Crete has over 1000 kilometers of coastline to offer, along which there are beaches with endless stretches of sand, beaches made up only of pebbles, organized beaches, deserted and pristine beaches, beaches for camping, diving, water sports and more. Try going to more than one before choosing your favourite, which could still prove a challenge.
Balos Lagoon
On the northwest coast of Cape Gramvousa, in a bay formed between the lesser capes of Tigani and Vouha, lies the sea-lagoon of Balos. A quiet beach, opposite the two Gramvousa islands (Wild and Tame), it features warm, turquoise waters and white sand. The sand is actually partly composed of minutely crushed sea-shells, which impart a pinkish hue to it. The water immediately off shore is shallow, but deepens elsewhere. This is clearly one of the highlights of any trip around Crete. It is a very popular spot for a good reason.
The area is wild with mountains dropping into the sea, islands creating a bay and a shallow lagoon to enjoy it all.
The sand is white and pink, the water is turquoise, the rock dark the sky is blue... this is a beautiful rainbow of colors!
The easiest option to get there is to take the boat from Kissamos, it first stops at Gramvousa island and then takes you to the Lagoon.
Matala
Located on the southern coast of Crete and part of the Heraklion prefecture, the village of Matala has an organized sandy beach with crystal clear deep water and cliffs featuring caves carved in the rock, which you can visit. These caves were once used as residences, most famously by the hippies in the 1960s and 70s. Every year in June, the three-day Matala Beach Festival takes place, attracting many visitors to the village.
Falassarna Beach
Falassarna Beach is a series of large sandy stretches that together run on for 3 km. The main beach of Pacheia Ammos (Deep Sands), one of the most popular in Crete, is made up of white sand and turquoise waters. It has sun-beds and umbrellas, facilities for water-sports and courts for beach-volleyball.
If you wish to avoid the crowds at Pacheia Ammos, you can seek out one of the other strands which are to be found nearby, both to the north and south. They are smaller, rather isolated and without facilities; some have pebbles, others sand: but all are ideal for chilling out.
Because of the strong winds that blow here, Falassarna is an ideal destination for wind surfing lovers.
Elafonissi & Kedrodasos
Elafonissi beach is one of the most emblematic of the island, and is featured on countless postcards. It can be found 80 km from Chania. Elafonissi is a small island, connected to the Cretan mainland by a shallow crossing of several hundred meters. The whole area, which is part of the NATURA 2000 programme, is characterized by pale sands, shallow and crystal-clear waters turquoise in colour, and small pink patches made up from crushed sea-shells.
South of Elafonissi is another area of wild and remarkable beauty: Kedrodasos, also part of the NATURA 2000. Access can be by car (up to a certain point) or on foot following the E4 walking-route from the beach of Elafonissi itself. Dunes of white sand and ancient cedars cover the vicinity. The main beach is sandy and also boasts crystal-clear turquoise waters. Along the coastal path from Elafonissi to Kedrodasos there are small deserted coves. Unlike Elafonisi, Kedrodasos is absolutely unspoilt and because of its isolation nudists like to come here.
Gialiskari Beach
Following the road east out of Paleochora, you will find a nice and secluded beach, Gialiskari. Actually Gialiskari
is a twin beach, one each side of a small spit of land projecting into the sea, but both equally charming and idyllic. The west side is made of small pebbles, the east has
pale sand. The water is clear and deep. The area is slightly developed, with a café-canteen and a few umbrellas and sun-beds. To the east grow plentiful tamarisks, which shed a
natural shadow and give relief from the hot suns of South Crete. Here nudism is tolerated, especially on the eastern side.
Preveli Palmbeach
Preveli Beach, with its iconic riverside palm-groves, is one of the most famous and beloved beaches in Crete. The forest of palms, covering some 10 acres, is the second largest of its sort in Crete and consists of an endemic species: the Theophrastus palm. A walk on the banks of the river or a pedalo ride through the palms and oleanders and into the gorge can be unforgettable experiences. Preveli beach is located at the mouth of the gorge, where the river Kourtaliotis ends in a delta. It has pale sands and a stony bottom to the crystalline water.
