The Best Beaches In Greece According To A Local!

What are the best beaches in Greece? With thousands of beaches to choose from, the answer is not straightforward. Here are some of the best beaches in Greece according to a local!

Best beaches in Greece, according to Google

If you do a simple Google search, you are likely to come up with the following best beaches in Greece:

  • Elafonisi beach and Balos beach in Crete
  • Navagio beach in Zakynthos
  • Perissa beach and Red beach in Santorini
  • Mylopotas beach in Ios
  • Myrtos beach in Kefalonia
  • Koukounaries beach in Skiathos
  • Sarakiniko beach in Milos
  • Porto Katsiki beach in Lefkada
  • Super Paradise beach in Mykonos
  • Voidokoilia Beach in Peloponnese

We have been to most of these beaches and, to be honest, were a little disappointed.

Greek beaches - Balos beach in Crete

Don’t get us wrong, all those beaches are amazingly pretty. Unfortunately though, as they have become very popular over the years, they are really crowded these days.

Most of them are also full of beach bars, umbrellas and sunbeds. While these features might be popular with some people, we tend to look for other things.

My personal favourite Greek beaches

For us, a good beach should have enough space to feel relaxed in, have great waters to go snorkelling, and little or no ‘official’ facilities.

In this article, we list our favourite beaches in Greece which tick some or all of those boxes.

1. Kedrodasos, South Western Crete

If you are visiting Elafonisi in Crete, make sure you also visit the nearby beach called Kedrodasos. This is a wild beach full of ancient cedar trees (Kedrodasos = forest of cedar trees) among the white sand dunes.

If you have a car, you can drive on a dirt road going past several greenhouses, and then walk for 10-15 minutes to the beach. You can also reach Kedrodasos on foot from Elafonisi beach.

Kedrodassos is one of the best beaches in Greece

Kedrodasos is ideal for relaxing and snorkelling, and it is popular with free campers and naturists, though not nearly as popular as Gavdos and Chrissi.

There are no facilities there, so make sure you take with you what you need.

Like Elafonisi, Kedrodasos is part of the NATURA 2000 programme, and the ancient trees are protected by a special environmental plan.

When you leave, please make sure to take all your belongings with you, including the trash!

2. Triopetra beach, South Crete

There is no chance you will find yourself on this beach by mistake. You will need to drive on a long, winding mountain road for almost a half hour until you get to see this wild, fantastic stretch of sand.

In fact there is a beach bar and a few umbrellas, but only on a small part of the beach.

Triopetra is one our favourite beaches in Greece

As with all the beaches in south Crete, the waves can get quite rough, so make sure you check the winds before you decide to drive here!

If you are in the wider area, make sure you check out Agios Pavlos beach, and perhaps the more famous Preveli beach.

3. Agios Ioannis, Gavdos

The little island of Gavdos is a few hours south of Crete. You can access it by boat from several towns in south Crete.

It features a wild landscape of cedar trees, sand dunes, and the clearest waters we have seen in Greece. The population is around 70 residents, all year round, plus the summer free campers.

Our favourite beach on Gavdos is Agios Ioannis, or Agiannis, situated in the north of Gavdos. Expect to meet several free campers and naturists, some of whom spend their whole summer here.

There are also a few rooms to let, as well as a couple of cafes and tavernas, close to the beach.

Agios Ioannis in Gavdos is one of our favourite beaches in Greece

The island gets quite busy in summer, so we strongly suggest visiting in early June or mid-September if you can.

Make sure you ask in advance for any weather warnings, as the boats won’t depart in case of strong winds!

4. Belegrina beach, Chrissi Island

Chrissi is a tiny uninhabited island, an hour south of Crete. Belegrina beach, on the north of the island, is one of the loveliest beaches in Greece.

The sand is really fine, and if you look closely you will see several tiny shells, that give the sand a unique pink colour. The water is crystal-clear, so if you visit make sure you bring your mask and snorkel.

Chrissi island is south of Crete

The beach gets rather crowded when visitors arrive for a day trip from Ierapetra. It’s much calmer early in the morning and late in the evening, when the crowds are gone.

It is possible to free-camp on the island – which makes the place quite busy in July and August. There are no rooms to let or hotels, and there may or may not be someone selling water and food, so please bring your own.

Much like Gavdos, Chrissi island can get very windy, so check the weather in advance.

5. Finikounda, South Peloponnese

Finikounda is a small village in southwest Peloponnese, between the famous historic towns of Methoni and Koroni. It lies on a sandy beach, and has several little tavernas and small shops.

Best time of year to visit Greece - Snorkel

To the west of the little village, there is a long beautiful beach, which is mostly sandy.

As the beach is quite protected, it’s a great choice if you have a family or if you just want to spend a few relaxed days on the beach. There are a few campsites, apartments and hotels.

While in the area, make sure you visit the castles of Methoni and Koroni.

6. Kyparissia, West Peloponnese

On the west side of the Peloponnese, lies one of the the longest beaches in Greece. The stretch of sand between Kyparissia and Katakolo is mostly popular with locals, and you will almost always have your own space.

