The Church of Saint Nectarios in Aegina is a truly miraculous place, filled with grace and peace. You feel close to the divine here – a wonderful spot for those seeking spiritual quiet and heartfelt prayer. It is said that prayers are truly heard in this sacred place. Practical note: the religious shop only accepts cash, not credit cards. The church is easy to reach by bus from Aegina port, and nearby you’ll find plenty of restaurants serving delicious traditional Greek food

I didn’t know what to expect for this monastery but it is a really good photo stop. It also got me curious about Saint Nectarios, who I learnt is venerated for many healings, especially of cancer, both during his life and after his death

Huge church. Amazing interior and obviously a place of pilgrimage for many. The reason being in the name St Nektarios. He is buried here and is known for many healing miracles. There is also the monastery and further relics. Appropriate dress is required. Long trousers for men and shirts. Women long skirts, not shorts, and tops should cover shoulders. No entrance fee but donations welcome, I'm sure.

Whole place is wonderful! The setting is beautiful, the staff are friendly, and the ambiance is calming. Strongly recommend visiting for a peaceful and uplifting experience.

This is an awe inspiring church. The floors are designed with tiny tiny ceramic tiles and around the amazing alter are mosaics of sea creatures. Above is the Monastery, with a small church, the actual rooms where Agios Nektarios lived and worked (St. Nektarios) and a guide to fill you in on all the details of his objects, writings and life. In addition there is a small room with the Saint’s tomb where many people feel/receive special closeness to God and even whispers when they put their ear up to the tomb. Skirts and cover update provided as dress code requires respect.

A beautiful and breathtaking holy place, the Church and Monastery of Saint Nektarios of Aegina is dedicated to one of the most renowned Greek saints, venerated in both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches. This is a must-visit site when in Aegina, accessible by local bus, taxi, or rented scooter/car, with ample parking available nearby. The journey takes about 20 minutes. Be respectful of this active sacred site, as it is frequented by many Greeks seeking the favor of the saint. Up the hill, you can also visit the monastery. Men and women must dress modestly in accordance with the rules. When we visited, the interior was being renovated but remained open for visitors to explore.

Very spiritual experience, energy there was something special. Souvenir shop was a bit unorganized, big line up with only a single person working, but had really nice things.

It's a beautiful temple, which I highly recommend visiting to learn about its historical significance. It's one of the three temples in the "Sacred Triangle." Admission is 10 euros and also gives you access to the museum.

Beautifully maintained Temple of the Goddess Aphaia, a mysterious figure local to Aegina and sometimes Crete. Pausanias (2nd c. CE) records that the Aeginetans called Britomartis “Aphaia. The Temple is really well-preserved and maintained. Admission is 10 Euro. Go early in the morning to avoid the buses and crowds. Taxis do go up here.

I like to call this island pistachio island. Everywhere you go including the beautiful temple of Aphaia are pistachios. Beautiful views and I would love to go here in the evening to take in the view of Athens. Amazing views.

A must-see if you’re visiting Aegina! The Temple of Aphaia is beautifully preserved and stands on a hill with an absolutely stunning view over the sea and even the mainland on a clear day. It’s quiet, peaceful, and feels very authentic compared to the crowded sites in Athens. Totally worth the 20-minute ride from the main port — it gives a real sense of ancient Greece. And after your visit, don’t miss grabbing a pistachio ice cream from the little shop right next to the site — Aegina’s specialty and the perfect way to end the visit!

It was okay. Maybe a lot better if we didn't walk a mile straight up to get there. Ruins with a small tourist store. Interesting information tables throughout. Lots of cats roaming around begging for food. Cost $10 euros to explore site. Very nice view from the top. Several tour busses were visiting at the same time as we were there.

Temple of Aphasia is a truly lovely place! Beautiful atmosphere, welcoming staff, and a serene vibe. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a peaceful and inspiring experience.

It is a beautiful ancient temple well preserved. I don't know about the entrance cost because EU citizens under 25 have free entrance upon showing their ID. Highly recommend

Paralia Aponisos is a beautiful and peaceful spot on Agistri Island, offering crystal-clear waters and stunning natural scenery. Unlike the adjacent private islet of Aponisos, which charges an entrance fee (€6) for access to sunbeds, umbrellas, and food facilities, this beach area is completely free. Getting There: Paralia Aponisos is about a 15–20 minute drive from Skala, the island’s main port town. The route follows Agistri’s main road — it’s narrow but in good condition and very easy to navigate. Once you arrive, you can park conveniently right near the beach. The Experience: The beach itself is small, but the surrounding rocks offer plenty of spots to lay down a towel and relax, even though you’ll be lying on rocks rather than sand. The water is incredibly clear, with the feeling of a natural pool — really something out of a movie. The seabed is rocky for the first 20–30 meters, then turns into soft sand with beautifully transparent water, making it ideal for swimming and snorkeling. When we visited in early May, it was very peaceful and uncrowded, with only a handful of people around. Just be aware that during peak summer months (July and August), it likely gets much busier. Facilities and Surroundings: Behind the beach there’s a small port area and a food establishment (a bar/café), so you have options for refreshments nearby. To the side, you’ll see the private islet of Aponisos, which you can reach via a concrete platform. On the islet, for a fee, you’ll find organized facilities like sunbeds, umbrellas. Just a heads-up: directly behind the small sandy part of the beach, there’s a small port area, along with the road and a parking area for scooters and cars. This does take a little away from the feeling of untouched nature, since you’re not completely secluded. Still, the beach itself is so beautiful and the water so clear that you’ll probably enjoy it there anyway — once you’re swimming or relaxing by the sea, it’s easy to forget about what’s behind you. Final Thoughts: Paralia Aponisos offers a stunning, clear-water swimming spot with easy access and a laid-back vibe. Whether you want to snorkel, swim, or just relax on the rocks, it’s a fantastic place to spend a few hours. Just keep in mind that it’s not a sandy beach, and it may be much busier in the high season. We really enjoyed our time here and highly recommend visiting if you’re in Agistri.

Best beach of the island in terms of views and facilities. Entry with umbrella and regular sunbed is 6€ per person, and they have plenty (I’d say at least 100). If you want a set with cushion sunbeds (more comfy) it’s 5€ more (2,5€ per person). Considering the beach and the views, it’s excellent value for money. Very important: if you want, you can contact them to reserve sunbeds without additional fees, to make sure they are available when you arrive. This might be very useful especially during the weekends, where there are many more people and it might be hard to find available sunbeds. There is a beach bar with some food and drink options, and you can order directly from your sunbed through a button which calls a server without additional charge, very nice. The water is fantastic, there is both a shallow and a deep area, and you can also rent a kayak to explore the bay. Overall, I highly recommend, one of the best beaches I’ve ever been to, particularly nice after 5pm when most people have gone away and it’s quieter. Side note about the bus: as per July 2025, there are 2 (occasionally 3) buses that go from Skala to Aponissos, stopping by Megalochori, Dragoneira and Limenaria. The timetables are displayed on site, but it’s usually once an hour. While during the week you can manage to catch the bus in the morning (either the tourist bus for 5€ or the regular bus for 2€), during the weekend it’s almost impossible to catch one before 13:00, and there are very few taxis on the island, so I recommend be prepared for that maybe by reserving in advance or by renting a scooter. Conversely, catching the bus to go back in the afternoon, especially after 18, is much easier.

- It’s a private beach with 6Euro entrance fee. The fee includes sunbed with shade (no mattress- with mattress you pay 5Euro/2 person more and if with bed and cover- 10Euro). - However the access to the water is free as it can be access before the entrance. Out of that area there are 2 restaurants and many shade below trees. - Good service and perfect organization. Stay and press the button, they will come to get your order. Price is reasonable. - They also provide some stuff on the water for you to have fun. - The beach is sandy (still rocks here and there but still). About 6km from Skala.

It is a very beautiful place with lovely surroundings. The water is clear and great for swimming. However, admission to the sun loungers costs €6 per person, and a sun lounger costs an additional €10 per person. The front sun loungers in the first row are even more expensive. .

Heaven on earth. The water, the view, the excellent services of the well trained staff.

