The nice sandy beach northern to the small port of Elounda is situated at a distance of 11 kilometers far from Aghios Nicolaos at the North, and 70 -77 kilometers eastern to the International Airport of Heraklion, via the New or the Old National road respectively. Protected by the Spinalonga peninsula, the beach is not affected by the winds. Fully organised, the beach offers a wide range of accommodation, from luxurious hotels to rooms to let. A lot of taverns, restaurants, bars and cafes offer food, drink and amusement. The beach is well equipped in swimming and sunbathing facilities (sunbeds, umbrellas, showers etc.) as well as in sea sport facilities.In case of health problems, a local Medical Center is available at the small port of Schisma. Access from Aghios Nicolaos and Heraklion is possible by public bus, running frequently and by rented or private car and motorbikes; from Aghios Nicolaos you can also use a taxi.
See watersports centers in Lasithi
Source: safewatersports.gr
Voulisma is the second of the three bays in the beautiful village Istron, about 12km east of Agios Nikolaos and 22km north of Ierapetra. The Voulisma Beach or Golden Sands is located approximately 500m from the village (east). Its length is about 700m and is the largest municipal beach of Kalo Chorio.Voulisma is a very well-organized beach, with rare beauty for a beach located in the Northern part of Crete. The white sand gives the water a turquoise colour that will remind you of tropical destinations. To the west of the main beach called Voulismeni, there is a smaller bay that is more protected from the wind but less organised. Voulisma is awarded with a ‘Blue Flag’ and the sea is usually calm and serene. Access to Voulisma is easy via Highway St. Nicholas – Ierapetra. On a plateau above the beach, there is a canteen where you can grab a bite to eat or enjoy a cool refreshment and relax while admiring the magnificent view. Voulisma beach is very popular among both locals and tourists. You will find that it gets very crowded, especially on summer weekends. Unfortunately, when there is a north wind the waves bring trash to the beach.
Services
- Length (in meters): 270
- Exposed to winds: Winds N, Winds N.NW
- Soil Type: Sandy
- Sea Type: Normal Sea-Bed configuration
- Bight: Yes
- Parking: Yes
- Disabled Access: No
- Organised: Yes
- Populous: Yes
- Cafe / Restaurant: No
- Showers: Yes
See watersports centers in Lasithi
Source: safewatersports.gr
Situated 3 kilometers far from Rethymnon at the East, the beach of Missiria is a beautiful long sandy beach, affected by the “meltemia”(northern summer winds). It is rather well organised with accommodation facilities, taverns and cafes. Some facilities for swimming and sunbathing (sunbeds, umbrellas) are also available. It is easily accessible on foot or by public bus and taxi from Rethymnon, as well as by rented and private car and motorbike.
Services
- Length (in meters): 600
- Exposed to winds: Meltemi (Etesians), Winds N, Winds N.NW, Winds NW, Winds NE, Winds W
- Soil Type: Sandy
- Sea Type: Normal Sea-Bed configuration
- Bight: No
- Isolated: No
- Parking: Yes
- Disabled Access: Yes
- Organised: Yes
- Populous: Yes
- Cafe / Restaurant: Yes
- Showers: Yes
See watersports centers in Rethimno
Source: safewatersports.gr
Episkopi beach is located approximately 12 km to the west from Rethymno city and 2 km the south from the of Episkopi settlement in Rethymno prefecture. The Mousela River is the west border of Episkopi beach and the east border is a river that flows through the Petre gorge, next to the bridge of martens. Episkopi is a big sandy beach with shallow waters, affected by “meltemia” (northwestern daily wind, a very common thing in Aegean Sea), which bring over a lot of seaweeds. Episkopi beach at some parts is organized and there are some cafeterias around. The east side of the beach is not organized at all, while on the west side you can take pleasure in water sports.In the area of Episkopi beach, there are lots of big hotel chains, taverns, restaurants, bars and other facilities you might need. You can easily reach Episkopi beach by car from Rethymno or you could take a bus from the city center, which always make a stop there. Apart from bathing in the Episkopi beach, you can also visit the springs of Argyroupoli and explore the nearby canyons.
