{"id":52214,"date":"2025-09-11T22:12:39","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T20:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/?p=52214"},"modified":"2026-03-30T13:04:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T11:04:44","slug":"preveli-crete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/preveli-crete\/","title":{"rendered":"Preveli Beach Crete: Palm Forest, Monastery and Tips for Your Visit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Preveli<\/strong>, on the south coast of Crete, offers a beautiful bay where turquoise, clear water meets a pristine beach. Here the river Megalopotamos flows into the sea and forms a freshwater lagoon there. In addition, there is a lush palm forest that stretches along the lagoon into the gorge that the river has carved into the rock.<\/p>\n

\u00bbYou should not miss a visit to this magical place. The ocean is great for swimming and snorkeling, and there are hiking trails with breathtaking views.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Preveli
Exotic backdrop of Preveli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If that’s not enough to satisfy your wanderlust, you can visit the beautiful Preveli Monastery<\/strong>, which offers magnificent panoramic views and an exciting insight into Greek history.<\/p>\n

How to spend a wonderful day on the exotic Preveli Beach<\/strong> and its unique surroundings, we will tell you in this article and give you the most important tips for your trip:<\/p>\n

\"Kreta<\/p>\n

#1 Getting to Preveli<\/h2>\n

\ud83d\udccd Google Maps Location<\/a><\/p>\n

You will reach Preveli by rental car<\/strong>, by public bus or by boat from Plakias, Damnoni or Agia Galini. For those who find the long journey too far, a guided tour to the beach and the monastery of Preveli is a good idea, more information can be found here: Preveli Tours<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Kreta
Welcome to Preveli Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A direct access to the Preveli Beach<\/strong> is not possible. However, you have two options for approaching the beach by car: from the west or from the east. However, both options require you to walk to the beach.<\/p>\n

Distances to Preveli<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u203a Chania \u2013 Preveli: 90 km (1.5 hrs)<\/p>\n

\u203a Rethymno \u2013 Preveli: 35 km (50 min.)<\/p>\n

\u203a Heraklion \u2013 Preveli: 115 km (2 hrs)<\/p>\n

\u203a Ierapetra \u2013 Preveli: 167 km (3 hrs 15 mins)<\/p>\n

\u203a Paleochora \u2013 Preveli: 156 km (2.5 hrs)<\/p>\n

\"Preveli
Palm forest Preveli in Crete<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By car to Preveli<\/h3>\n

From Rethymno<\/em>: Preveli beach is located about 40 km south of Rethymno<\/a> and can be reached via the well-developed road. The scenic tour is a beautiful nature experience with unique views. You can check our partner Discover Cars<\/em>* in advance for your Preveli rental car:<\/p>\n

\u27b2 To offers for rental cars*<\/a><\/p>\n

A special highlight is the drive through the Kourtaliotiko Gorge<\/strong>. It is worth making a stopover here. The drive from Rethymno to Preveli beach takes about 50 minutes without a stop.<\/p>\n

\"Kourtaliotiko
How to get to Preveli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From Plakias<\/em>: Plakias is the nearest major coastal town and is about 10 km from Preveli beach. The road between Plakias and Preveli is paved throughout. The route passes through the towns of Kampos and Lefkogeia and offers beautiful views of the beautiful bay of Plakias. The travel time from Plakias to Preveli<\/strong> takes about 20 minutes.<\/p>\n

\"Plakias
Plakias Resort<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What is the parking situation on site?<\/h3>\n

Follow the road to the Preveli Monastery to the end, where you will come to a large parking lot. At the edge of the cliffs above the bay, a large guarded parking lot has been created especially for bathers. For a small fee (2024: \u20ac2 per day) you can park here. From the Preveli car park<\/strong>, a path leads directly down to the beach.<\/p>\n

\"Preveli
Viewpoint on the beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The steep footpath leads over 400 steps to the beach and takes 30 to 40 minutes. For the descent or ascent, we strongly recommend sturdy shoes. In addition, the path is completely in the sun, so you should definitely take sun protection and enough water with you.<\/p>\n

As a reward for the descent, there is a spectacular view over the beach, the lagoon with its palm grove and large parts of the south coast. If all this is too strenuous for you, you can also enjoy a magnificent view from a plateau on the eastern edge of the parking lot without breaking a sweat. Attention, no barrier.<\/p>\n

