Any compilation of Greece’s best beaches will require, by its very nature, a ruthless process of elimination. Basking in southeast Europe, the country has a substantial coastline, as well as some 6,000 islands and islets, only a fraction of which are inhabited. Compounding the challenge is the fact that Greek beaches are generally clear, calm and safe, making them a dream for families, solo swimmers and sundowner-seekers alike. Among Greece’s array of myth-steeped Mediterranean, Aegean and Ionian shores, you’ll find powder-soft crescents perfect for paddling and remote rugged coves you’ll half-believe you’re the first to discover. Some come with shipwrecks, others with party boats, and plenty with rustic, toes-in-the-sand tavernas whose owners have been perfecting the art of grilled octopus summer after summer, year after year, for generations. From the olive-grove-fringed bays of the Peloponnese to the blue-flag sands of Halkidiki and barefoot-chic coves of Mykonos, these are the most beautiful beaches in Greece.

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1. Sarakiniko, Milos

Best for the “wow” factor
Hate sand in your sandwiches? It won’t be an issue at Sarakiniko, a lunar-like landscape where smooth white volcanic rock meets the glittering Aegean. Shaped by the wind and waves over millennia, it’s otherworldly and dramatic. Arrive by foot or boat, then swim, explore the caves, clamber the cliffs and stay for the epic sunset views. For a luxurious local base, the adults-only Domes White Coast Milos has 50 suites with private plunge pools. You’ll find contemporary Greek cuisine at restaurant Makris Milos and sunset views at the bar. The hotel also has direct access to the beach, which has moon-like rock formations reminiscent of Sarakiniko’s.

2. Astir, Attica

Best for people-watching
Athenians flock to this beach for its white parasol-studded sands, shimmering shallows and top-tier people-watching. Forgot your best kaftan? No problem — it’s less than an hour’s drive to the capital, whose vintage scene is to shopping what the Parthenon is to ancient history. If you are in the market for next-level luxe, however, the Four Seasons — Greece’s first — is on hand. The reimagined 1960s icon has pared-back, Cycladic-white bedrooms with marble bathrooms, five-star waterfront dining and a heavenly, pine-ensconced spa.

3. Elli Beach, Rhodes, Dodecanese

Best for urban vibes
There can’t be many city beaches that are quite as attractive as Elli. Located at the island’s top tip, it’s a mix of dark sand and fine shingle with views across the sea to Turkish mountains. Much of it is “organised” with loungers and parasols, and it’s about 15 minutes on foot from medieval Rhodes Town. There, tucked down a cobbled lane in the old town, is the six-bedroom Spirit of the Knights. The 14th-century nobleman’s house-turned-boutique hotel foregoes minimalism in favour of a rich, earthy palette peppered with Levantine treasures, and its restaurant is so good, dining in is a treat.

4. Anthony Quinn Bay, Rhodes, Dodecanese

Best for film buffs
Don’t be surprised if the scenery at this natural cove looks familiar: parts of the 1961 movie The Guns of Navarone were shot here. Anthony Quinn, one of the classic film’s stars, was so enamoured with the location that he bought much of the land hereabouts — and it’s still known by his name. Swim, snorkel, relax in the sun or have lunch at the cliffside beach bar. While the five-star Mitsis Faliraki hotel’s palm-dotted pool terraces wouldn’t look out of place in LA, the local ingredients on its restaurant menus and its turquoise-fringed sands say “Greece” with a capital “G”.

5. Penna, Drenia islets, Halkidiki

Best for remote stretches
Inhabited only by seabirds and goats, the tiny Penna islet sits between Halkidiki’s Sithonia and Athos peninsulas. One of a mini archipelago just off not-much-larger Ammouliani, Penna and its long, sandy beach are best accessed by kayak or motor boat. You can hire either from the water-sports centre at Eagles Resort, near Ouranoupoli, and head across for memorable picnics or swims. Back on the mainland, on a peaceful stretch of Komitsa beach, Avaton Luxury Beach Resort blends Relais & Châteaux polish with barefoot ease. Its 36 stylish suites, rooms and villas gaze out over the Aegean, and catamaran trips to Mount Athos are just a phone call to the front desk away.

