If you are a naturist, Crete is the perfect place to come! Note that officially naturism is not allowed, however it actually is!
It is a common secret here that naturists occupy the most beautiful beaches on the island! Most south beaches of the south coast can be visited by naturists, especially if they are secluded (except those near monasteries). However, the most popular are listed below:
The east part of Paleochora (Pahia Ammos beach), the east part of Sougia beach, the east and west ends of Agia Roumeli, Glyka Nera, the east part of Orthi Ammos, Kedrodasos, the east part of Plakias bay, Ammoudaki cove, Ligres, Akoumiani Gialia, east end of Agia Galini, Kommos, Red beach, Dyskos, the naturists' beach at Hersonissos, Chrissi island and most Gavdos beaches. Lastly, we could not forget the two coves, next to the unique all-naturists hotel in Crete, Agios Charalambos and Filaki.
The Decalogue of nudists
- Nude bathing is not associated with any type of sexual seeking.
- It is not a right of a particular sexual orientation group, but its everyone’s right.
- The nudity should not be associated with exhibitionism and voyeurism.
- The nude does entail eroticism, but it is not a sexual expression.
- The nude friends enjoy and share the experience of nudism as an expression of genuine physical and mental/emotional contact, and not as a sexual desire.
- Naturalism is an ideology in the sense that is determined by a system of concepts such as self esteem, naturalism, freedom of expression, exoneration, true contact, naturality.
- Nudism for many people is not limited to nature or water but can be a habit of daily life in their private place. The feeling of nude company in a house should neither be considered suspicious or incriminating situation, nor be accompanied by hints of sexuality.
- The nude friends can coexist regardless of sexual orientation, assumed that they are conscious naturalists.
- The nudity does not cancel our sex drives and does not prohibit expressing them. It can entail the erotic expression, but it must never be determined by this.
- Nudism is a beautiful way (certainly not the only one) to know and love ourselves, and to know and love and the other without masking, retouching and hypocritical features.
Kedrodasos (i.e. cedar forest) is an amazing beach, located 76km southwest of Chania and 1km east of the famous Elafonissi lagoon. The beach is filled with juniper trees (mistakenly confused with cedars) and sand dunes, reminding of Lebanese beaches.
Glyka Nera (meaning "sweet water") is one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete, with deep blue water color and nice pebbles. In 2003, the beach was ranked among the best 20 in Europe by London Times. This is located 4 km west of Chora Sfakion and 75km south of Chania. This is called like this because of the fresh water that gushes from the pebbles!
The Red Beach is located at location Moudia, 68km southwest of Heraklion and just 800m south of Matala famous resort. To get here you have to walk a trail that begins north of the settlement of Matala and crosses the hill north of Matala. There used to be some signs showing the way.
Ammoudi is a beach complex located 32km south of Rethymno and 4km east of Plakias. To get here, you have to drive by paved road from the village of Lefkogia.
The Coves of Hersonissos are located 27km east of Heraklion, starting from Cape Sarandaris and continuing to the east till the harbour of Hersonissos. They are really beautiful beaches with calm waters, since Cape Sarandaris protects them from the northwest winds.
Skinaria Beach (or Shinaria) is located 33km south of Rethymno, 3km south of the village Lefkogia, in the east part of the wider Plakias area. The beach is relatively unknown to most locals, but for its few visitors it remains a heaven and some of them regard it as one of the best beaches of Crete.
It is actually the last beach of the vast beachfront of Plakias, called Yialia, which starts at Shinaria, several kilometers away. Unlike the true meaning of the name (the Latin word suda means narrow passage), the bay of Souda is quite large.
Kommos (or Komos) is located 66km southwest of Heraklion, just 2km north of Matala and close the seaside settlement of Kalamaki. It is actually the southernmost and the most isolated part of the huge beachfront of Mesara Bay. Kommos was once the port of Phaestus, so you can still see the ruins of the town, near the beach. You can access Kommos by driving in the road heading to Matala, till you see a sign to Kommos.