Crete’s largest beach
One of the largest beaches of Crete is Rethymno’s beach. It is located on the east side of the city and it is 1 km far from its center. It is a large sandy beach and a part of the huge coastal front of Rethymno. It starts from the so-called Delfini, which is nowadays the little port of Rethymno and extends east from Perivolia and Misiria, to Platane, Adelianos and Pigianos Kampos, Sfakaki, Stavromenos and ends at the beach of Skaleta!
The beach is of fine brownish sand and its blue water is shallow and often wavy. Because of its great length you will never find it crowded. For privacy, you should prefer the eastern parts. The coastal road of the city, runs along the beach, which makes it ideal for an evening walk and night out. On the beach you will find all kinds of services from umbrellas, cafes, bars, changing rooms to lifeguards, water sports, sports etc. You can choose the right spot of the beach depending on your mood and wishes just by crossing through and exploring it.
Caretta-Caretta chose Rethymno Beach
However, what is really noticeable and worthwhile is that the Caretta-Caretta choose to hereby lay their eggs. Therefore do not be surprised if you see signs on the beach with ropes that isolate parts where nests have been located. The entire Bay of Rethymno is one of the three most important nesting sites of the species throughout Greece and one of the most important in the Mediterranean, providing an average of 410 nests per year. It is, worth at least once in a lifetime, to participate in some action of the ecological organizations active in Rethymno and to see the newborn turtles leaving the nests and heading to the sea.
The Climate in Rethymno
Summer in Crete is cool to hot, with temperatures ranging from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius and almost always cloudless. In most places you can wear shorts and a t-shirt during the day, while in the evening it is advisable to bring along a light cardigan. Especially in the warm south coast where the sun is hotter you should always wear a hat, sunglasses and have water with you. Be careful, especially during the midday hours, to avoid burns, since the sun is particularly intense. In September and October temperatures are milder and definitely make sure you have something warm for the evening hours.