Chania is our favorite place to visit in Crete, and a BIG reason for that is the stunning beaches in and around Chania.
The city is known for its Old Venitian Harbor, the Chania Lighthouse, cozy boutiques, and authentic Cretan tavernas. Still, the beaches were our favorite part of the city, and we recently spent 10 days exploring it.
If you don’t know already, Chania is both a city and a region.
The region of Chania continues south of the city to Chora Sfakion and covers everything west of both towns. So, this post will cover the town beaches and all our favorite beaches within 2 hours of town!
Don’t worry — none are more than 1.5 hours away, so you can reach all of them on a day trip. And the only one we included that’s 2+ hours away is actually close, but it requires a ferry or a hike to get there.
These are our all-time favorite beaches in Chania. We’ve even included the distance from the city, travel time (both by bus + car), and everything you need to know before visiting each one!
We’ll also include the distance and approximate travel time from Chania to each beach!
Chania town Beaches
The awesome part about Chania is that you don’t have to get into your car to get to a few beautiful beaches. There are 3 town beaches in Chania and a 4th beach a few kilometers west in a suburb called Agia Marina.
1. Nea Chora Beach
Parking: Street Parking
Distance From Old Town Chania: 1 KM (10-minute walk)
Nea Chora Beach is the best city beach in Chania, and there’s no real debate about it.
Since it’s so accessible, it does get crowded during the summer, but on days when you don’t want to travel far from the city, you can walk here in less than 10 minutes from Old down Chania, and we came here quite a few times while staying here.
You can rent a sunbed on the beach for €4-8, and there are several beachfront seafood restaurants. We ordered some Greek Salad, Tzatziki, and Bread from a cafe overlooking the Nea Hora Chania Marina and had a fun little afternoon date!
2. Koum Kapi Beach
Parking: East Moat Theater Parking
Distance From Old Town Chania: 2 KM (15-minute walk)
Koum Kapi Beach is a tiny beach just east of Old Town Chania.
This beach has a great view of the ancient Venetian Walls and is a great place to be during sunset. The downside is that there aren’t any facilities here, so you have to bring your own beach blanket (we love this one!)
Also, there won’t be much beach to enjoy if you go during high tide. The entire beach disappears during high tide, so double-check on Magic Seaweed before you go.
While it is less spacious than Nea Chora Beach, the perk is that it’s often less crowded.
3. Paralia Hrisi Akti (Amenos Beach)
Parking: East Moat Theater Parking
Distance From Old Town Chania: 4 KM (20-minute walk)
If you walk west from Nea Chora Beach, the next beach you’ll hit is Kladissos Beach, but it’s worth continuing even further until you reach Paralia Grisi Akti. We’ve also heard people call this beach Golden Beach or Amenos Beach.
There is a little bit of parking, but if you’re willing to walk, it only takes about 15-20 minutes to get here from the center of town.
Sunbeds are available to rent throughout the summer months, as well as a small cafe, 3 official beach volleyball courts, and paddleboards/pedal boats for rent. Also, if you go here, there actually is decent snorkeling along the rocks!
4. Agia Marina Beach
Parking: Street Parking (very limited)
Distance From Old Town Chania: 10 KM (15-minute drive)
Agia Marina Beach 10 Kilometers is a clean resort beach located just a short drive west of Chania, and if you’re looking for a quiet holiday, this is actually a great place to book your hotel.
The beach is lovely. It’s lined with restaurants and resorts, and boat trips to Theodorou Island, just offshore, are available for snorkeling.
Most of the sunbeds and umbrellas on this beach are owned by the beachfront hotels and cafes, so if you book a room on the beach or order something from one of the beachfront cafes, the beds are free to use!
Akrotiri Penisula (10-30 minutes)
The Akrotiri Peninsula is a dynamic part of the island, with the Chania Airport, scenic gorges, mountains, vineyards, and some of the most beautiful coastline in Crete.
It’s only 20-30 minutes from Old Town (depending on where you go), and we drove here about every other day while in Chania! These were our favorite beaches!
