Beach clubs in Crete

The beach clubs in Crete don't run off one strip. The island is big, and the scene splits by region. There are twelve worth knowing, from the dressed-up Agia Marina strip west of Chania to the party beaches around Hersonissos.

Locals call these beach bars, not clubs, and the prices are far softer than Mykonos. Many charge only a small minimum spend or about €10 to €15 for a sunbed, with cabanas at the top spots running €100 to €180. Season runs May to October, busiest in July and August.

The trendiest cluster sits on the north coast west of Chania, around Agia Marina and Falasarna. The Heraklion resort strip through Hersonissos, Stalis and Malia is more package-holiday and party-driven. For the rest of the country's coast, see our guide to beach clubs in Greece.

What is the best beach club in Crete?

For a full luxury day, Liokalyvo on Falasarna is the west coast's trendiest, with private cabanas and famous sunsets. Cabana Mare and Red Havana at Agia Marina run the closest thing to a Mykonos-style party, with pools, DJs and VIP cabanas.

For a pool scene, Baja Beach Club at Rethymno has one of the island's largest pools and free entry. If you're on the Heraklion side, King Scorpio is the most polished pick in Hersonissos.

Which part of Crete has the best beach clubs?

The Chania side wins for the stylish, dressed-up scene. Agia Marina holds a tight cluster of four, Red Havana, Cabana Mare, Ammos & Ilios and Almira Beach Bar, and Falasarna has Liokalyvo.

The Heraklion strip through Hersonissos, Stalis and Malia is busier and more party-driven, better if you want beach-to-club nights. Rethymno sits in between, with Baja Beach Club the headline pool venue.

Red Havana

Red Havana is one of the newer luxury beach clubs on the Agia Marina strip west of Chania. The look is palm-fringed and dressed-up, with all-day DJ sets and a party crowd.

It has a heated pool, plush sunbeds, cabanas and the Salty Edge restaurant. This is about the closest Crete gets to a Mykonos beach-club day.

Sunbeds run a €10 minimum spend, cabanas start at €100, and the VIP cabana tops out around €180. Book ahead in July and August. €€€

Cabana Mare

Cabana Mare sits along Agia Marina, looking across to the islets of Agioi Theodoroi. It's one of the liveliest venues on the north coast, with concert nights featuring Greek singers and international DJs.

Ten VIP cabanas come with private Jacuzzis, and there's a pool, a sushi bar and a Cretan-Mediterranean kitchen. The mood is glamorous and high-energy.

Sunbeds are free with a food or drink spend, and cabanas run on a minimum spend. Reserve for cabanas and concert nights. €€€

Ammos & Ilios

Ammos & Ilios is another of the newer bars on Agia Marina's long sandy stretch, and the better-value one. Daily DJ sets keep it stylish without the top-end prices.

There's a Greek-Mediterranean restaurant, a small boutique and a beach-volley area. It's laid-back but still smart.

Sunbeds with an umbrella start around €15 a day. €€

Almira Beach Bar

Almira Beach Bar has run on Agia Marina since 2014, and it pitches simple beachside comfort at a fair price. It's the family-friendly pick on the strip.

Comfortable sunbeds, a Mediterranean kitchen and a playground for kids. Live music plays on Thursdays through summer, and the cocktail list runs past 40 options.

Prices sit at the reasonable end for Agia Marina. €€

Liokalyvo

Liokalyvo is the trendiest venue on Crete's west coast, out on the huge sands of Falasarna. The crowd is boho-glamorous, closer to Mykonos or Tulum than a package resort.

Private cabanas, full beach service and a fusion kitchen, plus summer music rituals with DJs. Falasarna's sunsets are the draw, often called the best on the island.

It's the priciest day on this list, and beach reservations are essential in high summer. €€€

Loutraki

Loutraki is a big beach bar and restaurant on the raised side of a calm cove at Marathi, about 12km east of Chania. The bay is sheltered and good for swimming, with an easy aperitivo mood.

Plenty of sunbeds and parasols, Greek plates, pizza and burgers, and a well-made Aperol Spritz. In-house music keeps it lively without tipping into a party.

Sunbed sets reportedly run around €4 to €10, among the cheapest here. €€

Rethymno, in the centre of the island, is home to Crete's biggest pool-party venue.

