Amongst the best options for families with kids. The right part was really shallow and calm. Almost like a pool. Umbrella sets at 7e. There is a taverna coffee shop to get snacks etc.

Great beach to relax and grab a small bite to eat. Me and my boyfriend brought snacks with us and ate right on the beach. There’s also a restaurant on site as well. The water is very shallow here, not the best for snorkeling or swimming but perfect for a midday break and for kids.

Most underrated beach I have been in my 6 day vacation. Good for families (easy access to it, sandy beach, smooth entrance), good for snorkeling (I love snorkeling and I have high standards. I didn’t expect a nice place to snorkel, but around 30 m from the shore in right side of the beach you can find some amazing reefs, and probably to the left at the rocks again you will find nice stuff). Also good for people that just want to chill. The beach is big and there is a lot of space for everyone and the sun beds are not everywhere). Bonus: the view to the sunset is one of the best you can get in this part of the island.

Beautiful beach with big sand stripes, there are sunbeds but they do not cover whole beach luckily. Loved the sunset here.. water is clear but better with shoes.

On the day of our visit (second year in a row) the wind was so strong that it was impossible to enjoy. Although the wind blew from the shore towards the sea (the sea was calm and there were no waves) the wind was unbearable. The water was very cold and the fortress is still under reconstruction. In addition, the set of two sunbeds and umbrella costs 6€ which is OK, but those were umbrellas made of some perforated material which gives zero protection. As for me, never again.

Excellent sandy beach with very clear water. The umbrellas are sufficient and well spaced so that they do not interfere with each other. The price of a set is 6 euros. The sand strip is very wide and beautiful. There is a good cafe-restaurant at the back. There are enough parking spaces around the fort.

Good beach, but not nearly as spectacular as the likes of Glyka Nera, Balos, Elafonissi, Falasarna etc. Frangokastelo beach is a quiet sandy beach with some pebbles, with a car park very close to it. No hiking is required. Umbrella with 2 sunbeds at €6. Relaxed, not crowded, nice for a swim. The water was clean but not very clear (low visibility). From the beach you have a good view of the Frangokastello castle and the mountains on the background. There is a taverna right by the entrance but I didn't try it.

We loved this beach, this was our spot right below the Anthos hotel where we stayed, for which we have only the best words. It was nice in the morning, when just dawn, and there was no one, to swim a few laps. Very refreshing!

The beach is really beautiful The only problem is that all the nudist visitors leave their tents, parasols and chairs over there for weeks Therefore it can be difficult to find a place where to put your towels and umbrellas, in particular where they even complain telling you that this is their place and you are too close!! Unauthorised occupation of public land that is ignored by the local authorities and police. Such a shame!!

Fantastic beach. Super clear water very shallow Sandy beach. Large naturalist part to the left and very well attended with plenty of space. Can have a nice stroll up and down beach. One of the best beaches in crete for a all over tan after trying many. We parked at the top(see pic) and walked down sand dune. There is a used path to follow. If you like swimming you can swim to left and find a quite large deserted beach only reached by water. About 15 mins swim in shallow water.

In my opinion it is the best beach in Crete! Remote, but not difficult to get there. Beautiful cliff wall. Cristal clear water, waves, sand...few people. The perfect combination. Very good taverns close to it.

Lovely quiet beach, nice sandy seabed. No services on the beach itself, but taverna Akti above the beach is a great spot for lunch.

wonderful beach. Not a lot of people (mid/end of june). Perfect to swim and relax.

Snorkel from the rocks in the middle of the beach and follow them underwater... Five stars.

Nice place for rest after trip along the Aradenu George. You can enjoy sun or shadow under trees. Great swimming around the sea caves. And in the evening you can use a boat or walk back to Loutro, but you need good shoes, because of some not very difficult climbing on the way. There is a small white church near the beach, you follow the E4 signs on Agia Roumeli direction.

Attention, many reviews (and photos) here are incorrect and refer to Ammoudi Beach near Plakias (sandy beach). This small beach of the same name near Chora Sfakion is rough, rocky, without infrastructure, n u d i s t and difficult to reach! So it's better not to mix them up!

Nice beach that is good for snorkeling with kids.

