Turquoise and Crystal-Clear Water Beaches in Crete

Water color: The bay is sheltered with shallow turquoise water and pale golden sand, making it one of the most family-suited beaches on the eastern side of the island.

Voulisma, often called Golden Beach, is a small sandy cove on the eastern Lasithi coast of Crete near Istro and Agios Nikolaos. The bay is sheltered with shallow turquoise water and pale golden sand, making it one of the most family-suited beaches on the eastern side of the island.

Type

Sandy

Wave conditions

Calm

Parking

Small lot

Certification

Blue Flag

Water color: It consists of a long bay made up of multiple contiguous sandy stretches, offering wide views, soft pale sand, turquoise water, and superb sunsets.

Falasarna is one of the most celebrated beaches on Crete’s western coast. It consists of a long bay made up of multiple contiguous sandy stretches, offering wide views, soft pale sand, turquoise water, and superb sunsets. The beach lies near Kissamos / Platanos, about 59 km west of Chania.

Type

Sandy

Wave conditions

Moderate

Parking

Large lot

Water color: Sougia’s beach stretches in front of the village, forming a long (≈ 1.2 km) and wide shoreline with crystal-clear water.

Sougia’s beach stretches in front of the village, forming a long (≈ 1.2 km) and wide shoreline with crystal-clear water. The setting is relaxed and scenic, backed by hills and gorges (notably Agia Irini Gorge) and serving as a quiet base for walkers, nature lovers, and those wanting to escape mass tourism.

Type

Mixed

Wave conditions

Calm

Parking

Small lot

Water color: Shallow turquoise water, fine golden sand, and a backdrop unlike anywhere else in Greece.

Vai sits on the far eastern tip of Crete in Lasithi region, famous for the largest natural palm forest in Europe — a grove of native Cretan date palms (Phoenix theophrasti) that rises directly behind the sandy beach. Shallow turquoise water, fine golden sand, and a backdrop unlike anywhere else in Greece.

Type

Sandy

Wave conditions

Calm

Parking

Large lot

Water color: Its pale coral-white and pink sand, shallow turquoise waters, and wild surrounding landscape make it one of Crete’s iconic natural beaches.

Balos is a spectacular coastal lagoon on the Gramvousa Peninsula, in northwestern Crete (Chania region). Its pale coral-white and pink sand, shallow turquoise waters, and wild surrounding landscape make it one of Crete’s iconic natural beaches.

Type

Mixed

Wave conditions

Calm

Parking

Small lot

Water color: Elafonissi (or Elafonisi) is a spectacular coastal gem on Crete’s southwestern tip, known for its shallow turquoise lagoons, sandbars, and patches of pink sand derived from crushed shells.

Elafonissi (or Elafonisi) is a spectacular coastal gem on Crete’s southwestern tip, known for its shallow turquoise lagoons, sandbars, and patches of pink sand derived from crushed shells. The beach is partly separated by a narrow sand strip from a small islet, which becomes walkable at low tide.

Type

Mixed

Wave conditions

Calm

Parking

Small lot

Water color: The eastern portion (Kritama) has dramatic cliffs meeting turquoise seas.

Orthi Ammos lies east of the Frangokastello area on Crete’s southern coast. It is known for its expansive sand dunes, clear shallow waters, and more relaxed environment compared to its more touristic neighbor, Frangokastello. The eastern portion (Kritama) has dramatic cliffs meeting turquoise seas.

Type

Mixed

Wave conditions

Calm

Parking

Roadside

Water color: The beach is small — a sliver of pebbles between vertical cliffs — but the water inside the inlet is famously turquoise and clear.

Seitan Limania (Devils Harbors) is a narrow fjord-like cove on the Akrotiri peninsula east of Chania, reached by a steep 15-minute scramble down a rocky path from a cliffside parking area. The beach is small — a sliver of pebbles between vertical cliffs — but the water inside the inlet is famously turquoise and clear.

Type

Pebble

Wave conditions

Calm

Parking

Small lot