While Crete is indeed a massive island that would take about 6 hours to drive from end to end, I have to say that I am fully biased when it comes to Chania. Chania is the western part of the island that boasts the best beaches not only on the island, but in the world. If you’re chasing the blue, look no further than basing in Chania. Here are my top 10 picks for the best beaches on the island that will take your breath away as well as all the space on your camera roll.
This list is in no particular order.
1. Falassarna
Aaaaahhh Fallaaaaaassarnaaaaaa. At least that’s what I like to sing out everytime I come to this heavenly beach. Falassarna is a huge, long, wide sandy beach loaded with fun activities like stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, jet skiing and even surfing. You can find hints of pink sand lining the shore and you will be rewarded with a panoramic view at the very top of a hill as you drive to the beach. Falassarna also hosts a slew of beach-side bars and restaurants. So no need to pack a picnic here. Bring a change of clothes so you can slip into something slinky and sexy and go party it up at one of the beach clubs. They play fantastic dance and house music, especially on the weekends.
This is one of the hottest and trendiest beaches in Crete and is situated really close to two other extremely popular tourist destinations like Balos and Elafonisi. You could try to make it to one of the other destinations on the same day, but I advise against it. Best to do things the Greek way. Slow, relaxed and at your own pace.
Vibe: Active, Vibey, Party, Fun in the sun
Sun beds + Umbrellas: Yes, for a fee.
Water: Perfect for swimming and water sports
Sand: Powdery soft
Adventure meter: 9/10
Restaurants + service: Plenty to choose from
Toilets: Yes, and well kept and clean
Some quick advice: Rent a sunbed with an umbrella. It’s easy to get sun burnt here since it’s a hot beach with not much shade. Pack a change of clothes for sundowners at the beach club.
View this post on Instagram
2. Kalypso
Not exactly a beach, more like a…rock? A giant rock with sunbeds and cliffs to jump off of….yeah! Kalypso is only a few years old and opened to the public as a beach club in 2018. Since it’s located in Rethymno, it’s surrounded by mysteriously dark cliffs and rocks and the water is a staggering aquamarine. No sand here as you choose a sunbed lined on the cliff side. You can take epic vacation photos on the suspended draw bridge over the water and explore mini caves surrounding the scene. It’s a vibe for both happy couples or families and despite my multiple mentions of “cliffs,” it’s a safe spot for kids too.
Vibe: Calm, touristy but worth it
Sun beds + Umbrellas: Available for free or to rent
Water: Bright blue perfect for snorkeling
Sand: No sand, cliff side
Adventure meter: 7/10
Restaurants + service: Available, but food choices are limited
Toilets: Available
Some quick advice: Bring shoes to protect your feed around the rocks. Bring your own towels and pack extra food since most restaurants at beach clubs tend to be on the basic side.
View this post on Instagram
3. Loutraki
My watering hole. My home away from home. My go to. My love. Mermaids exist at Loutraki Beach. You’re one lucky reader to even know about this locals-only gem that I discovered back in 2017. Surely, more and more travel bloggers are talking about this place, but it’s not famous for being a tourist destination and I love it for that. It’s famous for having an awesome DJ, local seafood and souvlaki and a stunning, calm bay to swim in. Loutraki is like a natural swimming pool! No waves and no boats, just lots of young, beautiful people sipping on Freddo Espressos and soaking up the Grecian sun. It’s super easy to get to, located in the heart of Chania next to the American naval base.
You will find yourself perched on a grassy hill with a birdseye view of the bay. Sunbeds are for early arrivers. The service is friendly and quick and their menu is chic and casual. Get hooked on their Freddo Espressos. You’re gonna need it for those scorching days.
Sun beds + Umbrellas: Yes and for free! But arrive early to snag one
Water: A perfectly calm bay for gentle swims
Sand: A grassy hill for sunbathing as well as a small sandy beach
Adventure meter: 5/10 – this is a place for sunbathing, socializing and swimming
Restaurants + service: Two options between local Greek Cuisine and seafood
Toilets: Available.
Some quick advice: Be careful on the drive down the hill. Remember that all roads in Greece are two ways, even when you think they shouldn’t be. Arrive early to snag a sunbed. If you don’t like house music then go away.
View this post on Instagram
4. Balos
Not all of the best beaches in Crete are classic beaches! Some are…lagoons! Balos is one of the most prestigious beaches in the world and has won spots on every “top beaches in Europe” list and it’s for a very good reason. Millions of tourists flock to Crete every summer just to visit Balos! The drive alone is for thrillseekers as you will come across a mars like landscape driving on a narrow cliffside road that should only be a one way, but is a two way. Expect to hike down a fun path carved out by stone steps and for the scorching heat to tire you out.
