Paleochora Beaches (Crete) – A Quick Smart Guide (2025)
Clear, Simple, and All in One Place
I’ve been visiting Crete for years, and one thing still frustrates me: finding straightforward information about beaches in each area. Search for Paleochora beaches and you’ll get vague lists that mix spots from all over the island, or guides packed with fluff but short on clarity.
This post is different. If you’re staying in Paleochora, you don’t need to know about beaches two hours away — you want to know where to swim today, within a few minutes of town. That’s exactly what this guide gives you: a no-nonsense, east-to-west rundown of every beach around Paleochora, with practical details on sand vs. pebbles, water entry, sunbeds and vibe.
Whether you’re after a sandy stretch for families, a quiet cove, or a local swim spot tucked beneath a taverna, this is the only guide you’ll need for exploring the beaches of Paleochora.
Quick Facts – Paleochora Beaches
📍 Location: Southern Crete, Chania region — beaches run east to west around Paleochora.
🌬️ Wind hack: East = pebbly & often calmer (Halikia → Keratides → Gialiskari/Anidri). West = sandy & more exposed (Pachia Ammos → Kalamia → Psilos Volakas → Karavopetra → Plakaki → Grammeno).
🚶 Distance: All beaches are within 0–6 km of town — easy for walking, cycling, or a short drive.
👨👩👧 Best for families: Pachia Ammos — sandy, shallow entry, cafés right behind the beach.
😌 Best for laid-back vibe: Gialiskari / Anidri — clear water, relaxed crowd, some naturist-friendly spots.
🍹 Best for a dip + taverna: Methexis — tiny cove right under a seafood taverna terrace.
🌅 Best for sunset: Psilos Volakas & Grammeno — quieter coves with golden-hour views.
🪸 Bring reef shoes: Some pebble/rocky entries (Halikia, Keratides, Plakaki).
💶 Sunbeds: Around €7–15 for 2 beds + umbrella (seasonal).
How to Use This Guide
My guide is simple to use as I have ordered the beaches in and around Paleochora from east to west so that you can plan your beach hopping trip logically.
Each beach has a simple easy to read guide with the information that really matters when choosing where to swim and spend your Cretan days of sunshine.
Map & Orientation
You will find each beach pinned in my Google Map below.
⭐ Tip: Click the star icon on the map title bar (“Paleochora Beaches”) to save this map to your Google account for easy access later.
➡️ To the east of Paleochora the beaches are typically round pebbles, which offers up clear blue waters for swimming. Many of these beaches are convenient to get to from the town.
⬅️ To the west of Paleochora you will find lower sandy stretches and some small coves. However the wind can be more prevalent here on breezy days.
🎥 Prefer Video?
Beach by Beach (East → West)
I have included the distance from Paleochora in brackets.
🏖️ Andiri (Also called Sandy Beach) – sandy/pebbly cove with naturist section (~4.5 km)
Best for: relaxed vibe + naturist-friendly far end.
- 🏝️ Type: Mix of sand and pebbles
- 🌿 Vibe: Relaxed, younger crowd; naturist section at the far eastern end
- 🌊 Swimming: Shallow entry, clear water, more open than Gialiskari
- 🪑 Sun loungers: Yes — organized section in the clothed and naturist sections (~€10 per set)
- 🥾 Suitable for: Hikers (great walk via Anidri Gorge), couples, naturists
✨ Why it stands out: Wilder, quieter, and at the far end — no kids, just silence and sea.
🏖️ Gialiskari — bit of a show stopper (~4 km)
Best for: sheltered swims + a peaceful escape not too far from the town.
- 🚶 Suitable for: Couples, quiet-time travellers, those exploring by bike or car
- 🏝️ Type: Pebble cove
- 😌 Vibe: Quiet, low-key, fewer people than town beaches
- 🌊 Swimming: Calm, very clear water, nice snorkelling near rocks
- 🪑 Sun loungers: Limited — a few organised spots on the main beach (~€10–15 set)
✨ Why it stands out: Beautifully clear turquoise water that feels almost lagoon-like — one of the purest swims near Paleochora.
