GREN

Beaches in Crete: where should you go today?

Beach Radar tracks 42 beaches in Crete, 7 of them organized. 1 of them sit in enclosed bays with a shelter index of 0.45 or higher, which keeps the water swimmable even on breezy days. The shores face several different directions, so there is almost always a sheltered side. Every beach has its own page with a live score — wind, waves and water temperature at the moment you look.

🏖️ See the live ranking for Crete →

Which wind flattens the sea here

The shores of Crete do not all face the same way: 14 beaches look south and 8 look southwest. That is an advantage — there is almost always a sheltered side. A northerly wind flattens the shores facing south, while a northeasterly wind flattens those facing southwest. The live score on each beach shows which side is working on the day you ask.

All 42 beaches

ElafonisiChania · partial shelter · SandBalosChania · very sheltered bay · SandFalasarnaChania · open coast · SandPreveliRethymno · partial shelter · SandPlakiasRethymno · open coast · SandMatalaHeraklion · partial shelter · SandAgia GaliniRethymno · partial shelter · SandVaiLasithi · partial shelter · SandStalidaHeraklion · open coast · SandGeorgioupoliChania · open coast · SandFrangokastelloChania · open coast · SandKedrodasosChania · open coast · SandParalia KatevatiAlmirida · open coastSchoinariaDamnoni · open coast · SandKokkini AmmosMátala · open coast · SandParalia DynonisosGianniou · open coastSpilies BeachPrinos · open coast · PebblesGeropotamos BeachPrinos · open coast · SandKatalykiKokkinos Pyrgos · open coastParalia RethymnouXiro Chorio · open coastTrafoulasOstria · open coastTrypitiTripiti · open coastVathyVathi · open coastParalia DamnoniDamnoni · open coast · SandMikro AmmoudiDamnoni · open coast · PebblesMikri TriopetraTriopetra · open coast · PebblesVarkotopos beachBali · open coast · SandParalia FodeleFodele · open coast · SandLivadi beachBali · open coast · SandAmmolofousAgios Pavlos · open coast · SandChochlakasKato Rodakino · open coastKorakasKato Rodakino · open coastKlimataKato Rodakino · open coastTriopetraTriopetra · open coastTriopetra BeachTriopetra · open coastStavriSouda · open coast · PebblesLigkresAgia Paraskevi · open coastKokkinos VolakasSouda · open coastFoinikidiaAgios Pavlos · open coastParalia Agia PelagiaAgia Pelagia · open coastParalia EpiskopisPetres · open coast · SandParalia LygariaLygaria · open coast

Themed guides for this region