Καρτερός
The closest proper beach to Heraklion, with beach bars, sports courts and planes flying low overhead.
Αμμουδιές · Ηράκλειο
A one kilometre stretch of soft sand right next to the airport, calmer than you would expect.
Amnissos was the harbour of Knossos in Minoan times. Today it is a long sandy beach just east of the airport, partly organised with sunbeds and showers and with watersports in summer. It stays fairly quiet considering how close it is to town.
In Minoan times Amnissos was the port of Knossos. Excavations found a villa here with the famous lily frescoes, now in the Heraklion museum, and the remains of a harbour building on the small hill at the eastern end of the beach. Homer also mentions Amnissos and the nearby cave of Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth.
Today it is a long, sandy and well organised beach, popular with locals from Heraklion. The water is clear and the sand soft. Being close to the airport, you'll hear and see planes, but many people find it oddly relaxing to watch them come in over the sea. It's a good choice on arrival day or before an evening flight.
Heraklion is the heart of Minoan Crete and the island’s busiest region. Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum are the two places almost everyone visits, and they work well together on one day. In the south, the wide Messara plain holds the palace of Phaistos, the Roman ruins of Gortyna and the famous caves above the bay of Matala. Περισσότερα για Ηράκλειο
About 15 minutes from Heraklion (9 km east). City buses stop along the coast road.
Forecast data: Open-Meteo
35.33234, 25.20650 · Στον χάρτη
The closest proper beach to Heraklion, with beach bars, sports courts and planes flying low overhead.
Αμμουδιές · Ηράκλειο
Ancient cave of the goddess of childbirth.
Σπήλαια · Ηράκλειο
A sandy beach east of town popular with SUP and kite surfers, with beach bars on one side.
Αμμουδιές · Χερσόνησος
The eastern end of the long Karteros beach, close to town with beach bars and soft sand.
Αμμουδιές · Ηράκλειο
A Minoan villa full of ceremonial axes.
Αρχαιολογικοί χώροι · Ηράκλειο
A string of small sandy beaches with lifeguards and shallow, light blue water.
Αμμουδιές · Χερσόνησος
Getting there & around