The beach is now closed off with a long fence to protect the nature. Going around the cliffs is highly dangerous and forbidden. Wouldn’t recommend even if you’re an experienced hiker. Big stones everywhere (no sand beach) and in the water too, so even if you make it’s dangerous to go swimming here. Definite NO for kids. Also, the reviews which are saying that there is a beach bar here are WRONG. That’s a beach way further east from here. The beach they are talking about is in a village called Amoudi. This beach has no bar, no toilets, nothing. It’s only a beach, that’s it.

Great place. Nice water. As informed by others the best Ammoudi beach is close to Plakias. A food truck serves good food and drinks. Easy access by car.

The road to go to the beach has been closed. As a consequence you cannot either drive or walk to go there. They put an iron net. filaki beach is in very close distance and very easy to access.

The road to go to the beach has been closed. As a consequence you cannot either drive or walk to go there. They put an iron net. R.I.P.

I would give this beach a 5 star rating but when we went we were stung by wasps so beware. The swimming beach is small but perfect for a swim and views of the glorious mountains. Just a short walk from the tavernas. Umbrellas and sunbeds available but honestly go for a swim and continue on about your day is my best advice.

Not a lot of people. Isn't a sand beach though, there are lots of rocks and pebbles which isn't so nice to walk through.

Nice small beach completely invaded by the sunbeds of the restaurant above. The insanity: €15 1st row and €10 2nd. Are we at the theatre? No room left to lay on the sand. Is it legal?

Faboulus little beach. We were there on a Wednesday in June and there were very few other people. It's a beach with rocks, so wearing sandals is handy. Nice location for snorkling too.

Loved this little stone beach tucked away. Beautiful water, nice chairs, surrounded by cliffs.

Vrissi is the main beach of Chora Sfakion and is located at the west end of the town. This is a nice pebbly beach, well organised and close to the amenities of the town. You can reach the beach by walking in the narrow streets of the settlement. There is a smaller, less nice beach, directly next to the small harbor of Sfakia, in front of the tavernas, quite well organised. This is the harbor from where the ferry runs to Agia Roumeli, Loutro, Sougia, Gavdos island or Paleochora.

Very nice and small beach. Not overcrowded. A few euros for chairs and umbrella but worth it. Nice and friendly woman who walks the beach and take payment

Beautiful and calm spot! A small 3 minute walk to get to the beach (on loose stones), but worth it. You can park at the cantina a bit higher-up, and there are beds for rent: 9 euro for 2 beds and parasol. Small beach bar available as well. Would highly recommend

We loved Ilingas beach. The water is crystal clear and excellent for snorkeling. We saw so many beautiful fish under the water. The water is also cold and refreshing, making it excellent for swimmers and for sunbathers who need refreshment. There are many caves and rocks that are good for jumping into the sea. It was such a fun day here! It's an organized beach with a nice cafe providing snacks and drinks. We spent the whole day here before driving into Hora Sfakia for dinner in the evening. Definitely recommend spending the day here!

A very unique beach in the area of Sfakia, offering all the usual amenities such as coffee, snacks, umbrellas and sunbeds at very affordable prices, as well as a huge natural cave that one can enjoy the shade and cool atmosphere during the day. There is also a quite large parking area near the beach, making food a very easy access.

Difficult to get to and there is very little parking. So it's best to het there earlier in the day. The beach and views, however, are stunning. The beds were around 7 to 12 euroes and there is a bar on the beach, there is also a restaurant slightly up to cater to those who get hungry. Enjoyed our time here and swimming out to the caves

Reasonably priced sun lounger and parasol €9, food and drink available from beach bar. Definitely recommend

The beach had amazing snorkeling. The caves around the beach are small but very pretty and easily you can swim to. It comfortable to go by car not so much for walking. The color of the rocks (reddish/orange) were beautiful as well. One of the caves has a funnel and the color was baby blue (this cave is on the right side of the beach).

A pretty good beach which is super easy to access - you literally need to walk a couple of mins from the free parking which is just near the highway. It is certainly not a popular one and there is just one hotel nearby and the rest of the people probably come by car. It’s likely not worth a very long drive but it’s a good beach to visit if you are nearby. It was a bit dirty with seaweed when we visited and I don’t know whether it was a coincidence or more of a usual thing. You can take two sunbeds and an umbrella for under 10 euro or use your towels/umbrella

Great little pebble beach. But the bar needs a wider food choice. You'll need footwear to get to the sea due to the pebbles. And transport as its far from anywhere! But worth a visit.

