Knossos Palace
The largest Bronze Age site on Crete and the ceremonial and political heart of Minoan civilisation.
Archaeological sites · Heraklion
Discover Crete
Elafonisi Beach
Famous pink-sand beach and wade-across islet on the south-west corner of Crete.
Sandy beaches · Kissamos
Falasarna Beach
Long, wide sandy beach on the west coast and Crete’s favourite sunset spot.
Sandy beaches · Kissamos
Matala Beach & Caves
Sandy bay overlooked by cliffs honeycombed with ancient caves.
Sandy beaches · Phaistos
Arkadi Monastery
Symbol of Cretan resistance and the 1866 revolt against Ottoman rule.
Churches & monasteries · Rethymno
Vai Palm Beach
Sandy beach backed by Europe’s largest natural forest of Cretan date palms.
Sandy beaches · Sitia
Agia Pelagia Beach
A sheltered sandy bay with turquoise water and a lively little resort behind it.
Sandy beaches · Malevizi
Hersonissos Beach
The busy town beach of Hersonissos, sand, sunbeds and a promenade full of cafes.
Sandy beaches · Hersonissos
Ammoudara Beach
Heraklion's long town beach, kilometres of sand and shallow water with every facility.
Sandy beaches · Heraklion
Georgioupoli Beach
A sandy beach of more than 10 km that starts at a pretty river village.
Sandy beaches · Apokoronas
Frangokastello Beach
A wide sandy beach with shallow water right below a Venetian castle on the south coast.
Sandy beaches · Sfakia
Stalida Beach
A long sandy beach between Hersonissos and Malia, a bit more relaxed and family friendly.
Sandy beaches · Hersonissos
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 · Platanias
Lygaria Beach
A narrow, sheltered sandy cove with calm warm water and green hills around it.
Sandy beaches · Malevizi
Gouves Beach
A handful of sandy beaches along Kato Gouves, easy and popular with families.
Sandy beaches · Hersonissos
Karteros Beach
The closest proper beach to Heraklion, with beach bars, sports courts and planes flying low overhead.
Sandy beaches · Heraklion
Agioi Apostoloi Beach
Two small sheltered coves on a green little peninsula just west of Chania town.
Sandy beaches · Chania
Elounda Beach
The Blue Flag beach of Elounda, with views of the Spinalonga lagoon.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Analipsi Beach
A family resort beach with free sunbeds, showers and steady wind for watersports.
Sandy beaches · Hersonissos
Paleochora Sandy Beach (Pachia Ammos)
The long sandy beach on the west side of Paleochora, loved by windsurfers.
Sandy beaches · Kantanos-Selino
Damnoni Beach
A gorgeous turquoise beach with golden sand in a green valley next to Plakias.
Sandy beaches · Agios Vasileios
Amnissos Beach
A one kilometre stretch of soft sand right next to the airport, calmer than you would expect.
Sandy beaches · Heraklion
Chrissi Akti (Golden Beach)
A golden sandy beach just 2.5 km from Chania town, with lifeguards and watersports.
Sandy beaches · Chania
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