Skinaria Beach (a.k.a. Schinaria Bay) in Crete is this small cove we stumbled upon during our month-long road trip through the island. The crazy part is that this relatively unknown beach ended up being one of our favorite stops!
We’re not sure how it’s stayed under the radar for this long, but I guess someone had to let the cat out of the bag.
The bay offers a serene beach (half sand/half pebble) and tall cliffs on either side, where you can hike up and take in views of the surrounding landscape. Skinaria Beach is also one of the premier places for diving and snorkeling in Crete.
We’ll tell you about our experience hanging out at the beach, along with more practical advice like how to get there, info on Skinaria’s only accommodation option, and tips for snorkeling in the bay!
Where is Skinaria Beach?
Skinaria Beach is a small cove on the south coast of Crete. The closest town is Plakias, where we stayed when we took a day trip there.
It took us about 15 minutes to drive here (7.5km), and it is a more peaceful alternative to more popular beaches nearby, like Damnoni Beach, Ammoudi Beach, and Kalypso Swimming Hole.
How to get to Skinaria Beach
There are no bus routes that stop by Skinaria Bay. The closest stop is in Plakias, so you’ll need to either.
- Drive Yourself
- Hire a Taxi
- Take a Bus to Plakias, followed by a taxi.
Book a Rental car & Drive
Driving is easily the best option for flexibility and freedom to come and go as you please.
Driving yourself is also the most affordable. A rental car typically costs less than €20 per day (at least that’s what we see on Discover Cars), and a one-way taxi costs more than that.
Need help finding a Car Rental? We got you!
-> HERE is our top car rental recommendation for Crete <-
But driving to Skinaria Beach is a bit of an adventure.
You need to follow your directions VERY carefully. While planning our trip, we read a few reviews about talking of an extremely steep and rocky road leading to Skinaria. They are talking about the red line in the photo below, which is way too rough to navigate without a 4×4 vehicle.
Instead, when you get to the Y near Lefkogeia, go right.
The last few kilometers to Skinaria Beach were not great roads, but we had no issues in our tiny rental car. The final descent to the beach passes some sheep/goat farms before eventually arriving at the beach.
A small parking lot right next to the beach can hold 30-40 cars, and if the lot is full, we’ve read that it’s common for overflow parking to begin lining up on the street.
Bus + Taxi
You can also hire a taxi from anywhere in Crete to take you to Skinaria Beach. However, we will warn you that it won’t be cheap.
For example, a taxi from Heraklion will end up costing about €120 one-way. This is ridiculous, and we’d rather drive ourselves for a small fraction of the taxi fare.
But if you don’t feel very comfortable driving in a new country, it’s also possible to take a public to Plakias and then hire a taxi from there.
However, all the buses to Plakias go through Rethymno Bus Station, so you will have to transfer at least once, even if you’re starting in Chania or Heraklion.
Luckily, it’s not too complicated.
Step#1
Chania Bus Station – Rethymnon Timetable (75 Min) – 5:15, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30. Heraklion Bus Station to Rethymnon Timetable (90 Min) – 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30.
Step #2
Rethymnon Bus Station to Plakias (Preveli) – 10:30, 12:30
What to Expect
Truthfully, we didn’t have high expectations for Skinaria Beach. We actually decided to visit at the last minute.
We had never heard about it until looking around Google Maps after we’d already arrived in Plakias. We had time, and the photos looked promising, so we checked them out.
And we’re so glad we did! The views at Skinaria Bay were absolutely breathtaking. The shoreline has small sand-like pebbles that don’t hurt your feet while walking along the beach, and 25-foot rock walls line each side of the bay.
These high rock walls also give the beach shelter from the wind and waves, making it calm and peaceful in the water.
We also loved climbing onto these cliffs for more dramatic views of the cove. From the top, you could also see the mountains in the background! However, you should be aware that the rocks are super sharp, and you’ll be walking on a cliff’s edge, so wear your shoes.
The right-hand side of Skinaria Beach is the best spot for swimming. The reef comes almost all the way up to shore throughout most of the cove, but the far right-hand side offers a lot more space in the water before you run into the reef.
It’s also where the majority of sunbeds are.
Note: Naturists (Nudists) are common on the beaches in Crete, and Skinaria Beach is no exception. Generally, naturists will stay on the south side of the beach, so if you are traveling with children or are not comfortable with this, stay on the north end of the beach.
facilities & Schinaria Bay hotel
Skinaria Beach only has one guesthouse that doubles as a tavern. It’s a nice spot to grab coffee, lunch, or drinks after spending time by the beach, especially if you sit in the garden part of the restaurants.
Also, if you’re interested in staying the night, Skinaria Bay doubles as a guesthouse!
They weren’t taking reservations the last time we checked, but you can check to see if that has changed here.
Along the beach, there are also umbrellas with sunbeds available to rent.
We were there in the fall, and all the sunbeds were free, but we’ve read that during the summer, the average price here is about €20 for an umbrella with two sunbeds.
Skinaria Beach Snorkeling & Diving
Crete has many great snorkeling holes. The water is clear almost everywhere, and Skinaria Beach is no exception.
It’s one of the best places to snorkel in Crete, so make sure you remember your goggles. The ocean floor here is primarily a bedrock reef, which is home to lots of marine life and cool rock formations.
If you don’t have your own gear, Plakias has a few diving centers that offer snorkeling equipment rentals or guided underwater experiences.
Generally, a full-day rental for a mask, snorkel, and fins will cost €10-20. A guided course or half-day tour is slightly more expensive at €50-60.
Here are three reputable diving centers in the Skinaria/Plakias region:
Each of these Dive Centers also offers more serious dives. You can opt for a single dive, a multi-dive package, or even get PADI Certified! Greece is one of the cheapest places in the Western world to learn how to dive.
An Open-Water PADI Certification takes 3-5 days and costs about €450 in southern Crete.
When is the Best Time to Visit?
Crete is about as far south as you can get in Europe. Therefore, it’s also one of the warmest and has a longer tourist season than the rest of Greece.
Temperatures are warm and sunny from April to October. If you can, try visiting in either May or September since summer is considered the ‘peak’ tourist season. If you visit in July or August, you’ll have to deal with a lot more tourists and inflated prices.
More Beaches in Crete
Crete is littered with gorgeous beaches all along the south and west coast, and most are accessible, even if you don’t have a 4X4 vehicle.
The island also has significantly warmer weather than the rest of Europe, meaning it has a much more extended tourist season that runs into September/October.
We based ourselves in Chania, Rethymno, and Plakias, which gave us access to almost all the best beaches in western Crete.
Some of the most beautiful beaches near Plakias were:
- Triopetra Beach
- Kalypso Beach
- Matala Beach
- Preveli Beach & Palm Forest
But if you are visiting Skinaria Beach from Chania or Rethymno, we have also found some amazing beaches just a short drive from these cities, such as;
Final Thoughts
We really enjoyed Skinaria Beach and hope you like it as much as we did!
To be completely honest, we left Crete super impressed with all the beaches, and road-tripping along the southern coast was probably our favorite part of the entire trip.
We know it sounds corny, but it felt like there was a new adventure waiting around every corner.
That’s one of the reasons we highly recommend renting your own car, no matter which city you use as a base. If you’re nervous about driving in a new country or unsure what to expect from prices, we have a full guide on renting a car in Chania that should help ease your mind!
