- Elafonissi
- Balos
- Which is better Elafonisi or Balos?
- Kedrodasos Beach
- Vai Beach
- Seitan Limania
- Matala
- Preveli
- Falasarna
- Domata Beach
- Plakias Beach
Discover the top 10 most beautiful beaches in Crete. Two of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Elafonissi and Balos, could not be missing from this top.
Elafonissi
Elafonissi is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. On this beautiful lagoon beach, the colors mix, the pink and white of the fine sand with the blue and green of the sea, the green of the trees surrounding the beach, and the blue of the sky above it. Here the water is not deep at all and the beach is very popular being good for small children. During the summer it gets pretty crowded, and there’s not much shade, other than paid umbrellas, so be prepared!
Location: Chania, South-West Crete
Accommodation: The closest accommodation is Efalonisi Resort
Getting there: By car (1.5 hours from Chania), by bus Elafonissi Elafonissi Express Bus
Food & beverage: There is a restaurant where you can buy snacks and beverages
Sunbeds and umbrellas: Available
Parking: parking available
Balos
Location: Kissamos, Chania Region, North-West Crete
Accommodation: The closest hotel is Balos Beach
Getting there: 50 Km from Chania, by car or by bus (1 hour), 15 Km from Kissamos. The road that leads you to the lagoon is a dirt road. The road climbs a hill and then descends to the beach. The best way is to get there by ferry boat.
Food & beverage: There are no facilities at Balos Beach. Be prepared and make sure you bring everything that you will need for the day. The easiest way to get to Balos is with a day cruise, so you have food and drinks and the organizers of the cruises can also rent you, umbrellas.
Sunbeds and umbrellas: Not available. Be prepared and bring an umbrella, enough food and drinks, and comfortable shoes.
Parking: Parking is available 25 minutes walking from Balos Beach. Wear gym shoes to be comfortable on the road.
Which is better Elafonisi or Balos?
Elafonisi is a more accessible beach, with an easier road and better organized, with a restaurant and a shop where you can rent a sun bed and umbrellas. Balos has no restaurant and there is no place to rent a sunbed and umbrellas, the road to the beach being a difficult one to travel by car. There is also a 25-minute walk from the parking place to the beach. The easiest way to get to Balos is with a day cruise, so you have food and drinks and the organizers of the cruises can also rent you, umbrellas. Both places are of rare beauty and worth visiting.
Kedrodasos Beach
Kedrodasos is a wonderful beach, a hidden paradise, full of trees under which you can relax! A good beach for surfing.
Location: Chania Region, South-West Crete – close to Elafonissi beach
Accessibility: Walk about 5-10 minutes from the parking lot (avoid slippers on this road).
Food & beverage: There are no cafes or kiosks on the beach
Camping: This is a good place for camping
Vai Beach
Vai Beach is a spectacular beach with palm trees that is part of a natural park Vai Palm Forest.
Location: Lasithi Region, East Crete
Accommodation: The closest accommodation is Villa Aiolos
Getting there: The beach is reachable by car.
Food & beverage: There is a restaurant where you can buy snacks and beverages and there are also a variety of water sports options available on the beach.
Sunbeds and umbrellas: Available
Parking: Parking available
Seitan Limania
A beach surrounded by rocks. In the afternoon the sun descends on one of the rocks surrounding the beach and the beach becomes shady.
Location: Chania Region, West Crete
Accommodation: The closest accommodation is Kamera House
Getting there: The drive there is by a sneaky road. To reach this beach you need to hike down from the parking to the beach, so wear proper shoes.
Food & beverage: There is no restaurant and no shop on this beach. Be prepared.
Sunbeds and umbrellas: Not available
Parking: Parking available
Matala
This beach is perfect if you like to explore caves, relax on the beach, eat at the taverns, and go shopping.
Location: Matala, Heraklion Region, Central-East Crete
Accommodation: Many types of accommodation in Matala
Getting there: Accessible beach, surrounded by restaurants, hotels and shops.
Food & beverage: Yes
Sunbeds and umbrellas: Yes
Parking: Yes
Preveli
Location: Rethymno Region, Central-West Crete
Getting there: By car or by boat. There are boats that go to the beach from Plakias or the village of Agia Galini.
Food & beverage: No
Sunbeds and umbrellas: No
Parking: There is a parking area close to the beach. There is a staircase leading down to the beach. It takes around 15 minutes to go down.
Falasarna
Sandy Beach with ancient Hellenistic harbor ruins. Falasarna is one of Greece’s most renowned beaches, listed in the top ten of dreamy European shores, and is one of Crete’s finest beaches. Falasarna is a very long beach and it never looks crowded no matter how many visitors.
Location: Gramvousa Peninsula, 15 km west of Kissamos, Chania Region, West Crete
Accommodation: Many types of accommodation around
Getting there: Accessible beach, surrounded by restaurants, hotels and shops.
Food & beverage: Yes
Sunbeds and umbrellas: Yes
Parking: Yes
Domata Beach
Domata Beach is an isolated beach, accessible from a hiking path (around 1 km long) or by boat.
Location: Chania Region, West Crete
Getting there: Difficult hiking, by boat from the village of Agia Roumeli
Food & beverage: No
Sunbeds and umbrellas: No
Parking: No
Plakias Beach
Plakias Beach is only meters away from Plakias Center.
Location: Rethymno Region, Central-West Crete
Accommodation: Many types of accommodation around
Getting there: Accessible beach, surrounded by restaurants, hotels and shops.
Food & beverage: Yes
Sunbeds and umbrellas: Yes
Parking: Yes
