Villa Nepenthe : Welcome to Kamilari
Restaurants & Bars
Our favourite places to eat and drink
A little pricier than other taverna’s, but the food is fresh and well prepared, and you’re encouraged to look in their kitchen to order fish or meat off the menu. Next to the cozy terrace, there’s a small shop with Greek designer products and delicacies. Friendly staff.
Taverna Kelari
A little pricier than other taverna’s, but the food is fresh and well prepared, and you’re encouraged to look in their kitchen to order fish or meat off the menu. Next to the cozy terrace, there’s a small shop with Greek designer products and delicacies. Friendly staff.
Nice and cozy place with good food. It's very popular and they don’t always accept reservations. As most locals eat late, we recommend going early to secure a spot.
8 locals recommend
Pizzeria Ariadni
Nice and cozy place with good food. It's very popular and they don’t always accept reservations. As most locals eat late, we recommend going early to secure a spot.
Very lovely place for brunch or a cocktail, located in the center of Kamilari. At night their terrace lights up and while you sip your drink, old black and white movies are projected in the background. Great atmosphere!
Miaolia (Brunch & Cocktails)
Very lovely place for brunch or a cocktail, located in the center of Kamilari. At night their terrace lights up and while you sip your drink, old black and white movies are projected in the background. Great atmosphere!
A lovely boutique coffee shop in the center of Kamilari. Recommended for all your caffeine needs!
SLOW DROP Mindful Coffee Culture
A lovely boutique coffee shop in the center of Kamilari. Recommended for all your caffeine needs!
Overlooking the bay and caves of Matala, Plaka is a lovely place to stop for a meal. If you like fish, be sure to ask about the fish of the day.
Plaka Matala
Overlooking the bay and caves of Matala, Plaka is a lovely place to stop for a meal. If you like fish, be sure to ask about the fish of the day.
Great place to eat with a wonderful atmosphere. It's kind of a kept secret among locals, since it's not very touristic.
Raftis restaurant - winebar
Great place to eat with a wonderful atmosphere. It's kind of a kept secret among locals, since it's not very touristic.
Without a doubt one of the best restaurants in Matala. Fresh and well prepared produce, with a good menu that caters to everyone. The view over the bay of Matala is breathtaking. Pro tip: make a reservation ahead and ask for a table with a sea view. We also recommend having dessert!
Restaurant Scala
Without a doubt one of the best restaurants in Matala. Fresh and well prepared produce, with a good menu that caters to everyone. The view over the bay of Matala is breathtaking. Pro tip: make a reservation ahead and ask for a table with a sea view. We also recommend having dessert!
If you want a carefree vegan meal, visit this place. They are vegan and have a lovely seating area and very good dishes! They also organize yoga, chanting and cooking classes.
Green Kukunari
If you want a carefree vegan meal, visit this place. They are vegan and have a lovely seating area and very good dishes! They also organize yoga, chanting and cooking classes.
The Secret Garden is a wine bar and restaurant near Matala. It has a wonderful rustic atmosphere and a great Mediterranean cuisine.
The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden is a wine bar and restaurant near Matala. It has a wonderful rustic atmosphere and a great Mediterranean cuisine.
Beaches
These are the closest to the villa
One of the more famous beaches in Greece. Lots of history and leftover hippy vibes from the 60's.
69 locals recommend
Matala beach
One of the more famous beaches in Greece. Lots of history and leftover hippy vibes from the 60's.
Kalamaki beach is not as popular as other beaches, but for many tourists it is one of the most comfortable. It is a wide beach of sand and pebbles which adjoins the calm, blue and crystalline sea, surrounded by mountains. Its main characteristic is the loggerhead turtle. Kalamaki is part of the National Sea Park, which is why turtle nesting sites are marked.
48 locals recommend
Kalamaki
Kalamaki beach is not as popular as other beaches, but for many tourists it is one of the most comfortable. It is a wide beach of sand and pebbles which adjoins the calm, blue and crystalline sea, surrounded by mountains. Its main characteristic is the loggerhead turtle. Kalamaki is part of the National Sea Park, which is why turtle nesting sites are marked.
The beach of Kommos is unspoiled, charming, strewn with fine golden sand where theCaretta tortoises lay their eggs. The view from the beach is magnificent. The sea is crystal clear and inviting.
79 locals recommend
Komos Beach
The beach of Kommos is unspoiled, charming, strewn with fine golden sand where theCaretta tortoises lay their eggs. The view from the beach is magnificent. The sea is crystal clear and inviting.
One of the best beaches in the area. You go by car and then easy walk for 20 minutes inside a gorge.
72 locals recommend
Agiofarago beach
One of the best beaches in the area. You go by car and then easy walk for 20 minutes inside a gorge.
