Crete's famous beaches lie from one end of the island to the other, so the drive matters as much as the sand. Here is what each one is like, how far it is from Heraklion, and the one where a rental car has to stop before the beach.
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| Beach | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Agia Pelagia | 23 km | 25 min |
| Matala | 63 km | 1 h 15 min |
| Voulisma, Istron | 74 km | 1 h 15 min |
| Preveli (car park) | 113 km | 2 h 15 min |
| Vai | 147 km | 2 h 45 min |
| Seitan Limania (car park) | 164 km | 3 h |
| Balos (via Kissamos port, then boat) | 190 km | 3 h 15 min |
| Falassarna | 201 km | 3 h 30 min |
| Elafonisi | 220 km | 3½–4 h |
Distances by road from the centre of Heraklion. Times are without stops. On mountain roads and on the south coast, allow more.
A sheltered bay north-west of Heraklion, with calm water and tavernas along the beach. It is the easy choice for the day you land or the day you fly home.
A sandy bay on the south coast under a cliff full of carved caves. Go late in the day: the sunset over the sea is the reason to come. The road back is good, even after dark.
Also called Golden Beach, on the Gulf of Mirabello a short drive past Agios Nikolaos. Clear, sheltered water in a small cove, easy to combine with Spinalonga and Elounda.
A river runs through a palm grove and into the sea at this south-coast beach. From the car park it is a steep path with steps, down and then back up, so wear proper shoes and carry water.
Palm trees right down to the sand at the far eastern end of the island. It is a long way there and back in one day, so it works best with a night in Sitia.
A narrow inlet between rock walls on the Akrotiri peninsula, near Chania. The beach is small and the way down from the car park is steep and rocky, so it is not for everyone. Go early in summer.
The famous lagoon in the north-west corner of the island. The last 8 km from Kaliviani are an unpaved track excluded from every rental insurance in Crete, ours included, so take the boat from Kissamos port.
A long sandy beach on the west coast, open to the sea and known for its sunsets. It can be windy, with real waves. Kissamos port is close, so it pairs well with the boat to Balos.
Shallow turquoise water and pink-tinted sand in the south-west corner, in a protected nature area. The road is paved all the way, but it is a very long day from Heraklion, so a night in Chania is the better plan.
Of these nine, Agia Pelagia, about 25 minutes by car. Matala and Voulisma are each about an hour and a quarter away.
To Kaliviani, yes — about three hours from Heraklion on good road. The last 8 km to Balos are an unpaved track excluded from every rental insurance in Crete, ours included. The boat from Kissamos port is the way to get there covered.
No. Eight of these nine are reached on paved roads in any car. The ninth, Balos, ends in an unpaved track that is off limits in any rental car, SUV or not, so take the boat.
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