Crete, the island of Zeus, according to Greek mythology. Is the island of the greatest god in ancient Greece the greatest island in Europe?
In this blogpost you will read about five different beaches in different surroundings, which pretty much describes the whole island.
“Crete is the largest island in Greece and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located in the southern part of the Aegean Sea. Here, you can admire the remnants of brilliant civilizations, explore glorious beaches, impressive mountainscapes, fertile valleys and enjoy the island's rich gastronomic culture”
1.Elafonisi
White sand and crystal clear water, the only combination needed for it to be a beautiful beach. But Elafonisi comes with surprises, like pink sand throughout the outer coast and for the restless there is a short hiking trail to an beautiful old church situaided on a hill overlooking the sea. The beach has two sides where you can either swim or just float around in the shallowed part while relaxing, or maybe for the kids to enjoy themselves. This beach brings families, friends and couples because of its variability, yet the place is calm and peaceful. When visiting Elafonisi do arrive early since the sunbeds sell out fast and you will not want to be without a parasol, it can get extremely hot here so do not forget your sunblock neither. If you will walk the one hour hiking trail, bring some comfy shoes, most part of the hiking is on sand and without any shadows. On the beach you will find toilets, showers and two small beach cafes. Easiest way to get here is by taking the local bus, but be aware that they can be late, you can also take a tourist bus or go by car. The beauty of Elafonisi is also the way of getting there, thru the mountains of Crete.
2.Balos - Gramvousa
If you get bored easily or like to explore different places in one day. I definitely recommend taking the boat to Balos-Gramvousa. The boats goes from Kissamos port, you can either get there by car or a tourist bus. In this case I suggest not taking the local bus since the boats leaves in a certain time and you will want to be there on time. The adventure begins in the boat surrounded by the blue sea and the beautiful mountains, the greek flag on the boat catching the winds and if you are lucky som greek music. Your first stop will be on Balos Lagoon, here you will find crystal clear water, both deep and shallowed areas, white sand and a stunning view over the sea. Second and last stop will be on Gramvousa, here you can either enjoy yourself at the beach or take a hiking trail up to an Venetian fort built in the 16th century. Nearby Gramvousa beach you will also see a shipwreck from 1967 which has become a symbol of the area. This trip by boat is truly enjoyable and there is a restaurant on the boat, however the beaches do not have any toilets, cafes or restaurants so be sure to eat before leaving the boat and bring some drinking water and snacks with you.
3.Falassarna
Do you just want to rest on the beach with no one convincing you to go hiking? Well, this is the place. Falassarna is a wide beach that rarely feels overcrowded, there is enough place to be on a calm spot or near families. The sand is white & the water is turquoise and warm. You get here by car, tourist bus or local bus. Nearby you will find some restaurants. This truly is a beach to visit if you just want to rest and enjoy your vacation.
4.Agia Marina Beach
All-day-all-evening-on-the-beach kind of person? Agia Marina beach is located in the Chania area with just a walk from Platanias where youll find tourist shops, a lot of restaurants and pubs. In this area before walking to the beach you will find som fine tasty gyros, just ask the locals and they will hopefully point the way. Or visit this blog, I will write about Cretan restaurants worth visiting in another blog post. Alongside the beach you will find a lot of restaurants with great coffee and food. Here the sunbeds are free as long as you order something to eat or drink. The beach is soft and the water is blue, sometimes the water can get a bit wavy. When the evening comes you can either go to the right for some tranquility in a restaurant or to the left to enjoy some beach parties.
5.Vai palmgrove
As I live in Sweden seeing palmtrees is truly a luxury. On this beach you will se the largest palm grove in Europe. This place is exotic and beautiful and here aswell you will find white sand and turquoise water. Come here to relax as a family, couple or with friends. Vai palmgrove i situaided in East of Crete and shows that Crete really is a place to come back to because one vacation is just not enough to explore all the beauty in it.
Come back to read more about Crete or other travel tips. - New blogpost every Friday.
Good travel!
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