Archive for 'Beaches in Greece'

Beautiful beaches are in no short supply in Greece but if you have found a vacation rental in Crete and are looking for some particularly scenic and picturesque examples then we have an excellent suggestion of one of her loveliest. Crete's beaches boast those kind of impossibly blue seas, dramatically craggy cliffs, and perfectly scenic settings that make people sigh immediately upon seeing a picture and wish themselves there...well, sigh no longer and get planning a trip to one Crete and one of her most stunning (which is really saying something) beaches; the truly magical Glyka Nera

Located in the Chania region, 43km west of Chora Sfakion and 75km south of the city of Chania, on the far southwest of Crete, Glyka Nera immediately captivates with its striking appearance and sheltered setting that is so far removed from the outside world (you'll need to take a boat or trek to it). Ranked one of the best beaches in Crete, Greece, and Europe, it is named Glyka Nera, or, “sweet water,” for the freshwater springs that gush out of the fine pebbly beach at various intervals.

If you think of a holiday in Crete or Greece, you are likely to picture plenty of time on her incredible beaches, enjoying the stunning deep blue of the sea meeting the pale shores, the pleasant water temperatures, the great weather, and the beautiful surroundings. However, in addition to her beaches, her most obvious and well-known trait, the island is also home to lots of other amazing natural wonders and little surprises to uncover as you explore. One such incredible gem is Lake Kournas.

The only freshwater lake in Crete, this relatively large (at a maximum length of 1.087km and a maximum breadth of 0.88km) and shallow (at 22.5m at its deepest point) but stunning lake is located in a valley among the hills, surrounded by a particularly beautiful landscape, just a few kilometres from the sea. Known as Lake Koressia in antiquity, it is now named for the Arabic word, “kurna,” for, “lake,” (or bath) so calling it Lake Kournas in English is kind of like calling it Lake Lake!

Corfu is one of those perfect and idyllic destinations that people spend their lives dreaming of and adding to bucket lists and is particularly famous and beloved for her lovely beaches, which is why it makes perfect sense that it is home to one of the most unique and charming beaches that we have ever laid eyes on. Porto Timoni is an incredible hidden gem that almost looks too picturesque to be real and is definitely one of our picks of the dreamiest beaches in Greece. If you are spending time in Corfu, it is one of the places that should be immediately pencilled into your itinerary and it is exactly the kind of beach that we are all probably dreaming of right about now...Take a gander at this astounding beauty, picture yourself there, and let's all look forward together to when we can safely travel to the wonderful beaches of Greece once more.

Located near the villages of Agios Georgios Pagi and Afionas on the west coast of Corfu, the beach of Porto Timoni is a unique hidden gem that is framed by lush surroundings. Used as a harbour in antiquity, this amazing peninsula on the coast and natural ring-like phenomenon is actually home to two different beaches that are separated by a small strip of land; Porto Timoni, the bigger beach, and Limni, the smaller beach. The two beaches also form two separate little bays with one looking back at the resort of Agios Georgios and the other out to the island of Mathraki.

Some of you may have seen that story about the elderly couple in Australia who had to cancel their 53rd anniversary getaway cruise amid the current global health crisis but recreated the experience at home. Quite the heart-warming way to get past it and continue to enjoy their time together, right? Well, if you're in a similar boat (or not, as the case may be), and you had to cancel a trip or put it off, you may be in need of some escapism of your own. So, while you're at home dreaming of your next getaway, why not take a look at our round-up of some of the prettiest beaches in Greece that always bring a smile to our faces and cleanse our souls just from a picture while we all look forward to better times ahead?!

Crete is always the destination to choose if you are interested in a seaside location that boasts beaches that seem too beautiful to be real. However, if you have found a vacation rental in Crete and are exploring her incredible beaches, pretty towns, and strikingly beautiful landscape, we might suggest setting aside some time to head to the beaches of Elafonisi, in particular.

Previously a hidden gem that was only popular among locals on Crete, Elafonisi was named one of the world's top 25 beaches on TripAdvisor in 2014 and has been all over Instagram and Pinterest in the years since. As such, it is absolutely crowded during the high season in the summer months (up to 2,500 people visit daily during July and August) but it is still worth visiting as there is a very good reason that it became so famous: it is utterly stunning, with saturated hues that seem photoshopped (and often are but are no less impressive in real life all the same), wildflowers, intriguing rock formations, pink sands, and waters so crystal clear that you can perfectly observe any wildlife that you come into contact with. Plus, if you visit outside of the busiest times of the year for tourists (when it is generally still warm and pleasant) then you will most likely have little to no crowds to contend with at all.