We went to Crete in 1973 and spent a month there as part of a 3 month honeymoon. One of the many highlights was our visit to this beach (I didn't know it had a name).

It was a great day,everybody was cool, and it was especially funny when a US Marine helicopter flew overhead and the men hung out the open door taking pictures of everyone on the beach. We all stood up and waves. It was a memorable day,part of a wonderful time on beautiful, friendly Crete.

Red Beach is a mere 30 minutes from our summer place in the mountains above the Town of Tymbaki. I left Canada to spend the summers of 2009 and 2010 there. Will be returning of course. It's one of the best beaches I've found for swimming with the water usually calm and extremely warm compared to other areas near by that can become choppy with high waves. Red Beach is more protected from the wind so it's almost always calm for swimming. Of course the nude bathing is the attraction for me. The climb over the mountain from Matala can be a little difficult if you go when the sun is high so make your visit there early in the morning and stay until sunset so it's not so hot. There's a tiny kiosk there for cold drinks, coffee and shade. Make sure you bring an umbrella or lean-to for your own shade. There are umbrellas and lounges that can be rented from the Kiosk for a few euros but almost all completely nude tanning & bathing is a little further down the beach away from the kiosk and lounges. Sunsets are amazing!

I also recommend Kommos Beach for nude bathing. Kommos is on the same road to Matala near the Town of Kamilari just 10 minutes or so before the Town of Matala. You can park your car almost on the beach. There are showers and toilets beside the car parking. You can buy coffee and sweets from the German guy on the beach, everyone does it. Lots of people camp here. Even though it says no camping you will see tents pitched throughout the sand dunes. Everyone is very friendly and you'll meet nice people vacationing from all over Europe. The beach is really long and deep and at the far end there is an area for families who prefer not to go nude. The waves can be high on windy days making swimming difficult. There is a patio style restaurant at this end of the beach for small meals, frappes, beers and other cold drinks and shade. The sunsets are also amazing at Kommos.

From Kommos Beach you can walk 10 to 15 minutes down the shoreline to Kalamaki Beach (non nude bathing) and the Town of Kalamaki for delicious meals at their many boardwalk restaurants. I highly recomend these two locations.

Liz from Canada

Der „Red Beach“ in Matala, auf Kreta, ist ein schöner einsamer Strand, an dem man sich in seinem Urlaub sehr gut erholen kann.
Das Wasser ist flach und so kann man sehr gut schwimmen und sich abkühlen.
Von Matala bis an den Strand, muss man über die Hügel. Der Weg kann bei knallender Sonne anstrengend werden. Man sollte wohl eine halbe Stunde für den Weg einplanen.

Red Beach is located on the south of Matala, over the hill that can be seen in the opposite direction of Roman Cemetery's caves, having the sea as main reference.

The path over the hill to Red Beach begins near Old Church place and is marked with red signs. The walking time from Matala to Red Beach it takes around 25 minutes.
The journey includes a little hiking until reaching the upper part of the hill, but don't think at something very difficult. After a 7-8 minutes of climbing, you reach the top of the hill, where an impressive view of surroundings reveals, especially the beautiful Matala Bay. In some places you can see piles of stones, indicating the path when red signs are not available. Near the end of the short climbing adventure, the path descends and you can see the red sand lying between the rocks and the sea.

The sand of Red Beach is fine and of copper-red color. This combines with the blue color of sea, the black of the stones from the beach and the white of the rocks surrounding the beach, putting together the pieces of great nature masterpiece.
The waves are taller than those at Matala's main beach, but the water is warm and clear.

If you catch the sunset here, you'll be impressed by magnificent view of the Sun going down and hiding under Paximadia island. It's a great spectacle of nature when everything becomes red like blood roses and you feel like being one with the nature.