5. Stavros Beach
Parking: Along the road in front of the Beach
Distance From Old Town Chania: 15 kilometers (30 minutes by car)
Stavros Beach is an incredible place to spend the day in Chania. It’s situated on the Akrotiri Peninsula, just 30 minutes from town, and is most famous for the massive mountain across the bay, calm water, and its appearance in the 1960s film Zorba the Greek.
We loved this beach because we felt like we had plenty of room to relax away from the craziness of Chania, but there were still plenty of amenities. Sunbeds are available for €25-30/pair, and we had an amazing Greek Omelet at the local taverna.
The geography makes Stavros Beach super calm, so definitely try snorkeling while you’re here.
Also, if you’re someone who doesn’t love to lay around and sunbathe, there are a couple of hikes that give you an alternative view of the bay.
6. Marathi Beach
Parking: Marathi Beach Parking (additional street parking near the port)
Distance From Old Town Chania: 17 KM (25-minute drive)
Marathi Beach is one of the most developed beaches near Chania and a favorite among local families for sunbathing, swimming, and watersports. The beach is separated into 2 different sections by a boat dock.
The right-hand side is the main beach, which is large and has showers, changing stalls, and sunbeds for rent (€8-10).
There are also four cafes/restaurants on the water (we loved the fried zucchini at Loukolos).
On the opposite side of the dock, you can find various opportunities to get out on the water. These include paddleboarding, kayaking, or even renting a speedboat to explore the nearby islands on your own.
There are four cafes/restaurants on the water (we loved the fried zucchini at Loukolos)
7. Katholiko Beach
Parking: Parkplatz Katholiko Bucht (free)
Distance From Old Town Chania: 18 KM (30-minute drive) + 1 Hour Hike
If you’re looking for an off-beat adventure near Chania, Katholiko Beach is definitely the beach for you.
Katholiko Beach is not a sandy beach but a secluded swimming hole on the northwest corner of Akrotiri. Getting here requires about a 30-minute drive, followed by a 1-hour hike to the bay (4.5 kilometers roundtrip).
It was the 2nd ‘beach’ we visited from Chania and was so worthwhile because you can also see a couple more cool attractions along the way! You’ll pass by Gouverneto Monastery, Katholiko Monastery, and the abandoned caves of Arkoudospilio.
At the end of the hike, the waters were a little too choppy to swim, but we got to put our feet in the water and take some fun photos!
8. Loutraki Beach
Parking: Onar Seaside Lounge
Distance From Old Town Chania: 16 KM (23-minute drive)
Loutraki Beach is an unusual beach located just a few kilometers away from Marathi Beach. The ‘beach’ here is relatively small, but most people hang out at the long grassy garden overlooking the bay at Onar Seaside Lounge.
The garden is full of sunbeds, which are €10 unless you order drinks/food from the lounge, and a staircase leading down the rocks for direct access to the ocean.
This restaurant and a few vacation villas are the only facilities at the beach, so it’s usually not as crowded as other beaches on the Akrotiri peninsula.
9. Seitan Limania
Parking: Bus Stop Seitan Limania Beach (very limited)
Distance From Old Town Chania: 20 KM (31-minute drive)
Another one of the most picturesque beaches in Chania is Seitan Limania Beach.
Getting there is a bit of an adventure, following a moderately steep hike that’s in serious need of maintenance. Most of the hike is on loose rock but has stunning views of Seitan Limania and the gorge.
Although it’s just 0.5 kilometers long, it takes about 15-20 minutes to hike to the bottom of the gorge and get in the water.
When you arrive at the beach, you will find clear, deep water that’s great for swimming and cliff jumping. We were also surprised that it wasn’t sandy. Seitan Limania is one of the few pebble beaches in Chania, so unfortunately, it wasn’t the most comfortable for sunbathing.
There are no sunbeds on the beach, so if you want shade, you’ll have to pack your own!
