking and lodging along it.
Where to eat in Pigianos Kampos
Eating in Pigianos Kampos means restaurants and bars within a kilometre of the centre.
- The Sparkling Van stands in the resort itself.
- Almyra A La Carte Restaurant is 0.7 km away.
- Blue Sky Restaurant sits at the same distance, 0.7 km away.
- Paraplous Restaurant lies 0.9 km away.
Getting to Pigianos Kampos
Pigianos Kampos sits on the coast road east of Rethymno, 8 km from the city. Chania airport is about 41 km west, and Heraklion lies roughly 53 km east. Local buses run out from Rethymno city centre along this coast as far as Adelianos Kambos, 1.2 km west of the resort.
Rethymno is close enough for a short drive or bus ride into the old town. The two gorges south of the city are the trips that need a car.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Pigianos Kampos in Crete?
Pigianos Kampos lies about 8 km east of Rethymno on the north coast of Crete, halfway along Rethymno Bay in the Rethymno region.
Does Pigianos Kampos have a beach?
Yes, Pigianos Kampos beach lies 0.7 km from the resort and is also called Pigi beach. It sits at the centre of the long Rethymno Bay beach and stays quieter than the other beaches around the city.
How far is Pigianos Kampos from the airport?
Chania airport is about 41 km west of Pigianos Kampos and is the closest airport to the resort.
What does the name Pigianos Kampos mean?
Pigianos Kampos means the plain of Pigi. The name refers to the fertile fields that belong to the inhabitants of Pigi, the village inland from the resort.
Is there anything to do with children at Pigianos Kampos?
The beach is quieter than the other Rethymno Bay beaches, which suits families who want a calm stretch of sand. The nearest attraction of any kind is Playcity Rethymno, 0.3 km from the resort.
Can you walk a gorge from Pigianos Kampos?
Two gorges lie within 7 km of the resort. The Prassano gorge, 5.6 km away, takes about three hours and opens from mid-June to mid-October, and the Mili gorge, 6.3 km away, is a signed 2.5 km trail of about 2.5 hours rated 1 of 10 for difficulty.
Where Pigianos Kampos is
Best things to do in Pigianos Kampos in 2024 is located at Pigianos Kampos. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
