Spili is a traditional mountain village in the Rethymno region of Crete, set about 430 m up on the slopes of Mount Vorizi in the Kedros range, roughly 30 km south of Rethymno. Spili is the seat of the Agios Vasileios municipality and takes its name from the Greek word for cave, after the caves in the mountain above it. About 800 people live in the village year-round, which keeps it quiet and lived-in rather than resort-like. Its cold running water, shaded square, and position between the north and south coasts make Spili a favourite stop on the way across the island.

About Spili

Spili is a green, water-rich village built up the hillside in tiers of stone houses. The heart of the village is a small square shaded by 2 large plane trees, where the lion fountain runs and tavernas and old kafenia sit around the water. Narrow stone lanes climb away from the square past traditional mansions, craft shops, and stalls selling local herbs and honey. The village stays cool in summer because of its altitude and its constant spring water, so it draws travellers heading to or from the southern beaches.

The Kefalovrissi lion fountain

The lion fountain, known locally as Kefalovrissi, is the centrepiece of Spili and sends cold spring water from a row of 25 carved stone lion heads. Kefalovrissi dates back to the Venetian period and has fed the village from the same mountain springs for centuries. The water runs continuously and is cold and drinkable, so visitors and locals fill bottles straight from the lion mouths. Mature plane trees shade the fountain and the tavernas beside it, which makes the square the natural place to rest in the village.

Things to do in and around Spili

Spili works both as a place to wander and as a base for the surrounding gorges and south-coast beaches. The main things to do in and around Spili are listed below in order of how close they sit to the village:

Drink from the 25 lion heads of the Kefalovrissi fountain and rest under the plane trees in the square.
Walk the stone lanes to see the mansions, churches, and craft and herb shops.
Visit the Folk Museum of Spili for the village’s traditional tools and daily life.
Stop at Maravel Garden, a herb garden near the village.
Day-trip to the Kourtaliotiko Gorge, whose entrance sits close to Spili and whose river runs down to Preveli.
Drive on to the south-coast beaches of Preveli, Plakias, Agia Galini, and Triopetra.

A short history of Spili

Spili has carried its name since the Venetian era, when the settlement was already recorded in the region’s history. The village sits on an old route between the Amari Valley and the south coast, which made it a natural crossroads and market stop. Its residents took part in the Cretan struggles of the later Ottoman and wartime years, like much of the Rethymno hinterland. Today Spili keeps its traditional character in its churches, mansions, and preserved water mills.

Getting to Spili

Reach Spili by road from Rethymno, about 30 km to the north, on the main route toward Agia Galini and the south coast. Chania and Heraklion airports both serve the area, and buses run to the village from Rethymno, though services are limited. Spili sits where the mountain roads to the Amari Valley, the Kourtaliotiko Gorge, and the southern beaches meet, so a car turns the village into a base rather than a single stop. Public transport on these routes is limited, so the simplest way to link Spili with the coast and the gorges is to arrange car rental in Crete.

Where to go from Spili

Things to do in Spili begin with the monastery and the tavernas inside the village and carry on into the gorges of the Agios Vasileios province. Each entry below names the place, how far it sits from the village, and the page that covers it in full, nearest first.

Walk up to the Saint Raphael monastery. The monastery stands 200 m from the village: Saint Raphael monastery at Spili.
Eat around the square. Three places sit 300 m from the centre, the “Platia” Cafe – Grill, Plátanos and Yanni’s Restaurant, with To Sideradiko 700 m away.
Walk the Agia Fotia Gorge. The gorge lies 2.1 km from the village and runs 1.5 km, dropping from the Gious Kambos plateau at 750 m to a spring at 500 m. It is small and green, with waterfalls near the top, and it ends beside the church of Agia Fotini on the road to Agia Galini, where the spring flows all year and a large old watermill stands: Agia Fotia Gorge.
Go canyoning in the Kissos Gorge. The gorge lies 3.2 km away, 1 km north of Kissos village, and links the Kambos Kissou settlement with the Gious Kambos plateau. Its waterfalls reach 5 to 7 m and can be bypassed carefully from the sides without special equipment, and its river is a main tributary of the Frati gorge. The Agio Pnevma Monastery at Kissos stands 4.8 km from Spili: Kissos Gorge.
Stop at the Cedros winery. The winery and restaurant lie 3.8 km from the village: Cedros Winery & Restaurant. Further out sit Taverne Agamemnon at 5.8 km and Takis Koxare Cafe at 6 km.
Follow the Kourtaliotiko Gorge down to Preveli. The gorge lies 6.7 km from Spili and its river, the Megalos Potamos, reaches the Libyan Sea 9.3 km away at Preveli beach, where a colony of Theophrastus date palms lines the river and forms one of the few natural palm forests in Europe. The river runs all year and widens into a lagoon behind the sand: Kourtaliotiko Gorge and Waterfall.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Spili located?

Spili is a mountain village in the Rethymno region of Crete, about 30 km south of Rethymno and 430 m above sea level on Mount Vorizi.

What is the Kefalovrissi fountain in Spili?

The Kefalovrissi is Spili’s Venetian lion fountain, a row of 25 carved stone lion heads that pour cold, drinkable spring water in the village square.

How many lion heads does the Spili fountain have?

The Spili fountain has 25 lion heads set in a row, each spouting spring water from the mountain above the village.

What is there to do in Spili?

Spili offers the lion fountain and shaded square, stone lanes with mansions and craft shops, the Folk Museum of Spili, and easy day trips to the Kourtaliotiko Gorge and the south-coast beaches.

When is the best time to visit Spili?

Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Spili, with mild weather, running water, and fewer visitors than the peak summer months.

How do you get to Spili?

Drive to Spili from Rethymno in about 40 minutes on the road toward Agia Galini, or take a limited local bus; a car makes the surrounding gorges and beaches far easier to reach.

Which gorges are near Spili?

4 gorges lie within 7 km of Spili: the Agia Fotia Gorge at 2.1 km, the Kissos Gorge at 3.2 km, the Patsos Gorge at 5.5 km and the Kourtaliotiko Gorge at 6.7 km.