Region of Chania or Hania

 

Almirida (North-Western Crete)
Well hidden from the national road that passes some hundred meters on the north.

 

Balos - Cape of Gramvousa (North-Western Crete)
The most famous landscape of Crete and it is definitely worth it. All the shades of blue and green, a warm, shallow lagoon bursting with sea shells. It is accessible after a half hour march, or you can take the boat departing from Kissamos.

 

Falassarna (North-Western Crete)
Crystal clear blue waters, a submerged ancient city, cyclopean walls, a stone throne of unknown time and origin, Crete in all its splendour.

 

Elafonissi (South-Western Crete)
There’s something exotic here: A cluster of small beaches with pink sand and shallow never ending waters, splashed with rocky small islands push you straight to dreamland. The downside is everybody loves dreaming during summertime: one of the most popular and crowded destinations in Crete.

 

Stavros – Akrotiri near Chania (North-Western Crete)
Facing the mountain where “Zorbas” of Kakogiannis was filmed. Everyone remembers the scene where Anthony Queen, interpreting the Kazantzakis hero, built a quarry which spectacularly fell apart.

 

Menies - Cape of Diktinna (North-Western Crete)
Here you can visit the sanctuary of ancient Diktinna, where processions of believers from the entire known world visited to devote their vows. Forty-five minutes of relatively demanding dirt road or you can take the boat departing from Platanias.

 

Kedrodasos near elafonissi (South-Western Crete)
Or “Cedars Grove” in English. The real issue is how long will the name apply to the area since cedars grow only a centimeter per year, and certain humans (?) cut roots and branches of the trees for their campfires.

 

Pachia Ammos – Paleohora (South-Western Crete)

Could a beach full with umbrellas and sunbathing seats have it’s place in this article, presenting the most beautiful beaches of Crete? The answer is yes, if we are referring to Pachia Ammos, and this is our suggestion for those who don’t want or cannot wander far away from where they have parked their car.

 

Krios – Koundoura near Paleochora (South-western Crete)
The most southwestern part of Crete. Crystal-clear, icy waters, welcome you after the walk on the E4 European mountain path. You can certainly drive all the way to Krios, but would the feeling be the same?

 

Lissos near Sougia (South-Western Crete)
An hour’s walk from Sougia, archaeological ruins testify to the existence of one of the largest cities of ancient Crete, destroyed on the 9th century A.C.

 

Sougia (South-Western Crete)
Ancient Syia was here, famous for it’s oak tree forests and its pigs.

 

Yaliskari (South-Western Crete)
As in nearby Paleohora, a cape delimits two distinct beaches, if one is windy we choose the other and vice-versa…

 

Hora Sfakion (South-Western Crete)
The sun is burning making the crystal-ice blue water and the shade of the cave welcome!

 

Sarakiniko (Island of Gavdos)
The most cosmopolitan beach of the island of Gavdos, meaning there are two taverns and two or three camps…

 

Potamos (Island of Gavdos)
An evanescent glimpse to the supernatural, a landscape charged with metaphysical vibrations

 

Pirgos (island of Gavdos) For lucky captains of small boats or for the adventurous walkers who are willing to defy the wild and long route (and also the Odyssey to reach the southern part of Europe, Gavdos). Water, taverns, or kiosks are nowhere to be found, just sun, sea, peace and isolation.

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Region of Rethymnon

 

Geropotamos
You can spot its characteristic arks from the National Road connecting Herakleion and Rethimno. Once you get down and harbor in, you will forget about roads and traffic…

 

Agios Pavlos (Southern Rethimno)
Behind the protected creek, 30 meters high dunes and an amazing sunset at “Triopetra”, the “three-rocks-cape”. Trying to climb up the sand hills on your way back is not an easy task, especially when the sun is burning - and it really does burn around here!

