Crete island is famous for its fantastic beaches. Small or wide, organized or not, the cretan beaches are worderful places to spend a long day under the sun. Discover the beaches of Crete island with a REDRENT car.
Balos Lagoon
The famous lagoon of Balos is located approximately 56km northwest of Chania and 17km northwest of Kissamos, formed between the Cape Gramvousa and the small Cape Tigani and below the range of Platiskinos. Balos is surely the mostly photographed beach in Crete, a very favorite subject of all tourist guides for Greece. It is no coincidence that Prince Charles and Princess Diana visited Balos with their private yacht many years ago.
Balos is famous for its turquoise waters, the wild natural beauty and the beautiful exotic scenery. During the summer, it is visited by thousands of people, who arrive mostly by the ferries running from Kissamos port. If you do not like crowds, you’d better avoid to visit the beach in July and August. Also, a perfect idea is to arrive at Balos in the morning, before the boats arrive from Kissamos. These few hours of remoteness in such a heavenly place will remain etched in your memory forever.
The lagoon of Balos has white sand and exotic white, vivid blue and turquoise waters. The sea is very shallow and warm, ideal for young children. In many places the sand has a lovely pinkish color, because of millions of crushed shells. Beyond the rocks at the boundaries of the lagoon, the water is deeper and colder, ideal for a snorkeling. The lagoon and the wider area, with rare species of flora and fauna, are protected under the Natura 2000 program. Eleonora falcons, shags and cormorants nest in the caves of the area. Moreover, the area is a shelter for the protected monk seal and the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Despite the protection, some canteens and umbrellas have appeared on the beach in recent years. You can buy water from there and from the bars of the ferries.
Source: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ – Balos lagoon cretanbeaches.com
Elafonissi beach
Elafonisi is located 76km west of Chania and 5km south of Chrysoskalitisa Monastery, in the southwesternmost tip of Crete. Elafonisi is an oblong peninsula, which often breaks in two parts by water giving the impression of being a separate island. It is a Natura 2000 protected area. The island is full of sand dunes with sea daffodils and jupiners. The endangered loggerhead sea turtle and several more rare animals and plants find shelter on the island; it is strictly forbidden to remove any plants, animals, shells and sand from the area.
Exotic beaches with white sand and turquoise water, reminding of the Caribbean, are formed on either sides of the peninsula. The sand is pinkish in many places, taking its color from millions of crushed shells. Near the breaking point of the peninsula, the sea water does not exceed 1m in depth, creating a small lagoon, ideal for children. You can easily cross the lagoon in order to reach the opposite site of the peninsula, while carrying your staff with you, because the water is very shallow there.
The eastern side of the beach, in front of the lagoon, is well organized and has the most people. There are umbrellas, showers, lifeguards, snack bars and changing rooms. Also, near the beach there is a huge area for parking and, even further, a few rooms to let. Opposedly, the beaches on either sides of the island are less crowded and are the most beautiful, with amazing azure colors. If you want to stay completely secluded or nude, you can walk along the peninsula until you find a quiet cove that you like! There are some coves available for naturists near the west end of the peninsula.
You can come by car (1.5 hours) or by bus from Chania. The road to Elafonisi is narrow and full of turns, but the beauty of the landscape is stunning; you will cross the beautiful lush green village Elos and the imposing gorge of Topolia . Moreover there are many options for accommodation at Chrisoskalitissa village, 5km to the north. You can eat at Chrissoskalitissa or at Elos (on the way back to Chania).
Source: Travel Guide for Island Crete
, Greece
– Elafonissi beach cretanbeaches.co
Vai beach
Vai is located 94km east of Agios Nikolaos and 24km east of Sitia. It is the most famous beach in east Crete, as its main feature is the large palm grove with the Cretan Date Palm (Phoenix theophrasti). Its name derives from the word vai, meaning palm in Greek. The palm grove is the largest in Europe with approximately 5000 trees, while there are smaller colonies in other parts of Crete and in Southwest Turkey. According to the legend, the trees have grown from discarded date stones thrown into the sea by Saracen pirates. However, the palm grove is more than 2000 years old and the pirates are more recent. Thus this hypothesis has changed and the Saracens have been replaced with Phoenicians, that governed the Mediterranean Sea 20 centuries ago.
The heavenly palm grove is planted in a wide valley watered by the local river for centuries. An exotic sandy beach with whitish sand is formed near the shore, backed by the edenic palm forest, reminding of African and Caribbean seascapes. The entire region is owned by the powerful Toplou Monastery, which is the largest landowner in eastern Crete. The 15th-century monastery is built like a fortress, and hosts a great collection of Byzantine icons.
