Chania Beaches

Crete

Beaches in Chania or Hania Crete

map of beaches in Chania district

Chania Beach Guide

Check the number next to each beach to locate it on the map of the Chania prefecture.

Beaches without a number are located between the previous and the next numbered beach.

Beaches along the West and North Coast of Chania, Crete

- click on the thumbnails for larger pictures -

	1. Elafonissi Lagoon (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind:-), one of the prettiest beaches in Crete and equally famous with Vai palm-forest beach. Pinkish sand, very shallow water and really crowded till 16:00 when the tourist buses depart. This is the time to enjoy the place. Wait till the sunset and have your camera loaded and ready. Photos of Elafonissi
	- Afratolakkoi (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind:+), a scenic bay with a beach with big pebbles. A place unaffected by tourism but the beach is not great for swimming.
	2. Sfinari (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind:+), a beach with pebbles and some tamarisk trees. Good for snorkelling.
	- There is a long, secluded beach several km north of Sfinari (Sunbeds -, Restaurant -, Hotel -, exposed to wind:+). You will have to follow a dirt track down to the beach. It looks like a nice spot for camping.
	3. Falassarna beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind:+), a long sandy beach with wonderful sunsets. It has been voted for Best Beach of Greece for 2002. There are several beaches in the Falassarna bay: - small sandy beaches close to the ancient Falassarna town (north) - the "Long Beach" or "Pachia Ammos", which is the famous long and wide sandy beach of Falassarna. - another sandy beach with a rocky seabed (south). No facilities here. - a small pebbly beach close to the port of Falassarna (south). There are rooms and taverns. No sunbeds and umbrellas.
	4. Mpalos Lagoon (Sunbeds -, Restaurant -, Hotel -, exposed to wind:NO), one of the best beaches all over Greece. White-pinkish sand and broken sea-shells. The water in the lagoon is very shallow and warm but the seabed is muddy and sometimes there is a bad odour. There is a primitive cafe here if you fancy a cold frapé coffee or a beer. People occasionally camp here but there are no trees and no shade. Unfortunately there is a very bad tar problem, so be careful of where you step. You may also swim out of the lagoon. The water is deep, crystal-clear, much colder and good for snorkelling. You may access the beach: - on foot from Kalyvianni village in 3 hours. - follow the dirt road from kalyvianni village to the parking place and then walk for 15 minutes. The condition of the road is not good and it may prove a serious problem for some cars. - by boat from Kissamos. The boat departs at 09:30 and returns at 16:00. It is the most convenient solution and you will also visit the Gramvoussa Venetian fortress at the island of Imeri Gramvoussa. The disadvantage is that you will miss the incredible view of the Lagoon from the parking place, unless you climb the steps for 15 minutes. - Pictures of Mpalos Lagoon
	5. Kissamos or Kastelli beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind:+), a long sandy beach with tamarisk trees.
	6. Ravdoucha (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind:+). A quiet beach with pebbles and tamarisk trees. The rocky seabed is good for snorkelling. Ravdoucha is the place to look for tasty fresh fish.
	7. Menies or Diktynna (Sunbeds -, Restaurant -, Hotel -, exposed to wind:NO), a remote beach with pebbles. The ruins of a temple of goddess Artemis are here. If you want to get here you will need a 4WD car, as the 23 km dirt track is in a very bad condition.
	- Afrata beach, a tiny sandy cove with a cantine (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel -, exposed to wind:NO). You will drive here from Kolimpari on a narrow, winding road. Scenic drive in an area unpoiled from tourism.
	- Kolimpari beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +), a pebbly beach
	- Tavronitis beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +), a beach with shingle and pebbles.
Maleme beach	8. Maleme and Gerani beaches (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind:+). The beach at Gerani is organised but the beach of Maleme is less developed and there are areas with no facilities. NOTE. There where the boat appears in the photo, there is the wreck of a german airplane from World War II
	9. Platanias beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind:+), a sandy beach packed with people in July and August.
	10. Agia Marina beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind:+), a long sandy beach. There are several beach bars here and they attract a lot of people. Be careful when the sea gets rough and follow the instructions of the lifesavers
	- the sandy beaches of Kalamaki beach in Stalos area and Glaros (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +)
	- Agioi Apostoloi Beach, three sandy coves 7 km west of Hania (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: N0)
	- Chania city beaches. There are two beaches within the city of Chania: - The Nea Hora sandy beach west of the Venetian walls (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind:+). Some good fish taverns are here and the water is shallow. If you walk further to the west, then there is a long sandy stretch with no facilities and very few people. - the beach east of the Venetian Walls is not suggested due to the apparent pollution (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind:+)
Kalathas beach Stavros beach Marathi beach	The beaches at the Souda Peninsula - Kalathas (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +) - Tersanas ((Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel -, exposed to wind: NO) Kalathas and Tersanas are on the west side of the peninsula, south of Stavros beach. 11. Stavros (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +) 12. Marathi & Loutraki (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO) All of them are fine sandy beaches preferred by the locals. The water is shallow and suitable for small children.
Kalives beach Almirida beach	- The beach before Kalives (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO), a sandy beach which is less crowded than the beach inside Kalives. On your way to Kalives look for the sign "Galazio Kima Cafe Bar". 13. Kalives, Almirida and Plaka beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO), nice sandy beaches worth a visit.
	14. Omprogialos beach (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel -, exposed to wind: NO), not a real beach but a concrete platform in front of a tavern with fresh fish. One of the most remote places tourists will ever visit.
Kalivaki Beach East of the river Perastikos Tavern	15. Georgioupolis beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind:+). - Kalivaki beach, a fine sandy beach west of the Georgioupolis river. This beach is probably better protected from the wind than the beach to the east of the river. - The beach east of the river extends for several km to the east and there are many beach bars and restaurants all along it. - When you feel that you had enough sun for the day, then try to locate the Perastikos beach and the restaurant built by the Perastikos river. It is a shady place with lush green and enjoying a beer there is a reviving experience. The Perastikos beach is about 700 meters east of Georgioupolis. - Panoramic picture of the Georgioupolis beach -

