Lassithi Beaches

Crete

Beaches in Lassithi, Crete

map of the beaches in Lassithi district

Lassithi Beach Guide

Check the number next to each beach to locate it on the map of Lassithi Prefecture.

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

Beaches along the North Coast of Lasssithi, Crete (from west to the east)

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- click the thumbnails for larger pictures -

Mpoufos Beach Kalimera Kriti	Sissi - Read about Sissi - Limani Beach, the beach inside the town of Sissi - Mpoufos beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel -, exposed to wind:+), a small sandy beach with big waves - Avlaki Beach, an unattractive cove with big pebbles, that can be used to access - on foot - the nearby excellent sandy beach of the "Kalimera Kriti" hotel (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO). Walk for 5 minutes on the path leading from Avlaki beach to "Kalimera Kriti" beach
Milatos beach Minos Imperial	2. Milatos beach (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO), a small sandy beach within the fishing port of Milatos. - There is another beach with big pebbles east of the fish taverns, which is exposed to North winds. - The best beach is west of Milatos and it is a sandy beach inside the Minos Imperial Hotel. A dirt track leads from Milatos to the above hotel. LINK> Information about Milatos
	3. Vlichadia (Sunbeds -, Restaurant -, Hotel -, exposed to wind +), a pebbly beach that few people will ever visit. Not that they will miss much if they don't...
	4. Plaka - the northern beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO), a pebbly beach with tamarisk trees and a great view of Spinalonga island. This is the best beach in Plaka village. - the southern beach (Sunbeds -, Restaurant -, Hotel -, exposed to wind:-), another pebbly beach almost deserted.
	5. Driros beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel -, exposed to wind:-), a beach with sand and shingle and lots of tamarisk trees. This beach is one of the best in Elounda bay and it is located between Plaka and Elounda.
the North beach the South beach the peninsula	6. Elounda - the beach north of the port (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO), a nice sandy beach - the beach south of the port (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind:NO), a smaller sandy beach 7. If you want to enjoy some nude sunbathing, then follow the dirt track past the windmills on the isthmus that joins Elounda with the peninsula in front of it. It is a ten-minute drive and you will have to park your car at the end of the road and walk on the path descending to the shore. To your left there is a rocky coast that naturists prefer. No facilities. To your right there is an excellent small sandy beach with no facilities. I visited this beach in the afternoon and no naturitsts were there at that time. Perhaps the reason for this is the boats that take people to Spinalonga. The boats moor very close to this beach and, when they do, there is no privacy and the peace of this secluded beach is destroyed by loud music. The boats leave at 3 pm. I am not sure when exactly they arrive, but it is probably around noon.
Chavania Beach Ammoudi beach Concrete platform Kitroplateia beach Municipal Beach	Agios Nikolaos 8. Chavania beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel -, exposed to wind: NO), a nice sandy beach. - Ammoudi beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO), sandy and crowded. - The concrete platform opposite to the Coral Hotel. Not a beach actually but enough people come here for sunbathing. - Kitroplateia beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO), a sandy beach very close to the center of Agios Nikolaos. - Ammos beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO), the same as the previous - The Municipal Beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO). The Mini Golf is here and there is an admission fee. The beach is pebbly but there is a big area with grass, many trees, sunbeds and umbrellas plus a swimming pool for adults and children. There is also a bar, in case you need to have a cool drink or a light meal. - Almyros beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: NO), the best beach in Agios Nikolaos. It is a long sandy beach in a protected bay. The water is very shallow and it is suitable for children.
	9. Ammoudara (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: -), an excellent sandy beach very close to Agios Nikolaos. Unfortunately the access to it is so easy (it is on the main road from Agios Nikolaos to Ierapetra and Siteia), that it may get crowded.
Karavostasi Agios Panteleimonas	10. Kalo Horio - Karavostasi beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant -, Hotel -, exposed to wind: -), a quiet pebbly beach. At the entrance of Kalo Horio there is a sign pointing to the "Beach". - Agios Panteleimonas (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: -), another quiet beach with two canteens. In the middle of Kalo Horio there is an Internet Cafe with a big sign. Opposite to it there is a Super Market and the narrow road that leads to this beach.
	11. Istron - Golden beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +), sandy beach in a bay with turqoise water. Unfortunately it is narrow and packed with sunbeds and the sea currents tend to carry garbage damped into the Agios Nikolaos bay towards the beach. - On the left side of the bay there is a tiny cove and two very small pebbly beaches; not crowded usually. - The beach of Istron Bay Hotel.
	The beach of Gournia Camping, a small pebbly beach in a protected bay.
	12. Pahia Ammos (Restaurant +, Hotel +): - a sandy beach with sunbeds, which is pretected from the winds by the dock of the small fishing port - a long beach with tamarisk trees, pebbles and big waves
	13. Kavousi (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +). Enter the village and look for the sign to Tholos beach. It is a pebbly beach with tamarisk trees and it is exposed to the wind. The left side of it is sandy and more protected. There are a couple of taverns here but you will have to look in Kavousi village (3 km) for accommodation.
	14. Mohlos (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel -, exposed to wind: +), a shingle beach west of Mochlos village.
	Siteia (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +), a long sandy beach on the road from Siteia to Vai.
	15. Erimoupolis or Itanos (Sunbeds -, Restaurant -, Hotel -, exposed to wind: +), the small sandy beach of the ancient town of Itanos. There is another longer sandy beach that you can get to - on foot -, over the low hill to your left.
	Vai beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel -, exposed to wind: +). An area of exceptional beauty because of the existing Palm-tree forest. The beach of Vai is an organised sandy beach with watersports available. It is a crowded but beautiful beach and less exposed to North winds than the Palaikastro beaches.
Maridati Hiona beach	17. Palaikastro - Maridati beach (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +), a small bay with a sandy beach, 4km north-east of Palaikastro. - Kouremenos beach (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +), a long, sandy beach, 2km north-east of Palaikastro. - Hiona beach (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +), an excellent sandy beach with a couple of fish taverns. The beach is located 2 km east of Palaikastro town. It is a long beach with the south part of it clothing optional.
	Kato Zakros (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +), the pebbly beach of Zakros, where the Minoan Palace of Zakros can be found. Many good fish taverns here.
	19. Xerokampos (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +), various sandy coves and turqoise water. Xerokampos is a magnificent place when there is no wind. It is a sleepy resort far away from everything.

