Top 12 Nudist Beaches in Crete You Should Not Miss

by Crete Locals

  • Posted 9 months ago
  • Nudist Beach

Nudist beaches in Crete, while not extensively official, are plentiful and nudist-friendly, making the island a prime destination for water enthusiasts, sun worshippers, and nudists seeking relaxation. Crete’s allure is magnified by its turquoise waters and powdery beaches, establishing it as a top travel spot for those who prefer a more natural beach-going experience. We reveal the top nudist beaches in Crete for those who want to tan seamlessly on a beach and feel the water on their bare skin.

These all are the best and most beautiful nudist beaches in Crete, don’t miss them!

 

Top Nudist Beaches in Crete: Chania Region

Filaki Beach – The Only Official Nudist Beach in Crete

Filaki beach nudist beaches in Crete
Filaki Beach – the only official nudist beach on the Crete island

Filaki Beach is located 3 km from the village of Sfakion on the south coast of Crete. It is a pebble beach with rock formations. It is the only official nudist beach on the island. Thanks to the only nudist hotel in Crete in the immediate vicinity, you will meet many like-minded people.

The beach is not wild – Filaki has a well-developed infrastructure: it has a parking lot, water closets, bars, sling chairs, and umbrellas. A more friendly nudist beach cannot be found in Crete.

Selino Beach (Sougia) – Mainly Visited By Nudists

Sougia Beach – mainly visited by nudists

The enchanting coarse-grained beach stretches for about 1.5 km from the small port in Sougia. It’s about 75 km from Chania and, just like Matala, it used to be another hippie-friendly beach during the ’70s.

It ends in a narrow rocky bay under tamarisks and is only visited by a few holidaymakers. While there are numerous restaurants, taverns and bars on the main beach of Sougia, the eastern part of the beach is undeveloped and is mainly visited by nudists.

 

Kedrodasos Beach – Nudist-Friendly Beach near Elafonissi Lagoon

Kedrodasos Beach – nudist-friendly beach near Elafonissi Lagoon

Kedrodasos (i.e. juniper wood) is an amazing beach, located 76km southwest of Chania and 1km east of the famous Elafonissi lagoon. The beach is full of juniper trees (mistakenly confused with cedars) and sand dunes.

The “cedar” grove covers a big area of about 11 hectares and is a magnificent place. It is a wonderful choice for swimming and a favourite beach for naturists. It is a very nice beach with white sand and some smooth and flat rocks in places. Fortunately, there are no facilities nearby, making this secluded beach, one of the latest untouched paradises in Europe. Moreover, since the beach is secluded, you should keep it clean and not littered.

Top Nudist Beaches in Crete: Heraklion Region

Red Beach – Nudist-Friendly Beach near Matala Resort

Red beach Matala
Red Beach – nudist-friendly beach near Matala resort

The Red Beach (Kokkini Ammos) is located at location Moudia, 68km southwest of Heraklion and just 800m south of Matala famous resort. To get here you have to walk a trail that begins north of the settlement of Matala and crosses the hill Kastri north of Matala. 

 

The Red Beach used to be one of the favourite destinations for hippies in the 60s and 70s. Many fans still come to the beach since that time. The beach still remains nudism-friendly (especially its northern part). Indeed, the beach has been voted as one of the top nudism-friendly beaches in the world. Moreover, Red Beach and its surrounding area are protected under the Natura 2000 international program.

Sarandaris Coves (Hersonissos) – A Series of Small Coves and Hidden Beaches

Sarandaris – a series of small coves and hidden beaches

Many believe that nudist beaches can only be found on the remote coasts of southern Crete. But this is not true, and Hersonissos is one of the exceptions.

Sarandaris (or Sarantaris) is a series of small coves and hidden beaches about 27 km from the capital of Crete, Heraklion. To reach this beach from Hersonissos town, follow the main road towards Anissaras and then turn off at the signs to Cape Sarandaris. You can get to the nudist beach by walking the last few meters over the rocks. 

The crystal waters and unusual rocky formations under the sea make it an excellent place for snorkelling.

 

Kommos Beach – Top Nudist Beach on Crete

Komos beach, naturist friendly
Kommos Beach – top nudist beach on Crete

Kommos Beach is on the southern coast of Heraklion, about 70 km from the capital and not far from Matala Beach.

Kommos has often been placed on different lists of top nudist beaches on Crete since it’s so isolated and quiet, and few people are aware that naturism has spread on this coast of the island.

