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To keep the page light and quick to open there are no photos of
the beaches but descriptions of most of them. Bear in mind that these
descriptions reflect my taste in beaches: I like them clean
and if not deserted, at least not too crowded.
For ease of use, the beaches are listed starting at Rethymnon and moving anticlockwise
(so westwards along the north coast of Crete, then southwards along the west
coast, then eastwards on the south coast, all the way to Agios Pavlos (that's
the one close to Agia Galini).
There will be some missing because I don't know ALL the beaches or haven't been
to some in a long time. Please contact me to correct errors or add beaches.
I have also left out a few of my favourite spots, the ones that are undiscovered
but easy to get to. Sorry but I live here and need to keep some places quiet.
Be inquisitive, with over 1000 km of coastline in Crete you are bound to find
your own special spots.
Generally the water on the north coast is a touch warmer than on
the south coast but not as clear (or clean). The water on the south
coast (Libyan sea) is slightly colder because the mountains drop
steeply into the sea and there are a number of (cold) underground
springs emerging into the sea. The sea is very clear, apparently
due to a high concentration of limestone in the water.
Nudism is illegal in Greece (except in a few designated areas) but
tolerated in a number of places. I will indicate where it is possible.
The situation might change suddenly (often when a beach canteen is
built a "No nudism" sign will appear) so please keep us
updated. Topless sunbathing is fine, unless the beach is right in
a village.
Rethymnon
The very long beach of Rethimnon is nowadays lined by hotels. It gets a little
quieter as you go towards the east.
Georgioupolis more
about Georgioupolis
The beach has nice sand and is 9 km long. Many hotels have been built on it
but the eastern end is still pretty quiet. Be careful when you swim, the currents
can be strong. If you get carried away, don't panic, the current moves mostly
parallel to the beach and not out to sea . Watch children closely. Drowning
accidents happen every year!
Cape Drapanon
There are a few tiny coves at the end of the cape.
Almirida more
about Amirida
A small sandy beach, fairly shallow water so nice for kids. It doesn't get
that crowded but can feel crowded because the beach is quite narrow.
Kera
Pebble beach, pretty quiet but not that comfortable to lie on.
Kalives more
about Kalives
Nice sandy beach, can be crowded. The sand is a bit coarse, a good thing when
there is wind as it doesn't fly so easily.
Kiani Akti
A quiet beach west of Kalives. The water is a little colder because of a river
flowing into the sea.
Souda
No beaches worth mentioning. If you must have a swim you can get in the water
near the W.W.II Allied cemetery (a beautiful place, by the way).
Loutraki
A tiny beach on the peninsula of Akrotiri (near Marathi). The beach is nothing
to write home about but the water, for some unknown reason, is crystal clear.
Marathi
On Akrotiri, discovered a few years ago by the inhabitants of Chania it now
gets very crowded at weekends. The sandy beach is nice, the water quite warm
and very shallow. Brilliant for children.
Stavros more
about Stavros
Stavros is a characterless village at the North of Akrotiri. The sandy cove
had its moment of fame when the beach scenes of Alexis Zorbas were filmed here.
Very lovely and fairly crowded at weekends.
Tersanas
A small sandy beach with shallow water.
Kalathas more
about Kalathas
Also on Akrotiri. Nice sand, can be crowded in summer and at weekends. Shallow
water so ideal for children.
Agios Onoufrios
The nearest place to Chania where you can swim on Akrotiri, not much of a beach
but it is quiet.
Chania more
about Chania
There is a town beach in Chania, obviously fairly crowded. Keep walking for
about 15 minutes and you get to Krissi Akti
Krissi Akti more
about Krissi Akti
Nice sandy beach, can get crowded. Shallow so the water is warm and it is safe
for children.
Agios Apostoli more
about Agios Apostoli
Just a little way along, it consists of three small beaches. It can get crowded,
shallow water (the third one is very shallow). The water is not always that
clean.
