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Rethymnon to the South Travel Guide

Travel to Rethymnon to the South - Tranquil towns, villages and beach resorts

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The region of Rethymnon to the South is a stunning region incorporating a northern fortress, inland mountains and southern beaches.

Rethymnon itself is a good base to explore Crete, particularly parts of the south coast. A beautiful town with narrow streets of Venetian and Turkish influences, an imposing Fortezza, a lovely little harbour, a long sandy beach and lots of places to eat and drink.

Almost due south is Plakias, an unspoiled holiday village with excellent beaches and walking. The much-visited Monastery of Preveli sits above the sea and was an important centre of resistance during World War II.

The Amari Valley contains a number of traditional Cretan villages and is a starting point for those wanting to climb Mount Idi (Psiloritis). Phaestos, a very important Minoan site, is visited less than Knossos, and to many is more unspoiled and attractive.

To the south lie the holiday resorts of Matala (the beach caves much favoured by hippies in the 1960s) and Agia Gallini both are still relatively unspoiled.

Back to the north is Kournas, Crete’s only natural fresh-water lake and Georgioupoli, which stands at the end of a long sandy beach. Nearby Argyroupoli is a picturesque, unspoiled village built near the ancient Roman city state of Lappa and a plane tree, said to be over 2000 years old. Fresh water springs guarantee the sound of running water as you sit with a delicious meal at one of the restaurants.