Services
- Length (in meters): 1800
- Exposed to winds: Meltemi (Etesians), Winds N, Winds N.NW, Winds NW, Winds NE, Winds E, Winds W
- Soil Type: Sandy
- Sea Type: Normal Sea-Bed configuration
- Bight: No
- Isolated: No
- Parking: Yes
- Disabled Access: Yes
- Organised: Yes
- Populous: Yes
- Cafe / Restaurant: Yes
- Showers: Yes
See watersports centers in Rethimno
Source: safewatersports.gr
The Adele beach is located in a homonym valley in Rethymno prefecture, approximately 8 km from Rethymno city. In front of the Adele valley there is a huge sanded beach of Adele extending to the Skaleta region. The Adele beach is shallow, but usually wavy enough, like all the northern beaches of Crete. Sea turtles lay their eggs on this beach; there are some points where you can see ropes and signs warning you about these places. Adele beach is very well organized and popular for its water sports available to the bathers. Next to the Adele beach you will find bid and small hotels and many options for dinning, shopping and just having fun. The Geropotamos beach lies to the east of Adele beach. You can reach Adele beach by local buses from the Rethymno’s city center.
Services
- Length (in meters): 1200
- Exposed to winds: Meltemi (Etesians), Winds N, Winds N.NW, Winds NW, Winds NE, Winds E, Winds W
- Soil Type: Sandy
- Sea Type: Normal Sea-Bed configuration
- Bight: No
- Isolated: No
- Parking: Yes
- Disabled Access: Yes
- Organised: Yes
- Populous: Yes
- Cafe / Restaurant: Yes
- Showers: Yes
See watersports centers in Rethimno
Source: safewatersports.gr
Plakias beach is located in homonym settlement almost 40 km to the south of Rethymno in Rethymno prefecture.Plakias beach, 1,3 km in length, ends in a tall, smooth, limestone cliff on its east side. The nudists are hiding beneath this cliff during the summer season. Sandy and very well organized, Plakias beach is among the most famous beaches of the prefecture. In the immediate vicinity of the Plakias beach, you can find more than a few hotels, rooms-to-let, restaurants, bars and a lot of shops. There is an organized camping site in approximately 100 meters from the beach. Headed to the west from Plakias beach, you will find Paligkremnos beach. The Plakias beach is an exquisite destination for watersports-lovers and hikers since there is a diving center nearby. Along the beach, there is also a seaside road ideal for riding a bicycle and taking a walk on foot. Moreover, you can cross a gorge of Kotsifou or walk through an impressive Kourtalioti gorge. Both can be found to the east of the beach.
Services
- Length (in meters): 1200
- Exposed to winds: Winds S, Winds W, Winds S.SE, Winds S.SW
- Soil Type: Sandy
- Sea Type: Normal Sea-Bed configuration
- Bight: Yes
- Isolated: No
- Parking: Yes
- Disabled Access: No
- Organised: Yes
- Populous: Yes
- Cafe / Restaurant: Yes
- Showers: Yes
See watersports centers in Rethimno
Source: safewatersports.gr
Damnoni beach can be found near the village Spili of the Rethymno prefecture, 35 km to the south of Rethymno city and few kilometers from Plakias. A white-sanded, 600 meters long Damnoni beach is located right outside a big valley, near a small river, surrounded by tall mountains. The west side of Damnoni beach provides its visitors with umbrellas, sunbeds, showers and a lifeguard. In the middle of Damnoni beach there is a traditional tavern densely surrounded by tamarisks. This region is recommended for its water sports since there is a diving school not far away, as well as a horse riding center. Also you can find few rooms to rent nearby. Heading west from the Damnoni beach, there are few small bays to be found, with sand and pebbles, where you can relax avoiding crowded places, like for example Ammoudi beach.
