12 best beaches of Crete – list, photo, description, map
The name “Crete” alone evokes exciting feelings in the soul, vivid ideas about this legendary island, fanned by many stories from ancient Greek myths and real legends from the past of Hellas. Now Crete is a favorite place for a beach holiday, which successfully combines sea pleasures with interesting excursions to amazing sights. On the coast of 3 seas (Ionian, Aegean or Cretan and Libyan) are the best beaches of Crete.
Balos
One of the most romantic and unusual beaches of Crete – Balos is located in a unique place on the island, where the waters of 3 seas merge without mixing, forming a kaleidoscope of shades of blue on the surface. Splashing in a cozy bay with crystal clear water is an undoubted pleasure for children and adults. A walk along the pirate island of Gramvousa, where wild rabbits literally jump out from under your feet, creates an indescribable feeling of original originality. This feeling is enhanced when you climb to the top of the island, where the ruins of an ancient Venetian fortress (130 m above sea level) are located.
In May, incredibly beautiful endemic plants bloom here, and in summer the island becomes deserted. From a height, a stunning picture of the color overflows of sea water opens up – from dark blue to pale turquoise shades. This spectacle fascinates with its magical and mysterious beauty. But it is impossible to get to the unique beach by land, you can only sail by sea on a pleasure boat. Hours spent in an amazing corner of the Mediterranean, a real natural miracle, will be remembered for a lifetime!
Elafonis
An incredibly beautiful virgin stretch of the Mediterranean coast, almost untouched by infrastructure civilization – Elafonisi beach is located in the southwest of Chania. The name “Elafonisi” in Greek means “deer island“, about which there is still no unambiguous interpretation. The natural uniqueness of this place is so great that the construction of hotels is prohibited here in order to preserve the environment.
Despite this, the beach is very popular with tourists, so sunbeds and umbrellas are installed here, and parking is equipped. They are attracted here by the shallow depth of the sea, the opportunity to swim even in stormy weather and the bewitching beauty of the surrounding landscapes of the nature reserve. Unusually pink sand, formed from corals and shells, turned into powder, aquamarine water, exotic flowers in the complex create a uniquely beautiful picture.
Yes
One of the most popular beaches of Crete – Palm Beach – was not accidentally chosen as the location for filming the first advertisement for the Bounty chocolate bar – here, indeed, a real tropical paradise, rest on which is a heavenly delight. There are many legends about the origin of date palms, which occupy 200 hectares, which makes this place even more popular. Today, the sandy beach strip is equipped with the necessary infrastructure: sun loungers, toilets, cafes. Palm – the beach of daytime visits – there is nowhere to spend the night here. People come here by car, for which parking is equipped.
The time spent against the backdrop of incredibly beautiful views will probably be the most romantic episode of your stay in Crete. The azure sea, white sand, low caps of the surrounding mountains, exotic crown-tents of date palms create a tropical landscape worthy of admiration. Convenient entry into the crystal clear water of the sea, the ability to choose a place for sunbathing (in the shade of palm trees or in the sun), a light breeze, generous sun – excellent conditions for beach pleasure.
Translated
For those who like to relax against the backdrop of virgin nature, Preveli Beach (Finikas), located in the south of the island, 2 km from the ancient monastery of the same name, is very suitable. Sand and pebble coastal strip, surrounded on one side by rocks with light forest, on the other – by a palm forest growing along the banks of the river. Kourtaliotis, sheltered from the winds. It is always cozy and comfortable here, but you need to go down the stairs. Despite the fire in 2010, date palms begin to grow actively, restoring the floristic framing of the beach. There are no changing rooms, sunbeds and umbrellas on it, but this does not lose the charm of a truly unique place.
Against the backdrop of amazing landscapes, you can spend wonderful minutes and hours of complete unity with divine nature, enjoy swimming in the warm sea, the velvet touches of sand, and feel the special atmosphere of Greece. After salty sea “baths” you can splash in the fresh water of the river, relax in the shade of palm trees and return with a baggage of pleasant experiences. Excursion boats with tourists moor here, many come by car, despite the rather difficult path through the mountainous terrain.
