Beaches
The best beaches in Crete, from Balos to Vai
Crete is so big that its western and eastern beaches feel like different countries. These are the ones worth the drive, part by part of the island, and the hotels we would pick by the sea.
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At Balos, the first day boat from Kissamos arrives mid-morning and the lagoon is still glassy, a sheet of turquoise so shallow you can wade out towards the far sandbar. By lunchtime the second boat has docked and the umbrellas are up. Come early, or stay until the boats leave.
Crete is Greece's largest island, over 250 kilometres from end to end. The west around Chania has lagoons and long sandy beaches, the south has small coves beneath the mountains, and the east around Agios Nikolaos is calmer and greener. Plan around where you are staying, because the drives take longer than you expect.
Short answer: which beaches in Crete are best?
Balos and Elafonisi in the west are the most famous, though both are crowded at midday. Falassarna has space and sunsets, and Seitan Limania is the most unusual. On the south coast, Preveli and Sweetwater stand out, and in the east Vai and its palm forest are worth the trip.
Best lagoon: Balos, west
Best for sunset: Falassarna, west
Best adventure: Sweetwater, south coast
Best for families: Voulisma at Istro, east
Best for palm trees: Vai, east
Domes Noruz Chania
Pool and beach at Domes Noruz Chania.
Chania and the west: lagoons and wind
The western tip of Crete has the island's most photographed beaches. For Balos, take the day boat from Kissamos harbour, which also stops at the fortress island of Gramvousa. The road is unpaved and ends with a walk down, so the boat is easier.
Falassarna on the west coast is a run of beaches with room to spare even in August. Elafonisi, in the far south-west, is protected, and the sand turns pink at the water's edge.
Closer to Chania, on the Akrotiri peninsula, Seitan Limania is a narrow inlet between steep limestone walls, and Stavros is a calm little bay below a mountain, known from the 1964 film Zorba the Greek.
Domes Noruz Chania: on the beach west of town
Domes Noruz is an adults-only hotel on the long sandy beach just west of Chania, with two pools and the sea in front. The old town is close, and Balos, Falassarna and Akrotiri are all day trips from here. A good choice for couples who want beach and town in the same holiday.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Domes Noruz Chania
The south coast: coves beneath the mountains
The south coast, facing the Libyan Sea, is steeper and wilder, and many beaches are reached only by boat or on foot. Sweetwater, near Loutro, has pebbles and fresh water bubbling up at the shoreline. Get there by boat from Chora Sfakion or along the coastal path.
Preveli sits where the Megalopotamos river meets the sea, its banks lined with palms. Further east, Matala is known for the tombs carved into the sandstone cliff above the beach, home to hippies in the 1960s and 70s.
Daios Cove
The pool at Daios Cove outside Agios Nikolaos.
Agios Nikolaos and Mirabello Bay: calm and shallow
The east coast around Agios Nikolaos has less wind and calmer water. Voulisma at Istro is a sandy beach with shallow turquoise water, ideal for children. From Elounda, boats run to Spinalonga, the small fortress island that was a leper colony until 1957.
Daios Cove: a bay of its own
Daios Cove is built around an enclosed bay outside Agios Nikolaos, with villas terraced up the hillside. Many have their own pool and sea views. It is quiet and secluded, best for couples and families happy to stay put. You will need a car or taxi to go further.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Daios Cove
Minos Beach Art Hotel
The bungalows at Minos Beach Art Hotel.
Minos Beach Art Hotel: art on the headland
Minos Beach Art Hotel sits on a headland close to the centre of Agios Nikolaos, with white bungalows down to the water and sculpture among the trees. You can walk into town along the shore and swim from the hotel's own bathing spots. For travellers who want design and calm with a town nearby.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Minos Beach Art Hotel
The far east: palms and islands
Vai, at the eastern tip of Crete, has Europe's largest natural palm forest just behind the beach, made up of Cretan date palms. Nearby Kouremenos is a windy bay popular with windsurfers.
From Ierapetra on the south-east coast, boats cross to the small island of Chrissi, with cedar trees, dunes and shallow water. There are almost no facilities, so bring what you need.
When to go
June and September are best: warm sea, boats running and fewer people at Balos and Elafonisi.
Wind in July and August: the strong northerly meltemi can make the north coast choppy. The south coast and Mirabello Bay are calmer then.
Hire a car: distances are long and buses rarely reach the best beaches.
Go early or late: the famous beaches are busiest between 11am and 4pm.
Frequently asked questions about Crete's beaches
What is the most beautiful beach in Crete?
Balos and Elafonisi are the most famous, but Falassarna and Seitan Limania are just as striking and often less crowded.
How do you get to Balos beach?
By day boat from Kissamos, which also stops at Gramvousa, or by car on a dirt road followed by a walk down.
Where should you stay in Crete for beaches?
Chania is best for the western beaches, and Agios Nikolaos or Elounda for calm bays in the east.
Which beaches in Crete are good for children?
Voulisma at Istro, Elafonisi and Falassarna have shallow water and sand, and suit children well.
When is the sea warmest in Crete?
The sea is warmest in August and September and stays swimmable well into October.