14 of the best beaches in Greece

18.07.2024 - 12:46 / lonelyplanet.com

Jul 17, 2024 • 8 min read

For beach lovers, it doesn't get much better than Greece. Boasting hundreds of inhabited islands and thousands of miles of coastline, the country is home to an astonishing number of golden stretches of sand, lapped by the crystalline waters of the Ionian and Aegean Sea. Whether you’re looking for a spot well suited to younger swimmers, a popular strip of sand with a bit of a buzz, or a secluded cove to escape the crowds, here’s our pick of the best beaches in Greece.

The popular resort area of Paleokastritsa, 23km northwest of Corfu Town, stretches for nearly 3km through a series of small, picturesque bays. Craggy mountains swathed in cypress and olive trees tower above. The real treat comes at the resort’s end, where an exquisite little beach is said to be where the weary Odysseus washed ashore. Boat trips from the jetty include Paradise Sunset. Be warned: the beach is extremely popular during peak season and securing a sunbed or patch of sand to lay your towel can be a challenge, no matter how early you arrive.

How to get there: There are numerous public bus and shuttle services to Paleokastrista from Corfu Town and the coastal resort of Kerkyra.

Crete's best sunsets are refracted into millions of vermillion sparkles at Falasarna, a growing beach town with an alluring – and popular – long beach. This broad sweep of pink-cream sand is considered among the island’s finest and is famous for its stunning sunsets, clear water, rolling waves and watersports. It gets busy from mid-July to mid-August, primarily with day trippers from Hania and Kissamos. Spread your towel on the Big Beach (Megali Paralia) at the southern end or pick a spot in one of the coves separated by rocky spits further north.

How to get there: Falassarna can be reached from the popular resort town of Chania in 90 minutes via public bus. There are several car parking spaces above the beach too.

However determined you may be to reach the village of Olympos, allow time to take the precipitous spur road that drops seawards from the east coast highway 17km north of Pigadia. Here, you'll find award-winning Apella Beach; backed by a cascading hillside of wildflowers with towering cliffs to the north and south, it is the finest beach in the Dodecanese. It's often described as "sandy," though it was pebbly when we went there. Nevertheless, it's gorgeous. There's a good taverna at the road's end, just above the beach.

How to get there: The winding road down to the beach is not for the faint-hearted. The best way to reach Apella is by boat from Pigadia.

The blockbuster of Greek beaches, Navagio on the island of Zakynthos really does have it all. Framed by towering vertical cliffs, the beach boasts azure waters, pure, perfect