Not nice at all. Road to challenging to reach and nothing to be found there..smell on goat poo. Cute taverna though..

The place is as remote as it gets. When you see it from the passing boat, it looks amazing. That is how we spot it. Getting there is a 3 hour drive from Heraklion, of which the last 45 minutes are down the MOST difficult road I have ever driven. Extremely steep, while the last mile is dirt road. That is all "fine", until you get there. The lace is TOTALLY destroyed by goats. The first thing you see is a sign saying not to leave your car unprotected because the goats will destroy it!! And it actually happens. The place stinks of goat poop all over. The trees are all dead from the goats. Olive trees thousands of years old are destroyed by goats. It seems that they even eat the soil, leaving behand only rough terrain and stones. The beach is o.k. but here is no shade from the scorching sun. It is not worth the drive there. Avoid, until goats are gone!

Just loved this place, calm and very remote, with only few people. Amazing :)

So peaceful just us at the far end so we could sunbathe nude just a few walkers passing by. Georgos house great for a cold beer 🍻

Sheltered spot when the Sciroco is blowing. The Old Phoenix serves good local dishes

Calm beach, good for snorkeling - first time saw there wild octopus. A bit hard to access :)

Smile, you’re getting a good deal to visit some beautiful places on earth! No special treatment here, but are fair and the people are honest.

The room smelled of cigarettes and the bathroom smelled awful ventilation. Things were not better on the balcony, it smelled of urine. Both days we stayed at 7 o'clock the electricity was cut off and the outside door was locked without having a key. Finally the owner and the staff were completely indifferent to rude.

Worst staff I've ever seen in a hotel. Feels like they have to be putting up with paying customers presence. The welcome when I walked into the reception was "What do you want?". The reply I got when I insisted on paying by card instead of cash was "Brutish British" (I'm not even British). Had booked a sea view room and could only get a sea view over the roofs of other hotels by standing on a rickety wooden balcony. During the whole stay couldn't use wi-fi though it is advertised as working. There is no sound insulation at all and in order to close the room doors you really have to bang them so it was a constant door symphony. Really don't advise this place to anyone trying to enjoy a relaxed holiday.

Rooms are more expensive in cash that on booking website, staff was unfriendly (except the cleaning lady) and windows/doors don't even close properly. Much better things can be found for 45€ if you ask me.

Excellent hotel with renovated rooms. Very clean. Friendly and helpful staff. Great outdoor café with shady, huge tree. Beach, shops and restaurants nearby. Good sea view due to elevated location. Very affordable rates.

I don’t know about the hotel, but breakfast cafe is great, prices are low and food is delicious. We had there breakfast everyday. The staff is very friendly.

The owners are real Sfakiot characters - stay there just for their grumpiness. Rooms are ok, not too expensive. Good overall.

Ok local food, nothing special. Good pies. Really affordable prices. New, very clean toilets. No window pane in the toilet so beautiful butterflies are entering. Calm quiet place, good for relaxing after having been to the nice beach nearby. Serviceminded attitude. Polite waiters. And of course; it is just between the beach and the interesting Frangocastello!

This place is amazing. Food is fresh and delicious. The service is great. The scenery is beautiful. 10/10. Come here!

Kind and friendly service, food worst we had on Crete. 10,- EUR for a Pizza Margherita which was convenience-food, a fried piece of cheese which tasted like the oil it went in (old) and fried Zucchini-Croquettes which were slimy. Sorry, but don't ge here if you're searching for good food.

I see that some tourists leave more reserved reviews, but it’s important to understand that local people here are used to living simply, and the food reflects that. Once you appreciate this, you start to see everything here in a much more positive way. The food is tasty, and the location is fantastic. The nearby beach is just amazing! A perfect place to spend a day on the shore of the Libyan Sea, far from the main tourist trails. Highly recommended.

Very poor quality food. Staff were very good, fast and helpful. On a very busy beach at the base of the castle. There are better places to eat by the sea and better less crowded beaches in walking distance.

Great place by the beach for the whole family. Take some coffee and swim, after that try the local cuisine and enjoy the view.

Good service and tasty food. Serving time was 15 min. You can Eat near the sea or inside.

