BEACHES
Crete features more than 150 beaches of special beauty. Some of the most known among them are in the region in Chania, which is famous for its beaches all over Europe. And the municipality of Chania has its (more than) fair share of great beaches. The beaches around Chania city are generally shallow and suitable for families with children. Nevertheless, no matter how deep, they all have crystal clear waters and in almost all cases they have been awarded the Blue Flag. Most of the beaches are easily accessible and have fine white sand. In the summer, sometimes winds blow on the north coast of Crete, the most known of them being the “meltemia”, which cool the temperature down, creating an ideal weather for holidays. Although some bigger beaches may sometimes be affected by the winds, many of them are protected through natural bays, coves and rocky formations, making them ideal for swimming regardless of how strong winds are.
If you are looking for an organized beach, your best bet is Agia Marina to the west of Chania city. After many decades of masterfully catering for countless visitors, Agia Marina has elevated the specification “tourism facilities” to new levels, offering anything your heart desires. Other organized beaches close to Chania city are Nea Chora, which is very close to the city center, Agii Apostoli, which is essentially a group of 3 wonderful beaches, Cryssi Akti, with its golden sand, the family friendly Kalamaki beach, and Stalos, which has a characteristically wide sandy zone, like the Brazilian beaches.
But the place that possibly has the largest variety of marvelous beaches in Chania municipality is Akrotiri peninsula. Akrotiri is generally a rocky, rugged place, but at certain magical spots the forces of nature have carved through the centuries some beaches of amazing beauty. Possibly the beach that most stands out in Akrotiri is the isolated Seitan Limania, with azure water that feels like a tropical beach. Other great beaches in the peninsula are the “twin beaches” of Loutraki and Marathi, which are both very popular with the locals, Stavros beach, with its dramatic landscape, where the famous movie “Zorba the Greek” was filmed, and Kalathas, with its own islet, where you can easily swim to. And there are more fine beaches in Akrotiri, like Agios Onoufrios, Macherida and Tersanas. Finally, on the opposite side of Akrotiri, on the southern coast of the picturesque Souda Bay, you can find the “hidden” beach of Kalami.
The beaches in the Municipality of Chania come in a wide variety and most of them are connected with the Chania City public bus service making them easily accessible for you to enjoy… and leave their mark in your heart forever!
