Matala, Beach destination in southern Crete, Greece

Matala is a sandy-pebble beach in a bay on Crete's southern coast, with low limestone cliffs at both ends. The beach runs roughly 300 metres along the shore, and the cliff faces hold the carved caves of Matala. The sand is coarse, mixed with pebbles, and the water deepens quickly near the rocks.

The caves at Matala were cut into the soft limestone in Roman times, when the site served as the port of Gortyn, capital of the Roman province of Crete. Most of the chambers were carved as tombs, some with steps, windows and several rooms; early Christians also used the necropolis, and later inhabitants reused the caves as dwellings and stables.

From the mid-1960s, Matala's caves housed a community of foreign and Greek hippies; Joni Mitchell stayed there in 1968 and later wrote the song "Carey" about the village. The Greek Orthodox Church and local authorities opposed the settlement, and the junta evicted the cave dwellers in 1971. A small museum in the village displays photographs and objects from that period.

The beach has lifeguards on duty, showers, and rental umbrellas along with restaurants near the shore. If you want to swim or try water sports, you will find equipment available and open space for activities.

The caves are cut into the soft limestone of the south cliff face, and some openings sit close to the waterline, so swimmers can look into them from the sea. The name Matala is linked in Greek myth to Zeus bringing Europa ashore here.