27 best beaches in Greece

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Each of the Greek beaches has a special atmosphere and a unique, truly Mediterranean charm. Some of them are suitable for outdoor activities, others beckon with their privacy and silence. How to find a suitable one? In our ranking of the best, we offer you a selection of luxury beaches in Greece for every taste.

Features of rest on the beaches of Greece

Greece is widely known for its many kilometers of incredibly diverse beaches. It has luxurious coasts covered with velvet sand. There are also cozy 'kids' hiding in secluded bays. You can also find real energy 'bombs' with a lot of active tourists and loud music.

As for the prices for beach accessories, everything here depends on the popularity of the coast and the number of tourists. The average price of a set 'umbrella + sun lounger' is 5-8 euros.

Beaches with the Blue Flag – the international quality mark – deserve special attention. They are the cleanest and most equipped. The largest number of these are located in Halkidiki, Crete, Kefalonia and Lefkada.

When resting, remember about beach etiquette. For example, walking barefoot outside the beach or shopping in a swimsuit is considered bad form. Smoking is not forbidden (considering that most Greeks are heavy smokers). But it is strictly forbidden to leave cigarette butts on the beach. As for nudist vacations, European tourists don't bother too much about this. But, nevertheless, it is preferable to choose the appropriate places.

Pets are not prohibited: a fluffy pet can dabble in sea water without any problems, but it is better to be with him away from other vacationers.

About the dangers. The first and foremost danger is the sun. The Greek sun is merciless and you shouldn't forget about it. Be sure to stock up on a protective SPF cream. The second danger is sea urchins. Omnipresent. But they prefer to 'walk' on a rocky bottom. Jellyfish in water are rare. Basically, they 'wander' ashore only after a storm.

Best beaches in Greece

Nomination	a place	greece beach	beach rating
The best beaches in Greece for families	1	Ornos, about. Mykonos	4.9
	2	Manganari, about. Ios	4.8
	3	Elafonisos, about. Crete	4.8
	4	Kamares, about. Sifnos	4.7
	5	Vouliagmeni, Athens	4.7
The best pebble beaches in Greece	1	Anthony Quinn, Fr. Rhodes	4.9
	2	Emblisi, about. Kefalonia	4.8
	3	Myrtos, Kefalonia	4.8
The best beaches in Greece for diving	1	Shipwreck Beach, about. Zakynthos	4.9
	2	Vroulidia, about. Chios	4.8
	3	Kathisma, about. Lefkada	4.7
The best 'wild' beaches in Greece	1	Stafylos, Skopelos	4.9
	2	Balos, about. Crete	4.8
	3	Lalaria (Lalaria), about. Skiathos	4.8
The best 'colored' beaches in Greece	1	Elafonissi, about. Crete	4.9
	2	Red beach, about. Santorini	4.8
	3	Perissa, about. Santorini	4.7
The best beaches in Greece for a secluded getaway	1	Logaras, Paros	4.9
	2	Plaka, about. Naxos	4.8
	3	Egremni, about. Lefkada	4.7
The best beaches in Greece for adults	1	Vai, oh. Crete	4.9
	2	Sani, Halkidiki	4.8
	3	Paradise, about. Mykonos	4.7
The best 'versatile' beaches in Greece	1	Mylopotas, about. Ios	4.9
	2	Koukounaries, Skiathos	4.8
	3	Paleokastritsa, about. Corfu	4.7
	4	Matala, about. Crete	4.6

The best beaches in Greece for families

Ornos, about. Mykonos

Rating: 4.9

Ideal for families with children who prevail here. Excellent gentle entry into the water, soft fine sand. The nearest town is about 10 minutes by car, so it is always crowded here.

Note: if you like to sunbathe on the sand, you will hardly be able to do this here – the beach is almost always densely packed with sun loungers.

Manganari, about. Ios

Rating: 4.8

He became world famous after Luc Besson captured this little piece of paradise in his film 'Blue Abyss'. The coastal strip is 5 tiny secluded beaches hidden in secluded coves. The descent into the water here is rather shallow and gentle – the sea is ideal for kids. Surf lovers will not be disappointed either, with surfers available for rental to conquer the Aegean waves. There are many taverns nearby.

Note: those who would like to spend several days near the coast have the opportunity to rent an apartment located near the beach.

Elafonisos, about. Crete

Rating: 4.8

One of the sandy pearls not only in Crete, but throughout Greece. It is located in the southwestern part of the island. Luxurious sand with a light pink tint, clear water without waves, convenient location have made Elafonisi one of the 'favorites' among the resort's visitors.

Note: the depth here is shallow (about 1 m). To enjoy swimming and diving, you have to go far out to sea.

