Treis Ekklisies Beach
A remote fishing village beach below the Asterousia mountains, deep clear water for snorkelling.
Secluded coves · Archanes-Asterousia
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.
Hidden gem
Maridaki Beach
A pebble beach where two gorges meet the sea, so the water stays cool all summer.
Secluded coves · Archanes-Asterousia
Hidden gem
Agios Antonios Beach
A rocky cove with green water and a cave chapel, also called Prasina Nera.
Secluded coves · Archanes-Asterousia
Hidden gem
Agios Nikitas Beach
A wild pebble beach below a 17th century monastery on the Asterousia coast.
Secluded coves · Archanes-Asterousia
Hidden gem
Elygia Beach
A small hidden cove on the way to Koudoumas monastery, deep sapphire water and hermit caves.
Secluded coves · Archanes-Asterousia
Hidden gem
Voidomatis Beach
A wild beach at the exit of the Mesosfini gorge, with a huge underwater cave called the Ox's Eye.
Secluded coves · Archanes-Asterousia
Hidden gem
Koudoumas Beach
A pebble beach below a monastery in the Asterousia.
Sandy beaches · Archanes-Asterousia