6. Mavra Volia, Chios, North Aegeans

Best for cooling dips
It’s thanks to their depth that this beach’s waters are so refreshing on hot summer days. The smooth, black (“mavros” in Greek) pebbles for which it is named are the gift of a long-extinct volcano and accentuate the water’s bright blue tones. Without organised rows of loungers, this is as natural a beach as they come. Wash the salt from your hair at Archontiko Riziko. This charming ten-key boutique stay is housed in an 18th-century Genoese mansion in the historic Kampos district, within walking distance of the fragrant Citrus Museum.

 

7. Platis Gialos, Lipsi, Dodecanese

Best for off-the-beaten-track adventures
This northern Dodecanese island is a secret you’ll want to keep to yourself. Though easy enough to reach by ferry, Lipsi receives far fewer non-Greek visitors than its larger neighbours. Consequently, the golden sands of Platis Gialos are rarely crowded. Beyond sandcastles and safe swimming, children love this beach for the tame ducks that live here. A couple of miles away, in Lipsi, the three-star Aphroditi Hotel offers 28 bright and breezy studios and apartments, including a fairy-tale-like windmill suite. Breakfast is served on site; for other meals, you’re just 300m from the harbour’s clutch of tavernas.

8. Maltezana, Astypalea, Dodecanese

Best for a swashbuckling back story
Named for the Maltese pirates who once sheltered here in the peaceful bay, this sandy beach has “organised” and natural sections plus a good choice of tavernas in the adjacent seaside village. Marooned between Kos and Santorini, even getting to Astypalea is a seafaring odyssey that would make any pirate proud. Recharge between adventures at aparthotel Fildisi Boutique, which offers nine good-value suites with cool white walls and honey-coloured floors. There’s a seasonal, sea-facing pool, café and bar, and books and board games aplenty to enjoy on the terrace.

9. Aspri Limni, Crete, Aegeans

Best for silvery sands
The best thing about this Greek island beach spot is that the tour buses go right past it, en route to busy Elafonisi, four miles south. Aspri Limni’s silvery sands are encircled by a tumble of boulders that create a natural dam, hence its name (“White Lake”). It’s one of the most striking beaches in Crete, where the only trees are rare native palms. Bring provisions — it’s completely wild. When you fancy a blast of A/C — and some traditional Cretan cooking — the 30-room Elafonisi Resort is a ten-minute taxi ride away. Run by the Kalomirakis family since the 1980s, it’s amid peaceful gardens within ancient olive groves.

10. Perivoli, Skopelos, Sporades

Best for remoteness
Surrounded by cliffs, sandy Perivoli is as romantic as Greece gets — and it stays that way because it’s hidden in the back of beyond, three miles from the village of Glossa. Only reachable by a steep path at the end of a long, narrow road, it has a bar and a few loungers in summer. For a deluxe local stay, Natura Luxury Boutique Hotel, in Loutraki village, gets the thumbs up for its 32 sleek suites, spa, infinity pool and the excellent Katakalou restaurant, where traditional recipes have had a modern upgrade.

Best for Athenian escapes
It’s one of the little secrets of Athens: with its crystal-clear turquoise waters, it resembles an alpine lake. The 80-minute drive from the city centre is worth it, as the winding mountain descent offers you lovely empty views. There are several pebbly beaches but follow the coast north to the secluded cove of Prosili, where cliffs and drooping pines touch the coarse sands. As sunset approaches, make the ten-minute drive to Isla Brown Corinthia Resort & Spa, where 166 rooms and suites offer enchanting views of the Saronic Gulf, amenities are lavish, and the Corinth Canal is close enough to swing by for a photo op.