You will be inspired to take a million photographs at every viewpoint as you witness the lagoon from above and get to see the surreal swirls of blue, like a painter’s color palette! The water is so blue, so clear, it looks photoshopped before your eyes. The shore is lined with pink sand and the rocks are covered in a vivid green moss, making this one of the most bombastically colorful and fantastic locations to experience. Get ready to spend the day here.
Vibe: Adventurous, inspiring, wild
Sun beds + Umbrellas: Yes, for a nominal fee.
Water: Stunning bright swirls of every shade of blue, shallow, cold and refreshing
Sand: Soft, white, pink, vivid
Adventure meter: 10/10
Restaurants + service: Bring your own food. Some snacks are on sale but it’s awful food.
Toilets: Yes. Bring your own toilet paper
Some quick advice: Go early so you can find parking. Parking is free and your car will most likely have a goat standing on your roof waiting for your return. Avoid weekends or you won’t find a sunbed. This is one of the windiest locations in the island so check the Beaufort meter before you go.
View this post on Instagram
5. Elafonissi
World famous and for a good reason, Elafonissi will not disappoint you. It’s one of those tourist destinations that lives up to the hype. My first time at this beach was one of the most memorable travel moments of my life. I simply couldn’t understand how so many colors could co-exist in one place. This beach needs no filter. It IS a filter! Super shallow, crisp cold, baby blue waters lined by impossibly pink, powdery sand and long, long stretches of beach. If you’re smart, you’ll keep walking passed all of the initial sunbeds almost as if to head to the “back” of the beach, where you will be greeted by a stunning vision:
Super calm, flat waters, rock formations creating natural swimming pools, natural green moss clashing with baby blue, vivid pink and black pebbles crashing along the shore…. No need to rub your eyes, it’s real, and yes, the Greek Gods do exist. This is a destination beach where you will need a full day cleared. Be careful of the winds. The beaufort scale could easily rise to 9/10 here which is why it is also a popular windsurfing destination.
Vibe: Busy, bustling, energetic, magnetic
Sun beds + Umbrellas: Available for a fee
Water: The craziest waters you will ever see in your life. Shallow, cold, intense.
Sand: Powdery, pink, white, soft, heavenly
Adventure meter: 10/10
Restaurants + service: Nothing but a basic shack, so pack an eco friendly picnic
Toilets: Yes.
Some quick advice: Bring lots of drinking water and don’t litter your plastic on the beach! Take your trash off the beach and keep it clean! This is almost a national heritage sight. Bring a battery for your phone because you will not stop taking photos. Driving here is relatively easy, use GPS and don’t rely on street signs. This is a windy beach. Check the weather.
View this post on Instagram
6. Glyka Nera + Marmara
“Glyka Nera” translates to Sweet Waters in Greek. Boy, are they ever so sweet. If you ask local Cretans where their favorite beaches are, they will always point south. The most stunning visions of Crete are all on the Western and Southern parts of the island. You will drive all the way down to a village called “Sfakia” where you can take little ferry boats from one remote beach to another. Head over to Glyka Nera and Marmara where you can spend the laziest afternoon ever just marveling at the sparkling sea. Get the best tan of your life as you lay like a beached seal under the Grecian sun. Bring shoes or flip flops, this is a rocky beach and it hurts like heck to navigate bare foot!
There are tiny taverns available for lunch serving typical Greek cuisines, locally caught fish and easy to snack on finger foods. You’ll easily miss one boat after another as you nap the day away. Go ahead…get your lazy on.
Vibe: Relaxed, lazy, chill
Sun beds + Umbrellas: Available.
Water: Perfect for gentle swimming, can sometimes get a bit choppy
Sand: Rocky AF! Bring shoes!
Adventure meter: 4/10. You come here to chill.
Restaurants + service: Available. Cute taverns, local Greek cuisine.
Toilets: Yes.
Some quick advice: Depending on where you’re staying, this is a trip that might require an over[night stay or two. Sfakia is quite far from most locations. The drive to the southern town is winding and can easily make you nauseous. Prepare for that. Make sure to arrive in time to catch the ferry from the port.
View this post on Instagram
7. Seitan Limani
Do you like a bit of danger? Is hiking your middle name? Have you ever wanted a pet goat? Then Seitan Limani is the beach for you. This beach is one of Chania’s best kept secrets and most rewarding scenes. “Seitan Limani” translates to “Satans Port” and there’s a reason for it. You’ll find that out once you start your hike down to the beach. Limestone cliffs form a thunderbolt shape, framing powder blue water that crashes on top of a rocky beach. Pack a picnic, bring your own water and comfortable blankets. There is absolutely no service down there and the Greeks plan to keep it remote and isolated.
Once you made your way down the steep hill, you will notice other locals and tourists playing music, cliff jumping and cheering on other adventurous hikers. Be prepared to share the beach with curious goats who love to steal your food. They are friendly and will pose for pics but they expect to be fed.
