Heraklion Beaches

Heraklion Beaches:

 Fodele : Fodele beach is located 23 km west of Heraklion. The sandy  beach is by   the highway from Heraklion to Rethymnon and Chania.

 Mononaftis: Mononaftis beach with sand and shingle 20 km west of  Heraklion.

 Agia Pelagia: Agia Pelagia beach is located 16 km west of Heraklion. There are plenty of taverns, restaurants and cafes.

 Ligaria: Ligaria beach is located 15 km west of Heraklion and it is  less crowded than the Agia Pelagia beach.

 Paliokastro: Paliokastro beach is located 10 km west of Heraklion. A small pebbles beach.

Ammoudara: Amoudara beach is located 5 km west of Heraklion. It is  a long, sandy beach in an area with many hotels, both large and    small. 

Karteros: A long & wide sandy beach 8 km east of Heraklion

Kokkini Chani: Kokkini Chani beach, is located 12 km east of  Heraklion.

Gournes: Gournes  beach is a sandy beach located 17 km east of  Heraklion.

Gouves: Gouves beach is located 18 km east of Heraklion.

Analipsis: Analipsis  beach is located 20 km east of Heraklion.

 Hersonissos: Hersonissos beach is located 30 km east of Heraklion.

Stalis: Nice sandy shallow beach. When the wind is too strong high  waves may prove dangerous for inexperienced swimmers.

Malia: Malia  beach 6 km of sandy beach.

Kokkinos Pirgos: Kokkinos Pirgos Beach is along sandy beach which  is very shallow close to the fishing port of Kokkinos Pirgos.

 Kalamaki: Kalamaki Beach is a sandy beach. Be careful when you  enter the water due to the slippery rock plates.

 Kommos: Kommos Beach: the north part is close to Kalamaki and it is  the naturists part of the beach with no sunbeds or cafes. 

 Matala: The famous beach preferred by hippies, who used to live in  the many caves of Matala in the late 60's and early 70's.

Kokini Ammos: Kokini Amos (Red Sand) Beach. Another clothing  optional beach south of Matala.

Vathi: Vathi is a closed bay with few houses of locals. The pebbly   beach is accessed by a dirt track past Sivas village and  Odigitria Monastery. It is a long, difficcult drive, suitable  more for 4-wheel-drive cars.

Ayiofarango: The pebbly beach is accessed on foot through the  gorge or by boat from Kaloi limenes port.

Kaloi Limenes: Kaloi Limenes is a pebbly beach preferred by the   locals. When the wind gets too strong, then Kaloi Limenes beach     is the only solution for calmer swimming.

Diskos: Diskos, west of Lentas is a beautiful beach with its east  part clothing optional.

 Lentas: The beach of the village of Lentas. You will swim together  with the locals in front of the many taverns and restaurants of     Lentas.

Loutra: Loutra Beach is a nice beach with pebbles 3 km east of   Lentas. The road is a dirt track suitable for all cars.

Psili Ammos: Psili Ammos or Trafoulas beach, a great beach with  sand and pebbles, accessible only on foot or by boat from Lentas.     It is a naturists beach. 

 Koudoumas: The pebbly beach is in front of the Koudoumas Monastery.

Maridaki: Maridaki beach is an adventurous drive on a dusty dirt  track past Ahentrias village will bring you to Maridaki beach.

Tsoutsouros: The sandy beach of the Tsoutsouros village. Tsoutsouros beach is very popular to the people of Crete,     therefore it may be crowded during the weekends.

Dermatos: Dermatos is a pebbly beach with many tamarisk trees.

 Keratokampos: Keratokampos is a long beautiful beach with pebbles  and sand on parts. 

 Arvi: Arvi is the pebbly beach of the Arvi village. It is very narrow inside the village but it gets wider towards the east.

 Psari Forada: Psari Forada or Sidonia is a beach with dark sand  and tamarisk trees.

Tertsa: Tertsa is a tiny village with a pebbly beach. A dirt track  leads to Tertsa from Sidonia or Myrtos. The village is an image of the past. Here you will discover how Crete was 20-30 years ago. There is a tavern and a few rooms for rent.