During ours 15 day tour in Crete we toured the island far and wide. We loved everything about this magical island with uncontaminated nature full of picturesque villages, incredible archaeological sites but above all paradisiacal beaches that left us breathless. Wild and nestled between high rock walls or exotic and surrounded by palm trees, small bays or lagoons, Creata has more than 350 beaches, each more beautiful than the other.
In this article we tell you about our 5 favorite beaches in Crete.
1. Black Glyka
The bay of Black Glyka it is located south west of the island of Crete and can be reached by boat from Hora Sfakion and Loutro, or via well-marked trekking paths. Its name in Greek means "sweet water" due to the presence of fresh water that flows in small springs directly on the beach.
The cove is very suggestive. Surrounded by rock walls up to 500 meters high - which are part of the Lefka Ori - which protect it from the winds and dotted with tamarisk trees which edge it, giving shelter from the sun during the hottest hours. The pebble beach is bathed by the crystalline sea with colors that vary from turquoise to emerald green to electric blue towards the sea. On the beach there is a bizarre tavern built on top of a rock in the middle of the sea, connected to the beach by a pier.
How to get to Glyka Nera
It is possible to reach Glyka Nera beach by sea or on foot.
From the port of Sfakia Taxi boats leave and take you directly to the beach in 10 minutes. These shuttle between Chora Sfakion, the beach and the wonderful and picturesque village of Loutro, which we absolutely recommend visiting!
For those who love trekking, it is possible to take a route lasting about an hour that crosses the cliff. From Chora Sfakia, going up towards Anapolis for the first stretch, follow the asphalt road until a large hairpin bend where there is a sign indicating the path to Glika Nera. Here the real path begins. Most of the walk is on the edge of the cliff, very exposed so for those who suffer from vertigo it is better to opt for the boat.
Tips for trips: the walk takes over an hour and is certainly more difficult on the way back as it is uphill; furthermore, the route is very exposed and without trees so in addition to having comfortable clothing and shoes, the advice is to bring plenty of water to hydrate you as you will be perpetually under the scorching sun.
2. Seitan Limania
The beach of Seitan Limania it is located on the Akrotiri peninsula, in the north-eastern part of the island. The meaning of Seitan Limania derives from two words: the first – Seitan – of Turkish origin which means Devil, the second – Limania – Greek which is Porto. The beach can be reached by car until you reach the car park; from there you have to descend along the rocky wall that encloses the valley for about 20 minutes.
The beauty of this beach is its shape. The incredible turquoise water makes its way through a crack in the rocks creating a natural inlet that leaves you breathless. It is surrounded by an extremely wild landscape where the sea is often agitated by marine currents that shake its water creating a mixture of shining colours.
How to get to Seitan Limania
The beach can be reached by car in the direction of the Akrotiri Peninsula to the north east following Rizoskloko. There is an asphalt road that descends steeply towards nowhere until you reach a sort of car park. From there to get to the beach you have to "climb" the rocky wall that encloses the valley. It is recommended to have comfortable shoes because the path is steep and quite rough. You just need to pay a little attention and take it calmly, Paolo also managed it.
Tips for Trips: There are 2 paths to get to the beach. We chose the one on the right because even if it was a little longer it seemed to be less steep.
3. Balos Lagoon
There Balos Lagoon it is located right on the extreme ledge of the north-west coast of Crete between the island of Gramvousa and Cape Tigani. It can be reached by boat from Kissamos or on foot via a path and down a natural staircase for about 20 minutes.
The lagoon is formed by the silting of the island of Capo Tigani which with two strips of sand/rocks approximately 400 meters long each divides the sea into small pools giving life to the beautiful lagoon where the water is transparent and with many different shades. The beach is made up of dunes of very white and fine sand made up of shells and pulverized corals which sometimes have pink reflections. The Caribbean sea with turquoise and pastel blue colors and surrounded by wild and uncontaminated nature is always calm and warm with very shallow waters. moving away from the coast, beyond the rocks, the water becomes deeper and colder and the seabed is perfect for snorkelling lovers.
How to get to Balos
It is possible to reach the Balos lagoon by sea or on foot.
