10 Greek Beaches you shouldn't miss

As you can imagine, during my trips to the US and Canada and my life in Boston, I’ve accumulated lots of photos, tips, and suggestions to share with you. With a rough calculation, I have 4 months worth of blog content about traveling!! But, it’s officially summer and I’m back home in Greece, so all I want to blog about is beaches, islands and vacation ideas!

A few weeks back I shared with you my mini-guide on how to choose a Greek island for your vacations. Today, I’m sharing with you 10 Greek beaches you shouldn’t miss (and why)! Of course, the list is not exhaustive and there are (many) beaches that I haven’t visited yet (but definitely want too). There are also beaches that I’ve visited, but don’t have any photos as I’ve visited those in my pre-blogging (and pre-digital camera) days!

Without further ado, here are the Greek beaches you shouldn’t miss in alphabetical order as well as tips you should know while visiting!

Egremni, Lefkada

Egremni, Lefkada

You need to walk down 338 steps in order to get to the beach (and climb them up again) but it’s totally worth it! Egkremnoi is a very long beach so there’s plenty of space for everyone! If you’re visiting during high season (July-August) make sure you go early so as to snap a parking spot near the steps (parking space is limited)!

Update November 2015: Due to an earthquake that took place on November 17th, 2015 the Egremni beach is inaccessible to the public for the time being.  Time and nature will definitely shape this beach again. Until then I guess that it will only be accessible by boat.

Related: The essential guide to Lefkada

Elafonisi, Crete

Elafonisi, Crete

Located in the southwestern tip of Crete, Elafonisi is probably the most beautiful beach in Greece. Matter of factly it looks very exotic and has pink sand!! The beach is vast and you can also explore the little island there (nisi = island). Going early means that you can snatch an umbrella, but in any case, bring sunscreen and a large hat with you!

Elia, Mykonos

Elia, Mykonos

Mykonos has a little bit for everyone: clubs, beaches, restaurants, wind (for surf and windsurf). Elia is one of the beaches that you should visit, as it is long and sandy. There are many luxury hotels around the beach and a restaurant on the beach for lunch and dinner after a long day at the beach!

Kalo Livadi, Mykonos

Kalo Livadi, Mykonos

This is my favorite beach in Mykonos! A lot has changed since the first time I visited back in 1999. For starters, it became popular with celebrities. Then beach bars/restaurants started cropping up. As with all beaches, during high season go before noon, as then it starts to get crowded.

Related: The Essential Guide to Mykonos

Panagia, Elafonisos Lakonias

Panagia, Elafonisos

I know the name is similar to Elafonisi (because it is), but this is another island altogether, off the coast of Peloponnese in the region of Lakonia. Simos is the most famous beach here (you’ll find it on this list as well), but Panagia in the western part of this tiny island is also beautiful and worth a visit!

Papafragas, Milos

Papafragas, Milos

This beach (rather tiny I should add) is like a natural pool surrounded by rocks, with a small opening that connects the “pool” to the open sea. For the record, this is how Papafragas looks from above.

Porto Katsiki, Lefkada

Porto Katsiki, Lefkada

If you have time to visit only one beach in Lefkada, then Porto Katsiki should be the one! It’s a smaller beach than Egremni, so if you want a space there (during high season) go early!

Red Beach, Santorini

Red beach, Santorini

Santorini is famous for its views and not so much for its beaches, as most of them have black(ish) sand. This one’s though is unique. It has red(ish) sand thanks to the rocks that surround it!

Need more tips and inspiration about Santorini? I’ve written a quick guide for you!

Sarakiniko, Milos

Sarakiniko, Milos

Milos has unique and peculiar beaches, as it is a volcanic island. Sarakiniko is the most famous beach on the island. The beach (=sand) per se is small, but the white rocks that surround it are unique. People usually liken the beach to a lunar landscape!! It’s very close to Papafragas, so you can visit both beaches in a day!

Simos, Elafonisos Lakonias

Simos beach, Elafonisos

Last but not least, Simos in Elafonisos is another Greek beach you shouldn’t miss! It’s actually two beaches divided by a thin piece of land. This is an aerial view of the beaches. My photo is from the large beach, but the smaller one is cute as well (and my favorite one between the two).

Related: The essential guide to Elafonisos

 Other notable Greek beaches

I told you this list isn’t exhaustive!! So which other beaches should be on your radar? Navagio (means shipwreck) in Zakynthos is a pretty popular one! Antipaxoi island also has a beautiful beach with white sand! Balos in Crete (NW from Chania) is on my bucket list! Sidari in Corfu is a unique beach you shouldn’t miss. It even has a part called the Love Canal. And the list goes one…

If you’ve been/are from Greece, which is your favorite beach? If you’re seeing these beaches for the first time, which one strikes your fancy?