A very pretty beach with crystal clear water. There is a private beach side, cost of entry is 5€ which includes a sunbed. The customer service is very friendly and quick with reasonable prices. There is also a free area where you can lay down towels and rest under tree shades.

Beautiful beach. You don't need to cross the bridge in order to enjoy the beautiful water. Be aware that the sand is rocky and Not sutible for barefoot. Lots of urchin!

We had a fantastic time at this Beach! The atmosphere was super chill and the staff were really friendly. We recommend booking sunbeds in advance, as they can fill up quickly. The only negative aspect of my experience was that we were not informed about the parking fee.

We had a nice time at this beach. The water is shallow very far out so it’s good for kids or non swimmers. The sights were beautiful and the chairs were comfortable. The staff was great too. The only downside is that it is expensive. I’m talking €10 per large water bottle - these are 1€ elsewhere. The food and drinks were also USD priced at €20 a cocktail and over €25 for beach food. It’s nice if you can afford to splurge. We spent €80 on an umbrella with two seats. We spent €70 on a smoothie, 2 coffee, a yogurt bowl and 3 waters.

The place is nice and the sea is very clear. However, the service and facilities are poor. For this price (we paid 200 euros for 2 people), I was expecting a much better experience. I think this is a lack of attention to small details to make it the place to go (for example some nice music, shampoo in the showers, more friendly staff, towels included, parking included, etc.)

The beach is amazing, the water is Crystal clear BUT parking is 15 euros, no towels , very slow service and no one cleans the table until you leave so we had 10 glasses of water and the food remains on the side table till we left !! Towels is available to rent !!!!!! And they are disgustingly old and all that after paying 180 euros for the umbrella … honestly I will come back but the only reason is the water clarity and nothing els !! What a pity, this place could easily turn into heaven

Upscale . Entrance fee Eu 35 per person includes umbrella and beach chair. Towels available at extra 10 EU. Food variety available and prices are a bit higher than restaurants. Shallow clear water but cold in the middle of August.

One of the best beaches in Athens. Prices though have gone massively up the last few years (70-180 euro per set) without any renovation of the sun-beds and umbrella’s the last 17 years. The quality of the umbrella’s and sun-beds are dated and of poor quality with absorbing heat that could easily produce skin burns.

When I looked at the reviews before coming I was scared to be honest ,but after I came and visited the beach its absolutely amazing in everything. I made my reservation online from their site and when I came it was very smooth. Beach is very clean with no rocks which makes it very nice to have a swim and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Something that is a plus for me is that they don’t have loud music which makes you relax and enjoy your day. Absolutely an amazing experience that I would recommend to everyone visiting Athens !

A hidden gem for sure - more of a beach club than we were expecting but it’s very relaxed with a great array of amenities (showers, bar, restaurant). It’s a beautiful setting and the doctor fish were a great add to the experience. Staff aren’t the most welcoming or attentive but the food was tasty. Would recommend!

Had a wonderful time at the lake today, we got there for about 11-11.30 (via metro and bus, took an hour) and queued for 10 minutes. Didn’t ask for student identification and we easily managed to get two sunbeds as there was still many available. It was lovely vibe. Foods quite pricey for small portions and not a lot of vegetarian options, just tomato basil pasta or margherita pizza as the two hot mains. We spent a few hours here, loved the fish. Water was SO salty! Not seen anyone else post about how salty it was, suprised me a lot! The lake was pretty cold despite it saying 25 degrees but fair enough. Changing facilities were good. Only two cubicles for female toilets though which surprised me. I enjoyed the experience as a whole!

This place is just suuuuper cool👍👍 Enjoyed it just a to the beginning of March, sunny weather. Sun is very warm, but not burning, temperature in the lake is very refreshing. Lake is surrounded by the high rocks, so there is no wind there, just a smooth breeze.All what you need on weekend!! and it is very close to Athens 👍

Absolutely great idea to visit this lake. Come early as the sunbeds get occupied pretty fast by lunch time. No sunscreen allowed into the water, which is perfect in my opinion. Food and drinka available as well as wheelchair access.

This is a spectacular lake and chill beach club. It is such great spot to spend the day but the bad service of the staff there really let it down. I visited in June 2024 and had a wonderful experience in a cabana with my family. I even wrote an 3-page feature article about the Athens Riviera mentioning it and Abraovato for Robb Report ANZ where I was the assistant editor at the time. This year my visit today was still beautiful but the service was underwhelming. There was a mix up with my booking on the door which resulted in the blonde female manager in charge being very rude to on the door acting aggressively from the start. Then after settling down to read in our pre-booked lounge chairs for 50 euro (not what we thought wee were getting really) we ordered mineral water and coffee and decided to make the most of where we were seated. But after our first swim we were then surrounded by two male lifeguards, a swarthy and loud old male pool cleaner, and another two older male service people who gossiped very loudly right behind us for over 25 -30 minutes which made me very uncomfortable and made it hard to concentrate on drawing and reading (let alone sleeping which would have been nice). I didn't come to the beach club to sit around with a bunch of strange men who were supposed to be working and weren't. Every time i turned around they were staring at me. The place was pretty empty so we asked to please be moved to a quieter spot and we did move to some chairs right around the back of the lake where we continued reading and sketching the lake. We ordered a salad and a cocktail and moved all our own stuff to some new sun beds that were just in the sun. Again empty beds around us for as far as the eye could see Then we were getting prepared to relax when the blonde female manager came back over and told us we had to pay another 60 euro to stay on the sunbeds. So instead of staying until 6.00pm and eating and drinking as we had intended and having a snooze there went to the One &Only for lunch in Glyfada where the service, pool and bar is impeccable. This beach club could have made our stay so pleasant and enjoyable and the unprofessional staff really let it down. Had they offered us an upgrade to start with and some good service we could have had a great time. I have told so many people about this place and now I will not continue to because there is a nasty attitude in the staff that is truly inexplicable.

Everything is great. But look on this toilets.??? 17 euros entrance ticket and you can not fix it. You can see a neighbor in another cabin from the hole in that plastic cover. The door is not closing and the button with a mechanism outside

Very beautiful place. But the staff ist handeling und the equipment during opening houers in the afternoon which is very noisy and disturbing. They even take your chairs away you pay for and put yor stuff somewhere else 2h before closing. If one charges about 40 EUR entrance fee clarly wrong.

Such a great experience!😍 Instructors Stefanos and Kosras did their best for my education and training so I could feel myself comfortable under the water...right after the first lesson I became a confident diver and without any fear dived with others. Strongly recommend this school for everyone who always wanted to start but had some doubts - here you'll be in reliable and professional hans. The world of diving really worth it!!!😉👍

It was wonderful!! It was our first time, and although we were nervous at first, the instructors helped us with everything and made it easy! It was totally worth it. Beautiful experience. Highly recommend :)

I found this dive center purely by chance while looking for safety equipment to have on board. We found the door closed, but there was a contact phone number. We called and spoke with Stefanos, who explained all the features of the equipment we needed, which he delivered two days later. Everything was of top quality. Stefanos then invited us to do a test dive with the equipment, but unfortunately, we didn’t have the time available. A month later, we had to make a technical stop at Olympic Marina and got back in touch with Stefanos. We did two excellent dives, followed by an iced espresso. In addition to being a great instructor, Stefanos could also make a great barista. If you enjoy diving or want to try it and happen to pass through Lavrio, don’t miss the chance to visit this Dive Center.

5 stars with a tone at Planet Blue Diving Center. Stefanos is a truly professional trainer. Always patient, always explanatory, never tiring to repeat and answer questions to make sure you have absorbed the necessary knowledge. Prioritizing safety and always with a lot of humor, keep it up!!!👍

Very friendly and good instructors. Welcoming and great for all levels including discovery divers. We had a great time with the family!

Had lovely 3 dives with Stefanos and Viktoria. They are both super friendly and very helpful. I had a great time diving with them.

Perfect experience! Stefanos and Zac were amazing instructors and made our first scuba diving experience just perfect.

