Best (and Safest) Beaches for Kids in Crete

BEST KID-FRIENDLY BEACHES IN THE HERAKLION REGION

Although the beaches in Heraklion can be noisy and crowded, there are a few family-friendly beaches that your kids will certainly enjoy. Take a look!

Ligaria Beach

📍 Northern coast: 35.398651 N, 25.026860 E
Ligaria, or Lygaria, is a beach located on the northern coast of Heraklion, 21 km west of the city, and very close to the beach of Agia Pelagia. The bay is wide, it features coarse sand and small pebbles, and the sea is very clean, although it can sometimes be wavy due to the northern winds. In this case, seek refuge on the western side of the bay.

Although the beach is quite shallow for the first meters, the sea deepens suddenly, so it’s always better for kids to enter the sea with an adult to understand how safe the beach can be, according to their swimming skills.

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Sarandari (Hersonissos)

📍 Sarandari Beach in Hersonissos on the northern coast: 35.326544 N, 25.384357 E
The best area for children in Hersonissos is Sarandaris, about 2 km from the center of Hersonissos. Sarandaris is a tranquil beach for families, with its shallow shore and crystal clear waters. The seaside village has all kinds of entertainment for children. This is a good reason to include this beach in any list of Crete’s kid-friendly beaches.

Stalida Beach

Region: Heraklion (North Coast)
Latitude: N 35.292725  
Longitude: E 25.432898

The quiet and safe cost of Stalida (also known as Stalis) is a favorite among families that come to Crete with small kids for a tranquil seaside vacation. The sandy beach resort is halfway between Hersonissos and Malia, less than 20 km from Heraklion. The beach is well organized, with snack bars, shops, and umbrellas to rent. The settlement features a good choice of places to eat and stay along Stalida’s coast.

Malia Beach

📍 Northern coast: 35.294621 N, 25.462475 E

Although the coastal settlement can be noisy and chaotic during the high season, Malia remains one of the most popular resorts in Crete. It’s located 35 km east of the island’s capital, Heraklion. The main beach features clean and shallow beaches that are good for children. The coastal area goes on until Stalis (or Stalida), a much better choice for family-friendly holidays in Crete.

Kalamaki

📍 Southern coast, near Matala: 35.027624 N, 24.758717 E
A better option than Matala, Kalamaki is a safe beach with a wide fine sand area, perfect for small children to play on the sand. Some areas of the beach may have big rocks, but it’s easy to find a safe spot for children.

Although many families enjoy the vibe in Matala, the shore is not as safe for small kids as the beach is not truly shallow, and currents are not uncommon. On the other hand, Kalamaki is shallower and offers a much safer coastline.

BEST KID-FRIENDLY BEACHES IN THE CHANIA REGION

We’ve often discussed the best beaches in the Chania region on the blog. I’ve even dedicated a whole article to unveiling over 30 stunning shores on the island’s western coast.

But how many of them are especially safe for children? Let’s look at the top kid-friendly beaches in Chania, Crete.

Elafonisi

📍 South Coast: 35.271283 N, 23.541240 E
Crete’s most popular beach is Elafonisi. Famous for its pink sand shore, the islet is about 70 km south of Chania, west Crete. The beach is well organized, and the sea is shallow and clean. It’s a safe, wide bay and a great place for families with kids.

>> Check this super detailed guide to visit Elafonisi.

Frangokastello Beach

📍 South Coast: 35.181067 N, 24.233772 E
Frangokastello is an organized sandy beach on the southern coast of Chania. Kids love the Venetian castle standing right opposite the beach. This shore is a family favorite for its shallow waters and soft sand. However, it’s an open bay that can be windy at times. Frangokastello is great for young adventurers and explorers on land and under the sea.

Stavros Beach

📍 North Coast (Cape Akrotiri): 35.590859 N, 24.096022 E
Also known as Golden Coast Beach and Zorbas Beach, this shore features calm, shallow sea and fine golden sand, making it a great place for family holidays. The beach is very well organized, and there are no waves or currents, which makes it the best beach in the area when the weather is windy. It’s a laid-back village and resort, ideal for families.