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Georgioupolis
In the north of Crete there is a historical province named after Prince George of Greece, who constantly came here to hunt. He was attracted by the virgin forests that covered the sloping mountain peaks and abounded in various fauna; rivers rich in fish, azure sea distances. The past century has not adversely affected the ecology of these authentic places, and the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities attracts many tourists here.
Near the small fishing town of Georgioupolis, one of the longest beaches (10 km) of Crete is located. There are excellent conditions for swimming here: a smooth, even bottom, a mixture of warm currents, a quiet cozy harbor without big waves. Eucalyptus thickets saturate the air with phytoncides, creating a healing microclimate. Fishing enthusiasts have a place to sit with a fishing rod – local rivers are generously endowed with fish. Pleasant impressions remain from hiking in the picturesque surroundings, horseback riding and, in general, from the whole stay in a blessed corner of the island.
red beach
One of the most exotic and unusual beaches – Red (Red beach) is located half a kilometer from the village of Matala. This amazing corner of red sand among the rocky shores was discovered by hippies who promoted merging with the wild in the 60s of the last century. Despite the rather difficult way to get to it along the “goat trails”, Red Beach is very popular with tourists. Traveling through a mountain pass adds adventure romance and physical training.
Tourists are attracted by the unique beauty of the surrounding landscapes: terracotta-red sand, yellow and gray rocks with green caps of bushes, turquoise-aquamarine sea, white foam lace of the surf create a truly magical picture. The beach strip is equipped with the necessary infrastructure – there are sun loungers, umbrellas, a snack bar, a dressing room. Probably, because the place is quite secluded, nudists also prefer to sunbathe here.
Matala
It is hardly possible to find a more famous place in Crete than the beach of Matala, located in the vicinity of Heraklion. In the 70s, hippies from all over the world lived here in rocky caves, feature films were shot (“My Aunt Hipissa”). A 300-meter strip of fine gravel is located at the base of a voluminous bay, fenced on 2 sides by rocky spurs. Clear water, the absence of big waves (they happen only with a westerly wind), bizarre heaps of rocks, many caves and grottoes make these places very attractive for a romantic getaway.
Given the huge interest of tourists, a good infrastructure was created here, equipping the beach with sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, toilets, and volleyball courts. Around open bars, rental equipment for water sports, sightseeing boats, there is a rescue service, beach volleyball competitions are held. You can also hide from the sun under the lush crowns of trees growing right on the beach strip, so staying among such exotics will not seem tiring. There are no problems with accommodation and food – no one will be left homeless and hungry.
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Plakias
Those who want to forget the city noise for a while, take a break from the hustle and bustle, unrest, hard work, the beaches of Plakias, a small charming village located directly by the sea, are perfect for that. Around low mountains, overgrown with small forests, pebble beaches on the shores of the bay, endless sea surface with white lambs of waves. The calm, peaceful atmosphere attracts mainly the elderly, for whom this is a real paradise. In cozy taverns, picturesquely decorated by the owners with bright exotic flora, tourists are met with extraordinary cordiality, delicious Greek dishes and inexpensive prices.
There is a good hotel here, but you can rent a cheap apartment a few steps from the beaches. It is especially comfortable to swim in calm weather when there is calm. Extreme lovers can splash among the waves when there is a wind. All parts of the beach are equipped with wooden flooring (leg protection from pebbles), sun loungers, large umbrellas. In some places, cafe tables and chairs for romantic breakfasts are right at the water's edge. Ten meters from the beaches stretches a cozy walking path for the promenade.
Frangocastello
Frangokastello, one of the ten cleanest beaches in Crete, is located next to a small village of the same name, which has everything you need for tourists: hotels, taverns, shops. Near the beach is the main ancient attraction – the ancient Venetian fortress, which gave the name to the beach and the village. Crystal clearness of the warm Libyan Sea, golden sand, turning into gray; gently sloping shores, convenient entry into the water, a flat bottom have gained popularity among beach lovers.
There are almost never waves here, except in August, when a strong wind blows for several days. The coastal strip is quite well landscaped: there are showers, sunbeds, umbrellas (for rent). You can get to Frangokastello by bus from Chania with a change in Sfakion by taxi or by your own or rented car.
