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Preveli Beach is one of the most distinctive and renowned beaches in Crete, known for its unique landscape which combines a river, a sandy beach and a lush palm grove. It is situated approximately 35–40 kilometres south of the town of Rethymno and 10 kilometres east of Plakias. At this point, the Kourtaliotis River flows into the sea, creating an idyllic lagoon and providing the beach with cool, clear waters. Behind the sea lies a vast palm forest home to the endemic Theophrastus palm (Phoenix theophrastii), the second largest in Crete after Vai, which was destroyed by fire in 2010 but has made an impressive recovery.
The beach combines sand and pebbles, with calm and cool waters thanks to the river. Visitors can swim in the sea, walk along the river, enjoy the shade of the palm trees or explore the Kourtaliotis Gorge. The area is a protected site (Natura 2000), so there are no organised facilities apart from a basic kiosk selling essentials.
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How to get to Preveli:
There are three main ways to get there:
By road to Preveli Monastery: Follow the route from Rethymno towards Plakias and turn left towards Preveli Monastery. About 1.5 km past the monastery, there is a large car park. From there, a footpath begins (15–20 minutes, with a steep descent and ascent on the return journey) leading to the beach and offering breathtaking views.
By car to Drymiski Ammoudi: Drive to the neighbouring Ammoudi, park and walk along a 5-minute path to Preveli Beach, avoiding the steep climb but missing out on the panoramic views of the first path.
By boat: There are excursion boats from Plakias and Agia Galini that run daily services, taking visitors to the beach. The boats usually depart in the morning and return in the afternoon.
Preveli is the ideal choice for those seeking to get back to nature, combining the sea, a river and exotic vegetation. We recommend arriving in the morning and setting aside plenty of time to enjoy it as it deserves!
Useful tips: Make sure you bring water, a hat and sun cream with you, and avoid the hottest part of the day when returning from the trail. Camping and any interference with the natural environment are prohibited, as the area is a protected site.
