Amazing beaches of West Crete, on a road trip

by letygoeson1, Sep, 2015Greece, Travel Itineraries

Two friends and I set out to explore the western part of Crete. We rented a car because this is undoubtedly the most convenient means.

As for the trip, it was not the classic cultural tour but a specially designed itinerary to visit the most beautiful beaches of the island of Crete and the most important cultural sites of central and western Crete.

The famous beaches of Balos and Elafonissi are truly wonderful, but they are also the most crowded and will happen, especially in summer, to share them with hundreds of other tourists.

COSA TROVERAI IN QUESTO POST:

Cretan Culture

Before I leave with the story/itinerary to discover the amazing beaches of Crete, let me tell you about another beautiful discovery I made on the island.
The memory that has remained most vivid is the Cretan culture. This is one of the reasons why I would go back there immediately. It may be for the great food or the people, the small villages or the relaxed and smiling attitude.
I am sure you will also form a positive opinion after spending time in Crete!

Special mention must be made of Cretan food. Cretan cuisine is, for sure, one of the most recognizable in Greece.
Barley rusks, a wide selection of Cretan cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, fantastic olives and olive oil, goat meat, snails, and plenty of fish are all part of the Cretan diet, along with Cretan honey and the famous alcoholic drink called Raki or Tsikoudia.
Locals drink raki at any time of the day or night and will, certainly, offer you a shot after every meal. It is a strong drink but is a perfect match for the Cretan vacation.

Here is the list of beaches I have personally visited and recommend you see, once in Crete.

Chania

We start here, from Chania, served by both the airport and ships arriving from Athens’ Piraeus port.
It is a small town with a pretty 14th-century Venetian harbor, along which it is nice to stroll and which ends with a pretty lighthouse.
The town center is full of little stores where you can buy souvenirs and handmade leather shoes.

If you also want to quench your ‘cultural thirst’ you can visit the Maritime Museum whose entrance overlooks the harbor.

Foto di Ilias Nickolarakis

Stavros

Starting to talk about beaches, Stavros is definitely the first on the list. The area is quiet and frequented by many families. The shoreline is overlooked by two small restaurants serving cheap traditional Greek cuisine. The bay is dominated by a hill that looks like a dolphin diving into the shallow, crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean.
At night, of course, this landscape makes the scenery even more magical: moonlight illuminates the landscape and hill looks like the snout of a sleeping dragon.

‘Zorba the Greek’ was filmed on this very beach, in particular, the scene where the main character dances the ‘sirtaki’.

Georgiopolis

Imagine a long windswept coastline surrounded by a turquoise blue sea. A beautiful dream despite the fact that the sea gets rough often. The beach is equipped with umbrellas and deckchairs, and there are also a few pubs and taverns where you can refresh yourself.
You can rent water games if you are a particularly active tourist!

Balion

Balion is a seaside resort that has several beaches embedded in small coves-Livadi, Kouskouras, Limani, Varkotopos, Karavostasis-in the midst of a sea that to say ‘gorgeous’ is an understatement.

The area, therefore, also due to geographic conformation, is very sheltered by the sheer cliffs above the sea and is ideal for families with children.

Heraklion

This is a city known not to everyone, but it is actually the largest in renowned Crete.
From the port of Heraklion, in fact, a number of ships depart for all the other islands including Santorini and Karpathos.
Not far from the city center is the world-famous Palace of Knossos, the most important archaeological site on the island of Crete.
The ruins of the Palace of Knossos are at the center of the legend of the King of Crete Minos and the Minotaur locked in the labyrinth.
At this must-see stop, you will tour the palace ruins with an English-speaking guide.

Foto di https://www.cretanbeaches.com/

Matala

Having left behind the hustle and bustle of the city of Heraklion, when you arrive in Matala, you return to quiet. It is a very quiet little village by the sea.
There are very nice equipped beaches in Matala, but the most beautiful beach is the hidden one!

The most beautiful beach in Matala is the real reason for our stop here; it can be reached by passing a rocky knoll, which -prepare yourself!- must be climbed, or through a rough and dangerous side path. It pays, therefore, to bring along a good pair of hiking shoes.
Just climb down to find a beautiful and unexpected beach surrounded by a cliff with hollowed-out caves.
There are no services at this beach, There is no toilet and there is only a small hut that sells water, drinks and little else. The owner is a bit grumpy, so it is recommended to bring a packed lunch.

Fun fact: The caves and the beach from the Woodstock mood hosted, in the 1970s, a community of hippies who, when they discovered Matala, realized how evocative this place was and, above all, what they were interested in at the time, unspoiled.
The community chose just a few caves on the shoreline to settle.
Even at night Matala is very lively, the nightlife is wild.

Rethymno

In Rethymno I recommend the trip to its fortress for the morning and the beach for the afternoon.
The beaches are really worth a visit, although we only stopped here for one day.

Elafonisi

Just two words…Pink Beach. A name, a guarantee of beauty!
The sand is thin, light and the shoreline turns pink, as if it were cotton candy.
The sea is really very clean, the place quiet and peaceful, perfect for relaxing and nothing less than tropical paradises. A very recommended place!
I recommend in high season to arrive before 10 am for front row umbrella. In this wonderful place, at the end of the day, definitely do not miss the sunset over the sea! It is truly a magical place!

Balos Lagoon

“Dulcis in fundo” or ‘last but not least,’ this is the most beautiful beach on the entire island of Crete and is worth all the long drive you took to get here.

In fact, there are several kilometers to drive and the road is terrifying!
At one point you have to compulsorily park and continue on foot. After another two kilometers on a rough and wild dirt road, you catch a glimpse of the beach you feel faint!
Everything is wonderful.
You will find some sunbeds and umbrellas for rent here, but they are few and easily sold out, so better get going soon!