The Best Beaches in Greece

Ionian cliffs

On Kefalonia and Lefkada the beaches are white pebble shores under white cliffs, and at Myrtos Beach and Egremni Beach the water deepens quickly. Myrtos has a steep road with hairpin bends down to a parking area beside the beach. Porto Katsiki is reached by about 100 steps, and parts of the back of the beach are closed because of falling rocks. Egremni takes a walk of about 1.5 km down a closed road and then around 400 cliff steps, with a hot climb back. Fteri Beach is reached by water taxi from Zola or by a rocky trail of 40 to 60 minutes.

Antipaxos by boat

Voutoumi Beach and Vrika Beach are both on Antipaxos and both reached by sea. Water taxis run from Gaios on Paxos for €25 return, and day-trip boats come from Corfu and Parga. At Vrika the tour boats anchor in the bay and passengers swim ashore. Sunbeds at Voutoumi cost around €40 and often come with the condition of a restaurant meal.

Lagoons on Crete

Balos Beach and Elafonissi Beach, both on Crete, are shallow turquoise lagoons with pinkish sand. Balos is at the end of an 8 km dirt track and a steep path of 20 to 30 minutes, or a boat ride from Kissamos. At Elafonissi visitors wade across the lagoon to an islet with dunes.

Simos and Fakistra

Simos Beach on Elafonisos is two sandy beaches joined by a narrow strip of land, with cedars on the dunes behind and strong wind on many days. Fakistra Beach in Pelion is a small pebble cove under high cliffs with a chapel in a sea cave, at the bottom of a slippery path of 10 to 15 minutes.