Welcome to our guide to Gefyri Beach, a wonderful beach and series of coves just north of the popular town of Hersonissos.
Gefyri Beach – along with its neighbour Sarantari Beach – is very different to the jam-packed beaches around Hersonissos town. There are still plenty of people around. But Gefyri Beach is a bit special, with its scenic coves and cliffs and spectacular mountain views.
We were drawn back to Gefyri Beach several times during our week in Hersonissos, and have compiled this guide to help you enjoy it. As well as our description of the beach, we show you how to get there and cover all practicalities including sunbeds, umbrellas and when to visit. We love the place – and hope you enjoy it too.
Why Visit Gefyri Beach
Gefyri Beach is one of the best beaches in the Hersonissos Crete area.
The beaches to the north of Hersonissos Port, including Gefyri and nearby Sarantari Beach, are a better bet than the crowded beaches along Hersonissos seafront.
Gefyri Beach is beautiful, with several small coves just south of the main beach. There are also some picturesque rock formations, including the two white outcrops just south of the beach.
Gefyri Beach is also sheltered from the common blustery north-westerly winds. These sometimes make bathing and swimming on north Crete beaches difficult. The beach faces east, so if there are sizeable waves at nearby Anissaras or Analipsi beaches, conditions at Gefyri will still be calm.
These conditions make Gefyri an ideal beach for families and kids – and Our Little Man adored every moment in the water.
Things To See And Do At Gefyri Beach Hersonissos
Gefyri Beach is an ideal place to take the family for a few hours on the beach.
It’s perfect for a mixture of sunbed time, paddling and swimming.
There is plenty of fine sand at the southern end of the beach, with more coarse, larger rice-like particles of sand as you head further up the beach.
Gefyri Beach, like many in the area, is an ‘organised’ beach, with packages including an umbrella and two sunbeds for €10 for the whole day.
Some sections of the beach are not ‘organised’, so you can rest on parts of the beach, including the coves at the southern end, for free.
There is also a small café and snack bar across the road from the beach. We only bought water and other drinks from there, but prices were considerably less than you would pay for
Gefyri Beach Tips
The sunbed operators tend to leave by the evening, so you can help yourself to free beds after around 7pm at the height of summer. The cliffs at the northern end of the beach – including the mural – also offer natural shade from 5-6pm onwards.
There is a hidden reef of small rocks a few metres offshore towards the northern end of the beach. Faye endured an awkward landing on this, and we also saw some other unsuspecting swimmers ‘beached’ on the same rocks.
Faye – our family fish – also recommends water shoes for the same section of beach. There are several jagged patches of rock around, and she sustained a couple of nasty cuts to her feet without them.
Where Is Gefyri Beach Crete
Gefyri Beach is 1.5 km (just under a mile) north of the north Crete coastal town of Hersonissos.
The coastal part of Hersonissos – known in Greek as Limanaki Hersonisou – is 27 km (17 miles) east of Heraklion, the capital of Crete.
How To Get To Gefyri Beach
Gefyri Beach is a 10-15-minute walk north of Hersonissos town centre.
If you’re staying at the Creta Maris Resort, it’s only a 5-minute walk away, along the narrow coastal road, past a few coves and tavernas.
If you’re not staying at Creta Maris, you need to follow the road around the back of the complex, continue past the coves and tavernas before reaching the southern end of Gefyri Beach.
No buses run along this route, so if you’re not up to the walk in the heat, you’ll either have to drive there or take a taxi. Hersonisos Taxis are expensive – a flat fare of €8 takes you anywhere within the centre, and to the hill villages of Piskopiano and Koutouloufari nearby.
There are a few entrance points to the beach, all at the southern end.
Places to Visit Near Gefyri Beach
Gefyri Beach is a 5-10 minute walk from the superb Sarantari Beach. We also frequented this beach during our stay in Hersonissos. It’s smaller than Gefyri Beach and its greater distance from Hersonissos means that it tends to be a bit quieter. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches in Heraklion region, indeed perhaps one of the best beaches in Crete.
There is another great beach just north of Sarantari Beach, which is sometimes called Sarandaris Cape Beach. The names of the Sarantari beaches can be a little confusing, and this arises from different transliterations from the original Greek. So Sarantari Beach and the nearby headland are variously called Sarantari, Sarantaris, Sarandari, Saradari and Sarandaris. We stick to the most commonly used English version in each case.
Cape Sarandaris Beach is another beauty, differentiated from its neighbour by its white cliffs. It’s also sheltered from winds by the headland, and its clear turquoise waters are incredibly inviting.
There is a small watersports centre below Cape Sarandaris which is very popular with snorkelers. The waters there are crystal-clear, and people also stand-up paddleboard or kayak from there. In the evenings, several sunset cruise boats stop nearby before rounding the headland to watch the sun go down.
