6 Picturesque Places to Visit in Crete Island, Greece － Easy To Reach From Chania

If you love unique beaches, amazing food, colourful streets, and genuine people, make sure you visit Crete Island in Greece! Here is a travel guide to 6 amazing places to visit in Crete that are picturesque, including one of the world’s most beautiful pink sand beaches – Elafonisi.

Attractions in Crete, Greece

Here are some of the best places to visit in Crete that are easy to reach from Chania.

1. Balos Beach, Crete, Greece

Balos Beach/Lagoon is one of the most beautiful remote beaches in the world and one of the pink sand beaches in Crete Island, Greece.  

Just a short drive or boat ride from Kissamos Town, Balos Beach stands out for its white and pink sand, turquoise water, and the stunning panoramic view from the viewpoint. 

Even though it takes a little effort to reach Balos Beach (by driving plus hiking or a boat ride), I personally think it is a must-visit place in Crete.  

2. Elafonisi Beach, Crete Island

Located in the southwestern part of Crete Island, Elafonisi Beach is known for its unique PINK SAND, beautiful landscape, turquoise and shallow water, and has been voted by travelers as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, attracting a great number of tourists every year.

When you visit Elafonisi Beach, you will be greeted by dreamy white and pink sand meeting crystal-clear blue water and darker ocean hues further out. 

It’s a great spot for swimming and sunbathing, and the scenery looks almost unreal, like something out of a painting. Honestly, it’s still one of my best 3 beaches in the world. Definitely the top places to go in Crete, Greece.

3. Kedrodasos Beach, Crete Island

Located just an 8-minute drive from Elafonisi Beach, Kedrodasos Beach is a beautiful secluded, naturist beach with crystal clear water, sand dunes, juniper trees and even some pink sand! 

It’s a less-known place to go in Crete Island, but perfect for those who love quieter beaches, hiking, being in nature, and experiencing the freedom of being nude at the beach.

When I went to Kedrodasos Beach, it made me feel like entering a totally different secret world. It’s so peaceful, I really loved it.

To reach the actual beach, you can go by car, or you can 🔗join a guided kayaking and hiking tour between Elafonisi and Kedrodasos Beach (start from Elafonisi Beach).

If you drive there, you will need to hike a bit after parking your car. The hike takes approximately 15 minutes, and it’s an easy walk, but worth it.

4. Chania Old Town, Crete, Greece

Chania is the second-largest city on Crete Island, located on the northwest side, and is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe with its colorful streets. The city has a very artistic and vintage vibe that I absolutely adore.

What I particularly love about Chania Old Street is the vibrant colors of the houses, the seafront restaurants, the clear blue water, the street artists, the aesthetic cafes, and the shops. 

Before the snow melts, you can even see a magical view of the snow covering the White Mountain. I saw it in May, and I couldn’t believe I was in Greece. It was so dreamy and beautiful.

You will feel like you are traveling in a fairytale story when you take a walk in Chania Old Town through the colorful, cobbled, narrow streets and head towards the Old Venetian Port of Chania for a stunning sea view.

5. Loutro, Crete Island

Located on the south coast of Crete, Loutro is a picturesque and peaceful fishing village that immediately captured my heart. With its crystal-clear waters, charming Greek-style white houses, and serene atmosphere, simplicity, brightness, and positive energy.

Even though it is small, Loutro offers a variety of activities to enjoy. You can take a hike to Sweetwater Beach, or simply relax, swim or snorkel in the refreshing blue waters. Even daydreaming in Loutro feels like being in heaven. Plus, there are plenty of seaside hotels and restaurants that offer breathtaking ocean views, making dining and sleeping extra joyful for sea lovers.

6. Sweetwater Beach, Crete, Greece

Sweetwater Beach, also known as Glyka Nera beach, is a secluded gem where natural mountain spring water magically meets the sea. 

Located between Loutro and Hora Sfakion/Sfakia, this unique beach can only be accessed by boat or an adventurous hike. 

If you choose to hike, do note that the walk from Sfakia is shorter than from Loutro. If you don’t want to hike the whole way, you can take a ferry from both places to Sweetwater Beach. I walked the full route and it took me 1.5 hours from Loutro to Sweetwater beach, and 50 minutes from the beach to Sfakia. 

What makes Sweet Water Beach truly fascinating is the drinkable spring water that flows under the pebbles. You will need to dig a bit to find it, but the pure, sweet, and clean taste of the spring water is worth the effort. Don’t forget to bring a water bottle to collect some of this refreshing drink during your visit. 

How to get to Crete Island

Crete is easy to reach, you can fly in internationally or reach it domestically by flight or ferry from Athens and other Greek islands.

By international flight

There are two international airports in Crete, Greece, Chania International Airport and Heraklion International Airport. 

To find the best flight deals to either city, this is my go-to booking site (you can also collect reward points with every booking to redeem on future travel). 

By domestic flight

Alternatively, you can fly to 🔗Athens first. There are three airports in Crete Island that you can fly to domestically from Athens International Airport: Crete Chania Airport, Crete Heraklion Airport, and Crete Sitia Airport. 

The flight time is approximately 50 minutes to 1 hour, and flights operate regularly. To find affordable flights to Crete, you can check here to find the good deals.

By ferry (domestic routes)

Another option to travel to island Crete is 🔗by ferry, and you can do it from Athens and many other major Greek Islands. 

From Athens, daily ferries run from Piraeus (Athens’ main port) to two ports in Crete: Chania and Heraklion. Journey times are between 7.5 and 11 hours depends on your destination.

One advantage of taking the ferry to Crete from Athens is that some ferry companies offer night ferries, allowing you to board at around 10 pm and arrive around 6 am. This means you can sleep on the ferry and arrive in Crete without losing a day to transportation. 

Most ferries have cabins and more comfortable seating options that you can book, such as the air VIP seats on Minoan Lines.

You can check the ferry price and availability to Crete from Athens and other islands 🔗on this Greek ferry booking website or 🔗this international transportation booking site I always use.