8 most beautiful beaches in West Crete

Some people go to the Maldives to see beautiful beaches but don't forget you can also visit Crete for this. Be prepared for one of the most beautiful beaches that you are gonna see in your life. The water is very blue and clear and makes you not wanna leave at the end of the day. Some beaches are easy to reach and others need some effort. One thing that I can tell you is that they are all worth a try.

1. Kedrodasos beach

This beach is a real hidden gem of the West of Crete. It is relative remoteness and the water is insane blue and clear. When I was there in September, we were almost the only ones on the beach. As soon as you enter this beach you have the feeling that you are in a paradise. Turquoise water, white and even pink sand, trees, rocks and a beautiful view on a mountain are making this beach a real gem. To reach this beach you have to drive around 1,5 hours from Chania center. In the end you need to drive around 2 km off-road and then you will find a small parking place. To reach the beach from the parking place you need to walk around 10-15 min on a pathway with sand and rocks. I have done it on slippers but it is better to wear shoes. On the beach are no facilities so you need to bring your own water, food and beach umbrella. It is also a very good place to camp. In the night it is even possible to see the milky way because the nearest town is 20 km away. So, don't let the effort to reach this beach scare you because you will never see a place like this again.

Location

1,5 hours driving West from Chania + 2 km off-road + 10 min walking off-road.

Accessibility

Wear shoes to walk 10-15 min from the parking place to the beach.

Popularity

Very secluded beach surrounded by many trees, sand and rocks.

Facilities

There are no facilities on the beach.

Important

Bring your own food, water and beach umbrella

! Not recommended to visit for people with disabilities !

2. Falassarna beach

Everybody that I spoke that has been in Crete were talking about Falassarna beach. And they were not wrong about this beach. This beach is ranked as number 6th best beach of Europe by Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards. The beach has a length of 1 km and width of 150 m. What I really liked about this beach was the diversity. If you park the car you will find a very wide long beach with a lot of space. If you walk a bit further you find some more private places between rocks. You can walk on the beach and decide for yourself how you would like to lay. Also here the water of the sea is amazing. The water is very clear and blue. This beach is located around 1 hour driving from Chania. There are many parking places and you can park the car and be immediately on the beach. Also on the beach you find some restaurants to eat or drink something. I was on this beach end of October and I had in some parts my own private beach.

Location

1 hour driving West from Chania.

Accessibility

Very easy, you can park beside the beach.

Popularity

There are crowded and not crowded parts in this beach.

Facilities

Food, drinks, toilets, sunbeds and umbrellas available at the beach.

3. Balos beach

Balos beach is real bucket list place. I always wanted to go there but when I saw it in real it was even more beautiful than I expected. You will see many different colours of blue in the water that you really don't know where to look. The beach is located in a remote area in the West of Crete. You can reach the beach by car or by boat. I went both ways and there are some cons and pros about both ways. The advantage by going with the boat is that you don't have problems with parking and traffic lines. I heard it can be really crowded and you have to wait for a long time. The disadvantage is that you have a certain time to spend on the beach. Also, if you would like to see the beach from above you need to walk up the mountain and that can be really exhausting. The advantage by going by car is that you can spend as long as you want on the beach. The disadvantage is that is a though road to come there. You need to drive 7 km off-road and there can be very long traffic lines. If you enter the parking places you need to hike down to the beach in around 20 min. Be aware you also need to get back up and that can be very heavy with the heat and sun. However, the landscape and the views are amazing so it is worth a try. If you would like to avoid the big mass tourism, it is better to go here around end of September, October or beginning of November. When I was there it was crowded but not full like I have heard from others. On the beach there is access to a toilet and a small kiosk with drinks and foods.

Location

1 hour and 15 min driving West from Chania

& 1 hour by boat from Kissamos.

Accessibility

From the parking to the beach you have to walk 20 min down a mountain.

Popularity

Can be very crowded, recommended to go in October or November.

Facilities

Limited number of sunbeds and umbrellas, small place for food, drinks and toilet.

Important

Wear good shoes for the walk down to the parking place and bring water.

! Not recommended to visit by car for people with disabilities !

