Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
The village has traded on that story ever since, cheerfully and without much pretence, which is part of its charm.
The caves
They sit in the cliff at the end of the beach, in tiers, and you can walk among them as an archaeological site rather than climbing wherever you like. Some are simple chambers; some have cut benches and niches.
Two things worth being clear about: they are ancient tombs, not sixties construction, and access is now controlled and ticketed rather than open. The counterculture era is the reason people know the name, but it is a recent layer on a much older place.
The beach
A curve of sand and shingle, clear water, and the cliff at one end. It is organised in season, with loungers, tavernas along the front and a car park behind, and it is genuinely pleasant to swim at: the bay is sheltered and the water deepens gently.
Sunset here faces the open sea, which is unusual for a south-coast beach and is when the village fills up.
Where it fits in a Crete trip
Matala is in the south, below the Messara plain, roughly an hour and a bit from Heraklion. That puts it in easy reach of Phaistos on the same road, and the pairing is the standard day: the Minoan palace in the morning, the beach and the caves in the afternoon.
Red Beach, over the headland on foot, is the local alternative for people who want a walk and fewer facilities.
Practical notes
- The caves are a site, so expect an entrance and hours rather than open access.
- Shoes for the rock, which is smooth and slippery in places.
- The village is small and full in August; the car park fills by late morning.
- The south coast is warmer later in the year than the north, which makes this a good shoulder-season beach.
Last checked August 2026. Site access, hours and facilities change - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
What are the caves at Matala?
Chambers cut into the soft sandstone cliff at the end of the beach, used as tombs in antiquity, and occupied by travellers in the 1960s, which is what made the village famous.
Can you go inside the Matala caves?
Access is controlled as an archaeological site, with an entrance and set hours, rather than free climbing over the cliff.
Is Matala beach good for swimming?
Yes. It is a sheltered bay of sand and shingle with clear water that deepens gently, and it is organised with loungers and tavernas in season.
How far is Matala from Heraklion?
Roughly an hour and a bit by car, across the island to the south coast below the Messara plain.
What else is near Matala?
The Minoan palace at Phaistos is on the same road and makes the standard pairing, and Red Beach is a walk over the headland from the village.
Next
Read best beaches in Crete, Phaistos, or things to do in Crete.