I think this is the best beach in Poros island. Trees provide shade and environment up to where the water starts. It is organised and you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds. Food and drinks are also available with prices the same like elsewhere. If you wish a good spot it is advisable to go as early as 10 o'clock in the morning.

Extremely disappointing experience. The staff was shockingly rude, the worst treatment we've received in 15 years of visiting beaches in Greece. Poor service, zero hospitality. Definitely not the Greek welcome we’re used to. Would not recommend.

The bay is absolutely gorgeous - crazy clear green waters, lots of fish to observe. This is unfortunately shadowed by poor customer service from there staff and over inflated prices for sunbeds. The staff is eager for money that they invoke some non-existing law that they cannot keep your already paid sunbed for more than 30 minutes. The worst customer experience ever in Greece.

Nice water, nice beach, but the services leave a lot to be desired. In the pure Greek commercial spirit, you pay 20 euros for a lounger, but if you leave more than 30 minutes because you don't want to eat extra lunch from them, you've lost your seats. And that wouldn't even be the problem, but the fact that this "rule" is not posted anywhere or communicated in advance...just Greece ;)

It is a petite cute beach that is excellent for quiet relaxing time. The bay is surrounded by deep vegetation which ensured its privacy. That is how the name came. It is very popular with couples or even people who prefers quiet calm environment. The water is sea green, clear. The sand is a little red to brown but sandy. The bay water is also calm enough, making it a perfect place for holidays and romantic outings. A narrow road surrounds the bay, but there is not much traffic in it. The bay has shower and drinking facilities.

Nice little beach with catch name. The waters look nice from above, but when you get in, you'll realize they are pretty muddy. OK for 1 time but it wouldn't be my favorite beach. The beach bar offer some sunbeds but at full season it's very very crowded.

It was my long walk on New Year's day, came all the way from the port that's downtown Poros & it was absolutely stunning! No wonder it's crowded in the summer, there were others enjoing a little picnic on the same day, such a quiet lovely place with crystal clear waters, looking forward to visiting again in the summer!

Beautiful beach. Not lots of sand and mostly stone, but there is a sandy bit at the bottom.beautiful. The loungers cost £15 euro for 2.

Beautiful sandy beach with a few rocks here and there. There were umbrellas available for free and we enjoyed our time there. Perfect if you're staying at Askeli.

After a hard and hot days walking we needed to relax😁 Askelli beach is near to our studio so decided to head there😁🇬🇷 Very nice sun beds and umbrellas and even found a bit of shade 😁 €15 for two beds 😁🇬🇷 Nice bar area. Very good toilets and changing areas😁🇬🇷 A few pebbles and into the sea. No complaints😁 Didn’t eat but had two nice iced coffee ☕️ Convenient for us but also worth walking to 😁🇬🇷 Some good music 🎵 playing too😁🇬🇷 Will go again. Recommended 😁🇬🇷🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Really beautiful beach 😍 the coast is sandy, seawater is clean. This place isn’t crowded ( in the middle of June) I was missing the bar and coffee shop or tavernas therefore only four stars for me…( this place is so far the supermarket and any possible of buying) If you want you can get a sunbed as well.

The beach is really good, in the beginning starting at the golden hotel don't have rocks many rocks and the umbrellas are for free. If you go bit more to the left is where the rocky part starts but if you have watershoes is just fine! Enjoy and have fun !

Went there on a mid-sunny May afternoon. Definitely not overcrowded (maybe due to the time period) but a very nice and picturesque beach! Sand was clean enough to lay down with your towel and the sea was also very clear and clean! 4 stars just because it lacks of amenities such as bars, umbrellas etc.

Water is abit cold today as is quite windy in September , we got a spot right on the rocky beach , is not sandy so is quite a feet massage to go thru that for a swim. we got our set of lounge seat from the nearby restaurant , Askeli . 12€ a day for the set of two. Price reasonable I reckon , and you can order drinks and snack to be serve. overall the staff are very friendly. Beach is not full at all, so is kind of peaceful and we enjoyed it very much

The trip was about an hour and a half from where i'm staying.But after you get out of the hustle and bustle, the trip was awesome. A lot of places you could pull over and take pictures or just pull over and go down to the shore. The temple itself was twenty euros, which seemed kind of high.But I did have a good time and got plenty of pictures.

The temple is beautiful, but the tickets are a little expensive for how much time you can actually spend here. This is definitely one of the best places you can watch the sunset from, though. We went on a semi-cloudy day, and even then the sunset was stunning. There is also a cafe that is nice to take some time to relax at, since if you're staying in Athens it is a bit of a drive.

A beautiful place in itself, but the unjustifiably high price of €20 made us turn back and take a free walk in another part of the peninsula, where the views were just as breathtaking. Is the price of watching the sunset — even next to such a stunning temple — really comparable to the entrance fee for Mycenae, Corinth, or Epidaurus, where, in addition to the ruins, you also visit a museum and get a wealth of information? A highly promoted tourist spot — deservedly so for its amazing views, but not for its price.

Well worth the visit. Beautiful spot for sunset or sunrise just pity cant buy tickets in advance and so creates lenghty lines to get in . One desk to buy tickets . Bathrooms another long line for ladies especialy.

This place is just magical during sunset.🌄 It was actually raining when we got there and just before the sunset at 18:30, the weather turned. There was also a beautiful rainbow🌈 Don't buy tickets in advance due to weather conditions, so just buy on the spot.

Visiting the Temple of Poseidon was an unforgettable experience. The temple itself is truly majestic, standing tall for more than 2,000 to 3,000 years and offering a glimpse into the grandeur of ancient Greek history. The surrounding sea views are breathtaking, and when combined with the temple’s presence, it feels almost magical. The highlight of the visit was without doubt the sunset. It is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen, with the colors reflecting over the Aegean Sea and the temple glowing in the evening light. The road leading to the temple was also a wonderful part of the journey, with scenic views all along the way. A must-visit when in Greece! 🌅🏛️

The temple on the edge of the sea is a magnificent view. It's definitely worth it to visit. It's not so hard to get to there from Athens with the public transport. You can take the bus to Sunion which cost only 6.20 euros in direction. We took it from the Singrou-fix at around 11 o'clock. The trip to there takes around two hours and the road is very beautiful by the sea. The entrance ticket is 20 euros. There is coffee/restaurant there. The bus will drop you off right to the entrance of the temple.

Eu 25 for pair of loungers which is a fair price and they were reasonably comfortable. People say it is quiet but they fired up a noisy generator after we arrived and it stayed on all day. You can’t seem to escape noise these days, I was eventually able to tune it out but I would not call it quiet for that reason. The ride there and back was very pleasant. What I liked most was that there was plenty of shade under the trees available which is great if you enjoy a sea veiw without being fried. To the owners: You probably don’t notice the generator noise anymore but we visitors looking for peace and quiet do. You can buy much quieter generators these days. Lady in charge was freindly.

The best beach on Hydra we've visited so far! According to Google Maps and comments, reachable only by boats (17€ per person both ways, leaving usually at full hours), however (if to believe the sign on the beach) you can try hiking (if you have about 5 hours to spare). An enchanting beach, hard to compare to others on the island - with its trees generously offering their shadow and the rocks and caves creating a wonderful snorkelling experience. The bar, toilet and some trash a bit deeper in the island, way less picturesque, take you a bit back to Earth... The beach is quite crowded, but still gives the feelings of intimacy and being secluded. Would advise to pack your favourite food and spend a whole day there

I love it and of course ill put 5 stars But i think you need a bit of tuning In terms of the food menu and the offerings at the kiosk You have a big potential

My favourite beach on Hydra. €17 for return boat from the port, €10 for 1x umbrella & single bed (assume double for x2). Small bar for drinks/food but nothing stopping you from taking your own for the day. Smaller and quieter than St Nicholas which is why I preferred. Pebbly so bring sea shoes if poss but I managed without. Be sure to get the first boat @ 10.30am in high season so that you are first on the beach and have your pick of seating.