🏖️ Pelekanos — wild cove next to Gialiskari (~4 km east)
Best for: off-grid swims in clear water.
- 🏝️ Type: Pebble, no facilities
- 🌿 Vibe: Wild, informal, no sunbeds — just nature
- 🌊 Swimming: Beautifully clear, calm water; snorkelling potential
- 🪑 Sun loungers: None — bring your own shade
- 🚶 Suitable for: Those seeking quiet and confident swimmers
✨ Why it stands out: Often overshadowed by Gialiskari/Anidri, but Pelekanos is the “forgotten sibling” — ideal if you want the same water with even fewer people.
🏖️ Paralia Anidri — remote & secluded cove (~4.5 km east)
Best for: isolation + a proper “secret beach” feel.
- 🏝️ Type: Sandy/pebbly mix
- 😌 Vibe: Very quiet, informal, naturist-friendly at the far end
- 🌊 Swimming: Sheltered, shallow in parts, clear turquoise
- 🪑 Sun loungers: None — this is DIY territory
- 🥾 Suitable for: Adventurers, naturists, hikers via Anidri Gorge
✨ Why it stands out: Trickier access keeps it empty — often you’ll share it with no one at all.
🏖️ Keratides — roadside pebble strip (~3 km east)
Best for: quick dip + total peace.
- 🏝️ Type: Pebble
- 😴 Vibe: Very quiet, almost no one stops here
- 🌊 Swimming: Clear water, easy drop-off, surprisingly nice for a swim
- 🪑 Sun loungers: None — bring a towel
- 🚗 Suitable for: Travellers with a car who want a private swim without effort
✨ Why it stands out: Not a “destination” beach, but if you want total silence and a swim in glassy blue water, Keratides delivers.
🏖️ Halikia (aka Chalikia/Votsala) — the in-town pebble beach
Best for: easy swims + taverna lunches without leaving town.
- 🏝️ Type: Pebble
- 😌 Vibe: Town beach, lively but not overwhelming
- 🌊 Swimming: Very clear water (often calmer than sandy side), quick drop-off
- 🪑 Sun loungers: Well-organized, ~€10–15 per set
- 🍽️ Suitable for: Families, couples, travellers without a car (great dining options right across the road)
✨ Why it stands out: The most convenient beach in Paleochora — no transport needed, with the bonus of extra-clear pebble-side waters and tavernas steps away.
🏖️ Methexis — tiny cove right by town
Best for: a quiet dip + authentic Cretan lunch.
- 🏝️ Type: Pebble / small cove
- 😌 Vibe: Surprisingly peaceful despite being close to town
- 🌊 Swimming: Clear water, drops off deep quite quickly beyond the cove
- 🪑 Sun loungers: Yes — smaller setup, ~€8 for 2 beds + umbrella
- 🍴 Suitable for: Couples, solo travellers, foodies (authentic Cretan cuisine across the road)
✨ Why it stands out: A little pocket beach with bargain-priced loungers and a family-run taverna serving some of the best local dishes in Paleochora.
🏖️ Pachia Ammos — the big sandy town beach
Best for: families and those who want everything in one place.
- 🏝️ Type: Sand (1 km long)
- 👨👩👧 Vibe: Busy, family-oriented, lots of activity (pedalos, kids, noise)
- 🌊 Swimming: Shallow entry but water less clear than pebble side; exposed to wind
- 🪑 Sun loungers: Wall-to-wall — €10–15 per set
- 🍹 Suitable for: Families, people who want facilities at arm’s reach, sunset drinkers
✨ Why it stands out: Love it or hate it, Pachia Ammos is the classic sandy option in town. While the beach itself feels crowded, the southern end Castello Snackbar above the beach is perfect for sunset drinks with a view.
🏖️ Kalamia — roadside strip west of town (~2.5km)
Best for: honestly, not much – not recommended
- 🏝️ Type: Pebble / rocky
- 😐 Vibe: Roadside, exposed, not very appealing
- 🌊 Swimming: Clear water but tricky access, no atmosphere
- 🪑 Sun loungers: None
- 🚫 Suitable for: Skip it — there are better options nearby
✨ Why it stands out: It doesn’t — unless you just want to say you’ve swum every beach in Paleochora.