Triopetra & Agios Pavlos
Triopetra beach is sandy, pretty much unspoilt, featuring crystal-clear water and breathtaking sunsets. Its name means "Three Rocks" and refers to the impressive rocks that characterise its landscape.Next to Triopetra, you'll find the charming Agios Pavlos beach. The vast dunes
that enclose the beach are its chief attraction and they can attain up to 30 feet in height. The beach itself is sandy, with very clear water and a sea-bed that begs to be explored. In the middle of the beach there are some sea-worn caves.
Kommos Beach
Kommos is a single huge beach divided for convenience into two: the north part, called Potamos,
is one of the largest venues for nudism. It is secluded and without organization; no hotels and catering facilities exist
in the area as it has been classified as a protected archaeological zone. On every side there are tamarisks, carobs
and sand-dunes. The southern part, is by contrast very well-organized with umbrellas, sunbeds, showers and a
lifeguard. Both sections have sand, clear water and large smooth rocks in the sea. As other beaches, they are exposed to the west winds, which can create large waves.
Chrysi Island
Belegrina Beach on the uninhabited Chrysi Island is known as the "golden beach" due to the colour of its sand, which can also have white and pink shades. It is a pristine beach with crystalline turquoise waters, ideal for snorkeling. On Chrysi Island, there survives a large cedar forest of some 85 acres, with large and impressive specimens.
VoulismaAt a distance of 12 km south of Agios Nikolaos is the settlement of Istron. You will reach it as you pass along the main national road east from Agios Nikolaos towards Ierapetra or Siteia. Located here is Voulisma, a large beach with fine white sand and shallow, blue waters.
It is developed, with umbrellas, sunbeds, showers, water-sports and a lifeguard. It is a good location for young children, as the water deepens only gradually. By one end there is a canteen for food and drinks.
Vai Beach
Vai, with its palm forest and its lovely beach, attracts each year a huge number of visitors. The palm forest – the biggest on the island, with
some five thousand specimens of the Theophrastus palm – covers about 70 acres. The long beach has blue-green water, fine sand
and pebbles. It is very organized, featuring umbrellas, sunbeds, canteens and refreshments, as well as opportunities for water sports.
Platanias
In Platanias accommodation options, services, eateries and bars abound. numerous tavernas, restaurants and bars abound. Being one of the most cosmopolitan destination in Crete, here you will encounter every summer throngs of Greek and foreign tourists.
Platanias beach is sandy and extends for 3 km. Well-organized, it is suitable for all sorts of water-sports and has the usual umbrellas, sunbeds, lifeguards and beach bars.
Stavros
On the northwest flank of the Akrotiri peninsula is Stavros, a sheltered bay with sand and turquoise waters. It is organized with umbrellas, sunbeds, showers and a lifeguard, as well as some chances for water-sports. It was here that Michaili Kakoiannis
filmed ‘Zorba’, based on the book by Kazantzakis, winning three Oscars in 1964.
Georgioupolis
Georgioupolis is a seaside resort with a huge sandy beach some 12 km long. It has clear blue-green waters that drop away suddenly. Well-organized, the beach is supplied with umbrellas, sunbeds and showers with lots of options open for water-sports enthusiasts. Though there is a lifeguard here, you must also take care if you choose to swim as the sea hereabouts has strong currents.Nearby you'll find many shops, tavernas and cafeterias.
Agia Pelagia
Agia Pelagia is one of the most popular summer destinations in the Heraklion prefecture. It is 21 km from Heraklion and has a long beach of some 450m with fine sand. The water is crystalline, blue and almost always calm as the sea here is shut in within the bay that opens to the east, and so is protected from the northerly winds.
The beach is fully organized with sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, a lifeguard, water-sports .. and more. A diving school operates here too. The village doesn't lack tavernas, restaurants, cafeterias, bars , hotels of all grades, rentable rooms and apartments.
