Best things to do in Prines in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Prines is an inland village in the Rethymno region of Crete, about 5 km west of Rethymno and roughly 2 km back from the north coast. The village sits inland behind the western beaches of the city, close enough for the Fortezza and the old town to be an everyday errand rather than an excursion. Two tavernas stand in Prines itself, and a cluster of grill houses and souvlaki kitchens follows within a kilometre.
Chania is the nearest airport to Prines. The village works as a quiet base beside a city: the beaches on Rethymno’s western side are 2 km to 4 km away, a gorge runs down to the city from 3 km out, and the eating is village tavernas rather than a resort strip.
Things to do in and around Prines
Six outings lie within 5 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Eat at a village taverna. Giannikos Tavern and Veranta Taverna both stand 100 m from the centre of Prines.
- Visit the folklore centre at Atsipopoulo. The Culture and Folklore Center is 1.2 km from the village, the nearest indoor stop to Prines.
- Snorkel at Kamari. Kamari beach is 2.3 km away at the entrance of the Vederi Gorge, near Gerani village, and its pebbles and rocks make it a favourite with snorkellers. A small harbour and the church of Panagia Kamariani stand beside it.
- Find the Gerani cave. The sealed entrance to the cave sits a short distance south of Kamari beach, and it is a significant archaeological site in central Crete.
- Walk the Gallos gorge. The Galliano canyon starts 3.1 km from Prines, southeast of Gallos, and runs 5.5 km down to Rethymno town, carrying water from the Armeni region to Koumbes beach. The ancient Saounatsides watermill, which worked until the 20th century, stands near the entrance, and a path a few metres south of it reaches the cave-like temple of Saint Anthony.
- Spend a day in Rethymno. The city is 5 km east, and its preserved Renaissance centre blends Ottoman and Cretan architecture around the Loggia, the Neratze Mosque and the Church of Agios Frangiskos.
Beaches near Prines
Prines has no beach of its own, but 5 lie within 9 km, and the two nearest are on the quieter western side of Rethymno.
- Kamari lies 2.3 km away, roughly 7 km west of Rethymno beside Gerani village. It is compact, part pebble and part rock, and open to frequent northerly winds, with a few umbrellas, taverns and rooms behind it.
- Koumbes sits 3.6 km away, the only beach on the western side of Rethymno city, 2 km west of the centre. Sand and fine pebbles run along it, walkways have been added by the municipality, and the Fortezza fortress stands a few hundred metres east in full view.
- Rethymno town beach is 6.1 km away, a strip of golden sand next to the Venetian port, about 500 m east of the old town. Entry is free and you pay only for a sunbed, and the Eleftheriou Venizelou promenade runs alongside it.
- Episkopi lies 7.7 km away, 3.5 km of soft sand between the Mouselas river and the river out of the Petres gorge. The western section has a lifeguard, sunbeds, showers and water sports, while the eastern end near the Petres bridge stays quiet.
- Pervolia sits 8.1 km away on the long beachfront that begins near Rethymno’s harbour and runs 13 km east to Skaleta. Loggerhead turtles nest along this sand, as they do all the way down the bay.
Where to eat in Prines
Eating in Prines means tavernas, grill houses and souvlaki counters, nearly all of them within about a kilometre of the village centre.
- Giannikos Tavern is in the village, 100 m from the centre.
- Veranta Taverna Prines serves taverna cooking, 100 m out.
- Subulus Grill House cooks grilled meat, 1 km away.
- Gaganis’ Souvlaki serves souvlaki, 1 km from the centre.
- Oil & Oregano stands 1.1 km from Prines.
- Camari Garden Restaurant lies 2.3 km out, towards Kamari.
Getting to Prines
Prines is reached on the roads that climb inland from the coast west of Rethymno. The coastal highway linking Chania and Rethymno runs along the shore below the village, passing Kamari beach and crossing the Gerani bridge, so the turn-off inland is easy to pick up from either city.
Rethymno is the practical centre for everything the village does not carry. The city lies 5 km east of Prines and holds the banks, shops and facilities of a regional capital, and Rethymno is also the third largest city in Crete. Chania is the nearest airport.
Inland runs are short in the other direction. Agios Konstantinos is 7.6 km away on a wide plateau at 250 m, ringed by olive trees, vineyards, carobs and cypresses and named after a church built in 1315, while Episkopi is 8.4 km out and Argyroupolis is the springs village of the district.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Prines in Crete?
Prines lies in the Rethymno region of Crete, about 5 km west of Rethymno city and around 2 km inland from the north coast. The village sits behind the beaches on the western side of the city, with Kamari the closest of them at 2.3 km.
Does Prines have a beach?
Prines is an inland village with no beach of its own, but 5 lie within 9 km. Kamari, 2.3 km away, is the nearest, and Koumbes, 3.6 km away, is the only beach on Rethymno’s western side.
Can you walk a gorge from Prines?
Yes, the Gallos gorge starts 3.1 km from Prines and runs 5.5 km down to Rethymno town. Shepherds have strung wires across the streambed in several places to hold their herds, which makes the walk along the water awkward in parts. Petres, 5.8 km away, and Mili, 7.3 km away, are the next two.
How far is Prines from Rethymno?
Rethymno lies about 5 km east of Prines. The town beach and the Venetian port are 6.1 km from the village, which puts the old town within an easy run for dinner or a morning swim.
What is there to see near Prines?
The Gerani cave, a significant archaeological site in central Crete, sits just south of Kamari beach, though its entrance is sealed. The Culture and Folklore Center at Atsipopoulo is 1.2 km from the village, and the Saounatsides watermill stands at the entrance to the Gallos gorge.
Where Prines is
Best things to do in Prines in 2024 is located at Prinés. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
