Best things to do in Rodia in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Rodia, written Rogdia on many of our pages, is a village on the slopes above the western side of Heraklion Bay. Streams running down from the village cut the green valley that reaches the sea at Paliokastro, and our page for that beach places it 14 km west of Heraklion. The village looks out over the bay rather than sitting on it.
Heraklion airport (HER) is the nearest airport, and the city is the closest large town. Rodia works as a quiet base: 5 beaches lie within 4 km, 4 monasteries within 2.2 km, and a gorge starts 700 m from the houses.
Things to do in and around Rodia
Six outings lie within 5 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Walk the Spiliotissa gorge down to the sea. The route starts 700 m from the village at the old Koukos watermill on the road between Rogdia and Achlada and comes out at Paliokastro beach. Small waterfalls, the cave-like chapel of Panagia Spiliotissa and the 10 m Rechtra waterfall mark the way, and the drop beside the waterfall needs ropes. A cave in the middle of the gorge serves a hagiographer as a studio for painting icons.
- Climb to the Paliokastro fortress. A limestone rock stands over the eastern end of Paliokastro beach, 1.6 km from Rodia, and the Venetian fortress that defended the Bay of Heraklion stood on its summit. What remains suggests it was built on the acropolis of ancient Kytaeon.
- Visit the monasteries. Four sit within 2.2 km of the village: Rodia monastery at 1.5 km, Savvathiana at 1.7 km, Agia Fotini the Samaritan at 1.8 km and Panagia Pantanassa at 2.2 km.
- Swim at Helidoni. The beach 1.7 km away lies just south of Paliokastro, tucked beneath the highway, and a staircase with wooden steps drops to the water. Helidoni, also called Porto Helidoni, is known for how clean it stays and for its clear water.
- Hike the Almiros gorge. The 3 km walk at Ellinoperamata, 3.6 km from Rodia, takes about 1.5 hours, gains 150 m and rates 1 out of 10 for difficulty, so it suits families. Almiros links a 14th-century monastery, three small chapels, a spring-fed lake and three seasonal waterfalls, and a paved road reaches the trailhead.
- Drive to Agia Pelagia. The resort village 4.6 km away sits around a sheltered bay where rock outcrops almost close the water in, which keeps the sea calm and clear on windy days. Agia Pelagia grew out of a fishing settlement, and whitewashed houses climb the slopes above its seafront tavernas.
About the village and its setting
Rodia is a hill village with the coast below it and the city across the bay. The tavernas we list start 800 m from the centre, so the village feeds itself rather than a resort strip. The Spiliotissa gorge forms immediately to the west, and the ground drops away quickly on that side.
Monasteries are the other mark of the area. Four stand within 2.2 km, and Panagia Pantanassa gives its name to the beach and the small port below it. Marathos lies 4.8 km out and Fodele 6.1 km, while Ligaria and Agia Pelagia to the west belong to the Malevizi area.
Beaches in and around Rodia
5 beaches lie within 4 km of Rodia, the two closest at the foot of the village’s own valley. The list runs from nearest to furthest.
- Paliokastro lies 1.6 km away, a pebble beach at the exit of the green valley below Rogdia. Tall cliffs flank the east-facing cove, and the Venetian fortress that names it stands on the rock above.
- Helidoni follows 1.7 km away, immediately south of Paliokastro and below the highway, reached by a wooden staircase. Its Greek name means swallow.
- Pantanassa sits 2.1 km away, 12 km west of Heraklion, next to the small port of the same name. The port divided what had been one beach hidden behind a pine wood; pebbles, clear water and sunbeds remain, and a path from the port leads down.
- Fraskia opens 3.5 km away at the exit of a small valley beside the private settlement of Theseus. The name comes from the Cretan fraski, a jar used as a beehive, and the thyme and herbs around the bay explain why. Small sandy and rocky coves alternate southwards towards the Garden of Priest.
- Ligaria stretches 3.8 km away, an organised beach of coarse sand and turquoise water inside the Bay of Ligaria, which shuts out the north-west winds. Sunbeds, water sports and tavernas line it, and the sandy west end is the easiest place to get in past the rocky seabed.
Where to eat in Rodia
Eating in Rodia means village tavernas within a kilometre of the centre, plus a bar down at the shore.
- View Papadakis Taverna stands 800 m from the centre.
- Taverna Alonaki sits 900 m out.
- To Rodi Tavern specialises in smoked lamb, 900 m from the centre.
- Ombra Beach Bar is down at the shore, 1.6 km away.
Getting to Rodia
Rodia is reached from the coast road west of Heraklion, then up the slope from the shore. Our Helidoni page describes this coast as a five-minute drive from the outskirts of Heraklion, and our Paliokastro page puts the beach below the village 14 km west of the city.
A car suits the area, because the beaches sit at the bottom of separate valleys. The inland road between Rogdia and Achlada carries the start of the Spiliotissa gorge, and Heraklion is close enough for a day in the city.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Rodia in Crete?
Rodia sits on the slopes above the western side of Heraklion Bay, in the Heraklion region. Our Paliokastro page places the beach below the village 14 km west of Heraklion city.
Does Rodia have a beach?
Rodia stands above the coast rather than on it, and Paliokastro 1.6 km below is its nearest beach. Helidoni follows at 1.7 km, Pantanassa at 2.1 km, Fraskia at 3.5 km and Ligaria at 3.8 km.
Is Rodia the same place as Rogdia?
Rodia and Rogdia are the same village. Our gorge, fortress and monastery pages for this area use the Rogdia spelling.
Which gorge can you walk from Rodia?
The Spiliotissa gorge starts 700 m from the village. It runs from the Koukos watermill down to Paliokastro beach past the 10 m Rechtra waterfall. The Almiros gorge, 3.6 km away, is the easier walk.
How many monasteries are near Rodia?
4 monasteries stand within 2.2 km of Rodia. They are the Rodia monastery, Savvathiana, Agia Fotini the Samaritan and Panagia Pantanassa, which names the beach and port below it.
Where Rodia is
Best things to do in Rodia in 2024 is located at Rodia. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
