Preveli beach — Attraction in Municipality of Agios Vasileios

You can not miss Preveli Beach if you're visiting Crete!🇬🇷 The beach, framed by the beautiful Preveli River Lagoon and the lush palm tree forest (the second largest in Europe), makes it feel like a tropical paradise. It's about 40 kilometers from Rethymno, and the drive there is scenic, with winding roads offering lovely views of the countryside and the sea. The road is in good condition, which made the trip easy and pleasant. On the way to Preveli Beach, there’s another must-see spot—Kourtaliotiko Gorge. I highly recommend stopping by before getting to Preveli. When we arrived at the parking area, we found plenty of parking spaces. There's a small fee of 2 euros per day for parking, which is quite reasonable. From the parking lot, it takes about 15 minutes to walk down to the beach. The path includes around 400 steps, which can be a bit challenging, especially in the heat, but the breathtaking views along the way make it worthwhile. There are several viewpoints along the path where you can stop, catch your breath, and take some stunning photos of the lagoon and beach below. I suggest avoiding climbing back during the hottest part of the day (13:00-16:00) and make sure you have water on the way up. Tip: If you go to the end of the parking area and pass the gate, you get to an amazing viewpoint from the edge of the cliffs. The views are spectacular! The beach itself is a natural gem, accessible by foot or by boat. The Libyan Sea, with shades of turquoise and deep blue, is perfect for swimming. Keep in mind that on windy days you may find big waves that might not be ideal for small kids. The beach is a combination of golden sand and pebbles. Make sure to bring water shoes for a better experience. The Preveli River flows into the sea here, creating a unique freshwater lagoon that is delightful to explore. The palm tree forest stretches for about 500 meters along the river, providing plenty of shaded spots to relax and enjoy the tranquil environment. Exploring the forest takes around 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how leisurely you walk and how many photos you take. We couldn’t stop taking photos and videos; this place is truly a gem! It's a peaceful area with a slight jungle vibe, and we even spotted a few birds, fish, and small wildlife. There are no large facilities on the beach, but we found a small taverna offering snacks and drinks, as well as restrooms, changing areas, and a shower. Our visit to Preveli Beach was simply amazing. The mix of natural beauty, the unique lagoon, and the serene palm forest made it a perfect escape. It's a wonderful activity suitable for all ages, though the walk down might be a bit challenging for very young children or seniors. If you're ever in Crete, I highly recommend visiting Preveli Beach. Just be prepared for the steps and take your time to enjoy the breathtaking scenery along the way. Don’t forget to bring plenty of water and sunscreen! If you're interested in seeing our experience or want to check out Preveli Beach and palm forest before visiting, we made a video about it on YouTube.➡️...

Preveli is a really beautiful, sandy beach surrounded by palm trees. Despite the crowds, the waters remain clean. There is a river that is connected to the sea that you can also swim in (though I would recommend flip-flops or swimming shoes for the river). There is a few garbage that gets concentrated on the left side of the beach, where the river meets the sea, but it stays there only. Of course, it would be great if someone cleaned that part of the beach, or if people wouldn't throw their garbage down in the first place.

If you dislike large crowds, you will not enjoy this beach as much. Because of its beauty, it has become famous and attracts tons of people, especially in the summer and during peak hours. Still, in my opinion, it is still worth the visit, as it has a rare combination of elements that make it unique.

To visit this beach , DON'T use the free parking on the left. It gets full really quickly and you will be stuck in traffic. Moreover, the trail from there is much steeper to climb down and then up, especially during the summer with the scorching heat from the sun slowing you down. Yes, you will get some great views from there, but it will be an ordeal.

Instead, use the free parking on Drimmiskiano Ammoudi beach to the right. It is smaller, but usually has some free spots, some under the shade of the trees. The trail from there is easier (around 15 minutes), with less steep parts to climb up and down. The views are not as magnificent from there, but are still very good. Plus, you'll get to see the Drimmiskiano Ammoudi beach, and swim there if you don't prefer the crowds of Preveli. I think there is also the option of visiting Preveli via boat from there, though I'm not sure.

Whichever trail you choose to visit from, make sure you have good shoes (not flip flops), lots of water and...

This is once in a lifetime experience. Not that it is that good but because you would go there once and never again. The fame of this beach is quite significant and those who support the tourism might be satisfied with that. Many people know it and want to see it, but I believe that many may be disappointed. The photos taken from above look idyllic but the view of a guest is not so attractive. Actually, its seaside beach is quite unremarkable. We were based at Agia Pelagia during our stay in Crete and its beach and sea was thousand times better than this. The beach is sandy but not with clean sand but more like gritty sand with small rocks and pebbles. Its only interesting feature is a palm tree grove. For someone from Slovakia, the palm tree is still a sign of exotics and it is nice to see many of them growing together. It is also nice to walk through that river as well as to walk through the grove. One of the grove banks was expected to be closed (probably after 2010 fire), but the fence was toppled and tourists freely roamed there. Children might be amused by the presence of geese in the river (but also on the beach).On the other hand, the facilities are horrible (one toilette and oné changing room) and one very busy bar. Moreover,the access is also quite unpleasant if your are with children or someone elderly - beside the fact that the scenery is beautiful. It certainly takes more than claimed 15 minutes and you have to be very careful. Overall more or less negative impression was amplified by super windy weather that was strong enough to almost tear weak umbrellas apart. I would recommend this only to young couples or teenagers who want to see something less conventional than ordinary beach but definitely not...