Beaches In Crete

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 230
Comment this article

Because the sea in Crete is always warm during the summer, it is perfectly suited to swimming. The average water temperature in the sea around Crete is 20 degrees Celsius in May, rising to a high of 27 degrees in July and falling back down to around 20 degrees in November. Even during the winter months, the temperature does not fall far below 17 degrees.

The beaches on the North coast of Crete tend to be a bit shallower and warmer than the beaches on the South coast, and there are lifeguards on most beaches. For this reason, these beaches tend to be the most popular.

Along the Southern coast, the beaches feature deeper, cooler water than you would find on the Northern coast, making them less popular with bathers. However, they are popular with campers, despite the fact that camping is not officially allowed outside of designated areas.

To hire a couple of sunbeds and an umbrella for the day on the beach in Crete costs around five to six Euros. Every beach has a free space for those who do not wish to use the existing facilities.

Crete sees some pretty strong coastal winds. In the winter, there are ...
... strong southerly winds, and in summer there are a lot of Northwesterly winds, known as meltemia or etesian winds, which last from around ten in the morning until dusk. To a lesser extent, Northerly winds blow the whole year round.

On the North coast, the Northerly winds create high waves, which can be good news if you want to surf, but can make swimming dangerous if you are not a strong swimmer. Always obey the lifeguards instructions, as they will not advise against swimming without a good reason.

The Northerly winds on the South coast blow out to sea, leading to calm waves and occasional sand storms. These sand storms can be surprisingly powerful, and should be avoided at all costs. However, they only happen on average a couple of times per year.

There are many beaches in Crete that are largely unaffected by the wind. These include Marathi, Kalyves, Almyrida, Plaka, Bali, Agia Pelagia, the Limanakia in Hersonissos, Loutro, Kali Limenes, Arvi, Myrtos and Makrygialos. This guide to tourist attractions in Crete was written by Bonny Kominek. For great deals on Crete hotels, visit the Octopus Travel website.