Dining at sunset on the beach beneath the caves - Matala, Iraklio Province, Crete

Red Beach


Matala’s main beach below the caves is a lovely crescent but often gets uncomfortably crammed. To escape the crowds, follow signs to Red Beach, reached in a 30-minute scramble over the rocks. It’s hardly a secret, but it does get fewer people, including a smattering of nudists. Bring water and snacks.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Church of Our Lady

0.41 MILES

Easily overlooked, this pint-sized chapel was carved straight out of a cliff, apparently during Venetian times. It contains some lovely icons and a carved…

2. Matala Caves

0.6 MILES

Matala’s sightseeing credentials are limited to these famous caves where hippies camped out in the 1960s and 1970s (Joni Mitchell immortalised the scene…

3. Kommos Beach

1.76 MILES

Located 2km north of Matala near Pitsidia and reached by a steep and winding road, the sun-kissed sands of Kommos hug Messara Bay in one of the region's…

4. Kommos

1.96 MILES

The Minoan site of Kommos, 3km north of Matala above a fantastic wide and sandy beach, is believed to have been the port of the mighty palace-city…

5. Moni Odigitrias

3 MILES

About 6km south of Sivas, Moni Odigitrias is a historic monastery with a tower from which the monks fought off the Turks, the Germans and the odd pirate…

6. Minoan Tomb

4.59 MILES

Amid fields just outside Kamilari stands a fenced-in, extraordinarily well-preserved circular Minoan tomb with 2m-high stone walls. Side rooms were used…

7. Agia Marina Donkey Sanctuary

4.79 MILES

This place is for animal lovers. The passionate folk at Kiwi-run Agia Marina Donkey Sanctuary feed and care for abandoned donkeys. At research time, 22…

8. Agia Triada

5.59 MILES

In an enchanting spot 3km west of Phaestos, Agia Triada encompasses vestiges of an L-shaped royal villa, a ramp once leading out to sea, and a village…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "greece/crete/matala/attractions/red-beach/a/poi-sig/1458186/359433",
      "position": "superzone"
    }