Here we are back in fascinating Crete, the island of "too much"! Too big, too touristy and too if not too beautiful. Crete is 360 ° magic: exceptional views, romantic and unique sunsets, places of disarming beauty. The only adjective that comes closest to making people understand what really makes an island like Crete feel is precisely this, "disarming". Yes, its beauty disarms you, it leaves you in this vortex of emotions impossible to transform into words. And there is no way to resist the temptation, sooner or later, even if sooner than later, you fall for it! And you will necessarily want to return to this island that carefully guards incredibly fascinating places ...
But let's see in detail the beaches that Crete offers us. More precisely, today we are going to know the 5 most beautiful beaches of Crete, are you ready? Let's start!
Balos Lagoon, located in the northwest tip of Crete
Welcome to one of the countless paradises of Crete. So beautiful that the adjective "beautiful" is extremely superfluous and trivial to describe it. Balos Lagoon is one of the most visited places in Crete, as well as one of the most particular. Yes it is true Balos is not really a very quiet beach, and if you want to see it in these clothes we recommend you to reach it in the early hours of the morning. Everyone loves it and everyone can't wait to see it! Well between fine white / pink sand, almost transparent turquoise sea and a tropical setting ... I would like to see who does not fall in love with it! It doesn't even become a problem for families with children, since the seabed degrades so slowly that even after 100 meters you could see the water that reaches you just above your knees.
Then add all the comforts you need, then: kiosk, showers, changing rooms, bathrooms, sunbeds and umbrellas .. in short, it is the ideal destination for all those looking for wonderful, well-equipped places!
Also if you are fond of the seabed and you cannot resist the temptation to explore them .. well here you will not have to hold back. Mask, fins and off you can discover these seabed rich in multicolored fish.
How do i get to Balos?
There are two ways to get there: car and ferry. In the first case you will have to cross a rough and battered road, once passed, after a short time you will find yourself in front of a gazebo where you can pay € 1 of micro Greek tax per person, after which you will find the parking lot where you can leave your car and continue on foot. After about 15 minutes you will find yourself in front of this wonder.
In the second case it will be much simpler, you will have to take the excursion boat that leaves from Kissamos, leaving the car there. Needless to say, reaching the lagoon by sea is the most recommended way. Either way ... enjoy it as much as you can, such a magical place capable of touching your soul is truly rare!
Elafonissi beach, located on the south western coast of Crete
"Wonderful!" this is what you will exclaim when you are in front of Elafonissi. With its pinkish white coast, the completely transparent sea and the Caretta Caretta turtle reserve right there ... it becomes a paradise for tropical lovers! Elafonissi offers both an equipped area and a free area, made up of small and numerous extraordinary coves. You will find the free area after crossing a sandy path in which in some places you will find water, but do not worry, the seabed is very low and you will only get your feet wet.
Furthermore, as if all this goodness was not enough, Elafonissi beach also boasts the island of Elafonissi. Do you know that thin strip of sand that connects the beach to another beach? Here is that other part of Elafonissi beach, with the phenomenon of high tide, it becomes a pretty island to say the least!
How do I get to Elafonissi?
To reach it from Chania it will take you about 1 hour and a half. You will have to cross the scenic road and the majestic white mountains, after which you will have arrived on this immense paradise. Clearly the advice is always to leave early in the morning, being one of the most popular beaches in Crete, arriving late, you may no longer find a place for sunbeds and umbrellas. If you arrive no later than 8.30 you could enjoy the peace and tranquility that only such a brilliant and splendid place can transmit!
Falassarna beach, located about 60 km west of Chania
And the third beach that completes the triangle of the three world champion Hail Marys is the beautiful beach of Falassarna. Yes, here is another Crete bomber: wide coast covered with fine white sand, crystal clear sea and a very rich fauna. Falassarna is very exposed to the north winds, therefore generally in comparison with the two sisters of equal fame, Balos and Elafonissi, Falassarna diversifies because it is frequented mainly by surfers and lovers of water sports in general. Clearly the problem persists on windy days, therefore in the sultry ones Falassarna becomes the perfect destination to enjoy an excellent panorama and relax by the sea.
