Lagoons · Kissamos
Balos Lagoon
Turquoise shallow lagoon at the tip of the Gramvousa peninsula, framed by pink-tinted sand.
Beaches
Lagoons, pink sand, secret coves
Crete has more than a thousand kilometres of coastline, and almost every type of beach you can imagine: shallow turquoise lagoons in the far west, pink-tinged sand at Elafonisi, palm-fringed river mouths on the south coast and tiny coves you reach on foot. As a rule of thumb, the north coast is easier to reach and well organised, while the south coast (the Libyan Sea) is wilder, quieter and often calmer when the summer meltemi wind blows from the north.
Sandy beaches · Kissamos
Elafonisi Beach
Famous pink-sand beach and wade-across islet on the south-west corner of Crete.
Sandy beaches · Kissamos
Falasarna Beach
Long, wide sandy beach on the west coast and Crete’s favourite sunset spot.
Sandy beaches · Agios Vasileios
Preveli Palm Beach
River-mouth beach with a palm forest, below the historic Preveli monastery.
Hidden gem
Secluded coves · Chania
Seitan Limania
A dramatic zig-zag cove squeezed between sheer cliffs on the Akrotiri peninsula.
Sandy beaches · Phaistos
Matala Beach & Caves
Sandy bay overlooked by cliffs honeycombed with ancient caves.
Sandy beaches · Hersonissos
Malia Beach
Long sandy beach with shallow water and the busiest nightlife strip on Crete behind it.
Sandy beaches · Sitia
Vai Palm Beach
Sandy beach backed by Europe’s largest natural forest of Cretan date palms.
Sandy beaches · Malevizi
Agia Pelagia Beach
A sheltered sandy bay with turquoise water and a lively little resort behind it.
Sandy beaches · Hersonissos
Hersonissos Beach
The busy town beach of Hersonissos, sand, sunbeds and a promenade full of cafes.
Sandy beaches · Heraklion
Ammoudara Beach
Heraklion's long town beach, kilometres of sand and shallow water with every facility.
Sandy beaches · Apokoronas
Georgioupoli Beach
A sandy beach of more than 10 km that starts at a pretty river village.
Sandy beaches · Sfakia
Frangokastello Beach
A wide sandy beach with shallow water right below a Venetian castle on the south coast.
Sandy beaches · Hersonissos
Stalida Beach
A long sandy beach between Hersonissos and Malia, a bit more relaxed and family friendly.
Sandy beaches · Platanias
Agia Marina Beach
A long resort beach west of Chania, with artificial coves that keep the water calm.
Hidden gem
Secluded coves · Agios Vasileios
Triopetra
Quiet south-coast beach named after three rocks rising from the sea.
Sandy beaches · Platanias
Platanias Beach
A long sandy beach in front of the liveliest resort west of Chania.
Sandy beaches · Rethymno
Rethymno Town Beach
The endless sandy beach that starts at the Venetian harbour of Rethymno.
Sandy beaches · Malevizi
Lygaria Beach
A narrow, sheltered sandy cove with calm warm water and green hills around it.
Hidden gem
Secluded coves · Phaistos
Red Beach (Kokkini Ammos)
A wild beach of reddish sand behind the cliffs of Matala, reached by a short hike.
Sandy beaches · Agios Vasileios
Plakias Beach
A 1.3 km sandy beach in a mountain framed bay on the south coast.
Hidden gem
Gorges & hikes · Phaistos
Agiofarago Gorge & Beach
Short gorge walk ending at a pebble beach, a chapel and a natural rock arch.
Sandy beaches · Hersonissos
Gouves Beach
A handful of sandy beaches along Kato Gouves, easy and popular with families.
Sandy beaches · Heraklion
Karteros Beach
The closest proper beach to Heraklion, with beach bars, sports courts and planes flying low overhead.