12. Glyfa, Antiparos, Cyclades

Best for family adventures
This golden crescent of soft sand with gently shelving waters — ideal for tots — would be packed to the gills elsewhere. But here, three miles from Antiparos’s bustling little town, it remains deliciously unspoilt, because there are other, easier-to-reach beaches in Greece — leaving Glyfa with just a few villas for those in-the-know. Those travelling with children will appreciate the flexibility — and reasonable room rates — offered by ThalaSEA aparthotel in Antiparos, where family rooms come with kitchenettes and sea-view balconies, and the lovely garden is perfect to play (or nap) in.

13. Aliko, Naxos, Cyclades

Best for avoiding the crowds
There are so many beaches around Naxos Town that few bother sitting on the bus from Chora for 14 miles to reach Aliko. They really should — it’s got golden sandy coves scalloped from a shelf of rock formations, a cedar forest and a tiny church that looks as if it were made of marshmallow. Naxian on the Beach — an adults-only, all-suite boutique hotel on Plaka beach — also begs exploration. The styling might be charmingly rustic, but the home comforts — from balcony spa baths to coffee machines and fast wi-fi — are reassuringly on point.

14. Apothikes, Andros, Cyclades

Best for heading off the beaten track
On Andros’s west shore, Apothikes is your ideal paradise beach: white sands tickled by clear waters in a sheltered bay, with just a few umbrellas and sunbeds, a tiny wooden pier and a beach-shack bar. The crowds head to Chalkolimionas beach, leaving this one empty. For further serenity, check into Iliades Luxury Boutique Suites. Perched above Batsi village, the property’s seven, standalone, sugar-cube rooms offer a contemporary design, plus high-spec mattresses and pillows. In-room breakfasts of fresh local delicacies can be taken on your Aegean-gazing balcony.

 

15. Gidaki, Ithaca, Ionians

Best for a break from the sand
While of the pebbly variety, this beach is more than worth a mention. A preternatural calm pervades this side of the island, and the rest of the world seems far away. Which it is. Gidaki is hugged by cliffs, making it inaccessible by road: either catch the summer boat service from the capital, Vathi, or walk on a coastal trail of a mile and a quarter that climbs through pines. A simple summer beach shack supplies drinks and snacks. Spectacular views are par for the course at boutique hotel Perantzada 1811, in a renovated neoclassical residence overlooking Vathi Bay. Sumptuous breakfasts served by the pool are worth bouncing out of bed for.

16. Koukounaries, Skiathos, Sporades

Best for greenery
It’s young, fun and probably the only beach in Greece where you might run into a posse of white and black swans. The beach itself is sublime: a crescent of gently shelving silvery sand, backed by a nature reserve. Get there by 9am, via the island bus from Skiathos Town, if you want to claim a spot in the shade. A stone’s throw away is new Elivi Skiathos, a luxurious, back-to-nature beachfront resort: spot the elegant nods to the island’s swans woven into its minimalist design. R&R comes by way of an Elemis spa and multiple pools, and its Japanese restaurant is the one to head to first.​

17. Pori, Ano Koufonisi, Cyclades

Best for sapphire seas
You won’t believe that the colours of the water are real here. Pori has rocky outcrops and two tavernas — and that’s it. It’s a flat two-mile walk from Chora (the one town), or you can grab one of the few taxis. For a great-value base camp, try Keros Art Hotel. Within a short stroll of Chora’s bustling port, its 23 rooms include single, double, three and four-bed options with private balconies. There’s a big pool overlooking the sea, a tempting breakfast spread, and the friendly staff will be happy to arrange bike hire for island adventures.

18. Voutoumi, Antipaxos, Ionians

Best for lunch with a view
Embraced by cliffs frothing over with greenery, the bone-white sands of Voutoumi are bathed in blues and greens. Get the best view by climbing the 200 steps to the Bella Vista taverna. Taxi boats make the trip from Paxos, but you’ll need to stay in one of the island’s villas to linger later than 5pm. Alternatively, make the 15-minute crossing back to Paxos and check in at Agali Hotel, a golden, hillside retreat built from local stone with a sea-facing pool flanked by palm-frond parasols. Just outside Gaios, it’s perfectly placed for barefoot lunches and Antipaxos boat hops.