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

lassithi map beaches

west of Myrtos main beach	26. Myrtos - west of Myrtos there is a long, narrow beach with pebbles and, occasionally, rocks and boulders. The seabed is rocky. No facilities here. Naturism is possible but a road runs parallel to the beach. - the beach of Myrtos (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +), is a beach with sand and pebbles.
Central beach eastern beach	Ierapetra - the sandy beach in the center of Ierapetra (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: -) - the beach starting from the east end of Ierapetra and extending eastwards for several km (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +). There are no sunbeds at its eastern end.
map of Hryssi Millions of seashells on Chrissi	Chryssi or Hryssi or Gaidouronissi Island lies 15km south of Ierapetra. In the middle of the Libyan sea, the island's nature is pure and mysterious. Its secret allurements are revealed to anyone who searches for them. Bays, secret or not, pure beaches, crystal-blue water, rare cedar forests, fragile ecosystems, species of plants and animals have existed undisturbed on the island for hundreds of thousand of years. Ruins of buildings from the pre-historical and historical time demonstrate the length of human presence on the island. There are daily boat excursions to the island and its sandy white beaches. Boats departure from Ierapetra at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. They return at 17:00 and 18:00. The duration of the voyage is one hour.
	5-6 km east of Ierapetra town; look out for a NISSAN sign on the right side of the road. Enter the short dirt track there and walk down to the magnificent secluded beach. You will probably be alone there and the beach is clothing optional occasionally. No facilities available.
	25. Koutsounari (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +), it is a long sandy beach and Long Beach is its name. It starts from the Koutsounari Camping and stretches for several km towards the east. It is very wide and there are parts of it with no facilities. - Panoramic Image - click for large picture -
	The beach past Kakkos Bay Hotel (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: -), a sandy beach with tamarisk trees.
	24. Ferma (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: -), a small sandy beach inside the beautiful bay of Ferma town. You may access the beach through Taverna Elena, close to the exit of the town.
	23. Agia Fotia (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: -), a lovely sandy beach in a picturesque valley
	Ahlia Beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: -), an uncrowded sandy beach.
	Mavros Kolimpos beach (Sunbeds -, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: -), a shingle and pebbles beach, where you will be almost alone. There is no sign with the name of the beach, only a generic "beach" sign.
	22. Koutsouras (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: -), a pebbly beach, not especially attractive.
the first beach the main beach	Makrygialos - the beach opposite to the Minoan Villa archaeological site (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: +), an uncrowded beach with shingle and pebbles. - Makrygialos beach (Sunbeds +, Restaurant +, Hotel +, exposed to wind: -), the main sandy beach of Makrygialos. The shallow water makes it suitable for children. - Panoramic picture of Makrygialos -
	Diaskari beach and Langada beach (Sunbeds -, Restaurant -, Hotel -, exposed to wind +), two secluded beaches past Makrygialos. There is a sign to Diaskari beach. In order to locate the dirt track to Langada beach you will have to drive for a couple of km past Diaskari and look for the "Taverna Eftyhia". The tavern is closed, so don't count on it for lunch. Past the taverna there is a greenhouse and right after that, you will see the dirt track leading to the beach. You will probably be alone there, so naturism is possible.
	The beach past the "Dragon's Cave" Taverna (Sunbeds -, Restaurant -, Hotel -, exposed to wind: -), a beautiful cove with a sandy beach.
	21. Kapsa Monastery. There are several pebbly coves along the road from Makrygialos to Kapsa Monastery and Goudouras. Feel free to explore and discover your own beach.
	20. Goudouras is the last village on the southern coast of Lassithi district and here there is a beach with shingle.
	Koufonissi island, a small uninhabited island opposite to Goudouras. The excavations revealed a city of the roman period, a theater with seats for 1000 persons, an aqueduct and a port. Boats leave for Koufonisi from Makrygialos every morning. The beaches are excellent with golden sand and turqoise water. No facilities and no shade on the island.

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 someoneis trying to sandblast the skin off your body.

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