Best 25+ Greece Beaches
There are somewhere between a thousand and 6,000 Greek islands dotted around the Aegean and Ionian Seas. Although we are not quite sure why no one has managed to count these we do know this provides us with a mind-boggling number of beaches to choose from. It would take a lifetime to visit all these beaches on your own; so whilst that sounds a pretty good way to spend your life we've down some of the donkey work for you.
However, the good news is, to quote the old cliche, there really is something for everyone. If you want remote coves with weird and wonderful rock formations that are only accessible by boat, we have some of those. On the other hand if you are looking for a safe family beach that doesn't get overly crowded in the summer we've got some of those too.
Crystal clear, azure waters are pretty much a given for most of Greece's beaches so the beaches here all have something special to offer. For many it is their stunning natural beauty alone, for some it is incredible features that set them apart as the best beaches Greece has to offer.
The Best Greek Beaches...
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1. Egremni Beach // Lefkada
© Milan Baloun / 123RF Great for:- Swimming
There is little doubt that Egremni beach is one of the finest on the island of Lefkada, which by default makes it one of the best in Greece. It is a beautiful spot with the long white sand beach backed by high limestone cliffs. However, it is the water colour that sets Egremni apart, a fantastic milky blue yet crystal clear. The 325 steps down to the beach don't seem… read more »
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2. Elafonisi Beach // Chania
© Halina JasiÅ„ska The beach here is a strip of sand that just connects the tiny island of Elafonisi off the far western coast of Crete. This area has a wild, unspoilt feel to it and development has been restricted leaving the pristine beaches a beautiful spot to unwind. Whilst the sand at Elafonisi appears white at first glance you may notice a pink hue. This is due to it containing traces… read more »
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3. Anthony Quinn Bay // Rhodes
Michael Mayer Great for:- Snorkeling
Anthony Quinn Bay beach lies at the end of the narrow fjord-like bay of the same name. It comprises pockets of golden sand tucked between natural biscuit-coloured rock formations. These provide protection from even the strongest waves. Pines and other native flora offer some natural shade, alongside umbrellas and sun loungers which are available to rent.
Well known for the clarity and turquoise colour of its waters, Anthony Quinn Bay is… read more »
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4. Psarou Beach // Mykonos
© hansche Great for:- Swimming
Golden sands and family-friendly shallows of clear blue waters have made Psarou Beach a Mykonos favourite for decades. Just ten minutes' drive time south from Mykonos International Airport, its large protected bay often plays host to the yachts of the rich and famous anchoring immediately offshore.
Although Psarou Beach is a good size at 150 metres in length, this means it still gets crowded during the peak summer season. There can… read more »
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5. St Paul's Bay // Rhodes
© Oliver Taylor Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Despite its diminutive size, Saint Paul's Bay is one of the most popular beaches on the Greek island of Rhodes. Located on the edge of the historic village of Lindos, St Paul's Bay is almost entirely enclosed by rocks on all sides with just the smallest of gaps for boats to come in and out of. This spectacular setting is further enhanced by a small, typical Greek Orthodox chapel down… read more »
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6. Saint George Beach // Naxos
© saiko3p Great for:- Swimming
- Kitesurfing
Agios Georgios, better known to pretty much everyone as Saint George Beach, is perhaps the most visited beach anywhere on Naxos. Taking its name from an attractive little chapel at its northern end, it lies just south of Naxos town, only 300 metres from Plateia Protodikiou, the town's main square.
Easily reached on foot, Saint George Beach sits firmly within the town's boundaries, so visitors are always in close proximity to… read more »
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7. Myrtos Beach // Kefalonia
© Karl Egger Set on the north-west of the island of Kefalonia is the spectacular Myrtos Beach. The landscape here is one of lush, verdant hills rising steeply from the azure waters of the Aegean Sea.
The mile long Myrtos beach sits in a natural amphitheatre at the foot of two mountains with a steep, winding road leading down to it. Often cited as the best beach in Greece there is no disputing the… read more »
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8. Navagio Beach // Zakynthos
The island of Zakynthos is home to one of Greece's finest and most easily recognisable beaches. It is not just the beach of Navagio itself that is unique but the fact that it is home to a shipwreck.
The ship in question was the Panagiotis and it is believed that it was a smugglers ship that ran aground in stormy weather whilst trying to elude the Greek customs. Now the wreck… read more »
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9. Lalaria beach // Skiathos
The beach of Lalaria is situated on the remote north coast of Skiathos. It is named after the round, white pebbles that make up the beach and give the waters here their aquamarine hue. There is little shelter from the sun here to which the sheer, sun-bleached limestone cliffs are testimony.
What makes Lalaria one of the most photographed beaches in Greece though is the huge rock arch of… read more »
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10. Vai Beach // Crete
© Karapas Great for:- Swimming
- Kitesurfing
Vai beach sits at the foot of the Vai palm forest, the largest of its sort in Europe. There are various stories of how the palm trees came to be here ranging from Arab pirates spitting date stones ashore to Phoenician traders planting them. The truth is though, they were always here and as a protected site will hopefully remain. Such a backdrop gives Vai beach a distinctly tropical feel… read more »
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11. Preveli Beach // Crete
© jarekgrafik Preveli Beach is possibly the most famous of Crete's beaches. Situated at the mouth of the Kourtaliotiko Gorge, this is where the Grand River flows into the Mediterranean. It has a tropical landscape with a number of Theophrastus palm trees which line the river for around 500 meters before it empties into the sea.
The beach itself is a small crescent flanked by cliffs with the lush green of the… read more »
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12. Agiofarago Beach // Crete
© B.psycha / CC BY Agiofarago Beach sits at the foot of the Agiofarago Gorge, which you will need to traverse in order to reach the beach. This is an experience in itself as you hike through the vertical walls of rock. You will also pass by a number of caves where hermits from the Odigitria monastery still live today. There is also a small chapel of St Anthony there and the area in general… read more »
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13. Red Beach // Crete
Red beach, so named because of the pinkish hue of the sand, is located just south of the better known beach of Matala. Both were firm favourites on the 1960s and 70s hippy trail and whilst Matala may have gone mainstream, Red beach still retains some of its laid back credentials.
It's a lovely little beach set at the base of arid hillsides and limestone cliffs. The red sand is… read more » -
14. Plaka beach // Naxos
Random_fotos Generally regarded as the best beach on Naxos, Plaka is a huge stretch of fine white sand backed by low sand dunes. The waters of the bay at Plaka are calm and clear with a definite green tint.
Whilst there are areas of the beach with the familiar straw umbrellas and sun-beds, much of the beach still retains a relatively wild feel and is largely unspoilt.
The southern end of the beach… read more »
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15. Balos Beach // Crete
© Pavel Timofeev / 123RF Located on the north-western tip of Crete, Balos beach is a strip of sand and lagoon stretching between the Gramvousa Peninsula and the headland of Cape Tigani. The landscape of Balos is stunning with white / pink sand interspersed with turquoise pools all dominated by the bulk of cape Tigani. Despite the beach here being immensely popular there is a feeling of wilderness here - if you were to come… read more »
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