Georgioupolis Beach

📍 Northern Coast (near Apokoronas): 35.364100 N, 24.261872 E

The small, laid-back resort of Georgioupolis has every ingredient to make it to the list of kid-friendly beaches in Crete. There’s a well-organized beach with shallow waters and soft sand. In the village, it’s possible to find several tavernas and cafes around the main square and along the coast.

Georgioupolis attracts many visitors from all over Europe during the Summer, especially families with small children. The village is also conveniently close to the city of Chania.

Agioi Apostoloi Beach

📍 Northern coast: 35.514637 N, 23.978026 E
Agioi Apostoloi is a great beach if you stay in Chania town and don’t feel like driving south to Elafonisi or further west to Falasarna. The area features several calm and shallow bays, not often hit by strong currents or heavy winds. Most beaches in the area have organized facilities, including beach bars and umbrellas for rent. Another good kid-friendly beach in the area is Chrissi Akti, about 5 minutes on foot from Agioi Apostoloi.

Falasarna Beach

📍 West coast, 35.494820 N, 23.579807 E
Falasarna is, by far, one of the best beaches in Crete! Located about an hour west of Chania town, it is great if you enjoy wide, golden sandy beaches and crystalline waters. The ample beach area is also a favorite for water sports. However, please check out the weather forecast before heading to Falasarna Beach, as it can be quite unpleasant when it’s very windy.

Paleochora

📍Southern coast: 35.233602 N, 23.677947 E
There are many amazing beaches near Paleochora town, about 72 km south of Chania. If you’re looking for the most kid-friendly beach in the area, I recommend Pachia Ammos, Paleochora’s main beach in the settlement. It features sand and wide areas.

If your kids don’t mind small pebbles, then Gialiskari, about 15 minutes east, can also be a good idea because it’s shallow and well-protected from strong winds.

Kalathas Beach

📍 Northern coast (Akrotiri Peninsula): 35.554521 N, 24.086954 E
Some say that the beaches on the Akrotiri Peninsula are truly kid-friendly, and I must say that most of them are. Kalathas is one such shore, located about 9 km from Chania Old Town, the place is easy to reach with a short ride by car or taxi.

Kalathas is a very shallow, crystal-clear shore with a fine sand beach. It is safe for small kids to play by the shore and for older kids to do SUP and kayaking. Teens enjoy swimming to the small islet just meters off the coast and diving. The beach offers the option of renting loungers and umbrellas. There is a beach bar and a few good tavernas nearby.

BEST KID-FRIENDLY BEACHES IN THE RETHYMNON REGION

Rethymnon has some great beaches for the whole family, especially the southern coast, which features some of the nicest kid-friendly beaches in Crete.

Paralia Rethymnon

📍 Northern coast: 35.366737 B, 24.486165 E
Although this may not be the best beach in the region, it can be a perfect solution if you stay in Rethymnon and want a beach near the city center without getting on the road.
Rethymnon’s city beach is wide and sandy. Besides, it’s well-organized and safe for children. However, since it is so close to the city center, it can get really crowded during the season.

Triopetra Beach

📍 Southern coast: 35.118949 N, 24.547100 E
This wide, tranquil beach is about 52 km south of Rethymnon town. Triopetra is a beautiful beach with coarse sand and small pebbles. It’s fully organized, and ample spaces that usually make it look empty even in the high season.

The seabed is perfect and interesting for kids to explore with goggles. The children will love exploring the caves and the three imposing rocks by the sea. There are a few tavernas on the beach and you can also rent sunbeds and umbrellas.

If your kids love to explore, visit Ligres, a sandy beach with calm waters and a few springs near the coastline that’s about 10 minutes by car from Triopetra.

