You must see these beaches in Crete
TOP 3+1 beaches in Crete (West)
You know… In every holiday destinations, there are sights, natural or human-made wonders, which if they were not visited during your holiday it would be like to miss the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Acropolis in Athens, or the Trevi Fountain in Rome.
And if you travel to a big island like Crete, the number of places you put on your „must see” list will undoubtedly multiply, and since we’re talking about a paradise with more than 1000 km of coastline, it’s no surprise that you can’t set a limit to sort the turquoise beaches.
But can be one vacation enough to explore all the bays and all the colorful beaches in Crete, or is it better to make a selection in advance?
If your time is limited, I recommend you to start with Crete’s top-listed beaches and get to those beaches that you might seen in the travel brochure before you chose your holiday to Crete.
Here are 3 + 1 beaches in Crete (West) which you would really regret to miss
To make your life easier, I will also give you a few extra tips how to discover them
1. Elafonisi
The world-famous Elafonisi, which shines sometimes in white and sometimes in pink, is guaranteed to make your eyes sparkle, but in fact, even the journey will write itself into the book of your Cretan adventures.
You can reach the lagoon traveling from northern Crete to the southwestern corner of the island while you’re crossing tiny Greek villages and dancing beside deep gorges.
You’ll walk through the ankle-deep water, and you will find yourself in a nature reserve of the Natura 2000 program, in a small island, which is Elafonisi itself. Check the map here to see where you can find Elafonisi.
How to get to Elafonisi?
- By rented car (Click for renting a car)
- By organised excursion wich is the easiest way if you don't have a car (Click for excursion here)
- By public bus from Chania if you don't mind the rare number of running busses and the doubt if the bus will really come
MyCCollage tips to visit Elafonisi
- When you arrive and leave the parking don't stop at the organised beach area with umbrellas. Walk across the lagoon and explore the less touched island. You'll find less touristic bays with more pink sand.
- If you don't mind the heat walk all the way to the end of the island and climb to the top of the hill. You'll find a small chapel and you can see all of Elafonisi from there.
- Be prepared with umbrella (better if you have beach canopy), because it can be a challenge to find shaded places in the beach.
- If you have a rented car, arrive in the afternoon/evening hours, when there are less tourists and you can even enjoy an amazing sunset at the end of the island.
2. Balos lagoon
I can only mention Balos and Elafonisi on the same page, and this caribbean paradise is one of the favorites of beach lovers.
In the largest part of the lagoon, you can wander in the ankle-deep sea and if you’re lucky, you can even sink your feet into the pink sand.
Like Elafonisi, Balos is also a nature reserve and that’s the reason why is it waiting for you just with a few parasols and with a small beach bar. The West Cretan wonder is considered one of the top in the world and attracts millions of tourists in each year. Check the map here to see where you can find Balos.
How to get to Balos?
- By rented car, but it is not the best idea, because the last 8 km is not asphalted and your insurance will not apply which means that if you get a breakdown you have to pay for car rescue and reapiring, as well.
- By organised excursion you will win more than Balos. You'll not have any problem regarding the car, you don't need to climb 45 minutes upphill to the parking in the heat and you can see an other treasure of Crete which is the island of Gramvousa (Click for excursion here)
- You can rent a private boat with a captain, and it's quite affordable, so you'll even have the chance to enjoy the beauty of the lagoon without the crowds of tourists. (Click for a private boat trip here.)
MyCCollage tips to visit Balos
- Choose a less windy day, because if a strong wind dominates the area, you'll not enjoy your day as you could.
- If you are going with a rented car, take a jeep which is better suited to the road conditions, and in this case go early in the morning or late at afternoon. (Because of the less number of tourists, because it's easier to find a parking lot, and because you don't have to climb the mountain in the heat.)
- Choose the private boat tour, which will allow you to reach the lagoon in a short time, you'll avoid many tourists, and you can also explore the underwater world of Balos by snorkeling around your boat.
3. Falassarna
Would you like to keep the exotic beaches as your priority, but are you prefer a larger and therefore less crowded beach? Visit Falasarna and enjoy the foam of the azure sea in this spectacular paradise.
Try adrenaline-pumping water sports, or sit down in a family tavern and while enjoying the beauty of the coast, nibble from the tasty Greek dishes.
How to get to Falassarna?
MyCCollage tips to visit Falassarna
- Choose a less windy day, because if the beach has red flag and there are big waves, it'll be not possible to enter the sea
- Be active and move from the big Falassarna beach to the smaller one in order to find more relaxed bays
- Watch sunset in Falassarna. It is said that it has one of the most beautiful in Crete
- Kill two birds with one stone: Go from Falassarna to Balos and after your private boat excursion you can continue your beach time in Falassarna. (Click for a private boat trip here.)
+1. Seitan Limani
My personal favorite, but once you see this beach, you’ll might have the same oppinion.
Seitan Limani, means Satan’s harbour, may even remind you of the shipwrecked Navaggio Bay of Zakynthos, and although there are no wrecks here, the contrast of the sea breaking its way between the small white pebbles and red rocks forms a bright blue bay that will almost dazzle your eyes.
The beach is small, so it can be crowded on summer days, but the wonderful view and the goats, who make sure to not to get bored on the beach will compensate it.
How to get to Seitan Limani?
- By rented car you can reach the parking by a well-built serpentine road and from there it'll take about 20 minutes walk downhill. Be prepared at least with sneakers because it can be a challenge to descent (Click for renting a car)
- With a private boat trip, you can explore the bay without the challenging walk (Click for the private boat trip)
- By public bus from Chania which are running 1-2 times per day
MyCCollage tips to visit Seitan Limani
- If you walk from the parking (so you're by car or public bus) keep a pair of sneakers with you and wear it while you're climbing down to the beach
- Even if you want to skip the hike you can go to the parking just to see the view of the beach and take some nice photos
- Take some food and drink because the beach isn't organised. You may find a greek to sell water and beer but it's also not sure.
- Don't be surprised if you can find place for your towel just between the rocks. In the summer time it's almost every day crowded here.
Are you interested in similar tips for your holiday in Crete? How to travel to Crete? Where to stay in the island? What to do? What to eat and which secret places don’t miss?