Kamares, about. Sifnos

Rating: 4.7

The beach of the resort of the same name is considered one of the best in Europe. Equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable and sporty sea holiday, it is distinguished by fine, velvet sand, calm sea. There are many taverns and hotels nearby.

Vouliagmeni, Athens

Rating: 4.7

Many beaches of the Greek capital are distinguished by excellent service and well-groomed. The water here is very clean, the bottom is sand. Everything you need for an active sea holiday is provided.

Note: perhaps everything is due to the fact that the beaches are in the capital, but you will have to pay for the entrance to each of them and not bad (from 10 to 30 euros). Moreover, the payment is not per day: when leaving the beach, re-entering the territory will again be paid.

The best pebble beaches in Greece

Anthony Quinn, Fr. Rhodes

Rating: 4.9

A stunningly beautiful pebble beach with an emerald sea. Known far beyond the borders of Greece. It got its name in honor of the famous American actor – Anthony Quinn, who, while filming the film 'Zorba the Greek' on the island, fell in love with the place because of its unique landscapes and seclusion. Situated in a small cove, the fully equipped Anthony Quinn is surrounded by pine vegetation and cliffs. There are quite few places there, but divers will have a place to roam: the underwater world is striking in its variety.

Note: since the place is quite famous, in order to rest comfortably here, you will have to take a seat from early morning.

Emblisi, about. Kefalonia

Rating: 4.8

A luxurious pebble beach with clear water is surrounded by pine vegetation. Despite its modest size, there is always a place to relax. Lovers of water sports can also have a great time. There is a spa town nearby.

Myrtos, Kefalonia

Rating: 4.8

To visit Kefalonia and not visit the famous Myrtos – the owner of the Blue Flag – is like a crime. This is a visiting card of Greece. Feature – dazzling white sand and the same pebbles. Be sure to stock up on special shoes. By the way, it will also be difficult to enter the water without shoes – the pebbles are quite large.

Note: the depth begins almost immediately upon entering the water, so the beach is suitable for relaxing without children and only for those who can swim.

The best beaches in Greece for diving

Shipwreck Beach, about. Zakynthos

Rating: 4.9

A world famous beach, on the coast of which there is a ship of smugglers thrown out by waves. It is often crowded and the waves in the sea rarely subside. It features an incredible landscape, there are many caves nearby that you can explore and feed the fish at the same time. The pebble bottom is ideal for diving.

Note: not suitable for families with children – the water is quite cold here, there is a strong current nearby. You can only get there by water.

Vroulidia, about. Chios

Rating: 4.8

Located under a huge cliff, a secluded place with an emerald sea and velvet sand is ideal for a relaxing holiday and comfortable diving: there is a rich underwater world and clear water. There is a cozy cafe on the cliff with an excellent view of the bay.

Note: the beach is difficult to access – you can get to it by going down a steep stone staircase. That is why it is often not crowded here.

Kathisma, about. Lefkada

Rating: 4.7

A cozy, well-equipped sandy beach stretches along the coast for 7 km. It is surrounded by picturesque rocks. All kinds of water sports are offered to tourists. The crystal clear turquoise water is ideal for diving.

The best 'wild' beaches in Greece

Stafylos, Skopelos

Rating: 4.9

The beach of the greenest island in Greece is better known among locals than among visiting tourists. It is considered wild, so sun loungers and umbrellas cannot be found. But there is just an incredible landscape, fantastically clear and transparent water, there are many fish, the bottom of the sea is pebbles. The diving site is just perfect.

Note: there are no trees near the coast, so there is no shade either. A rather steep and difficult descent leads to Stafilos. After going a little further (for a small hill), you can get to the nudist beach.

Balos, about. Crete

Rating: 4.8

One of the most inaccessible beaches on the island: you can only get there by car or as part of an excursion group by ferry. This is a unique meeting place for the three seas: Libyan, Aegean, Ionian. Balos amazes with the variety of shades of the sea surface and the snow-white sand. Convenient entry into the water.

Note: there are no people living nearby, so there are no taverns or shops. You will have to take everything you need on the road (including water).

Lalaria (Lalaria), about. Skiathos

Rating: 4.8

The northernmost beach of the island is considered the most picturesque and romantic of all. The coast strikes the imagination with the beauty of sea pebbles, surrounded by high cliffs. It is almost always sparsely crowded, and in the afternoon there is almost no one at all.

Note: you can only get there by water.

The best 'colored' beaches in Greece

Elafonissi, about. Crete

Rating: 4.9

Fans of 'colored' beaches will appreciate the luxurious Elafonisi, which, as if in a fairy tale, surprises with its unusual pinkish sand. The entrance to the water is shallow, the sand is fine and velvety, there are no big waves. This is a great place for families with children.

