Skaleta is a coastal village on the north coast of Crete, about 13 km east of Rethymno at the eastern end of the Bay of Rethymno. The Skaleta beachfront begins 11 km east of the city and runs 3 km further east, with Skaleta the last segment of it, past Sfakaki and Stavromenos. East of the village the sand narrows and gives out where the Rethymno Gulf ends.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport. Skaleta is a beach village first: the shore here is mostly sand, well organised, with patches of pebble and small rock, and the coves east of it are rocky and deep instead. Rethymno city is 13 km west, and the Mylopotamos villages inland start within 10 km.
Things to do in and around Skaleta
Skaleta has 6 outings within 9 km, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Swim off the village beachfront. The sand runs 3 km along this stretch, organised for most of its length, and our page on Skaleta beaches breaks it down section by section.
- Visit Arsaniou Monastery. The monastery 2.6 km from the village is the nearest sight away from the shore, and our page on Arsaniou Monastery covers it.
- Snorkel at Spilies. The pebble cove 3.2 km east has clear deep water, tall cliffs and sea caves that shelter endangered wildlife, and Spilies beach is for confident swimmers rather than small children.
- Walk round Panormo. The former fishing village 7.5 km east keeps its old character around a natural harbour, and the 400 people who live in Panormo all year keep it calmer than the larger resorts nearby.
- Hike the Arkadi gorge. The 4.5 km route starts just north of Arkadi Monastery, 8.2 km from Skaleta, and takes about 2 hours along the eastern bank of a green rocky ravine. There is no fee and nothing on the Arkadi gorge trail, so carry water and food.
- Buy pottery at Margarites. The village 8.5 km inland is known for its pottery and has Venetian roots from the sixteenth century, and Margarites sits near the ancient town of Eleftherna.
Beaches near Skaleta
Skaleta has 5 beaches within 7 km, and the coast changes character sharply as you move east. West of Skaleta the sand is wide and organised; east of it the shore turns to pebble coves and river mouths with cold, deep water.
- Skaleta lies 1.5 km away, the final segment of the East Rethymnon beachfront. Sand makes up most of it, with spots of pebble and small rock, and Sfakaki and Stavromenos lie a kilometre apart along the same run to the west.
- Spilies sits 3.2 km away, a sheltered pebble cove between Skaleta and Geropotamos, also called Tou Maliou to Riaki. It stays quiet despite the Heraklion to Rethymno highway above it, but it faces north, so the sea is often wavy.
- Geropotamos is 3.9 km away, a small sandy beach at the river mouth directly beneath the highway bridge, 18 km east of Rethymno and 3 km west of Panormo. The water is clear but cold and deep, and the beach stays uncrowded.
- Pigianos Kambos lies 4.7 km away, also called Pigi beach, 8 km east of Rethymno in the middle of the bay. Its name means “plain of Pigi”, after the fields worked by the nearby village, and it is quieter and less developed than the beaches either side.
- Adelianos Kambos sits 6.4 km away, also called Adele beach, a seaside suburb of Rethymno on a flat plain 6 km east of the city. The long sandy stretch of the Rethymno Gulf starts here and runs to Skaleta, and local buses reach it from the city centre.
Inland from Skaleta
Skaleta has 2 gorges and the village of Panormo within 9 km, the alternative to the beach on a windy day.
- Arkadi gorge is 8.2 km away, a moderate hike that ends near Pikris where the Gypofarago gorge joins it, and pairs with the monastery above the trailhead.
- Margarites gorge lies 8.5 km away, one of a run of small parallel gorges around Margarites, Orthe and Eleftherna. Streams such as the Margaritianos drain north into the Geropotamos river through white-yellow marly limestone laid down 8 to 10 million years ago.
- Panormo sits 7.5 km away, a former fishing village on a natural harbour, 22 km east of Rethymno, with sandy sheltered beaches and early-Christian history.
Where to eat in Skaleta
Eating in Skaleta is a short walk rather than a drive, with the nearest option 500 m from the centre and more within 3 km along the coast.
- Taverna-Restaurant Ilios is 500 m from the centre.
- Corali Beach Taverna lies 900 m away, down on the beach.
- Mageiremata sits 1.8 km from the village.
- Restaurant Eleven is 2.4 km out.
- Thalassi Restaurant lies 2.6 km out.
Getting to Skaleta
Skaleta lies on the coast served by the main Heraklion to Rethymno highway, which crosses the Geropotamos river on a bridge 3.9 km east of the village and passes above the Spilies cove on the way. Rethymno is about 13 km west, which makes the city the practical centre for anyone staying here.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport. Buses run along this coast: our Adelianos Kambos page notes local services from Rethymno city centre to that suburb, 6 km out on the same road. A car still helps for the gorges and the villages inland.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Skaleta in Crete?
Skaleta lies on the north coast about 13 km east of Rethymno, at the eastern end of the Bay of Rethymno in the Rethymno region.
Does Skaleta have a beach?
Skaleta has its own beachfront, the last segment of the long East Rethymnon beach. The shore here is mostly sand with patches of pebble and small rock, and it is organised for much of its length.
Is the sea at Skaleta calm?
The coast here faces north, so wave conditions vary. Our pages describe Spilies, 3.2 km east, and Geropotamos, 3.9 km east, as north-facing and often wavy, better suited to confident swimmers than to young children.
Which airport is nearest to Skaleta?
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Skaleta. The village sits in the Rethymno region on the north coast, on the main highway between Heraklion and Rethymno.
What is there to do near Skaleta besides the beach?
Arsaniou Monastery is 2.6 km away and the Arkadi gorge 8.2 km. The pottery village of Margarites lies 8.5 km inland, and Panormo, 7.5 km east, gives a harbour and a village centre to walk round.
Skaleta Map
Uncover Skaleta is located at Skaleta. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
