Pikris: Beaches, Stays, Things to do

Pikris is a village in the Rethymno region of Crete, 13.2 km east of Rethymno city. The village stands inland, and the Arkadi Gorge ends beside it, at the point where the ravine meets the Gypofarago gorge. Arkadi Monastery, the historic building above the gorge, is 3.9 km away. The nearest beaches lie 5.4 km off, at the eastern end of the Bay of Rethymno.

Chania airport (CHQ) is the nearest airport, 47.9 km away in a straight line, and Heraklion lies 47 km east. Pikris works as a base for the monasteries and archaeological sites of inland Rethymno, for two walking gorges, and for the beaches that close the Rethymno Gulf.

Things to do in Pikris

Six outings lie within 6 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.

1. Hike the Arkadi Gorge. The walk is 4.5 km long, takes about 2 hours and is rated moderate. Arkadi Gorge starts 3.2 km from Pikris, just north of Arkadi Monastery, follows the eastern bank of a green rocky ravine, and finishes near the village where the Gypofarago gorge joins it. There is no entrance fee and no facilities on the trail, so carry your own water and food.
2. Visit Arkadi Monastery. The monastery stands 3.9 km from Pikris, above the head of the gorge. Arkadi pairs naturally with the walk, which makes the two a single day out.
3. See Arsaniou Monastery. The second monastery near the village is 4.4 km away. Arsaniou sits in the same stretch of inland country as Arkadi.
4. Tour the Eleftherna museum. The archaeological museum is 4.7 km from Pikris. The museum holds the finds from the excavation beside it.
5. Walk through ancient Eleftherna. The excavated town lies 4.8 km away, next to the museum. Ancient Eleftherna is the site that gives this district its place in Cretan archaeology.
6. Buy pottery in Margarites. The village is 5.6 km from Pikris and is considered the most significant pottery centre in western Crete. Margarites keeps picturesque alleys and well-preserved architecture, has Venetian roots reaching back to the sixteenth century, and built its ceramic trade during the Ottoman period.

Beaches in and around Pikris

Pikris has no beach of its own, and the 5 nearest lie between 5.4 km and 7.9 km away. They divide into two kinds: the organised sandy resorts at the eastern end of the Bay of Rethymno, and the small north-facing coves beyond it, where the water is deeper and the sea often choppy.

• Skaleta lies 5.4 km away, a 3 km beachfront that closes the Bay of Rethymno, mostly sandy and well organised with pebbles and small rocks in places, taking in Sfakaki and Stavromenos.
• Pigianos Kambos sits 6.7 km away and is also called Pigi beach, named the Plane of Pigi after the fields of the village inland, and quieter than Adelianos Kambos next door.
• Spilies follows 7.4 km away, a sheltered pebble cove between Skaleta and Geropotamos with clear deep water, tall cliffs and sea caves that shelter endangered wildlife.
• Geropotamos opens 7.9 km away, a small sandy beach at the river mouth under the highway bridge, quiet and uncrowded, with water that is clear but cold and deep.
• Adelianos Kambos stands 7.9 km away, a seaside suburb of Rethymno where the long sand of the Rethymno Gulf begins, served by buses from the city centre.

About Pikris and its setting

Pikris sits in the hill country that separates Rethymno from the Mylopotamos villages. The ground here is cut by a run of small parallel gorges around Margarites, Orthe and Eleftherna, carved into white-yellow marly limestone laid down 8 to 10 million years ago and lifted and eroded since. Streams such as the Margaritianos drain northwards through the Margarites gorge and feed the Geropotamos river, which reaches the sea at the beach of the same name.

Those ravines carry unusual plant life, including small groups of horizontally branched cypresses. The Arkadi ravine is the one that touches the village directly, and it explains why a settlement this small has a hiking trailhead, a monastery and 4 places to eat within 4 km.

Where to eat near Pikris

Eating near Pikris means tavernas in the surrounding hamlets rather than a strip in the village. The four closest all sit within 4 km.

• Elaia Restaurant is at Kapsaliana, 800 m away.
• O Mikros Antonis stands 1 km from the village.
• Taverna Faragi sits 1.6 km out.
• Kastro Mesi Tavern lies 3.9 km away.

Getting to Pikris

Head inland from the north coast on the Arkadi road, and Pikris comes after the monastery. Rethymno lies 13.2 km west of the village and Heraklion 47 km east, both measured in a straight line, so allow longer on winding inland roads. Chania airport is 47.9 km away by the same measure.

A car is close to essential here, because the beaches, the monasteries and the archaeological sites are spread across 8 km of hill country. Walkers can reach the gorge trailhead near Arkadi Monastery and finish the route back at the village, which removes the need to drive twice in a day.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Pikris in Crete?

Pikris lies 13.2 km east of Rethymno city, inland in the Rethymno region. Heraklion sits 47 km east of the village.

What is there to do in Pikris?

The Arkadi Gorge finishes at the village, and the monastery, the Eleftherna excavation and the pottery village of Margarites all lie within 6 km. Arkadi Monastery is 3.9 km away, ancient Eleftherna 4.8 km and Margarites 5.6 km.

How long is the Arkadi Gorge hike?

The route runs 4.5 km and takes about 2 hours. It is graded moderate, has no entrance fee and no facilities, and starts just north of Arkadi Monastery before ending near Pikris.

Does Pikris have a beach?

Pikris has no beach of its own, but 5 lie within 8 km. Skaleta is the closest at 5.4 km, and it is the most organised of them, while Spilies and Geropotamos are small coves with deep, cold water.

How far is Pikris from the airport?

Chania airport is 47.9 km from Pikris in a straight line, and Heraklion is 47 km east of the village. Road distances on this part of Crete run longer than the map figures.