Source: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ – Vai palmgrove cretanbeaches.com
Falassarna beach
The exotic beach of Falassarna is located 59km west of Chania city and almost 17km west of Kissamos, at the western base of peninsula Gramvousa. At the northern end of the beach there are the ruins of the ancient Grecoroman city of Phalassarna.
Falassarna bay hosts some of the most famous beaches in Greece, which has been awarded as the best beach of Crete and voted as one of the 10 best beaches in Europe several times in the past. Falasarna spans a large area and consists actually of five consecutive beaches, with the two most central being the most favorite.
The sand in Falassarna is whitish, making the water color tropical. Indeed, if you’re lucky and be here on a day that is not blowing from the west (rare in west Crete) you will be enchanted by the beach and its turquoise waters.
The main beach of Falassarna is called Pachia Ammos (i..e Coarse Sand). It is an exotic beach with a length of 1km and a width of 150m. This beach attracts the most visitors of the area, but because of its length it never seems too crowded. The beach offers umbrellas and a few snack bars and cafes, where you can get food and water. There are also services for water sports and beach volley courts.
There is another long beach north of the main beach having a length of 800m, identical to the main beach, which is separated into several smaller beaches. This bay is divided in half by a sand dune and a few rocks. The beach is more quiet than Pachia Ammos and offers no facilities. Nearby, there is the chapel of Agia Paraskevi and a spring with fresh water.
Further north, near the archaeological site, there is a small cove facing to the south. It is pebbly and the seabed is rocky. It is a good choice when the winds blow from west or you seek isolation. South of Pachia Ammos, at Livadi, there is another long beach that has sandy shore and rocky seabed. It is a very good choice for fans of the snorkelling. Livadi is surrounded by a very important wetland with ponds, which host many birds in winter. Even southern, near the small harbor of Limeniskos settlement there is a small pebbly beach, which is a good choice if you do not want to stay remote.
Source: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ – Falassarna Beach cretanbeaches.com
Preveli beach
Preveli is located about 35km south of Rethymno and 10km east of Plakias. Beach of Preveli, also known as Lake Preveli or Phoenix, is located at the exit of the imposing Kourtaliotikos Gorge, where the Grand River (Megalos Potamos) flows. It is certainly the most famous beach in south Crete, accepting thousands of visitors every summer. During the ’60s and ’70s, it was a favorite destination for the hippies. On the banks of the Grand River there is a large colony of Theophrastus palm trees, which give the region a sense of a tropical landscape. The river, forming a small lake, 500m long, before emptying into the sea, has water all year round. You can walk along the river, under the shade of palm trees and other trees, and start ascending in the beautiful canyon. You can swim in the cold ponds formed in the gorge.
A big fire in 2010 burnt almost everything of this paradise, but paradoxically the palmgrove recovered most of its damage. At the exit of the river, a sandy beach with pebbles and sand is formed, with sea water being very cool due to the river. In the eastern part of the beach, there is a beautiful rock reminding of a heart. The beach is not well organized because the area is protected, without any umbrellas.
Source: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ – Preveli palmbeach cretanbeaches.com
Matala beach
Matala is located 68km southwest of Heraklion, where the plain Messara meets Asteroussia Mountains. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations of Crete and certainly the most famous beach of south Heraklion prefecture. It is famous for the carved caves in the rocks and the hippies of the ‘70s. It is located close to Phaestus, the second largest palace of the Minoan civilization. Matala served as a port of Phaestus, and on the Roman Times, it became a port of Gortyn.
Matala is located at the exit of a small valley, which forms an enclosed bay with nice view to the islands of Paximadia.There is a beautiful sandy beach, 300m long, with fine gravel and crystal clear deep water. Moreover, the seabed is quite rocky in some places (especially in the central part of the bach) and waves are common, due to frequent west winds. Furthermore, there is a huge cave on the north part of the beach, from the top of which some people dive. The beach is very well organized with umbrellas, toilets, showers, lifeguard, first aids, beach volley courts, snack bars, water sports, excursion boats, a camping site, etc. Around Matala you will find many options for accommodation, entertainment and eating. Also, a large part of the beach is covered by tamarisk trees, where you can find shade. In the evenings, the bars on the beach are full with many people, both locals and foreigners. Especially in June, the internationally renowned Matala Festival takes place.
