Greece is a sunny and hospitable country, which is famous for its ancient history and is recognized worldwide as a place for a wonderful holiday. In Greece, you can have an unforgettable time with the whole family, alone or with friends. Enjoy Greek cuisine and hospitality, expand your horizons on countless excursions, engage in outdoor activities or take a trip on a snow-white yacht along the Greek islands. Well, and, of course, people from all over the world come here for a beach holiday. You can bask under the southern sun and sunbathe with pleasure on one of the largest Greek islands - Crete. Some of the most wonderful and diverse beaches in Greece are the beaches of Heraklion (the main prefecture of Crete). See below for details.
Crete, Heraklion Prefecture
The large island of Crete is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece. This is due to the fact that the tourist infrastructure is well developed here. There are two international airports, modern convenient highways. Guests are welcomed by excellent hotels of allcategories and price levels, luxury villas and affordable hotels, snow-white yachts and all kinds of water activities. And, of course, the best beaches. All this, together with a rich history, the myths of Ancient Greece and a huge number of architectural artifacts, annually attracts thousands of tourists to Crete. And if the beach season here lasts from June to September, then the tourist season is all year round. The indigenous people do not call themselves Greeks, but Cretans, which emphasizes a certain isolation of their native island and its originality.
The city of Heraklion is the capital of the island of Crete and at the same time the main city of one of the four prefectures of Crete. A city with a very ancient history, as well as everything in Greece. During its long life, Heraklion was repeatedly destroyed almost to the ground and revived again. The last barbaric destruction occurred during the Second World War during the bombing from the air. After this tragedy, the city was rebuilt, but, unfortunately, it has lost some of its original charm. The city became the capital of Crete in 1971. The population of Heraklion is about 140 thousand people. The number of vacationers in the season many times exceeds this figure. Speaking about the beauties and sights of this place, it is necessary to say separately about its famous beaches. The beaches of Heraklion have a total length of about 40 kilometers and are very popular. They are considered one of the best in Greece and the cleanest in the world.
Features of beaches
The beautiful beaches of Heraklion have been repeatedly awarded the highest awardEuropean Union "Blue Flag" for impeccable environmental performance. The distinctive features of the beaches include:
- purity of water and sand, overall well-groomedness and comfort;
- maximum preservation of the pristine nature;
- high level of service and recreation infrastructure;
- a huge variety of shapes and sizes: sandy and pebbly, large and small, sheltered in bays and open, surrounded by coniferous forests and palm groves;
- free entrance to municipal beaches (the fee is taken only for beach equipment, but quite high).
The most popular beaches are located on two Cretan coasts: North and South. The beaches near Heraklion are located in the northern part of the island, the southern beaches are about 100 kilometers from the capital. The northern coast is washed by the Aegean Sea, the southern - by the Mediterranean. In this article you can also see photos of the beaches of Heraklion.
North Coast: popular beaches
On the North coast of Heraklion prefecture of Crete, the beaches are the most popular among tourists and are almost always crowded. In total, there are more than 10 famous beaches here. The northern beaches are mostly sandy, with a long shallow strip. Due to the high transparency of the water, even if you swim far enough from the shore, you can easily see the seabed and its colorful inhabitants. In the north there are beaches: Paleokastro, Amoudara, Kokkini Hani, Gouves, Hersonissos, Agia Pelagia, Lygaria.
Amoudara isfive kilometers of chic fine sea sand, a comfortable flat bottom, a gentle entry into the water. Feature: at some distance from the coast there is an underwater rocky ridge that protects the beach from high waves, acting as a natural breakwater. The beach service provides vacationers with everything necessary (umbrellas, sunbeds, deck chairs). The rescue service is on. Nearby is a developed network of restaurants, bars and hotels.
Paleokastro is good because it is easy to get to, as the main island highway passes nearby. This beach is pebbly, with a rather steep descent into the water. The beach is small in size, very cozy, there are restaurants and small hotels nearby. Many tourists like to spend time here.
Gouves is a modern fashionable beach of Heraklion (Greece) with a highly developed entertainment infrastructure. Very suitable for those who are accustomed to comfort and convenience. Near the beach there is a beautiful promenade with many cafes and restaurants. The entrance to the sea is convenient, but in windy weather there are high waves. Very crowded and fun place.
South Coast: popular beaches
The south coast is on the opposite side of the island from Heraklion. The infrastructure is less developed here, less crowded. But the authorities are deliberately hindering the development of the tourism business in this area, trying to preserve the natural integrity of these places, their pristine nature. This area is characterized by high rocky shores with quaint bays and pebble beaches. The most famous "wild" beaches are also here.
Matala is a very beautiful beach, sheltered from strong winds by rocks. Sandy beach, gentle entry into the water. This place is also famous for its special healing microclimate. Matala is always crowded, largely due to the beautiful high rock that borders the beach on one side. Ancient legends and modern stories are associated with this rock. On its slope there are many caves located on natural stone tiers. It is believed that they were cut down by people in ancient times for living. Later the caves were used for burials. In the 60s of the twentieth century, these stone rooms were chosen by hippies. Now the caves are empty, but are open every day for everyone to visit.
Makryalos is a well-equipped beach with a convenient entry into the sea. From here you can take a boat trip to the islands of Chrissi and Koufonisi.