Beaches along the South Coast of Chania, Crete (from west to the east)

chania hania map

- click on the thumbnails for larger photos -

Krios beach Grammeno Pachia Ammos east Paleochora the Sandy beach	15. Paleochora beaches (from west to the east) - Krios (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel -, exposed to wind: NO), a pebbly beach. - Koundoura, big pebbles and stones, not really attractive. - Grammeno beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel -, exposed to wind: +). There is the main sandy beach and an area covered by cedar trees, where a couple of small coves exist. - a small pebbly cove, a couple of km west of Paleochora - Pachia Ammos is the main beach in Paleochora (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +), a fine sandy beach packed with people in August. If you walk along the beach to its west end, there is a small part of it used by naturists. - on the east side of the town of Paleochora there is a pebbly beach with facilities available and less crowded than the west one. - a new dirt track has been constructed to the east and there are several beaches along the way - a long beach with pebbles and stones and no facilities. There is hardly anybody on this beach. - Anidroi beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel -, exposed to wind: +), a beautiful pebbly beach. - the Sandy beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant -, Hotel -, exposed to wind: +), a great sandy beach with very few people usually.
	16. Lissos (Sunbeds -, Restaurant -, Hotel -, exposed to wind: +). Lissos is an archaeological site and you may access it on foot from Sougia within 2 hours. If you want to avoid the strenuous hike back to Sougia, then take the boat. The beach is not enough reason to visit the place but the antiquities and the pleasant hike are.
	17. Sougia beach, (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +) the former paradise for campers. People still camp under the tamarisk trees but things are not what it used to be. The beach is long and pebbly and its eastern part is for naturists. It is also a great place for snorkelling.
	18. Agia Roumeli (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO), a fine beach with dark pebbles. The Agia Roumeli village is at the exit of the Samaria Gorge and a dive into the cool water is reviving after the long hike. Your first impression of Agia Roumeli is that of a crowded tourist place but it will be totally different when the Samaria hikers will take the last ferry to Sfakia. The village will be beautifully quiet and you will realise that there are many reasons to explore the place. A stay here is recommended, especially during the less busy months.
	Agios Pavlos is a long beach with pebbles and deep, clear water. It is not easy to get there but, once you do, you will be able to find a spot where you will be absolutely alone. Close to Agia Roumeli there is a small tavern with sunbeds and umbrellas. You may access the beach on foot from Loutro (3-4 hours) or from Agia Roumeli (1-2 hours).
Marmara beach	19. Phoenix, Likos, and Marmara (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO). Small beaches with pebbles and rocky seabed, good for snorkelling. They can all be accessed on foot from Loutro (Phoenix 30 min, Likos 45 min, Marmara 1 hour 15 min). There is also a boat from Loutro to Marmara. There is no hotel at Marmara, just a restaurant. Marmara may become crowded in July / August. The Marmara beach is the exit of the Aradaina gorge and walking the final part of it is very easy and pleasant.
	20. Loutro (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO), the tiny pebble beach of Loutro village. The sea is always calm and the water is crystal-clear. Great for snorkelling but be careful of the many boats and speedboats, especially in August. - Loutro Photo Album
