Elafonisi

This is tucked away in a remote pocket of Crete’s south-western corner, so you could be forgiven for thinking you might have it all to yourself. But the lagoon beach is known to many island regulars, and gets busy on a summer weekend. Its raw beauty is undeniable, with glassy aquamarine waters and swirls of pastel-pink sands kissing the shore – a natural phenomenon caused by thousands of shells washing up over the years and tingeing the white sands. Sunbeds and umbrellas for hire are scattered across the main beach and lagoon; the shallow waters are perfect for families. If you’re in need of a bit more privacy, do as the naturists do and head to the island’s coves and dunes beyond for a more peaceful patch of sand.

Falassarna

The short, winding drive down to Falassarna can be a little uninspiring with sea views blocked by greenhouses plonked across the olive groves. But when you reach this broad sweep of beach, all is vindicated. This is one of the finest beaches in Crete with plenty of room to spread your towel, superbly clear water and see-forever views. A handful of tavernas and villas to rent dot the sloping hill backing the beach. While the waves rolling off the Mediterranean may not be ideal for families, windsurfers are in their element here, and everybody appreciates the famous Falassarna sunsets, when the burning orange slowly melts into that incredible sea.

Preveli

At the meeting point of the Megalopotamos river and the Libyan Sea, Preveli is as pretty as they come. Backed by the craggy cliffs of Kourtaliotiko Gorge and with jungly riverbanks lined with tall, lush palms, it could be mistaken for being the setting for the TV series Lost. There is a catch to all of this, though. Access to the beach requires a knee-pounding climb down a steep path (and a real thigh-burner on the way back up), but waiting at the bottom are bone-white sands and clear waters for snorkelling. Preveli should be visited not only for the beach but also for the nearby Preveli Monastery, a magnificent building set on a hill overlooking the Libyan Sea. Aside from a few snack bars in summer and a taverna near the car park, there’s not much here – its remoteness is one of its charms.

Balos

You may recognise Balos from its appearances in numerous Crete travel brochures, beckoning visitors with the promise of lily-white sands, vivid turquoise waters and a wonderfully wild and remote setting on the Gramvousa Peninsula. It’s a promise the reality lives up to. Backed by scrubby hills, the beach and its lagoon is not easy to reach, but that doesn’t put off the regulars who brave the precarious and rocky dirt-road drive to get here, or the daytrippers who hop aboard a boat for a precious couple of hours. Pack yourself a picnic as there’s nowhere to buy food or drink here.

Kommos

Hugging Messara Bay in southern Crete, Kommos is a beautiful wide arc of sand backed by dunes and ringed by patchy green mountains. A steep, winding road leads down to the swirling Smurf-blue waters, pearl-white sands and views of ancient Minoan settlement ruins (off limits to the public). The wind produces some decent-sized waves here so it’s not suitable for young families, though the nudists at the northern end of the beach don’t seem to mind. At the southern end of the beach there are sunbeds and umbrellas for hire and a couple of tavernas that happen to be the perfect spot for a sunset drink.

Matala

A once laid-back fishing village that was discovered by hippies back in the 1960s, the legendary Matala, not far from Kommos Beach, is no longer a best-kept secret. So it’s best visited slightly out of season. Mythology has it that this was the spot where Zeus swam ashore under the guise of a bull with the kidnapped Europa on his back. The gently rippling waters of the Messara Bay are flanked by honeycomb-like sandstone cliffs and mysterious caves. Explore this incredible landscape before grabbing a meal at one of the restaurants overlooking the water.

Vaï

In the Lasithi province, Crete’s easternmost region, lies a little slice of the Caribbean. The calm, shimmering water of the beach at Vaï is backed by a large grove of swaying Cretan date palm trees. The small beach can get busy, but to escape the worst of the crowds, take the 30-minute stroll along the trail that heads to the ancient Minoan site of Itanos, where you’ll find a trio of small, secluded bay beaches.

 Seitan Limania

In a hidden corner on the north-eastern side of Crete’s Akrotiri Peninsula, just a short drive from Hania, this secret cove is well worth the hair-raisingly steep and winding downhill drive to get here. It’s tiny, there is nothing else there, and your nerves might be shot after those tight hairpin turns – but there’s a reason why locals make the trip out here: one look at that narrow strip of eye-popping, near-fluorescent-blue water wedged between rising cliffs makes this a beach you won’t forget in a hurry. You can simply take in the views from the top of the hill or scramble down the rocky path to claim your patch of sand and to take a dip.