Best Cretan Beaches
Preveli
Where the Megalopotamos river meets the Libyan Sea, Preveli is a darlinof a beach. Framed by the craggy cliffs of Kourtaliotiko Gorge, studded with with tall, lush palms along exotic jungly riverbanks, this area could be mistaken for the exotic Nile River in Egypt . There is a price to pay for taking in all this wonder, you will have to navigate a knee-pounding climb down a steep path with a thigh-burner trek back on your return! What makes it worth it, are the exquisite bone-white sands and clear waters to frolic and snorkel in. Preveli is worth visiting for the beach as well as the Preveli Monastery, a magnificent building set on a hill overlooking the Libyan Sea. Aside from a few snack bars in summer and a taverna near the car park, there’s not much here – its remoteness is one of its charms.
Address: 740 60, Greece
Balos
Balos may be familiar from from Cretan travel brochures, showcasing it’s pristine white sands, vivid turquoise waters and a wild and remote setting on the Gramvousa Peninsula. Dotted with scrubby hills, the beach and its lagoon is not easy to reach, but if you are intrepid, brave the precarious and rocky dirt-road to get here, or hire a boat for a few hours. Be indulgent, pack a picnic, as there’s nowhere to buy food or drink here.
Address: Balos, Greece
Kommos
Messara Bay in southern Crete is where you will find Kommos is a wide swathe of sand protected by dunes and further enhanced by scrubby green mountains Follow the steep, winding road down to the azure blue waters, pearl-white sands and views of ancient Minoan settlement ruins (off limits to the public). The wind produces some decent-sized waves here so it’s not suitable for young families, though the nudists at the northern end of the beach don’t seem to mind the wind. At the southern end of the beach there are sunbeds and umbrellas for hire and a couple of tavernas that are the perfect spot for a sunset drink
Address: Kommos beach, Greece
Matala
This was once an off the beaten track fishing village that was discovered by hippies back in the 1960s. However Matala not far from Kommos Beach, is no longer a best-kept secret – so it’s best visited slightly out of season. Mythology has it that this was the spot where Zeus swam ashore under the guise of a bull with the kidnapped Europa on his back. The gently rippling waters of the Messara Bay are flanked by honeycomb-like sandstone cliffs and mysterious caves. Explore this incredible landscape and then choose one of the scenic restaurants overlooking the water.
Address: 702 00, Greece
Vaï
In the Lasithi province, Crete’s easternmost region, lies a little slice of the Caribbean. The calm, shimmering water of the beach at Vaï is backed by a large grove of swaying Cretan date palm trees. The small beach can get busy, but to escape the worst of the crowds, take the 30-minute stroll along the trail that heads to the ancient Minoan site of Itanos, where you’ll find a trio of small, secluded bay beaches.
Address: 723 00, Greece
Seitan Limania
We love hidden places! Head to the north-eastern side of Crete’s Akrotiri Peninsula, just a short drive from Chania, to find a secret cove that makes the hair-raisingly steep and winding downhill drive so worth it. It’s tiny, there is nothing else there, and your nerves might be shot after those tight hairpin turns – but there’s a reason why locals make the trip out here; when you get a glimpse of that narrow flash of azure blue water wedged between rising cliffs, you will know the effort was all worth it. You can simply take in the views from the top of the hill or scramble down the rocky path and have a well deserved swim.
Address: Seitan limania, Greece
Elafonisi
This is tucked away in a remote pocket of Crete’s south-western corner, so you could be forgiven for thinking you might have it all to yourself. But the lagoon beach is known to many island regulars, and gets busy on a summer weekend. Its raw beauty is undeniable, with glassy aquamarine waters and swirls of pastel-pink sands kissing the shore – a natural phenomenon caused by thousands of shells washing up over the years and tingeing the white sands. Sunbeds and umbrellas for hire are scattered across the main beach and lagoon; the shallow waters are perfect for families. If you’re in need of a bit more privacy, do as the naturists do and head to the island’s coves and dunes beyond for a more peaceful patch of sand.
Address: Kissamos 730 01, Greece
Falassarna
The short, winding drive down to Falassarna can be a little uninspiring with sea views blocked by greenhouses plonked across the olive groves. But when you reach this broad sweep of beach, all is vindicated. This is one of the finest beaches in Crete with plenty of room to spread your towel, superbly clear water and see-forever views. A handful of tavernas and villas to rent dot the sloping hill backing the beach. While the waves rolling off the Mediterranean may not be ideal for families, windsurfers are in their element here, and everybody appreciates the famous Falassarna sunsets, when the burning orange slowly melts into that incredible sea.
Address: 734 00, Greece
