Sandy beaches · Kissamos
Elafonisi Beach
Famous pink-sand beach and wade-across islet on the south-west corner of Crete.
Sandy beaches
Long, easy beaches with soft sand
Long sandy beaches are the easiest choice for families and lazy days: gentle entry into the sea, space to spread out and usually a taverna or beach bar nearby.
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.
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.
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.
Sandy beaches · Agios Vasileios
Plakias Beach
A 1.3 km sandy beach in a mountain framed bay on the south coast.
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.
Sandy beaches · Chania
Agioi Apostoloi Beach
Two small sheltered coves on a green little peninsula just west of Chania town.
Sandy beaches · Kissamos
Imeri Gramvousa Beach
The sandy cove on Gramvousa island, below a Venetian fortress and next to a shipwreck.
Sandy beaches · Mylopotamos
Bali Beach
A picturesque village with five little coves of turquoise water between Rethymno and Heraklion.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Elounda Beach
The Blue Flag beach of Elounda, with views of the Spinalonga lagoon.
Sandy beaches · Hersonissos
Analipsi Beach
A family resort beach with free sunbeds, showers and steady wind for watersports.