It is ideal if you want to relax with a book, and swim all day long. One of our favourite spots is Elea, a few kilometres off Kyparissia.

Kyparissia Beach in the West Peloponnese of Greece

The pine trees are really close to the sea, and the water is clear. There are also a few tavernas in the area, making Kyparissia an ideal all-day destination.

7. Simos beach, Elafonisos island

Simos beach is definitely one of the better beaches in Greece. If you can avoid the peak season, we totally recommend going there.

Elafonisos beach in the Peloponnese

This beach is the trademark of Elafonisos island, which is south of the Peloponnese. It became popular over 30 years ago, with free campers at first.

Over the years a campsite was built, and umbrellas and chairs were installed on the beach. However, parts of the beach still remain quiet and unspoilt.

There are two bays on Simos beach, both with fine golden sand, sand dunes and cedar trees. In August, white sea lilies grow on the sand.

8. Prasonisi Beach, Rhodes

Prasonisi is a tiny island, located south of Rhodes island. During low tide, it becomes a peninsula attached to the southern tip of Rhodes island.

There are two beaches, one on each side (east and west) of the peninsula. The east side is protected from the wind, whereas the west side is often very windy.

As a result, the beach attracts both swimmers / sunbathers and windsurfers.

Top beaches in Greece - Prasonisi beach in Rhodes

On the beach you can find water sports schools,  cafés and restaurants, as well as a mini market.

Although surfers like Prasonisi beach, you can generally have your own space depending on the season you visit. Free camping is also popular over here.

Remember: During high tide, the island may be separated from Rhodes. So, if you go for a hike, make sure you return in time!

Read more here about the best beaches in Rhodes.

9. Plaka Beach, Naxos

Plaka beach in Naxos follows from Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna beaches. It is one of the loveliest beaches in Greece. It is a long stretch of fine, white sand, framed by big sand dunes.

Plaka beach in Naxos Greece

There are several rooms to let and tavernas along the coast, but there are also quiet areas where you can relax under your umbrella. To say that the water is crystal clear is an understatement!

Parts of the beach are protected from the meltemi winds, making this an ideal place to visit with a family. Just bear in mind that naturism is popular in certain areas of Plaka Naxos.

10. Egremni beach / Pefkoulia beach, Lefkada

Egremni beach, on Lefkada island, is one of the most famous Greek beaches. As it’s not directly accessible, it never gets too crowded!

There are two ways to get to Egremni beach: either after going down several stairs, or by boat.

In my opinion, Egremni is one of the most attractive beaches in Greece, and you should definitely visit if you are in Lefkada. As it’s a very long beach, you will always have your own space. Bring everything you will need for the day, and enjoy!

Amazing beaches in Greece - Egremni in Lefkada
Another similar beach in Lefkada which is more easily accessible is Pefkoulia beach. The pine trees (Pefkoulia = little pine trees) literally stretch all the way to the sand!

Sometimes, free campers stay here for a few nights. If you look carefully, you may see a few tents hidden between the pine trees. The far right side of the beach, as you are looking to the sea, is a naturist area.

Not a beach person? No worries! Have a look at our article about the best time of year to visit Greece – you may be surprised!

Best beaches in Greece - Egremni in Lefkada

Top beaches in Greece - Andros island

These are just ten of our favourite beaches in Greece, and they represent only a small percentage of what Greece has to offer.

Which is YOUR favourite Greek beach? Let us know in the comments below!

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4 thoughts on “The Best Beaches In Greece According To A Local!”

    • Thanks for your question (which reminds me I should update this article) – from those mentioned here, I know for sure that Plaka in Naxos, Agios Ioannis in Gavdos, Plaka in Naxos and Pefkoulia in Lefkada are naturist-friendly. Kyparissia is a very long beach and you’ll probably find some naturist-free spots, but this tends to change from time to time. Kedrodassos can be a little hit and miss, I haven’t been in a few years so I’m not sure how things are at the moment – but many areas in south Crete are quite relaxed overall. All in all, you will find plenty of naturist spots on many islands, especially if you are happy to hike. Our soon-to-be published book on Milos and Kimolos will include lots of information about those two islands so stay tuned 🙂

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  1. We have enjoyed the beach at Kakovatos, just south of Zaharo, Ilia, Peloponnesos. There is a nice taverna (Mouries Nikos) and the beach is nice and sandy with umbrellas and loungers. There are showers to rinse off the sand and the water is quite shallow – you can walk out quite some distance and only be up to you shoulders. However, being on the West coast the prevailing winds can make the water quite rough at times. We have also found this at Kalo Nero.

    We decided to go to the south of Kalamata, just west of Koroni and found Memi Beach. The water is typically quite calm, there are umbrellas and loungers, and there is a taverna (Kyani AKTI) across the road, which sometimes has a drink service to the umbrellas. This has become our “go-to” spot, even though it takes over an hour more to get there. BONUS: There is an excellent taverna (Foumaritsis) just about half a kilometer south, where the Koroni-Methoni road turns inland.

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