Crete is famous for its magnificent beaches. Some are downright heavenly! If you’re going on vacation here, you won’t be able to resist stretching out your towel on the fine sand and taking a dip in the translucent sea. But where to go? Which beach to choose? To help you make your choice, here is a selection of Crete’s most beautiful beaches.
Contents
- Elafonissi beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete, if not Europe
- Balos lagoon
- Matala beach
- Preveli beach
- Chrissi Island and Golden Beach
- Vaï beach
- Triopetra beach
Elafonissi, one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete, if not Europe
With its unique pinkish sandbanks, Elafonissi (or Elafonisi) is a magnificent beach. A must-see when visiting Crete. However, it’s worth noting that it’s very touristy. So it’s best to get there early in the morning. Or just at the end of the day to watch the sunset.
✔️ Where : at the south-western tip of Crete
✔️ How to get there: Elafonissi beach is easily accessible by road. You can also go there as part of a day trip with transport included:
- from Rethymnon
- from Heraklion
- and also from Chania
✔️ We love the crushed corals that give the sand a magnificent pinkish sheen. The beach remains well preserved, and fortunately there are no large buildings on the seafront. This beach is very family-friendly, as the waters are shallow and warm. Bring a parasol, as there’s little shade.
*****
Balos lagoon and Gramvousa islands
The Balos lagoon, with the island of Gramvousa in the background, is spectacular! It is one of Crete’s most beautiful beaches.
✔️ Where: North-west Crete
✔️ How to get there: Balos beach is accessible by car, provided you have a 4×4. Alternatively, the most convenient way is to either take a boat to Kissamos or book an excursion with transport included to Balos and Gramvousa. In particular, we saw :
- A day trip from Rethymnon: Gramvoussa islands and Balos lagoon, at a low price
- From Heraklion: day trip, Gramvousa and Balos
- From Chania: day trip to Gramvoussa via Balos Bay
✔️ We love the turquoise water, as if it had been photoshopped. The natural setting, with mountains falling into the sea, is wild and beautiful.
*****
Matala beach
A beach made famous in the 1960s and 70s by the hippies who took it over. The beach is also famous for its cliffs and natural caves. It’s very touristy.
✔️ Where: on the south coast of Crete
✔️ How to get there : by car. The road is good and there’s plenty of parking. You can also book a day trip from Rethymno or Heraklion.
✔️ We love the atypical beach. And it’s superb at sunset!
*****
Preveli beach
The beach of Preveli is undoubtedly one of Crete’s most beautiful beaches! It’s unusual in that a river actually flows through the beach and into the sea.
✔️ Where: on the south coast of Crete
✔️ How to get there: by car (there is a parking lot). Then it’s down 400 steps to the beach.
Another option: take a boat from Plakias
There are also excursions, with transport included, that take you easily to Preveli. For example, this day trip from Rethymnon includes visits to Damnoni, Preveli and Palm Beach. There are also excursions to Preveli from Chania.
✔️ We love the verdant natural setting, fine sand, translucent water and palm trees.
*****
The island of Chrissi and its Golden Beach
The island of Chrissi (Chryssi) is about ten kilometers from Crete. Its beaches are reputed to be among the most beautiful in Crete.
✔️ Where : a small island in southern Crete
✔️ How to get there: by boat from Ierapetra. The crossing takes about 1 hour. Link to buy tickets.
✔️ We love the turquoise waters and long stretches of clear sand. A pleasant place for snorkelling.
*****
Vaï beach
Situated on the edge of a palm grove, the sandy beach of Vaï is very beautiful. It is bordered by a crystal-clear sea. Be careful, it’s very touristy.
A quarter of an hour’s walk away, there’s a smaller, quieter cove popular with naturists.
✔️ Where: Northeast Crete
✔️ How to get there: by car. The road is good and there’s a parking lot. Or with a day trip from Heraklion.
✔️ We love it because you can climb up the side of the cliff to admire the beach and palm grove from above.
*****
Triopetra beach
The charm of this long pebble beach lies in the three large boulders emerging from the sea at the end of the beach, and the calm that reigns here.
✔️ Where: on the south coast of Crete
✔️ How to get there : by car. There is a parking lot just a short walk away.
✔️ We love the fascinating “millefeuilles” of rocks. This beach is far less touristy than the others mentioned above, so it’s highly recommended for those seeking peace and quiet.
For more ideas, here are a few articles that might interest you:
Laure M.
Updated February 1, 2024