Source: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ – Matala beach cretanbeaches.com
Rodakino beach
The village Rodakino is located 45km southeast of Rethymno city, on the exit of the steep canyon Rodakino that runs across the mountain Kryoneritis, a few kilometers west of Plakias resort and east of Fragokastelo. This traditional village is built on both sides of the gorge, which separates it into two different settlements, namely Kato and Ano Rodakino. The village overlooks the deep blue South Cretan Sea. According to the tradition, the village’s name (means peach in Greek) is taken after a peach tree that grew here, despite the dry climate of the region. Others say that the gorge was called Rikinthos, that was later paraphrased to Rodakino.
At the exit of the torrent of the canyon, 2km south of the village, there are several beautiful and tranquil beaches. To visit them you should follow the road that leads to Korakas beach. Despite the fact that it has a long beachfront, Rodakino is not highly developed and still retains its traditional character and harmony. The first beach that you come across the exit of the dried river is Korakas (i.e. crow in Greek). It is a long beach with fine grayish pebbles and wonderfully clear waters, well organized with umbrellas, taverns and some rooms to rent. In its east end, there are cavernous rocks; locals say that before getting eroded by sea and salt they looked like a crow’s beak.
Source: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ – Korakas beach (Rodakino) cretanbeaches.com
Plakias beach
Plakias is a popular tourist resort, located 36km south of Rethymno city, at the exit of a fertile valley south of the range Kouroupa. Next to it empties the river Kotsifos. One of the major growth drivers of the region is the long beachfront, known as Gialia. The main beach starts near the town and extends to the east for 1.3km, up to Cape Mouri. It is a well organized beach, with cool green waters. Along the beach there is a road, ideal for walking or cycling. Along this road there are several restaurants and hotels, while on the beach there are tamarisk trees, umbrellas, water sports, beach volley courts, snack bars, changing rooms, showers, etc.
The eastern part of the long beach is called Paligremnos. The beach is sandy and very well organized, next to hotels and restaurants. Characteristic of Paligremnos are nearby vertical cliffs that rise to a great height that attract many climbers. This place is called Gonates (i.e. knees), because according to tradition, the epic hero Digenis kneeled there to drink water from a local spring. In Paligremnos a strange phenomenon takes place on every full moon, from September to January. The moonlight is reflected in the mirror-like towering cliffs. Thus, many big squids approach the beach and locals gather them with big sticks. Lastly, some meters to the south of Paligremnos there are some tunnels, carved for transfering coal to cargo ships in the past.
Source: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ – Plakias beach cretanbeaches.com
Voulisma beach
Istro(n) is located 12km east of Agios Nikolaos and 22km north of Ierapetra, very close to village Kalo Chorio. It is a quiet settlement, situated in a lush valley full with olive groves and springs, which has been developed during the last decades. However, the development was fortunately mild, mainly due to the regional building restrictions because of the archaeological discoveries. The main growth driver of Istron is undoubtedly the emerald beaches which are scattered in three adjacent bays.
The most popular bay of Istron is located 500m east of the village. Here is one of the most beautiful beaches of Greece, which is featured in many card postals about Crete. Voulisma or Golden Beach is a beautiful beach with white sand and amazing turquoise waters. The beach is very well organized, although we would like to see that secluded. The only drawback is that somedays the streams move rubbish here. Then you can move to the smaller beach in the west part of the bay, which is very well protected from winds and less organized.
Source: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ – Voulisma beach cretanbeaches.com
Agios Pavlos beach
The coastal village of Agios Pavlos (St. Paul) is located 58km south of Rethymnon city, west of Agia Galini, and very close to the tip of Cape Melissa. You can access the area by driving from the village Sachtouria; owners of land in Agios Pavlos come mainly from Sachtouria. It’s a peaceful place, well-hidden in a sheltered bay, which is ideal for quiet family holidays.
The bay has a beautiful beach with green deep waters and magnificent rocky seabed. Near the beach you can find a few rooms and taverns. Moreover, basic services are provided on the beach, such as umbrellas, sunbeds and pedal boats. Above the beach you can visit the small church of Saint Paul; according to the legend Saint Paul lived here during his journey to Rome (this legend is also adopted for some other places in Crete, such as Kali Limenes and Selouda).
Although the beach in front of the village is pretty, some visitors prefer Agios Pavlos for accommodation and food, but swim in the nearby idyllic beach with the huge sandhills. Akoumiani Gialia or Melissa, as this beach is called, is behind the western edge of Agios Pavlos bay and is considered one of the best beaches in Rethymno prefecture but it’s usually wavy. You can get there through a path that starts from Agios Pavlos.
Source: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ – Agios Pavlos beach cretanbeaches.com