19. Voidokilia, Messinia, Peloponnese

Best for avian encounters
The west coast of the Peloponnese is blessed with plenty of top beaches blanketed in huge expanses of sand, but none match the geometric beauty of this sandy half circle embracing a shallow turquoise bay. Flamingos frequent the lagoon behind the beach. You can hike up to the ruins of a 13th-century castle high on the headland that overlooks both. Also big on geometric beauty is Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino, in Pylos, a couple of miles from your beach towel. The Alexandros-Tombazis-designed bolt hole has all the trimmings you’d expect from the luxury brand, plus a line-up of immersive experiences including silk-dyeing workshops and stargazing.

 

20. Myrtos, Cephalonia, Ionians

Best for perfect pebbles
This spot in Cephalonia, featured in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, is a snorkeller’s dream, with secret caves to explore and water so clear you can see forever. A switchback road makes the steep descent down — you’ll find a bar and brollies. For a bird’s-eye perspective of this mesmerising beach, it’s just a five-minute drive (or steep, 30-minute walk) to Myrtos View Apartments. Each of the property’s five simple, self-catering units offers a private balcony and fully equipped kitchen, and there’s a seasonal outdoor pool.

21. Chrisi Milia, Alonnisos, Sporades

Best for pine-scented paddling
Alonnisos is renowned for its waters, so clear that boats cast shadows on the seabed. It’s the only inhabited island in the Northern Sporades National Marine Park (Europe’s largest), which is itself home to the largest remaining population of Mediterranean monk seals. The isle’s blue-flag beaches are almost never crowded; make a beeline for Chrisi Milia, where the sands are backed by pine-covered bluffs. When cocktail hour calls, the four-star Marpunta Resort is a good local choice, with dove-white bungalows overlooking the surrounding forest and a private pebble beach. Try sea kayaking, practice yoga or simply lie back and enjoy the scent of wild herbs in the air.

22. Balos, Crete, Aegeans

Best for Caribbean blues
It may get swamped in high summer by boatloads of tourists arriving on the ferry from Kissamos, but Balos — with its gleaming white sand and vivid waters — is a showstopper. To enjoy it at its wild, unspoilt best, either visit in shoulder season or hire a car and get there early, before the first of the ferries arrives. Crowds certainly won’t be a problem at the Avra Imperial in Kolymbari, a 25-minute drive away. Calm and contemporary, yet family-friendly, this lavish sanctuary impresses with its lagoon-style pools, blissful spa and high-spec suites, and has restaurants and bars enough to please even Dionysus.

23. Mylopotas, Ios, Cyclades

Best for backpackers
The deep sweep of golden sand on the west side of Ios, close to Chora (Ios Town) is a favourite with youthful travellers thanks to the beach club at its far end. A budget-friendly campsite and bungalows can be found here; or for classier accommodation, try FarOut Hotel & Spa or luxury Hideout Suites — both perched on a hillside above Mylopotas, well beyond the hubbub. For couples, Hideout Suites is the one. Splash out on a villa (there are five, plus 12 suites), complete with a private terrace and swimming pool, making for dreamy seclusion backdropped by whitewashed Cycladic architecture and dizzyingly romantic Aegean views.

24. Vai, Crete, Aegeans

Best for tropical tones
A mass of palm trees (this is Europe’s largest palm forest) beside bone-white sands and turquoise sea makes Vai feel like it’s very much more exotic than southern Greece. Even if you’ve never before been to this far northeastern point of Crete, there’s a chance you’ll have slight déjà vu: this is where those Bounty ads from the 1970s were filmed. Keep the vintage vibes coming at budget stay Castri Village Hotel, just three miles away. Its turquoise-and-white palette and the Cretan dishes served in its restaurant are delightfully retro, but amenities — including two pools — are bang up to date, and the views over Kouremenos Bay, priceless.

