2 Best Sights in Matala, Crete

Fabulous, pine- and palm-fringed Kommos lies below the site of a Minoan harbor, once the port of Phaistos. At its far northern end lies the small resort of Kalamaki, where a few modest hotels and tavernas back the sand, but for the most part the beach is an unspoiled 2-km (1½-mile) stretch of white sand washed by clear waters and backed by hills shaded with tamarisk trees. Kommos is especially popular with nudists, and it's also a nesting ground for the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), so avoid taped-off areas where the females have laid their eggs. Lifeguards watch over the southern end of the beach. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers, toilets. Best for: nudists; solitude; sunset; swimming; walking.

This beautiful crescent of sand, Kokkini Ammos in Greek, is accessible by a 30-minute walk across a rocky promontory on a path from town. The trek includes a scramble up and over a headland and some steep climbs and descents, though it is manageable with moderate exertion. Your reward is a lovely, unspoiled crescent of golden sand washed by clear waters that is especially popular with nudists. Surf in the small bay can be rough, with riptides. Shade is scarce, though a small bar called Mojito rents umbrellas and offers simple snacks. At the northern edge of the beach are many carved rocks with Minoan and Egyptian figures; they are not ancient but the creation of a modern Belgian sculptor. Amenities: food and drink (sometimes); parking (no fee). Best for: nudists; solitude; swimming; walking.