A BEACH in Europe has been called the "Maldives of Europe" - with amazing sandy beaches and sea turtles
Elafonisi Beach is a peninsula in Greece on the island of Crete, and home to a protected stretch of sand.
In recent years, people travelling in for the day have taken to TripAdvisor to rave about the pink sand and the crystal clear waters.
One person wrote: “The water is warm and you can wade out a very long ways without waves… We enjoyed spotting the pink flecks of sand, and the water color was gorgeous.”
Another said that while there are many tourists, you can also find your own private patch of land along the coastline.
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They shared: “If bringing your own umbrella then walk right across the beach and follow the path through the dune area to what we think is the nicest part of the beach, the sea over this side is an amazing colour there are little coves tinged with pink.
“If you want peace and quiet, walk a short distance along the beach and you will get your own private patch.”
They added: “The lagoon area is perfect for small children as it is shallow and warm.”
A third posted: “Safe also for small children because there are two sides, a shallow cove and a slightly deeper sea side.”
While a fourth added: "The lagoons were crystal clear, shallow, flat water which warmed up quickly and we’re safe for little ones to splash in".
TikTok user @aura_officiel also posted about it on her social media page, where she told viewers: “No need to travel 15 hours to Maldives. Yalla, come to Elafonisi.”
She added in the caption: “The Maldives of Europe”.
There’s loads of activities to do at the beach, including kite surfing, which costs £60 for an hour session for beginners.
There’s also paragliding for £77 and flyboarding for the same amount.
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If that’s not within your budget though you can go kayaking for just £17 for an hour or rent a kayak out for the entire day for just £51.
While most holidaymakers spend their time spotting sea turtles and soaking up the rays on the pink beach, there are many other attractions in the area.
The Monastery of Panagia Chrisoskalitissa, a nunnery perched on a 35m rock, is an incredible hike up with stunning views.
If hiking is up your street, you could also follow path E4, which is an 18km stretch that takes you from Palaiochora to Elafonisi.
Taking between three to four hours to complete, the trail passes along the coast and isn’t difficult to complete.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Elafonisi is Aspri Limni Beach - a unique place with fine white sand.
Elafonisi Beach, however, is a 75km trip from Chania city and roughly two hours to get to. While the parking is free, there’s also a bus that goes regularly for just £9.
One of the best places to stay in Chania is the Elia Fatma Hanoum Boutique Hotel, which has rooms from £151.
It features pink, purple and green rooms that combine Venetian and Ottoman architecture.
There are also more affordable places in the area, however, including the Contessa Boutique Hotel, which has rooms starting from £90.
And there’s tons of culture to soak up, too, including a visit to the Maritime Museum of Crete and the 16th century Lighthouse of Chania.
Meanwhile, here’s a list of the best beaches in Europe, according to TripAdvisor.
And this is the country with the most award-winning beaches in Europe - and it’s under two hours from the UK.
