Maherida Beach

Attraction in Chania, Crete
  • Secluded
  • Nudist
  • Rugged

A secluded, unorganised cove on the Akrotiri peninsula — white sand, remarkably clear water, and a long-standing reputation as the best gay beach near Chania.

  • Secluded
  • Nudist
  • Rugged

Tucked into a southwest-facing bay on the Akrotiri peninsula, about 14km northeast of Chania, Maherida (also spelled Macherida) is the kind of beach that rewards the effort of finding it. There are no sunbeds, no canteen, no facilities to speak of — just white sand ringed by sharp rocks, water that stays exceptionally clear thanks to currents that shift direction several times a day, and a quiet that's hard to come by this close to a major city. The beach has long been a naturist spot, and over time has developed a well-earned reputation as the most popular gay beach in the Chania region. The name, for what it's worth, likely comes from the Greek word machairi — knife — a nod to the blade-like rocky cape at the northern end of the bay.

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