Heraklion beaches
All along the northern and the southern coasts of the region, visitors will discover amazing Heraklion beaches to relax. Around the tourist resorts, Heraklion beaches are organized with plenty of hotels, traditional taverns, and watersports centers. However, many secluded bays are also found for total privacy and isolation, mostly on the southern coasts of Crete, which is less tourist-developed. You will find below a list with the best beaches in Heraklion Crete.
Except for the beaches, there are also many places for sightseeing. Discover the best things to see in Heraklion.
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Guide to 32 beaches
Discover our guide to 32 beautiful Heraklion beaches. They are all presented with a detailed description, photos and their location on a map of Heraklion. For the most popular spots, we also provide information about sightseeing in the area, a selection of hotels and reviews.
Matala
Sandy, Family Friendly, Organised, Water sports
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Location: 67 km south west of Heraklion Town
Description: Matala is the most famous resort on the southern side of Heraklion Crete. The organized beach next to some strange rock formations offers a nice environment to relax.
Description: Matala is the most famous resort on the southern side of Heraklion Crete. The organized beach next to some strange rock formations offers a nice environment to relax.
Agia Pelagia
Diving Club, Sandy, Family Friendly, Organised
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Location: 24 km north west of Heraklion Town
Description: Agia Pelagia is a lovely fishing village that turns into a tourist resort in summer. Its calm ambience and the beautiful beaches make it a nice family place.
Description: Agia Pelagia is a lovely fishing village that turns into a tourist resort in summer. Its calm ambience and the beautiful beaches make it a nice family place.
Malia
Party, Sandy, Organised, Water sports
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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.
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.
Agiofaraggo
Pebbled, Secluded, Non Organised, Nudism Friendly
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Location: 80 km south west of Heraklion Town
Description: A wonderful beach at the end of a gorge, Agiofaraggo is a popular spot for free camping and nudism.
Description: A wonderful beach at the end of a gorge, Agiofaraggo is a popular spot for free camping and nudism.
Tymbaki
Partly Organized, Family Friendly, Pebbled
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Location: 70 km south west of Heraklion Town
Description: Tymbaki is a calm and relaxing beach on the south western side of Heraklion Crete, close to the famous resort of Matala.
Description: Tymbaki is a calm and relaxing beach on the south western side of Heraklion Crete, close to the famous resort of Matala.
Tobrouk
Partly Organized, Sandy
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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.
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.
Lygaria
Diving Club, Sandy, Family Friendly, Organised
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Location: 23 km north west of Heraklion Town
Description: Lygaria is another beautiful beach close to the tourist resort of Agia Pelagia. It is actually a secluded cove nice for relaxation.
Description: Lygaria is another beautiful beach close to the tourist resort of Agia Pelagia. It is actually a secluded cove nice for relaxation.
Amoudara
Diving Club, Windsurfing, Sandy, Family Friendly, Organised, Water sports
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Location: 5 km west of Heraklion Town
Description: Ammoudara is a very long, sandy beach with clean water. The organized coast and the close distance from Heraklion Town makes it very popular.
Description: Ammoudara is a very long, sandy beach with clean water. The organized coast and the close distance from Heraklion Town makes it very popular.
Amnissos
Sandy, Family Friendly, Organised, Water sports
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Location: 9 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: Amnissos is a long, sandy beach in close distance to Heraklion. The coast is organized with sunbeds, umbrellas, watersports centres and beach bars.
Description: Amnissos is a long, sandy beach in close distance to Heraklion. The coast is organized with sunbeds, umbrellas, watersports centres and beach bars.
Stalida
Party, Sandy, Organised, Water sports
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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.
Description: Stalida is a popular beach with many hotels around it. It is located between Hersonissos and Malia, east of Heraklion Town.
Hersonissos
Diving Club, Party, Sandy, Family Friendly, Organised, Water sports
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Location: 28 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: The beaches around Hersonissos are among the most popular in Heraklion Crete. It is well organized and has many watersports centres.
Description: The beaches around Hersonissos are among the most popular in Heraklion Crete. It is well organized and has many watersports centres.
Kalamaki
Partly Organized, Sandy, Family Friendly
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Location: 67 km south west of Heraklion Town
Description: Kalamaki is a fully organized beach close to the popular resorts of Matala. It has clean water and a long, sandy coast.
Description: Kalamaki is a fully organized beach close to the popular resorts of Matala. It has clean water and a long, sandy coast.
Kokkini Hani
Sandy, Family Friendly, Organised, Water sports
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Location: 13 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: Hani Kokkini is a busy, lively beach resort with many tourist facilities and watersports centres along the coast.
Description: Hani Kokkini is a busy, lively beach resort with many tourist facilities and watersports centres along the coast.
Tsoutsouros
Family Friendly, Pebbled, Secluded, Non Organised
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Location: 60 km south east of Heraklion Crete
Description: Tsoutsouros is a lovely and calm resort on the southern side of Crete. This is a great place for relaxing, family vacations.
Description: Tsoutsouros is a lovely and calm resort on the southern side of Crete. This is a great place for relaxing, family vacations.
Fodele
Sandy, Family Friendly, Organised, Water sports
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Location: 27 km west of Heraklion Town
Description: A lovely village with some tourist development, Fodele has a long sandy beach and some delicious taverns along the shore.
