If you’re coming to Crete, we would be highly surprised if you didn’t intend to hit up one of its incredible beaches. Today, we’ve prepared a guide for you on the best beaches Crete has to offer. If you’re not sure what to include in your itinerary, this is the place for you!
Elafonisi
The prettiest beach in Crete?
Elafonisi is famous for its pink-white sand. The colour comes from little microorganisms which deposit in the sand – sadly, as with all things beautiful, tourists stole much of it and the Greek authorities had to make it a protected nature reserve. As a result of the theft, the pinkness of the sand is much less vivid than it was a century earlier.
Still, tourism-rant aside, it’s a lovely beach even without the pink sand. You’ll find equipment rentals and a small restaurant on site, as well as a car park next to the beach. The beach is a couple of hours away from Chania, so a car is pretty much the main way to get here. It can get very windy here, so check the forecast beforehand to avoid getting swept up.
Falassarna Beach
A beautiful beach in Crete
This is a simple, beautiful long beach close to Kissamos. The soft sands and the safe descent make it perfect for families. There are also changing rooms, equipment rentals and restaurants next to it. It’s also a great place for windsurfers thanks to the strong winds.
Balos Lagoon
The most popular beach in Crete?
If you’ve seen anything from Crete, it was likely the Balos Lagoon. You can either get to it by a walk from the car park (about 25 minutes) or by boat. You won’t find many restaurants or rentals here – it’s more of an unhidden hidden beach. As such, bring all the stuff you’ll need with you, alongside water and sunscreen (!).
Frangokastello Beach
A beach on the south coast of Crete
This is quite an interesting beach, as it has a cute little Venetian castle slapped right next to it. Frangokastello is located on the southern coast of Cret, so you can splash around in the warm waters of the Libyan Sea. There’s an equipment rental with a bar right next to the beach. Car park is right on site too.
Preveli Beach
Beach at the mouth of the river
This is an actual hidden beach, protected from civilization by the steep descent along a rocky path. It’s located in a canyon with a small monastery and the mouth of the Kissano Faraggi River. It’s a very charming and quiet place. There’s a car park on the cliff and the bare-minimum infrastructure that you may need.
Seitan Limania
Azure water!
This is a very, very tiny beach, so choose your time wisely to find a spot. It’s beautiful, though, surrounded by massive grey cliffs. There’s a car park next to it and.. no, that’s it actually. No real equipment or services here.
Glyka Nera
Another hidden peaceful beach in Crete
This is probably the most secluded of the secluded beaches on our list. It’s unique both for its magnificent location and for its cute little tavern floating on the water. You can reach it by a 30-minute walk or by boat from Hora Sfakion. Due to the fresh water running down the cliffs, it’s sometimes referred to as the Sweet Water Beach. The closest you can park is the street near Lingas Beach. Be aware that the eastern part of the beach is nudist-friendly, so it may not be the best beach for your kids.
Voulisma Beach
Quiet beach
The Voulisma Beach is wide, long and beautiful. You can find some basic equipment rentals and a restaurant above the beach, next to the car park. You can get there by public transport or by car. It can also work as a great starting point for exploring some great beaches on the Mirabello Bay.
Vai Beach
A beach with palm trees in Crete
The Vai Beach is located in the easternmost area of Crete. Why are we including it on our list? Because, right next to it, lies one of the largest groves of palm trees! You can even lounge right under one of them! It’s, as you would imagine, quite a popular beach, so beware that you may struggle to find a spot. There are equipment rentals, a car park and a restaurant on site.
Plakias Beach
The beach by the town of Plakias
Plakias is a very, very long beach located in a cliff-surrounded bay. There’s plenty of infrastructure, rentals and restaurants on site. It’s a good place for families with children. We recommend the southern end of it, as it’s a bit more hidden and less crowded on average.
Matala Beach
A sandy beach in Crete
Another beach hidden in a little canyon. You’ll find a small car park and some restaurants nearby. It’s located right next to the town centre, so you don’t have to worry about transport. At the end of the beach, you’ll find unique caves overlooking the Libyan Sea – these were once a common meeting spot for hippies. A bonus of coming to see this beach is that the road here from Heraklion is dotted with beautiful views, so it’s also a great exploratory trip.
Ammoudara Beach
Beach in Heraklion
This beach is located right in the centre of Heraklion. It’s quite large and has great golden sand. You can rent equipment here, both for lounging and for water sports of all kinds. There’s plenty of car parks and restaurants around it. As you would imagine, it’s very well equipped.
Lake Kournas
A lake in Crete
Finally, one special mention at the end – a freshwater lake. Yes, Crete has its own lake, and quite a large one at that (with a perimeter of about 2 miles). You can sunbathe on its shores or rent a pedal boat. Lake Kournas is near the village of Kournas, on the route between Chania and Heraklion. The views here are incredible, so stop for a moment while en route.
Map of the best beaches in Crete
Where to find all these?
1) Balos Lagoon
2) Elafonisi
3) Falassarna
4) Frangokastello
5) Preveli
6) Seitan Limania
7) Plakias
8) Glyka Nera
9) Voulisma
10) Vai
11) Matala
12) Ammoudara
13) Kournas
Nudist beaches in Crete
Can you sunbathe naked in Crete?
We’ve already mentioned one nudist beach in Crete – and there are many more. It’s perfectly normal to sunbathe topless on many of the popular beaches on the island. If you want a dedicated nudist beach, one where you won’t have to question whether it’s okay, we recommend:
- Vritomartis Beach
- Kedrodasos Beach
- Damnoni Beach
- Malata Beach
- Sarandaris Coves
What to keep in mind in Crete?
Tips for beachgoers
- Crete is a very windy island – remember to check the weather before heading to the beach
- It’s also very, very hot in the summer – remember to bring water, sunscreen and, preferably, a hat. Not all beaches have equipment shops
- Though Crete is a safe place, don’t forget to hide your valuables before heading out into the water
- Over a hundred beaches in Crete have the Blue Flag status, so you can expect exceptionally clean beaches there
- In Greece, it’s not a great idea to ponder around the streets in your beach clothing, spare people the sight
- If you want to visit many beaches in Crete, a car is quite a necessity
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