East Crete Beaches
We personally like much more the western part of Crete, perhaps because being "savages" in reality, we love places a little more remote and difficult to reach, but this does not take away from the fact that even the east part of Crete has its unquestionable charm.
Even here, being a tide on the beaches of Crete, we have summarized those we prefer and we recommend you visit if you are in this majestic island for your holidays in Greece.
Chrissi Island
The small Chrissi Island is located just opposite the Ierapetra village on the Libyan sea. It is considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the island and the reason is for its transparent, warm and turquoise waters that seem almost fake. Furthermore, the coast, being of very fine white sand, will make you believe you are in the Caribbean and not in Greece. The seabed is low so ideal for snorkelers and families with children. The island is completely uninhabited and has a beautiful forest of Cedars of Lebanon in the central part. A part is equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas and with a single bar for drinks and snacks. However, we recommend bringing food and water. At about ten minutes walk you can visit the other small bays that this wonder of nature offers. To reach Chrissi Island, you must necessarily take the ferry that leaves from Myrtos or Ierapetra with a crossing of about 25 minutes. The island is a protected area for its countless natural beauties. A day here is a must!!!
Agia Pelagia Beach
In the north-eastern part of the Crete island, about 18 kilometers from Heraklion, is the beautiful Agia Pelagia Beach. It is a narrow beach of golden sand in a small circular bay very quiet and protected from the wind. The sea with sandy bottoms that gradually descend is transparent and clear with a turquoise color. It is equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas and on the coast there are a wide choice of typical taverns, cafes and bars. Suitable for families with children.
Voulisma Beach
With a Caribbean flavor just twelve kilometers from Agios Nikolaos in the northeast part of the Crete island, it is one of the three bays of the Istron village. Also called Golden Beach exactly it is located 500 meters from the town, it is about seven hundred meters of fine white sand with a turquoise colored sea very reminiscent of tropical destinations. The beach is equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas, while for a bite to eat or to relax watching a magnificent panorama, a small kiosk is located above the beach on the plateau. To the west there is instead a small bay very protected from the winds but not organized called Volismeni. Awarded with the blue flag, its waters are usually very calm and peaceful, therefore ideal for families with children. Voulisma Beach or Golden Beach as you like to call them is very popular among the local community and among tourists so it is crowded especially on weekends and in the summer period. A little visit, however it is worth doing maybe just for a bath.
Kolokytha Beach
Near Elounda in the north-eastern part of the Crete island, and the Spinalonga Peninsula, we find an island called Kololytha which houses the wonderful beach on the opposite side. Small and super-crowded in the summer, it offers visitors a sandy coastline with crystal-clear water. Lined with centuries-old olive trees that offer shade in the hottest hours, it is not equipped at all so bring everything you need. It is very suitable for families with children. To reach it is not really easy, but like all difficult things, the final prize satisfies the labors abundantly. You can reach the beach on foot from the chapel of Saint Loukas with a five-minute walk, be careful though the path has a bit of stones and with prams it is a bit difficult, but you modern parents will surely have more alternatives suitable for transporting your children. Being small and super popular we recommend you visit it early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Matala Beach
South-east of Heraklion where the plain of Messara meets the mountains of Asterousia, we find Matala Beach, a beautiful beach of soft sand, gold color about 300 meters long, very wide and embedded between suggestive rocks where beautiful caves dating back to the era are hidden prehistoric (unfortunately nowadays they are closed and fenced). The sea on this beach is extremely beautiful with a turquoise lit with crystal clear waters. The sandy bottom gently slopes down and for this reason it is ideal for families with children and for lovers of long swims. It is well equipped with sun beds and umbrellas, and just behind the beach in the picturesque fishing village are bars, cafes and typical taverns where you can enjoy delicious dishes of fresh fish.
Myrthos Beach
It is located about 13 kilometers from Ierapetra in the south east part of the beautiful Crete island between a wide valley full of citrus groves and crossed by the Kryos river that flows into the Sarakina gorge. The beach is coarse and gray, the kind that does not stick to the body and does not make you look like "cutlets", and a sea that bathes the beach between blue and turquoise with crystal clear waters. The seabed of sand mixed with gravel descends slowly, therefore ideal for families with children and for lovers of long and relaxing swims. Myrtos Beach is a very long beach and considered one of the most beautiful in the south of Crete. Given its position it is not exposed to strong winds, in fact the locals claim that the wind never blows. It is well organized with umbrellas, sunbeds, water sports, beach bars and typical taverns where you can enjoy Cretan and local cuisine. Towards the west, the beach becomes even larger and even more peaceful. In the Mythos area, an alternative to the beach are the two Minoan settlements in Fournou, Korifi and Pirgos to visit.
Xerocambos Beach
In the most extreme part south-east of Crete, we find Xerocambos Beach. In reality, it is not a single beach but three with larger dimensions and other real small coves. Obviously only the larger ones are equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas, the smaller ones are free and very wild. The landscape is arid and almost lunar, with bare rocks, steep mountains and a vegetation limited to bushes and some olive trees. The beauty of this area is that peace and tranquility are the watchword. Here you will find all sorts of possible beaches, from those with only rocks, to those with coarse pebbles to those with small pebbles to those of golden sand or very white sand, but the thing in common is always and only the wonderful sea from the waters turquoise and transparent. For lovers of natural spas there is also a clay beach where you can regenerate your skin. In the village of the same name there are mini markets, typical taverns and cafes. Although it will seem to be almost out of the world, to reach these beaches fortunately there are comfortable paved roads that pass through green plateaus and abandoned medieval villages such as Etia and Chanetoulio. And finally, when you go down to the beaches, a breathtaking view of the sea. What to ask for more.
Pachia Ammos Beach
Pachia Ammos beach is located about 20 kilometers from Agios Nikolaos in the south east part of the Crete island right at the exit of a fertile plain covered with olive groves. The beach is of soft golden sand with olive trees behind it, and a turquoise and crystalline sea. Opposite there is Pseira which seems little more than a rock, but in reality it is a Minoan site rich in history. In front of Pachia Ammos beach, about 500 meters to the east, a long sandy beach and small pebbles are unfortunately exposed to winds with the consequence of a slightly waved sea. In the same beach on the west side, the turquoise and transparent sea is much calmer because it is protected by the pier. The beach is well organized with sunbeds and umbrellas, bars and small taverns where you can have a typical Greek lunch.
Vai Beach
The beautiful and unique Vai beach, is located in the north east of Crete about 25 kilometers from Sitia, It covers about 25 square kilometers with more than 5000 palm trees that make it the largest forest in all of Europe. The story goes that this forest grew thanks to the Phoenician merchants who threw away the seeds of the fruits they were eating from here. The beach with miles of soft golden sand is washed by an intense blue sea with crystal clear waters. The sandy bottom that gradually descends is ideal for families with children and for long swims. It is equipped with sunbeds, umbrellas and a few snack bars and cafes along the coast. The magical and tropical aspect of Vai Beach is that it is always very crowded in the summer periods, so we advise you to go there either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. It is allowed to stay from high to sunset.