4. Elafonissi beach

Elafonissi beach is also called Elafonissi island. This is because it is actually a little island in front of the coast. However, the sea is so undeep that you can reach the island by foot. You will see here different parts of beaches. You have one bigger beach where you can swim on both sides of the beach. If you walk a bit further you also have beaches on the island. It is really nice to take a walk on the island and find some hidden spots. The sand on the beach can be pink. This is because the sand is formed by corals being crushed by the waves into small pieces. In the corals can be red pigment and that is why the sand can be pink. However, if you take a step in the sea you would see the extremely blue colour and clearness of the water. The beach is easy to reach and have a lot of parking places. Take in mind that this beach can also be very crowded and is very popular under the tourists. I would recommend to visit it after the high season around September, October and November. On this beach you have accessibility to sunbeds, umbrellas, toilets, food and drinks. So, actually you don't have to to think about something.

Location

1 hour and 20 min driving West from Chania.

Accessibility

Easy to reach by car and parking places beside the beach.

Popularity

Can be very crowded in high season, recommended to go around September or October.

Facilities

Food, drinks, toilets, sunbeds and umbrellas available at the beach.

5. Loutro beach

Loutro beach gave me the real Greek feeling. It is a hidden paradise in Crete and very unknown under the big tourism. It can be described as a traditional fishing village in a bay surrounded by mountains. The beach is not very big but the views are amazing. If you walk in the direction of restaurant Kastela you will find sunbeds located on a hill. You can walk down to the sea by stairs. There you have total view of Loutro town. Also, you can order food and drinks from there. If you walk further than the restaurant you can make a little hike. The landscape is breathtaking with views on the sea. You can even walk to another beach called Finika. Loutro can only be reached by boat or foot. I took the boat from Hora Sfakion and bought the ticket in a little desk in the harbor. The ticket costs around 6 euro and you are in 20 min in Loutro. Make sure that you are aware of the time table so you can catch the last boat back.

Location

2 hours driving South from Chania to Hora Sfakion + 20 min by boat.

Accessibility

You need to take the boat to reach it.

Popularity:

Very unknown under tourists.

Facilities

Food, drinks, toilets, sunbeds and umbrellas available at the beach.

Important

Be aware of the time table of the ferry.

6. Preveli beach

Preveli beach is also known as palm beach. It is located at the end of the Kourtaliótiko gordo. This beach consists not only out of the sea but also out of a 1.5 km long river ending in the sea. On the banks of the rivers is a palm forest. If you walk here you have the feeling that you are located in a totally different world. In the river you can also swim but be prepared that the water is cold because it comes out of the mountains. On the beach you can also lay down and swim in the sea. There is a little restaurant on the beach where you can eat and drink and go to the toilet. You can reach the beach by boat or car. I have visited the beach by car and then you have the amazing view from above. However, you need to walk down 15-20 min down to reach the beach. To reach it by boat you can take the boat from Plakias and you will be there in 30 min.

Location

1,5 hour driving South from Chania + 15-20 min walking or 30 min by boat from Plakias.

Accessibility

15-20 min hike down to the beach if you come by car.

Popularity

Can be very crowded during high season.

Facilities

Food, drinks and toilets available at the beach.

Information

You need good shoes for walking down and bring your own beach umbrella.

! Not recommended to visit by car for people with disabilities !

7. Stavros beach

Stavros beach is a beautiful beach located on the peninsula of Akrotiri. The beach is formed in a circle and hidden behind a mountain. I came here by accident because I planned to go to another beach. Then I saw a photo in the bus and decided to go there. I was immediately amazed by the colour of the water. The sea water is mostly blue in Crete but this sea water gave a green view. Next to the beach you find some restaurants where you can eat and drink. There are no toilets directly on the beach but in the restaurants you have access to the toilets.

Location

30 min driving North from Chania or 40 min with the bus.

Accessibility

Very easy to reach.

Popularity

Can be crowded but not as crowded as Balos and Elafonissi beach.

Facilities

Food, drinks, toilets, sunbeds and umbrellas available at the beach.

8. Yannis beach

Yannis beach is a beach very close to Chania city. It is the perfect place to relax and swim in the beautiful water. Yannis beach is one of the four distinct beaches of Aghii Apostoli. Each beach is a small bay and you can reach it by walking on a little hill. You can also reach it by car but it is so close to each other that it is almost not worth to take the car. What I really liked about this beach is that you can do a little hike. On the right of the beach you can walk up and you end up in a cave. If you walk further there you find an natural swimming pool made out of rocks. There are some hidden spots where you can swim or just make some amazing pictures. On the beach you find a restaurant where you can eat and drink and have access to toilets.

Location

Around 10 min driving East from Chania or 15 min by bus from Chania.

Accessibility

Very easy to reach and easy to park.

Popularity

Can be crowded.

Facilities

Food, drinks, toilets, sunbeds and umbrellas available at the beach.