Isolated (quiet) part of Crete with a nice beach

[LifeOfANoGirl]

We normally go to Corsica or Sardinia but are looking at Greek Islands this year.

It sounds like most of the Greek Islands have quite pebbly beaches or are quite built up with resorts, but we want to try and find sand beaches. It sounds like Crete would fit the bill.

We'll hire a car and do self catering so distance from airport/restaurants doesn't matter but we'd rather be near a beach that is quieter with no watersports, no umbrellas or sunbeds. Happy if there are no facilities. Would like nice hikes but beach is more important (to our children) Not sure how realistic that is for Crete.

Can anyone recommend an area/beach that fits the bill?

What you want is called an “unorganised” beach. If you google unorganised sandy beach Greece you’ll find some suggestions including Crete.

Not sure what time of year you’re going but Crete is pretty boiling in summer, personally I’d look further north if going then.

Never heard of unorganised beach but I like it!

Looking at August, we don’t mind hot; lots of sunscreen obviously but otherwise we all do relatively well even at 35°C plus!

We went to Agios Nikolaus in the summer. Was beautiful and lots of small beaches tucked away. You could happily avoid the commercial beaches with the inflatables and sun beds.
I really liked it. Walkable to nice food but quiet where we stayed.

Near Agios Nikolais- we love Elounda. It’s a quieter village but lots of restaurants, boutique hotels etc. There’ll be decent villas to rent. Easy on the bus route for days out, like Knossos or onto Spinalonga.
Lots of beautiful walking and little swimming beaches that won’t be too busy. The main village beaches have sun beds to hire but not much else.

Crete is beautiful. Have a look at the south west side- much quieter and “wilder”.

And incredibly windy too.

Came to recommend Elounda also