In a nutshell
- Our top pick among the 11 best beaches in Crete is Elafonisi Beach — the sand is genuinely pink! We also absolutely love Vai Palm Beach and Balos Beach for its Caribbean-style turquoise water.
- Traveling with kids? Elafonisi, Bali Beach, and Pachia Ammos Beach are all perfect — super shallow entry and calm water.
- Don’t want to drive hours to reach a great beach? Book a hotel in the resort towns of Agia Marina or Bali — both have stunning beaches right on your doorstep. Our top pick: Casa Nostos — super modern rooms and just a 5-minute walk to the beach.
The Most Beautiful Beaches in Crete on a Map
Crete is home to some of the best beaches in Greece. Before we introduce you to our top 11 dream beaches in Crete, check out the Crete map to see exactly where each beach is located.
Elafonisi Beach
- Where is it: In the southwest of Crete. Open in Google Maps.
- Getting there & Parking: Just enter Elafonisi Beach in your GPS. Shortly before the beach, there’s a large, free parking lot.
- Loungers & Umbrellas: There are plenty of loungers; two plus an umbrella cost 20 euros, no natural shade.
What to expect: Have you ever seen a pink beach? Before we visited Crete, we hadn’t either. Tiny crushed shells give the sand a rosy color — truly beautiful. That’s why Elafonisi Beach is our absolute favorite and one of the top attractions in Crete. The water is super calm and the entry is shallow — snorkeling here is great too.
Our tip: If you want to spend a full beach day at Elafonisi, you really should arrive early. If you just want to snap some cool vacation photos of the pink sand, late afternoon is your best bet.
Our hotel pick: Elafonisi Resort, a modern hotel set among olive trees, just 10 minutes from Elafonisi Beach.
Day trip to Elafonisi Beach
Balos Beach
- Where is it: All the way in the northwest of Crete (open in Google Maps).
- Getting there by car: Enter Parking Balos Beach in your GPS; the last 8 kilometers are a dirt road.
- Parking: You’ll arrive at a large, free parking lot; from there it’s about a 1-kilometer walk down to the beach.
- Getting there by boat: Take a boat tour from Kissamos, though it stops at one or two other spots along the way.
- Loungers & Umbrellas: There are a few loungers; two plus an umbrella will cost you 20 euros, no natural shade.
What to expect: At Balos Beach, you’ll feel like you’ve landed on a Caribbean island — just in Crete. With its turquoise water and nearly white sand, Balos is breathtakingly beautiful. The entry is shallow and the water is super calm. If you come by car, the Balos Beach Viewpoint offers a stunning panorama over the entire Balos Lagoon.
Our tip: If you want a relaxed day at Balos, we’d suggest arriving by boat or booking a tour. The dirt road is a real adventure, and many rental cars aren’t insured for roads like that. The walk from the parking lot down to the lagoon is no joke either.
Our hotel pick: Balos Beach, beautiful rooms with sea views, right at the start of the dirt road to Balos Beach.
Ticket for the boat tour to Balos Lagoon from Kissamos
Private day tour to Balos Lagoon
Vai Palm Beach
- Where is it: All the way in the northeast of Crete. Open in Google Maps.
- Getting there & Parking: Enter Vai Beach Parking in your GPS; the parking lot costs about 3 euros and is right next to the beach.
- Loungers & Umbrellas: 10 euros for two sun loungers plus an umbrella, but the palms also provide plenty of shade.
What to expect: Spending a day lounging under palm trees, sipping tasty cocktails, and just listening to the sound of the waves? You can do all of that at Vai — in our opinion, the most beautiful palm beach in Crete. Even though the eastern part of the island is still considered something of a lesser-known spot in Crete, Vai is busy every day. No surprise there — the beach also sits within the largest palm forest in Europe, which is pretty awesome!
Our tip: Vai Palm Beach is one of our favorite day trip destinations in Crete. That said, you really need to get up early, since it’s a bit of a drive from most resorts. Tour buses start rolling in around midday.
Our hotel pick: Onar Apartments, cozy vacation apartments about 7 minutes from Vai Palm Beach.
Tour to Vai Palm Beach, the village of Sitia, and Toplou Monastery
Preveli Palm Beach
- Where is it: In the south of Crete, 45 minutes from Rethymnon. Open in Google Maps.
