Beaches of Crete

Introduction

The best Greek island for beaches is Crete. It boasts with breathtakingly beautiful beaches that are well known all over the world (such as Elafonisi, Balos and Matala), numerous city and resort beaches (especially on the north coast), wild undiscovered beaches (many on the south and east coasts), and everything inbetween.

Sites

This portfolio contains photos of 60 Cretan beaches.

Chrissi Akti Beach | 4 km west of Chania
Agioi Apostoloi Beach | 5 km west of Chania
Kalathas Beach | 10 km northeast of Chania
Machairida Beach | 13 km northeast of Chania
Stavros Beach | 15 km northeast of Shania
Seitan Limania Beach | 20 km northeast of Chania
Loutraki Beach | 16 km east of Chania
Marathi Beach | 17 km east of Chania
Balos Beach | 15 km northwest of Kissamos
Gramvousa Beach | Imeri Gramvousa Island, some kilometers north of the Balos beach
Falasarna Beach | 14 km west of Kissamos
Elafonisi Beach | 40 km southwest of Kissamos
Kedrodasos Beach | 1 km east of Elafonisi
Ammolofoi Beach | 3 km southeast of Elafonisi
Viena Beach | 7 km southeast of Elafonisi
Krios Beach | 10 km southeast of Elafonisi & 9 km west of Palaiochora )
Pacheia Ammos Beach | Palaiochora town
Sougia Beach | Sougia village
Lissos Beach | 4 km southwest of Sougia, south of the archeological site of Lissos
Zeromouri Beach | east of the main beach of Agia Roumeli
Agios Pavlos Beach | 5 km east of Agia Roomily
Perivolakia Beach | 2 km east of Loutro
Timios Stavros Beach | immediately east of the Perivolakia beach
Glyka Nera Beach | 3 km east of Loutro & 4 km west of Chora Sfakion
Ilingas Beach | 2 km west of Chora Sfakion
Frangokastello Beach | south of the Frangokastello Fortress
Orthi Ammos Beach | 1 km east of Frangokastello
Kritama Beach | a few hundred meters east of the Orthi Ammos beach
Plakias Beach | Plakias village
Damnoni Beach | 4 km southeast of Plakias
Mikro Ammoudi (Ammoudaki) Beach | southeast of the Damnoni beach
Ammoudi Beach | southeast of the Mikro Ammoudi beach
Preveli Beach | 13 km southeast of Plakias
Matala Beach | Matala village
Kokkini Ammos Beach | 1.5 km south of Matala, across the Matala Cape
Kommos Beach | 4 km north of Matala
Agia Pelagia Beach | 25 km northwest of Heraklion
Fylakes Beach | after the north end of the Agia Pelagia beach along the coast
Psaromoura Beach | 1 km north of the Agia Pelagia beach
Lygaria Beach | 3 km southeast of the centre of Agia Pelagia
Karteros Beach | 6 km east of Heraklion
Limanakia Beach | 1 km north of the Roman fountain of Hersonissos
Sarantaris Beach | 2 km north of the Roman fountain of Hersonissos
Potamos Beach | 3 km east of Malia
Dianiskari Beach | 1 km east of Elounda, at the southwest corner of the Spinalonga Peninsula
Havania Beach | 4 km north of Agios Nikolaos
Kitroplateia Beach | Agios Nikolaos
Agios Panteleimonas Beach | Istro, 12 km south of Agios Nikolaos
Voulisma Beach & Istro Municipal Beach | Istro, 13 km south of Agios Nikolaos
Pacheia Ammos Beach | 20 km southeast of Agios Nikolaos, on the road to Sitia and Ierapetra
Ierapetra Beach | Ierapetra town
Belegrina Beach | north coast of the Chrissi Island, north of the pier
Chiona Beach | 2 km east of Palaikastro
Kouremenos Beach | 2 km northeast of Palaikastro
Maridati Beach | 5 km northeast of Palaikastro
Vai Beach | 8 km north of Palaikastro
Itanos Beach | 2.5 km north of the Vai beach
Erimoupolis Beach | north of the Itanos beach, on the other side of the archaeological site
Kato Zakros Beach | 20 km south of Palaikastro
Lake Kournas | 4 km south of Georgioupoli

Descriptions & Ratings

See the descriptions and ratings of the mentioned beaches.

See the Descriptions & Ratings

Map

The below map shows the locations of the mentioned beaches. It also includes the locations of 20 other beaches which I have not yet visited but which have been recommended to me by the locals. It does not include most resort beaches in or near the four major cities on the north coast of the island (i.e., resorts west of Chania, east of Rethymno, east of Heraklion, and in and near Agios Nikolaos).

Open the Map