The Best Beaches in Crete

Elafonissi is the most famous beach in Crete — a shallow, lagoon-like stretch on the island's far southwest tip where crushed shells tint the sand pink and the water rarely rises above waist height. A protected Natura 2000 reserve, it pairs warm turquoise shallows with low dunes and a small islet you can wade across to.

Balos is the postcard image of Crete: a wild lagoon of white sand and electric-blue water cradled between the Gramvousa peninsula and a rocky islet. The shallow, brilliantly coloured shallows and the Venetian fortress of Gramvousa nearby make it one of the most photographed spots in Greece.

Falassarna is a broad, west-facing sweep of golden sand backed by an ancient harbour site, famous for some of the best sunsets in Crete and reliable afternoon waves that draw windsurfers and bodyboarders. Unlike the lagoons, it is a proper open-sea beach with space to spread out.

Seitan Limania is a narrow, jaw-dropping cove on the Akrotiri peninsula where a sliver of pebble beach meets impossibly blue water between sheer cliffs. It is small, wild and unforgettable — the reward for a steep scramble down the rock.

Preveli (Palm Beach) is where a freshwater river lined with a palm forest meets the Libyan Sea on Crete's south coast. You can swim in the sea, then follow the river upstream through the palms to natural pools — a rare, lush contrast to the surrounding cliffs.

Named after the three rocks rising from the sea, Triopetra is a long, laid-back stretch of sand and small coves on the south coast, popular with yoga retreats and travellers looking for space, big skies and excellent sunsets away from the crowds.

Matala is a sandy bay framed by sandstone cliffs riddled with Neolithic and Roman caves that became famous in the 1960s and 70s as a hippie commune. Today it blends a relaxed swimming beach with that bohemian history, a lively village and golden sunsets.

Agiofarango ("Gorge of the Saints") rewards a beautiful 30-minute walk through a dramatic gorge with a sheltered pebble cove of crystal-clear water at the end. It is a peaceful, facility-free escape on the remote south coast, popular with climbers and swimmers.

Vai is home to the largest natural palm forest in Europe, a striking grove of Cretan date palms backing a golden, tropical-looking beach on the island's far east. The protected setting and clear water make it one of Crete's most distinctive beaches.

Voulisma (Golden Beach) is a sheltered, sandy bay near Istron with shallow, vivid-turquoise water that looks almost Caribbean. Its calm conditions and easy access make it one of the most family-friendly beaches in eastern Crete.

Xerokampos is a string of quiet, undeveloped coves of white sand and clear shallow water at the remote southeastern corner of Crete. With almost no development, it is the place to go for an off-grid, crowd-free beach day with views to the islet of Kavalloi.

Glyka Nera, or Sweetwater Beach, is a remote pebble cove on the wild Sfakia coast where freshwater springs bubble up through the shingle — dig a small hole at the waterline and it fills with cold, drinkable water. Backed by cliffs and accessible mainly on foot or by boat, it is a favourite with free-spirited travellers.