🏖️ Psilos Volakas — sheltered family cove (~2.7 km west)
Best for: a calmer swim + low-key family vibe.
- 🏝️ Type: Pebble
- 👨👩👧 Vibe: Small, friendly, popular with families but not overcrowded
- 🌊 Swimming: Sheltered cove, clear water, easy entry
- 🪑 Sun loungers: Yes — organized, ~€10–15 per set
- 🍦 Suitable for: Families, couples, relaxed swimmers
✨ Why it stands out: A perfect “middle ground” beach — organized but not chaotic, with a cosy sheltered feel.
🏖️ Trochalou — peaceful roadside cove (~3km)
- Best for: complete peace + a quick swim.
🏝️ Type: Pebble - 😴 Vibe: Extremely quiet, almost always empty
- 🌊 Swimming: Easy access from the road, surprisingly nice water
- 🪑 Sun loungers: None — bring your own shade/towel
- 🚶 Suitable for: Solitude seekers, quick swims en route
✨ Why it stands out: A no-frills “dip-and-go” beach — ideal if you want silence without effort.
🏖️ Alonaki — long, quiet pebble stretch (~4.8km)
Best for: organised sunbeds without the crowds.
- 🏝️ Type: Small pebbles, long beach
- 😌 Vibe: Peaceful, surprisingly empty
- 🌊 Swimming: Clear waters, easy entry, great for long swims
- 🪑 Sun loungers: Yes — organised, but often half-empty
- 👥 Suitable for: Couples, travellers who want facilities without chaos
✨ Why it stands out: One of the best-kept secrets west of Paleochora — proper loungers with almost no one using them.
🏖️ Grammeno — sandy family bay (~5 km west)
Best for: families and kids who want space to play.
- 🏝️ Type: Sand + some pebbly sections
- 👨👩👧 Vibe: Busy, family-oriented, kids everywhere
- 🌊 Swimming: Shallow, sandy entry — great for children, not for clarity
- 🪑 Sun loungers: Yes — fully organized, fills up quickly in season
- 🚸 Suitable for: Families with small kids, groups who want sandy play areas
✨ Why it stands out: Just meters from calm, quiet Alonaki — but a totally different scene. Sandy, noisy, full of life — very much a family beach.
🌟 My Paleochora Beach Picks
If you only have a couple of days in Paleochora, here are the beaches I go back to every time:
🏖️ Anidri → for its wild remoteness and quiet (no kids at the far end)
🏖️ Alonaki → organised loungers without the chaos, super chill vibes
🏖️Halikia → crystal-clear pebble waters right in town
🏖️ Methexis → a tiny cove with bargain sunbeds and an authentic Cretan taverna across the road
For families, Pachia Ammos is the obvious choice — not my favourite, but it delivers if you want sand, pedalos, and easy access.
The Wrap Up: Paleochora Beaches – should you bother?
Paleochora really is a hidden gem in Crete and one that deserves a spot on your itinerary. Personally, I lean towards the pebble beaches to the east — the water is clearer, the vibe quieter — but if a family-friendly sandy stretch is what you’re after, Paleochora delivers that too. The beauty here is that there’s something for everyone: wild coves, town beaches, organised loungers, and spots where you might have the beach entirely to yourself.
If you’re planning more time in Crete, you might also enjoy my guide to 7 Hidden Beaches in Crete — perfect if you’re chasing off-the-map swims. And for a different angle on local life, don’t miss my Where to Stay in Crete Beyond the Resorts post, which explores authentic places to base yourself across the island.
👇🏽 Save this guide, share it with your travel companions, and don’t forget to pin, post, or message it to yourself for later.
Written by Richard Hoskisson
Founder of The Cosmos Traveller
With over 30 years of travel experience across France, South Africa, the UAE and Greece – and many more far flung places – Richard helps curious travellers explore hidden gems, discover culturally-rich adventures and enrich their travel stories.
Published August 2025