The beaches in Greece are among the best beaches in
world, and although they can be enjoyed most of the year,
they serve primarily as a summer playground for visitors
from all over the world. When it comes to Greece
beaches, there are plenty of well-organized spots featuring
various water sports options, and just as many secluded
and isolated locales where you can escape from the world.
Finding a Greece beach that has what you are looking for
is an easy task, and most often you can just ask the staff
at your hotel or any local to recommend the beach with
the characteristics you have in mind. Head to the
Greek islands and find a wealth of beaches and beach nightlife
that will have you dancing until dawn, or stick to the
strips of sand along the mainland coast and mix your beach
experience with your mainland Greece
tour. Where there is coastline in Greece, there
is usually the right beach for you nearby.
With so many different types of beaches to offer, making
a list of the best beaches in Greece is futile, as the
topic is rather subjective. But when choosing a
Greece beach, you will find many are proud European Blue
Flag award winners, meaning they are clean and support
good facilities. When you start your Greece tour,
or book a vacation
package to Greece, you will likely find yourself in Athens
at some point. There are some great beaches in Greece
found near Athens, and in the summer many of the bars
and clubs in other areas of the city close down and re-open
by the beaches. Many of the best Greece beaches
near Athens can be found along the route that leads to
Cape Sounion and there
are city beaches at Pireaus and Faliron. Try heading
to the public beaches at Vouliagmeni and Varkiza and walk
down to some of the coves and small pebble beaches to
escape from the crowds. If you want to try windsurfing,
try the beaches near Saronida and Anavissos. At
many of the Athens public beaches you will find changing
cabins, restaurants and various beach rentals. For
a picturesque bay and impeccable beach amenities try a
day at Grand Beach Lagonissi.
If you are staying in or near Thessaloniki,
you will be within reach of some of the best northern
beaches in Greece. To the southwest of Thessaloniki
you will find Katerini and Leptokaria and on the southeast
side is the Halkidiki Peninsula. Many will argue
that the beaches on Halkidiki are the best beaches in
Greece, others defer to the islands. If you like
the idea of beach camping, then head to the Kassandra
section of Halkidiki, or find free camping sites along
the Sithonia peninsula. There are also some of the best
resorts in Greece along this peninsula and the other beaches
near Thessaloniki.
Of course there would have to be mention made of the
beaches in Greece throughout the chain of islands.
Like beaches on the mainland, Greece beaches on the islands
truly offer something for everyone. If you want
to find a crowded beach hopping with nightlife, you will
find it in the Greek islands. If you want a quiet
and secluded retreat by the sea, you will find it also
in the Greek islands. For top notch nightlife and
non-stop partying, check out the beautiful, and often
crazy, Paradise Beach
on Mykonos. On the island
of Santorini, you will find
excellent beaches on the eastern and southern coasts offering
everything from water sports to naturist sections.
Red Beach on Santorini is
an amazing beach of red sand locked close to the blue,
Aegean waters by an imposing set of scaling red cliffs.
Other beaches on Santorini have black sand or white sand
and the color schemes found at these beaches will confound
you. On Crete, you will
be rewarded for your journey with hundreds of beaches.
There are many resorts and organized beaches along Crete’s
north coast, with the less crowded options on the south
and west side. Whichever island you choose to visit,
there will be a wealth of beaches waiting for you.
Generally, the easy to reach beaches will be more crowded
than those that take a bit of effort to get to.
The effort is always worth it though, if you want to get
away from the crowds.
Renting a car in Greece is a good idea if you want to be able to head to certain beaches without worrying about bus schedules. On the islands, renting a 4x4 or a motorbike will help you access some of the isolated beaches and there are often taxi boats on many of the islands that will transport you between the busier beaches and the more serene ones when you are ready for a change. Most of the hotels on the islands have incredible service and will assist you with finding transportation options and the best beaches in Greece for you.
