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There's nothing we love more than a little Mediterranean escapade ourselves.

Pistacchio gelato by a colorful harbor, peppered with slender, pastel-colored buildings, fresh fruit from local mercatini, outside lunch with cathedral views, and vespa rides into scarlet sunsets. There's just one complaint:

Is it just us, or do you also find pebblestones and shingles a tad too uncomfortable to step on?

Across large swathes of the Mediterranean, unless you’re wearing beach-appropriate shoes, you’ll be feeling the sharp sting of tiny rocks as you make your way down to the waterfront.

That’s the case in many beach towns along the Amalfi Coast, Dalmatian Coast, and parts of the French Riviera.

That said, they're not the rule.

This Greek Island Is Top-Tier For Beaches In The Mediterranean

Recently, TripAdvisor published a ranking of the Best of the Best Beaches in the world, and one Greek island clinched two of the top 3 spots, beaten to number one only by Isla Pasion in Mexico.

Home to pink-hued lagoons, Caribbean-clear shallows, and thank the Gods, warm, soft sands, Crete is proof the Med can do barefoot bliss just as well as it does dramatic cliff drops.

An increasingly-trendy destination for Americans, who are looking for something a little more authentic than beach parties in Mykonos and photo ops in Santorini, Crete is not somewhere you just ‘pass by' on an island-hopping tour of the Aegean.

It's the largest island in Greece, as well as one of the largest landmasses in the Mediterranean, and it's packed full of ancient monuments, laid-back coastal villages, and hidden coves bathed by crystal-clear seas.

It boasts an impressive 650 miles of coastline, so needless to say, there’s no shortage of beach spots to pick from, whether you’re drawn to lively beach clubs with umbrella-dotted sands or truly wild, effectively deserted stretches of sand.

If we're going by TripAdvisor's latest rankings, two Cretan beaches stand out in particular:

Elafonissi Beach

The Pink Sand

The highest-ranking European beach on TripAdvisor, Elafonissi is Crete's most iconic postcard. Located on the island's unspoiled southwestern coast, a whole 47 miles from Chania, the closest major city, it has that remote, almost island-like vibe.

The most fascinating thing about it? The sands aren’t your typical white or golden, but a soft baby pink. Not full-blown Barbie-core, mind, but still surreal under the right light, especially at sunset, when the whole shoreline blushes under the blood-orange sun.

They're also surrounded by shallow lagoons, filled with the turquoise waters you've ever seen, and whether you're here for some swimming, snorkeling, or simply soaking up the sun, Elafonissi is truly Crete's ultimate showstopper.

At low tide, you can even stroll the full length of the sandbar to a lush islet just off the coast. Think French Polynesian vibes, without hopping halfway across the world or dropping a fortune on luxury palapa stays.

Balos Lagoon

French Polynesia Vibes

Gorgeous as Elafonissi may be, it's also one of the most crowded beaches in Greece, particularly at the weekend, when Chania-based locals and travelers alike flock there.

Out on the northwestern tip of Crete, the TripAdvisor-approved Balos Lagoon offers crystal-clear waters, warm and swimmable from late April through mid October, soft white sands, and a semi-private feel you rarely get on sandy beaches in the Mediterranean.

The closest major city is still Chania (at 34 miles), but oddly enough, it feels comparatively quieter than its pink-hue rival. Similar to Elafonissi, there's a thin sandbar you can cross, leading to a small islet (when the tide is low), and a beach bar serving drinks and light snacks.

That said, it's not a proper dining spot. The closest town with actual cafés and tavernas is Kissamos, a 35 min drive away. If you're stopping there for lunch, on your way to Balos, make sure you pay Stelios and Katina a visit. Family-run, warm service, and classic Greek dishes.

Crete Beyond The Beaches—Top 5 Spots Not To Miss On The Island

Samaria Gorge

Nestled deep in the Cretan hinterlands, up in the White Mountains, Samaria Gorge is a must-see on the island if untouched natural landscapes are your thing.

Roughly 10 miles from start to finish, it is a moderately-challemnging hike through steep cliffs and dense forests. The wooden boardwalk section, hanging from the cliffside, is particularly scenic, and if you're lucky enough, you might even spot the rare kri-kri (Crete's wild goats).

It's best visited from May to October, so to avoid the winter floods, and if you're walking the full extent of the trail, it's best you wear sturdy shoes: the terrain can be rocky and slippery. Prepare for a 6–8 hike.

Chania

The cultural heart of Crete, Chania is an ancient harbor town boasting cozy tavernas, a lively marina, and a diverse architecture.

It has winding Venetian-style streets, ornate Ottoman fountains, and Neoclassical townhouses. The Municipal Market is a buzzing bazaar where you can buy local cheeses, Cretan olive oil and honey, and fresh pastries, and if you're looking for the top sunset spot, that would be the Venetian Lighthouse:

Set along the Old Harbor, this 16th-century gem is Chania's pride and joy. One of the oldest lighthouses still standing in the Mediterranean, it's Venetian at the base, and Egyptian in character at the top—the perfect symbol of the city's multicultural flair.

Heraklion

The capital of Crete, Heraklion is a bustling port mixing Old World charm and busy city life.

The Old Town has narrow, mostly pedestrianized streets, lined with eateries, souvenir shops, and small artisan stores. Perfect for wandering and browsing local craft, but make sure you watch out for scooters and small delivery vehicles sneaking through.

Right on the water, Koules Fortress is perhaps Heraklion's main tourist attraction: a Venetian fortress built in the 1500s, with massive stone walls, ramparts, and bastions facing the water.

The modern part of the city is your usual Southern European chaos, with wider, asphalted streets teeming with cars and buses, chain stores, supermarkets, and commercial hubs. If you've been to places like Marseille or Catania (in Sicily) before, you know the drill.

Knossos Palace

The best-preserved monument of the Ancient Minoan civilization, Knossos Palace, sits some 3 miles south of Heraklion’s city center, and it’s up there with the Parthenon and the Delphi ruins as an iconic archaeological site of Greece.

Built a whopping 3,500 years ago, it still features nearly intact frescoed buildings, multi-story apartments, a throne room with benches along the walls (used for ceremonies), and ancient shrines.

To all our fellow Ancient Greece buffs out there, Knossos is the legendary home of King Minos. As in, the same guy who asked Poseidon for a perfect white bull, risen from the sea, and instead of sacrificing it as demanded by the Sea God, kept it for himself.

In classic vengeful Greek God fashion, Poseidon made Minos’ wife fall in love with the bull, and from the forbidden coupling, the Minotaur was born: half-bull, half-man.

Now, there’s no labyrinth in Knossos proper, but you could argue the archaeological complex’s twisting corridors and string of courtyards do look like a massive Minotaur maze.

Rethymno

A sleepy coastal town halfway between Heraklion and Chania, Rethymno is a hidden treasure boasting cobblestone streets, a coastal fortress commanding breathtaking ocean vistas, and quaint cafés.

In a way, it's like a mini Chania, with its own historic lighthouse and picture-perfect old harbor, yet it draws far fewer tourists. Must-see spots include Fortezza Castle, the aforementioned fortification, built again by the Venetians, and the colonnaded, late-medieval Rimondi Fountain.

If we may add, Rethymno is nothing short of a foodie Mecca.

Harborside tavernas like Zefyros dish out freshly-caught fish, fried calamari, and olive-oil-drenched octopus on the daily, and there's nowhere better to try Crete's signature dessert, the deep-fried, honey-drizzled dough balls loukoumades, than Meli Melo, a bakery right in the heart of town.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.