Stalos, Agia Marina,
Platanias and all the way to Maleme more
about Stalos, Agia
Marina, Platanias, Gerani, Maleme
From then on, it becomes an interminable sandy beach pretty much all the way
to Maleme. Crowded, lined by hotels and apartments. Not to my taste but many
visitors obviously like it, otherwise they wouldn't all crowd here. A word
of warning: beware of currents, especially in Agia Marina. The small island
of Agios Theodoron seems to strengthen them. Every year a few people drown
(not rarely, going for a swim drunk: don't!)
Kolymbari more
about Kolymbari
Long pebble beach
Rodopou peninsula
Beaches are scarce on this rocky, deserted peninsula but there are some secluded
spots. Go and explore.
Kastelli more
about Kastelli
Long bay, a pebble beach. Not that great but quiet.
Tigani to Balos (Gramvoussa)
At the tip of the peninsula of Gramvoussa. Now you can drive almost all the
way on an unsurfaced road, then follow a good path down to this incredible
spot. A lagoon with "South Seas" colours, very shallow waters,
few people. Sounds like paradise and it was. Now the bad news: in the last
few years, more and more tar has been floating on the beach. It can be a
problem at times. Because it is not accessible by the road, rubbish is not
(or rarely) collected and it gathers during the summer. There are not that
many people coming to Gramvoussa, but enough to create a problem: unsightly
and unhygienic rubbish. Some people are worse than pigs (these charming animals
don't leave rubbish, they eat it). Please, don't f... up this place even
more, take your rubbish back.
Falassarna more
about Falassarna
The beach is quiet long, is now well-known, but does not get really crowded.
Don't bother going to Falasarna if there is a strong west wind, it gets unpleasant.
A 1999 European Union water survey found it to be the second cleanest water
in Greece! At least from the places they checked. It is very clean indeed.
Sfinari more
about Sfinari
A very quiet pebble beach
Elafonisos
Before it was "discovered" about 10 years ago, Elafonisos was THE
secret paradise beach of West Crete. With a small island you can wade to, red
coral sand beach and nobody far and wide. Nowadays, bus tours come from Chania
and a daily boat service brings visitors from Paleochora. The magic has gone,
the rubbish has come (at least I believe that it gets taken away nowadays).
It is still worth a visit but don't go when the wind is strong.
Cape Krios
About 8 km west of Paleochora. It used to be deserted until a few years ago.
It is still pretty quiet. Nudism was OK but I don't know how it stands at
present.
Konduras
A small peninsula about 4 km west of Paleochora, one side with a sandy beach,
the other with pebbles. A fair bit of shade and a few secluded places towards
the tip of it where nudism is OK.
Paleochora more
about Paleochora
Two beaches: the sandy beach is very nice and can get crowded. Nudism is OK
on part of the beach. If you prefer pebbles or the (west) wind blows too much
for your taste go to the eastern bay where a long pebble beach runs for about
3 km. Very quiet and nudism OK. Have something to lie on, the pebbles are quite
large.
Anidri
An hour's walk from Paleochora, fine pebble beach. Mostly nudist. Until now
the beach was very quiet, a really special place, but now that a dirt road
leading to it has been built it can get a little busy. Very clear and very
cold water.
Lissos
Small pebble beach. You will not meet many people on it but unfortunately (and
very strangely because it is nowhere else in south-west Crete) it has quite
a lot of tar on it.
Sougia more
about Sougia
Sougia has a long pebble beach. A few years ago it became the "in" weekend
spot for Chania inhabitants, therefore avoid Sundays in midsummer. The beach
is 1200 meters long so that it never feels crowded. The pebbles are fine enough
not to make lying on them uncomfortable at all and it is one of the very few
beaches which doesn't have sun beds and umbrellas on it. Nudism is usual towards
the eastern end of the beach. Amongst the 10 cleanest seas of Greece in 1999
(EU environmental survey). More on this beach here.
