15 Best Beaches in Greece

Greek vacation

Greece has the most beautiful beaches in Europe, which is not surprising given the fact that it has the longest shoreline on the continent after Norway and Denmark (because of Greenland).

In addition, it takes the third place in the world as a number of beaches with Blue Flag, which is the most prestigious awarded of this kind.

It is a special prize for beaches and marinas which cover high standards of quality and environmental purity.

Thanks to its Mediterranean climate, Greece offers the opportunity to enjoy all these beaches for a relatively long period of time, in most cases from early May till the late October.

The most important questions, however, are three: which are the best beaches in the country, where to find them and when to visit them to get the best experience.

1. Navagio, Zakynthos

Shipwreck bay Zakynthos
Shipwreck bay, Zakynthos by imagea.org

Speaking about the best Greek beaches, we should begin with Navagio.

It is not only one of the top tourist attractions in Greece but also in Europe and even in the world!

This is a strip of extremely bright sand, which is mixed with small oval pebbles.

This is the reason for the amazing color blends in shades of emerald and sapphire in the shallow waters along the shore.

It has a total length of nearly 200 meters and is surrounded by very steep and high white limestone cliffs. Its location makes it very difficult to access.

In practice, however, the number of visitors is very huge during the active summer season.

Being the most important tourist attraction on the island of Zakynthos, the beach attracts crowds who reach this place with small and big yachts or boats.

Beach season:

The beach season lasts from May to October.

At the beginning and at the end of the summer season (May and October) temperatures are slightly lower and are usually between 23 and 24 degrees during the day on average.

In May the water is cool, while in October is still warm enough and pleasant for swimming.

The guaranteed hot and sunny season with high temperatures and great beach conditions covers the months of June, July, August and September, when temperatures can reach about 40°C during the midday hours.

2. Lagonissi, Sithonia

Beach Bar in Halkidiki
Beach Bar in Halkidiki by Adrian Libotean

One can hardly resist the out of this world beauty of the beach of Lagonissi.

It looks just perfect with its fine white sand, calm, transparent and clear waters, pleasant temperatures, scenic vicinities and last but not least – the opportunity to find some solitude.

This piece of heaven is located in Halkidiki, in the green north of Greece.

The beach is situated in a small cove on the east coast of the smaller peninsula of Sithonia, a little more than an hour drive from Thessaloniki.

The beach is one of the many winners of the Blue Flag Award in Greece in 2015, taking place among the selected beaches in the world.

Beach season:

Although in May is very common to see visitors on the beach, this part of the year is still a bit cool for the beach, and this applies to a greater degree when it comes to the seawater.

While the air temperature of about 23°C is already quite nice to lounge on the shore, the water rarely exceeds 18°C.

The true beach season with high temperatures and warm sea waters begins in June, and covers the months of July, August and September.

During this period, the average temperatures are about 27-30°C in the shade.

October is slightly cooler with air temperatures around 22°C and the same temperature of seawater.

October is not among the preferred months for summer vacation.

However, it is a good option if you have not had the opportunity to spend a few days on the beach during the summer months.

3. Egremni, Lefkada

Egremni beach Lefkada
Egremni beach, Lefkada by Dimitris Kalogeropoylos

Egremni Beach is one of the legendary places in Greece.

It is located in the southwestern part of the island of Lefkada, in the Ionian Sea.

Its beauty resembles the beaches of Navagio and Myrtos.

It is snowy white, covered with white sand and small pebbles with very bright color.

The seawater has an amazing sapphire blue color, which can be seen at really very few places in Europe.

It is surrounded by very high and steep white limestone cliffs, which rise vertically like a wall and are overgrown with Mediterranean bushes.

The beach is one of the top places to visit if you are into photography because the colors here are hard to describe.

Because of its popularity, the beach is visited by large groups of tourists, who mostly arrive here by boats, though the beach is accessible from the shore too.

Beach season:

Like most Greek beaches, the season here lasts roughly from May to October but with the difference that here the weather is slightly windy and you can have the feeling for a bit lower temperature.

