Beach
Matala Beach
Heraklion, Crete
About Matala Beach
Matala is a sandy bay on the south coast of the Heraklion regional unit. The cliffs beside the beach contain caves cut into the soft rock, used in antiquity as tombs and later famous as a 1960s and 1970s gathering place.
Matala Beach on the map
Where to eat near Matala Beach
Reserve your table on Woltaro
More to see around Heraklion
AttractionPalace of Knossos
The largest Bronze Age archaeological site in Crete and the ceremonial centre of Minoan civilisation, 5 km south of Heraklion.
VillageArchanes
A wine-producing village south of Heraklion, near the Minoan site of Anemospilia.
AttractionHeraklion Archaeological Museum
One of the most important museums in Greece, holding the main collection of Minoan art and artefacts.
Thing to doVisit Knossos and the Heraklion museum
Pair the Minoan palace with the museum in Heraklion that holds its finds.
Thing to doFollow the Peza wine route
Visit wineries in the Peza and Archanes area south of Heraklion.
AttractionPhaistos
A Minoan palace site on a ridge above the Messara plain in southern Heraklion.
Information source: Region of Crete official tourism portal · last checked 16/09/2026
Good to know
- Is Matala Beach worth visiting?
- Matala Beach is one of the beach highlights we list in Crete. This page covers what to know before you go and which restaurants are nearby.
- Where can I eat near Matala Beach?
- Nearby restaurants are listed on this page. Those already on Woltaro can be booked online; the others are shown for reference with their address and map location.
- When is the best time to visit Matala Beach?
- Shoulder season, late spring and early autumn, is generally quieter and cooler than midsummer, when popular spots in Crete are busiest around midday.
Make it a full day
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