# Preveli Beach

> At Preveli beach the Megalopotamos river flows out through a narrow gorge into the Libyan Sea, forming a small freshwater lagoon.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/preveli-beach/

A palm-fringed beach at the mouth of a freshwater river on Crete's south coast, reached by a steep path down from the car park. Bring water and shoes with grip, and go early to find shade and space.

At Preveli beach the Megalopotamos river flows out through a narrow gorge into the Libyan Sea, forming a small freshwater lagoon. It is lined with the Cretan date palm (Phoenix theophrasti), which forms one of the densest natural stands in Europe. The palm beach by the river is distinct from the upper beach, which many visitors reach first.

From the car park a path of more than 300 steps leads down to the upper beach; from there it is about 600 m along the shore to the palm beach, and the return climb is tiring. Alternatively, arrive by boat from Plakias or on foot through the Kourtaliotis Gorge (5.5 km one way). There are no toilets at the palm beach, so bring water. In summer the car park is often full by about 9:30 am. The best times are May, June and late September to early October.

- **Nearest town:** Plakias, Greece
- **Category:** Nature & parks
- **GPS:** 35.1520, 24.4650

## Good to know

**Best time to go:** The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in June–August and December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

**Getting there:**

- **Greece: Motorway tolls.** Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.

## Sources

- [Crete Direct: Preveli Beach Guide](https://crete.direct/en/articles/preveli-beach-guide)

## Featured in these trip guides

- [Southern and central Crete: Gortyn, Phaistos, Matala, Preveli and Rethymno](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/gr-crete-south-centre/)

## Nearby

- [Arkadi Monastery](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b7-arkadi-monastery/) – 23 km
- [Rethymno Old Town and Fortezza](https://camping-spirit.com/places/gr-rethymno-old-town/) – 24 km
- [Matala Caves](https://camping-spirit.com/places/gr-matala/) – 30 km
- [Phaistos](https://camping-spirit.com/places/gr-phaistos/) – 34 km

## FAQs

### Where is Preveli Beach?

Preveli Beach is in Plakias, Greece, at GPS 35.1520, 24.4650. It is about 24 km from Rethymno.

### Can you camp near Preveli Beach?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping Apollonia, about 7 km away; within 25 km there are 13 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

### Which road trips pass Preveli Beach?

Preveli Beach is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Southern and central Crete: Gortyn, Phaistos, Matala, Preveli and Rethymno.

### What is there to see near Preveli Beach?

Places worth a stop nearby: Arkadi Monastery (23 km), Rethymno Old Town and Fortezza (24 km), Matala Caves (30 km) and Phaistos (34 km).

### When is the best time to visit Preveli Beach?

The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in June–August and December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)