Delicious homemade Greek food, stunning views, and very fair prices. The staff are warm and welcoming, making you feel right at home. A perfect spot for a relaxing meal with authentic flavors and friendly service.

Simply the best tavern in the area! It is located just above the big sand hill in Orthi Ammos beach, Fragokastello, Sfakia, western Crete. Sifis, the owner, is the soul of the tavern. It is working nonstop since 2011. Every day he cooks delicious greek dishes with the best ingredients. He also grills fish and meat. Don’t forget to try the stuffed wine leaves, and if you are not vegetarian, the best lamb made with a traditional cretan recipe. For me the highlight is the sfakiani pie! The essence of sfakia cuisine!!!

Delicious and freshly made food, very nice and polite service. The restaurant is cozy and the sea view breathtaking 💛 worth a visit!

Could easily recommend. You can have dinner watching the vast sky + the sea. Service is efficient and professional. Food is tasty and amazing. Road is deserted. Will be back. A++++

We were there for dinner and ordered fish and two vegetarian options. The owner offered us to see the prepared food in the kitchen and we could also see the fish before it was prepared on the grill. We really enjoyed the friendliness and felt very welcome. The food was above average in that region of the island.

Nice and modern tavern with tasty cretan food. Service smiling and friendly. You can see the dishes prepared in the kitchen. A tavern sheltered from the wind, which often blows in Frangokastello. If you want to eat something extra such as the sea bream they can arrange this for the next day.

The food the culture the service and the view is worth every mile Cretan tradition at it's finest The people here are very friendly and cosy

We had the BEST meal we have had in Greece here. The service was amazing- we took the cook’s advice and the food was incredible. Chicken melted in the mouth, fish was AMAZING and the spicy cheese so delicious. Also peppers with garlic, AMAZING, great bread. Prices so good. AND we sat under charming trees with a view over the sea. AMAZING.

Had the red peppers for an appetizer and they were delicious. The roast chicken was AMAZING. The chef took us back into the kitchen and showed us everything on the stove to pick what we wanted. The kitchen is beautiful, the chef and all the people are lovely! The trees out on the patio are splendid. Favorite place in town by far. :)

Reviewing the restaurant: Authentic, tasty and filling Greek food. Family run tavern, with lovely ambience. The chef will take you right to the kitchen so you can take a sneak peek into every pot and find your favorite dish(es). Highly recommendable.

Me and my boyfriend were walking/driving around sfakia and came across this restaurant. We decided to join for dinner later that day and had a very pleasant experience. The owner and his family are extremely kind and welcoming. We even got to go to the kitchen and see what options they had available (not every option is on the menu). I’m so glad we did and it was an awesome experience. We order quite a lot of food: mixed greens, lamb liver, goat, house red wine, spicy cheese, and local cheese. Everything was good!! Highly recommend this place for lunch or dinner!

Mesohori tavern was the gem of our entire trip in Crete. Our host was amazing, made us feel extremely welcomed there. Everyone that works there goes above and beyond to make your time exceptional. The food is on another level compared to everything we have tried in the village. Everything is fresh, local or home grown. Best home made meals ever - from the Horta, Tirokafteri, Goat and Beef… there wasn’t anything we didn’t liked. Our only regret was that we didn’t find it earlier. Thank you to everyone working there! We had the best time with you!

The rooms are simple, but what is great is the taverna! We were asked to go and have a look at what he had prepared in the kitchen instead of reading a menu. We were presented with an immaculately clean kitchen and an abundance of home cooked dishes in various pots. Giorgos clearly knows how to cook and is a very warm and charming host. one of the best meals I had in Greece, this really is honest cooking.

I had a nice experience at this Greek restaurant ! The food was good, and the service was spot-on—everything deserves a full 5 stars. What really stood out to me was the genuine effort the staff put into making sure every guest feels welcome and satisfied. They’re truly doing their best, and that’s what matters most to me. To anyone thinking about leaving a negative review: if the location or prices aren’t your thing, that’s a personal choice, not a reflection of the restaurant’s quality. No one’s forcing you to come here and choosing the food, so if it’s not for you, just move on kindly. Leaving a bad review over something like that feels unnecessary. Instead, focus on the positivity—good food, great service, and a team that cares. Spreading kindness not only supports the restaurant but also lifts your own mood and mental well-being. Come here with an open mind, and you’ll leave happy like I did!