Potamos Beach is located in Malia, 37 km east of Heraklion. The city is a popular destination with a vibrant nightlife and several beaches, of which Potamos is one of the least crowded. It is named after a small river that flows there, forming a wetland of great importance. It is some 700 m long, with sand, blue crystalline waters and a few tamarisks around. If you go at the start of autumn, you will chance upon the white sea-lilies that grow in the sand: the heralds of autumn.
Potamos is well organized: you will find sunbeds, umbrellas, toilets, showers and plenty of water-sports opportunities.
Fragokastello Beach
Frangokastello beach is named after the Venetian fort that towers over its sandy dunes and shallow turquoise waters. It is located on a small plain southeast of the White Mountains to the south of Chania.
Organized, with umbrellas, sunbeds and showers, it gets crowded during high season. The gently shelving waters make it suitable for families with young children.
Makry Gialos Beach
The largest beach at Makry Gialos is that of the same name, which also used to be known locally as “Hani”. Most people just call it “big beach”, because it’s almost a kilometre long.
The beach, which lies in front of the village, has golden sand, very shallow water and a Blue Flag. It is an organised beach with loungers and umbrellas, and all along it are spread the restaurants and cafeterias of Makry Gialos. The beach is relatively sheltered from the wind, so you rarely see big waves and most of the watersports facilities are found here.
It is also worth noting that the main beach at Makry Gialos is the shallowest in Lassithi Prefecture, making it ideal for families with small children.
Myrtos beach
Myrtos beach is a very nice and relatively quiet pebble beach in front of the homonymous quiet seaside village on the southern coast of Crete near the borders with Heraklion prefecture. It is located 51 kilometers south of Agios Nikolaos, 90 kilometers southeast of Heraklion and 14.5 kilometers west of Ierapetra.
The beach due to the holiday resort has good tourist infrastructure. In the quiet village there are hotels and
rented rooms that offer a good solution for quiet family or solitary vacations within easy reach of the tourist resorts and attractions of the area. The food is abundant, especially the fresh fish, in the good fish taverns of the settlement.
Agia Fotia beach
The beach of Agia Fotia is located 13 kilometers east of Ierapetra, in Crete. It was awarded the Blue Flag in 2006. The village is named after the church of Agia Fotini located here. Agia Fotia
Beach has small pebbles and calm, clear waters. It is an organized beach with umbrellas, as well as a beach bar,
restaurant and tennis beach volley. Also, there are large trees for those who like to enjoy nature. Around the beach,
there are some other restaurants and some hotels. At the eastern end of the beach, there is a source rock that runs clean fresh water.
Almyros beach
Almiros beach and Almiros river (with a couple of bridges over it) lie a little bit south of Agios Nikolaos in a cove, close to the main road (about 2 kilometer distance from Agios Nikolaos). Almiros beach is a reasonably large but mostly commercial beach with sunbeds and umbrellas and it is a good option for people who want to be close the Agios Nikolaos yet still want to have a beach nearby (in Agios Nikolaos there is not really that much beach to speak of). There are luxury hotel rooms and apartments for rent, and you can find a couple of nice places to have a drink or have a bite to eat. Almiros beach is sandy and shallow and set in its cove it is protected from the winds, making it also suitable for families with small children. The river that runs into the sea here makes the water quite cold in some places. Next to the beach are the protected wetlands of Almiros, with several rare birds and also a few of the special palm trees that you find only here and in Vai Beach.
Location: Almyros beach, Agios Nikolaos,Crete. Arvi is a relatively unknown and quiet beach which is situated in the south of Crete. The distance to Heraklion is about 80 kilometers. The beach is accessible via the route Heraklion - Knossos - Spilia - Peza - Arkalohori - Anno Viannos - Amiras - Arvi. Also from the side of Keratokampos beach you drive to Arvi beach. The large beach of Arvi is just outside the village Arvi (in the village itself is a smaller village beach where in high season also parasols and sun bed can be hired). Here you will find amenities such as mini-markets, tavernas and accommodations. There is also a small fishing port in the village.
