Nowhere else on our beautiful planet you can find as many beaches as on the many Greek Islands. A total of 3,054 islands belong to the country, but only 87 of them are inhabited and very nice vacation destinations for tourists. From narrow bays to endless sandy beaches, from fine sand to rocky and pebbly coasts, from black volcanic sand to brilliant white rocks – hardly any other country offers such a contrasting choice of beautiful beaches as Greece. So why do people want to visit the best beaches in Greece?
Warm temperatures, rocks, white sand, and crystal clear water – these are the main reasons making the beaches of Greece so popular. On about 13,000 kilometers of coastline along the mainland as well as the Greek islands, there is enough space for many beautiful beaches and bays. These could not be more diverse. There are hidden rocks in the beautiful landscape and nature, lively and wide sandy beaches, and adventurous grottoes that invite guests for diving and snorkeling. Here is room for water sports and relaxation.
Best Beaches in Greece – Summary
- Balos Beach, Crete
- Navagio Beach, Zakynthos
- Elafonissi, Crete
- Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia
- Red Beach, Santorini
- Koukounaries Beach, Skiathos
1. Balos Beach, Crete
About 1 kilometer northwest of the town of Kissamos in Crete is the well-known Balos Lagoon. This is a bay between the small Cape Tigani and the Cape Gramvousa. The lagoon is simply breathtaking that Prince Charles and Lady Diana chose it as their favorite vacation spot. Balos Beach is especially popular because of its wild and romantic scenery, turquoise waters, and white coral and shell sand, which is the epitome of vacation in Greece. Due to its extraordinary beauty, many tourists come here every summer. In the off-season, the bay is less crowded but still absolutely stunning.
The sea here slopes particularly gentle, so even small children can play on the beach and in the water without danger. At the edge of the lagoon, you can discover rich biodiversity and interesting rock formations. You can buy food from a small café, which also rents out parasols.
If you are traveling in the northwest of Crete, you should definitely visit Balos Lagoon. Similar to the island of Elafonisi, shallow waters connect Crete and a wide sandbar with the small island of Tigani. There is a viewpoint with a beautiful view over the blue lagoon. You can have this incredible view on your way from the parking lot to the beach before starting the steep descent. At this point, sturdy shoes and a bottle of water are recommended for the way back. The adventurous journey by car over the gravel road is somewhat adventurous – however, it is worth it in any case. Alternatively, guests can take a boat from Kissamos to this beach. In addition, there are guaranteed Caribbean views.
2. Navagio Beach, Zakynthos
The most beautiful beach of Zakynthos and one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece is Navagio Beach. It is also known as Shipwreck Beach. For a very long time, Navagio Beach has been a real magnet for excursions and for vacationers who just want to relax.With the high and white cliffs surrounding this beautiful beach is a walk away from the parking lot, there is a very nice view from the signposted viewing platform. The water shimmers blue at this beach in contrast to the white rocks. Especially for amateur photographers, there are very beautiful motifs, which can be captured at any time of day.
The white and high rocks and the turquoise water at the beach of Navagio have surely been discovered by many visitors on postcards or cover pictures in the travel guides. The striking, up to 200 meters high walls of the rocks are breathtaking and offer the perfect motif for vacation photos.
Because of its fascinating view, the bay and the beach are worth a visit. Not only from above there is a lot to discover, down on the beach there is the wreck of a very old smuggler ship to see, which is why the beach of Navagio is called Smuggler’s Bay. If you want to visit this bay, you can book a full-day boat tour and see this scenery.
Elafonissi, Crete
Elafonissi is also one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. There is even a famous song about this beach. Elafonissi Beach is located in Crete and about 76 kilometers west of Chania at the southwesternmost end of the island. Elafonissi is not really connected to any roads but is still worth a visit.
The island is something right out of a dream and at the same time a wonderfully wide headland, which connects to the island of Elafonissi. On the left side – as seen from Crete – of this headland the coastline is quite steep. Some caution is appropriate, on the right side, however, you can swim without a worry. The sea here becomes a lagoon and invites you to relax and rest. The wilder side of this beach is an absolute paradise for windsurfers and kitesurfers.
In addition to the crystal clear water and the bright beach, there is an interesting landscape and exciting wildlife around this beach and also on the island of Elafonissi. This island has been protected since 2000 and has a lot of cedar trees and dunes. The endangered turtle species Careta Careta nests here and other rare species of animals are also native to this area.
Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia
At Myrtos Beach, the temperature of the water is optimal for swimmers and water sports enthusiasts almost all year long. The palette of colors of the sky, beach, rocks and water invites vacationers to forget time here. The white pebble beach adds to the atmosphere.
Myrtos Beach is a natural beauty without buildings surrounding it. One of the most beautiful beaches in Greece is located below that cliff that gives the beach a wild and breathtaking panoramic view. Above the beach, there is a parking lot where you can safely park a car. The originality of the beach has led to its inclusion on many lists within Europe and among the most beautiful beaches.
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This is a guest article and has been created and provided by Christof Bartel.