Best Beaches Near Elounda You Can Reach by Rental Car Beach Comparison at a Glance Elounda Town Beach (Schisma) — The Easy Start Hiona Beach — The Blue Flag Neighbour Kolokytha Beach — The Hidden Gem Worth the Dirt Road Getting There The Safer Alternatives On the Beach Plaka Beach — Spinalonga Views and Seaside Tavernas The Coastal Road Coves Vathi and the Peninsula's Secret Coves Voulisma (Golden Beach) — The Day Trip That Justifies a Rental Car The Parking Problem Practical Tips for Beach Days with a Rental Car Parking Sea Urchins and Jellyfish Water Sports What to Pack { return ( Best Beaches Near Elounda You Can Reach by Rental Car Driving directions, parking tips, and honest reviews for every beach within 30 minutes of Elounda By the Car Rental Elounda team · Published 2026-04-09 Beach Comparison at a Glance Family Rating Elounda Town (Schisma) 0 km Free, limited Yes (Blue Flag) Hiona / Poros 800 m Free nearby Yes (Blue Flag) Very good 3-4 km Free, ~25 cars 5 km (8 min) Free, ample 2 km None (hike/boat) 22 km (25 min) Yes (Blue Flag) 23 km (27 min) Elounda Town Beach (Schisma) — The Easy Start The main town beach is where most visitors have their first swim. It's a wide stretch of golden sand with calm, lagoon-like water — perfect for toddlers who can paddle far out without the water passing their waists. The municipality maintains it well: two sunbeds and a parasol cost €10 per day , and there are showers, a playground, a beach volleyball court, and water sports equipment for hire. Free parking sits at the entrance, roughly 100 metres from the sand. Spaces are limited and fill by late morning in July and August, so arrive early or walk from your accommodation. As of 2026, all parking in Elounda remains free — unlike nearby Agios Nikolaos, which has paid blue-line zones. Don't miss the Sunken City of Olous. Walk 1.4 km southeast along the coast, past the Venetian salt pans and stone windmills, toward the canal bridge. The ancient city — once home to 30,000 people — sank after an earthquake around 780 AD. Its ruins lie in just 50 to 80 cm of water : wall foundations, ancient road outlines, and scattered pottery. The best entry point is near the Kanali restaurant and the small Ascension Church. Bring water shoes — sea urchins cling to the rocks here. For a guided experience, Blue Dolphin Diving Centre runs 2.5-hour snorkel tours (around $64, maximum 8 people per group) that begin with a historical briefing before taking you into the water. Morning is best, before the Meltemi wind stirs up sediment. If you're planning your drive from Heraklion Airport to Elounda , allow time to explore this area on your first afternoon. Hiona Beach — The Blue Flag Neighbour Just 800 metres east of Schisma, Hiona (also called Poros) is a sandy, Blue Flag beach that's less crowded than the main town beach. It's walkable in 10 minutes or a 2-minute drive. The water is calm and shallow, making it a strong option for families. Sunbeds and umbrellas are available; natural shade is limited, so rent a parasol. Hiona is ideal for a half-day visit when you want organised facilities without the town-beach crowds. Combine it with a morning exploring the things to do in Elounda before heading to the sand after lunch. Kolokytha Beach — The Hidden Gem Worth the Dirt Road This is the beach you'll see on postcards of eastern Crete: a secluded sandy cove enclosed by limestone cliffs, with turquoise water so clear you can count pebbles on the seabed from five metres away. Getting There From Elounda, cross the canal bridge near the old windmills. The paved road ends almost immediately, giving way to a 2.8 km unpaved track that winds across the Spinalonga Peninsula. The road is rough — deep ruts, loose stones, no guardrails on cliff sections. A standard hatchback can make it if you drive slowly, but a crossover or SUV is far more comfortable. Critical warning: virtually every Cretan rental company excludes unpaved roads from insurance coverage. Eurocreta charges a €300 penalty plus full liability; RoadCrete states that driving on unpaved roads voids all insurance, including Full Damage Waiver. Check your contract before you decide. The Safer Alternatives Walk from the canal bridge — it takes about 30 minutes and the scenery is spectacular. Or take a boat from Elounda port, which drops you directly on the sand. On the Beach Park at the free, informal lot near the Church of Agios Loukas (roughly 20-30 spaces, fills by late morning in peak season).