Domata
Almost inaccessible on foot (4 hours walk from Agia Roumeli on a dangerous
path) it only used to see a few souls a year. Now of course, more people
have boats so you are not always alone. I think that someone in Loutro even
organizes a weekly excursion by boat. Go and have a look. Here again, do
not mess up a piece of undisturbed nature by leaving any rubbish. As I wrote
earlier, it is possible to walk to it but do not attempt it without a guide.
Agia Roumeli more
about Agia Roumeli
The beach is quite nice, varying between fine and coarse pebbles. The part
nearest to the village gets crowded during the afternoon with Samaria walkers
wanting to cool off but walk 200 meters and you are almost alone. In the morning
and once the last ferryboat leaves it is almost deserted. Nudism is OK away
from the village.
Agios Pavlos
Still idyllic and quiet because you must walk (1 hour from Agia Roumeli, 2
hours from Agios Ioannis, 3-4 hours from Loutro) or come with your boat.
Nudism de rigueur. If you need shade, there is a pine forest just over the
beach.
Marmara
A tiny beach, an hour walking from Loutro, at the entrance of the gorge of
Aradena. It is called Marble Beach because of the smooth white rocks next
to the beach. An insider tip some years back but no more: a boat brings people
from Loutro every morning and being a small beach it can feel crowded. Nudism
is OK if you stay on the rocks. The water is clear and cold.
Likos and Finix more
about Likos and Finix
Quiet beaches, be careful going in at Likos (sea urchins!). The pebble beach
of Finix is nice but tiny.
Loutro more
about Loutro
The pebble beach of Loutro is right in the village (topless not allowed) and
very narrow. The water is really nice but the beach is too crowded.
Glyka Nera - Sweet
Water beach
Another former insider tip. It is still a very spectacular and quiet beach,
called "Sweet water beach" because if you dig a hole on the beach,
sweet water will seep into it from the ground. Nudism and camping are OK. Don't
be an idiot and pitch your tent just below the high cliffs: there is always
a slight risk of a goat passing by and dislodging some stones. Don't attempt
to climb up the cliff, it is unstable and some people have gotten themselves
killed doing it. You can walk to Glyka Nera from Loutro or from Sfakia in about
an hour.
Ilingas
About 15 minutes walk from Sfakia, a small quiet beach, clear water. Nudism
used to be OK, but maybe not anymore.
Hora Sfakion more
about Hora Sfakion
The beach is in the village, can be a little crowded. A little further east
are two small beaches. The furthest one, Filaki, is the only official nudist
beach in Crete.
Komitades
There are some small beaches which you can reach from the road to Frangokastello.
I don't know them. If someone has any infos, please send them
to me
Agios Nektarios
There are some small beaches which you can reach from the road to Frangokastello.
I don't know them. If someone has any infos, please send them
to me
Frangokastello more
about Frangokastello
Famous for its ruined Venetian castle, Frangokastello has become very built-up.
The sandy beach (below the castle) is extremely shallow and perfect if you
have small children. There is a beautiful quiet sandy beach to the east where
nudism is generally OK.
Rodakino more
about Rodakino
A couple of quiet and pleasant beaches. Apparently it gets busy in August because
many Greek holiday makers go there but I don't know for sure.
Plakias more
about Plakias
A long bay, a mix of pebbles and sand.It doesn't get very crowded. The sea
is fairly safe for swimming, unless it gets very windy (which it often does
in Plakias). Nudism OK at the east end of the beach.
Damnoni
The beach has been completely spoilt by several large, ugly developments.
Preveli
A river flows into the sea. Along the river is a palm trees forest, highly
unusual on Crete and worth a visit. But it is crowded and the beach faclities
(sunbeds, boatrides) are overpriced (or so I was told).
Triopetra
A very long beach leading all the way to Agios Pavlos. As yet fairly undiscovered.
Nudism OK.
Agios Pavlos
Very pretty little bay. It was still very quiet a few years ago. If you want
to bare all in absolute peace, go to the long beach to the west. It goes
all the way to Triopetra.
For orientation, you can have a look at a map where
the beaches are marked. The map is not that clear to read but you
can cross-reference it with your own map.
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