Naturism in CreteThroughout Greece, naturism is only allowed in a few licensed areas but it is tolerated in a number of places.
Most of these places are quiet, remote beaches or coves. The situation might change suddenly (often when a beach canteen is built a
"No nudism" sign will appear) or seasonally (for example at weekends and in July and August when many Greek families go to the beach) so do use your common sense.
Remember that you are a guest in this country and avoid deliberately shocking your hosts. Crete is still a deeply traditional place and being nude on a beach may embarrass the locals.
Topless sunbathing is fine almost everywhere, unless the beach is situated right in a village.
Most of the beaches where you can bare it all are on the south coast of Crete.
These are, anticlockwise from the South-west of the island:
Paleohora
A part of the long sandy beach is still used by naturists. To the East there is also the beach of Anidri.
Sougia
The eastern end of the beach is a nudist beach.
Agia Roumeli
Away from the main beach, go eastwards and cross the Samaria river.>br>
Agios Pavlos
Situated an hour s walk east of Agia Roumeli. A long and almost deserted beach.Sweet water beach (Glykanera)
A spectacular beach located about halfway between Loutro and Hora Sfakion.
Filaki
Just outside of Hora Sfakion, this is the beach of the naturist Hotel Vritomartis.
Frangokastello
About one kilometre east of the main beach there is a very nice sandy beach where naturism is OK, especially at its eastern end.
Plakias
a long beach which may still have a naturist section.Further to the East there is a very long beach stretching all the way to Agios Pavlos (not the same as the one mentioned above). Plenty of scope for naturism.
Komos beach
To the North of Matala, probably one of the best naturist beaches on Crete. Komos is a nesting site for sea turtles and great care should be taken not to disturb them.
Lentas
Also offers plenty of opportunities for nudism.Further on, East Crete does not seem to offer much for naturists.
The North coast of Crete does not offer many opportunities either, apart from tiny coves here and there.
One exception (but for how long?) is Georgioupolis beach, between Hania and Rethimnon. The sandy beach is 9 km long and in the eastern part it is possible to be nude.
Gramvoussa
or rather Tigani to Balos, at the tip of the Gramvoussa peninsula, used to be lovely for nudism but now that it is possible to drive almost all the way to the beach you have to be a little more discreet, especially at weekends.
Beside the listed beaches there are of course plenty of tiny coves everywhere for you to discover.
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