See also  20 Best Things to Do in Karpathos (Greece)

May brings temperatures of about 22°C and seawater of around 18°C, which is not very warm but is still acceptable to enjoy the beauty of this beach.

The real hot summer begins in June and covers the months of July, August and September.

In October, the weather conditions are similar to May but with slightly warmer seawaters.

4. Elafonisi, Crete

Elafonisi Beach Crete
Elafonisi Beach, Crete by Franco Vannini

Elafonisi Beach is located in a relatively isolated area in southwestern Crete.

While it is a bit distanced from the major resorts on the island, this place is a must for everyone who visits Crete.

Elafonisi is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe and has gained this popularity because of its white-pink sand, combined with a shallow lagoon.

Because of its azure waters, the lagoon is simply irresistible, especially during the hottest summer days when the temperature reaches 40°C in the shade.

The area is very romantic.

The landscape is practically semi-desert, covered with sparse vegetation and low bare mountainsides.

All this makes the lagoon even more irresistible.

Beach season:

The beach season of Elafonisi lasts from early May to late October. May brings temperatures of around 24°C and seawater temperatures of around 19°C.

In June, July, August and September the weather is very hot and with excellent beach conditions, with seawater temperatures of over 25°C and air temperatures reaching in the warmer days up to about 40°C in the shade.

In October the weather is very nice, the temperature is about 24°C on average and the seawater is around 23°C, making it a very pleasant time of the year to visit Elafonisi.

5. Balos, Crete

Balos Lagoon Crete
Balos Lagoon, Crete by Alberto Perdomo

Crete offers not one or two world class beaches, and undoubtedly, one of the best is Balos Beach, also called Balos Bay.

It is one of the top spots in Europe for swimming and snorkeling as it offers some of the cleanest and most transparent waters you can imagine.

As the water is very shallow, the lagoon looks even more transparent.

It offers snow-white sand with light pink nuances.

These colors can be seen in very few places in the world, and some of them are the Bahamas and the island country of Turks and Caicos.

Beach season:

The beach season in the area of Balos Beach is very long because the place is located in the southernmost part of the country.

Normally, the beach season lasts from early May to late October.

The weather is very warm and sunny, with high temperatures and warm seawater.

Only in May seawater is slightly cooler but since Balos lagoon is shallow and to some extent separated from the sea, the water becomes quite warm and pleasant for swimming only after a few hot days.

6. Voidokilia, Peloponnese

Voidokilia beach, Peloponnese
Voidokilia beach, Peloponnese by Spiros Vathis

Voidokilia beach is considered the best beach in Peloponnese.

The place is located in the southwest part of the peninsula and despite its beauty, it often remains away from the popular tourist routes.

If you have the pleasure to come across this place, you will be very pleasantly surprised by the tranquility and the feeling of privacy.

The beach is covered with light sand and is situated in a well shaped rounded bay.

The beach resembles in shape and color of the sand to the man-made beaches on the Canary Islands, such as Playa de Amadores for example, but this one in Greece is completely natural.

As it is located in a bay, its waters are calm even when the weather is windy.

Beach season:

The beach season here is similar to the rest of Greece and lasts from May to October.

Temperatures in May are still very pleasant and usually run around 23 – 24°C, but in the height of summer the heat is sometimes unbearable.

In May the water is still cool, but at the end of the month, it should already be warm enough for swimming and bathing.

The season lasts usually until the end of October, and the last one or two weeks of the month bring already a bit lower temperatures.

However, October is generally very pleasant with temperatures of around 24°C, and the water is still very good for swimming with temperatures of around 22°C.

7. Myrtos, Kefalonia

Myrtos beach, Kefalonia
Myrtos beach, Kefalonia by Tony Hisgett

Myrtos is not only one of the most famous beaches in Greece, but t it ranks among the most attractive in the world!

You will find this pearl on the west coast of the famous for its picturesque rural landscapes island of Kefalonia.

The beach is surrounded by steep and high white limestone rocks, which are covered with subtropical Mediterranean vegetation.

The beach offers coarse white sand and small oval pebbles.

Usually beaches of this type are known for their clean and transparent waters and Myrtos is not an exception.

See also  30 Best Things to Do in Thessaloniki (Greece)

There are very few beaches in the world where the seawater has such an amazing blue color.