A lovely pebble beach with plenty of shade from trees and sunbed sets where you can feel at one with nature. Pristine waters and nice for a little snorkel. Best to go on the 10.30 am boat there in peak season to secure a preferred spot. Regular boat trips from Hydra Port, but you sort of have to make a day of it as the first return trip is at 4 pm - of note if you are time limited. Reasonable snack bar (fruit or Greek salad, simple toast or sandwich and refreshments, and some beer/wine, but nothing fancy). You can also walk to a church with nice views.

By far the best beach on the island! €15 per person for the boat ride to get there and back, which you can catch from the main port. €15 for 2 sunbeds and umbrella - we stayed there all day! Quiet, clean, crystal clear waters and the forest backdrop. Take some snacks and enjoy!

Such an amazing beach!! Really nice and quiet. You can rent a lounge for the day, we had 3 lounges for 38 euro. There’s a little kiosk with snacks and drinks. My favourite beach on hydra so far

Very cool beach! 20 euro round trip boat ride from Hydra port to get to Nikolaos beach. The beach was rocky and had great seating/umbrellas, a cute shack for food/drinks, and small bathroom. No large permanent building. Very quiet cove for swimming. We bought snorkels in town and enjoyed seeing all the fish in the cove.

Beautiful and quiet spot with warm water with colorful fish and octopuses. If you would like to take a break from lovely swimming spots in the town take a boat ride to this beach. It is 20 min. by taxi boat.

My favorite beach in Hydra. You can come here by boat. Boat tickets 20€ /2025 sunbed I think 35€ 2 beds. I kerp this price expensive when you travel alone because you must pay from 2 beds even you need one bed. 30-40 min by boat from Hydra port.

In a word, one of the most beautiful seas I’ve ever swum in. We visited in mid-September and it was very peaceful—calm, with crystal-clear turquoise water and an amazing variety of fish🐠🐟 There’s a small snack bar with food and drinks available. Definitely recommended for a really enjoyable day! 🩵🩵

Amazing beach with clear, blue water! €20 roundtrip by boat. €30 for a set of two sunbeds and an umbrella — though I personally find that a bit overpriced.

Pebble beach, no shower, disgusting outdoor toilet and awful food. 20€ per person for the boat taxi, 20€ each sunbed, 17€ for a sad looking club sandwich with potato chips from a bag. Worst thing I ever ate in Greece. 3 stars for the beautiful scenery and ocean. We will never return.

Great place Captive once you get here Return boats 4:30 and 5:30 at least from 1 September

A must go place in Milos. Better visit it in the morning with better sunlight and lesser people. Highly recommended to wear water shoes for easy walking and getting back to shores after swimming. Water is quite cold in October

Amazing spot. Loved swimming there. There are some caves as well. Highly recommended! Easy to get there by local bus (2euro) from the port. Lots of tourists- FYI

Went here twice during our weeklong visit to Milos! This place is out of this world — definitely one of my favorite watering holes ever. I’d recommend going for sunrise or sunset to avoid the crowds.

Sarakanikio is truly a sight to behold, with its unique lunar-like landscape. The white volcanic rocks and turquoise waters create a striking contrast, offering an unforgettable visual experience. It's a place where yoy can feel a sense of tranquillity and awe. It's a fantastic spot for sunbathing and swimming. This natural wonder is a testament to the raw beauty of our planet. Overall, it's a must-visit location for anyone seeking a memorable coastal experience.

Words can not describe this place. It’s like being on the moon. While rock formations with crystal clear water & natural caves formation all around. Cliff jumping as well at this location.

Pretty unique spot! Great pictures. Went end of October so it was somewhat chilly. Though, with the sun out, it was really nice!!

Sarakiniko, Milos, is an otherworldly destination that captivates all who visit. The "moon-like" landscape, with its wind and water-sculpted white volcanic rock, is truly breathtaking. It's a photographer's paradise, offering endless opportunities for stunning shots, especially during sunrise or sunset when the light paints the stark white stone with warm hues. The contrast of the brilliant white against the deep blue of the Aegean Sea is simply mesmerizing. Beyond its visual appeal, Sarakiniko is a place to create memories. It’s perfect for a romantic stroll or a tranquil moment of reflection. The smooth, wave-carved rocks invite exploration, and the small coves provide perfect spots for a refreshing dip. Whether you're an avid photographer or just seeking a unique and serene experience, Sarakiniko is an absolute must-see on any trip to Milos. It's more than just a beach; it's a geological wonder and a memory-making masterpiece.

I didn’t quite u destined this is not accessible by a car or a buggy and drove all the way out to see it only to find a single track hiking trail. I guess I should have researched this better. The road to get to it is pretty rough as it is first a paved road and then a dirt road. Then it gets pretty rough and then to find out I don’t get to see without hiking was disappointing. Next time I come to see the island I will arrange a boat tour to see this!

A boat trip to Kleftiko is an absolute must-do while visiting Milos. We did a catamaran trip with Polco Sailing and it was one of the best days we had in Greece. The water is clear and warm, the history of the area is so interesting, and the rock formations are stunning.

Really the best way to get here is through a boat tour. I went with a great group. The waters were clear and fairly calm. Since it's October it was fairly chilly but the sun was shining so the cool water was welcome.

Beautiful spot in Milos that can only be reached by boat. Enjoyed anchoring and spending the afternoon there, swimming, and taking in the beauty of the rock formations

go by car and then walk on the designated road, I assume that 90% of the length of the car road is better quality than anywhere else on the island. We went with a Fiat Panda without any problems. When we arrived on foot at the shore, the boat tourers were surprised how we got there on foot...

An incredible place with a wonderful view. A must if you have the chance to come here. The landscape, the color of the water, the energy. Everything.

Absolutely stunning! My husband and I made the hike down and brought our goggles with us. We were able to swim to the caves and have a great snorkeling experience, as well as comfortably relax on in the private rock area at the end of the hike. Definitely recommend!

Nice beach with clear water and sand starting from the cliff. For us it was a great option after a visit to Tsigrado beach. Overall it is nice but closer to other beaches you find in many different places around the world.

best beach on Milos island. You can easily hire kayak in case of no wind and reach Tsigrado within 10 minutes.

The only sharks here are the ones offering to rent beach chairs for €20. Shame on them!

Some people said that it was the most beautiful beach in Milos, and though it was magnificent, I just found other beaches to be better. But definitely a must visit in Milos

The water is beautiful but unfortunately the beach club is playing very load EDM music with strong bass that spread all over the beach so it is not relaxing at alö. Also there is no toilet at all on this beach nor the beach club. The service at the beach club is very poor, no waiting list and waiters randomly attributing longchairs or even prioritising their friends.

Very beautiful beach! Now (Jun-July) the climate can be very hard, with moments of overwhelming hot interrupted with strong wind blows that break and blow off your umbrella (and cover you a bit on sand, as it’s very fine). Sand is clean. Recommend a kayak trip from here from the beach itself. A nice natural arch made by a rock with a crack in between, where you can swim throughout. With low wind the sea is calm and not much sand in suspension in the water: the sea is a swimming pool on these conditions, absolutely amazing. Bring your own beers, as the new bar on the beach is extremely expensive.

Really nice beach especially during the sunset is very romantic. The water is very clean but is possible to find a lot of people here.anyway the beach deserve the visit. It is mandatory.

Has some difficulty to access via 2 ladders and steep walkway down a rocky path but was excellent when finally down there. Water was lovely and great scenery!

If you want to go just so you can say you went to a beach that could only be accessed by a dodgy ladder then go .. it’s a fun anecdote but otherwise it’s not worth it. VERY BUSY I mean crammed in next to each other with no room at all, it’s a tiny beach. The water is beautiful and if you do go, go early I mean get there 9.30. I managed it in flip flops but I had to take them off and go bear foot, trainers would be better. The first ladder is ok but it’s got two rungs missing so there’s a big step at the bottom. The second ladder is a accessed across an piece of ply wood which is very slippery due to being covered in sand and is snapped in the middle it’s just hanging on by the top layer of the ply, there’s a few rungs missing on this ladder to.

Cool place to see, but it was overly crowded with tourists—even on a slow October day. Climbing down the wooden ladder with missing rungs was a fun little adventure, but the area isn't very spacious for relaxing. With so many other beaches to choose from, we snapped a few photos and moved on.

