At the famous beaches of Ammoudara, Karteros, Tobruk, Mallia and Hersonissos gathered each year thousands of sea and sun lovers. Most of them have water sports facilities such as beach volleyball, as well as plenty of taverns, cafes and entertainment places, offering many choices for exciting nightlife by the sea.
Ammoudara Beach
Ammoudara is a long and sandy beach that stretches in front of the same name settlement – an important tourist resort area in the open gulf of Heraklion. It is located 5 km west of Heraklion city.
Agia Pelagia
The beach is located in front of the bustling tourist resort of Agia Pelagia, 16 kilometers northwest of Heraklion and 1km from Rethymno-Heraklion National Road. The sandy beach is not affected by the northwestern winds of the area.
Palaiokastro
The small pebbled beach is located 10 kilometers west of Heraklion, a few meters from Heraklion-Rethymno National Road.
Linoperamata
Linoperamata is the beach in front of the same name settlement and tourist resort in the open gulf of Heraklion. It is located 8 kilometers west of Heraklion city.
Keratokambos
Keratokambos is located 71 kilometers southeast of Heraklion and is a long pebble beach with a few sandy spots.
Fodele
The beach is located 3 km north of the scenic village of Fodele and 23 km from Heraklion (New National Road of Heraklion-Rethymno), about 1.000 meters from the National Road.
Ligaria
Located 2 km east of the tourist resort of Agia Pelagia, this sandy beach is set 16 km northwest of Heraklion and about 2 km from Heraklion-Rethymno National Road.
Mononaftis
The beach is located 1 km north of the tourist resort of Agia Pelagia and 17 km northwest of Heraklion (New National Road of Heraklion-Rethymnon), about 3-4 km from National Road.
Gournes
Gournes is a sandy beach near the same name village and the tourist resort of Hani Kokkini (2 km east) on the high Cretan Sea. It is located 17 kilometers east of the city of Heraklion.
Limanakia
Limanakia are a few very small sandy beaches west of Limenas on the high Cretan Sea, near the nudist beach. They are located about 28 km east of Heraklion city.
Stalida
Stalida Beach is a shallow sandy beach in front of the tourist resort of Stalida, on the high Cretan Sea. It is located 33 km east of Heraklion city.
Malia
The beach of Malia is a long sandy beach over 6 km in front of the tourist resort of Malia, on the high Cretan Sea. It is located 37 km east of Heraklion city.
Kalamaki
This sandy beach is situated right in front of the small seaside settlement of Kalamaki, on the high sea of Mesara bay. It is located about 67 kilometers southwest of the city of Heraklion, 9 kilometers south of Timbaki and 12 kilometers west of Mires village.
Matala
Matala beach is located 68 km southwest of Heraklion and 13 km from Mires village, in front of the same name magnificent and unique area, in the southern coast of Crete.