Arvi beach
Arvi is a relatively unknown and quiet beach which is situated in the south of Crete. The distance to Heraklion is about 80 kilometers. The beach is accessible via the route Heraklion - Knossos - Spilia - Peza - Arkalohori - Anno Viannos - Amiras - Arvi. Also from the side of Keratokampos beach you drive to Arvi beach. The large beach of Arvi is just outside the village Arvi (in the village itself is a smaller village beach where in high season also parasols and sun bed can be hired). Here you will find amenities such as mini-markets, tavernas and accommodations. There is also a small fishing port in the village.
The village lies in a valley that is surrounded by mountains.The beach itself is a nice sandy beach with coarse sand and a few pebbles, and you can quite easily get into the sea. We went into the water here without our bathing textiles. It is not a beach with a "wow factor" because it is so beautiful to see. A 5-minute walk from this beach brings you to another beach where it almost always is quiet. It's called Vahoudianos Xerokambos beach or Meakis beach and it is a sandy beach located in a protected bay.
Bali beach
Bali is sort of a quiet cluster of small villages, beaches and high rising rocks set off the mainroad between Heraklion (45 km) and Rethimnon (28 km). The village is situated at the head of a little bay, on the site of ancient Astale. Bali is set around three small coves. The first has a very small pebble beach with several tavernas and a luxury hotel. The original (and cosy) village is in the second cove where you will find most of the shops, hotels and tavernas, another beach and a harbour with some modern boats and some kaiks.
It's possible to rent a water bike (which cover about 30% of the space of the small beach there if no one wants to peddle) and explore the bay.
Chersonissos beach
Chersonissos in the north of Crete is perfect for those who find a simple beach holiday too boring. Some sections of the beach are located in the centre of the village, surrounded by trendy bars, various restaurants and souvenir shops. You can choose between small, but lively beach sections with good music and a large beach section with water sports and a little more peace and quiet. In the evening, the lively town centre with its various shops invites you to browse and the quiet beach promenade comes to life. Local and international specialities await hungry guests in numerous taverns. Afterwards you can enjoy the evening with a few drinks and let it end in one of the many clubs. In any case, you won't get bored in Chersonissos!
The island of Gramvousa
Gramvousa island is a tourist's attraction due to the existence of a Venetian fortress built (in the shape of an isosceles triangle) on the highest part of the island.Granvousa's fortress has its own long history. It began to be built around 1584 by the Venetians, in the context of a general fortress construction program in Crete, to face the looming expansion of the Turks in the area of Crete and the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The ferry that will take you there leaves in the morning and sails close to the coastline giving you the opportunity to take a good look at the landscape and the phenomenon of land elevation by six to nine meters above sea level (you can see the difference in the colour of the rocks - the west of Crete has been rising out of the sea while the east has been sinking for the last 2000 years).
Seitan limania
Located in Seitan Ports, on the northeast side of the Akrotiri peninsula in western Crete, 20 kilometers from the city of Chania, there is a beach different from all others.Strips of sea penetrate between the steep rocky shores of Akrotiri creating small bays. One of them is the well-hidden beach.The location is known as Seitan Ports. The word Seitan is Turkish, apparently left over from the Turkish occupation of Crete, and translated as diabolical. Therefore, the Seattle Harbors are translated as Devils.However, the beach in Seattle Ports looks more paradise than diabolical.To get to Seitan Port you will follow the road going to Chania Airport. Turn left at the airport and continue on to the village of Hordaki. At the entrance of the village you turn right and before the road goes up to the top of Mount Skloka, continue right again to the church of Agios Raphael.Following
the chapel of Saint Raphael, the road continues downhill with successive hairpins and will lead you over the beach, where you will park.
Triopetra
Triopetra is rarely listed as one of the best beaches in Crete, probably because it is a pebble beach, without many facilities. But the rock
formation at the end is really worth a detour. The name of the beach means 3 rocks. Their structure is fascinating as it looks like sheets of rocks stacked on top of each others.
