⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗

Driving on dusty dirt roads across rocky pastures and hiking in the canyons usually end up in a refreshing swim at a splendid secluded beach. The hues of the sea play their color game with the stones and the sun. Some of the most popular beaches are Agiofarago, while there are still impressive beaches at Vathy, Trafoulas near Lendas, Aspes and Agios Nikitas. Those preferring to stay close to “civilization” can swim below the legendary caves of Listis by Kastri and the dunes of Komos by Matala. Οn the north coast, in the coves of Sarandaris at Hersonisos, Potamos by Malia, as well as on Dia island one comes across heavenly beaches, where the water is azure blue.

Heraklion Map

1-20
21-40
41-60
61-76

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Beach

Attributes

Our rating

1

Tertsa

2

Sidonia

3

Faflagos

4

Arvi

5

Xerokambos

6

Armenopetra

7

Keratokambos

8

Kastri

9

Listis

10

Kamboula

11

Dermatos

12

Krassas

13

Tsoutsouras

14

Maridaki

15

Agios Nikitas

16

Petrigiari

17

Aspes

18

Kaminaki

19

Voidomatis

20

Tris Ekklisies
#

Beach

Attributes

Our rating

21

Pahia Ammos

22

Koudoumas

23

Agios Antonios

24

Eligia

25

Agios Ioannis

26

Salamias

27

Katarti

28

Leprias

29

Tripiti

30

Trafoulas

31

Loutra

32

Lendas

33

Dyskos

34

Tsigounas

35

Psili Ammos

36

Platia Peramata

37

Krigii

38

Chryssostomos

39

Kali Limenes

40

Agiofarago
#

Beach

Attributes

Our rating

41

Martsalo

42

Vathi

43

Red Beach

44

Matala

45

Komos

46

Kalamaki

47

Kokkinos Pirgos

48

Korakia

49

Fodele

50

Mononaftis

51

Psaromoura

52

Agia Pelagia

53

Ligaria

54

Mades

55

Fraskia

56

Paliokastro

57

Pantanassa

58

Ellinoperamata

59

Ammoudara

60

Karteros
#

Beach

Attributes

Our rating

61

Vathianos

62

Kokkini Hani

63

Gournes

64

Gouves

65

Aposelemis

66

Analipsis

67

Anissaras

68

Sarandaris

69

Hersonissos

70

Drapanos

71

Stalis

72

Malia

73

Potamos

74

Agia Varvara

75

Agios Georgios (Dia)

76

Panagia (Dia)

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Ligaria beach

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.65 (208 Votes)

Ligaria is located 21km north west of Heraklion and 1km east of Agia Pelagia. The Bay of Ligaria is closed and well protected from the winds blowing in the region. Nearby there are the ruins of the old monastery of Panagia Ligariani, where many monks lived in the past. The region gets its name from the monastery, which in turn gets its name from the beautiful plant “osier” (ligaria in Greek), with the flexible stems and the beautiful flowers, which used to abound in the area.

Anissaras beaches

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.52 (226 Votes)

The peaceful resort of Anisaras is located 21km east of Heraklion, west of Cape Sarandaris. The area is now full with big hotels, which offer primarily all-inclusive services. In front of the hotels, there are small sandy beaches with rocky seabed. All beaches are well-organized with umbrellas and sun beds, which are offered for free to the customers of the hotels.

Lendas beach

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.01 (174 Votes)

Lendas is a remote coastal village located 74km south of Heraklion, on the southern slopes of the imposing Asterousia Mountains. It is a tourist resort and a port, mildly developed offering very relaxing holidays. Lendas can be accessed from Agii Deka, close to Mires town, via the village of Miamou, through a narrow paved road.

Kokkinos Pirgos beach

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.02 (189 Votes)

Kokkinos Pirgos (i.e. Red Tower) is located 67km west of Heraklion and close to the town of Tymbaki. The name is taken after the tower that was there and was built with reddish soil. The purpose of this tower at this point is still unknown. It is the seaside village of Timbaki, home of the port of the region and developed touristically.

Analipsis beaches

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.70 (368 Votes)

Analipsi later was occupied by the the shepherds of Saint George village, in Lasithi Plateau, where the winter is very cold. Thus, they moved their cattle here in winter. Today, the lucky descendants of the shepherds have large properties in the area, with hotels, shops, restaurants and all sorts of tourist facilities.

Kokkini Hani beaches

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.55 (205 Votes)

Kokkini Hani is located 15km west of Heraklion, west of Vathianos Kambos. The area is a very well-developed resort, surrounded by the many crops cultivated in the plain of the area. The name of the site means “Kokkinis’s Inn” and is taken after an inn that operated here in the early 1900s, by someone called Kokkinis.

Martsalo beach

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.11 (186 Votes)

Martsalo is a secluded beach in the west Asterousia Mountains, one of the most inaccessible areas of Heraklion. It is located just a few kilometers from the “horn” of Messara Plain, the Cape Lithino, and 80km southwest of Heraklion.

Agios Georgios bay, Dia

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.90 (199 Votes)

Dia is a small uninhabited island located 12 miles north of Heraklion. During the summer, excursion boats run daily to Dia, where the visitor can admire the rugged landscape of the island and swim in the crystal clear waters. The place where the boats stop is called the port of St. George.

Heraklion

Echoes of Blue

Dia islet

Agiofarago

Aspes

Ligaria beach

Anissaras beaches

Lendas beach

Kokkinos Pirgos beach

Analipsis beaches

Kokkini Hani beaches

Martsalo beach

Agios Georgios bay, Dia

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