BEACHES AROUND THE ISLAND
The Beach of Plakias and from behind the mountains the beach of Damnoni and Ammoudi
Most of the guest arriving on Crete have chosen this island for the beaches. We want to go as many days as possible to enjoy the sun and get a nice brown tan. On the island you may encounter a variety of beaches and some Tour operators make " their dreamy stories" about lonely Paradise beaches where you will actually find crowded places in the high season. Photos of the beaches in their Brochures where made in the beginning of the season and make you believe that you will be going to a paradise. Let me give you my honest opinion with a round trip along most beaches, from which have 54 have received a "Blue Flag" from EU commitee stating that here we find the cleanest beaches of Europe with cristal clear water.
The beaches from Malia and Chersonnisos are not the wide and long sandy beaches where you wished to find yourself alone all day. If you have a scooter or rental car, drive to Milatos beach, here you will find not so many tourist.
fun and party in Chersonnisos !
Around Elounda and Agios Nicholaos there are small beaches, but less crowded beaches we find at Pachia Ammos eastwards. In Sitia area is a good beach near Agia Fotia and away from the famous beach of Vai 
is near the archaeological excavation of Itanos a good beach. At Zakros is the best beach of the eastern area going as far as Paleokastro, a village with friendly accommodations and good Tavernas. The south coast offers the best beaches and along the road from Makrigialos until Ierapetra you'll find mainly sandy beaches where you can celebrate lonelyness......
West from Ierapetra lies a nice small villace, named Mirtos, its a pity that the village beach is mainly with pebbles, but a few miles outside from the villages there is a nice sandy beach.
In the prefecture of Heraklion on the south coast lies the village Lendas. Many years this was a place for rugbag tourist, hippies and free campers. Mass tourism is now slowly finding the place and there are family accommodations offered. Be prepared, there's not much nightlife here, or it must be your own beach party. We find here sandy and pebble beaches.
Good beaches in the middle of Crete are at Kali Limines( Good harbor) but there are almost no tourist accommodations. The land here is owned by one of the richest families in Greece; Vardoligiannis. They own an oil company and their Oil suply tanks you will see here on some small islands in front of the beach. Sunbathing or swimming is possible and you may even forget your swimming costume.
Near Matala is the "red" beach named because the sand is red and a crazy, but friendly hippie making sand art here. Its a jeep road to get there but its worth a visit.
Matala Beach was during the 1960-ties and 1970-ties the Hippie meeting place of Crete and the flower power people either slept (after their beach parties) on the beach or in the ancient sand caves, which today brings many tourist to visit the village.
Nearby is the sandy beach of Komos, where you can find more space, more peace and cheaper accommodation and food.
Near the farmers and industrial center of Timbaki in the fishermen's village Kokkinos Pirgos ( the red castle) we find varied beaches with pebbles and sand. Its an ideal place if you like a daily fresh fish menu. There are small hotels and pensions that can give you relaxed holidays but during the high season the village is visited from many Greek Families. Planns are made to make a big container harbor here, not very good for tourism, that's for sure.
Agia Galini is a very nice village on the south coast with night life, typical restaurants and small hotels. Its a pity that we dont find on this spot the best beaches from the south. There are boats in the harbor to transfer you to the nice Saint George or Saint Pavlos beach. Than there's is also Triopetra beach, the name was given by the 3 remarkeble rock points that rise up from the sea here.
At Fotini Beach west towards Plakias has my good friend Stavros excellent accommodation and fish food for tourist that wish to hide them selves for 2 weeks.
Click: ACCOMMODATION RETHYMNO AREA
Than there's the most famous beach from the south coast; the Preveli Palm beach, where you can come by car but the last part you must walk down from the mountains that enclose this beach. Find here a small Paradise; but dont expect your are the first one...See many photos and information of this beach with this link:http://www.preveli.com
My love for the beaches around Plakias is mentioned before and if the Meltemi, the strong southern winds is only a small breeze, than I you'll find here the ideal place to be on holidays.
The beaches from Rodakino lie in the south west of the prefecture Rethymno. Very good sandy beaches here and dont forget the part after the Hotel Polyrizos.
In front of the Venetian Fort of Frangocastello there are the first Lagune sandy beaches from the south coast. Ideal beaches here for peace, relax and specially for small children. They can play in the water since the depth is for 100 Meter in sea only about 70-80 Cm. Good quality accommodation is available but not always offered by the big touroperators.
Click: ACCOMMODATION CHANIA AREA
Around Chora Sfakion, varied sandy and pebble beaches, most of them only to find by footh or to enter with a small boat (kaiky) from the fishermen.
Loutro has a small sandy beach ideal for children. but be aware that several times per day the big Ferry boat from the Samaria gorge comes here to the shore.
The beach from Agia Roumeli, exit form the Samaria gorge, is only useful for the walkers to cool down after the efforts of the Samaria gorge.
Paleochora has nice sandy beaches and good accommodations and more to the west is Elafonissi. Here the famous Lagune beaches from Crete where during the season at midday the coach excursions arrive with guest visiting the beach.
On the West coast there is a good beach at Falasarna were another friend of me offers a good place to stay in his house Petaluda, (Butterfly)
click: ACCOMMODATION CHANIA AREA
From Kissamos until Chania on the North coast many wide sandy beaches, but some lie in the touristical parts, dont expect here that you are the only one looking for a place in the sun.
The beaches from the peninsula Akrotiri sometimes offer good sandy places, like at Stavros, where the dancing scene was filmed with Zorba The Greek or at Marathi near the NATO base.
Kalives offers good sandy beaches with hotels and pensions and in the area is also the peacefull village Almirida with unspoiled beaches.
From Georgioupoli until Petres we find the 2nd longest beach of Crete. It has 9 Km and is mainly with sand. Luxury Hotels are close by and offered by the Tour operator in their brochures.
Than in Rethymno prefecture is the longest sandy beach of Crete with 11 Km and along all the area you may find luxery hotels or family pensions. The main part near the town is in the summer very crowded, if you go 5-6 Km more to the east, than you may find more freedom.
Click: ACCOMMODATION RETHYMNO AREA
Near the old village Panormos there are some nice beaches outside the village, ask the locals for tips and in the more touristic resort Bali, there I would not prefer to make my beach holiday, which by the way is also my opinion about Agia Pelagia. You may find here small strips of sand or even beaches with only pebbles and not enough space on a busy day. Heraklion town offers in the nearby area of Ammoudara some small beaches and on the east side of the town there are the beaches until the area where we started this page.
You like Nude beaches? Most of them you'll find on the south coast. Although officially Nude Bathing is not permitted in Crete some tourist feel free to do so to get an all over tan. Its always wise to see first if there are already some nude bathers on the beach. If you see many Greek families with small children, do not offend them, since you are a guest here and you should respect the Greek Way of life.
http://www.creteisland.gr/gallery/index.php?cat=5
Here are more pictures from beaches around