Bali Beach

📍 Northern Coast: 35.415221 N, 24.783108 E
Bali’s bays are a popular beach choice on the island of Crete, so it’s not odd to find them crowded in summer. Some of Bali’s bays are narrow and well-protected from the northern winds, making them stand out from the rest of the beaches on Rethymnon’s northern coast.

The organization, fine sand, pristine waters, and good tourist facilities make Bali another good place for family-friendly holidays in Crete.

Panormos

📍 Northern coast: 35.419539 N, 24.687972 E
No more than 20 minutes by car from Bali, Panormos is another area on the northern coast of the Rethymnon region featuring kid-friendly bays with shallow, sandy shores. Panormos is a tranquil village, ideal for a serene family vacation. Most beaches are organized and feature loungers and umbrellas to rent.

Agia Galini

📍 Southern coast: 35.097032 N, 24.699349 E
Agia Galini is a nice, relaxing coastal town on the southern coast of Rethymnon, popular among tourists from all over Europe. The area features family-friendly hotels and other facilities, making it a great place for family holidays. You will find a few other good kid-friendly beaches in the same area, including Damnoni and Plakias.

BEST KID-FRIENDLY BEACHES IN THE LASITHI REGION

If you’re traveling east, check out these gorgeous and safe beaches for families in the Lasithi region. They can be crowded near Agios Nikolaos (on the northern coast), but as you get further east or south, they can be a lonely paradise for the whole family!

Almyros Beach

📍 Northern coast (about 2.5 km from Agios Nikolaos): 35.176567 N, 25.709363 E
Almyros is a fantastic, child-friendly beach in Lasithi and one of my personal favorites in the area. The bay is long and wide, safe for children, and the sea is clear, calm, and shallow. There are a few beach bars in the area. A key feature of the beach is the small stream that flows to the sea, a place kids love to explore.

>> We stayed at Porto Maltese Boutique Estate in Agios Nikolaos when we visited this beach.

Voulisma Beach

📍 Northern coast: 35.124159 N, 25.744276 E
One of Crete’s preferred beaches is Voulisma, which lies on the northern coast of Lasithi, facing the beautiful Gulf of Mirabello, just a few minutes from Agios Nikolaos. The long bay is well organized, with a taverna and loungers for rent. It features fine white sand and shallow, clear waters. This beach is absolutely beautiful when there’s no wind.

The place is usually busy in summer, but it can be perfect for those traveling in more tranquil months (at the beginning or the end of the season).

Vai Beach

📍 Easternmost coast,
Latitude: N 35.254528  
Longitude: E 26.265406

Although it’s usually crowded as it’s one of Crete’s most popular beaches, Vai is located on a wide bay in the eastern area of the island. The beach is very wide and has soft golden sand and a huge palm tree forest, one of the biggest in Europe.

The bay is calm, and the sea is clean and shallow. The beach is, in fact, ideal for family-friendly holidays, especially if you visit in early June and early September.

Myrtos Beach

📍 Southern coast: 35.003921 N, 25.582165 E
Myrtos is a village with a fantastic beach in a well-protected bay not far from Ierapetra. The area is peaceful and laid-back even when the small village has every facility you might need for a family holiday in the south of Crete. The sea is calm and not particularly hit by strong winds. The sand is dark and mixed with small pebbles.

The beach is organized, and you can rent an umbrella, eat in any taverna near the sea or in the village, and enjoy a lifeguard service.

Makrigialos

📍Southern coast: 35.035857 N, 25.970448 E

Easy to reach from Ierapetra, Makrigialos is one of the best kid-friendly bays on the southern coast of Lasithi. It is well-organized and shallow, perfect for small children.

The different bays in the area offer well-protected and shallow coves for kids to swim and explore. From Makrigialos, you can jump on a boat to visit the uninhabited islets of Koufounisia, about a 45-minute sail from the settlement’s small port.

Have you decided what beaches you will visit with the family? Which are your favorite beaches in Crete for kids?

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Best Beaches for Kids in Crete

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