Best Heraklion Beaches

Location: 67 km southwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Matala is the most famous resort on the southern side of Heraklion. The organized beach next to some strange rock formations offers a nice environment for relaxation.

Location: 24 km northwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Agia Pelagia is a lovely fishing village that turns into a tourist resort in summer. Its calm ambiance and beautiful beach make it ideal for families.

Location: 36 km east of Heraklion
Description: Malia is the most popular beach resort of Heraklion and the most famous nightlife spot in Crete. It gets very popular and usually attracts people who go there for clubbing.

Location: 80 km southwest of Heraklion Town
Description: A wonderful beach at the end of a gorge, Agiofaraggo is a popular spot for skinny dipping.

Location: 70 km southwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Tymbaki is a beach with a calm ambiance on the southwestern side of Heraklion Crete, close to the famous resort of Matala.

Location: 10 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: Tobrouk is located on the northern side of Crete and very close to popular tourist resorts. Its large beach and the watersports facilities make this beach crowded in summer.

Location: 23 km northwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Lygaria is another beautiful beach close to the tourist resort of Agia Pelagia. It is a secluded cove, ideal for switching off.

Location: 8 km west of Heraklion Town
Description: Ammoudara is a long sandy shore with blue, shallow waters, beloved by water sports enthusiasts, especially windsurfers. The beach is full of taverns and restaurants and nightlife there is also lively. 

Location: 9 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: Amnissos is a long, sandy beach near Heraklion Town. The coast is organized with sunbeds, umbrellas, watersports centers and beach bars.

Location: 33 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: Stalida is a popular beach with many hotels around it. It is located between Hersonissos and Malia, east of Heraklion Town.

Location: 28 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: The beaches around Hersonissos are among the most popular in Crete. The main beach is well organized and has many watersports centers.

Location: 67 km southwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Kalamaki is a fully organized beach close to the popular resort of Matala. It has clean water and a long, sandy coast.

Location: 13 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: Hani Kokkini is a busy, lively beach resort with many tourist facilities and watersports centers along the coast.

Location: 60 km southeast of Heraklion Crete
Description: Tsoutsouras is a lovely and calm resort on the southern side of Crete. This is a great place for relaxing, family vacations.

Location: 27 km west of Heraklion Town
Description: A lovely village with some tourist development, Fodele has a long sandy beach and taverns along the shore.

Location: 24 km northwest of Heraklion Town
Description: This small beach close to Agia Pelagia is a lovely resort northwest of Heraklion Town. It is not organized, so it is ideal for relaxation.

Location: 24 km northwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Mononaftis is a narrow beach close to the tourist resort of Agia Pelagia. Surrounded by some rocks, this small cove is organized with sunbeds and umbrellas.

Location: 90 km south of Heraklion Town
Description: A secluded beach on the southern side of Crete, Dermatos is not organized and constitutes an option for total privacy.

Location: 20 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: Analipsi is a lovely beach resort with many tourist facilities and watersports centers.

Location: 16 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: Kato Gouves is a popular tourist resort between Heraklion and Hersonissos. It is developed and offers hotels, watersports centers and organized beaches.

Location: 8 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: This is a pleasant beach resort close to Heraklion Town, on the northern side of Crete. It usually gets very popular in summer.

Location: 70 km south of Heraklion Town
Description: A secluded resort on the southern side of Crete, Keratokambos is a great choice for quiet vacations.

Location: 67 km southwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Close to the popular resort of Tymbaki stretches Kokkinos Pyrgos, a long sandy beach with a few tourist facilities.

Location: 67 km southwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Komos is a long, secluded beach around 2 km from the busy resort of Matala. Part of the beach lies right in front of the archaeological site of Komos, while the northern part is a popular spot for nudism.

Location: 15 km northwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Paleokastro is a small, secluded beach on the way from Heraklion Town to Agia Pelagia. Surrounded by huge rocks, this beach is protected by strong winds.

Location: 88 km southeast of Heraklion Town
Description: Psari Forada is a calm beach on the southern side of Crete. Not much developed or crowded, Psari Forada is a lovely family resort.

Location: 90 km south of Heraklion Town
Description: A quiet beach on the southern side of Crete, Sidonia is located right next to the family resort of Psari Forada.

Location: 88 km southeast of Heraklion Town
Description: Tertsa is a quiet beach between Psari Forada and Myrtos. The beach is not organized but has some tourist facilities above it.

Location: 65 km south of Heraklion Town
Description: Located on the southern side of Crete, Treis Ekklisies is a secluded resort accessible through a track road.

