Beaches

Balos lagoon is a heaven on earth of turquoise waters, pink-tinged white sands and wild, exotic beauty. Located at 17 km northwest of Kissamos, between the Gramvousa Cape and small rocky peninsula of Tigani, which connects with the rest of Crete via a thin strip of land, thus forming the famous Balos lagoon. Its southwest side is open to sea and forms a natural harbour, protected by winds due to the islet of Imeri Gramvousa across from it. On its open side the shore is deeper and rockier at places; a favourite for spearfishermen and scuba divers. The other side of the lagoon is closed to the sea and forms a generally quite shallow lagoon, except for some deeper places…

Falasarna beach is located on the Gramvousa Peninsula, 15 km west of Kissamos. This is one of Greece’s most renowned beaches, listed in the top ten of dreamy European shores and has been awarded in the past as Crete’s finest beach. With a vast, ca. 3 km, coastline that essentially consists of five consecutive beaches divided by rocks or sand dunes, with two of them attracting the largest crowds. The most popular is Pachia Ammos, spanning 1 km in length and of ample width; that is why it never looks crowded no matter how many its visitors. Its waters reflect a transparent turquoise tint, thanks to its thin, light-coloured sand and is fully organised hosting restaurants, cafés and bars, water…

Kissamos’ main beach, of shallow waters, golden sands and tamarisks. An ideal destination for families with small children, but not only. An ample beach, a popular destination attracting crowds during tourist season that is protected from winds by a waterfront of boulders built on its western part. Along the beach there are cafés, tavernas and accommodation to serve visitor’s needs. A fully organised beach with umbrellas, sun beds and a lifeguard tower. In ancient times this very place was the port of Kissamos, something that intrigues those in the know to play out scenes of that era in their heads. To its west, right past the quay, visit the small rocky pebbled bay, and experience an invigourating natural clay face…

At just 6 km east of Kissamos, next to Drepania beach and where the Rodopos cape begins, lies the seaside village of Nopigia with its namesake beach. This is basically a sandy, shallow shore, with all necessary infrastructure, such as umbrellas, showers, restaurants, hotels and is suitable for a cosy holiday in a serene setting. Walk a bit to the east and notice that sand becomes rockier or pebblier. At about 2 km easter the area becomes more of a recluse, scattered across the secluded bays of Choni.