Those traveling to Crete for the first time might not realize that the iconic pink-sand Elafonisi Beach is quite far from Chania.
Technically, it’s in the Chania region, but it takes at least 1 hour and 30 minutes to get there, and there is very limited public transportation. So, if Elafonisi Beach is already on your itinerary, you’ll need to do a little extra planning beforehand.
We spent over a month in Crete and 10 days in Chania, and we rented a car that entire time, so it was easiest for us to drive to Elafonisi.
But you can also take the bus or book a guided tour.
It’s true that you CAN rent a taxi, but that’s so expensive we would never recommend someone do that.
Here’s everything you need to know about the trip and some additional tips to enjoy Elafonisi Beach, one of our favorite ways to escape the crowds when we get there!
Where is Elafonisi Beach?
Elafonisi is an island on the far southwest corner of Crete. The island is connected to the mainland by a small sandbar that’s only visible from a bird’s eye view. It never fully connects, but during low tide, the stretch is only a couple of feet deep, so you can easily walk to Elafonisi Island.
The best beach it creates is Elafonisi Beach, which has become the most famous beach in Crete over the years.
But it’s certainly not the most convenient beach in Crete, over 90 minutes from Old Town Chania.
Still, we felt it was more than worth the effort!
How to Get To Elafonisi From Chania
There are three ways to get to Elafonisi Beach: drive, take the bus, or book a guided tour. Of course, you can take a taxi, but it’s incredibly expensive, so we don’t recommend it!
Here’s what you should know about each mode of transportation.
Our Experience Driving from Chania
Since we had our rental car for the entire month, it made the most sense for us to drive.
But even if you are there for a relatively short time, renting a car in Chania and driving it are still the most affordable options.
You can usually find a car for as cheap as €10-15/day, and it feels free to have your own transportation.
Directions from Chania to Elafonisi are easy to follow. We didn’t need much more than Google Maps to get there, but it’s a good idea to get an E-SIM card or download the Crete map before you go, just in case!
The journey starts on E65 towards Kissamos, but you actually make a left in Nopegia. It’s possible to continue past Falassarna, but that route takes a little longer. Continue to follow signs directing you to Elafonisi for about 55 kilometers, and you’ll be there!
At the time, we had about 10 days in Chania, which was plenty of time to organize a day to visit Elafonisi.
To make the trip even more worthwhile, we also decided to stop by Kedrodasos Beach on the way back!
Parking at Elafonisi
Parking is really easy at Elafonisi, and it didn’t cost a dime when we visited. But that was in the fall, and we’ve heard they occasionally force people to use the larger lots up the hill in the summer months.
These lots have enough spaces to hold 1000 cars, so there’s really never a risk of them being completely full.
Elafonis Mega Parking (€5 per day) — This is the main parking lot at Elafonisi. It’s about 300 meters from the beach, and they accept credit cards. A snack bar and restrooms are also available for people who need them after a long drive.
Lafonisi Parking (€5 per day) – About 100 meters further from the beach and the same price. You’ll see attendants waving you in and sometimes tell you there is no parking further ahead. Go check Elafonisi Mega Parking first, and come back here if it’s full!
Elafonisi Island Parking (€5 per day) – This is even farther. Don’t listen to the attendants and keep going closer to the beach.
During the shoulder season (October), we drove all the way down close to the shoreline and parked between the juniper trees next to Canteen Kukurakis. The best part was that it was completely free.
Taxi to Elafonisi Beach
Taxis go to Elafonisi Beach from Chania, but they are extremely expensive (over €100 each way).
However, this might make sense for people traveling with a large group of friends or with a small family. If that’s the case, we’d recommend WelcomePickups, but it’s only for select cases.
Guided Tours from Chania
One of the most common ways to get to Elafonisi from Chania is by booking a day tour with an agency. The perk of this is that they do all the heavy lifting for you.
You don’t have to worry about how to get there. Instead, you show up at the pickup point, and your job is just to enjoy the day!
Day Trip to Elafonisi with Platanos Tours
Platanos Tours offers the most popular tour from Chania to Elafonisi Beach.
It’s for people who want an easy transfer so they can spend a few hours exploring or relaxing on the beach. The tour uses an air-conditioned coach bus (which is so much better than a van) and has 24 pickup locations from Paralia Kourna and Kolymvari (multiple stops within Chania).
They also stop for breakfast in Topolia and dinner in Elos, allowing you to try some authentic Cretan dishes and walk around the local village!
Private Elafonisi Tour with Crete Wanderer
Crete Wanderer specializes in fully customizable private tours around the island, but they do have a couple of pre-packaged options (still adjustable), like this one from Chania to Elafonisi!
You can bring a group of up to four people and choose to visit other places along the way. They can stop at Falassarna Beach, Kedrodasos Beach, Palaiochora, and the Chrysoskalitisa Monastery. Having a private driver also means you can stop at viewpoints anytime and ask the tour guide any questions you have about the area!
If you have 4-8 people in your groups, Crete Lux Tours offers a similar experience.
Elafonisi & Falasarna Shared Tour
Another option is to take a shared tour that visits both Elafonisi and Falassarna. This tour by SeaByBus allows you to spend 2-3 hours at each beach and even stops in two different local villages for viewpoints and meals.
