Yes, I admit it. Crete island and especially Chania is one of my favorite places in the world. I cannot describe how much I love this island since my village is there and how extraordinary are its beaches!
Unfortunately the distances are vast and you will need several days before you can say you have discovered Chania. In my opinion 1 week is OK to get a great taste! My first and very important advice: RENT A CAR. Last time I visited the island I rented from the company “Auto Union”, that had good price and the personnel was very friendly and kind. But online you can find many companies to compare with. Sometimes if you make a phone booking, price may be better than online.
It is 45 minutes flight from Athens or 9-10 hours by ferry from the main port of the capital, Piraeus. You can book your tickets here: Ferryscanner.com
Check below my personal recommendations and let me know your comments please!
1.Elafonisi beach:
A magical place, waters are so amazing but unfortunately it is so crowded. If you have your own umbrella you will always find a place to relax but during summer season you need to be there latest 10am to find sunbeds. I was there “off season” as well, on Easter time and it was absolutely wonderful and so different than August! Sandy (white and pink!!!) and shallow waters. Don’t forget to walk through the beach (40-50m) and go to the small island you can see opposite the main beach. There is an amazing beach on the back side that is unknown to the majority of the visitors and it is not as crowded as the rest of the beach.
- Distance from Chania: 1h and 20 minutes, and curvy road for a big part of the drive.
The hidden gem on the back side of the “Elafonisi beach” that you need to walk through the sea since it is not visible from the main organized beaches
Angel’s tip: If you want a less crowded option close by , visit “White lake beach” , 15 minutes away from Elafonisi and close to Chrysoskalitissa monastery . Shallow waters, small beach and no facilities unless a few sunbeds.
2.Kedrodasos beach:
Next to Elafonissi, a less touristic beach – not organized, untouched and unexplored. Absolutely amazing waters – rocky spot with cedar trees everywhere. 10 minutes walk after you park.
Angel’s tip: Once I visited Elafonissi that was windy and crowded. I left since wind was tiring and didn’t have an umbrella & went to Kedrodasos. OMG! Amazing difference, few people and the absolute calmness. My friends after 8 days in Chania told me this was their favorite one!
-
- Distance from Chania: 1h and 25 minutes.
- Distance from Elafonisi beach: 10 minutes.
3.Falassarna beach:
An absolutely amazing sandy beach, constists actually of 5 smaller beaches… the bigger and most famous is “Pachia Ammos”. You never feel it is too crowded, that there is no room left for you, since it’s such a long beach that you have many options depending on what you prefer.
- Distance from Chania: 55 minutes.
Angel’s tip: Stay till late to enjoy the sunset, spectacular. 
4.Balos beach:
Not even pictures can illustrate the exotic magic of this place. Sandy, shallow and with a wonderful view from above. But crowded, too crowded – go early like 9-10 am during summer season! Organized but canteen is expensive.
- Distance from Chania: 1 hour and 30 minutes drive. Get to the parking area, ideally with an SUV, since there is a veryyy difficult 8km dirt road and be prepared to walk 30-45 minutes with suitable shoes, if you manage to find a parking slot. If not, you can park further away and you walk more… The way back is tough as well. Angel’s tip: be careful since some car rental companies don’t allow visiting this beach.
- The easiest way but you don’t enjoy the view from the top: drive till Kissamos and take a boat from Kissamos/Kastelli port (20-26 euros per person) with a stop to Gramvousa island, or not if you want to get directly there. Another port you can take the boat from, is Falassarna beach: I used “Falassarna cruise” and I paid 40 euros round trip with 2,5 hrs stop in Balos and 1 hour stop in Gramvousa island.
Balos beach
Angel’s tip: Check the weather before you visit & leave it for another day if there is Western strong wind. You can check the weather here.
5.Gramvousa:
Crystal clear waters, accessible only by boat from Kastelli/Kissamos port. You have the option to stay on the beach or climb many stairs to the fortress at the top of the hill to enjoy the view. There are some trees for shade, not organized.
Distance from Chania: 40 minutes till Kissamos port and take the ferry/boat for 1 hour. Otherwise you can start from Falassarna beach as I did and I used “Falassarna cruise”. 
6.Glyka Nera – Sweet Waters and Ilingas beach:
Not “popular” ones, Glyka Nera is an unorganized beach with trees that you can visit only by boat from Sfakia. During summer season there is a restaurant as well, literally inside the sea. Crystal clear waters, clean and absolutely stunning.