A must-visit spot for the views alone. You can walk down to the small beach if there aren’t too many people, but be careful — the path is narrow and you’ll need to use a small wooden ladder. It’s a fun little adventure and totally worth it if you like quiet, hidden places. Great for photos and a short visit to see something unique on the island.

I rented a car and drove there myself. Went early in the morning and there was only one other couple there. It was so quiet and simply beautiful to be on the beach and swim in the water before the crowds start to appear (kayak tours, etc.). I should also mention, the “stairs” don’t look high, but it is awkward and very steep to get down to the beach if you approach from the top. Be careful.

Absolutely stunning! We didn’t quite make it onto the beach to swim as when we climbed down the first ladder there were heaps of people coming up and a big queue to get down which wasn’t really moving so we decided we were too hot and walked to the next beach which was 10ish minutes walking as we knew this beach only Had a small bit of sand to relax on anyway and it was already looking busy, it was beautiful though

Beautiful beach !!!! I recommend to arrive early or late afternoon to avoid too much people because there is not too much space but it really worth it. Bring your goggles because there a lot of caves and fishes to see.

The museum’s collection is really small. The only reason to visit is wonderful roman mosaics. Located in the city city and easy to access

It's always nice to mix leisure with some science, history in this case, and Greek history has a lot to offer. It's not a very large museum, you can see it in less than an hour, but it's worth your time and costs only 3 Euro one person.

The museum was easy to locate and contains a wonderful collection from Western Crete. It spans the ages from prehistoric time up through Early Christianity. They have their first floor dedicated to the area of Kissamos. Here you will find a restored mosaic floor and several examples of Grecian statues. There are also several stone tablets. We spent about an hour going around the museum. It is not large but done very well. They have kindly translated their information about each display into English.

We really enjoyed this museum, specially we liked the mosaic was amazing. We came quite late as the shut at 3:30 pm, but if you come around it’s nice to slowly explore around.

Nice little museum, but the whole ground floor stinks of cigarettes. I felt too sick to walk around. I think the receptionist doesn’t bother getting outside to smoke, hence the smell.

What an amazing collection showcasing Cretan history. I would not miss this if close by Kissamos. Opening hours are from 8:30am till 3:30pm & costs only 5 euros..

Very interesting place to visit, if you like history and finding out abour the place you ate visiting, it's a definite yes. Free entry.

Really nice stretch of beach. Many restaurants offer use of sun chairs and umbrellas with any food or drink purchases, so it's easy enough to find a good spot. We stayed at Sonios hotel right along the beach and most of that area was perfect because of all the space. It can get very wavy though depending on the day. During the week we probably had 3-4 days where the water was calm enough to just float around, and they other 3 were a lot more rough so not as good if you aren't the best swimmer.

Worst beach I have ever been to. At the lightest waves the lifeguards put a red flag on the beach and do not allow anyone in the water. They are aggressive and yell at everyone who gets in the water even up to their belly. The sea was lightly wavy every day so I never got to swim there.

Ignore the ratings, it is nice, even couple of trees with free shadow but it is a very windy region and red flag is almost always up which means you cannot swim...long story short if you just want to chill at the beach, reading something is fine, if you want to swim...slim chances... PS: Even when you can swim, it is very deep, dirty and has rocks in the water, at least from.where i entered ...

Unfortunately was there on a windy day but the beach itself is great... Sandy beach perfect for children and grown-ups.. lots of sun chairs... Restaurants and stores close by

Average beach, not as nice as nearby Agia Marina. Mix of sand and shingle, not easy to walk on but probably fine if your going straight on the water or on a lounger. Fair bit of rubbish around and the attached bars are, again, average. Basically OK, but easily beaten by Agia Marina beach.

Great mam and pap resteraunt..beach front great views, they were very welcoming. The Limited menu was good and mamma cooked my bream exactly as I wanted it. They are very welcoming and the prices were, in my opinion low...

I find it's necessary to clarify some things after reading reviews made for 2 beaches ('Paralia' and 'Beach' Platanias) that in fact are sections of the same 2 km long beach. On the East side(right hand looking to the sea) the beach starts after Marina=sheltered bay where boats go especially to Thodorou islet. First 200 m after the pier the entry in the water is very rocky with a slippery seabed and shallow water for at least 100 m. Please note that there is stunning for snorkeling with best part near the pier. Quiet area with some shadow under pines and parking lot on premise. After those 200 m measured from Marina to the left looking the sea the entry in the water is smooth with 2-3 m of small rounde stones and the sand as long as we manage to swim. And is lije that for few kilometers to Gerani but there of course is not the subject of the Platania beach/paralia. The sections with sunbeds and free areas to put your towel alternates somehow respecting the new rule to keep around 40% free area.You will have plenty of space to put your towel and umbrella no matter the season. Regarding the water have to say that it is crystal clear when no waves and becomes cloudy when choppy with medium to big waves, very beautiful to play but with the downside that you cannot see the bottom due to the sand moved with the waves.At Paralia Platanias on this map there is an improvised parking lot directly behind the beach, 10 m distance. Also big pines that provide shadow all day long. Lot of tavernas/beach bars that rent sunbeds for around 5-12 E a set if you spend little money for a drink bring to sunbed or eat on their tables. So long story short Platanias beach is one in fact but 2 on Maps and this 1 offer various shoreline conditions that are'n accurately described when someone review with 'rocky' or 'all sandy'. If you walk a little bit near the water for sure will find the perfect spot for you!

We were there September 2025. Beautiful beach, the water is crystal clear. Often it was a red flag because the waves were high, and the wind was strong. The beach - sand, small stones, large stones or boulders the closer you get into the sea. Shallow water would be suitable for families with children but the waves and current can be tricky. There was many people who walk around with scrapes on their arms and legs after a curious approach to water :) There is a lifeguard. Sunbeds can be rented from various restaurants without or with you eating at them. Just a sunbed with a beach umbrella costs 4 €/person.

Wave here is quite strong, the beach is some places more gravely and some place quite sandy, there are bars along the whole beach, quite easy to find a place to have a some drink or food.

Lovely blue water long sand beach . Best for morning sunrise and evening sunset.

A very nice place for my tastes, full of accommodation buildings (villas and hotels) full of facilities and optimal conditions for spending holidays. The golden sand does not give you that blue colour of the sea but the sea is clear, transparent and very suitable for children. A very well organised beach where you can find umbrellas and sunbeds for free if you are a customer in the tavern or with a payment up to 6-8 euros

Beautiful beach, the water is clean and warm. This beach have sunloungers and they can be paid for or you could get food in the restaurant on the beach and then they are “free”. I’d say if you are visiting this beach be careful with people who are selling jewellery. Other than that everything else is great.

Amazing beach with sand that is not so fine that it sticks everywhere. Crystal clear water, beautiful surroundings and restaurants close by. Sand colored fish that swim around your feet, the small ones might bite if you have a wound and stand still, but it's not really hurtful, just surprising. I think they might be doctor fish known from spas.

Amazing beach 10 Euros for two beds and umbrella with two free water bottles Water is shallow and good for kids

Really busy Lots of tavernas to choose from. Selling lovely Cretan dishes. Great shops down tiny little streets. Beautiful handmade wares. Stunning scenery in the little streets and across the harbour.. Well worth a day trip. Boat cruises for hire too.

Well worth a visit. I would suggest trying to get there early morning for breakfast and a walk. Late morning it was absolutely heaving with fierce competition for seats in the harbour restaurants. A walk into the harbour and along the outer harbour wall is a great experience set aside at least an hour to do the walk both ways. A number of places advertised real Greek food, but to be honest, the fare on offer was pretty similar in terms of an "intetnational" menu. The exception to this were a few better quality restaurants just on the edge of the main drag.

