Find a beach with Nudism friendly facilities near you
Crete offers a diverse range of beaches, and for those who prefer a more liberating beach experience, there are several nudism-friendly options available. This page is dedicated to showcasing the beaches in Crete that are welcoming to nudists. From the secluded sands of Agii Pantes Beach to the picturesque shores of Red Beach, each location provides a unique setting for those who embrace naturism. Whether you’re a seasoned nudist or someone looking to try it for the first time, our guide to nudism-friendly beaches in Crete will provide you with all the necessary details to find the perfect spot
Agii Pantes island is home to a quaint sandy beach situated just across the port of Agios Nikolaos. The beach, as well as the whole island, is accessible only by boat or via kayak or SUP departing from Ammoudi beach. It stands adjacent to the little islet Mikronisi, both acting as natural barriers safeguarding Agios Nikolaos. Moreover, the island serves as a habitat for several hybrid species of the endangered Cretan ibex.
The stunning Aspes beach, with its dark sand, is nestled approximately 58km south of Heraklion, in one of the most remote and hard-to-reach areas of the Asteroussia Mountains. This beach lies 4km to the east of the Tris Ekklisies settlement. Aspes is known for its almost vertical cliffs surrounding it, adorned with spectacular caves that appear as if carved by hand due to their orthogonal sides. The vibrant turquoise hues of the sea make it one of the most picturesque beaches in Crete, and perhaps the most beautiful in the Heraklion region. The beach offers fantastic opportunities for swimming and fishing.
Reaching the beach by foot is not possible, so it’s only accessible by boat. The closest harbours are in Treis Ekklisies or Tsoutsouras. The beach, due to its secluded location, provides a tranquil atmosphere, waiting to greet the fortunate boat owners. Boats are typically moored high on the beach’s rocks, their ropes creating an interesting grid-like pattern. If you visit Aspes, it’s recommended to bring a spoon to collect salt from the natural salt pans formed on the rocks at the beach’s edge. Additionally, don’t miss the towering rocks at the beach’s western end, reminiscent of scattered Obelix’s menhirs!
Red Beach, known in Greek as Kokkini Ammos, is a red-sand beach on the south coast of Crete, about 800 metres south of Matala and 68 kilometres southwest of Heraklion. You reach it on foot over Kastri hill or by boat from Matala harbour. The rust-red sand comes from the local geology and sets off a blue-green sea, which is what makes the beach so striking.
The beach is remote and unorganised. It has no road access, so it stays quiet even in high season, and it is open to the western winds that blow across this part of the coast.
Most visitors walk from Matala on a marked trail that crosses Kastri hill north of the village. The walk takes about 15 to 25 minutes one way and involves some rock scrambling at the start and a steep descent near the end, so wear proper walking shoes rather than sandals. The route is clear but rough underfoot.
Follow these steps from Matala:
You can take a boat from Matala harbour for a small fee of around 5 euros each way if you would rather not hike. A car makes the wider Matala area much easier to reach, since the beach sits on the exposed south coast with no road nearby, so you can compare options for a hire car in Crete.
Red Beach has very few facilities. There is a simple stone-wall coffee shop that opens occasionally for food and drinks, plus a small number of umbrellas that fill up quickly. The only natural shade comes from a few tamarisk trees near the canteen, so it is worth bringing your own mat, umbrella, water, and snacks.
You can swim here, but the beach faces the prevailing western winds and the sea is often wavy, so take care on windier days. The reward for the effort is a quiet bay with panoramic views, clear water, and wide sunset views over the sea.
Red Beach was a favourite of hippies in the 1960s and 1970s, and enthusiasts have kept visiting ever since. The northern part of the beach is known as a nudist-friendly area and has an international reputation for it. The beach and its surroundings are protected under the Natura 2000 programme because of their ecological value.
At the northern end, a long limestone formation resembles the rock of Matala. It is decorated with carvings of Minoan and Egyptian sea figures made by Gerard, a Belgian admirer of Matala, and these sculptures have become part of the beach’s character.
Between Matala and Red Beach stands a large rock called Theosini, which gives wide views over Messara Bay. The sea has eroded it into a marine cave known as Kouroupi, reachable only by boat. The cave shelters endangered Mediterranean monk seals and several species of wild pigeon.
Walk the marked trail from the northern edge of Matala over Kastri hill, which takes about 15 to 25 minutes and includes some rock scrambling and a steep final descent. Alternatively, take a boat from Matala harbour for around 5 euros each way.