- Getting there & Parking: Enter Parkplatz Preveli in your GPS; the parking lot costs about 2 euros. From there you walk down a rocky staircase to the beach. Or you can park for free at Drymiskiano Ammoudi Beach (enter that in your GPS) and walk 10 minutes along a small path to Preveli.
- Loungers & Umbrellas: There are no loungers or umbrellas; trees and palms provide some shade.
What to expect: There’s actually a second palm beach in Crete: Preveli Beach. Alongside the truly gorgeous palms, there’s another standout here: an ice-cold freshwater river that winds its way through the gorges down to the sea. The sand at Preveli Beach is a bit coarser. Still, it’s a really beautiful spot.
Our tip: We’d recommend parking at Drymiskiano Ammoudi Beach. There are sun loungers there for about 7 euros. Preveli Beach gets extremely crowded from midday onward. It’s not really worth staying for a full beach day, but it’s absolutely worth a quick visit.
Our hotel pick: Nerea Boutique Hotel, one of the most beautiful boutique hotels in Crete, with a gorgeous boho style and just 15 minutes from Preveli Palm Beach.
Day trip to Preveli Palm Beach and Kourtaliotiko Gorge
Falasarna Beach
- Where is it: In the northwest of Crete. Open in Google Maps.
- Getting there & Parking: Just enter Falasarna Beach in your GPS; there’s a free parking lot right in front of the beach.
- Loungers & Umbrellas: Tons of loungers; two plus an umbrella start at 20 euros, no natural shade.
What to expect: Falasarna Beach is an absolute dream. One kilometer long, 150 meters wide, crystal-clear turquoise water, and bright, soft sand. You’ll find everything you need for the perfect beach day: a volleyball court, water sports, and great beach bars. The beach even stretches a little further north, where it gets noticeably quieter.
Our tip: If you don’t want to spend the whole day at the beach, arriving in the afternoon is a great move. You’ll often pay half price for the loungers, and the sunset at Falasarna is seriously stunning.
Our hotel pick: Diamond Star Hotel, modern and stylishly decorated rooms, with a fresh breakfast and just a 3-minute drive to Falasarna Beach.
Private tour to Falasarna Beach from Chania
Seitan Limania
- Where is it: In the northwest, 22 kilometers from Chania. Open in Google Maps.
- Getting there & Parking: Just enter Seitan Limania in your GPS; you’ll arrive at a small, free parking lot. From there you’ll need to walk down to the beach.
- Loungers & Umbrellas: There are no loungers or umbrellas and virtually no shade.
What to expect: When you arrive at Seitan Limania early in the morning, you’ll feel for a moment like you’ve discovered paradise. This small, empty beach sits in a breathtakingly beautiful cove. You can swim far out into the bay or jump off the small cliffs — really cool! A few goats also roam the cliffs, and they’re pretty brazen.
Our tips: Be very careful on the path down from the parking lot to the beach — quite a few visitors have gotten hurt here. That said, even just the view from the top down into the cove is worth the trip. And get there early, because it gets really crowded later in the day.
Our hotel pick: Lagon Life Spirit Boutique Hotel, one of the best adults-only hotels in Crete with a private pool in every room. Seitan Limania is about a 25-minute drive away.
Agia Marina Beach
- Where is it: In the northwest of Crete. Open in Google Maps.
- Getting there & Parking: Just enter Agia Marina in your GPS; you can park on the street in town, though spots are often taken.
- Loungers & Umbrellas: Tons of loungers and umbrellas, often free if you order something at the beachfront restaurants.
What to expect: Not in the mood to spend hours in the car during your Crete vacation just to relax at a nice beach? Then just stay in your resort. Agia Marina is one of the most beautiful places to stay in Crete and has a really lovely, long sandy beach. You can unwind, take long beach walks, and have plenty of restaurants right on your doorstep.
Our tips: At Agia Marina Beach, you can catch both the sunrise and the sunset — a real bonus.
Our hotel pick: Casa Nostos. The room design is super modern and the beach is just a 5-minute walk away.
Bali Beach
- Where is it: In the north of Crete. Open in Google Maps.
- Getting there & Parking: You can simply enter Bali Beach in your GPS. You’ll find small, free parking lots on the north and south sides of Bali.
- Loungers & Umbrellas: Plenty available; two loungers plus an umbrella starting at 12 euros.
What to expect: Bali has a really beautiful beach too. The town is one of the most popular and most beautiful places in Crete, and the infrastructure here is especially great for families. From your hotel, you’re just a short walk to the small cove. The water is usually very calm and the entry is super shallow. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés nearby. A perfect beach day!