Note: you will have to wade – to get to the coveted coast, it is enough to walk about a hundred meters in water about 20 cm deep.

Red beach, about. Santorini

Rating: 4.8

The island is famous for its unusual gray, black and red beaches all over the world. The notorious Red Beach is one of the famous coasts with volcanic sand. Ideal for connoisseurs of unusual landscapes and wildlife. There are luxurious, harsh-looking rocks, red sand and turquoise sea surface. Formally, the beach is wild, but here you can sunbathe on a sun lounger, there is a toilet.

Note: it is undesirable to wear a light-colored swimsuit – the sand can stain the fabric.

Perissa, about. Santorini

Rating: 4.7

A wide beach with black sand and azure clear water. There are taverns nearby, you can rent a sun lounger (about 5 EUR / day). Suitable for a comfortable, relaxing stay.

Note: Black sand can stain light fabric, so it's best to wear a dark one. It is also better to use dark shoes. By the way, the sand gets very hot during the day. Although there are comfortable paths along it, you need to walk carefully.

The best beaches in Greece for a secluded getaway

Logaras, Paros

Rating: 4.9

The most secluded on the island. It is comfortable and quiet here due to the absence of a large number of people, calm waves (the coast is perfectly protected from the wind by a rock). You can swim for pleasure.

Plaka, about. Naxos

Rating: 4.8

Without doubt the best beach on the island. You can get there by bus – the flight runs from the capital of the island every 30 minutes. The water is surprisingly clear and calm, the sand is velvety, golden – the dream of an esthete. Plaka is considered uncrowded, very quiet, and moving away from the 'civilized' part of it (with sun loungers and taverns), you can sunbathe naked for pleasure.

Egremni, about. Lefkada

Rating: 4.7

A secluded pebble beach of the island with a length of about 2.5 km with unique landscapes and clear water. Ideal for lovers of nature and tranquility. Due to the remoteness, there are no active types of recreation. The sea deepens rather quickly, there are waves.

The best beaches in Greece for adults

Vai, oh. Crete

Rating: 4.9

The beach is rather uncrowded, cozy (equipped with everything you need), the water here is warm and clear. Suitable for a comfortable, relaxing stay. There is a splendid palm grove nearby. You will have to achieve it by serpentine.

Note: the entrance to the water is quite deep and rocky.

Sani, Halkidiki

Rating: 4.8

The Blue Flag beach is ideal for a comfortable and measured holiday. The place is distinguished by a unique view of Mount Olympus, luxurious white sand and warm, crystal clear water.

Paradise, about. Mykonos

Rating: 4.7

Famous for its bustling and crowded beaches, Mykonos has 'made no exception' for Paradise. The place is suitable only for youth, adult recreation. Here you can often meet representatives of sexual minorities. Music plays loudly all day, and in the evening a disco begins. Paradise itself is good: coarse sand, clear water, there is a pontoon entry into the water.

The best 'versatile' beaches in Greece

Mylopotas, about. Ios

Rating: 4.9

The luxurious beach with velvet golden sand and crystal clear sea is located in a cozy horseshoe-shaped bay. It is considered the best in Ios and one of the 'most' of all the island beaches in Greece. A great place for a rich sea vacation. Along the coastal strip, there are many taverns and restaurants where you can eat deliciously, and the variety of water sports activities will make your vacation unforgettable.

Koukounaries, Skiathos

Rating: 4.8

Perfectly equipped, ideal for active sports recreation (connoisseurs of this will be offered all kinds of sports equipment), comfortable rest with children. There is a shallow entry into the sea, luxurious golden sand. The coast is surrounded by pine vegetation.

Paleokastritsa, about. Corfu

Rating: 4.7

Luxurious white sand, turquoise absolutely clear water (to the very bottom) is a real paradise for beach holidays and comfortable diving. Nearby – well-developed infrastructure: taverns, boats for rent, entertainment for children. Young people love this place because of the Blue Lagoon (there is a bar in the rock), the opportunity to ride a boat in the caves, and excellent diving conditions.

Note: although Paleokastritsa is considered a warm, windless place, the sun sets here very quickly – after 17.00 it will already be cool on the coast. By the way, in some places sand is mixed with pebbles.

Matala, about. Crete

Rating: 4.6

Great pebble beach with a special hippie atmosphere. A large area of ​​the coast, beautiful views, convenient entry into the water, the proximity of taverns and unique caves make it possible to have a great rest, snorkel, eat delicious food, and explore the local grottoes.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.