Heraklion white sand beaches
The beautiful beaches here are so diverse that everyone will find a place to their liking. For example, the color of the sand on the beaches can be golden, pink, yellow, gray, even black. Of particular admiration is the beauty of white beach sand. It was on the snow-white beaches of Crete that an advertisement for the famous chocolate was filmed.
Kedrodasos - a white sand beach surrounded by healing cedar forest and juniper. White sand gives a special azure color to sea water, this effect is invariably a delight. This place is quite popular thanks to the sea air filled with the smell of pine needles, which together create a unique cocktail.
Kolokita - a small beach withabsolutely white sand and many lush trees, in the shade of which you can hide in the intense heat. This beach can only be reached on foot, leaving the car at a sufficient distance from the sea, near the nearest monastery.
Platanias - the largest beach of Crete, white sand stretches for four kilometers.
Red Beach, Pink Island
Red Beach or Kokkini Ammos is a very picturesque place that attracts many tourists. Its feature is the red color of the sand, which gives the beach a fabulous, fantastic look. This place of rest is protected on all sides from the wind by rocks. Nearby is the most popular nude beach in Crete.
They say in Crete that if you haven't seen Elafonisi, you haven't seen anything. Elafonisi is a beach on a small island that you can wade onto. Incredible beauty strikes the imagination here, and magical landscapes open up. Clear turquoise water, pink sand from small shells, the sea is calm, gentle, shallow and warm. This piece of paradise is very popular with guests of the island. Therefore, it is always crowded here.
"Wild" beaches
The untouched beaches of Heraklion are located mainly on the south coast. These pristine corners of nature are sometimes difficult to access, they do not have the usual service and crowds of tourists. But they definitely deserve to be reached and seen with your own eyes. The already mentioned island of Chrissi is perhaps the only crowded corner, due to its accessibility. There are no hotels and restaurants here, but endemics and cedar forests grow. The island itself is part of the Natura 2000 environmental program.
Tripiti is a small pebble beach with crystal clear water, located 70 kilometers from Heraklion. The beach is located in a narrow gorge, where the only tavern with national cuisine awaits guests. Very picturesque place.
Agiofarango - a beach formed in the gorge of the same name, overlooking the sea. This is a very beautiful bay, closed on all sides by rocks. Quiet and very clean place. You can get there either by boat or on foot through the gorge.
Vathy is one of the most remote beaches in Heraklion. It is a small piece of land, into which a narrow sea bay deeply cuts. Getting to Vathi is difficult both by land and by water. But, if you overcome these difficulties, you can spend an unforgettable time in complete solitude and merging with nature.
Most popular beaches among tourists
All the beaches of Crete, including Heraklion, are good in their own way and have their own unique features. Many of them have already been mentioned in this article. Among the popular and very beautiful corners of nature, there are several more.
Balos is a beach with white sand, azure water and amazing views. According to an old legend, there was once a secret pirate hideout here. Silent confirmation of the legend is a shipwreck nearby and an ancient fortress located nearby.
Wai - chic palm trees and clear water resemble a paradise tropical island. Loutro - quieta deserted beach with clear water is worth a visit. Malia is a popular, well-maintained sandy beach located next to the archaeological site.
Best beaches for kids
The best beaches in Heraklion for families with children, first of all, meet the criteria for safety, he alth benefits and developed entertainment for small tourists.
Agia Marina is a very spacious sandy beach with extensive shallow water. The beach is surrounded by pine trees, creating a unique healing microclimate. This is a place where there is something to do with children. There are many water activities, there is a sailing center, and a mountain goat reserve is located nearby.
Makryialos is one of the best children's beaches in Heraklion, according to tourists. The sea is shallow, the water is calm and clear. In the neighboring village, you can have a delicious meal in cafes and restaurants, as well as take a walk around the neighborhood.
Frangokastello - an ideal beach for children's holidays, located near the ancient castle of Frangokastello, next to which, they say, they meet ghosts. You can visit the castle on your own or as part of an excursion group.
Tourist reviews of the beaches of Heraklion and Crete
While waiting for a vacation, every tourist tries to find information about the place of his future stay. If you are going to spend a vacation in Greece, you can preview photos of the beaches of Heraklion and Crete, which will be located closest to your place of residence on vacation. But, in fact, which beach is next to the hotel does not really matter. Crete, although large, is still an island, andby Russian standards, the distances here are small.
Tourists note that in one day you can easily visit several beaches, both on the North coast and on the South. It often happens that on one side there is inclement weather, clouds and wind, and on the other - the sun shines brightly and azure water gently splashes. Also, all tourists who have visited Crete note the exceptional purity of the water and beaches of Crete. Some say that Cretan waters are the cleanest in Greece. And yet, almost all guests of Crete note the special unhurried atmosphere of bliss that reigns here. No one is in a hurry, no one is nervous or annoyed. Tourists note that in Crete you can safely walk at any time of the day, everywhere you meet friendliness and hospitality.
If you add here the picturesque natural landscapes that open literally everywhere, the "zest" of local architecture, the special hospitality of the Cretans, you get the wonderful island of Crete. An island covered with ancient legends and myths. According to tourists, when they first arrived in Crete, at first a lot of things are incomprehensible, some local features of the service are even a little annoying. The longer you stay on the island, the more and more you begin to accept it. Then love sets in and you don't want to leave. Crete is a place where you always want to return.