Baja Beach Club

Baja Beach Club is Rethymno's headline pool-party venue, a 12,000 square metre organised beach with one of the island's largest pools. Entry is free, and it draws big crowds.

Gazebos, water sports, a kids' area and a swim-up bar sit alongside the main pool. International DJ takeovers and themed events run through summer.

Come for the pool scene rather than a quiet swim. Book a gazebo or daybed ahead for weekends. €€€

East along the coast, the Heraklion resort strip runs through Hersonissos, Stalis and Malia. It's busier, cheaper and more party-focused than the Chania side.

King Scorpio

King Scorpio is the most polished beach club in Hersonissos, spread over an acre across two sandy coves. It runs from sunrise to late night, with an elegant, cosmopolitan feel.

Private gazebos for two come with mattresses, towels and water, and there's a full restaurant, a Nomad lounge and cocktail service. It's a notch above the rest of the strip.

Reservations are recommended, especially for a gazebo in peak season. €€€

Palm Beach Club

Palm Beach Club runs the full arc from morning sunbeds to a 5am club night on the Hersonissos beachfront. Two pools with VIP gazebos by day, and a dancefloor that opens at 23:00.

There's a Mediterranean restaurant and a party crowd that builds as the night goes on. This is the beach-to-club option in Hersonissos.

Entrance is free, and it runs May to October. €€

Beachcomber

Beachcomber is billed as the largest and most upmarket bar on the Stalis strip. Sun loungers by day, then a DJ, cocktails and a wide menu that runs to sushi.

It's the smart end of Stalis, a step up from the casual bars around it. Prices sit above the local average.

Good for an upscale beach lunch or a polished evening. €€€

Dolphin Beach Bar

Dolphin Beach Bar is a family-focused spot on Malia beach, with shallow water and soft sand. The service is personal and the pace is relaxed.

Cocktails, smoothies and a mix of Cretan and international food, plus watersports off the beach. It hosts private events too.

A calm daytime choice on a strip better known for its nightlife. €€

Further east, on the quieter Lasithi side around Agios Nikolaos, the scene turns boho.

Amoodi Beach Bar

Amoodi Beach Bar is tucked into a hidden cove about a kilometre north of Agios Nikolaos. It's the pick of the Lasithi side, boho and laid-back with wide sea views.

Sunbeds are bookable online, the cocktails are creative, and the kitchen does lunchtime snacks. It stays open late into the night for sunset drinks and beyond.

Quieter and more low-key than the Chania and Heraklion strips. €€

Frequently asked questions about Crete beach clubs

How much do beach clubs in Crete cost?

Far less than Mykonos. Most charge only a small minimum spend or about €10 to €15 for a sunbed with an umbrella. Cabanas at the top spots like Red Havana and Liokalyvo run €100 to €180. Party venues such as Baja Beach Club and Palm Beach Club have free entry.

Do you need to book beach clubs in Crete in advance?

For cabanas and front-row beds in July and August, yes. Reserve at the Agia Marina clubs, Liokalyvo on Falasarna and King Scorpio in Hersonissos about a week ahead in high summer. Walk-up sunbeds are usually fine on quieter days and outside peak season, though weekends fill early.

Where are the best beach clubs in Chania?

Agia Marina, just west of Chania town, holds the tightest cluster. Red Havana, Cabana Mare, Ammos & Ilios and Almira Beach Bar sit within a short walk. For the island's trendiest, head to Liokalyvo on Falasarna, about an hour west. Loutraki at Marathi Bay is a calmer, cheaper option.

When are Crete's beach clubs open?

Season runs from May to October, with July and August the busiest and priciest. The Agia Marina and Hersonissos venues keep full hours through high summer, with DJs and late nights. Outside those months, expect reduced service or closures, so check ahead in spring and autumn.

Are Crete beach clubs like the ones in Mykonos?

Only a few. Cabana Mare, Red Havana and Liokalyvo run the dressed-up, cabana-and-DJ version, but prices are far softer and the crowds smaller. Most of Crete's spots are relaxed beach bars, not party machines. For the calmer, food-led Cyclades scene, see our guide to Santorini.

Are there beach clubs near Heraklion and Hersonissos?

Yes, the resort strip east of Heraklion is where the party scene sits. King Scorpio is the most polished in Hersonissos, and Palm Beach Club runs from sunbeds to a 5am club night. Beachcomber at Stalis and Dolphin Beach Bar at Malia round out the strip.