I read the last review from Pamela I think from Patonga Aust and wondered whether I should go or not. I am so glad I did not let that review put me off. This is a special place. Yes the drive there was at times hair raising but boy when isn’t it in the Greek islands. The place was thronging with people and we ignored the first couple of parking lots and kept driving until we could go no further and there is abuse parking lot there. They charge 5€ for the day, 300 metre walk to the beach. I agree it’s crowded and so my advice would be go very early but despite the crowds we had a great time. The place is picturesque with an amazing back drop. On the way back drop into one of the many small tavernas in the small mountain villages.

It's a long old drive across to Elafonsi from Chania but with some lovely little villages and sights on the way as you make your way through winding narrow roads, sometimes with sheer drops at the side of them. Anyway about the beach. It's one of the nicest beaches we've ever visited, however it's seriously overhyped and looks nothing like the pictures you'll see in tour guide brochures. There are very small traces of pink in the sand where the sea laps the shore but that's about it. We visited in late October on a weekday. It was quite busy but not to the point it was uncomfortable. The water was crystal clear, warm and shallow, making it a safe place for families or those that are not strong swimmers. When you arrive, ignore the people trying to persuade you to park on their premises and keep driving until you can't drive any further. You'll get to some bollards in the road and just before them on the right hand side is the closest car park, with plenty of spaces. It costs 5 Euros to park for the day. The walk down to and back up from the beach is a bit of an arduous one, especially in the boiling sunshine.

The beach is large and ideal for families with young children. Laggon is very shallow water, water is very clear. You can spend 2-8h all day if you like. Just remember to drive down the whole street and do not get fooled from "official parking place guides" - there are 2 or 3 parking lots private but directly before beach is the Mega Parking for beach and costs as well 5€, but you save 1km walking......

Really amazing beaches, all with slightly different characters and all idyllic. We went in October at the end of the season and it was busy, I imagine in peak season it would be too crowded to enjoy fully- October definitely a good time to go. Really stunning place.

Elafonisi is more than just an island; it's a paradise. The beach boasts a remarkable diversity: tranquil coves for those seeking an easy swim, rocky areas perfect for snorkeling (with an impressive array of fish), deeper waters catering to experienced swimmers, a shallow bay ideal for children; there is a place where water sports enthusiasts can rent boats, but we didn't reach it. There are both organized beaches, requiring tourists to pay a fee, and free beaches, especially in the dunes area. Access to Elafonisi is possible both by water and public transport. From the north coast of the island, you can reach it from Chania or, even more conveniently, from Kissamos. However, it's advisable to book your ticket in advance, as the two or three daily runs are insufficient to accommodate the large number of tourists eager to visit the beach.

We loved going to this beach! It was a very cloudy day which made it actually too cold to swim in the late spring time, but we greatly enjoyed the trip nonetheless. We drove about 1.5 hours from Kissamos down a very scenic drive (just don’t do it if it’s going to rain/storm!) through the mountains. There we stops for food along the way, which we used on the way back for a lovely cafe lunch. The beach itself had plenty of parking if you arrive EARLY (8am-9am). Once we left around noon, a flood of people arrived (off of cruise ships docked nearby it seemed), along with a storm. The beach is huge, unique, diverse, and truly beautiful even from the ground view. Bathrooms require payment, be prepped, and they made us pay for seats even though we left soon after arriving due to the rain storm, which wasn’t very fair. But the location itself was wonderful.

Stunning beach with pink sand. Amazing shallow water which links to other parts of the island. Well worth visiting especially if you're staying in Western Crete. There's plenty of space to get away from the crowds which is what I prefer to do. If you want to avoid the crowds then best to go early in the morning before the boats of tourists arrive or and even better option would be to rent one of the nice apartments on top of the hill so that way you can have the place to yourself and take in the incredible sunset.

Stunning Beach. Despite cold water in early May, we loved the beach nonetheless. It’s a gorgeous beach. Anyone who says otherwise isn’t being accurate. I’d read reviews mentioning challenges parking, a long walk to the beach and crowds. In early May, we had no trouble parking our car or finding a private spot further down the beach. The walk from parking isn’t short, but it’s absolutely worth it unless you’re hauling a lot of stuff or not able to walk very well. No beach is fun when overcrowded so I can’t speak as to peak season, but I can confirm that the beach is beautiful and with warm water it must be amazing.

Beautiful beach. Crystal clear water and pinkish tinged sands at the shore. You can walk out a long distance, including to and around the island. Be prepared for a little walk from the parking areas. Bathrooms (1 Euro) and some food is available at the beach. Drive from Chania is pretty, but the small mountain roads can be congested. Great mountain, gorge, and small village views along the way. We took a different route along the coast back to Chania to avoid traffic. It was beautiful but full of harrowing switchbacks, so I suggest sticking with the main roads (Google map directions). A set of lounge chairs and tiki umbrella was 20 Euro, but they fill up fast.

One of the best beaches we have visited. The drive was a little scary some high mountains and no barriers. Scenery is lovely though. Car park €5 for the day which isn’t too bad. Walk down to beach you needed to be careful on the rocks. Toilets were €1 Beach was busy but to be expected. Water was clear and traces off pink sand were visible. Water was lovely and you could go out as far as you wanted. Well worth the drive to see and to spend a good few hours.