Kolymvari is a seaside town of more than 5,000 residents on the eastern edge of the Rodopos Peninsula in the Chania region, 12.4 km east of Kissamos and 21.6 km west of Chania. Kolymvari grew on the back of its beach, a long sandy strip that runs from the town east to Tavronitis, and the streets behind it carry accommodation, restaurants and entertainment. The town also acts as the gateway to the Rodopos Peninsula, so the quiet coves on the peninsula’s coasts are reached through it.
Chania airport lies 33.3 km east, which puts Kolymvari within a short transfer of arrivals without placing it in the busiest part of the coast. The town suits a stay built around swimming, a monastery, gorge walks inland and day trips to the resorts further east.
Things to do in Kolymvari
Six outings start in the town or within 12 km of it, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Swim at the town beach. The sandy shore begins at the town and runs east to Tavronitis, and small pebbles break up the sand in places. Water at Kolymvari beach is shallow and often wavy, which is normal for the open beaches of the north coast.
- Visit the Gonia monastery. The monastery of Odigitria Gonia stands 1.5 km from the centre, and the tiny coves beside it, 1 km northwest of the town, are calmer than the main beach.
- Take children to the water park. Selene Water Park sits 1.5 km from Kolymvari.
- Hike the Roka Gorge. The 2 km route runs from Deliana village to Roka village 8.3 km away and takes about two hours, under plane trees that keep the path cool. Walkers get wet in the narrow sections when water is flowing, and the village at the far end has Trouli hill above it with the remains of a Byzantine fortress. The Roka Gorge is also written Rocca, Rocka or Rokka.
- Look around Gerani village. The village 8.7 km east splits into Kato Gerani along the beach and Palaio Gerani inland, with a small river between them. Gerani has hotels and family-run rooms but far less tourism than Platanias next door.
- Spend an evening in Platanias. The resort 11.8 km east sits on a hill above one of Crete’s longest beaches, a sandy stretch of about 7 km. Bars and restaurants in Platanias stay open late, and its shops sell clothing, home decor, artwork and ceramics.
Beaches near Kolymvari
Five beaches lie within 5 km of Kolymvari, and they split into two kinds. The shoreline east of the town is long, open and exposed to the north wind, while the Rodopos Peninsula to the north holds small coves that stay sheltered when the coast is rough.
- Kolymvari beach lies 0.6 km away, sandy with occasional small pebbles, shallow and open to the waves that reach this coast.
- Rapaniana sits 1.5 km east, a calm mix of sand and pebbles on the same open shoreline, with village services close by and few crowds even in summer.
- Tavronitis is 4 km east, a long pebbly beach named after the river beside it, 1 km north of Tavronitis village and next to the wartime Maleme airport where Cretan and Allied forces resisted the German landings in 1941. Hotels, tavernas and restaurants line it.
- Afrata lies 4.1 km north on the Rodopos Peninsula, a small pebble cove about 1 km below Afrata village. The bay stays protected when the rest of the north coast turns windy, and the water is clear turquoise.
- Ravdoucha sits 4.9 km away on the western side of the peninsula, a quiet pebble beach beside Ravdoucha village reached by a paved road off the Chania to Kissamos highway. Snorkellers come for the rocky coves; there are fish tavernas but no sunbeds, so shade comes from the trees and the rocks.
Walkers have more than one gorge within reach. The Mesavlia to Deliana route runs 5 km from Mesavlia village and takes about an hour on a dirt road beside the riverbed, and the same water carries on through Roka Gorge before reaching Nopigia beach; the cavernous chapel of Saint Paraskevi stands near the start of Mesavlia – Deliana, 13.2 km from Kolymvari. Chalase Gorge is 13.5 km away and Topolia Gorge 15.8 km.
Where to eat in Kolymvari
Eating in Kolymvari happens within a kilometre of the centre, much of it on the seafront. The range runs from a bakery and cafés to full seaside restaurants.
- Art Cafe sits in the centre, 100 m out.
- Fourakis Bakery serves bread and pastries, 200 m from the centre.
- Avra Seaside Bar & Restaurant sits on the shore, 500 m out.
- Milos Seaside Cafe Restaurant serves seafront cooking, 800 m out.
Getting to Kolymvari
Kolymvari sits on the highway between Chania and Kissamos, so the drive is straightforward from either direction. Chania is 21.6 km east, Kissamos 12.4 km west and Rethymno 66.3 km east. Chania airport lies 33.3 km from the town.
Turning north at Kolymvari takes you onto the Rodopos Peninsula, where the road to Afrata and the paved road to Ravdoucha branch off. Heading east instead follows the coast through Tavronitis, Gerani and Platanias towards Chania, and the villages of the Roka and Deliana gorges lie inland on the other side of the highway.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kolymvari in Crete?
Kolymvari lies 12.4 km east of Kissamos and 21.6 km west of Chania, on the eastern edge of the Rodopos Peninsula in the Chania region of western Crete.
Does Kolymvari have a beach?
Kolymvari has a long sandy beach that starts at the town and runs east to Tavronitis. The sand carries occasional small pebbles, the water is shallow, and 4 more beaches lie within 5 km.
How far is Kolymvari from Chania airport?
Chania airport sits 33.3 km east of Kolymvari, most of the route on the highway that links Chania with Kissamos.
Is the sea at Kolymvari calm?
The town beach is often wavy, because it faces open sea like the rest of the north coast. Swimmers who want flat water head for the coves near the Gonia monastery, 1 km northwest, or for Afrata on the peninsula, which stays protected when the coast is windy.
What is there to do in Kolymvari with children?
Selene Water Park is 1.5 km from Kolymvari, and the town beach shelves into shallow water on calm days. The sheltered cove at Afrata, 4.1 km north, is the fallback when the wind picks up.
Kolymvari Map
Discover Kolymvari is located at Kolymvari, in the Chania region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
