On the beach
Right now
Sample dataIllustrative conditions — the live Open-Meteo marine feed wasn't reachable, so these are deterministic placeholder values that will be replaced automatically once the feed is available.
7-day outlook
Sample dataModeled placeholder forecast for demonstration — will be replaced by a live marine-weather feed.
Sea temperature
Next 7 days, °C
Wave height
Next 7 days, metres
View as table
| Day | Sea temp (°C) | Wave height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 | 26.3 | 0.6 |
| Thu 3 | 25.8 | 0.6 |
| Fri 4 | 25.5 | 0.6 |
| Sat 5 | 25.7 | 0.6 |
| Sun 6 | 26.2 | 0.6 |
| Mon 7 | 26.6 | 0.6 |
| Tue 8 | 26.7 | 0.6 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Excellent2015
- 2016: Excellent2016
- 2017: Excellent2017
- 2018: Excellent2018
- 2019: Excellent2019
- 2020: Excellent2020
- 2021: Excellent2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Excellent2024
- 2025: Excellent2025
Excellent in the most recent season, and 11 of 11 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Excellent |
| 2016 | Excellent |
| 2017 | Excellent |
| 2018 | Excellent |
| 2019 | Excellent |
| 2020 | Excellent |
| 2021 | Excellent |
| 2022 | Excellent |
| 2023 | Excellent |
| 2024 | Excellent |
| 2025 | Excellent |
Typical sea temperature by month
Modeled estimatePlausible seasonal climatology derived from latitude, for illustration — not a measured average.
Monthly sea temperature
Typical range across the year, °C
View as table
| Month | Typical sea temp (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 17 |
| Feb | 16 |
| Mar | 17 |
| Apr | 19 |
| May | 22 |
| Jun | 24 |
| Jul | 26 |
| Aug | 27 |
| Sep | 27 |
| Oct | 25 |
| Nov | 22 |
| Dec | 19 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Kouremenos1.8 kmCrete
- Vai - Foinikodasos6.3 kmCrete
- Erimoupoli7.5 kmCrete
- Analoukas8.5 kmCrete
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
- Nearest bus stop is about ~220 m away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest village: Σχίσμα Ελούντας, about ~1.1 km away.
- 13 places to eat within 1 km Closest is Taverna Paradiso, about ~240 m away.
- 6 places to stay mapped nearby Closest is Elounda Sunrise Apartments, about ~190 m away.
- 1 shop nearby, about ~320 m away
What kind of beach is this?
This beach belongs to a small coastal village. It's usually calmer than a resort or town beach, though a popular village spot can still fill up on the best summer days.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
Is the water clean at Chiona?
Thinking of swimming at Chiona? The short answer: its official EU Bathing Water rating for 2025 is Excellent — the highest official classification under the EU bathing-water assessment. That rating is set once a year under the EU Bathing Water Directive, from a full season of testing for intestinal enterococci and E. coli reported to the European Environment Agency the following spring, so the 2025 season's grade appeared in spring 2026 and the 2026 season won't be graded until spring 2027. In addition to that yearly rating, some national authorities — for Croatia, the national environmental authority — publish individual water sample results during the season itself, ahead of the annual report. It's been a consistently reliable spot too — the rating has held at Excellent for 11 straight years. You can park about ~150 m away.
Looking to avoid the busiest weeks? The water is typically warmest around August, with the most reliable swimming window running July–September; outside that stretch you'll find a cooler sea but a quieter beach. That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. On site you'll find Pebble shore, Toilets, and Restaurant. Σχίσμα Ελούντας — the closest town — sits about ~1.1 km from here.
“Excellent” is one point on a four-step scale — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — assigned once per year from that season's water samples, not a live reading. It describes how the site performs on average across the season, not the exact water quality this afternoon; for day-to-day sea conditions, see the “Right now” and 7-day outlook panels above. There are 13 places to eat within a kilometre — Taverna Paradiso is the closest, about ~240 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is the water at Chiona safe right now?
Yes. Its official 2025 EU Bathing Water rating is Excellent, the top classification, and 11 of the 11 classified seasons on record have rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 11 straight years.
Is the sea warm at Chiona today?
That reading, around 26°C, is a placeholder rather than a live measurement, shown only because the marine-weather feed was temporarily unreachable; it updates automatically once the feed returns. That's the reading right off Crete.
What's the best month to visit Chiona for swimming?
The most reliable stretch for warm water runs through July–September, based on the modeled climatology. That applies to the water around Crete.
What's behind the water quality rating shown above?
The annual classification — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — is built from a full season of official testing for intestinal enterococci and E. coli, reported to the European Environment Agency each spring. Some national authorities (Croatia's IZOR among them) also publish individual samples during the season itself; Chiona isn't yet covered by that in-season feed.
How do I get to Chiona without a car?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. There's a bus stop about ~220 m from the beach. The nearest town is Σχίσμα Ελούντας, about ~1.1 km away.