Greek Beach Guide & Trip Adviser
Beaches in Greece range from small peble strips to long stretches of white, golden or dark volcanic sand. Since a lot of people spend holidays in Greece to enjoy the sun and sea Greek beaches are main tourist attractions. With 13,676 kilometers of coastlines, each vacationer can find the dream beach, that for some people looks like a long white or golden sandy strip washed by clear waters, for others like a small area of sand surrounded by huge cliffs and pine trees, while other holiday makers are dreaming about a cosmopolitan beach resort dotted with luxury hotels and villas.
Beach vacations in Greece are charming and truly unforgettable! Some of the most beautiful beaches for spending holidays in Greece are located on the islands of Cyclades, Sporades, and Ionian Sea.
Greece Beaches
Paradise, Super Paradise and Panormas, Mykonos
Any Greek trip adviser informs that Mykonos is one of the top tourist spots in Greece. Although Mykonos is pretty hilly, is only ten miles long and seven miles wide, it features some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece.
Spots like Agios Stefanos, Platyialos, and Psarou are bordered by well protected beaches with excellent sand and a good selection of taverns nearby.
Red Beach, Santorini
Santorini is also mentioned by any Greek trip adviser as a spectacular vacation spot, situated on the edge of a dormant volcano. Some experts believe that this is the place where began the legend of Atlantis. Mykonos and Santorini are the most expensive islands in Greece, but towns of Fira and Oia are so spectacular that money is no more important... Being a volcanic island, most beaches in Santorini are covered usually by black sand, but the water is very clear and deep.
The best beach holidays on this island are spent on the narrow Red Beach, covered by small red grainy sand.
Milopotas and Manganari, Ios
Although renowned as a party island, Ios is surprisingly tranquil during daytime and has two superb beaches. The excellent Milopotas, located only at 5-10 minutes to the town, is a huge stretch of soft yellow sand, being washed by clear waters.
Manganari has perhaps better sand, but is not easy accessible, the accommodation units are few, so is not the best beach where tourists can spend holidays in Ios.
Psili Ammos, Serifos
Psili Ammos means in Greek soft fine sand and exactly so is this superb white beach, offering in plus clear waters and a tree-lined shore.
Maragas and Plaka, Naxos
The mountainous island Naxos is visited by many hikers and has a few small towns. Grotto is less developed, but Agios Giorgios at the southern end is a good spot for spending beach holidays, offering fine sand, spectacular views, blue waters, and excellent accommodation units. Also popular beaches in Naxos are the large Agios Prokopios and the small Agios Anna.
Many tourists consider the best beach in Naxos the long stretch of dunes from Maragas to Plaka. Soft sand, trees, blue waters, and a lot of free space make this area an excellent spot for enjoying quite vacations.
Kolymbithres, Paros
Island of Paros is a surprisingly pleasant tourist spot. The main town has whitewashed homes, narrow streets, lovely beach bars from where holiday makers can admire splendid sunsets, and many restaurants with excellent Greek dishes.
Most beaches in Paros are very good. The biggest are Livadia and Krios, sharing the town's bay and being both lined by trees. On the eastern coast of Paros are located several famous beaches like Golden Beach, but sometimes it can be pretty windy and are covered by hard sand.
The best beach on the island is considered Kolymbithres, located close to the vacation town of Naoussa.
The Sporades Islands
Koukounaries and Banana Beach, Skiathos
One of the most visited Greek islands is Skiathos, with many hotels and villas settled under pine trees. One of the things that draw so many vacationers there is the fact that Skiathos features 65 beaches! Koukounaries is perhaps the best on the island, featuring specific pine trees, fine yellow sand, clear waters and picturesque taverns. It is half mile long and there are various water sport facilities.
Banana Beach, also known as Krassas, next to Koukounaries, is covered also by fine golden sand, but is smaller and has just a couple of taverns. Little Banana or Spartacus, situated near Banana Beach, is a popular nudist spot on the island.
Lalaria is a small and tranquil beach, lying on the northeastern coast and being accessible only by sea. It has smooth pebbles and a stylish sea-formed rocky arch. There are no great facilities, still vacationers arriving there by boat fill up the place very fast!
On the northern coast Elias and Mandraki are two isolated beaches, accessible by a dirt road only. There are no water-sport facilities and can be breezy, so is not very frequented by vacationers. Still, a lot of nudists go there!
Limnonari, Skopelos
Skopelos is a another pine-covered island, located close to Skiathos. The main town on Skopelos has more quiet charm than its neighbor and less of everything else - holiday makers, beaches, bars, restaurants, and water activities. The best spot for spending beach holidays is considered to Limnonari, located in a protected bay and featuring fine sand, clear waters, and a rustic tavern.
Crete
Crete is the largest island in Greece and features a huge variety of beaches. It is literally lined by hundreds of beaches, ranging from popular tourist destinations in the eastern side, such as Elounda and Sitia, to less known beaches located in the western side, such as Rethymno and Sweet Water.
On the western end of Crete are also a couple superb beaches like Falasarna, with fine sand and rocks, and Elafonisi, a large sandy beach.
The Ionian Islands
Aghios Georgios North, Corfu
Corfu is one of the most beautiful islands in Greece. The northern part has more charm and feature a few excellent beaches. Aghios Georgios North is a secluded resort on the northwestern coast, located into a huge bay, with soft golden sand. In the northeastern part of the island are located a few fishing villages with good adjacent beaches, such as Kassiopi and Agios Stefanos. The best beach in the area is Kerasia, settled along a quiet and very clean bay, with just one old tavern. It is located at a couple miles south to Agios Stefanos.
Vasilikos, Zakynthos
Zakynthos or Zante is a relaxing, peaceful & typically Greek island, with friendly locals. The beach in Vasilikos is the best on the island - a long stretch of sand with secluded coves. Holiday makers who enjoy water sports should go to Mavratzis, Banana Beach or St. Nicolas. On Mare Beach can be practiced good snorkeling. On the island is a another interesting place called The Shipwreck Beach, that can be reached only by boat.
Beach holidays in Greece are the best in the first 2 weeks of September because the water is still warm, prices are down and full services are in operation. Great time on a Greek beach can be spent between May and June, even if the water could be a little bit chilly!
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