Nea Chora is a long sandy beach, located just 1, 4 km away from the Villas, west of Chania city center, opposite Lazaretta islet. You can walk to here from Chania old harbor, since it takes around 15 minutes. The main beach of Nea Chora is very well organized, with several amenities nearby and popular to locals for it's fish taverns. It is a nice sandy beach, with rocks in some places. Nea Chora is ideal for those that do not want to leave the city centre. Of course, there are many taverns, restaurants, snack bars and cafes in the area. The "Sardine Festival" is organized every summer at the beach of Nea Chora, with traditional music, dances and free fish for the visitors.
Chrissi Akti (golden beach) is located 3.5km away from the Villas and it actually consists of two sandy beaches separated by some rocks. The west cove is the main Golden Beach and the east one is called Aptera beach. The west bay, which is the most popular, is very well organized with umbrellas, lifeguards, showers, cafes, water sports etc. It has fine golden sand and shallow waters, making it ideal for young children. Moreover, there is a playground for kids nearby.
Other beautiful nearby beaches are Agioi Apostoloi, Plataias and Agia Marina, famous for their beach bars, clear waters and many shops and restaurants.
Further away, on the west part of Chania prefecture a visit to the world famous Elafonisi beach with its pink sand and beautiful landscape is worth considering. Please note that between 11:00-13:00 the beach is really crowded, so you will better enjoy it early in the morning or during the afternoon. You can arrange to arrive at 16:00 or later, as most tourists depart from the beach around 16:00 with buses.
Falasarna (or Phalasarna) beach is one of the most famous beaches in Greece, which has been awarded as the best beach of Crete and voted as one of the 10 best beaches in Europe in the past, with crystal waters and golden sand and also worth visiting.
Finally, it’s highly recommended as well to make a day trip to Balos lagoon and Gramvousa Isle, which are really beautiful and resembling Caribbean beaches and have an exotic vibe! The clear blue waters and sandy beaches are amazing and you will enjoy the sun and sea. These locations are only accessible by boat departing daily from Kissamos town and it’s recommended that you go there on a week day, as weekends can be quite crowded.