There is a quiet magic woven into the gentle moments of everyday life—the kind that settles softly in the heart and reminds us how beautiful the world can be. It lives in the warm glow of morning light spilling across a room, in the peaceful rhythm of ocean waves touching the shore, and in the laughter shared between friends who understand us without explanation. Beauty appears in kindness freely given, in courage quietly carried, and in the hope that rises even after difficult days. Sometimes it can be found in the delicate colors of a sunset, painted across the sky like a promise. Other times, it hides in the silent strength of those who continue forward with grace, no matter the weight they carry. There is beauty in love that grows patiently, in dreams that refuse to fade, and in the gentle resilience of the human spirit. When we slow down long enough to notice these small wonders, life becomes softer, richer, and more meaningful. Every moment holds the possibility of light. Every person carries a story worth hearing. And every day, no matter how ordinary it may seem, offers a new chance to feel gratitude, hope, and quiet joy.

This place is absolute magic. The history of nearly 5000 years of civilization is on fully display here. The old Venetian port area is beautiful, restaurants are fantastic and the people are very friendly. Will definitely visit again!

Clear clean water. The lighthouse. Views that one is not tired to make photos enough in any time of day. From land or when you get out with the glass bottom boat. I let here some of my photos. Enjoy..... And go to see by yourself. You will be astonished and happy relaxed all the time you are here.

I enjoyed the night walk to the lighthouse and back by light rain. This made the path slightly tricky, especially on higher platform and with strong see wind gusts. On the other hand, the visual, olfactive and acoustic experience was breathtaking.

This place is magical in the sunset hours ! Grab a bite at a waterfront restaurant you will not regret it. The shops are great too a bit overpriced but stop at the perfumery shops you can custom make and they have all type of scents for only 8-10 euro for travel size carry on bottle 3.4oz

Wonderfull unique beach. The climb down is steep but fine and generally safe if you are with normal shoes and carefull. The water is clear and beautiful. There are also rocks from which you can jump off in to the water. The road to the beach is good (bit steep at the end) and the parking is a bit rugged. All on all I would highly recommend visiting this beach as early in the day as possible.

Seitan Limania has a beautiful view when you arrive, but the access is very difficult for people with reduced mobility, we had to go down a cliff to arrive at the beach, for us, the beach was amazing but the water was milky and the place is very small for the amount of people. In the beach you can climb rocks for cliff jumping. The beach is also good for snorkeling, there are a lot of fish.

Such natural beauty, but you gotta work to make it there. Do not wear sandals, you will instantly regret it There are 2 was to go down, one has a chain that gives you something to grab, and the other route has small red + white markers that indicate the path Water was beautiful

Nice hike! Not very difficult, 10-15 minutes walk - so worth it! It is crowded but in my opinion it’s not that bad and you can always find a quiet spot. There are some cool rocks you can jump from. Very nice day trip

What a visit this was 🤩 The beach is quite hidden and you have to hike down a pretty rocky and steap path to access the crystal clear water. It’s feels a bit out of this world to float around there.

A gorgeous little beach that we had the luck to have all to ourselves. Unfortunately we visited in November so we didn't really go for a swim but still we enjoyed the climb and the beach.

Incredible views and wateris almost perfect. It is a rocky beach which I am not a fan of. But once you get in the water it is amazing. The water is so clear and the views breathe taking. However!!!!! It's not an easy climb up or down. Yes it is a climb. There are two ways to get to the beach. Either by boat or climb/hike down the side of the cliff. It is possible but make sure you have good shoes. Do not attempt this in flip flops.

We visited here on 3rd July, there is a large free car park as you arrive. Walk along a short gravel path towards the ticket booth. The lady in the booth was very helpful and the entrance fee was €5 per person and there was a QR code to scan for information. We took our time navigating our way around the site. There are gravel paths which can be a little steep in places. The cisterns are so enormous, it's hard to fathom how they built them and how much water they held. One is split into 3 sections, like 3 large halls, and there is another 'L' shaped cistern in a different area on the site. There are some public toilets on this site. Take drinks with you as there is no facility to purchase any, and there is little shade. There are no benches to sit down on the paths. Also in a separate area is the Amphitheatre which is definitely worth a visit.

Wonderful Greek ancient ruins. Was nice and calm when we were there in October. Cool location. Parking for free. Entry like 4 euro per person. Great to combine with the Ottoman form which is nearby.

I do not understand any of the reviews that say it’s not worth the 10€. There is lots of history, some things are very well preserved and the terrein is smaller, but definitely not in-and-out in 30 minutes. We spent about 3 hours, taking our time. It helps to read the booklet or the boards in the main house for context. We went with a baby in a backpack, so I was looking for shade and there was always some to be found. It is also to be mentioned that it’s always clear what was restored and what wasn’t. We’ve seen this done a lot poorer in the past.

Decent ruins, some of which were more recently excavated than others (early 2000s). The small theatre is a draw, but we really liked the water cisterns as they were huge and unlike others we’ve seen across the Mediterranean. Other buildings throughout are partial, with some Greek & English signs. We stayed about 30-40 minutes but could stay a little longer if wanting to explore the site in more detail. There is one room shortly inside the entrance that has about 16 signs and a brief video with information about the site, history, and excavations. Very informative. WC: Two clean unisex toilets across the courtyard from the information room (about a one minute walk from the entrance). Cafe: Did not see any cafe or water onsite, beyond a small fountain tap in the courtyard. Suggest bringing your own. Shade: It can be quite hot, but there is occasionally shade dotted around - e.g. under the olive trees at the theatre, within the water cistern, near other buildings depending on the time of day. AR app was mentioned at the beginning, but didn’t see any places to scan/use it inside the ruins. Felt like an interesting concept, though.

Fab morning exploring this archaeological site just outside Chania. You can walk in between all the ruins and the whole site feels wonderfully informal. We enjoyed Aptera much more than Knossos, which felt like a low budget sword and sandal film set.

A very short car journey from Chania is the incredibly impressive and atmospheric ruins of Aptera. You park in a large car park nearby and it is a simple walk to the booth where you buy your ticket (cash only) and then you can walk to the main cluster of ruins, baths, cisterns, etc. In the middle of the more recent structures there is a very charming church, a gallery hallway with lots of information boards and also a very clean and modern toilet. Do look around and taken your time exploring the baths and don't miss going inside and down into the main cistern, it will be on the map you are given getting your ticket, it is a very immersive underground space that just shows how wealthy and important a city this would have been. You can also go to the incredible theatre 5 minutes away, do note the road that would have ran from the baths to here. Imagine bathing and walking here taking in the fantastic view of the mountains before settling down to watch something at the theatre. Can't we just go back to this way of living? : )

Brilliant place to to go to. Must see. Go early as you can. Also go insides to cisterns if you can, absolute blow out! We really loved this place

Nice and easy hike out and back from Paleochora on a hot summer day. Beach is not really worth it considering you get charged for sunbeds even that far out of town.

Our first time on the southern side of Crete – Paleochora turned out to be something we really loved! You live alongside the locals in this small village, which was a positive thing. Even the bus ride over the mountain from Chania was an experience in itself, not to mention the views from the bus window. Gialiskari Beach became our favorite beach, and we went there three times during our stay in Paleochora. It’s about 4.5 km each way, along a varied and scenic route. We went there in the afternoons so we could walk back at sunset – it was beautiful.

Very nice beach. A little rough to get too with the car. We went in February and filmed one of our kettlebell workouts on this beach. The weather was great and I had a dip in the water afterward, although most people would probably think it too cold.

Favorite beach, small pebbles, very clear water, beautiful scenery. If you don't have a vehicle you can go with the small shuttle bus from the port in the morning and back in the afternoon or just hike, it's a very beautiful walk. Times for the shuttle is posted on poles and ticket offices in town. There is a small tavern with what you need as well. If you want shade you have to bring an umbrella or rent a sunbed. My best advice is to do a small hike/walk along the coast away from Paleochora towards Sougia, just a small walk will reveal the most beautiful coastline.

An excellent beach with a nice atmosphere. You can choose different types of areas. Beach taverns offer good food. Clean toilets. transport is arranged from Paleochora.

Beautiful beach, head to the furthest beach away from the one with thw beach bar and generator. The second one is much smaller shingle and beautiful clear water. Beach bar and sunbeds if required.

