Rethymnon is a pleasant surprise for most travelers. While Chania gets most of the attention, Rethymon’s beautiful Old Town, with its Venetian fortress and protected harbor, makes it a standout destination but draws less tourists.
Best attractions: Old Venetian Harbor, Old town, Fortezza, Archaeological Museum of Rethymnon, Arkadi Monastery
Balos is surely the mostly photographed beach in Crete.
The lagoon of Balos has white sand and exotic blue and turquoise sea. The waters is very shallow and warm, ideal for young children. In many places the sand has a lovely pinkish color, because of millions of crushed shells. Beyond the rocks at the boundaries of the lagoon, the water is deeper and colder, ideal for snorkeling.
Falassarna Beach has won prizes for being the most beautiful beach in Crete and is always one of the top ten beaches in Europe, with its wonderful, fine white sand and warm, crystal-clear water. The beach of Pachia Ammos is so big that it rarely feels overcrowded even in high summer, when you are surrounded by hundreds of people. It is fully organised, with umbrellas and loungers covering most of the area, as well as several beach bars and restaurants
Lake Kourna is the only lake with fresh water in Crete. It is situated in a magnificent location, just 4km away from Georgioupolis Chania. It is a rather small lake, known from antiquity with the name Korisia. Lake Kournas is a remarkable destination for an afternoon walk or a day trip. The relaxing and beautiful landscape is ideal for nature lovers.
Menies or Diktynna is located 45km northwest of Chania, on the northeastern shores of Cape Rodopos and at the exit of Foundas Gorge. It is a lovely secluded beach with pebbles and deep crystal blue waters. It is not affected by the usual winds blowing in the area and is ideal for isolation, far away from urban centers. For many kilometers there are absolutely no facilities, so make sure you have all essentials with you.
The beach of Seitan Limania is located in the northeast side of Chania, just 20 km from the city centre. The name is turkish and the beach is named after the dangerousness of the tides of the area. The beach is also known as the Devilport. Through the breathtaking scenery with the steef rocks and the wild beauty of the nature you can spot the beach with the sky blue waters and the pebble-sand. The sea is quite deep, but the waters are usually calm.
