Matala Harbor
Matala Harbor is the small boat base at Matala, a famous village on the south coast of Crete's Heraklion region, on the Gulf of Messara. Set beneath cliffs pocked with ancient rock-cut caves, its sandy bay is a departure point for boat trips to Red Beach and the secluded coves along this stretch of the Libyan Sea.
The Cave Village on the Libyan Sea
Matala sits at the south-west corner of the Messara plain, where sandstone cliffs drop to a sheltered sandy bay on the Libyan Sea. The cliffs are honeycombed with man-made caves, carved as tombs in Roman times and famously occupied by hippies in the 1960s and 1970s, which made Matala known around the world. Today the small bay and its boats are a base for exploring the beaches and coves nearby.
What You'll Find
Boat Trips to Red Beach
Boats from Matala run to Red Beach (Kokkini Ammos), a striking cove of reddish sand tucked over the headland to the south that is otherwise reached only by a footpath. The short sea trip is the easiest way to visit it.
The Matala Caves
The rows of caves carved into the cliffs above the beach are Matala's signature sight. Once Roman tombs and later a 1960s hippie haven, they overlook the bay and can be explored on foot beside the harbour.
A Sandy Bay and Coves
Matala's own beach is a sheltered stretch of sand in the cove, with clear water for swimming. Small boats reach quieter neighbouring coves along the cliffs of the Messara gulf.
Nearby Destinations
Red Beach
Red Beach, named for its reddish sand, lies just south of Matala over the headland and is a favourite boat-trip and walking destination for its scenery and clear water.
Kommos Beach
The long sandy beach of Kommos, with a Minoan archaeological site behind it, lies a few kilometres north of Matala.
Phaistos
The Minoan palace of Phaistos, one of Crete's most important sites, sits inland on the Messara plain, a short drive from Matala.
Matala Harbor pairs one of Crete's most famous cave-lined bays with easy boat access to Red Beach and the coves of the Messara gulf, on the island's south coast.
Photos
Location
FAQs
Yes. Matala's sheltered sandy bay, cave-lined cliffs, and short boat trips to Red Beach and nearby coves make it one of the most distinctive stops on Crete's south coast.
The Matala caves are rows of chambers carved into the sandstone cliffs above the beach, used as tombs in Roman times and famously home to a hippie community in the 1960s and 1970s.
Matala is on the south coast of the Heraklion region in Crete, on the Gulf of Messara, about 70 kilometres south-west of Heraklion and a short drive from Phaistos.
Yes. Boats from Matala run to Red Beach (Kokkini Ammos), a cove of reddish sand over the headland to the south that is otherwise reached only on foot — the short sea trip is the easiest way to visit.
Matala is a famous village on Crete's south coast, best known for the sandstone caves in its cliffs — Roman tombs later occupied by 1960s hippies — and its sandy bay on the Libyan Sea.
