Crete's Most Beautiful Beaches: Our Top 15

Crete is large - and has fantastic beaches. Long, golden sandy beaches alternate with small bays. No wonder, after all, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean has a coastline of 663 miles. But which beach is right for you? Here are the 15 most beautiful beaches on Crete - and where to find them.

In the northwest of Crete, Balos Beach enchants with a breathtakingly beautiful backdrop: A picturesque sandbank, surrounded by turquoise water, creates a Caribbean flair! The only catch: The Instagram-worthy beach isn't easy to reach.

The easiest access is by water with a ferry from Kissamos. If you come by car, there's a parking lot from which you still have to walk about 30 minutes to the beach. Tip: Around and above the Balos Beach, there's a hike. In about two hours, you get the best view of the Caribbean Beach!

Just as beautiful, and even more unique, is Elafonissi Beach in the southwest of Crete. Visitors might not believe their eyes at first. The beach has pink sand! The rosy coloring comes from tiny pink shell and coral fragments.

The location is special too: Elafonissi Beach belongs to the island of the same name, situated just off the coast. You can easily wade through the water of the lagoon. Caution: Elafonissi is under nature protection. Fenced areas should not be entered. There's also no infrastructure, so you should bring supplies.

Also located in southwest Crete, Preveli Beach has a special feature: It's a natural palm beach! The beach is surrounded by a dense palm grove, giving you a tropical feeling when swimming in the waves.

The only downside: You need a car to reach Preveli Beach. From Rethymnon, it takes about an hour. From the parking lot, it's a further 20-minute walk down to the beach.

Crete also boasts another natural palm beach: Besides Preveli, Vai Beach in the east of the island impresses with countless palm trees. Around 5000 Cretan date palms grow here! No wonder that this picture-perfect beach is a frequent filming location.

Among others, a commercial for Bounty was shot here. Therefore, there is good infrastructure with parking lots, sunbeds, umbrellas, and a restaurant.

Probably the most famous beach on Crete is located in the south in the fishing village of Matala, known for its beach and hippie caves. In the 1960s, the hippie caves attracted the flower children of that era, and music legends like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Cat Stevens stayed here.

Today, Matala's caves are protected monuments and can be visited. While the beach is very touristy, the caves are definitely worth seeing!

Families often head to Falassarna Beach in the northwest of the island. This beach is particularly suitable for families with small children, as the water deepens very gradually.

Additionally, the sea is particularly clear, and water sports enthusiasts find ideal conditions. Surfing, diving, or jet skiing: There are several rentals, as well as beach bars and taverns.

If you prefer authenticity, head to the north of the island. Just ten minutes from the capital Heraklion, Ammoudara Beach is the declared favorite of the Cretans.

The miles-long sandy beach is rarely crowded, there are sports opportunities like jet skiing, parasailing, and windsurfing, as well as several beach bars and charming taverns. If you want to chat with locals, this is the place to be.

In the southeast of Crete, the Paralia Mirtos offers a similarly tranquil and laid-back atmosphere. The village of the same name is home to just 600 people. If you like it cozy, this is the perfect place: The village is quaint and ideal for individual travelers, and the beach is great for relaxing.

There are sun loungers and the option to rent surf and sailing equipment, but that's about it. For those simply looking for a quiet beach, Mirtos Beach is perfect. Caution: Don't confuse this beach with the famous Myrtos Beach on the Ionian island of Kefalonia.

Ten kilometers: That's how far the longest sandy beach on Crete stretches along the north coast of the island. Located between the cities of Chania and Rethymnon, Georgioupolis Beach extends from the fishing village of Georgioupolis ten kilometers eastward.

There's always space for bathers at Georgioupolis Beach. And since the beach slopes gently into the water almost everywhere, it's also perfect for smaller children.

Discover three at once at Agii Apostoli Beach. It consists of three different bays! If you wish, swim in the calm waters since, thanks to the protected location between peninsulas, there are hardly any waves.

Experience action at the beach: There is beach volleyball, beach tennis, and countless beach bars and restaurants. Many locals also visit here, as Agii Apostoli Beach is popular with the residents of the city of Chania.

Hike first, swim later? Absolutely! To experience Agiofarago Beach, you must first hike through Agiofarago Gorge and will then be rewarded with a breathtakingly beautiful beach. Don't worry, the path doesn't even take half an hour and is easy to walk.

For those who like it wilder, test your climbing skills on the steep rock faces in the bay. Since the beach is surrounded by rocks, it feels hidden and secluded. Caution: There is no infrastructure, no sun loungers or restaurants or shops.

A fair dose of thrill awaits on the way to Seitan Limania Beach. Located in northeast Crete on the Akrotiri peninsula, this beach is certainly remote. If you want to visit, you first have to climb.

The Seitan Limania Beach is surrounded by steep cliffs that must be overcome. It's worth it: The secret bay enchants with white sand and azure water.

Another beach, only accessible after a climb, awaits adventurers with a breathtakingly beautiful setting: Glyka Nera Beach in southern Crete is hidden behind towering rock formations before crystal-clear water. However, it's cooler here than at other beaches on Crete, thanks to underground freshwater currents cooling the sea temperature.

An official hiking trail leads to the beach, requiring sure-footedness and sturdy shoes. Transport flip-flops only in your backpack!

A camel on the beach? There is one in a bay in the northwest of the Akrotiri peninsula. A rock here looks a bit like a camel with a little imagination. Moreover, the picturesque bay was a co-star alongside Anthony Quinn in the 1964 film 'Zorba the Greek'.

This unique bay is almost circular, has a lovely, wave-protected beach, and the shore slopes gently. Therefore, small children can swim safely here too.

In the south of Crete, there's an exciting trio to behold. Triopetra means 'three stones' or 'three rock formations'. The cape got its name from the rock formations jutting into the sea.

Here, a bed of sloped, flat-formed sediments runs into three separate rocks in the Libyan Sea. The small peninsula lies between two quiet beaches. If you're seeking peace, this is the place to be: The beaches of Triopetra are never crowded.

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