Matala Beach & Caves
Sandy bay overlooked by cliffs honeycombed with ancient caves.
Sandstrände · Phaistos
Sandstrände
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.
Malia Beach
Long sandy beach with shallow water and the busiest nightlife strip on Crete behind it.
Sandstrände · Chersonissos
Agia Pelagia Beach
A sheltered sandy bay with turquoise water and a lively little resort behind it.
Sandstrände · Malevizi
Hersonissos Beach
The busy town beach of Hersonissos, sand, sunbeds and a promenade full of cafes.
Sandstrände · Chersonissos
Ammoudara Beach
Heraklion's long town beach, kilometres of sand and shallow water with every facility.
Sandstrände · Heraklion
Stalida Beach
A long sandy beach between Hersonissos and Malia, a bit more relaxed and family friendly.
Sandstrände · Chersonissos
Lygaria Beach
A narrow, sheltered sandy cove with calm warm water and green hills around it.
Sandstrände · Malevizi
Gouves Beach
A handful of sandy beaches along Kato Gouves, easy and popular with families.
Sandstrände · Chersonissos
Karteros Beach
The closest proper beach to Heraklion, with beach bars, sports courts and planes flying low overhead.
Sandstrände · Heraklion
Analipsi Beach
A family resort beach with free sunbeds, showers and steady wind for watersports.
Sandstrände · Chersonissos
Amnissos Beach
A one kilometre stretch of soft sand right next to the airport, calmer than you would expect.
Sandstrände · Heraklion
Geheimtipp
Komos Beach
Two kilometres of golden sand and dunes next to an ancient Minoan harbour.
Sandstrände · Phaistos
Fodele Beach
A pretty bay of white sand and pebbles below the village where El Greco was born.
Sandstrände · Malevizi
Kokkini Hani Beach
A string of small sandy beaches with lifeguards and shallow, light blue water.
Sandstrände · Chersonissos
Anissaras Beach
Small sandy beaches in front of big resorts, with a rocky seabed that is good for snorkelling.
Sandstrände · Chersonissos
Potamos Beach
Long golden beach at Malia with tamarisk shade, much calmer than the main strip.
Sandstrände · Chersonissos
Kalamaki Beach
A 2.5 km sandy beach on the Messara bay with simple rooms and seaside tavernas.
Sandstrände · Phaistos
Limanakia Coves
A chain of little coves between Cape Sarantari and Hersonissos, from busy to almost secret.
Sandstrände · Chersonissos
Tobrouk Beach
The eastern end of the long Karteros beach, close to town with beach bars and soft sand.
Sandstrände · Heraklion
Kokkinos Pyrgos Beach
A sandy Messara beach with shallow water where loggerhead turtles come to nest.
Sandstrände · Phaistos
Arvi Beach
A long beach of pebbles and sand next to Arvi harbour, with banana groves around the village.
Sandstrände · Viannos
Kali Limenes Beach
The beach of the Fair Havens, where tradition says Saint Paul's ship stopped on the way to Rome.
Sandstrände · Phaistos
Tymbaki Beach
Wide open beach on the Messara bay, popular with windsurfers when the wind picks up.
Sandstrände · Phaistos
Messara Bay Beaches
The long arc of sandy beaches along the Messara bay, from Kokkinos Pyrgos to Matala.
Sandstrände · Phaistos