The settlement is on the sea and a tourist destination which is 21 km from Rethymno; even so, despite the numbers it receives, Panormos yet retains quite a bit of its traditional image as many of the stone-built houses have been restored, and not simply replaced by concrete boxes.
Above the small harbour here, on a rocky outcrop, sits the remains of an old fort (the Genoese grabbed Crete before being ejected by the Venetians), and by it a stone-built church (to the Ascension).
The shore front has many (larger and smaller) beaches, all tending to get predictably crowded: some have sand, some are pebbly. The waters are shallow and for that reason very safe for young children.
The main beach is a natural harbour, and there the locals moor their boats. Both this and the adjacent strand are fully organized with umbrellas, sunbeds, showers, numerous water-sports and a lifeguard.
In addition there are other beaches, more or less developed, that attract fewer people – a fact that makes them fitting for those having in mind some relaxation and calm.
10 km east of Panormos is Bali, another very touristy setting.
