Kokkinos Pirgos Beach

Kokkinos Pirgos beach is a wild, long and pebbly beach on the south coast, with surf and one of our favourite fish tavernas in Crete.

The town took its name ‘Red Tower’ after a tower that was built here in the middle-ages from red clay. It is no longer here. Today it is still a sleeping fishing village with a Cretan way of life.

To make your way to this beach, drive down the lush Messara valley to Timbaki and be careful to take signs to Kokkinos Pirgos. There is a brand new rock and cement harbour here, I guess the town is not very pretty, but the beach is gorgeous.

As you look out over the Libyan Sea, you can see two islands to the south. These are called Paximadia, which in Greek means ‘bread rolls’ such a characteristic name for these islands.

There is some talk of a big international port development here, which would be a shame, as it is such an atmospheric beach and authentically Cretan area.

The fish taverna is located right on the beach, not on the other side of the road, not next to the beach, right on the beach. Now that is the way to enjoy the Mediterranean! Wonderful food, not the best service, but who cares when the view is this good and you are relaxed anyway!

Nearby is Agia Galini which tends to get very crowded in summer, and is a departure point for ferries to the beautiful southern beaches such as Agios Giorgos, Agiofarango and Preveli.