One of the most well-known beaches on Crete is the beautiful Matala Beach. Not particularly due to its intriguing Minoan and Roman past, nor even due to its beautiful hill of caverns, but rather primarily due to its prominence as a hippie hotspot in the 1960s and 1970s.

The gorgeous Matala Beach in Crete has crystal-clear waters and is surrounded by high cliffs at the opening of a picturesque valley. The lovely Paximadia islands are nearby, and the beach is part of the area’s Natura 2000 protected natural ecosystem.