Heraklion beaches

The coastline of Heraklion offers great variety, from the secluded beaches of the Asterousia Mountains to the more easily accessible shores in the north. Along the southern coast, notable beaches include Agiofarago, Vathy, Trafoulas near Lendas, Aspes and Agios Nikitas. Farther east lies Listis near Keratokambos, while the dunes of Komos extend along the western coast. Popular northern choices include the Sarandaris coves, Potamos beach near Malia and the small beaches of Dia island.

Heraklion Map

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

#

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)

Red beach

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.07 (217 Votes)

The Red Beach is located at location Moudia, 68km southwest of Heraklion and just 800m south of Matala famous resort. To get here you have to walk a trail that begins north of the settlement of Matala and crosses the hill north of Matala. There used to be some signs showing the way.

Aspes beach

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.46 (247 Votes)

The majestic black beach of Aspes is located about 58km south of Heraklion, in one of the most remote and inaccessible areas of Asteroussia Mountains. It is situated 4km east of the hamlet of Treis Ekklisies.

Komos beach

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.09 (209 Votes)

Kommos (or Komos) is located 66km southwest of Heraklion, just 2km north of Matala and close the seaside settlement of Kalamaki. It is actually the southernmost and the most isolated part of the huge beachfront of Mesara Bay. Kommos was once the port of Phaestus, so you can still see the ruins of the town, near the beach. You can access Kommos by driving in the road heading to Matala, till you see a sign to Kommos.

Ammoudara beach (Gazi)

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.24 (323 Votes)

Ammoudara is a long beach which starts 1km west of the center of Heraklion and reaches the mouth of the river Almyros, 7km on the west. Ammoudara is today a suburb of Heraklion, with thousands of visitors every year, mainly because of the vast beach.

Gouves beaches

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.60 (269 Votes)

Kato Gouves (or simply Gouves) is a popular holiday resort located 18km east of Heraklion, in the foothills of Mount Ederi. In the past, the valley of Kato Gouves was cultivated by the residents of the village of Ano Gouves with vegetables, olives, and cereals.

Vathi beach

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.50 (194 Votes)

The beach is shaped at the exit of a small gorge, surrounded by long cliffs. The circular bight of the bay conceals it from the open sea, making Vathy a natural hideout. It is no coincidence that pirates used it as their anchorage. The well-protected beach has almost always calm waters, although the surrounding beaches can be very wavy.

Potamos beach at Malia

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.20 (244 Votes)

Potamos is a long sandy beach, very well organized, but less crowded than the main beach of Malia. The region, particularly its east part, is not developed due to the archaeological site. However, in the west of the beach, there are several hotels with small bays in front of them.

Kaminaki beach

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.49 (237 Votes)

Kaminaki Beach is located 58km south of Heraklion, in the southeastern outskirts of Asterousia Mountains. The surrounding mountains form a purely Cretan landscape, with inaccessible gorges, bare rocks, steep cliffs and remote beaches accessible only on boat. The beach of Kaminaki is formed at the exit of the wild Perivoliano Gorge.

Heraklion

Echoes of Blue

Dia islet

Agiofarago

Aspes

Heraklion beaches

Red beach

Aspes beach

Komos beach

Ammoudara beach (Gazi)

Gouves beaches

Vathi beach

Potamos beach at Malia

Kaminaki beach