Agios Pavlos is a beach on the far south coast of Crete — barely in the Chania region, straddling the border with Rethymno — below a small lighthouse and accessible by a rough mountain road or by boat. The beach has remarkable sand dunes rising directly from the shore, a small chapel of the same name, and the kind of remoteness that makes you feel genuinely far from everything.
Why Visit Agios Pavlos Beach
- ✓The sand dunes immediately behind the beach are among the most dramatic in Crete.
- ✓The lighthouse and chapel give the location a particular atmosphere — both functional and poetic.
- ✓The south coast position means calmer seas than the north coast in summer and a completely different light.
- ✓The approach road through the mountains adds to the sense of remoteness.
Scores
How to Get There
From Spili in the Rethymno region (or from Hora Sfakion), a mountain road leads south to Agios Pavlos — approximately 1.5 hours from Chania. The last section is rough.
Best Time to Visit
May, June, September and October. The south coast is calmer than the north in summer.
The sand dunes are best in the late afternoon light. Walk up the dunes behind the beach for views along the south coast in both directions.
Location
Nearby Places
Photo Gallery
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