Naturism and nature enthusiasts adore this beach because of the green landscape. And since it’s really wide, there’s never the feeling of being in a crowded place.

Top Nudist Beaches in Crete: Rethymnon Region

Ammoudi beaches, Plakias – Welcoming to Naturists

Ammoudi beach, with a characteristic green slippery rock in the middle.

Many of the beaches in Plakias, located on Rethymnon’s southern shoreline, are welcoming to naturists. It’s common for beachgoers to comfortably shed their clothes for a dip in the sea, often at the most remote sections of these beaches.

Both Ammoudi and Mikro Ammoudi are long-standing favourites among the nudist beaches on Crete’s southern coast. These beaches consistently rank among the top choices for naturist-friendly locations on the island.

Melissa Cape Sandhills (Agios Pavlos)

Melissa Cape Sandhills, perhaps the most beautiful beach of prefecture Rethymnon

Melissa Cape Sandhills, perhaps the most beautiful beach of prefecture Rethymnon, is a fantastic bay in a wild and majestic scenic landscape with huge sandhills. There are a few umbrellas (that’s all!), but you can find shade in the rocky caves shaped in the middle of the beach. Moreover, given its large size, the beach never seems busy and you can easily stay nude even in peak season. 

The only way to get there is by climbing down the stunningly beautiful and quite steep sand dunes, a trademark of Agios Pavlos.

 

Although the descent might look dangerous, it isn’t that hard. Going back up the dunes might require more effort, but the beaches below are worth the experience.

It’s precisely these sand dunes that prevent the beaches from being overcrowded, and they are usually empty. The sea is crystal clear and there’s no organization whatsoever.

Ligres Beach – Preferred by Nudists and is Completely Secluded

Ligres beach crete greece
Ligres Beach – preferred by nudists and is completely secluded

Ligres is located 51km south of Rethymno and 7km south of the village Kerames, at the foot of the imposing mount of Siderotas.

Ligres is a vast beach with coarse sand and a fantastic deep sea.

Besides the northern part of the beach, which is known as Katsouni, there is a nice beach mainly preferred by nudists and is completely secluded. However, there are many places where you can swim nude on this vast and empty beach.

Top Nudist Beaches in Crete: Lasithi Region

 

Tholos Beach – Favourite Among Naturists Beaches on the Northern Coast of Crete

Tholos Beach – favourite among nudist beach on the northern coast of Crete

The magnificent beach of Tholos is located in the Lasithi region, close to the village of Kavousi, and is about 40 minutes from the main city of Agios Nikolaos.

Tholos is a sandy and pebbled beach in a protected location within a deep bay. Its position offers shelter from winds, which makes the sea especially calm and waveless.

Due to its isolated nature, its spectacular turquoise waters, and its unique secluded location, this is another beach on the northern coast of Crete that’s a favourite among naturists.

Chiona Beach (Kouremenos) – Isolated Beach on the Eastern Coast of Crete

Chiona Beach – isolated beach on the eastern coast of Crete

Chiona Beach (often also spelt Hiona and even Xiona) is about 90 km east of Agios Nikolaos, close to the city of Sitia (about 23 km away).

Chiona has very shallow water and fine sand mixed with pebbles. In general, the area is quite isolated and secluded, which makes it another favourite place to take off your clothes.

Psili Ammos beach (Vai beach) – An Idyllic Haven for Those Seeking Tranquillity and Naturism

The name Psili Ammos means fine sand in Greek and refers to the sand that covers the whole area.

A brief walk along a footpath from Vai and traversing the hill on Vai’s eastern edge leads you to Psili Ammos beach. The journey is no more than five minutes and the destination is undeniably worth the short trek. This petite beach, with its fine sand and clear, glistening waters, usually remains undisturbed and secluded, making it an idyllic haven for those seeking tranquillity and naturism.

 

What to Bring with You to Nudist Beaches in Crete

What makes many of the nudist beaches so unique is the pure experience of nature – no beach bar, no cantina, no shops – no civilization of any kind. This can also mean limited cell phone reception. You will need a lot of water and sunscreen, snacks and everything else that makes your stay comfortable and pleasant – for example, a parasol.

Some of these beaches are so remote that you will have to hike to them, so don’t forget comfortable shoes, a hat, and plenty of water. 

These are the best and most beautiful nudist beaches in Crete, don’t miss them!

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