Yes, you can swim at Red Beach, but it faces the western winds and the sea is often wavy, so swim with care on windy days. Calmer conditions give clear blue-green water.
Red Beach rewards the short hike with rust-red sand, clear water, panoramic views, and quiet sunsets. Its limestone carvings and protected setting make it more than an ordinary swim stop.
Yes. The northern part of Red Beach is well known as a nudist-friendly area and has an international reputation for it.
Facilities are minimal: an occasional stone-wall coffee shop and a few umbrellas. Bring your own mat, umbrella, water, and food, since the only natural shade comes from a few tamarisk trees.
No. Red Beach has rust-red sand from the local rock, not pink sand. The pink-tinted sand Crete is famous for is at Elafonisi, in the southwest of the island.
Glyka Nera, translated as “sweet water” ranks as one of Crete’s most picturesque beaches, adorned with captivating deep blue waters and charming pebbles. In 2003, it earned a place amongst the top 20 European beaches by the London Times. Positioned 43km west of Chora Sfakion and 75km south of Chania, its unique name stems from the freshwater springs that bubble up amongst its pebbles.
Typically, Glyka Nera is most readily accessible via boat. However, for thrill-seekers, two hiking paths offer an alternate route: a 30-minute journey from the closest parking spot near Iligas beach, and an hour-long trek from Loutro. Despite the trails bordering steep edges, safety is ensured by regular maintenance from local authorities, given the paths are part of the renowned E4 European footpath.
A quaint tavern perched on a rock offers food, refreshing drinks, and loungers. You need not carry water as the spring water is drinkable. Interestingly, even in the peak of summer, the sea remains refreshingly cool due to these springs. Tamarisk trees generously provide shade along the beach. If given the chance, a visit to Glyka Nera is a must.
Kedrodasos beach, named for its distinct juniper forest, is a stunning beach located 76km southwest of Chania and just 1km east of the famous Elafonissi lagoon. This beach is dotted with enchanting juniper trees, often confused for cedars, that are beautifully tucked in between sandy dunes. Included species are the twisted Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa and Juniperus phoenicea. Visitors are encouraged to treat these delicate trees with kindness and care.
Covering an impressive area of around 11 hectares, the juniper forest offers a magnificent view. The beach is an ideal spot for swimming and is a favorite among naturists. It features a diverse landscape of white sand and occasional flat, smooth rocks. A lack of nearby amenities emphasizes the secluded allure of Kedrodasos, maintaining it as one of the last untouched havens in Europe. Visitors are encouraged to leave nothing behind, ensuring the beach stays clean and untouched.
Kedrodasos Beach is recognized as a nudist-friendly location, attracting naturists who appreciate the freedom of clothing-optional sunbathing. Its remote and pristine surroundings create an ideal environment for those seeking a more unrestrained and natural beach experience. Visitors will find sections of the beach where they can comfortably embrace nudism in a welcoming and non-judgmental atmosphere.
Acting as a shield from the regular winds of neighboring Elafonissos, Kedrodasos offers a relatively serene sanctuary. The beach also serves as a stopover for the European E4 trail, with yellow and black markers indicating the way.
Situated 51km to the south of Rethymno and 7km below the village of Kerames, Ligres is nestled at the base of the grand Siderotas mountain. It forms the northern segment of the Akoumiani Gialia beachfront, which runs from the cape of Mellissa to the south.
Ligres is an expansive beach graced with rough sand and a spectacular deep sea. Its somewhat challenging access has thankfully deterred the encroachment of tourism, preserving it as one of the most serene, secluded and pristine beaches on the island. Although the beach is not developed, there are a few taverns and rooms available on its western side accessible via a poorly maintained asphalt road. At the beach’s western tip, there is a stunning waterfall that boasts a year-round water supply, cascading right next to the sea.
Beyond the northern end of the beach, also known as Katsouni, lies a secluded beach favored primarily by nudists. Despite its seclusion, there are numerous spots along this vast, uninhabited beach where nude swimming is possible. It’s worth venturing along the beachfront to Triopetra, up to the Xiromilia area, to marvel at the astonishing rock formations. In the heart of Ligres, a remarkable reddish boulder stands out near the sea.
