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Beaches of Heraklion

At the north side of Crete you will find the following beaches:

  • Fodele beach is located 23 km west of Heraklion. The sandy beach is by the highway from Heraklion to Rethymnon and Chania. The village of Fodele is 2 km distance from the beach. Fodele is the birthplace of El Greco (Domenico Theotocopoulo), the famous painter.
  • Mononaftis beach with sand and shingle 20 km west of Heraklion.
  • Agia Pelagia beach is located 16 km west of Heraklion. There are plenty of taverns, restaurants and cafes in Agia Pelagia town. The bay of Agia Pelagia is protected from north-west winds and the sea is almost always calm.
  • Ligaria beach is located 15 km west of Heraklion and it is less crowded than the Agia Pelagia beach.
  • Paleokastro beach is located 10 km west of Heraklion. A small pebbles beach. It is relatively protected from north winds and the water becomes deep rapidly.
  • Amoudara beach is located 5 km west of Heraklion. It is a long, sandy beach in an area with many hotels, both large and small. You will find areas with sunbeds, umbrellas and a lifeguard, but there are also parts of the beach with no establishments. Cafes, restaurants and beach bars can be found along the beach. Easy transportation by public buses or taxi from Heraklion.
  • Florida beach, Karteros beach, EOT beach (Akti Club), Amnissos beach, Tobrouk beach. A long & wide sandy beach 8 km east of Heraklion, with different names for the various parts of it. Beach cafes, restaurants and fish taverns are available. Easy transportation by bus or taxi from Heraklion. Florida beach, the part of the beach closer to the airport, is less crowded but the airplanes approaching the Heraklion airport are evident (…and noisy).
  • Kokkini Hani beach, is located 12 km east of Heraklion. There is a big sandy beach along the main road, which is annoyingly full of sunbeds. There is also a beach bar with loud music and younger people may find it interesting. In Kokkini Hani there are also many smaller sandy beaches. Side roads lead to them and you will have to ask around in order to locate them.
  • Gournes beach is a sandy beach located 17 km east of Heraklion.
  • Analipsis beach and Anissarasbeach are located 20 km east of Heraklion. Sandy beaches with occasionally rocky sea-bottom. If you walk a few hundred yards far from the crowds, then it is possible to find a spot with nobody around.
  • Hersonissos beaches
  • Stalis or Stalida beaches, it is a nice sandy shallow beach. When the wind is too strong high waves may prove dangerous for inexperienced swimmers. Always listen to the instructions of the lifesavers.
  • Malia beach 6 km of sandy beach. If it gets too crowded then head to the east, to the Potamos beach.

 

 At the south side of Crete, you will find the following beaches:
  • Kokkinos Pirgos Beach is along sandy beach which is very shallow close to the fishing port of Kokkinos Pirgos. It is preferred by the locals, very few tourists around. The part of the beach to the east is more secluded than the part close to the port.
  • Kalamaki Beach is a sandy beach. Be careful when you enter the water due to the slippery rock plates.
  • Kommos Beach, the north part of Kommos beach is the naturists part with no sunbeds or cafes. There are many tamarisk trees that offer pleasant shade during the day.The rock plates exist here too and the beach is particularly exposed to north winds. The south part of the beach is in front of the Archaeological site of Kommos. The site is still closed to the public. There are sunbeds and a tavern. The road to Kommos starts from Pitsidia village, on the way from Festos to Matala.
  • Matala beach,the famous beach preferred by hippies, who used to live in the many caves of Matala in the late 60’s and early 70’s. The beach is relatively protected from north winds but big waves are not unusual when south or west winds blow. The beach of Matala is usually very crowded.
  • Kokini Amos (Red Sand) Beach, another clothing optional beach south of Matala. Access is possible on foot or by boat from Matala.
  • Vathi beach is a closed bay with few houses of locals. The pebbly beach is accessed by a dirt track past Sivas village and Odigitria Monastery.
  • Ayiofarango (The gorge of the Saints), the pebbly beach is accessed on foot through the gorge or by boat from Kaloi limenes port. An excellent beach protected from the wind but with no facilities. The beach is occasionally clothing optional.
  • Kaloi Limenes is a pebbly beach preferred by the locals. When the wind gets too strong, then Kaloi Limenes beach is the only solution for calmer swimming.
  • Diskos beach, west of Lentas is a beautiful beach with its east part clothing optional.
  • Lentas beach, the beach of the village of Lentas. You will swim together with the locals in front of the many taverns and restaurants of Lentas.
  • Ostria beach is a pebbly beach with a great tavern, 1 km east of Lentas. A few tamarisk trees offer pleasant shade during the hot noon hours.
  • Loutra Beach is a nice beach with pebbles 3 km east of Lentas. The road is a dirt track suitable for all cars. The rocly seabed makes it good for snorkelling. The east part of the beach is occasionally clothing optional.
  • Psili Ammos or Trafoulas beach, a great beach with sand and pebbles, accessible only on foot or by boat from Lentas. It is a naturists beach.
  • Koudoumas beach, the pebbly beach is in front of the Koudoumas Monastery. Camping is possible with respect to the monastery and the locals. There are no fascilities so you will have to carry everything with you. Drive past Sternes village for 45 minutes on a dirt track descending from 1,000 m down to sea level. The views are excellent but it is not suggested for those who suffer from fear of heights.
  • Agios Nikitas + Maridaki beach, is an adventurous drive on a dusty dirt track past Ahentrias village will bring you to Maridaki beach. It is a small pebbly beach preferred by the locals. Agios Nikitas is one km west of Maridaki. The access is through the Monastery of Agios Nikitas. Keep driving past the monastery and you will reach an unknown palm-forest of Crete. No fascilities available in Agios Nikitas.
  • Tsoutsouros beach, the sandy beach of the Tsoutsouros village. Tsoutsouros beach is very popular to the people of Crete, therefore it may be crowded during the weekends.
  • Dermatos is a pebbly beach with many tamarisk trees.
  • Keratokampos is a long beautiful beach with pebbles and sand on parts. If you walk to the east, then you will reach a beach with sand-dunes and almost nobody close to you. The rocky sea bottom makes the place excellent for snorkelling.
  • Arvi is the pebbly beach of the Arvi village. It is very narrow inside the village but it gets wider towards the east.
  • Psari Forada or Sidonia is a beach with dark sand and tamarisk trees.
  • Tertsa is a tiny village with a pebbly beach. A dirt track leads to Tertsa from Sidonia or Myrtos. The village is an image of the past. Here you will discover how Crete was 20-30 years ago. There is a tavern and a few rooms for rent.