Vibe: Energetic and happy
Sun beds + Umbrellas: None. Bring your own
Water: Stunning powder blue, soft gentle waves, great for swimming
Sand: Rocky! Bring shoes!
Adventure meter: 10/10
Restaurants + service: None. Bring your own food and water
Toilets: None. So uh…yeah.
Some quick advice: Pack hiking shoes, don’t wear anything you care about because you will get dirty on the hike. Take your garbage home with you and don’t litter! If a goat approaches you, hold your palm out flat and let it come to you. Pack snacks to feed them if you want to interact. They WILL steal your stuff.
View this post on Instagram
8. Preveli
I cried real tears my first time at Preveli. Something about this place made me emotional and it might have the same effect on you. Preveli is famous for that heart shaped rock that appears to be floating in the sea, as if it was placed there by Athena herself. It’s also famous for having a river lined with exotic palm ferns that will make you think you are in biblical times, placing moses in the river nile. The river is filled with ice cold, fresh mountain water and yes, you can bring a floatie! The sand is dark, almost black, and the water color is a deep emerald. Preveli is not a typical Greek beach scene. It’s something else, other worldly. Its ancient energy will touch you and if it doesn’t, then maybe you don’t have a pulse.
Be prepared for a hike. This is not a beach for someone with knee problems or physical issues because you will be climbing about 200 or so steps on the way back up. This is an adventurous beach that will make you hyper and energetic. You can go hiking in the palm forest, laze in the river on a floatie and explore all the little spots and go swimming in the incredible waters and admire the limestone rocks from the sea.
Vibe: Ancient, other worldly, super unique
Sun beds + Umbrellas: None, bring your own. There are only a few and they are always taken
Water: Deep emerald colors, refreshingly cool and sometimes really cold, perfect for swimming
Sand: Soft, dark sand, be careful because it’s super hot in the summer months
Adventure meter: 10/10
Restaurants + service: Only a small shack serving basic souvlaki, so bring your own
Toilets: Yes. Horrible. Dirty. So bring your on TP.
Some quick advice: Bring your own toilet paper! Bring shoes suitable for hiking and climbing. Bring a picnic and take your garbage off the beach. Bring a floatie for the river. Get ready to take epic photos in front of the heart shaped rock and in the middle of the palm forest. Expect windy days as this is a Western beach with loads of winds. Check the wind forecast before you go.
View this post on Instagram
9. Menies Beach
Not accessible by foot, Menies Beach is a stunner. Rent a tiny boat with some friends and make your way to this beach for a half day trip. Pack a picnic, throw the anchor down and spend the afternoon sunbathing on a floatie. It’s a rocky beach but as you will soon learn, the best water colors are usually rocky beaches. The best part about adventuring to Menies is that you can pop over to other neighboring beaches if you get bored. Unlike other Greek islands, this area is usually unvisited and pretty remote. You will most likely be alone if not with just 4-5 other boats.
Vibe: Relaxed, remote, romantic
Sun beds + Umbrellas: None. Throw the anchor down and swim!
Water: Sparkling green and emerald transitioning into deep blue
Sand: Rocky
Adventure meter: 8/10
Restaurants + service: None, bring your own food on the boat
Toilets: Does your boat have a toilet? Good.
Some quick advice: Pack sunscreen. It’s easy to burn when out on the boat all day and the waters are really salty which only heightens the reflection of the sun on your skin.
View this post on Instagram
10. Kedrodasos
Do you like camping? Are you all about that RV life? Well I’m not. But heck, if you love being a hippie on one of the coolest camping beaches in Crete, then Kedrodasos is for you. I was brought here a few summers ago thinking I would absolutely adore it until I ran into what looked like tent city on a Greek Island. I know that lots of travelers dig that stuff so I thought I would include Kedrodasos in my round up. I can’t only talk about what I love. I gotta think about everyone, don’t I?
Fire dancing, card reading, star gazing, pot smoking locals can be found camping on the beach in their RV’s or tents. Make sure you head there in the daytime so you can see the surreal swirls of blues and the dark rock formations that jett out from the shallows. It’s a sandy beach that almost looks like a desert dune with a tropical blue oasis in the center.
Vibe: Hippie love
Sun beds + Umbrellas: Zero. Bring everything you own.
Water: Similar to Balos. Magical and unreal
Sand: Soft and powdery
Adventure meter: 9/10 for you campers
Restaurants + service: None. Bring your own food and water, this is survivor.
Toilets: I actually don’t know but I will let you camping hippies find it yourself.
Some quick advice: I said it before and I will say it again. Check the wind scale, nothing worse than getting slapped in the face with sand like a scene out of The Mummy Returns.
“It takes a lifetime to discover Greece, but it only takes an instant to fall in love with her.”
– Henry Miller