If you walk up to the headland, you’ll be rewarded with the sight of the lovely whitewashed Church of St George. It’s in an idyllic spot, with a few trees providing shade, and there are great views back to Gefyri Beach, Hersonissos and the mountains behind.
The Hersonissos town beaches are much busier than around Gefyri and Sarantari. The likes of Star Beach Resort are hugely popular, and have the added attraction of water slides and a go-kart circuit. They also offer bungee jumps from high above a small harbour. Check out our Hersonissos Beaches article for information on all of the beaches in and around the town.
The town’s slightly more sedate charms include some beautifully set restaurants, like Cretan Blue, with tables right above the shoreline. The views along the harbour at sunset are fantastic.
Beyond there, the small but superb Lychnostatis Open Air Museum is one of the best in Crete. My son and I also loved the Aquaworld Aquarium and Reptile Centre in Hersonissos. Our Little Man greatly enjoyed the opportunity to pat turtles and hold a bearded dragon. And we also liked the homely, homespun feel of the place. My son actually prefers it to the much larger (and also recommended) CretAquarium in Gournes, west towards Heraklion.
Take a look at my Things To Do In Hersonissos article for more information and ideas.
Hersonissos Tours And Activities
There are plenty of tours and activities, both in and around Hersonissos and further afield. Here are some of the best of them:
Hersonissos Jet Boat Tour With Snorkelling – adrenaline adventures and a cooling-off swim in the crystal-clear waters of Hersonissos Bay
Hersonissos Luxury Sunset Cruise – with open bar and sushi, enjoying a legendary Cretan summer sunset
Lychnostatis Open Air Museum Entry Ticket – your ticket to one of the outstanding museums in Crete
Water City Water Park With Hotel Pickup – one of the most popular family attractions in Crete
Where To Stay In Hersonissos
***** – Creta Maris Resort – large luxury resort a few minutes’ walk from Gefyri along the coast towards the town
**** – Star Beach Village & Water Park – hugely popular complex just beyond the far side of Hersonissos town centre
**** – View Villas – one of the best places to stay near Gefyri beach, just up the hill with superb coastal views
Gefyri Beach – Final Thoughts
All three of us are big fans of Gefyri Beach. I went there several times, and Faye and Our Little Man also love the place. This and nearby Sarantari Beach are a bit special, and beat the central Hersonissos beaches hands down.
And for something a little different, don’t miss the hillside villages of Old Hersonissos, Piskopiano and Koutouloufari. They’re quite touristed, but much closer to traditional Crete than Hersonissos town is!
For further inspiration, check out more of my articles on Crete here:
Overall Crete Articles
Regions of Crete – what to see where, and how to choose your ideal base for your Crete holiday
Pink Beaches In Crete – the 3 stunning pink sand beaches to visit on Crete
Famous Landmarks In Crete To Visit – from Knossos to its most famous beaches, gorges and more
Castles in Crete – Heraklion, Rethymno, Frangokastello and more
Minoan Sites in Crete – the six World Heritage-listed Minoan palace sites on the island
Heraklion and Central Crete
Things To Do In Heraklion – discover the greatly underrated capital of Crete
Visiting Knossos Palace Crete – the foremost ancient Minoan site in the world
Visiting Heraklion Archaeological Museum – the foremost museum on Minoan history
Things To Do In Malia – away from the foam parties – terrific beaches, lovely Old Town and a Bronze Age World Heritage Site
Things To Do In Hersonissos – Crete’s other main party town
Hersonissos or Malia – which is better for you?
Bali Crete Beaches – guide to all 5 beaches in this beautiful north coast village
Kalypso Beach Crete – a fjord, of all things, in Crete – and one of the best places to swim and snorkel in Greece
Visiting Spinalonga Island Crete – the impregnable Venetian fortress that became home to Greece’s last leper colony
Voulisma Beach – glorious golden sands in eastern Crete
Western Crete
Things To Do In Chania – discover the most beautiful city in Crete, indeed, perhaps, Greece
Balos Beach Crete – one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean
Elafonissi Beach – the most famous pink sand beach in Crete
Falassarna Beach – one of the most beautiful beaches in the world
Kedrodasos Beach– glorious pristine beach and coves in a grove of rare juniper trees
Things To Do In Rethymno – discovering Crete’s enchanting third city
Rethymno Beaches – 20 of the best beaches in Rethymno province in central and western Crete
Panormos Crete – complete guide to this charming fishing village on Crete’s north coast
David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian. He is a European travel expert with over 30 years’ experience exploring Europe. He has a degree in History from Manchester University, and his work is regularly featured in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times. David is fluent in French and Welsh, and can also converse in Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech and Polish.