Karteros Beach

Karteros Beach is an organised sandy beach about 7 km east of central Heraklion, in the Nea Alikarnassos area on Crete's north coast, Greece. Its position near Heraklion airport (HER) means aircraft pass low overhead on approach, a defining feature of the beach that visitors should expect. The sand is fine and the sea is generally clear and blue in summer, with water that is relatively shallow close to shore. The beach is long and open rather than a cove, so it catches the northerly meltemi in July and August, and surf is modest but occasionally choppy. The character is lively and practical: it serves the Heraklion hotel strip and local residents with beach bars, tavernas and organised sections offering paid sunbeds and umbrellas, showers, beach volleyball and water sports. It is a social beach rather than a secluded one, with music from beach bars during the day on busier sections. Families, groups of friends and sports-minded visitors are the main users. Restrooms and showers are available at the organised sections and tavernas. Access is easy: an urban bus runs from Heraklion toward Nea Alikarnassos and Karteros in about 25 minutes (timetables at ktelherlas.gr), and a taxi costs roughly EUR 12-15 (USD 14-17). Because of the proximity to the airport, the beach is convenient for a swim on an arrival or departure day, and many visitors combine it with a visit to the nearby Minoan site of Amnisos, a short distance along the coast. Parking is available along the coastal road, but spaces on summer weekends are limited, so arriving in the morning is advisable. The area has plenty of eating options within walking distance of the sand.