The 15 best beaches in Crete
Mesmerising Crete is the ultimate, showstopping Greek island paradise – hence its global popularity. According to INSETE, from January to August 2023, Crete saw 3.7 million international air arrivals. Crete’s enchanting, beachy shores are part of its trademark, yet there are still plenty of equally iridescent, lesser-travelled beaches to seek out.
In 1913, Crete became part of Greece, and because of the Minoan civilisation, Crete was at the heart of early Europe's global standing. It’s the largest of the Greek islands. With that, it has something for everyone: breathtaking, blissful aquamarine-meets-gold beaches, secret sandy coves with see-through, cyan-blue waters, a rich and captivating history, wonder-filled mountainous trails, and superabundant greenery for miles. Cretan cuisine is a discovery of its own, and sophisticated beach picnics or taverna stops are the order of the day.
As far as beaches go, there is a brilliant array on the island – where we’ve carefully covered the best beaches in Crete, including the sandy sweeps near the big-hitting sights, quietly confident local shores that offer an authentic taste of Cretan life, and a wow-factor paradise island experience. Read on for 15 of the best beaches in Crete.