Elafonissi Beach

Beach

Elafonissi Beach

Beach

Kissamos 730 01, Greece

Highlights

Pink sand, clear turquoise waters, and unique wild vibe

Kissamos 730 01, Greece Get directions

@travelleisure

Greece's Elafonissi Beach Named the Best Beach in the World

"Located on the island of Crete in Greece, Elafonissi Beach is famous for its calm, clear turquoise waters and picture-perfect pink sands. It offers hiking trails and abundant sunbathing space, with optimal visit times in May and September." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeare

https://www.travelandleisure.com/elafonissi-best-beach-in-the-world-11682371

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@cntraveler

63 Gift Ideas for Women Who Travel

"The largest Greek island, known for its varied terrain, ancient ruins, and beautiful beaches."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/travel-gifts-for-women

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@travelleisure

20 Best Beaches in Europe

"Laid-back beachgoers and adrenaline junkies alike love Elafonissi for its array of activities and spectacular scenery. The pink sand and mountainous backdrop will keep shutterbugs happy, while active types can partake in surfing, kiteboarding, or windsurfing." - Travel + Leisure Editors

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/beach-vacations/best-beaches-europe

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@travelleisure

26 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World

"Located in Greece, known for its pinkish sand, warm waters, and wild feel, separated from Crete by shallow water." - Anne Olivia Bauso Anne Olivia Bauso Anne Olivia Bauso is a travel writer and hotel expert based in New York City. She has written hundreds of hotel reviews, from 5-star Ritz-Carlton properties to treehouse eco-resorts in the

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/beach-vacations/most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-world

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@afar

"Elafonisi Beach, Crete Crete has an abundance of shoreline, and its Elafonisi Beach is one of the best in Greece . This sprawling piece of pink and white sand opens up to the turquoise sea. Lifeguards keep a constant watch, and so the beach is suitable for all ages. You can come here on a day trip from Chania. Also nearby is the Chrysoskalitissa monastery, and the Agia Irini lighthouse."

The Best Beaches in Greece

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Dmytro Savytskyi

Google

Takes 1,5hour to get from Chania by car. The road is a little tough with dozens of narrow mountain turns. Eventually arrived at 9:00 in the morning and left the car on parking lot, many of them, choose any 3-5€. Then we took a walk, 15min and we’re on the beach. No sun beds available already! All sold out. Better you take an umbrella with you. The beach is beautiful with shallow waters, paradise for kids. Pink sand alongside the sea line but not everywhere. You may find more pink sand if you walk further to the little kind of island. Crowd of tourists gets bigger closer to lunch time, will be hard to find a space even for your towel on sand. Gets super busy. There are few cafeterias with “kilometers” queues lining up for snacks and beers. In general - beautiful beach, but we prefer not so busy places.

AZ K.

Google

A very beautiful and pleasant beach. Be prepared for a bit of a walk to reach the best spots to relax. It can get quite crowded, so the best time to arrive is early in the day. The parking area at the end is the most convenient option and costs just 5 euros for the whole day. (I owned these pictures ☺️ )

nenad Nenad

Google

beautiful beach, one of the three most beautiful on the island, from the parking place to the beach you need about 15 minutes, the road is good! It is best to bring your own umbrella because there is a possibility that there will not be enough free ones on the beach, so we only rented deckchairs (€10, and €15 with an umbrella). The sun is strong all day long, you have markets at the entrance to the beach for supplies, there is a toilet on the beach (€1), and a small canteen with basic things, the beach is wild and beautiful, don't expect cafes and taverns here, true nature, part of the national park!

Wilyam Ouhn

Google

It gets better the further you go! Started with a couple of thousand people at the beginning and ended up me alone at the end of the island/peninsula. If you just wanna relax or want to explore this place is perfect. Parking: pass the guy pointing at a “closed at 100m” sign, it’s a scam. Refreshments better bought before or at the slightly overpriced “Megaparkning Shop”. When you reach the beginning of the beach you got good calm water, but unless you got small children, keep on walking through the water and over (or waterside) of next rock formation. Now you’ve skipped 70% of the crowd. Lots great places along the coming beach on the south side with a few hiding spots if you got a beach tent. Be aware that people also get more relaxed when it comes to clothing as the beach goes. I kept on walking all the way up to the monastery and past (with shoes). By this point I was alone. This is with a couple of exceptions as far west you can get on the whole island of Crete. Here you can look out to the sea or back at the island. A couple of benches of each side

Alin Tofan (ToF)

Google

Absolutely one of the island’s most stunning beaches! It’s about a 15-minute walk from the parking lot, but the trail is easy and in good condition. The beach is quiet and untouched, part of nature, so don’t look for cafes or restaurants here. There’s a small kiosk with simple snacks, a toilet for €1, and a few markets at the entrance if you need supplies. Two sun loungers and an umbrella cost €20.

Andre Martins

Google

This beach is absolutely stunning. No wonder its one of the best in the world. The landscapes are amazing, the water is very calm and warm in the sand is very thin and soft. You won't see pink sand all over the beach but close to the water you will and its beautiful! Please dont take it home because otherwise this beautiful sight won't be there for long. Be aware you do have quite a walk to access the beach around 10/15 minutes and the sun can be very harsh. So please wear appropriate clothes and hydrate yourself to avoid emergencies. Other then that you will definetly love this beach for sure. Its a must visit in the island!

Yerani Nunes

Google

One of the most beautiful places I've ever been in my life. It can be a bit windy, but there are key spots where you can get sheltered. Truly breathtaking: Crystal clear and clean water. The sand isn't as pink as it looks like in certain pictures full of filters, but some areas are indeed quite pink. Beautiful small seashells can be found in the sand, which makes it even more gorgeous. The area is surrounded by thyme bushes. Family friendly and the atmosphere is good! Showers and changing cabinets are available. Great job at putting signs everywhere regarding the preservation of the place. It is such a shame to see places like this destroyed due to the lack of responsibility of people, not only of tourists but of locals as well. Very worth visiting and if you do, please, respect the signs. This place is such a gift from God!!! 🇬🇷💝

Lacie Peterson

Google

Read this before you go: This is a great beach with warm shallow water. I love this place. There is a 30 minute walk down to the water. Beds are two for 20 euros. There are well kept toilets and a snack stand on the beach. But… the parking people are bad news. As you come into the parking area, the first lot will try to tell you there is no parking closer. They are lying. They are farther away and charge more. Keep driving to see your options. Most places are only 3 euro. There is a shop that if you buy something you can park there for free.