Amenities from OpenStreetMap — they may have changed and the list is not exhaustive.
💧 Bathing water quality: excellent (official assessment by the Greek Ministry of Environment, 2025 — monitoring point “Matala”, 321 m from the beach)
The bay of Matala, with its characteristic sandy beach and famous caves, is one of the most historic destinations in Crete. An organized beach with sand, it offers comfortable facilities. The sunset from the rock creates a unique atmosphere, reminiscent of the hippie era. Sheltered from the winds, it is ideal for relaxation and swimming.
Real shoreline from OpenStreetMap at a fixed scale so the diagrams are comparable with one another — the dot marks the beach.
The beach faces west. With easterly winds the air flows offshore and the water near the shore stays flat; with westerly winds the sea builds up waves onto the beach. The shape of the coastline offers partial shelter, cutting down part of the swell.
The shore faces west (250°), so all year round the sun sets within its field of view, over the water.
An estimate based on the orientation of the shore — a headland or island opposite may hide the horizon.
In calm seas yes, but the water gets deep fairly quickly — normal supervision applies.
On days with easterly (offshore) winds or no wind at all. Check the live score on Beach Radar before you go — it updates all day.
Yes — sunbeds, umbrellas and food options operate during the summer season.
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Coordinates: 34.995, 24.746 · Shore faces: 250° (west) · Area: Heraklion, Crete · Shore type: Sand
Data: Open-Meteo · Mapping: OpenStreetMap · Page last updated: 2026-08-15