Crete is the largest island in Greece, with the Sea of Crete to the north and the Libyan Sea to the south. The island has over 1000 km of coastline and hosts some of the most famous beaches in Europe. With such an abundance of sunshine, and warm temperatures, many people visit Crete to experience the stunning beaches. Due to the environment, Crete also hosts different kind of beaches. There are sandy, calm bays perfect for families with small children, there are pebbly beaches with deep azure waters for those who want to snorkel and swim and there are some long beaches with waves which is the adventurers paradise for surfing, windsurfing and water-sports. We have gathered together our favourite beaches in Crete.
The crystal clear waters of Elafonisi Beach, also known as Ελαφόνησος , This perfect beach and islet are at the far southwest coast of Crete. The clear, turquoise waters have beckoned travellers for centuries, but thankfully this area has a restricted development order in place. This natural, near pristine beach, with its pure white sandbars […]
Elafonissi The crystal clear waters of Elafonisi Beach, also known as Ελαφόνησος. This perfect beach and islet are at the far southwest coast of Crete. The clear, turquoise waters have beckoned travellers for centuries, but thankfully this area has a restricted development order in place. This natural, near pristine beach, with its pure white sandbars […]
Vai beach is on the eastern side of Crete, 25km east of Sitia. It is most famous for its palm tree lined beach. The name of the area, Vai, comes from vayia, the Greek word for palms. The palms are Cretan date palms and it’s the largest date grove in Europe, with nearly 5000 palms and […]
Matala is on the south coast of Crete, located 65km southwest of Heraklion. It is most famous for its stunning, carved out caves and the hippies of the 1970s. There is a beautiful beach with a mix of sand and fine pebbles. The water is crystal clear and perfect for swimming or snorkeling. Located up […]
Loutraki is located 16km east of the city of Chania on the Akrotiri peninsula, and only a 10-minute drive to the international airport of Chania. Loutraki is close to Marathi and both beaches can be become a popular destination in the summer months. The beach has fine sand and a small protected bay, making it […]
Stavros is located on the Akrotiri Peninsula, 16km from Chania and only a short drive from Chania airport. It has a sheltered bay with a lovely backdrop of a mountain ‘Vardies’ which was featured in the film ‘Zorba the Greek’. Stravos was once a small fishing village, but now hosts a variety of small hotels […]
Ombrosgialos, also known as Octopus Bay with the locals, is a stunning, turquoise bay. It is located on the east coast of Drapanokefala, near the villages of Kefalas and Drapanos. It has rocky areas with deep, aquamarine water. There is a flat concrete platform in which you can enter the deep water which is fantastic […]
Koutalas Bay is a hidden gem, located only 5km from the fishing village of Almyrida. It is a small cove, with steep cliffs each side and a pebbly beach. There is a small pergola created by locals, which provides shade in the heat of the day. The cove has crystal clear water and is perfect […]
The sandy and large beach of Falassarna is one of the few beaches in Crete facing West and you can see perfect sunsets from here. Falassarna actually consists of 5 beaches located at the western base of Gramvousa peninsula. However the 2 central ones are the most populated. Due to the size of the beach […]
Balos lagoon is one of Crete’s most famous beaches with its turquoise waters and expansive views, it ranks in the top beaches of Europe and the world. It’s located 56km of the city of Chania and northwest of Kissamos. The lagoon lies between the Cape Gramvousa and Cape Tigani. Standing above the beach on the […]
Seitan Limania is a well-hidden corner of the northeast side of the Akrotiri peninsula. Located 22km northeast of the city of Chania and only a short drive from the airport, there you will find a beach that differs from many other beaches. Nature created three inlets between the steep cliffs of the peninsula. In one […]
A tiny hamlet hidden between the two beach resorts Kalyves and Almyrida. There is a small pebble cove, from where you can see the island of Karga, which is a natural reserve for many bird species. There is also the 19 century architecture of the temple of the Virgin Mary, built on the site of […]