\"Kreta
View from the plateau behind the parking lot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Parking at Drymiskiano Ammoudi Beach<\/h4>\n

For easier access, turn left at the historic Preveli Bridge in front of the monastery and follow the signs to the beach of Drymiskiano Ammoudi<\/strong>, the neighboring beach of Preveli. There is also a large parking lot here.<\/p>\n

\"Drimiskiano
Drymiskiano Ammoudi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From here, an easy and short path leads to Preveli Beach in five minutes. With this option, you won’t have the spectacular view from the top that the other trail offers, but you’ll be on the beach faster and more effortlessly.<\/p>\n

\"Preveli
Path from Drymiskiano Ammoudi to Preveli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By bus to Preveli<\/h3>\n

The KTEL public buses depart from the central bus station in Rethymno<\/strong> three times a day during the season, running to Preveli (with a change in Plakias). The journey costs about 5 euros and takes about 1.5 hours in total. The bus stops about 2 km behind the Kato Preveli Monastery.<\/p>\n

\"Bus
By bus to Preveli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From here you have to follow the road to the parking lot above the beach (western access). The earliest bus from Rethymno to Preveli<\/strong> departs at 10:30 a.m., the latest return trip is at 7:00 p.m. In the high season, it is recommended to buy the bus ticket a few days in advance online or at the bus station in Rethymno.<\/p>\n

The bus from Plakias to Preveli<\/strong> runs up to six times a day. The earliest bus leaves at 10:30 AM and the latest return trip from Preveli to Plakias is at 7:00 PM.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Current timetables and bus routes to Preveli<\/strong> can be found on the website of the bus company KTEL Chanion – Rethymnou – Archiki: e-KTEL<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\ud83d\udca1 Book recommendation for Crete:<\/strong> The Crete travel guide from Lonely Planet contains important information and tips for a vacation on the island. You can order the guide directly from the publisher: Order the book here*<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

By boat to Preveli<\/h3>\n

From Plakias, Damnoni beach and Agia Galini, small excursion boats depart several times a day to the palm beach of Preveli, there in the morning and back in the late afternoon. A return ticket for the boat trip from Plakias to Preveli beach costs around \u20ac18 for adults and \u20ac9 for children..<\/p>\n

\"Bootstour
By boat from Plakias to Preveli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tickets can be purchased online or at the Smerna Cafe Bar<\/em> opposite the old port of Plakias<\/strong>. More information can be found on the provider’s website: LB Ferries<\/a><\/p>\n

A drive from the port of Agia Galini to Preveli Beach is also an option with Sactouris Daily Cruises<\/em>. The day trips include a small snack and the stay in Preveli is about 3-4 hours, but are quite expensive at around \u20ac40 per person.<\/p>\n

\"Agia
At the port of Agia Galini<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best time to visit Preveli<\/h3>\n

The beautiful jewel in the south of Crete has unfortunately long since been discovered by tourism. The beach and lagoon are therefore almost always well visited. Especially in the peak tourist season from July to August, it is worth arriving early to get a parking space and avoid the crowds.<\/p>\n

The best time to visit Preveli beach<\/strong> is outside the peak tourist season, in the months of May, June, September and October. At this time, temperatures are usually warm enough to enjoy the beach and lagoon. With a bit of luck, you will only have to share the beautiful scenery with a few other visitors.<\/p>\n

#2 Guided tours to Preveli<\/h2>\n

Through our partner GetYourGuide* you can book guided excursions to Preveli from various locations on Crete such as Rethymno or Heraklion<\/a>. If you want to discover a little more of the surrounding area, you can join one of the Jeep safari to Preveli<\/strong>. Here you can find out about the tours to Preveli and book directly if necessary:<\/p>\n

\u27b2 To the organized jeep safari*<\/a><\/p>\n

\u27b2 To the guided tour from Rethymno*<\/a><\/p>\n

\u27b2 To the guided tour from Heraklion*<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Kreta
By jeep safari to Preveli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

#3 Interesting facts about Preveli Beach<\/h2>\n

The unique combination of lush palm forest, a river that has carved an imposing gorge into the rocks, as well as the freshwater lagoon and the turquoise sea make Preveli beach a real magnet for visitors.<\/p>\n