For all those that stay in Chania area, Falasarna beach is a must! Located in the extreme west of the island, only 1hr drive from Chania, this amazing beach is the perfect place for sunset lovers and romantic walks, photoshoots, Instagram pictures, proposals and the list can go on. 

It lies in the small gulf with the same name and it is a blue flag beach (meaning it meets all the criteria for this award, related to environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management and safety and services – lifeguards, drinking water, safe access, first aid, emergency plan, etc). Also, Falassarna is included in Natura 2000 program (together with Balos, Elafonissi, Gramvousa etc) which means some additional things to consider.

Falasarna is well known for its large beach, white-ish and in some places even pink sand, crystal clear turquoise waters and it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece and the #1 beach in Crete, according to some publications. 

When I went there in early March, we had it just for us. I mean… there were just 2 humans on that beach. Hence the no sunbeds and umbrellas photos, but the pure raw beauty of the beach. And if the water was so beautiful on a cloudy day, imagine how it is under the summer sun.

How to get there:

1. By car – the easiest way, as you have all the flexibility to stay as long as you want. There is a big parking lot at the entrance, but it can be really crowded in the summer so arrive as early as possible

2. By bus – thee are daily buses from Chania to Falassarna, the schedule is updated regularly on www.e-ktel.com, their website. As of today, the schedule to Falassarna has not been published yet, but usually there are 3-4 buses/day that depart from Chania Central Station, stops in all the tourist villages west of Chania (so if your hotel is in Platanias or Agia Marina, you don’t have to get to Chania first). The bus stop is on the main road and from there you will have to walk around 10 mins to the beach.

3. There are some day trips from Chania and Rethymno, but it is either combined with Elafonissi or they are private tours (sunset, 4×4, etc) which are very expensive (starting price is 300E/person). You can find a lot on GetYourGuide, my favourite place in terms of excursions.

Good to know before you go:

· There are some accommodations in the area, but they are up the hill and they are expensive, as it is a remote location. There is no hotel with exit directly on the beach

· Sunbeds and umbrellas are available, the price was around 15E/set last year. 

IMPORTANT: a new law has been passed in March 2024 and it will be enforced starting the 2024 summer season. In an attempt to prevent overcrowding and make the beaches more accessible, 75% of the beach must remain sunbed-free. In case of protected areas, such as Natura 2000, which Falasarna is part of, will have to be 85% sunbed-free. Also, the minimum distance between the seashore and first row of sunbeds must be of 4 meters, to ensure easy access to the water. This means that if you want to catch a sunbed, go very early in the morning.

· Since it’s a blue flag beach, there are amenities, such as: lifeguard, beachbars (food included) toilets, showers, changing rooms, easy access.

· It has shallow waters, hence suitable for families with small children

· It can be really crowded in the peak season, finding a parking spot can be a challenge

· It can be wavy and very windy. Sometimes, the wind gusts are very strong

· Although the main beach has smooth entry into the sea, there is an area with rocky shore

· The beach is surrounded by greenhouses, therefore expect some agricultural activity

· The southern part of the beach has sand dunes and you will see some plants sprouting out of the sand. This is the Cretan lily or the sea daffodil. This is an endangered and protected species, DO NOT PICK IT! It is a native species to Crete and it was featured in the most famous fresco from Knossos, The Prince of Lilies. Its smell fills the air in the hot summer nights.