Beach season:

The beach season of Myrtos lasts approximately from May to October, or about six months.

In May the weather is usually fantastic – neither too hot, nor too cold.

The days become more sunny and seawaters warm quickly, although the early days of the month are still a bit cool.

From June to September is the best time of the year to visit Myrtos and the perfect weather is guaranteed.

October is a very pleasant and warm month for the beach too, although some days and nights are cool and bring more changeable weather.

8. Voutoumi, Antipaxos

Voutoumi Beach, Antipaxos
Voutoumi Beach, Antipaxos by Ari Bakker

Voutoumi Beach is located on the northeast tip of the island of Antipaxos, in the Ionian Sea.

It is located in a small bay and is protected from big waves even in windy weather conditions.

It is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe and this is due to its tropical radiation.

To some extent, this is the result of the lush Mediterranean vegetation, which covers the island.

The water is the most transparent and clean you can imagine, and has the most azure color due to the snow-white sands and rocks of the island.

The beach can compete even the most beautiful beaches in exotic locations such as Thailand, Brazil or the Caribbean.

The lush vegetation in the area of Voutoumi definitely contributes to the charm of this place and makes it a must for every lover of snorkeling, swimming and diving.

Beach season:

The beach season of Voutoumi starts a bit hesitantly somewhere in May but temperatures quickly rise and reach summer values very soon.

Seawaters are initially cool but warm up quickly. Usually June brings the first really hot days.

The beach season continues until the end of October.

If you want to visit the place at this time of the year, your only problem will be to make sure that there is some transportation to reach this brilliant beach.

9. Lindos, Rhodes

Lindos Beach, Rhodes
Lindos Beach, Rhodes by andre.reif

Many who have visited Lindos Beach on the Greek island of Rhodes say that there is something very romantic and special that can not be seen from pictures.

It is located in a small bay on the east coast of the island and has an exceptional magnetism.

It is covered with a light cream-colored sand with gentle caramel shades and mixed with small pebbles.

The specific color of the sand and rocks in the area is the reason for the incredibly deep and strong pastel color of the sea, which sometimes overflows from very dark blue to blue with light green hues.

Dry and semi-arid surroundings, which are covered by only a small number of Mediterranean shrubs and trees, increase the feeling of hot weather and make you feel the sun even more scorching.

Beach season:

The beach season of Lindos begins in early May, though the first enthusiastic tourists usually appear on the beach in April.

Indeed, April offers quite warm days with high temperatures but the seawater is still cold and the night temperatures are still low.

In May temperatures increase rapidly and reach their peak in August.

October offers great beach conditions because the weather here is warm and pleasant even in the autumn.

The month brings daytime temperatures of around 24 degrees in the shade.

In combination with plenty of sunshine, the weather is still great for swimming and sunbathing on the beach.

10. Paleokastritsa, Corfu

Paleokastritsa, Corfu
Paleokastritsa, Corfu by Chris Parker

Paleokastritsa is not exactly a beach but a small town in the northwest of the island of Corfu.

However, it would be an absurd not to mention about this place because its coastline is one of the most tempting, beautiful and picturesque in Europe.

Here you will find incredibly beautiful small beaches, which are separated from each other by covered in lush vegetation rocks and small peninsulas.

Visitors often compare the beauty of Paleokastritsa with that of Thailand.

The reason is the combination between emerald and transparent sea and dense and lush vegetation.

Small coves offer bright coarse sand mixed with small stones, which makes the water very clear and transparent.

What more pleasant than to lie on the shore, enjoying the mirror sea surface and the song of crickets coming from the close bushes.

Beach season:

The beach season in the area of Paleokastritsa usually begins with temperatures of around 23 – 24°C in May and ends with the same temperatures in October.

During the summer months temperatures can reach around and 40°C. Seawater in May in Paleokastritsa still a little cool.

11. Sani Beach, Halkidiki

Sani Beach, Halkidiki
Sani Beach, Halkidiki by Horia Varlan

In the northwestern part of the Kassandra Peninsula, which is the westernmost of the three peninsulas of Halkidiki, is one of the purest and most preserved beaches in Europe.

