Matala Beach Festival 2025: A Rock Show In Greece

June 17, 2025

June is ongoing, and the hot summer is heating the body. Want to relax from the hot summer and want some chill vibes. The upcoming Matala Beach Festival in Greece is the perfect hot summer escape for all UK travelers. This festival is a hub of music, water activities, fun, dance, and enjoyment. Missing this summer festival is not a good idea. 

If water and music excite you, add this festival to the top of your travel list. Apply for an Online Greece Visa from the UK and start your Matala Journey. If you want to know more about the festival, its origin, ticket prices, location, rules, and whether it is worth visiting or not? This festival guide has all the answers to your questions. 

Know Everything About The Matala Beach Festival In Greece!

As Matala Beach Festival is a music festival held in the water or sand world, it is a unique festival in Greece. When and where does it start? What activities does it offer? Below are the answers. 

Festival Dates: 4th – 6th July. 2025

Location: Matala Beach, Crete, Greece

Music Genres: Rock, reggae, folk, pop, electronic

Q. When did the Matala Beach Festival start? 

Matala Beach Festival was first started in June 2011 when the Festos Municipality launched a book named “Myth of Matala”. This book has photos of the hippie cave residents of 60s and 70s. At that time total of 35,000 people attended the music party. 

After this party, in the next year total of 58,000 people attended the Matala Beach Festival, with the name of hippie reunion. Over time, this festival has grown into a huge music event. 

Q. Why does Greece celebrate this festival? 

There was no traditional reason behind celebrating the Matala Beach Festival. Matala Beach Festival began as a modern tribute to the free-spirited, artistic legacy of Matala. It was once home to international hippies like Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. It’s a celebration of music, peace, and cultural fusion, and now it is one of Greece’s most unique cultural events. 

Q. What makes Matala Festival so special? 

The Matala Beach Festival isn’t just a music event – it’s a throwback to a freer time. This festival is a place where history, art, sea, and spirit come together. The best experience a traveler can get here is dancing barefoot in the sand under a glowing sunset, when the famous street musicians play nearby. This festival’s vibes are rooted in the city’s ancient times. With all these things, the Matala Beach Festival is free to attend.  

Fun Fact: A famous singer Joni Mitchell’s song ‘Carey’ was inspired by her time, when he was living in the caves in Matala in 1970.

The Three-Day Activities Of The Festival: 

  1. The Music Stages at the Matala Beach Festival

Here are three stages named as Sunset Stage, the Cave Stage, and the Square Stage. All of them offer a great taste of music. 

  1. Matala Beach Festival Street Painting 

On the final day of the festival, all the rising or popular street painters do painting on the streets of the village. On this day 

  1. Matala Busking Project 

In this Matala Beach Festival project, the independent street artists perform throughout the village and show their talent. 

  1. Workshops & Activities at Festival: 

The activities, like Yoga, Zumba, and other games for children at the Matala Beach, are the main activities here. 

Read More: Why Travel insurance for Switzerland Tourist visa matters!!

Where to stay during the Matala Beach Festival? Camp! Hotel! Hostel! 

Matala Beach Festiva

As Matala Beach Festival is on a camping site, it’s better to book a campsite and enjoy the festival. Rather than booking other options. 

  • Matala Camping: If you are an adventurous soul and want to recreate the era of the 60s and 70s, then camping at Matala beach is the perfect accommodation option for you.  

Costs: €10–€15

Amenities: General Services 

Benefits: Pet-friendly

  • Hostel: If you can’t get a camping site at  Matala Beach , then hostels are also the best option for you. 

Cost: €60–€70

Amenities: Free Wifi, free parking, outdoor bar, bar, garden, terrace, shared kitchen 

Benefits: Solo travelers and groups

  • Hotels: If you prefer more luxury, then you can book hotels from these to enhance your Festival experience. 
  1. Hotel Sofia 

           Cost: €56

           Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, Private Balcony, terrace, courtyard

  1. Matala Bay Hotel

           Cost: €90–€120

           Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, restaurants, poolside snack bar, soundproof rooms 

  1. Fragiskos Hotel 

           Cost: €80–€100

           Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, restaurant, bar, outdoor pool 

  1. Hotel Eva Marina 

           Cost: €55–€70

           Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, private bathroom, balcony

Now you can choose from these options and enjoy the Matala Beach Festival. 

