Makrigialos Beach
A long sandy beach with shallow water in a popular south east resort village.
Sandy beaches · Ierapetra
Beaches & coast
Beaches, coves, lagoons and islands
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.
Myrtos Beach
A laid back village beach on the south coast, sheltered from the north wind.
Secluded coves · Ierapetra
Koutsounari Beach
A 5 km long pebble and sand beach east of Ierapetra that never feels crowded.
Pebble beaches · Ierapetra
Agia Fotia Beach
A small bay with tamarisks and pines where a mountain stream meets the Libyan Sea.
Secluded coves · Ierapetra
Pachia Ammos Beach
A long village beach on the Mirabello gulf, between Agios Nikolaos and Ierapetra.
Pebble beaches · Ierapetra
Agios Andreas Beach
The longest beach of Ierapetra, about 4 km of sand and pebbles.
Sandy beaches · Ierapetra
Achlia Beach
A small green cove with soft white sand east of Ierapetra.
Sandy beaches · Ierapetra
Lagoufa Beach
A long sandy beach near Makrigialos harbour, calm and family friendly.
Sandy beaches · Ierapetra
Chrissi Island
Cedar forest and white sand off Ierapetra.
Sandy beaches · Ierapetra
Hidden gem
Tholos Beach
A big quiet bay of pebbles north of Kavousi.
Secluded coves · Ierapetra
Diaskari Beach
A long, quieter beach 3 km east of Makrigialos.
Sandy beaches · Ierapetra
Limanaki Beach
A calm sandy beach next to Makrigialos with shallow blue water.
Sandy beaches · Ierapetra
Mavros Kolymbos Beach
A pebble beach with azure water and a rocky bottom for snorkelling, east of Ierapetra.
Pebble beaches · Ierapetra
Hidden gem
Tis Grias to Pidima Beach
The Old Woman's Jump, a hidden cove below high rocks near Achlia.
Secluded coves · Ierapetra
Hidden gem
Agriomandra Beach
A quiet escape with turquoise water near Kavousi.
Secluded coves · Ierapetra
Hidden gem
Peristeras Beach
A secluded sandy beach framed by cliffs east of Ierapetra, nudist friendly.
Secluded coves · Ierapetra
Kalamokanias Beach
A quiet beach of dark sand next to Makrigialos, mostly used by locals.
Sandy beaches · Ierapetra
Hidden gem
Livadi Beach
The biggest of the coves at Ferma, with pebbles and crystal clear water.
Secluded coves · Ierapetra
Hidden gem
Maheridi Beach
Three remote coves between Achlia and Koutsouras, known for their seabed.
Secluded coves · Ierapetra
Gra Ligia Beach
A village beach 5 km west of Ierapetra among the greenhouses.
Sandy beaches · Ierapetra
Hidden gem
Kalikovrechtis Beach
A secluded grey pebble beach 3 km east of Myrtos.
Secluded coves · Ierapetra
Koutsouras Beach
A calm pebble beach below pine-covered mountains.
Sandy beaches · Ierapetra