Damnoni is an organized sandy bay on Crete’s south coast, about 35 kilometres south of Rethymno and 5 kilometres east of Plakias, with clear turquoise water, coarse pale sand, and a busy west end that gives way to a quieter east end and secluded coves. Damnoni faces the Libyan Sea at the mouth of a green, olive-covered valley ringed by mountains, and it is one of the most popular and well-developed beaches in the Plakias area.
Damnoni beach lies on the south coast of Crete, about 35 kilometres south of Rethymno city and 5 kilometres east of the resort village of Plakias. Damnoni sits at the mouth of a wide valley covered with olive groves and fed by mountain streams, so the land stays green right behind the sand. The beach belongs to the Agios Vasilios area of the Rethymno regional unit and faces the Libyan Sea. A short dirt road along the eastern side links Damnoni to the neighbouring Ammoudi coves.
Damnoni is a long, wide bay with clear turquoise water and coarse, whitish sand. Damnoni has two distinct ends that give the beach its character. The west end is the organized, busier part, and a small river reaches the sea here and keeps water almost all year round. The east end is calmer and quieter, and it leads along a short dirt road to the smaller Ammoudi and Ammoudaki coves. Just west of the main bay, beside the area’s small harbour, a few secluded coves of sand and rock offer a spot to get away from the crowd.
Damnoni beach is a fully organized beach with the facilities for a full day by the water. Damnoni offers the following facilities along and behind the sand:
Damnoni is reached by a paved road, is handicap friendly, and has parking beside the beach.
Damnoni is well suited to swimming and snorkelling, because the water is shallow near the shore, usually calm, and clear. Damnoni draws snorkellers to its clear water and to the rockier edges of the bay, where small fish gather. The wider stretch of coast around Damnoni holds some of the finest snorkelling and diving spots in the Plakias area, and the neighbouring Skinaria and Ammoudaki coves reward a mask and fins. Families use the shallow, gentle entry at the main bay, and stronger swimmers explore the rocky coves toward the harbour.
Damnoni beach is about a 45-minute drive south from Rethymno, on a paved road that turns off toward Plakias. No public bus runs directly down to the beach, and the Rethymno to Plakias bus stops in Lefkogia or Plakias rather than at the sand, so most visitors arrive by rented car or taxi. Parking sits beside the beach and fills up on peak-season afternoons, so arriving earlier in the day helps. In summer, small boats also run from Plakias along the coast toward Preveli Palm Beach and call at Damnoni on the way.
The best time to visit Damnoni beach is from June to September, when the sea is warm and every facility is open. Damnoni is busiest through midsummer and along its organized west end, so an early start means easier parking and a quieter stretch of sand. Late spring and early autumn stay warm enough to swim and draw smaller crowds, which makes May and October good months for a calmer visit.
Damnoni sits within walking or short driving distance of several other south-coast beaches. Damnoni connects to the following beaches nearby:
A day at Damnoni is easiest with your own car, because no bus runs down to the beach and the coves nearby are spread along a rough coastal road. Driving lets you arrive early for a parking spot and the quiet east end, then chain Damnoni with Ammoudi, Skinaria and Kalypso or catch the boat to Preveli in one day. A car also carries the beach gear for a full day by the Libyan Sea without waiting on bus timetables. For that flexibility across the Plakias coast and the wider south of Rethymno, book a car rental in Crete.
Damnoni beach is on Crete’s south coast, about 35 kilometres south of Rethymno and 5 kilometres east of Plakias. The beach faces the Libyan Sea at the mouth of an olive-covered valley in the Agios Vasilios area of Rethymno.
Yes, Damnoni beach has coarse, whitish sand along a wide bay. Some pebbles and small rocks appear at the edges and in the secluded coves west of the main beach.
Yes, Damnoni is good for both, because the water is shallow near the shore, usually calm, and clear. Snorkellers explore the rockier edges of the bay and the neighbouring Skinaria and Ammoudaki coves.
To reach Damnoni beach, drive about 45 minutes south from Rethymno and turn off toward Plakias, since no bus runs directly to the beach. A rented car or taxi is the practical way to arrive, and parking sits beside the sand.
Damnoni’s main bay is a family beach, while naturists gather at the neighbouring Ammoudaki cove just east of Damnoni. A short dirt road from the east end of the beach leads to the Ammoudi and Ammoudaki coves.