Description: A lovely village with some tourist development, Fodele has a long sandy beach and some delicious taverns along the shore.
Agia Pelagia Psaromoura
Pebbled, Secluded, Non Organised
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Location: 24 km north west of Heraklion Town
Description: This is a small beach close to Agia Pelagia, a lovely resort north west of Heraklion. It is not organized, so it is nice for relaxation.
Description: This is a small beach close to Agia Pelagia, a lovely resort north west of Heraklion. It is not organized, so it is nice for relaxation.
Agia Pelagia Mononaftis
Pebbled, Organised
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Location: 24 km north west 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.
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.
Dermatos
Sandy, Non Organised
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Location: 90 km south of Heraklion Town
Description: A secluded beach on the southern side of Crete, Dermatos is not organized at all and provides a nice alternative for total privacy.
Description: A secluded beach on the southern side of Crete, Dermatos is not organized at all and provides a nice alternative for total privacy.
Analipsi
Sandy, Family Friendly, Organised, Water sports
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Location: 20 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: Analipsi is a lovely beach resort with many tourist facilities and watersports centres.
Description: Analipsi is a lovely beach resort with many tourist facilities and watersports centres.
Gouves
Diving Club, Sandy, Family Friendly, Organised, Water sports
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Location: 16 km east of Heraklion Town
Description: Kato Gouves is a popular tourist resort between Heraklion and Hersonissos. It is much developed with hotels, watersports centres and organized beaches.
Description: Kato Gouves is a popular tourist resort between Heraklion and Hersonissos. It is much developed with hotels, watersports centres and organized beaches.
Karteros
Sandy, Family Friendly, Organised, Water sports
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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.
Description: This is a pleasant beach resort close to Heraklion Town, on the northern side of Crete. It usually gets very popular in summer.
Keratokambos
Partly Organized, Sandy, Secluded
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Location: 70 km south of Heraklion Town
Description: A secluded resort on the southern side of Crete, Keratokambos is a great choice for family and quiet vacations.
Description: A secluded resort on the southern side of Crete, Keratokambos is a great choice for family and quiet vacations.
Kokkinos Pyrgos
Sandy, Family Friendly, Non Organised
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Location: 67 km south west of Heraklion Town
Description: Close to the popular resort of Tymbaki, Kokkinos Pyrgos is a small, sandy beach with few tourist facilities.
Description: Close to the popular resort of Tymbaki, Kokkinos Pyrgos is a small, sandy beach with few tourist facilities.
Komos
Partly Organized, Sandy
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Location: 67 km south west of Heraklion Town
Description: Komos is a large, secluded beach close to the busy resort of Matala. Although the surrounding area gets busy in summer, Komos usually doesn't get crowded.
Description: Komos is a large, secluded beach close to the busy resort of Matala. Although the surrounding area gets busy in summer, Komos usually doesn't get crowded.
Paleokastro
Pebbled, Secluded, Non Organised
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Location: 15 km north west of Heraklion Town
Description: Paleokastro is a small, secluded beach on the way from Heraklion Town to Agia Pelagia. Surrounded by a huge rock, this beach is protected by strong winds.
Description: Paleokastro is a small, secluded beach on the way from Heraklion Town to Agia Pelagia. Surrounded by a huge rock, this beach is protected by strong winds.
Psari Forada
Sandy, Secluded, Non Organised
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Location: 88 km south east 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.
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.
Sidonia
Sandy, Secluded, Non Organised
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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.
Description: A quiet beach on the southern side of Crete, Sidonia is located right next to the family resort of Psari Forada.
Tertsa
Pebbled, Secluded, Non Organised
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Location: 88 km south east of Heraklion Town
Description: Tertsa is a quiet beach on the southern side of Crete, between Psari Forada and Myrtos. The beach is not organized but has some tourist facilities above it.
Description: Tertsa is a quiet beach on the southern side of Crete, between Psari Forada and Myrtos. The beach is not organized but has some tourist facilities above it.
Treis Ekklisies
Family Friendly, Pebbled, Secluded, Non Organised
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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.
Description: Located on the southern side of Crete, Treis Ekklisies is a secluded resort accessible through a track road.
Vathi
Sandy, Secluded, Non Organised
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Location: 80 km south west of Heraklion Town
Description: Vathi is a secluded and unorganized beach a few km away from Matala. It can be reached through a track road from Sivas.
Description: Vathi is a secluded and unorganized beach a few km away from Matala. It can be reached through a track road from Sivas.
Linoperamata
Sandy, Non Organised
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Location: 7 km west of Heraklion Town
Description: This is a long, sandy beach in close distance to Heraklion Town and next to the popular resort of Ammoudara.
Description: This is a long, sandy beach in close distance to Heraklion Town and next to the popular resort of Ammoudara.
Messara Gulf
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Location: 7 km south west of Heraklion Town
Description: The Gulf of Messara is located on the south western side of Heraklion Crete and includes nice beaches, such as Matala, Kalamaki and Komos.
Description: The Gulf of Messara is located on the south western side of Heraklion Crete and includes nice beaches, such as Matala, Kalamaki and Komos.
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