Agia Marina Beach
A long resort beach west of Chania, with artificial coves that keep the water calm.
Sandy beaches · Platanias
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.
Platanias Beach
A long sandy beach in front of the liveliest resort west of Chania.
Sandy beaches · Platanias
Stalos Beach
A kilometre of fine sand west of Chania, easy and popular with families.
Sandy beaches · Platanias
Maleme Beach
A long, easy beach west of Chania with tavernas across the road.
Sandy beaches · Platanias
Kolymvari Beach
A long beach of sand and fine pebbles at the start of the Rodopos peninsula.
Pebble beaches · Platanias
Tavronitis Beach
A long pebbly beach by a farming village west of Chania, usually very quiet.
Secluded coves · Platanias
Hidden gem
Menies Beach
A small secluded beach at the tip of the Rodopos peninsula, near an ancient temple.
Secluded coves · Platanias