Activities
Just a few of the many fun things to do
Visit the ruins of a Bronze Age archaeological site that includes a Minoan palace and village.
76 locals recommend
Phaistos Minoan Palace
Eparchiaki Odos Faistou - Kalon LimenonVisit the ruins of a Bronze Age archaeological site that includes a Minoan palace and village.
Cooking class "Cretan Vibes” is close to Villa Nepenthe. You’ll learn about local products and traditional Greek cuisine. A fun skill to take home with you! If you’d rather leave the cooking up to someone else, you can also go on a food tour. You’ll discover how local products are made, with plenty of opportunities to taste.
Cretan Vibes
Cooking class "Cretan Vibes” is close to Villa Nepenthe. You’ll learn about local products and traditional Greek cuisine. A fun skill to take home with you! If you’d rather leave the cooking up to someone else, you can also go on a food tour. You’ll discover how local products are made, with plenty of opportunities to taste.
It will only take you a half hour drive from Villa Nepenthe to reach the Zacharioudakis Winery. On the 20 hectares of organically cultivated vineyard, you’ll find a state of the art winery with a unique architecture. You can take a tour and visit both the vineyard and the winery. You can book different packages, with tasting sets accompanied by cretan cheeses and other traditional products.
Zacharioudakis Winery
It will only take you a half hour drive from Villa Nepenthe to reach the Zacharioudakis Winery. On the 20 hectares of organically cultivated vineyard, you’ll find a state of the art winery with a unique architecture. You can take a tour and visit both the vineyard and the winery. You can book different packages, with tasting sets accompanied by cretan cheeses and other traditional products.
Donkeys are wonderful animals and you are welcome to get to know them at the Agia Marina Donkey Rescue, a sanctuary at only 4 km from Villa Nepenthe. They welcome visitors to lend a hand, brush the friendly animals and to interact with them. It allows for wonderful pictures.
Agia Marina Donkey Rescue
Eparchiaki Odos Gortinas - MatalonDonkeys are wonderful animals and you are welcome to get to know them at the Agia Marina Donkey Rescue, a sanctuary at only 4 km from Villa Nepenthe. They welcome visitors to lend a hand, brush the friendly animals and to interact with them. It allows for wonderful pictures.
Boat trips! A nice place to visit is the port and beach of Agia Galini (20 km from Villa Nepenthe). The beach and restaurants are very nice and worth the trip. Various boat tours depart from the port of Agia Galini, ranging from a cruise of about 6 hours to the island Paximadia and back, a trip on a small fishing boat, etc. It’s best to check availability online and to make a reservation.
75 locals recommend
Agia Galini
Boat trips! A nice place to visit is the port and beach of Agia Galini (20 km from Villa Nepenthe). The beach and restaurants are very nice and worth the trip. Various boat tours depart from the port of Agia Galini, ranging from a cruise of about 6 hours to the island Paximadia and back, a trip on a small fishing boat, etc. It’s best to check availability online and to make a reservation.
There are lots of hiking trails and tours. Enjoy this 1.9-km out-and-back trail near Kamilari, Crete. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 49 min to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas.
Red Beach Trail
Red Beach TrailThere are lots of hiking trails and tours. Enjoy this 1.9-km out-and-back trail near Kamilari, Crete. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 49 min to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas.
The Town
Kamilari is built on top of three hills. Villa Nepenthe is located on the Alevrota Hill. The town has 340 residents, so it is a quiet, traditional village. It has amazing views of the mountains and the Libyan sea. It's a wonderful location for relaxation, rest, family time or exploration. The climate is soft all year round and the sea is crystal clear and warm until late October.
Kamilari
Villa Nepenthe
Nearby Shops & Supermarkets
Places to buy food and medicines.
Supermarket Milonas
Small grocery store in the center of Kamilari.
Super Market Χαλκιαδάκης
ΚαπαριανάA big supermarket in the nearby city Mires (about 20 minute drive).
kamilari pharmacy
The local pharmacy in the center of Kamilari.
City advice
Getting around
Rent a car
We recommend renting a car to get around. Some rental companies are located on the airport, which saves time.
It's also recommended to use a GPS app like Waze or Apple Maps to find places. It's pretty difficult to find anything without.
You’re likely to see stray dogs and cats, especially in the evening when it’s cooler. Always be mindful of them when driving!
Don't miss
The Saturday market in Mires
Be sure to visit Mires on a Saturday morning! That’s when the largest traditional market on the whole island takes place. You will find far more Cretans than tourists at the market, and the whole affair is still run with traditional, Cretan flair. Market stalls line the broad main street for over 2 km, selling everything that the rural population could need and much else.