25. Super Paradise, Mykonos, Cyclades

Best for party people
The music is loud and the champagne is cold at Super Paradise, the see-and-be-seen beach club on the southern shore of Mykonos. A magnet for party people, this LGBT-friendly beach really gears up as the day goes by, with pumping tunes and an uplifting vibe getting everybody on their feet to dance on the sand. An olive pit’s throw west is Nimbus My Aktis, a boutique retreat with Cycladic-style suites — some with private hot tubs. The infinity pool, gym and beach views are best-in-class, and in-room spa treatments are available when some morning-after pampering is required.

26. Agios Sostis, Mykonos, Cyclades

Best for post-party recovery
Burned out by all the merrymaking for which Mykonos is famed? Do yourself a favour and plan a lazy day at Agios Sostis. In the north of the island, it’s one of the quietest beaches here and has very few facilities, making it feel delightfully wild. It’s popular with naturists, but best avoided on windy days when the sea can get quite choppy. Bookended by Platis Yialos and Psarou, the next beach along, Petasos Beach Resort & Spa will spell joy for private types. Sure, you can spend time in the cascading saltwater pool and 500sq m spa, but with sea-view suites kitted out with whirlpools and steam cabins, why would you?

27. Marathonisi, Zakynthos, Ionians

Best for getting back to nature
There are two reasons why Marathonisi is nicknamed Turtle Island. Approach by boat from Laganas in Zakynthos and the islet is clearly shaped like a turtle, seemingly swimming across the bay with a white, sandy beach in its wake. That beach is also a nesting ground for real-life loggerhead turtles, so visitors have to stay near the water’s edge to avoid disturbing the buried eggs. Expert-guided turtle-spotting excursions — plus olive picking sessions and botanical garden tours — are among experiences offered by the nearby (and very easy-on-the-eye) Castelli Hotel, an eco-conscious, adults-only boutique stay.

28. Belegrina, Chrisi, Crete, Aegeans

Best for castaway day trips
You’ll need to take a ferry from Ierapetra in southern Crete to reach the uninhabited island of Chrisi. Then follow the footpath through twisted juniper trees to reach Belegrina, or Golden Beach — as lovely a spot as you’ll find anywhere in Greece, with sapphire waters stretching out back towards mountainous mainland Crete. A ten-minute drive from the ferry port will take you to Ostria Resort & Spa, a good choice for active families, with six outdoor pools, a kids’ club and sports centre. Its spacious family suites, uncluttered design and long sand-and-pebble beach might just seal the deal.

 

29. Kolimpithra, Tinos, Cyclades

Best for surfers
The strong meltemi wind that blows from the north across the Cyclades in summer gives rise to consistent waves that crash into Kolimpithra’s bay. The larger of the bay’s two beaches bears the brunt of the swell, making it a magnet for surfers. Ride the waves, then relax afterwards on the neighbouring, smaller, more sheltered strand. Under the Sun Cycladic Village will suit surfers for its location — a 30-minute drive from Kolimpithra — and design lovers for its architecture, with local Tinian stone allowing it to blend seamlessly into its surroundings. Each of eight suites promises unobstructed sea views, plus private terraces and plunge pools.

30. Gerakas, Zakynthos, Ionians

Best for unspoilt scenery
Thanks to its location in the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, Gerakas beach is blissfully undeveloped. Sure, it’s got loungers and some rather good tavernas, but there’s very little else to spoil the scene. Flanked by steep clay cliffs, the sweep of sand is a sea turtle nesting site with an information station staffed by wildlife volunteers. Just 30 minutes’ north, the adults-only Lesante Blu will suit luxury-loving sun-seekers, with its horizon-melting infinity pool, seafood-packed menus and own stretch of sandy beach, with stylish loungers and waiter service for those days when you want your sea views with spritzes on tap.

31. Simos, Elafonisos, Peloponnese

Best for a local feel
Not to be confused with Elafonisi (Crete’s famous pink-sand beach), this under-the-radar isle between the Peloponnese and Kythira is a popular summer escape for locals while being little known by foreign tourists. Its main attraction is Simos beach — a large stretch of sand backed by towering dunes that are dotted with juniper trees and white-flowered sea daffodils. For a laid-back home-from-home within a ten-minute drive, the four-star Eight Dimensions Capari Suites Elafonisos beckons. Highlights include unfussy, neutrally decorated suites overlooking the sand dunes and sea, a hot tub and easy access to island tavernas.