In addition, the beach offers two beach bars and sun beds and umbrellas. Those two beach bars often and willingly organize evening and daytime beach parties literally fabulous! If you have teenagers in the family or you are kids looking for fun with your company, Falassarna is the place where you can find the fun you are looking for!
Like the two sisters mentioned above, Falassarna enjoys a certain fame, in fact it is often quite crowded. Do not worry! There are free areas at will for all those who don't want to know anything about chaos, sunbeds and umbrellas.
How do i get to Falassarna?
You can reach Falassarna beach by car, you will have to travel the new road to Kissamos, then follow the signs for Platanos, leave the main road and take a narrower one full of hairpin bends that will make you reach sea level. Then you will find yourself in front of this wonder of nature, as you can see it is a breeze.
Matala Beach, 70 km southwest of Heraklion
Matala beach is one of those places that can tell you a lot. It is a very suggestive beach, it boasts a beautiful sea that bathes the golden sand and the jagged coasts. On those coasts you will find caves carved into the rock, these caves hosted characters of a certain thickness such as Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell, whose song "Carey" is inspired precisely by this corner of paradise.
Basically the fame of the beach grew a lot in the 60s and 70s, when these famous stars of the hippy world came here to stay. But in reality the caves carved into the rock were already useful to man in the prehistoric period, in fact civilizations often used them as a shelter. Then they acquired the function of tombs in Roman and Christian times. In Minoan times instead they were used as the port of Phaistos, later it became the port of Gortyna during the Roman domination. Summing up, these epochs that have made these caves a precise use, have led to being Matala, the beautiful suggestive beach that we can see today. It also guarantees a place in the "Natura 2000" program created by the European Union. By now with all you know you will no longer be able to look at it with the same eyes!
How do I get to Matala?
Matala beach can be reached by car or bus. If you come from Heraklion, it will take you about 1 hour by car to reach the beach. From Malia and Hersonissos 1 hour and a half. 2 hours from Elounda and 2.5 hours from Chania. There is a car park near the beach where you can leave your car for € 2 per day. Alternatively, if you do not want to pay for paid parking, there are others near the beach or near the village that are completely free.
Getting there by bus is also very easy thanks to the various daily trips: from Monday to Friday there are 5 trips per day. Saturday 6 and Sunday 3. The cost of the bus from Heraklion is € 7.80 one way (2 hours), from Festo € 1.70 one way (30 minutes) and from Mires € 2.80 one way (45 minutes).
You decide where to start and which vehicle to use, reach this beach and enjoy every glimpse of its beauty!
Vai beach, east coast of Crete, located 24 km from Sitia
Here is the Vai beach, the only one in Europe to have beautiful completely natural and non-imported palm trees. It boasts rocks, clear water and white sand mixed with pebbles. In its tropical scenery you can practice snorkeling, jet skis, canoes and pedal boats. You can relax on the sun loungers, sip something at the bar and enjoy a nice lunch in the beach restaurant. In short, Vai offers useful services to bathers, so if you are also looking for comfort, Vai is definitely your ideal beach!
But for those who want to lay their towels on the sand in free areas to relax, there are several secluded corners that you will find in some areas of the beach.
Like Matala, Vai was also discovered by hippies in the 70s. The curiosity was aroused in these by the spot of the Bounty which became very famous in those years precisely because of the heavenly place where it was filmed, that is our beloved Vai beach. After the discovery this small paradise suffered, unfortunately, serious damage due to tourists disrespectful of the environment that hosted them. So to protect it, it was classified a protected area in 1973 and the palm forest was fenced.
How do I get to Vai?
You can reach Vai beach in three ways: car, bus, excursion boat. By car you will certainly be freer, starting from Heraklion it will take you 2 and a half hours, once you arrive in the area follow the signs for the monastery of Toplou, after about 8 km of paved road and in good condition you will find yourself in the parking lot. This costs € 3 per day, once parked, after 10 minutes of walking, this paradise of nature will relax in front of your eyes!
To reach Vai by bus you will need to take the line from Sitia, while by boat you just have to book one of the many excursions that include Vai.
These beaches just listed are definitely more beautiful than the other, discovering them all is the challenge that we launch for your next holiday in Crete, we are waiting for you! May the best man win!