See also  5 Best Greek Islands for Expats

It offers fine light sand, very clean and transparent waters and all the peace and tranquility you need.

In addition, the beach is surrounded with fresh evergreen pine trees.

The location is one of the most popular in Greece amongst tourists who hold on the purity of the environment and want to spent their vacations in a clean and quality environment.

The beach is about an hour drive south of the second largest Greek city of Thessaloniki, so it is very easily accessible.

Beach season

The beach season in the area is relatively short in comparison with other parts of Greece.

It covers the months of June, July, August and September.

In most years the beach season covers also parts of October.

The disadvantage is that in October the weather turns changeable, the days become shorter and the likelihood of rainfalls is bigger.

However, the seawater is still very warm.

12. Mylopotas, Ios

Mylopotas beach Ios
Mylopotas beach, Ios by Kostas Limitsios

On the west coast of the island of Ios in the Aegean Sea is located one of the truly superb Greek beaches.

Its name is Mylopotas and is situated in a small but well shaped bay.

The beach has high quality fine golden sands, and the sea water is always clean, transparent and calm.

Besides the pleasure you will get from the beach, the area will enchant you with its charm and Mediterranean spirit.

The small whitewashed houses, which are perched on the steep and covered with subtropical shrubs slopes, increase the feeling of hot summer and carefree vacation.

Beach season:

Since the beach is located in the southern parts of Greece, the weather is normally dry and hot.

The weather remains very good for swimming from early May to late October, although the majority of tourists visit this place mainly in July and August.

13. Olympic Beach

Olympic beach
Olympic beach by Gabriel

Olympic beach is for sure one of the most popular Greek beaches, which is a favorite hot spot not only for tourists but also for many locals.

Due to its proximity to the second largest Greek city of Thessaloniki, Olympic beach attracts many residents of the city, especially during the warm and sunny summer weekends.

Practically, so many people cannot be wrong.

Indeed, this place offers a huge miles-long beach of fine golden sand. Marine waters are dark blue and generally calm.

Beach season:

The beach season here usually lasts from early June to late September.

Very often, however, May and October offer good weather conditions for visiting the beach.

There are also some disadvantages of coming here in May or October.

For example in May seawaters are slightly cooler while the weather in October is a bit unstable and changeable.

14. Kalogria Beach, Sithonia

Kalogria Beach, Sithonia
Kalogria Beach, Sithonia by Horia Varlan

Kalogria Beach is the dream of every tourist.

The beach is covered with fine white sand that has very light golden nuances.

The seawater is usually very calm and transparent.

The beach is located on the west coast of the peninsula of Sithonia, which is the second one of the three peninsulas that form together Halkidiki.

Another advantage of Kalogria is that next to it there are many trees that provide pleasant shade to enjoy after a long day at the beach.

Among the advantages of this place is its exceptional purity.

Beach season:

Usually the beach season in the area of Kalogria lasts from June to September.

In May, the weather is still a bit cool and unstable, although in some years the month brings perfect weather conditions.

June is the first really nice summer month with plenty of sunshine and pleasant temperatures.

July and August are the busiest months and the best time to spend your vacation here.

September offers pleasant weather for the beach, and sometimes even October is very warm and sunny.

However, in October the good weather is not guaranteed.

15. Elia Beach, Mykonos

Elia Beach, Mykonos
Elia Beach, Mykonos by Mike

In the dry and hot south of the Aegean Sea is located Mykonos – the most modern Greek island today.

Except for its crazy night-life, the island is famous also for one of the best Greek beaches.

It is good to know this beach because the likelihood to visit Mykonos in a future trip to Greece is quite large, especially if you are a young traveler or if you love entertainment and nightlife.

The beach offers beautiful golden sands and shallow waters. It is surrounded by a dry subtropical landscape.

It creates the feeling of much warmer weather and makes the cool and refreshing seawater irresistible.

Beach season:

The beach season usually lasts from May to October.

However, in May the seawater can still be cool.

October is usually a nice beach month as long as it does not rain.

Usually the busiest months are July and August, although September and June offer more pleasant temperatures.