Location: 80 km southwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Vathi is a secluded and unorganized beach a few kilometers from Matala. It can be reached through a track road from Sivas.

Location: 7 km west of Heraklion Town
Description: This is a long, sandy shore next to the popular resort of Ammoudara.

Location: 7 km southwest of Heraklion Town
Description: The Gulf of Messara is located on the southwestern side of Heraklion Crete and comprises lovely beaches, such as Matala, Kalamaki and Komos.

Location: 22 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: Aposelemis is situated at the mouth of a river, which grants it a lush green environment that forms a small wildlife refuge. Watersports are popular here, owing to the strong northern winds.

Location: 10 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: Arena is a calm sandy beach that serves as a relaxing reward for those willing to leave the motorway and drive on the old National Road instead.

Location: 78 km southeast of Heraklion Town
Description: Arvi is a long coast with crystal-clear, shallow waters. The shore is organized and the area provides a variety of taverns, restaurants, and shops.

Location: 72 km south of Heraklion Town
Description: Elygia Beach is a small, secluded shore located east of Agios Ioannis settlement. It’s a charming alternative for those who prefer to avoid large crowds.

Location: 24 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: Fylakes feels like a slice of the Caribbean misplaced in Crete, and its seclusion offers an unrivaled sense of calm. 

Location: 26 km east of Heraklion
Description: Gefyri is a well-organized beach east of Hersonissos, characterized by the walls that separate it from the nearby road. It offers stunning azure waters.

Location: 66 km northwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Kokkini Ammos lies close to Matala. This secluded beach will bewitch you with its amazing rocky scenery, reddish sand and crystal-clear waters.

Location: 27 km southeast of Heraklion Town
Description: Limanakia consists of many small shores with coarse sand, white rocks, and sparkling turquoise waters. The most popular ones are Sarantaris and Giofyri Beach, which are both organized.

Location: 69 southeast of Heraklion Town
Description: Listi is a lovely shore with crystal-clear waters, covered in soft gray sand. The most notable element of this beach is the large rocks that can be found on the coast and in the water.

Location: 72 km southwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Loutra is a charming shore, covered in brown sand and fine pebbles. The waters there are calm and boast a lovely azure color. Close to Loutra lies a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Location: 73 km southwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Maha is a secluded pebbly beach with clear blue waters on the southern coast of Heraklion. Not being organized, it affords a great sense of privacy.

Location: 67 km southeast of Heraklion Town
Description: Maridaki lies on a turquoise-watered delta formed by the Achendrias and the Ligiofarago gorges. It is secluded and ideal for nature lovers, as the wider area boasts hidden gems of stunning natural beauty.

Location: 80 km southwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Martsalos is one of the most isolated beaches on the island, surrounded by a wild natural landscape of rugged hills and beautiful gorges.

Location: 62 km southeast of Heraklion Town
Description: Monompouka is located in a spot of great natural beauty between the better-known beaches of Keratokambos and Arvi. It is not organized, but there are some changing rooms and showers enhancing visitors’ comfort.

Location: 22 km northwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Panagia is a pebbly beach that lies on the western fringe of Heraklion Bay, close to the Theseus private settlement. It is not organized and access is somewhat difficult.

Location: 15 km northwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Pantanassa combines with the neighboring marina to offer a quaint example of the dichotomy between natural and man-made.

Location: 37 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: Potamos is a long shore covered in golden sand. It is situated next to Malia, but it does not get that crowded. It is equipped with umbrellas, sunbeds, and showers.

Location: 78 km southeast of Heraklion Town
Description: Psarocharako is covered in soft sand. The spot is famous for its islet, which resembles a submarine.

Location: 71 km southwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Psili Ammos is a beautiful, secluded shore covered in fine sand. The sea there is calm and the area does not receive many visitors, making the beach ideal for isolation.

Location: 26 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: One of many beaches to the east of Hersonissos, Sarantari is known for the 10-metre tall cliff face that one must descend to swim here.

Location: 70 km southwest of Heraklion Town
Description: The secluded Stena lies in a location of great natural beauty. It is not organized, so you will need to bring your own equipment.

Location: 23 km northwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Theseus is a unique beach in Crete, as it lies at the bottom of a steep downhill zigzag.

Location: 74 km southwest of Heraklion Town
Description: Tripiti is a non-organized pebbly beach with pristine waters that is quite popular with the locals.

Location: 58 km south of Heraklion Town
Description: Voidomatis is a pristine beach fringed by the steep southern slopes of the Asterousia Mountains. Besides its azure waters, what makes it stand out is the existence of a huge underwater cave.