Things to do in Elafonissi

Elafonissi's pink sand is real but patchy, made of crushed foraminifera shells that show up in streaks rather than the saturated wash you see in retouched photos. The beach sits inside a Natura 2000 protected area, so taking sand or shells home is illegal and fined.

It is about 76 km and two hours of mountain road from Chania, which makes it a full day out rather than a quick stop. The season runs May to October; the meltemi wind that hits the north coast in July and August rarely reaches this south-western tip, so conditions stay calmer here.

Access to the water is free by Greek law, but a sunbed and umbrella at the organised end still costs around €10-20, and in peak summer the shallow lagoon and car park fill early.