Mention Greece as a holiday destination and everyone just sighs. The beaches in Greece are some of the best in the world and, although the economy is shot, the beaches are not! As a beach destination Greece still has a lot to offer the single or family traveler. The only thing is – which beach to choose!
Our suggestions are:
Elafonissos (Chania, Crete)
There are two perfect beaches in Chania although Elafonissos can get really crowded even though it’s quite far from the town on the South Western coast of Chania. It is a well developed beach but it’s in tune with nature and stunningly beautiful! There are 5 unspoilt beaches here with white sand and crystal clear water – Simos, Kalogeras, (which boasts part of a submerged ancient town!), Kontogoni, Lefki and Sarakiniko.
Belegrina (Chrissi Island)
Chrissi or Gaidouronisis (donkey island) is a small uninhabited island south of Crete with an impressive array of beaches. You can reach it on the dialy cruises from the Port of Lerapetra and the journey is usually accompanies by dolphins and takes about an hour. It is unpopulated but very popular with campers in the Summer as its turquoise waters and silver sand beaches are a big draw. It’s a sheltered beach and perfect for snorkelling! .
Balos (Chania, Crete)
Balos Beach is stunning! The perfect spot with soft white sand kissed by turquoise, crystal blue waters. The whole landscape is framed by dramatic islets and mountains. We love the lagoon and the shallow waters. It’s out of the way but the several cruises that leave from Kissamos ensure easy and pleasant access (they even grill souvlaki for lunch on board!). The castle, in the nearby island of Gramvousa, adds to the mystique and beauty of the place. A rocky road gets you close by car but you’ll need to walk a bit at the end.
Paradise (Kos)
Paradise beach is close to Kefalos but about 33km from Kos. It’s named for it’s fine silver sand and calm sea and provides good amenities for visitors offering sun beds, umbrellas, sport facilities, good restaurants and a bus service to Kos.
Sarakiniko (in Elafonisos Island, Peloponnese)
What a great experience we had at Sarakiniko beach. Simos beach is right around the corner and just as great of a beach! For such a tiny island, Elafonisos at the Southern end of Peloponnese offers three of the best beaches of Greece (Panagia beach is the third one), and just about the best looking water in the world.
Navagio (Zakynthos)
Navagio is another isolated beach that is only served by boats. Coarse white sand, deep blue waters, dramatic vertical cliffs, and large caverns awaiting snorkeling exploration are enough to make this one of the best beaches of Greece, but the embedded and decaying shipwreck in the middle make this beach a special one.
Egremnoi (Lefkada)
Egremnoi is one of the best kept secrets of Greece.
Beautiful scenery, crystal clear turquoise water, and soft white coarse sand make this beach one of the best to visit.
It’s out-of-the-way location on the West coast of Lefkada, and the thousand make-shift concrete steps down (and then up), separate the huge crowds from this beach.
Myrtos was voted as the best beach of Greece several years ago by the ministry of tourism visitors, and for good reason. Its fantastic water and bright-white pebbles are nested comfortably among steep cliffs on the west coast of Kefalonia.
Finikas (Kato Koufonisi)
The entire stretch of coast from Finikas to the northern tip of the island (Pori beach) is an Aegean dream for sunbathers, many of which prefer to swim the naturist way. Sand and rocks alternate effortlessly in this beautiful stretch of the tiny island.
Plaka (Naxos)
This endless patch of sand starts near the town of Naxos and runs down the entire coast of the island, almost all the way to the southern tip (or so it seems). A dirt road follows it down as it turns from crowded patches of organized parasol squares, to more and more isolated patches framed by large sand dunes.