Our tip: If you really want to enjoy this beautiful cove, book your hotel right here in Bali. That way you can enjoy the empty beach early in the morning and late in the evening — it does get crowded during the day. We wouldn’t make a special day trip here just for the beach.
Our hotel pick: Bali Diamond, this small, family-run hotel is one of our 14 best hotels in Crete.
Pachia Ammos Beach
- Where is it: In the southwest of Crete. Open in Google Maps.
- Getting there & Parking: Enter Paralia Paleochoras in your GPS; you can usually park along the street.
- Loungers & Umbrellas: Two loungers plus an umbrella starting at 10 euros; there are plenty to go around.
What to expect: The calmest beaches in Crete are found in the south, and Pachia Ammos in the resort town of Paleochora is one of the most beautiful. The sandy entry into the water is super shallow here — perfect if you’re vacationing in Crete with kids. A small walkway leads from the road down to the beach, so you can even bring your travel stroller.
Our tip: If the north of Crete feels too crowded, Paleochora is a really lovely resort town and a genuine budget-friendly choice — accommodations here are usually cheaper than in the north, though they tend to be more basic.
Our hotel pick: Casbah Boutique Hotel, a really beautiful hotel with modern and super stylish design.
Matala Beach
- Where is it: In the south of Crete. Open in Google Maps.
- Getting there & Parking: Just enter Matala in your GPS; you can park right at the beach for 3 euros.
- Loungers & Umbrellas: Two loungers plus an umbrella starting at 8 euros; by midday, most are usually taken.
What to expect: Honestly, Matala Beach is usually pretty crowded. But if you catch it at a quieter time, it’s one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete. The atmosphere — with the famous Matala caves on one side and the colorful hippie village on the other — is truly one of a kind.
Our tip: You can book a tour to Matala, but we’d recommend going by rental car. Arriving in the afternoon is ideal — many visitors are already heading back by then and the beach is a bit less packed.
Our hotel pick: Hotel Sunshine Matala, a small, simple hotel in a great location: close to the beach and close to the center.
Tour to Matala and Gortyna
Kato Zakros Beach
- Where is it: In the east of Crete. Open in Google Maps.
- Getting there & Parking: Enter Kato Zakros Beach in your GPS; there’s a parking lot right at the beach.
- Loungers & Umbrellas: A few loungers and umbrellas are set up in front of the tavernas. Order something to eat or drink and you can use them for free.
What to expect: If you’re after truly secluded Crete beaches, head to the eastern part of the island. Apart from Vai Palm Beach, things are usually super quiet out here. Kato Zakros is one great option — a spacious, still largely natural pebble beach. It’s no longer completely off the radar, though; a few tavernas have popped up in recent years.
Our tip: If you’re already out in this corner of the island, absolutely make a detour to the small fishing village of Sitia. Really beautiful!
Our hotel pick: Yiannis Retreat, 9 rooms and apartments in beautiful, restored stone houses. Kato Zakros Beach is a 15-minute walk away.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Most Beautiful Beaches and Swimming in Crete
Where are the most beautiful beaches in Crete?
The most beautiful beach in Crete, by far, is Elafonisi Beach in western Crete.
In general, we think the western part of the island has the best beaches in Crete.
You can see exactly where our 11 top picks are located on our Crete map with all the beaches above.
Which coast of Crete is the most beautiful?
Since the most beautiful beaches in Crete are concentrated in the west of the island, we think the western coast of Crete is the best part too.
More specifically, the west and northwest of Crete.
Where can you find fine sandy beaches in Crete?
Fine sandy beaches in Crete can be found especially at Elafonisi Beach, Balos Beach, and Falasarna Beach.
The sand at Agia Marina Beach is also relatively fine — something you won’t find at many spots around Crete.
Is swimming in Crete dangerous?
No, swimming at the best beaches in Crete is not dangerous at all.
You’ll find especially calm water and a gentle slope into the sea at Elafonisi, Balos, Bali, and Pachia Ammos.
At the other beaches, there can be waves from time to time.
In stormy conditions or very heavy surf, you should stay out of the water.
Are there dangerous animals in the sea around Crete?
No, there are generally no dangerous animals off the coasts of Crete.
When is the best time to visit Crete for swimming?
If you just want to relax on the beach, June, July, and August are perfect.
These three months are the best time to visit Crete for a beach vacation. If we had to choose, we’d pick Crete as a travel destination in July.