What is the best way to reach the Matala Beach Festival from UK?

So, how to reach the Matala Beach Festival location? Or what is the best option to reach the Beach?

Below is a table from which you can compare the time and fare and choose the best according to you.

Transport Type Taken Time Approx Fare Benefits 
Flight 4 Hours       €60 – €200Comfort 
Bus 2.5 – 3 Hours €8 – €10Budget-Friendly 
Car 1 – 1.5 Hours €30 – €60 Freedom 

By comparison, taking a bus from London, UK to Heraklion Matala is the best transport, according to time & budget, to reach the Matala Beach Festival venue. 

****After knowing everything, if you are planning to attend the festival, then don’t forget that, as a UK resident, you should have a Greece visa. And getting an appointment on time, especially during peak summer travel, can be a real challenge. So, here is the solution: start your visa application today with GREECE-VISA to get an express and efficient Greece Visa Appointment Manchester. And get ready for an unforgettable summer at the Matala Beach Festival 2025!****

What are the other attractions to explore iatala during the Festival?

Matala Beach Festiva

As the Matala Beach Festival is a three-day festival and starts after sunset, you have the whole day to explore Matala. Here are some activities you can do in these 3-days while attending the festival. 

  • Explore the Matala Caves: The main attraction in Matala is the caves( home of Hippies in the 60’s & 70’s). With the waves and the Matala Beach Festival, you can admire the Libyan Sea here.  

Travel Tip: Do an early morning visit to avoid the crowd and get the best view. 

  • Red Beach: Explore a unique, radish sandy beach with clean water and a friendly vibe. 
  • Food Tour: With the Matala Beach Festival, this city is famous for its seafood and tavernas, too. In a food tour in the city, you can try the famous dishes like: 
  1. Moussaka 
  2. Fresh Grilled Fish 
  3. Famous house wine 
  4. Dakos 

Travel Tip: For the best beach experience, have dinner at Taverna Scala after sunset. 

  • The Phaistos Palace: The second largest visited Minoan place in Matala, with a 20-minute drive from the city. Here you will get a chance to see the Phaistos Disc( Minoan Bronze Age Disc). With it, you can see the amazing views of the Messara Plain with fewer crowds.
  • Explore the Art Market: If you are a shopaholic, then you will like to shop in the Hippie shops and markets in Matala. Here you will get handmade jewelry, crafts, tie-dye clothes, and live painters. If you want to bring the best gifts or souvenirs for your family or loved ones, then this place is perfect. 

How can you get the best experience at Matala Festival?

If you are going to attend the Matala Beach Festival for the first time, or it’s your first visit to this too. Then you should follow some rules or be aware of things to enjoy the festival to its fullest.

  • Packing Items: Pack sunscreen, sunglasses, reusable water bottles, universal charger, swimsuit, light, comfortable clothes, comfortable shoes, and slippers.
  • Money: Carry some cash with you because during the Festival season, ATMs run out of money.  
  • Tipping Culture: Malatis appreciate it if you tip in the local restaurants. 
  • Navigation: Download an offline map with the online Google map in the situation of low signal or signal loss while on the way of Beach Festival.
  • Rent a Car: If you are renting a car, then you should have an international driver’s license. 
  • Respect the Environment: Keep the beach clean and follow all the rules of the Matala Beach Festival, especially related to loud music noise and waste disposal. 

Final Thought

So, in the final thought, Matala is the place where you will get the best summer holiday break. With the Matala Beach Festival, the extra activities of the city will make your journey more interesting. If you are curious and want to know more about the history of hippies, it is the best place to get the answers to your questions and calm your curiosity. 

So, dear UK travelers, pack your bags and get ready to dance under the stars to the live music. Before all, get your Greece Schengen Visa from London to fulfill all the requirements of getting Greece.