Frangokastello Beach Tours

With its long sandy beaches and shallow waters, Frangokastello beach is among the island’s most popular, and the sleepy seaside resort has retained its tranquil, laid-back vibe despite the influx of tourists. Frangokastello has everything you would expect from a Crete beach resort—swaths of white sand surrounded by towering dunes, rocky coves ideal for snorkeling and fishing, and crashing waves that offer ample opportunities for water sports. 

The star attraction of Frangokastello though, is its eponymous fortress, a striking Venetian castle that dates back to 1371 and looks out over the beach from its cliff-top perch. Visitors can walk up to the castle from the beach and explore the ruins, but be warned – legend has it that the castle is haunted by the ghosts of independence fighter Hadzi Michali Daliani and his soldiers, who were killed in the castle in 1828.