Ammoudi and Ammoudaki lie about 0.6 kilometres east, Skinaria about 1.1 kilometres away, and Kalypso is a short walk to the west. Preveli Palm Beach, with its palm-lined river, is reachable by boat from Plakias or Damnoni.
The swimming season runs from late spring to October, and June to September brings the warmest, most settled conditions. May and October are quieter than the midsummer peak and stay warm enough to swim.
The picturesque Domata beach, positioned 7km east of Sougia and 58km south of Chania city, resides at Tseses. This beach marks the end of the Klados gorge, a wild and rugged landscape. Its unique natural beauty is a result of the erosive power of water. The name Domata, translating to “roofs”, is derived from the layered structure of the surrounding conglomerate rocks, reminiscent of enormous walls. The beach owes its creation to the large amounts of pebbles and dirt deposited by the gorge, and the continuous oscillation of the sea and air.
The beach is striking, with its fine pebbles and transparent blue waters. By digging in the sand, you can discover fresh water from subterranean springs. As anticipated, the area is devoid of roads and infrastructure. However, the abundant pine trees near the beach provide natural shade and ideal camping spots. The southernmost section of the beach, separated from the main beach of Domata by rocks, is known as Kolotrividis, named after the adjacent cape.
You can reach Domata via the E4 European trail, which heads east and guides you to Agia Roumeli (a 3 -4 hour walk). Be cautious though, as the trail ascends to an altitude of 700m, with some sections being steep and potentially hazardous.
Kaminaki Beach, a secluded pebbly beach ideal for fishing, is situated 58km south of Heraklion, on the southeastern fringes of the Asterousia Mountains. The rugged mountains surrounding the beach create a quintessentially Cretan landscape, featuring hard-to-reach gorges, bare rocks, steep cliffs, and isolated beaches mostly reachable by boat. The beach lies at the end of the wild Perivoliano Gorge, also known as Gerontzou.
Access to Kaminaki Beach is primarily via sea, given the difficulty in descending the gorge and the beach’s distance from the nearest road. The closest harbour can be found 3km west in Treis Ekklisies. A smaller beach located 400m west in the Agio Pnevma area is not as aesthetically appealing as Kaminaki.
On the opposite side, a striking beach with turquoise waters and a unique Δ-shaped sea cave can be found 700m east of Kaminaki. The beach is nestled in the embrace of Alykevra Bay, at the Sfakidia location, and is well-shielded by Cape Alykapounda. Heading west beyond Alykapounda Cape, you’ll find Alykevra, where a small rocky bay houses a freshwater spring. This spring was historically used by local shepherds to quench their flocks’ thirst. The area of Alykevra features a single beach situated at the mouth of a narrow canyon at the Prikovlyhada location. Despite its small size (1.5m in width), the pebble beach of Prikovlyhada is exceptional, with the canyon walls providing sunshade and nearby caves adding to its charm.
Menies, also known as Diktynna, is situated 45 kilometers northwest of Chania, on the northeastern coast of the Rodopos Peninsula and at the mouth of the Foundas Gorge. This secluded beach is characterized by its pebbles and the deep, crystal blue of its waters. Protected from the prevalent winds in the region, Menies offers a haven of solitude, far from the hustle and bustle of city life. With no signs of modern civilization for miles, visitors are advised to come prepared with all necessities. The journey to Menies beach can be challenging, as it involves a 23-kilometer ride on a dirt track, beginning from the village of Rodopos. This road, though unpaved, leads to the beach but isn’t suitable for low-slung vehicles. An alternative route to Menies is via small boats that depart from Platanias harbor.
Menies sits on the historical site of ancient Diktynna, which was the primary temple of the goddess Vritomartis, the Cretan counterpart of Artemis. This sanctuary used to draw worshippers from all over the island, who would travel via a road that linked the sanctuary to the town of Polirinia. Some sections of this paved road are still intact across the Rodopos peninsula. Vritomartis was worshipped here during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Today, a few remnants of the ancient Roman temple can still be seen, although no traces of the Hellenistic temple have been discovered.
Roughly one kilometer southwest of the beach, visitors can explore the ancient monastery of St. George, constructed in the 9th century. The monastery was later abandoned during the pirate invasions, but the 16th-century lookout tower used to spot incoming pirate ships can still be seen in the monastery’s courtyard.
Several small bays can be found between Menies and Afrata, formed at the mouths of small streams and accessible either on foot or by boat. The most picturesque of these is Xeronissia, situated beneath the Saint George monastery.
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