Lagoons · Kissamos
Balos Lagoon
Turquoise shallow lagoon at the tip of the Gramvousa peninsula, framed by pink-tinted sand.
At sea
Boat trips, diving, sunset cruises & watersports
Some of the best spots in Crete are easiest to reach by boat, and a few you can only reach by boat. You can join a big day cruise to Balos or Spinalonga, rent your own boat for a quiet day, go diving in clear water or just watch the sunset from the deck.
Book this experience
Where to do it
Sandy beaches · Kissamos
Elafonisi Beach
Famous pink-sand beach and wade-across islet on the south-west corner of Crete.
Forts & castles · Agios Nikolaos
Spinalonga Island
Venetian sea fortress that later became a leper colony until 1957.
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 · Kissamos
Imeri Gramvousa Beach
The sandy cove on Gramvousa island, below a Venetian fortress and next to a shipwreck.
Hidden gem
Secluded coves · Kissamos
Kedrodasos
Wild coves backed by an ancient juniper forest, a short way from Elafonisi.
Sandy beaches · Ierapetra
Chrissi Island
Cedar forest and white sand off Ierapetra.
Lakes, rivers & waterfalls · Apokoronas
Lake Kournas
The only natural freshwater lake in Crete.
Forts & castles · Kissamos
Gramvousa Castle
A Venetian castle above Balos.
Sandy beaches · Sfakia
Gavdos Island
Europe's southernmost island, wild and laid back.
Archaeological sites · Agios Nikolaos
Ancient Olous
A sunken city at Elounda.
Sandy beaches · Sitia
Koufonisi Island
An uninhabited island with dunes and Minoan traces.
Caves · Apokoronas
Elephant Cave
An underwater cave with elephant fossils.
Hidden gem
Sandy beaches · Agios Vasileios
Paximadia Islands
Two uninhabited islands off Agia Galini.
Hidden gem
Plateaus, forests & parks · Heraklion
Dia Island
A nature reserve island off Heraklion.
Diving & snorkelling · Rethymno
Atlantis Diving Center
- Dive centre in Rethymno
- info@atlantis-creta.com
- atlantis-creta.com
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Diving & snorkelling · Platanias
Fundive
- Dive centre in Platanias
- fundive.gr
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Boat & yacht rental · Hersonissos
Dolphin
- Armirolakou Str., 70007 Malia
- 09:00-19:00
- info@water-sports.gr
- water-sports.gr
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Boat & yacht rental · Kissamos
Kissamos Rent a boat
- Boat rental in Kissamos
- kissamosrentaboat.gr
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Boat & yacht rental · Phaistos
Rodanthi Rent Boat
- Boat rental in Phaistos
- rodanthirentboat.gr
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Boat & yacht rental · Apokoronas
almyrida rent a boat
- Αλμυρού-Ξηροστερνίου
- almyridarentaboat.gr
© OpenStreetMap contributors