Excursions leave from Kissamos every day and take you to the lagoon in an hour's sail. The tour includes a first stop on the island of Gramvousa and then at Balos beach, where we stop for about 3 hours before returning. Often the excursion is sold together with the bus from Chania or nearby towns, alternatively it is possible to reach the port of Kissamos independently. Personally I don't recommend this option, I saw tourists disembark from the ship in the late morning, thousands of them, invading a place of peace and beauty and ruining the atmosphere... I didn't have a good impression of the tour.
The second option is to arrive with your own car. The road to get to Balos is unpaved and exposed in some sections, with many more or less deep potholes, but it is also very wide, and can be driven by any car if you take it calmly. At the entrance to the dirt road you pay an entrance fee per person, and after less than 10 km you arrive at the car park. From here you then follow a path in a Mars-like landscape that immerses you. You then arrive at a natural staircase which takes you to the beach in about 20 minutes.
Tips for trips: The route is very simple but not at all sheltered so it is better to arrive early in the morning to avoid the hottest hours - and the crowds of tourists arriving on boats - and bring plenty of water to avoid risks a heatstroke.
4. Elafonissi
The beach of Elafonissi it is located in the most southwestern tip of the coast. It is a peninsula with an elongated shape and depending on the tide it seems to divide into two parts and more than a stretch of sea it seems like a natural swimming pool.
The beach is of very fine white sand which at times turns coral pink due to the crushed shells, all bathed in a crystalline, clear and extremely calm turquoise sea. Right in front of the beach is the small island of Elafonissi which, during low tide periods is connected via a narrow strip of sand, while in others it is a real island that can be reached by walking through the knee-deep sea. Following the sandy path you find yourself in the southern part of the peninsula where there is less crowds and space to enjoy this paradise. At the end of the island there is a promontory where there is a lighthouse and the small chapel of Agia Irini and once you reach the top you have a beautiful view of the entire coast.
How to get to Elafonissi
The beach can be reached by car via two roads. The first, the longest one that runs along the entire western coast offers some very beautiful views. The second, less panoramic, is an internal road that practically cuts the coast.
5. Agiophagus
The beach of Agiophagus it is located on the south coast of Crete, at the end of the Gorge of the Saints. It can be reached by car and then following a wild route of about 40 minutes or by boat from Matala, Kali Limene and Agia Galin.
The path along the gorge is itself part of the beauty of the beach. It's very easy, it takes 40 minutes to navigate through wonderful nature but it's mostly in the sun. Along the route there is the chapel of Agios Antonios with its bell - ringing it seems to bring good luck - and the well, the only source of water for the hermits. Continuing towards the sea, on the left is the entrance to the Goumenóspilios cave consisting of a smaller cave at the entrance and a second larger one – 9 meters high and 7 meters wide – where Saint Anthony lived. Continuing you arrive at the beach, where the sea opens up with its intense blue and looks like a mirage.
The pebble beach is surrounded by cliffs full of caves once used as sanctuaries or hermitages. The sea is an intense blue and always calm since the bay is sheltered from the winds. It is a wild and uncrowded place where you can spend time in a relaxed atmosphere enjoying the view of the wonderful sea. In the western part of the cove, where the coast ends sheer at the bottom of the sea, there is a small rocky arch over the sea under which you can swim.
How to get to Agiofarago
The beach can be reached by sea or by car.
You can rent a boat from Matala, Kali Limene and Agia Galin to get to the beach. Here too, I saw tourists arriving by taxi boat to the beach, dirtying the sea and breaking the quiet and atmosphere that surrounds the place... I don't recommend it.
The second option is to arrive by car. Follow the road to Messara and continue past the village of Sivas until you reach the monastery of Odigitria. From here, turn left from the dirt road towards the port of Kaloi Limenes. After about 4 km you will find a sign with directions to Agiofarago. To reach the beach you must initially take a small and bumpy dirt road - but passable with all types of cars - up to a large car park. There is a small kiosk offering cold drinks and something to eat before venturing onto the approximately 1km path that leads to the beach.
If you liked this article and want to know more about Crete read our complete itinerary Crete, Mythological Island.
Last Updated on 7 September 2024
