Worth a Detour
Elafonisi
A shallow lagoon and islet of pink-tinted sand on Crete's southwest corner.
- Open
- Always
- Price
- Free; paid parking and sunbeds
- Time Needed
- Half a day
- Address
- Elafonisi beach, KissamosDirections
- Getting There
- About 1½ to 2 hours by car southwest of Chania; a bus runs in summer.
Why Go
The water is shallow and warm enough to wade across to the islet, where crushed shells tint the sand pink at the waterline. The area is a protected nature reserve of dunes, junipers and sea lilies, and the beach is famous enough to be packed in July and August.
Tips
- Arrive early or late in the day, and leave the pink sand where it is: taking it is forbidden.
Go Next
1–3 of 6
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