Best Sandy Beaches in Crete
We rank the 26 sandy beaches in Crete. Elafonisi Beach, Crete (Greece) comes first with 4.7 / 5, followed by Falasarna Beach, Falassarna Beach.
The sea reaches about 24 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from June to September. 21 of the 26 have easy access, and 10 are hidden gems.
1Elafonisi Beach, Crete
Elafonisi, Chania, Crete · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °CElafonisi is a protected beach on the south-west tip of Crete, where fine pale sand takes a pink tint from crushed shells.
2Falasarna Beach
Chania, Crete · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °CA broad golden beach on the far west coast of Crete, with clear turquoise water and views toward the Gramvousa peninsula.
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.
6Stavros Beach, Crete
Akrotiri, Chania, Crete · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °CStavros is a small, sheltered bay of fine sand and clear shallow water on the Akrotiri peninsula of Crete.
7Voulisma Beach, Istro
Voulisma, Istro, Lasithi, Crete · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 26 °CVoulisma is a beach of soft pale sand near the village of Istro in the Mirabello Bay of eastern Crete.
8Agios Pavlos Beach, Rethymno
Agios Pavlos, Rethymno, Crete · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °CAgios Pavlos is a quiet bay on the south coast of Crete, with pale sand dunes, a small chapel and a rocky cape that shelters the water on one side.
9Kalathas Beach, Chania
Kalathas, Akrotiri, Chania, Crete · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 26 °CKalathas is a sandy bay on the Akrotiri peninsula near Chania in Crete, with shallow turquoise water and bare hills around the shore.
10Matala 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.
11Vai 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.
12Xerokambos Beach, Crete
Xerokambos, Sitia, Lasithi, Crete · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 26 °CXerokambos is a remote beach on the south-east coast of Crete, with pale sand, clear turquoise water and bare hills behind the shore.
13Xerokampos Beach, Crete
Xerokampos, Sitia, east Crete · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 25 °CXerokampos is a remote bay in the far east of Crete, with pale sand, flat white rocks and clear blue water.
14Damnoni 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.
15Frangokastello Beach, Crete
Frangokastello, Sfakia, Crete · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °CFrangokastello is a long beach of pale sand on the south coast of Crete, beside a square Venetian castle with the White Mountains rising behind.
16Georgioupoli Beach, Crete
Georgioupoli, Chania, Crete · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CGeorgioupoli has a long, gently shelving beach of sand and fine gravel on the north coast of Crete, with a lively village and a small harbour.
17Kedrodasos 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.
18Kommos Beach, Crete
Kommos, near Matala, south Crete · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CKommos is a long beach of coarse golden sand on the south coast of Crete, close to Matala and beside the excavated site of a Minoan harbour town.
19Plakias Beach
Plakias, Rethymno, Crete, Greece · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °CA long sandy beach of about 1.
20Triopetra 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.
21Agia Pelagia Beach, Crete
Agia Pelagia, Malevizi, Heraklion, Crete · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 26 °CAgia Pelagia is a small resort on the north coast of Crete west of Heraklion, with a curved bay of sand and coarse pebbles and a calm sea.
22Almyrida Beach, Crete
Almyrida, Apokoronas, Chania, Crete · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 26 °CAlmyrida is a small village on the north coast of Crete east of Chania, with a long sandy beach, shallow calm water and a gentle slope into the sea.
23Marathi 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.
24Agia Galini Beach, Crete
Agia Galini, Rethymno, Crete · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 26 °CAgia Galini is a fishing village on the south coast of Crete, built on a hillside above a small harbour, with a beach of dark sand and pebbles beside the village.
25Hersonissos Beach
Hersonissos, Crete · 4.0 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °CHersonissos has a sandy town beach and many smaller coves along the north coast of Crete, with warm clear water and a lively promenade.
26Malia Beach, Crete
Malia, Crete · 4.0 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °CMalia has a wide sandy beach on the north coast of Crete, with lifeguard stations, sunbeds and mountains behind.
Quick comparison
| # | Beach | Country | Score | Water | Best season | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elafonisi Beach, Crete | Greece | 4.7 | 25 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 2 | Falasarna Beach | Greece | 4.7 | 23 °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 | Stavros Beach, Crete | Greece | 4.6 | 25 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 7 | Voulisma Beach, Istro | Greece | 4.6 | 26 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 8 | Agios Pavlos Beach, Rethymno | Greece | 4.5 | 25 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 9 | Kalathas Beach, Chania | Greece | 4.5 | 26 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 10 | Matala Beach | Greece | 4.5 | 24 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 11 | Vai Beach | Greece | 4.5 | 23 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 12 | Xerokambos Beach, Crete | Greece | 4.5 | 26 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 13 | Xerokampos Beach, Crete | Greece | 4.5 | 25 °C | June–September | Moderate |
| 14 | Damnoni Beach | Greece | 4.4 | 23 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 15 | Frangokastello Beach, Crete | Greece | 4.4 | 25 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 16 | Georgioupoli Beach, Crete | Greece | 4.4 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 17 | Kedrodasos Beach | Greece | 4.4 | 23 °C | May–October | Moderate |
| 18 | Kommos Beach, Crete | Greece | 4.4 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 19 | Plakias Beach | Greece | 4.4 | 23 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 20 | Triopetra Beach | Greece | 4.4 | 23 °C | May–October | Moderate |
| 21 | Agia Pelagia Beach, Crete | Greece | 4.3 | 26 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 22 | Almyrida Beach, Crete | Greece | 4.3 | 26 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 23 | Marathi Beach | Greece | 4.3 | 23 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 24 | Agia Galini Beach, Crete | Greece | 4.2 | 26 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 25 | Hersonissos Beach | Greece | 4.0 | 25 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 26 | Malia Beach, Crete | Greece | 4.0 | 25 °C | June–September | Easy |
How we picked these beaches
Included when the shoreline is mostly of this type, then ranked by our editorial score. See how we rate beaches for the full method.
Frequently asked questions
Which are the top-rated sandy beaches in Crete?
Our top three are Elafonisi Beach, Crete (4.7 out of 5), Falasarna Beach (4.7 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 June to September. Water temperatures average about 24 degrees C in season. Each beach page lists its exact season.
Which of these beaches are easiest to reach?
Elafonisi Beach, Crete, Falasarna Beach, Falassarna Beach, Stavros Beach, Crete, Voulisma Beach, Istro and 16 more have easy access. The others need a walk, stairs or a rougher road, so check the access note on each page.