Platanyas
The tourist village of Platanias, next to which is the beach of the same name, is surrounded not only by picturesque nature, but also by legendary historical sites. Opposite the beach is the island of St. Theodore with the ruins of an ancient fortress and protected kri-kri goats that live here. Boats with tourists come here every day, interesting excursions are held. Diving enthusiasts scuba dive and amateur photographers find plenty of stunning shots to take.
A spacious, highly civilized beach (length – 4 km) has a sandy, and in some places pebble coating and a highly developed infrastructure that provides water sports and all kinds of entertainment. Riding on scooters, “bananas”, pleasure boats is available to everyone. Prepared tourists can go parasailing, snorkeling, diving. Platanias beach (according to legend, named because of the plane trees growing here) has been repeatedly awarded the “blue flag”.
Stavros
In the northern part of Crete, not far from the city of Chania, there is Cape Akrotiri, famous for its two wonderful beaches, outlandish mountain landscapes and the unusually turquoise color of the sea. Until the mid 60s of the 20th century. there was only a fishing village, but when the local high mountain became the subject of a feature film, these places gained extraordinary popularity. Now the former village of Stavros has turned into a tourist mecca with modern infrastructure that provides tourists with top-notch recreation. The central white sand beach is located on the shores of a quiet lagoon, protected from the winds by a mountain.
The turquoise expanse of water with a shallow bottom is a great place for children to swim safely, the maximum equipment of the beach allows you to enjoy beach pleasures carefree. The second sandy-rocky beach is chosen by those who like to splash in the waves: it is open to the winds, less civilized. But you can also have a great time on it, especially in calm. Buses from Chania often run here. In Stavros, you can easily rent a house, stay in a hotel. Many taverns offer delicious menus at reasonable prices.
Anissaras
In the suburbs of Hersonissos, in an extraordinarily beautiful region of the Aegean coast, there is a fashionable resort of Anissaras, with many hotels, clear sea and magnificent beaches. This place is designed for a quiet, peaceful holiday with the whole family. There are no noisy nightclubs, bars and other entertainment facilities, but the pebble and sandy beaches are simply excellent.
Impeccable cleanliness and well-groomed, excellent equipment, conditions for a variety of water activities attract many tourists here, including divers, lovers of underwater depths, water skiing. Almost everywhere there is a rocky bottom of rocky deposits, without sharp stones that injure the legs – swimming is quite comfortable. Staying in Anissaras is heavenly beach bliss.
Unfortunately, the most beautiful beaches of Crete are often far from major resorts, where you need to go by car along mountain serpentines. Therefore, for families with children, it is better to choose easily accessible places to which you can sail by sea, for example. Balos Bay with its beauties is quite suitable for teenagers. With kids it is best to relax on the beaches at the hotels. A good option is Gournes (between Kokkini Hani and Gouves) with a sandy strip without stones, a shallow sea near the coast, a smooth entry into the water. Instead of a deck chair, you can buy an inexpensive mat at a nearby shop. Nearby is a mini-ocenarium.
Star Beach (Hersonissos) is ideal for children: lots of entertainment, a water park, 3 equipped beaches, inexpensive hotels. Almiros Beach (Agios Nikolaos) – a cozy beach strip is protected from the highway by a hedgerow. The calm expanse of the Mediterranean Sea with amazing shades of blue, comfortable equipment, a lot of entertainment make it possible to actively relax and improve your health.
Although the holiday season opens here in mid-April, no one dares to swim at this time because of the low water temperature. Only at the end of May – at the beginning of June the sea warms up to 21 ° -23 ° heat, the sun does not burn – it is good to relax at this time. The weather is hot all summer months on the island – heat lovers can choose any summer month. In August, strong winds blow in some places, raising high waves.
The most comfortable period for relaxing on the beach is the velvet season (second half of September – October), when the sun no longer bakes mercilessly, and the water is still warm. Prices in hotels and private housing are significantly reduced, there is a massive harvest of fruits, grapes, melons, figs (you can eat to satiety).