10. Kalathas Beach
Parking: Street Parking (very limited)
Distance From Old Town Chania: 10 KM (15-minute drive)
Although it is more ‘touristy’ than other beaches on the Akrotiri Peninsula, Kalathas Beach is a great beach to visit close to sunset in Chania. It’s known as a family beach, and you’ll actually pass it on the way to Stavros Beach or Chania Airport.
Kalathas Beach is well-maintained, with sandy, shallow waters and plenty of amenities. You’ll have access to beach showers and restrooms, and you can rent a pair of sunbeds + umbrellas to sunbathe for the afternoon.
The beach is one of the only west-facing beaches, so it has an amazing view during sunset and a small taverna with a view of the ocean.
The beach is located within an environmentally protected area, so you won’t find any motorized water sports here, just stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, and a jumping rock for thrill-seeking travelers!
Beaches in West Crete (1-2 Hours)
11. Elafonisi Beach
Parking: Elafonisi Mega Parking
Distance From Old Town Chania: 75 KM (1 hour 30 minutes)
Elafonisi Beach is one of the most well-known places in all of Crete. It’s famous for its “pink sand” and crystal-clear waters. A shallow sandbar stretches out from the main beach– connecting a small island to the beach.
We loved hanging out here, even though it was crowded. We spend about 4-5 hours swimming and sunbathing on the islet!
The beach has a lively atmosphere, with lots of space to accommodate the crowds, sunbeds, beach bars, and vendors.
But you’ll also notice a lot of day trips and families with young children because of the calm, clear water. It stays shallow (less than 2 meters) for about 250-300 meters, so it feels like a massive swimming pool!
Once you finish swimming, you’ll find showers to rinse off on your way back to the parking area!
12. Kedrodasos Beach
Parking: Kedrodasos Beach Parking
Distance From Old Town Chania: 75 KM (1 hour 30 minutes)
Kedrodasos Beach is a hidden gem in Crete, and I couldn’t believe there weren’t more people here when we were road-tripping through Crete.
We left probably 1000 other travelers at Elafonisi Beach and drove 5 minutes down the road to find just 10-20 people at Kedrodasos Beach.
It was about 3:00 PM, and I instantly regretted arriving earlier.
Sure, we had to hike about 5 minutes to get to the beach, but it was equally as beautiful and had some of the most stunning coastline views on the entire island! The water at Kedrodasos Beach is super calm, too, making it great for cooling off in the summer or snorkeling.
If you’re looking for extra adventure, you can even camp overnight. Just bring your camping gear!
13. Kalami Beach
Parking: Kalami Parking (Taverna & Bus Stop)
Distance From Old Town Chania: 15 KM (20-minute drive)
Kalami Beach is a small, cozy beach near the port of Souda, just 20 minutes from Chania. The beach is much less crowded than most other beaches on this list and is not popular among campers and backpackers.
There’s a sandy shoreline and a rocky seabed. In the summer, you might find a few free sunbeds next to the beachfront cafe, but it’s pretty primitive outside of that.
14. Balos Beach
Parking: Parking Balos Beach
Distance From Old Town Chania: 53 KM (1 Hour 10 minutes)
Balos Beach is a long sandbar stretching from the mainland to the surreal Tigania Mountain. You can hike up the mountains to either side of the sandbar for a truly spectacular viewpoint.
It’s one of the most popular day trips from Chania and is one of the most popular beaches to visit in all of Greece (not just Crete)!
This part of Crete’s coastline is widely known as the best beach in Chania, but it’s also one of the most difficult to reach. The secluded beach is located on the western side of Crete, far from any urbanized area, and can only be reached by a ferry from Kissamos Port or a challenging 2-hour drive from Chania (4×4 vehicle recommended).
Tours run all summer from the port of Kissamos, or you can take the ferry yourself. They leave daily at 10:40 am.
15. Omprogialos
Parking: Parking near the swimming hole
Distance From Old Town Chania: 35 KM (49-minute drive)
Omprogialos is not necessarily a beach. It’s a little-known swimming hole about 1 hour from Chania that’s most popular for snorkeling and coastal views.
