Matala is located 65 km southwest of Heraklion and is famous for its clear waters and the golden sand.

It allows to swimmers to swim in the beautiful waters of the Libyan Sea with the company of the towering cliffs which are the trademark of the region.

The sandy beach, with a length of 300 m, forms a semicircle on both sides, where cliffs rise up forming a small enclosed sheltered bay.

Matala became widely known in the 60s for the carelessness and the different lifestyles of those who decided to live in the numerous caves and cavities in rocks formed by the fury of the waves and the saltiness of the sea.

All these it may not have been preserved in our days but it is worth visiting the beach.
There are plenty of accommodations (hotels, rooms, houses, studios, etc.), of different categories and types that will surely satisfy any of your needs.
In a short distance, you will find a great variety of cafes, tavernas and restaurants, where many of these embrace the sea and literally hanging over it, on the left side of the beach.

You will find many shops of folk art and memorabilia shop, and several shops with tasteful goods.
There is also the opportunity of camping.

In Matala is held every year a song festival and in the summer time there is route to Agia Galini by boat.

In Matala there is also a local office of the Organization for the Protection of Marine Turtle.