We went to Gialiskari today 9/10 and escaped the winds on the other side of Paleochora. The road in is a bit rough so just take your time and go slowly so that you avoid stone damage. The beach itself was a delight. The first section with umbrellas looked fine but we walked further along the beach to the nudist section. Here we paid £12 for 2 sunbeds and umbrella, took our gear off and enjoyed the day in the nude. We were however a bit shocked in the temperature of the water as it was so much colder than Plakias a couple of days ago.

Fortezza – A Worthwhile Visit with Room for Improvement. Historically, Fortezza is a fascinating site and absolutely worth a visit while in Rethymno. The entrance fee is €5 for a single adult, and you can explore the grounds in about 40 minutes to an hour—assuming you can handle the intense July heat and direct sun. The panoramic views of the sea and the city are stunning, offering plenty of breathtaking photo opportunities for those into photography or scenic walks. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. There is no guided tour or detailed signage throughout the site, so those interested in learning the historical context may want to research in advance. Some areas appear to be accessible for children, but I would strongly caution parents—there are several open drops with only a small chain as a barrier and no warning signs. Supervision is absolutely necessary. Maintenance could be improved. We noticed visible garbage in a few of the indoor areas that were otherwise open to visitors. There is a stand-style café inside selling coffee and cold drinks, which seemed popular, though I did not purchase anything myself. Washrooms are available near the entrance, along with a small gift shop offering some interesting items. Overall, the Fortezza is a memorable and culturally rich stop, but it would benefit from better upkeep, clearer safety measures, and more historical information for visitors.

€5 per person. No wait time. It's a nice city view point and you need around 30minutes to stroll around the Fortezza. Not much to see within the area though. Visited in early September at around 12:00 and it was warm and a bit windy, still manageable to walk around for 30minutes.

Nice place to visit. We payed 12 euros for one kid and 2 adults. The view is amazing, but there is no guide and nothing written about the history of this place. Feels like they don’t invest much of taking care of it. Worth visiting bit could definitely be improved.

Big fortress with some preserved ruins and buildings. Some chambers are accessible and are extremely interesting. Unfortunately there is a smell around lots of the ruins.

Fortezza is certainly worth a look. The streets up to the Fort when on foot are stunning and then the views from the Fort of the old town are fantastic. I would avoid the midday as there is very little cover or shelter form the sun and it was very hot. The entrance fee was not bad and i would say does reflect the lack of places to see inside.

We visited this after walking past it numerous times and I think it would've been best to keep how it looks inside in our imagination. The ticket is €5 per adult and even that felt a bit much. The only thing worth seeing here is the view of the city from the fortress. Other than that, the place is just dirt, rocks and some rundown buildings. There is no tour guide or even plaques explaining what you're looking at. This place has so much potential, but it's so badly maintained... Too bad it's being managed by incompetent / uninterested people.

Great views. Large complex, however not really much to look at and what there is has no signed history. Could be so much better. Typical Greek EU spent funds with no long term plan for continued maintenance and improvement

The rooms are clean and the service is excellent and it's child friendly and it has a great view

Amazing view. Great location. Small rooms but clean.

We had a small, compact room, with a lovely balcony overlooking the sea, where we could watch the comings and goings of Rethymno, whilst drinking ouzo and the sun streamed into our room each morning. The en suite was tiny but adequate (I've known much smaller!). The housekeeping was excellent and the owners were friendly and helpful. Faros Beach Hotel is in a very convenient spot for the harbour, the old town and Fortezza Castle. It's not too far to walk to the beach (stopping on the way at one of the many bars for a cocktail) and the boat trips are on your doorstep. Some people have mentioned the noise, but we found if we closed the balcony doors and used the air conditioning we were not kept awake. If your kind of holiday is staying in an ultra modern hotel, sitting around a pool all day, missing the local sights, then this hotel is not for you, but if you want to stay in a lovely, clean hotel with character I would not hesitate to recommend.

The hotel has changed ownership and has been renovated. The location is perfect, right in the heart of the old town with a view over the old harbour. Staff is welcoming and helpful, the double room with sea view is comfortable and has everything you need. Thanks for making our stay even more special 🥂☀️🏝

What a great surprise for us! Room with balcony facing the Venetian Port and lighthouse right in the centre of town. Super friendly and helpful and very clean surrounded by restaurants bars shops and a few Mtrs from the beach and so reasonably priced!

Good: perfect location. Access to the beach and the best bars and restaurants. Less good: the hotel really needs a renovation. The bed was terrible, very inconfortable and the blankets were dirty. Moreover, the attitude of the management was not appropriate: "you received what you payed for". The AC and the fridge were very noisy.

Decent hotel with great views of the Venetian harbour. Double rooms are spacious and have two bathrooms/showers. Located about 10 mins away from the old town and about 20 mins away from the beach.

Pro - the location is perfect, right in the old town with easy access to the beaches, restaurants and bars, and all major attractions. The room I stayed in, I3, with courtyard view, has the necessary accommodations for a trip - fridge, mini oven, iron, hairdrier, washing machine. The bed was comfortable. Stella, the hostess, was very nice and understanding. Con - I was anxious when I read in 2 other reviews that the air conditioner from the room next door is noisy, and I was hoping this was an overstatement. Unfortunately, it was an understatement. Room 3 does not have a noise canceling window, and the air conditioner from the room next door is extremely noisy (imagine a helicoper noise all night long). When I signaled this issue, the owner called some technicians that sprayed the machines with water, which has nothing to do with the root cause, these should be replaced. I did manage to get used to the noise, as I slept with ear buds and a pillow on my head, but I need to be honest and warn others, especially if you are light sleepers.

Inexpensive, but there was a bad smell coming from bathroom and also there are restrictions with using the boiler. The apartment had old furniture aswell.

Very centrally located apartment in the old town. No parking available. The room was small

(Translated by Google) Great location, very close to everything. The apartments are stylish, the Internet works well, the hosts are not intrusive and polite, there is almost everything you need, the only thing missing is salt and butter, if you are staying for a short time, it is not very convenient to buy your own. The only downside is that there is a bed on the second floor and it gets a little hot there at night, the air conditioning doesn’t reach there, the air hardly moves. (Original) Шикарное расположение, очень близко ко всему. Апартаменты стильные, интернет работает хорошо, хозяева не навязчивые и вежливые, есть почти все необходимое, не хватает только соли и масла, если ненадолго заселился, то покупать свои не очень удобно. Единственный минус на втором этаже кровать и там жарковато ночью, кондиционер туда не достаёт, воздух почти не двигается.

(Translated by Google) Perfect location in the heart of the old town. Accommodation sufficiently equipped for a short stay. Cleanliness more than adequate. Quiet apartment despite the location which is a real plus! Pleasant and discreet owner. We recommend! (Original) Emplacement parfait au cœur de la veille ville. Logement suffisamment équipé pour un court séjour. Propreté plus que correcte. Appartement silencieux malgré l’emplacement ce qui est un véritable plus ! Propriétaire agréable et discret. On recommande !

(Translated by Google) It is an apartment in the Old town of Rethynon in Crete, near Venetian Port, Rethyno Cathedral, close to everything. In a quiet, clean place, it is modern, beautiful and has air conditioning, refrigerator, kitchen, TV. It is a very comfortable and cozy apartment. (Original) Es un apartamento en el Old town de Rethynon en Creta, cerca de Puerto Veneciano, de la Catedral de Rethyno, cerca de todo. En un lugar tranquilo, limpio, es moderno , bonito y tiene aire acondicionado,nevera, cocina, tv. es un apartament muy comodo y acogedor.

(Translated by Google) A very good place, we booked via booking for 4 nights and it fully met our expectations. (Original) Bardzo dobre miejsce, rezerwowaliśmy przez booking na 4 nocy i w pełni spełniło nasze oczekiwania.

