Heraklion Airport N. Kazantzakis 1 hr 47
Preveli beach (18 min)
Remote, well-known beach where the Kourtaliotis River meets the sea, with palm groves & stairs. Mikro Ammoudi (8 min) canyon Kotsifou (11 min)
Mountain gorge offering scenic drives & hiking, with native plants & a wintertime waterfall. Triopetra beach (56 min)
Large Mediterranean beach with clear waters & coarse sand, plus parasols, sun beds & tavernas. Damnoni beach (7 min)
Popular tourist destination with turquoise waters & white sand, serviced with bars, showers & more. One Rock Beach (10 min) Souda beach (10 min)
Quiet strip with umbrellas, showers & seafood tavernas, backed by a grove of rare Cretan date palms. Plakias beach (8 min)
Long, quiet beach bordered by a road for walking & biking, plus sand sports & nearby restaurants. Schinaria Beach (15 min) Frangokastelo beach (44 min)
Tranquil sandy beach with adjacent ruins of a 14th-century castle backdropped by mountains. Kalypso Beach (9 min) Skinaria beach (15 min)
A fine-pebble beach meets a deep-blue bay at this laid-back hangout with sun beds & a taverna. Lake Kournas (1 hr 3)
The only freshwater lake in Crete, this serene standby offers boat rentals, views & rocky beaches. Ammoudaki Beach (8 min) Kourtaliotiko Gorge (16 min)
Imposing, windswept gorge with natural caves & springs, offering sweeping views. | 
