Elafonísi
Elafonissi, also written Elafonisi, is a pink-and-white sand beach at the south-westernmost tip of Crete, 72 km west of Chania. The beach is a shallow, wade-across lagoon backed by protected dunes, so the water stays warm and calm and the place suits families. Elafonissi forms an oblong peninsula split by a strip of shallow water, which is why it reads as two separate islands from the shore. The beach appears regularly at the top of international beach rankings.
Chania airport (CHQ) is the nearest airport, and Elafonissi sits in the Chania region with Kissamos the closest town of any size. Our beach page records that this corner takes at least 1.5 hours to reach from Chania, so it works as a day out rather than a stop on the way to somewhere else. The site lies inside a Natura 2000 area, and its rules apply on the sand and in the dunes behind it.
Things to do in Elafonissi
Six things fill a day here, listed below from the beach itself outwards.
- Wade across the lagoon. The strip of water between the shore and the peninsula is shallow enough to walk through, which is how most people reach the far side. Our full guide to Elafonissi Beach covers the parking, the facilities on site and the Natura 2000 rules you have to follow.
- Keep to the routes through the dunes. The dunes behind the beach are protected, and the protection is the reason the lagoon looks the way it does. Walk around them rather than over them.
- Walk east into the juniper forest. The juniper wood at Kedrodasos starts 1 km east of the lagoon and covers around 11 hectares of trees set between sandy dunes. The trees are junipers rather than cedars, despite the confusion, and they are fragile enough to need care.
- Visit the Chrysoskalitissa Monastery. The monastery stands 4.1 km from the beach, and two of the coast’s quieter swimming spots lie within 500 m of it. Panagia Chrisoskalitissa makes the natural pairing with a morning on the sand.
- Start the E4 footpath towards Paleochora. The European E4 long-distance path runs between Paleochora and Elafonissi along this coast. Krios Lake, 5.3 km away, sits on the route about 20 to 30 minutes’ walk from Krios beach.
- Drive inland to the Kambos gorge. The village of Kambos in Kissamos province lies on the west-coast road towards Elafonissi, and a short detour west of it reaches the canyon. Kambos is the most westerly gorge on the island, with a trail under plane trees beside a river that runs all year and a natural spring at its end.
Beaches near Elafonissi
4 beaches lie within 6 km of Elafonissi, and none of them is organised in the way the lagoon is. The list runs from nearest to furthest.
- Kedrodasos begins 1 km east of the lagoon, named for its juniper forest. The species here are Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa and Juniperus phoenicea, the sand is white with occasional rock, and the beach is a favourite with naturists.
- Aspri Limni lies 4.2 km away and 500 m west of the Chrysoskalitissa Monastery, its name meaning White Lake. Jagged cliffs wrap the fine white sand and give the impression of a small pale lake set inside the sea. There is no natural shade.
- Voulolimni is 4.5 km away and 500 m north-west of the same monastery, a sunken lake rather than a beach. The rocky pool sits in a small crater with only a narrow opening to the open sea, which keeps the greenish water calm in the strong local winds and lets small boats shelter there.
- Krios Lake sits 5.3 km away, also called Viena, 10 km west of Paleochora. Rocks enclose a small bay that local people call a lake, the shore is mostly rock with sandy patches, and the only shade is a single tamarisk tree. The beach has no facilities.
Where to eat near Elafonissi
Eating options are few, because the beach sits in a remote corner with no resort behind it.
- Kalomirakis Tavern stands 100 m from the beach, the closest taverna we list.
Getting to Elafonissi
Elafonissi lies 72 km west of Chania at the far south-west corner of the island, and our beach page puts the journey at 1.5 hours or more. The west-coast road passes the village of Kambos on the way down, and our beach page covers where to park on arrival. Kissamos is the nearest town of any size, while Paleochora is the settlement at the other end of the E4 coastal path.
Walkers have more gorges within reach on the drive back. The Pelekaniotis river holds the highest water flow in Selino and gave the Paleochora municipality its name of Pelekanos, and its exit is found on a dirt road that starts at Grameno beach near Paleochora. Anydri and Sirikari lie further out again.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Elafonissi in Crete?
Elafonissi lies at the south-westernmost tip of Crete, 72 km west of Chania, in the Chania region. Kissamos is the closest town of any size, and Paleochora sits along the coast to the east.
How long does it take to reach Elafonissi from Chania?
Our beach page puts the drive at 1.5 hours or more from Chania. The distance is 72 km, but the road runs into a remote corner of the island rather than along a fast coastal route.
Is Elafonissi good for families?
Elafonissi suits families, because the lagoon is shallow enough to wade across. The enclosed water warms up and stays calm, which is the opposite of what most Cretan beaches offer in an afternoon wind.
Can you walk to Kedrodasos from Elafonissi?
Kedrodasos starts 1 km east of the Elafonissi lagoon. Its juniper forest covers around 11 hectares between the dunes, and the trees are delicate, so walkers are asked to keep clear of the roots.
What rules apply at Elafonissi?
Elafonissi sits inside a Natura 2000 protected area, and its rules apply to visitors. The dunes behind the beach are protected ground, and our beach page sets out what the designation means in practice.
Location
Elafonísi is located at Elafonísi, in the Chania region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