Really glad we went to hike the gorge, a stunning experience! €5 per person entry fee - very reasonable. Just be warned, the paths throughout the entire gorge are extremely rocky and you'll need to be able to navigate some tricky areas. Many said its "beginner/easy" but note that its still a trek and you need to be very careful where you're walking. Hike took us (a couple) about 3-3.5 hrs and that was with very limited stops (maybe max of 15 mins total) because you need to go so slow in some areas. If you have hiking shoes highly recommend using, I was slipping a lot wearing trainers and you can also feel the rocky stones on the bottom/sides of your feet depending on the footwear). Bring plenty of water and a hat too. There is a shop halfway but it's a long way to get there. If you start at 9am during the summer you'll be in shade for most of the time but still very very hot. Sights were still lovely! You will also see a sign towards the end of the hike that says beach is 7km away, don't worry there's a cafe shortly after the sign where you can get the shuttle bus up to the start where you would have parked. You're highly likely to have people to share the shuttle with (the cafe staff just give you a ticket for €5 per person) and they arrange it all. There's plenty of parking spaces at the start, recommend using the toilets nearby as there doesn't seem to be any actual toilets along the way.

Fab walk and scramble! There was one review on Google saying you could do this walk barefoot….idiot! Thankfully I read the other ones. Boots are better but trainers work too. It’s very rocky for the walk through the gorge but then it’s just a mountainous path on the way back to the car parking area. Some of the rocks in the gorge are quite slippery from years of footfall but as long as you take care it’s easy enough to navigate. Follow the red markers to the top of the gorge and then veer right when you see the yellow markers. The yellow markers will lead you back to the car parking area. On the yellow path you will come across some “gates” basically just fence panels being used as gates. You will need to go through these but just make sure to close them after you. We stopped for photos, a sandwich and lots of drinks of water and it took us less than two hours. We’re a medium fitness level 🤣 Well worth a visit!!

6.5 km downvards on mostly stones, strenous for knees. Some moves opposite direction, as a matter of fact, upwards may be more sporty. However, parking lot is further if you leave your car near the lower end. We were in the very end if October, so there were not as many people then in summer as reported. Anyhow, beautiful!

8Km hike through the gorge. €5 entry fee which isn’t too bad. Walking shoes/boots are recommended but it is doable in trainers (would advise against doing it in sandals, crocs, flip flops etc). Sun cream, water and snacks are recommended too. There is a small shack shop/cafe which sells soft drinks, water and beer. It also has a donkey there too!

Great walk/hike. Arrived at 06.30 to avoid the super hot sun, bonus - didn't have to pay the €5 fee. Option is to walk back up the gorge or pay around €25 euro for a "taxi" back to Imbros Village to get to your car. If stopping for food/drink at the end, walk right and up the hill to nice places to stop. Don't pick 1st available Taverna.

We went upwards and it was very nice, not too hard even for youngest (11years old). There is a kioks in the middle with cold drinks and nice cafe at the end in the village. Taxi xosts 5€ per person 5o get back to yhe village.

Great place to walk ! Entry cost was 5’euro. Which was a shame. Magnificent views and definitely worth the walk . We were informed by the ticket office that the walk was roughly 5 km long but it turned out to be 10 km! We were not properly prepared with walking boots and this is definitely needed! But we managed it anyway. The ticket office told us that the taxi back would be 5 euros pp! It turned out to be 25 euros for s taxi . The 5 euros was for a bus of 10 people or more pp ! So Watch out as we were again misinformed!

Very welcoming place with excellent service and fine ice cream.

Great shop in front of a Venetian fort from the 1300's. Owners are great and the food and coffee are fantastic. Just a pleasant place to start your day. When I stay in the area I frequently go here in the morning. My kids love it after the beach for lunch.

The Cretan Sandwich is superb! Coffee and pastries are also delicious. The lady working there is lovely. Much recommended.

Very cute, local café. The owner is very nice and welcomes you with a big smile. Makes you feel welcome right away :)

Very good coffee and breakfast with view on the castle. You always feel very welcome here.

Great little pastry shop outside of town. Parking lot.

Delicious, properly made fredo cappuccino, free bottle of cold water with it. 2 euros- July 2022

Really interesting place to visit with lots to see, also very beautiful. There were a few rooms/object with a lack of information/ description. With a bit more info it would have been 5 stars.

We visited as part of a trip. Interesting place. Unfortunately many areas too dark to see exhibits clearly. Nearby cafe was poorly stocked and there were some birds and animals in adjacent garden in awful caged areas.

Loved our visit to the monastery. Such a sad history but it also showed the defiant and courageous character of the local people. Beautiful buildings and grounds steeped in history with an onsite museum. Highly recommend.

This monastery is truly a place worth visiting. Nestled in a peaceful setting, it carries centuries of history and spiritual depth. The atmosphere is calm and reverent — you can really feel the presence of the monks who still live and pray here. The architecture and icons are beautifully preserved, and there are many fascinating historical details to discover around every corner. Whether you’re interested in culture, history, or simply want to experience a moment of quiet reflection, this monastery is absolutely worth the trip.

Beautiful architecture and very photogenic though not tons to see inside, outside of the Gallery where more details about its history and important objects. We spent about 40-45 minutes slowly wandering through this 17th century monastery. The map provided showed the key places to see and gave a little context - no other signs were available outside of the Gallery. There are some uneven steps and low doorways so take care. It was busy but not crowded when we visited on a July Monday. They mention online shoulders and knees should be covered, but didn’t appear enforced based on other visitors. Small shop onsite with some Cretan souvenirs and a lot of Christian icons for sale. Prices felt a bit steep, eg €4,5-5 for a magnet. Large free gravel car park. Toilets available in car park area are adequate. Cafe next door has refreshments available.

Arkadi Monastery is a monument to the Greek people and the right of individual determinism. In 1866, the Ottomans sent a large army to Arkadi Monastery to crush a Cretan rebellion. Rather than surrender to become slaves, the small group of Cretans in the monastery decided to blow up the ammunition magazine to kill themselves and as many Turks as they could. This helped solidify foreign support for Greek independence.

A very good old monastery with an unique history. Probably founded in 11th Century by a monk named Arkadios. Here, monks had a history of taking parts in various historical events not only in Crete, but also in whole Greece. This monastery was once looted, it's monks were tortured, still these monks again came back to stay here. There is a museum also inside the premises.

Amongst the best options for families with kids. The right part was really shallow and calm. Almost like a pool. Umbrella sets at 7e. There is a taverna coffee shop to get snacks etc.

Most underrated beach I have been in my 6 day vacation. Good for families (easy access to it, sandy beach, smooth entrance), good for snorkeling (I love snorkeling and I have high standards. I didn’t expect a nice place to snorkel, but around 30 m from the shore in right side of the beach you can find some amazing reefs, and probably to the left at the rocks again you will find nice stuff). Also good for people that just want to chill. The beach is big and there is a lot of space for everyone and the sun beds are not everywhere). Bonus: the view to the sunset is one of the best you can get in this part of the island.

Very nice beach with the castle view. The beach and the water bed is Sandy, smooth making it easy to navigate. The water was surprisingly warm in comparison with other beaches. I don't know what to say about family friendly though as the spot right in front of the castle where we were has a very steep entrance in the water. In maximum 2 meters from the shore, the water was 1.8 meters deep.

Beautiful beach with big sand stripes, there are sunbeds but they do not cover whole beach luckily. Loved the sunset here.. water is clear but better with shoes.

On the day of our visit (second year in a row) the wind was so strong that it was impossible to enjoy. Although the wind blew from the shore towards the sea (the sea was calm and there were no waves) the wind was unbearable. The water was very cold and the fortress is still under reconstruction. In addition, the set of two sunbeds and umbrella costs 6€ which is OK, but those were umbrellas made of some perforated material which gives zero protection. As for me, never again.

Excellent sandy beach with very clear water. The umbrellas are sufficient and well spaced so that they do not interfere with each other. The price of a set is 6 euros. The sand strip is very wide and beautiful. There is a good cafe-restaurant at the back. There are enough parking spaces around the fort.

Good beach, but not nearly as spectacular as the likes of Glyka Nera, Balos, Elafonissi, Falasarna etc. Frangokastelo beach is a quiet sandy beach with some pebbles, with a car park very close to it. No hiking is required. Umbrella with 2 sunbeds at €6. Relaxed, not crowded, nice for a swim. The water was clean but not very clear (low visibility). From the beach you have a good view of the Frangokastello castle and the mountains on the background. There is a taverna right by the entrance but I didn't try it.