Μάταλα
Sandy bay overlooked by cliffs honeycombed with ancient caves.
Αμμουδιές · Φαιστός
Αμμουδιές
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.
Παραλία Μαλίων
Long sandy beach with shallow water and the busiest nightlife strip on Crete behind it.
Αμμουδιές · Χερσόνησος
Αγία Πελαγία
A sheltered sandy bay with turquoise water and a lively little resort behind it.
Αμμουδιές · Μαλεβίζι
Παραλία Χερσονήσου
The busy town beach of Hersonissos, sand, sunbeds and a promenade full of cafes.
Αμμουδιές · Χερσόνησος
Αμμουδάρα
Heraklion's long town beach, kilometres of sand and shallow water with every facility.
Αμμουδιές · Ηράκλειο
Σταλίδα
A long sandy beach between Hersonissos and Malia, a bit more relaxed and family friendly.
Αμμουδιές · Χερσόνησος
Λυγαριά
A narrow, sheltered sandy cove with calm warm water and green hills around it.
Αμμουδιές · Μαλεβίζι
Παραλία Γουβών
A handful of sandy beaches along Kato Gouves, easy and popular with families.
Αμμουδιές · Χερσόνησος
Καρτερός
The closest proper beach to Heraklion, with beach bars, sports courts and planes flying low overhead.
Αμμουδιές · Ηράκλειο
Ανάληψη
A family resort beach with free sunbeds, showers and steady wind for watersports.
Αμμουδιές · Χερσόνησος
Αμνισός
A one kilometre stretch of soft sand right next to the airport, calmer than you would expect.
Αμμουδιές · Ηράκλειο
Κρυμμένο διαμάντι
Κομμός
Two kilometres of golden sand and dunes next to an ancient Minoan harbour.
Αμμουδιές · Φαιστός
Παραλία Φόδελε
A pretty bay of white sand and pebbles below the village where El Greco was born.
Αμμουδιές · Μαλεβίζι
Κοκκίνη Χάνι
A string of small sandy beaches with lifeguards and shallow, light blue water.
Αμμουδιές · Χερσόνησος
Ανισσαράς
Small sandy beaches in front of big resorts, with a rocky seabed that is good for snorkelling.
Αμμουδιές · Χερσόνησος
Ποταμός
Long golden beach at Malia with tamarisk shade, much calmer than the main strip.
Αμμουδιές · Χερσόνησος
Καλαμάκι
A 2.5 km sandy beach on the Messara bay with simple rooms and seaside tavernas.
Αμμουδιές · Φαιστός
Λιμανάκια
A chain of little coves between Cape Sarantari and Hersonissos, from busy to almost secret.
Αμμουδιές · Χερσόνησος
Τομπρούκ
The eastern end of the long Karteros beach, close to town with beach bars and soft sand.
Αμμουδιές · Ηράκλειο
Κόκκινος Πύργος
A sandy Messara beach with shallow water where loggerhead turtles come to nest.
Αμμουδιές · Φαιστός
Άρβη
A long beach of pebbles and sand next to Arvi harbour, with banana groves around the village.
Αμμουδιές · Βιάννος
Καλοί Λιμένες
The beach of the Fair Havens, where tradition says Saint Paul's ship stopped on the way to Rome.
Αμμουδιές · Φαιστός
Παραλία Τυμπακίου
Wide open beach on the Messara bay, popular with windsurfers when the wind picks up.
Αμμουδιές · Φαιστός
Κόλπος Μεσαράς
The long arc of sandy beaches along the Messara bay, from Kokkinos Pyrgos to Matala.
Αμμουδιές · Φαιστός