32. Spathi, Kea, Cyclades

Best for waking up by the waves
A favourite with Athenians for weekend breaks, Kea has plenty of decent beaches — but Spathi trumps them all. The waters are particularly dazzling and it’s well-provisioned with loungers, dining, beachfront accommodations and other essentials. Come here midweek and you can enjoy it minus the crowds. Dazzling, too, is the hillside-hugging, wellness-focused One&Only Kea Island, 45-minutes’ north.

33. Vourvourou, Sithonia, Halkidiki

Best for sheltered swimming
Northern Greece’s Halkidiki region is known for its three peninsulas that point into the Aegean like the prongs of Poseidon’s trident. The middle of these, Sithonia, is authentic, unpretentious and beloved by weekenders from Thessaloniki. Vourvourou is its most favoured resort for the string of sandy beaches (particularly Fava and Karidi) whose turquoise waters are protected by Diaporos island, creating perfect conditions for sea swimming. After working up an appetite, it’s worth making the 45-minute drive to the design-forward Ekies All Senses Resort in Vourvourou, whose acclaimed farm-to-fork concept stars locally produced cheeses, fish caught from the hotel’s own shores and veg from its organic garden. Sleek suites come in muted shades that echo the landscape, some built to resemble natural caves, and art is everywhere.

34. Psili Ammos, Patmos, Dodecanese

Best for a sense of adventure
Psili Ammos (“fine sand”) is not an uncommon name for beaches in Greece. Serifos, Naxos, Crete and Thessos each have a Psili Ammos, but the one on Patmos is particularly special. Flanking a cove of the bluest seawater, it’s best approached on foot (a decent hike from the nearest road) but there’s also the option of cheating and coming by boat. Later, make tracks to the Petra, overlooking Grikos Bay, an intimate boutique stay run by the Stergiou family since 1989. Its 11 stone-built suites are the epitome of understated luxury, though views from the private balconies are extravagant, while breakfasts include just-baked tahini pies and fruit from the garden.

35. Karavostasi, Sivota, Epirus

Best for sleepy beach breaks
The coastline close to Sivota is a well-known water-sports destination, but things get much more laid-back at the sandy beach of Karavostasi. Set against a hinterland of olive groves and countryside, this large and empty beach has only a smattering of loungers and parasols. It rarely feels crowded, even at the peak of high season. Perched on a pine-forested hill overlooking this hallowed golden sweep, Sivota Hotel punches well above its weight. Expect simple rooms in a blonde palette, an infinity pool and a tennis court for gentle knockabouts before hearty Hellenic lunches.

36. Egremni, Lefkada, Ionians

Best for sunsets
Tucked beneath tall cliffs, Egremni beach faces west: perfect for watching the sun descending each evening to the Ionian horizon. Though it can get busy when tour boats deliver their passengers onto the shore, it’s big enough to find quiet spots from which to enjoy blissful dips in the crystal-clear sea. Sunset yoga? You’ll find it at the adults-only Secret Hill, in nearby Athania village. A boho-luxe home-from-home, it has a pool, Mediterranean restaurant (with regular live music nights) and menu of healing therapies — although those cooling mountain breezes and Ionian views will be a tonic in themselves.

37. Diakofitis, Karpathos, Dodecanese

Best for off-grid family beach stays
Warm, shallow waters in gleaming shades of teal and turquoise make this beach in the south of Karpathos a brilliant choice for safe splashing around. Facilities are quite thin on the ground, but the comings and goings of planes at the nearby airport are a handy distraction should the children ever need to take a break from playing in the sea. There’s plenty to keep children busy at the beachfront Alimounda Mare Hotel, including a dedicated pool overlooking the beach, playroom and spacious family suites. On a quiet cove in the island capital Pigadia, the five-star will also please grown-ups with its infinity pool with water jets, chic white loungers, restaurants, bars and spa.