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Plakias is one of the longest beaches in Crete, a 1.3 km stretch of grey-golden sand facing the Libyan Sea in the south of Rethymno. It holds a Blue Flag, offers a full range of water sports and organised facilities, and sits in a bay calm enough for families but open enough to attract windsurfers and divers. What makes it more interesting than most Cretan beach towns is that it also works as a genuine base. From here you can reach Preveli, the Kotsifou Gorge, and a string of quieter coves withi
Falassarna is not a single beach but a stretch of coastline on the northwest tip of Crete that has earned a reputation well beyond the island. The sand is wide, the water runs from pale green to deep blue, and the beach faces due west, which means the sunset here is not something you catch by accident. It is something people drive across Crete for. This guide covers everything you need to plan a day or a stay, from sunbeds and water sports to the ancient ruins most visitors walk straight past.