Best Beaches in Crete in May
We rank the 13 beaches to visit in Crete in May. Balos Lagoon (Greece) comes first with 4.8 / 5, followed by Elafonissi Beach, Falassarna Beach.
The sea reaches about 23 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from May to October. 7 of the 13 have easy access, and 7 are hidden gems.
1Balos Lagoon
Crete, Greece · 4.8 / 5 · Moderate access · about 25 °CA shallow lagoon of pale pink sand and impossible blues at the tip of the Gramvousa peninsula.
2Elafonissi Beach
Crete, Greece · 4.8 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °CA rare pink-sand lagoon at the southwestern tip of Crete, where shallow crystal-clear waters meet rose-tinted sands.
3Falassarna Beach
Chania, Crete, Greece · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °CA long, wide beach of pale sand and clear shallow water on the far west coast of Crete, known for its sunsets.
4Preveli Beach
Rethymno, Crete, Greece · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 23 °CA cove of sand and pebbles where a river meets the sea, below steep cliffs on the south coast of Crete.
5Seitan Limani
Akrotiri, Chania, Crete, Greece · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 23 °CA tiny sandy inlet squeezed between steep rock walls on the Akrotiri peninsula, with deep turquoise water.
6Matala Beach
Matala, Heraklion, Crete · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CA curved sandy bay on the south coast of Crete, overlooked by a sandstone cliff riddled with ancient caves that give the beach its unmistakable look.
7Vai Beach
Sitia, Crete, Greece · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °CA sandy bay backed by a large natural palm grove on the far east coast of Crete.
8Damnoni Beach
Crete · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °CA sandy bay on the south coast of Crete, with mountains behind and clear water in front.
9Kedrodasos Beach
Chania, Crete · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °CA quiet stretch of pale sand and clear water on the south-west coast of Crete, a short distance from Elafonisi.
10Plakias Beach
Plakias, Rethymno, Crete, Greece · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °CA long sandy beach of about 1.
11Sougia Beach, Crete
Sougia, Chania, Crete · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °CSougia is a small village on the south-west coast of Crete with a long pebble beach in front of its tavernas.
12Triopetra Beach
Rethymno, South Crete · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °CA long, quiet beach of sand and fine pebbles on the south coast of Crete, named for the three rock formations standing in the water.
13Marathi Beach
Kato Marathi, Chania, Crete · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °CA sandy bay beach near Chania in western Crete with clear water, rows of umbrellas and sunbeds in season, and a tree-lined backdrop.
Quick comparison
| # | Beach | Country | Score | Water | Best season | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balos Lagoon | Greece | 4.8 | 25 °C | May–October | Moderate |
| 2 | Elafonissi Beach | Greece | 4.8 | 25 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 3 | Falassarna Beach | Greece | 4.7 | 23 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 4 | Preveli Beach | Greece | 4.6 | 23 °C | May–October | Challenging |
| 5 | Seitan Limani | Greece | 4.6 | 23 °C | May–October | Challenging |
| 6 | Matala Beach | Greece | 4.5 | 24 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 7 | Vai Beach | Greece | 4.5 | 23 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 8 | Damnoni Beach | Greece | 4.4 | 23 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 9 | Kedrodasos Beach | Greece | 4.4 | 23 °C | May–October | Moderate |
| 10 | Plakias Beach | Greece | 4.4 | 23 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 11 | Sougia Beach, Crete | Greece | 4.4 | 24 °C | May–October | Moderate |
| 12 | Triopetra Beach | Greece | 4.4 | 23 °C | May–October | Moderate |
| 13 | Marathi Beach | Greece | 4.3 | 23 °C | May–October | Easy |
How we picked these beaches
Included when the beach usual swimming season covers the month, then ranked by editorial score. See how we rate beaches for the full method.
Frequently asked questions
Which are the top-rated beaches to visit in Crete in May?
Our top three are Balos Lagoon (4.8 out of 5), Elafonissi Beach (4.8 out of 5), Falassarna Beach (4.7 out of 5). Scores are editorial ratings from the EuroShores team.
When is the best time to visit these beaches?
Most are at their best from May to October. Water temperatures average about 23 degrees C in season. Each beach page lists its exact season.
Which of these beaches are easiest to reach?
Elafonissi Beach, Falassarna Beach, Matala Beach, Vai Beach, Damnoni Beach and 2 more have easy access. The others need a walk, stairs or a rougher road, so check the access note on each page.