 

Plakias (Southern Rethymnon)
A series of small private beaches for total tannning…

 

Frangokastello (Southern Rethymnon)
The Venetians built the castle bearing the same name during 14th century as a watchtower over the surrounding area and the sea. Today its ruins dominate the underlying lagoon of green-blue, or blue-green if you prefer, waters.

 

Rodakino (Southern Rethymnon)
Your bathing suit is optional, your sunscreen products mandatory.

 

Lakki east of Frangokastello (Southern Rethymnon)
Something here for everyone: shallow waters for the young, rocky parts for line fishing, Frankokastelo is not far away if you like to immerse yourself in Medieval Cretan history…

 

Liggres between Agia Galini and Plakias (Southern Rethymnon)
Piece and tranquility without electricity, telephone and other useless devices…

 

Preveli (Southern Rethymnon)
The most photographed beach of Crete. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when the day-trips depart, you’ll understand the reason why the hippies once considered it a spiritual centre of meditation and inner peace…

 

Triopetra (Southern Rethymnon)
Agios Pavlos, Triopetra, Platia Permata, Kala Limania, a dirt road bordering some of the most beautiful and “private” beaches of Crete.

 

Orthi Ammos – Frangokastelo (Southern Rethymnon)
Early in the morning, a few days per year, Drosoulites, the lost souls of Fragokastelo, appear behind the dunes

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Region of Heraklion

 

Stavros - Fodele (near Heraklion)
A 100-meter drop into the deep blue, not exactly the place for an easy swim,

 

Mononaftis (near Heraklion)
With characteristic green waters the most secluded beach in the overdeveloped area of Agia Pelagia.

 

Trachoulas – Lendas (Southern Heraklion)
Authentic hermits from all around the world have settled down to isolate. Behave accordingly!

 

Tsoutsouras (Southern Heraklion)
Inner tourism from the surrounding villages of Crete, little tavernas on the waves which will undertake the mission of frying the fishes just out of the fish-boat; it’s so nice being in Crete in summer time!

 

Kali Limenes (Southern Heraklion)
Can you enjoy your swimming and your holidays when a modern oil transfer base lays in the vicinity? Many tourists - especially the local ones - answer positively, and enjoy the clean waters.

 

Keratokambos (Southern Heraklio)
Only sun and sea, no constrains of civilisation, no unnecessary fig leafs…

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Region of Lassithi (Eastern Crete)

 

Kouremenos near Paleokastro (North-Estern Crete)
A real magnet for windsurfers from all over the world, who find ideal wind-wave combinations.

 

Rihti - Exo Mouliana near Mochlos (North-Eastern Crete)
Three to four hours walk through a gorge or a “nasty” dirt road will take you to one of the most secluded beaches of the island.

 

Istron or Kalo Chorio (North-Estern Crete)
A place filled with legends and traditions – but you will find quality tourism services too.

 

Maridati South of Vai beach (North-Eastern Crete)
Two big rocks are the landmarks of this beach that remains unknown to the masses.

 

Mochlos (North-Eastern Crete)
A village filled with fish taverns with a view of the Pseira Island, and lots of archaeological findings.

 

Kato Zakros (Estern Crete)
If you follow the two hours long footpath through the “gorge of the dead” you will be rewarded with the view of a magnificent beach but also of the Minoan Palace of Zakros destroyed on 1450 B.C. possibly by a Thira (Santorini) volcano explosion.

 

Hiona near Paleokastro (North-Estern Crete)
Shallow waters for the kids and young swimmers, and a well known - all over the island - local fish soup.

 

Aghia Fotia - Sitia (South-Estern Crete)
We are not talking about the district with the same name at Ierapetra, here we find ourselves 7 kms east of Sitia in an area where the biggest cemetery of Minoan Crete was discovered.

 

Xerokambos – Sitia (South-Estern Crete)
Thousands of lilies at the eastern part of Crete fill the atmosphere with sensual vibes.

 

 

Source Stigmes, Crete's magasine

Nikos Papadogeorgakis