Angel’s tip: You can start early, make a stop in this beautiful beach and after a few hours take the boat again to visit the village next to it (15 minutes) called Loutro. A breathtaking fishing village (of course your can swim as well there) that you can enjoy delicious dishes. No need to book your tickets in advance.
The waters in Glyka Nera are fabulous.
- Distance from Chania: 1h and 20 minutes till Sfakia and 15 minutes by boat.
Ilingas on the other hand is close to Sfakia as well but accessible by car and ideal if you search a less crowded place. Semi organized(during high season) picturesque pebbly beach with magical waters and few umbrellas/sunbeds. There are also some caves which can provide natural shade and will be cool to explore & take pictures! Angel’s tip: there is a small “secret” side beach next to the main one but you need to swim to get there….so quiet and beautiful with the crystal clear waters and the small caves to get lost in and discover..a true peace of mind!
- Distance from Chania: 1h and 20 minutes till Sfakia and 25 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by car.
7.Seitan Limani:
Nobody can deny that the view from the top is breathtaking. This blue/turquoise colour of the sea is AMAZING.
Seitan Limani
Despite the fact that i love this beach, it is for sure too small and it is really easy to get crowded. Be careful driving there reaching the beach, go early to have a good spot, have convenient shoes since you need 20-30 minutes to go down through rocks (not easy for older people or young children) and enjoy the gorgeous scenery! You can see many wild goats as well searching for snacks…
- Distance from Chania: 1h and 20 minutes.
Angel’s tip: Check the weather before you go, east wind is not ideal.
8.Frangokastelo:
One of the best beaches on the south coast of Crete, organized, sandy and long. It is well known for the local old fortress built by the Venetians in 1371-1374 on the beach and the legendary spirits of Drosoulites. The legend has it, that after a battle there in 1828, the spirits of fallen soldiers appearing near the the castle every May. haha! In case you search a beach, even less touristic and not organized with great waters as well visit the beach right next to it, Orthi Ammos!
- Distance from Chania: 1h and 30 minutes.
9.Loutraki:
For many people this beach is one of their favorite but for me it is not. It is close to Chania, waters are crystal clear and usually it is crowded, with parking spots getting full during summer peak season. The beach is sandy on one part that you enter the sea as usual, and organized with grass and sunbeds on the other that you jump from the rocks! The beach bar on the grass attracts many young people with music and nice drinks. In any case this part is not something you come across often. Marathi beach is the one next to it.
- Distance from Chania: 25 minutes.
Angel’s tip: In case you want to sit at the grass area, go early for sunbeds and umbrella!
Loutraki
10.Agia Marina:
I know that many may disagree with me but if you want an “easy” & beautiful beach, close to Chania, with showers, sunbeds & umbrellas, Agia Marina is a great option. I love it! Of course you cannot compare it with Elafonisi but you may want to relax one day and not drive so much. It is a sandy shallow beach, with warm waters that generally locals prefer. The variety of the beach bars is great. There is also space that it is not organized, in case you want to have your own umbrella. The beach bars are really nice though, with tasty snacks, cocktails, shisha, beers and music. Similar beaches close by, are Platanias, Agioi Apostoloi and Chrissi Akti(Golden beach). But in case you are looking for other beaches near by that are less crowded, less shallow, pebbly and less touristic are Maleme and Tavronitis beaches.
- Distance from Chania: 15 minutes.
Angel’s tip: my favorite beach bars in Agia Marina are Cabana Mare and Ammos & Ilios. My favorite beach bar in Platanias is Neromylos beach bar with an impressive swimming pool and organized beach.
Neromylos pool & beach bar
Chania is full of amazing beaches, waters are really gorgeous and if you have days to spend, all of them are worth your time! Sougia, Palaiochora, Stavros, Kalathas, Gavdos, Georgioupoli…..
Have fun !!!
You need many days to explore Chania but in any case every day you spend here will be like a day in paradise <3
Elafonisi pink beach
*For more pictures check my highlights in Instagram*
IG: angeliki.a_
Loutro seems amazing, didn’t know it! I plan to visit Crete in August! The road to Sfakia is good? how much hour from the city center? I can stay in Loutro at night or you don’t recommend it?
Hi dear Veronica, Loutro is stunning yes! 1 hour and 20-30 minutes driving from Chania center to Sfakia but the road especially at the end has some bends so be careful not to feel dizzy(I drove in order not to)! There are some cute apartments to stay in Loutro, I recommend it if you want peaceful moments away from the crowds like in Chania city center. Access to Loutro is only by boat !