Elafonissi Beach(Elafonisi Beach, Treasure Island)

Located on the southwesternmost end of Chania on the island of Crete in Greece, Elafonissi Beach is a long and wide pink sand beach with many rocky portions and a sandbar.  The beach is recognized as one of the world’s top beaches for its unparalleled natural beauty and unique pink sand.  The sand gets its color from crushed shells and coral fragments mixed with the white sand.  The beach is positioned along the Libyan Sea and has a beautiful backdrop of rocky outcrops, dunes, and coastal vegetation, including sea daffodils and juniper trees.  The beach is part of a mile-long Elafonisi Island, which is separated from the southwest coast of Crete by a shallow, warm lagoon, namely, Balos Lagoon.  During high tide, the sandbar connecting the island is submerged under about one meter of water.   

Elafonissi Beach is home to the remnants of the Austrian ship "Imperatrix," which sank in February 1907.  The ship was caught in a fierce storm and was wrecked on the rocks near the small islet of Elafonissi.  The tragedy claimed several lives, and a large wooden cross now stands on the islet in their memory.  Later, a 23-meter-high lighthouse was constructed on the islet to prevent future shipwrecks, but it was destroyed by German troops during World War II.  At the far end of the beach, ruins can still be found near a small chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors, which adds to the historical and cultural aspects of the island.

Elafonissi Beach Kissamos has several amenities, including lifeguards, sunbeds, a parasol rental facility, a beach bar, a restaurant, showers, changing rooms, and restrooms.

Elafonissi Beach is a family-friendly beach that offers many fun activities, including swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, diving, sailing, paddleboarding, photography, picnicking, and boating.  If you plan to go into the water, the beach is a safe spot to swim.  The water near the beach is calm and shallow, ideal for canoes, kayaks, and small boats.  If you want to enjoy snorkeling, the shallow waters and clear visibility allow divers and snorkelers to explore a diverse array of fish, corals, and other marine creatures.  It is an ideal spot to go surfing due to the frequent windy Elafonissi Beach weather.  The beach is known for its incredible views that make it a photographer's delight, and there are many points near the beach known for taking the best Elafonissi Beach photos.   Hikers can enjoy the nearby hiking trails, which offer unique insights into the local biodiversity.  Dogs are not allowed on the beach, and the beach is open from sunrise until sunset.

Elafonissi Beach does not offer an access path for people with disabilities.

Getting to Elafonissi Beach is easy - the beach has a large paid parking lot located near Elafonisi, Kissamos Chania 73012, where visitors have to pay five euros to park their vehicles.  After parking at the Elafonissi Beach Parking Lot, visitors have to walk in the northeast for 10 minutes to access the beach.

Elafonissi Beach serves as a nesting site for rare loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta).  Visitors may spot these turtles resting and foraging in their natural habitat, but we recommend watching them from a safe distance.

There are many attractions near Elafonissi Beach.  Topolia Gorge is a 1.5-kilometer-long moderately challenging hiking trail that starts near the Katsomatados village and meanders through steep limestone cliffs, lush vegetation, a small village, secluded caves, and the Topolia River.  It offers a unique insight into the native biodiversity while enjoying Instagram-worthy views.  The White Mountains, or Lefka Ori, are the largest mountain range on the island of Crete, renowned for their stunning peaks, deep gorges, alpine meadows, rocky outcrops, plateaus, caves, canyons, and rich biodiversity.  Visitors can enjoy many fun activities, including hiking, trekking, mountaineering, bird watching, and exploring Cretan villages like Anogeia and Askifou, where they can experience local hospitality, traditional cuisine, and vibrant cultural practices.

Agia Sofia Cave is home to impressive limestone caves known for their dramatic stalactites and stalagmites, formed by erosion over thousands of years. In addition, there is a small, ancient chapel inside the cave dedicated to Saint Sophia, which adds a spiritual and cultural dimension to the visit.  Visitors can enjoy guided tours that provide in-depth knowledge about the cave and surrounding area.  Chrisoskalitissa Monastery - also known as the "Monastery of the Golden Step," is a popular religious site dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary perched on a rocky hill overlooking the Libyan Sea.  It also has a small museum displaying religious artifacts, traditional costumes, and historical items from the region.  If you are looking for another nearby attraction, The Archaeological Museum of Kissamos has a gallery displaying an interesting collection spanning from the prehistoric period through the late Roman era.  The museum is known for its unique collection of Roman mosaics, sculptures from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and a wide variety of pottery, tools, coins, and figurines from the Minoan civilization, offering insights into daily life and religious practices in ancient Crete.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants right on Elafonissi Beach.  Kalomirakis Tavern is positioned on the beach and serves amazing Greek-inspired seafood, pork, meat, and poultry dishes.  Glykeria Restaurant is a beachfront restaurant that serves Cretan dishes.  Choumas offers an indoor-outdoor seating area and serves delicious seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.  Taverna Stomio offers an outdoor seating area and serves amazing traditional Greek dishes, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, seafood, pork, poultry, and meat dishes.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Kandanos Cantina is a small snack bar right on the beach that serves burgers, pastries, pizzas, donuts, and pies.

If you are looking for Elafonissi Beach hotels, there are many great options nearby.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star CHC Galini Palace Hotel is one hour and twelve minutes away by car and offers many amenities, including an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a hot tub, a spa, a bar, and a restaurant.  A more affordable hotel is the beachfront 4-Star Libyan Princess, which offers many amenities, including an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness center, a spa, and a restaurant.  Another moderately priced option is the beachfront 4-Star Molos Bay Hotel, which has many amenities, including an outdoor pool, a kid’s pool, hot tubs, a fitness center, and a restaurant.  A more reasonably priced option is the oceanfront 3-Star Relax Hotel, which offers a few amenities, including an outdoor pool and a courtyard.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, the 3-Star Aris Hotel offers a few amenities, including a snack bar, a library, and a terrace.