The water here is crystal-clear and perfect for swimming in summer. It is also a very popular place for diving schools and snorkeling tours since the reefs are full of life. If you come around lunchtime, you’ll find a small taverna where you can order lunch or drinks and enjoy the view.
The beach has few facilities and no sunbeds, but it’s a great place to escape the crowds during peak season.
16. Falassarna Beach
Parking: Big Free Parking
Distance From Old Town Chania: 55 kilometers (1 hour by car)
Falassarna Beach is another one of the most stunning beaches near Chania and possibly all of Crete.
The long coastline is split into five sections, with the busiest area to the south (Falassarna Big Beach) and smaller, less touristy parts of the beach to the north (North Falassarna Beach and Falassarna Baby Beach).
The shoreline is lined with white sand and clear waters, ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
If you want a break from the sun, there are also plenty of resorts, cafes, and restaurants along the beach.
Sarah and I also think that Falassarna Beach is the best place to base yourself in Crete if you’re on a honeymoon and the goal is just to waste days away on the beach. There are enough options around for dinner/resorts, but it’s the closest thing to a ‘tropical island’ vibe on the island.
Beaches in south Crete (2+ Hours)
17. Glyka Nera Beach
Parking: Loutro Hiking Trail (Street parking)
Distance From Old Town Chania: 77 KM (1 hour 30 minutes) + 20 minute hike
Glyka Nera is another unique beach in Crete, as it’s only accessible via private boat or a 1.5-kilometer hike from the coastal village of Chora Sfakia.
Glyka Nera translates to “sweet water” in Greek, and it got its name from the freshwater spring of potable water on the beach.
Although far from Chania, Glyka Nera is a fantastic place to trek and spend the entire day. The best part of Glyka Nera Beach is the lack of crowds, making it a perfect place to escape and enjoy peace and quiet. There are no umbrellas but enough trees along the shore to provide shade, and if you get hungry, there is a small cafe to buy snacks and drinks.
18. Preveli Palm Beach
Parking: Preveli Beach Parking
Distance From Old Town Chania: 90 KM (1 Hour 30 Minutes)
Figuring out how to get to Preveli Beach from Chania is not the easiest task, but renting a car makes it much easier. If not, you’ll need to take a bus from Chania to Rethymno and then a separate bus to Preveli Palm Beach.
The beach at Preveli is probably the most unique beach we visited in Crete. While we visited while staying in Plakias, we were surprised to find out that it’s still a day trip away from Chania.
Preveli Beach is known for the palm forest that lines the river through a deep gorge leading to the coast. It’s beautiful, and even if you can’t hike all the way to the beach, it’s still worth seeing it from above!
19. Agia Roumeli
Parking: Not Available (accessible by boat or foot only)
Distance From Old Town Chania: (1 hour by car + 8-hour hike OR 1-hour by ferry)
Agia Roumeli is a small coastal village on the south coast of Crete. We visited this village while renting a boat in Chora Sfakion, but it’s most well-known as the ending point of the Samaria River Gorge (the most famous hike in Crete).
Either way, the beach can only be accessed on foot or by ferry.
Agia Roumeli is a pebble beach but relatively quiet most of the day and a fantastic place to cool off after a long hike. There are also a few tavernas and cafes where you can grab a bite to eat or drink while watching the sunset.
Final Thoughts
The beaches in and around Chania were some of the most beautiful places we visited during two months of island hopping in Greece.
It was honestly quite surprising. We were expecting that the town of chania would be worth visiting, and we were really excited about places like the Matala Caves and the Palace of Knossos, but the beaches ended up being amazing!
We’re also so glad we rented a car because we were able to visit multiple beaches each day without stressing about getting from the beach to the trailhead or paying for expensive taxis.
So, we really do recommend booking a car rental in Chania!
Whether you’re looking for a quiet spot to relax, explore the marine life in Crete, or want to find a place to eat and drink while watching the sunset, there’s a beach in Chania perfect for you!
