Hidden Beaches, Crete Island – Off the Beaten Path

Off the Beaten Path in Crete Island Hidden Beaches

Crete is the most populated island in Greece and its origins date back to about 4,000 years ago. If you are going to visit Crete and want to find a place that is off the beaten path to get some peace and quiet, here are some hidden beaches you can go to get away for a little while.

St. Anthony Beach

St. Anthony beach is a gem at the end of a surfaced road with a rugged parking lot. The beach is wild and stony with low lying rugged cliffs; make sure you wear beach shoes when walking to the beach. The beach is devoid of facilities and often people. Take the road north from Plaka to the coastline to get to the beach.

Matala – The Red Beach

The sand is red and the sea crystal blue. There are no facilities and few people. The left part of the beach is clothing optional. There are two trails to get to the Red Beach from Matala. One starts at the parking area near the center of the village and the other starts at the end of the restaurant area. The path by the restaurant is steeper and you should make sure you wear closed shoes as the trail is not easy to walk.

Grameno Beach

Follow the coastal road from Paleochora to Gialos. After about 15 minutes, you will find a sign that says “Grameno camping”. There are three separate little beaches. The left one is pebbly and good when the wind blows from the west. The central beach is the better one with soft sand and clear water and limited facilities. The beach on the right is good when the wind blows from the East.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about the hidden beaches off the beaten path in Crete.