The tour even includes an Olive Oil Tasting at Ano Vouves, soft drinks, wine, beer, and snacks.
All the transportation is by coach bus, so it will be a large group, but we’d still say it’s excellent value!
Taking a Bus from Chania
There is only one daily bus from Chania to Elafonisi Beach, and it only operates during the busy months of the year (April – October). There are no buses during the winter.
The bus departs from Chania Bus Station every day at 9:00.
The return bus from Elafonisi to Chania leaves at 16:00.
Assuming that the trip takes about 2 hours by bus, you’ll have roughly 5 hours to enjoy Elafonisi and be back in Chania before dinnertime!
Check the K-Tel Website for updated timetables.
Tips for Visiting Elafonisi Beach
If you’re traveling to Elafonisi Beach, you should know a few things that will make your time even more enjoyable. These apply whether you drive yourself to the beach, take a day tour, or hop on a bus.
Sunbeds are Pretty Cheap
One of the most annoying things to us while traveling through the Greek Islands was that a pair of sunbeds with umbrellas cost upwards of €60.
That’s insane!
But at Elafonisi, we were able to rent a pair of sunbeds with an umbrella for just €15/day. Then we had a safe place to leave our stuff while we went swimming in the shallow water and sipped on a soft drink!
The Pink Sand is very faint
The main draw to Elafonisi is that it has PINK sand, but unless you’re there at a specifically vibrant time of year, you can only see the pink hue from certain angles.
All the pictures you see online have been edited to look much more vibrant than you’ll see in real life.
Still, there were moments when we’d catch a glimpse of it and thought it was the coolest thing!
Rent a SUP or Kayak
Another activity that most people don’t realize at Elafonisi is SUP/Kayak rentals.
There’s only one stand, Aquaholics, but they have relatively cheap rentals for people spending the day at the beach. You can also rent snorkeling gear, but this is more informal, and kind of gross to us. So, we always prefer to bring our own snorkels.
If you have time, you could even paddle over to Kedrodasos Beach to escape all the crowds!
Take the time to hike to Elafonisi Island.
If you have a full day at Elafonisi, walk across the shallow sandbar to Elafonisi Island and explore the beach’s namesake.
It’s a little over a mile long, but it has an ancient church, a small cave with historical artifacts, and beautiful views of the coastline. In fact, it has some of the most unique flora and fauna in the region.
We didn’t realize all this until we got back to Chania, but on our next trip to Elafonisi, we’ll definitely be taking more time to explore the island!
Best Time to visit
Elafonisi Beach is best visited during the warmer months (April-October). Temperatures are regularly above 30ºC (85ºF), there’s a public bus route, and all the vendors are open along the coast.
May and September are perfect!
It’s equally beautiful during the winter, and we’d still say it’s worth visiting (we’ve been here before in late October). But the water can be a little too cold to swim comfortably, and temperatures drop to around 15ºC (60ºF), which isn’t quite warm enough for sunbathing.
Where to Stay near Elafonisi Beach
If you’d like to enjoy Elafonis without all the crowds, the only way is to book a hotel near the beach so you can enjoy the evenings and early mornings without the day tours.
Here are the best options close to Elafonisi and the nearby town of Moni Chrisoskalitissis.
Elafonisi Resort by Kalomirakis
Elafonisi Resort is by far the best place to stay near Elafonisi Beach. It’s been around for a long time and is only two minutes on foot from Elafonisi.
It’s also just 20 minutes on foot from Kedrodasos Beach. The resort has reasonable prices (even during peak travel season) and thousands of 10/10 reviews. The studios are spotless and come with a balcony, free parking, and an on-site restaurant. Some rooms have a small kitchenette.
The best part is that it is dark enough for stargazing here every evening!
Lafo Rooms
Lafo Rooms is a slightly more affordable option near Elafonisi Beach, but it is a slightly farther walk, and the amenities aren’t quite as nice.
Every room has a terrace, coffee bar, walk-in shower, and mini-fridge. There’s also a shared kitchen for people who want to cook their own food and a garden with some furniture to relax in the evenings.
The reviews speak for themselves, but almost everyone has a great experience at Lafo Rooms!
Glykeria Hotel
Glykeria Hotel is slightly farther north, in the town of Moni Chrisoskalitissis. This is the closest town to Elafinisi, with a decent number of restaurants, convenience stores, and shopping options.
But you will be about 5-10 minutes by car from Elafonisi.
Of all the places we looked at in Moni Chrisoskalitissis, Glykeria seemed like the best value. It has an ocean view balcony, is close to Voulolimni swimming hole, and offers free Cretan breakfast at its restaurant each morning.
Closing Thoughts
Our hope is that this will ease your mind about traveling to Elafonisi Beach from Chania and make putting together your itinerary for that day much easier!
Elafonisi may be touristy, but it’s for a reason. And if you’re spending a few days in Chania and looking for the best beaches in the region, you’d never find a list that excludes this one.
We had a blast at this beach, and if you’re looking for another beach to visit nearby, we were blown away by Kedrodasos Beach. We came here for a couple of hours after Elafonisi but wished we’d spent an entire day there.
