Sarantari Beach - gay-popular beach on Crete
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Sarantari Beach

Tripadvisor (8) 4.3
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86
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GayOut Score
🦉4.3
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Address
Anissaras, Hersonissos, Crete

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2 gay bars, clubs & saunas from our guide

About this place Sarantari Beach

Sarantari (also spelled Sarandari) is a small, rocky beach on the Anissaras stretch near Hersonissos, about 25 km east of Heraklion. Gay travel guides have described it for years as the best-known gay beach on Crete: cretanbeaches.com calls it one of the island's best-known gay-friendly meeting spots, gaytravel4u its busiest gay beach, and Nomadic Boys (October 2025) still lists it. Part of the beach is used by nudists. Nudism is not officially designated on most Greek beaches, so keep it to the established naturist end and cover up elsewhere. It is a summer, daytime place. Y.O.L.O. in Hersonissos, the only dedicated gay bar on Crete, is the obvious stop afterwards.

Features

Mixed LGBTQ+ Day venue Seasonal (summer only) Nudist allowed Very popular / crowded

Insider Tips

Community Reviews

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GayOut Community

T
traderboy1
Nov 2026
★★★★☆

At the base of Sarandaris Cape, there is a stony naturist beach well protected by high cliffs and prying eyes. The sand here alternates with rocks and water. It is a very good choice for swimming and isolation. You go down to the beach of Cape Sarandaris and then walk to the nudists’ beach. This beach is nothing like the secluded naturist beaches on the south coast of Crete. There are a great deal of tourist hotels nearby which inevitably impinge on the clothing-optional nature of this cove

B
Bing The Wolf
Nov 2026
★★☆☆☆

A very small beach with a thin strip of “snippets” where you can lie on or rent a bed. The water in Stalida is clearer and the beaches wider.

C
Cosmin Pop
Nov 2026
★★★★★

Beautiful beach with nice sand and clear watter. We had fun and would surely return. The entrance in the sea is smooth and the watter is beautiful.

M
milenka
Nov 2026
★★★★★

One of the most beautiful beaches in eastern Crete. No need to try hard to get to Balos or Elafonisi, when you can just go to this beautiful beach with crystal clear water. Me and my boyfriend had an amazing time there, we went diving and found some pretty shells.

A
Andrei B
Nov 2026
★★★★★

A beach with both, smooth sand and rocky parts, and clear water. It was perfect for a half day (there is a price like this for sun beds). There weren't that many people but I guess it was just luck

H
Hanne L
Nov 2026
★★★★☆

It is a great municipal beach and might get very crowded (you must arrive early or by the end of the day during the summer). There is infrastructure for a comfortable stay: outdoor toilet, beach bar, shower and sun beds for rent. The sun beds cost 10€ for half a day or 20€ for a full day. The beach is mostly sandy, with some areas having small stones and rocks. Due to the presence of rocks in the sea, it is recommended to wear rock shoes for safety.

C
CATHARINA B
Nov 2026
★★★★★

Simply nature!!!the rocks the sandy blue waters!!! perfectly clear waters you saw your shadow on the bottom of the sea ... looking for hours the blue

J
Jacko
Nov 2026
★★★★☆

Lovely little beach with clean water and shingle with some sand. It gets busy very early and there is limited space for sunbeds so they're often full by 11am. The beach attendant is very helpful and will serve you cold drinks. A large man comes round selling fresh donuts a few times a day, they are delicious. There is a cheap snack bar down the road in front of Sarantaris beach which is very good value. 2 sunbeds and an umbrella are 10 euro per day. Gets busy with locals once they finish work/school about 4pm. A lovely spot if you can get up early.

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Last updated on 15 November 2026

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