Services
- Length (in meters): 600
- Exposed to winds: Winds S, Winds W, Winds S.SE, Winds S.SW
- Soil Type: Sandy
- Sea Type: Normal Sea-Bed configuration
- Bight: Yes
- Isolated: No
- Parking: Yes
- Disabled Access: No
- Organised: Yes
- Populous: Yes
- Cafe / Restaurant: Yes
- Showers: Yes
See watersports centers in Rethimno
Source: safewatersports.gr
Stalos is an excellent sandy beach located in the coastal settlement of Kato Stalos, seven kilometers west of Chania, between Kalamaki and Agia Marina. Stalos is a developed area and attracts a large number of visitors every summer, because it is so close to Chania and you can get there by regular bus service. The beach is very well organized and it offers all possible tourist services. Pano Stalos, which is located south, towards the mainland, is a picturesque village surrounded by green hills where you will find restaurants and cafes. According to the Cretan mythology, Stalos got its name from Talos, the bronze giant who used to make the tour of Crete three times a day and protect it. It is believed that mythical Talos had his home where Stalos is today. However, a second version is that Stalos got its name during the Ottoman era, when Turkish landowners “stalizan” their sheep in the region, that is to say, used to gather them to rest under the shade of the trees in the area.
Services
- Length (in meters): 300
- Exposed to winds: Winds N, Winds NW, Winds NE
- Soil Type: Sandy
- Sea Type: Normal Sea-Bed configuration
- Bight: No
- Isolated: No
- Parking: No
- Organised: Yes
- Populous: Yes
- Cafe / Restaurant: No
- Showers: Yes
See watersports centers in Chania
Source: safewatersports.gr
The sandy beach of Nea Chora is close to Chania – just one kilometer away from the city center – and you can get there on foot in 15 minutes. The beach of Nea Chora is long, with golden sand, a few rocks and blue shallow waters and it is very well organized. Due to its proximity to Chania, the suburb of Nea Chora beach has facilities for accommodation and food. There you will find restaurants, bars, cafes and several taverns which are famous for their good food. The Nea Chora is ideal for those who want to stay near Chania. In the summer, at the end of August, the “Festival of the Sardine” takes place on the beach of Nea Chora. The abundant fish, dances and songs are the recipe for success for this celebration, which you should not miss. At the western end of the beach of Nea Chora, after the pedestrian bridge that crosses the river Kladisos, a second beach stretching to Aptera beach is formed. The beach of Kladisos is a beautiful vast coast where tourism is not developed at all, despite the fact that it is very close to town.
Services
- Length (in meters): 300
- Exposed to winds: Winds N, Winds N.NW, Winds NE
- Soil Type: Sandy
- Sea Type: Normal Sea-Bed configuration
- Bight: No
- Isolated: No
- Parking: No
- Disabled Access: No
- Organised: Yes
- Populous: Yes
- Cafe / Restaurant: No
- Showers: Yes
See watersports centers in Chania
Source: safewatersports.gr
The coast in Marathi consists of two wonderful beaches, side by side, with white sand and shallow turquoise waters. There are two fully organized beaches, which are almost always windless, unlike other beaches of northern Crete. The beaches of Marathi are separated by a small port and its pier. Marathi is located at the southeastern part of the peninsula of Akrotiri and is 5 kilometers away from the military base at Souda and 16 km away from the city of Chania. The taverns and cafes by the sea with a view of the shores of Souda Bay and the White Mountains are reasons enough to go to Marathi. If you do not only want to admire it, you can also swim to the island of Marathi or Palaiosouda, which is opposite to the coast at a distance of 500 meters – you can get there by pedal boat. In Palaiosouda there is a small pine forest while the western coast is steep and therefore popular among lovers of diving. Next to the beaches in Marathi is the archaeological site of Ancient Minoa and the picturesque church of Agios Spyridon.
Services
- Length (in meters): 130
- Exposed to winds: Winds S, Winds E, Winds S.SE
- Soil Type: Sandy
- Sea Type: Normal Sea-Bed configuration
- Bight: Yes
- Isolated: No
- Parking: Yes
- Organised: Yes
- Populous: Yes
- Cafe / Restaurant: Yes
- Showers: Yes
See watersports centers in Chania
Source: safewatersports.gr