	Glyka Nera (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel -, exposed to wind: NO). An excellent beach with pebbles, fresh water that comes out of the ground, no shade and a small canteen where you can have a cold drink, something to eat and rent an umbrella for the sun. This is one of the best beaches for naturists. You may access the beach: - on foot from Sfakia but someone has to show you where the path begins. Walking time 30 minutes. - on foot from Loutro. It will take you about 1 hour. Have plenty of water with you as it can be very hot. Poeple with vertigo should not attempt this hike. - by boat from Loutro. The boat departs at 10:00 and returns at 16:00
Ilingas beach	- Ilingas beach (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO). Keep driving past Sfakia town. In less than 5 minutes you will see the sign for Ilingas Hotel. Park there and walk to the excellent pebbly beach with the big cave.
Chora Sfakion town and beach	- the beach at Chora Sfakion village (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO). A pebbly beach accessible from inside the town
	The pebbly beach of Vritomartis Naturists Resort (Sunbeds -, Restaurant -, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +). Drive to the hotel and follow the dirt track leading to the beach.
	- Filaki beach (Sunbeds -, Restaurant -, Hotel -, exposed to wind: NO), a beach for naturists with pebbles and stones. Drive to Vritomartys Hotel and then turn left.
Frangocastello Orthi Ammos	21. Frangocastello beaches. Three different beaches in the same area. - The pebbly beach to the west with a rocky seabed, excellent for snorkeling. The existing facilities are offered by the various hotels along this beach, to their customers. Access is free. - The sandy beach in front of the castle (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +). The sea is very shallow and it is ideal for little children. - The "Orthi Ammos" sandy beach, 10 min on foot east of the castle (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +). An excellent beach with big sand-dunes and crystal-clear water. Since you will have to walk on the sand dunes to get to the beach, it is wise to remember that sand gets burning hot after noon. Proper shoes are required. The eastern part of this long beach is clothing optional occasionally.

NOTES:

- The beaches along the north coast of Crete are usually shallower and the water is slightly warmer.

- The beaches along the south coast are less crowded. You will notice campers on some of them but officially camping is not allowed outside of the approved camp grounds. The police may always ask you to leave.

- The cost for 2 sunbeds and an umbrella is approximately 5-6 €. Using them is optional. In every beach there is usually some (little) free space for visitors who do not wish to use the existing facilities.

- Never forget your sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and plenty of water, especially if you plan to visit some secluded beach along the southern coast.

- People who receive medication should check with their practicioner for potential risks of sunbathing.

- Sea urchins are a threat for your feet at rocky shores. Enter the sea carefully.

- Alcohol and swimming are not compatible.

- Leave nothing on the beach except for footprints.

- Naturism is not officially allowed but it is tolerated in the secluded beaches. Use your judgement whether you may practise naturism or not at a specific beach. If there are other naturists there, then it is unlikely to be a problem. However the situation changes all the time. A beach may be clothing optional during the week but on weekends it may be occupied by locals. Respect their customs and avoid provoking them by practising naturism next to them. It may give cause for serious reactions.

- The effect of summer north winds to the beaches of Crete:

1. along the north coast: North winds create high waves. This may prove dangerous for inexperienced swimmers. Be careful and listen to the instructions of lifesavers.

2. along the south coast: North winds here blow from the land to the sea and the sea remains calm but the sand hitting your body makes you feel like someone is trying to sandblast the skin off your body.

Things change all the time, so your assistance in keeping this beach report up-to-date is valuable. If you want to add a beach or suggest a correction , please contact us.