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When you think of Greece, we're certain that you think of its beautiful beaches that are idyllic and consist of turquoise waters and white sand. Aside from the glorious Greek culture and the mesmerizing ancient ruins, the Greek islands are renowned for the shades of blue in their ocean, the fine golden sand, and the busy beaches that are constantly buzzing with people.
Greece is the ideal destination for beachgoers and water lovers. This Mediterranean nation is home to an astounding number of beaches that feature a variety of shorelines such as the white-pebbled beach of Myrtos and the pink sand illusion created by the crushed seashells on Elafonissi, meeting the crystal clear waters of the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea.
To truly be able to enjoy Greece's impressive beaches, we recommend staying in beach hotels on whichever islands you can, because experiencing a private beach from your hotel would be a lovely experience.
The most stunning Greek beaches make you feel like you're in a utopia with their lush natural beauty and sparkling crystal clear waters. When you venture out onto the stunning beaches in Greece and take a step on the golden sand, you wouldn't want to leave!
Narrowing down the beaches that have to be visited when in Greece is quite a mammoth task. Let's look at a list of the ten best beaches in Greece.
The Top 10 Best Beaches In Greece
Paradise Beach, Mykonos
Located on the coastline of Mykonos town, Paradise Beach is a world-famous beach that is a must-visit in Greece. With breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea, you will find this area adorned with beach clubs and beach bars throughout the coast.
Renowned to be one of the best beaches in Greece and the world, there is never a dull moment here. Paradise Beach Club has been rated the 14th best club in the world and is the place to be for partygoers!
You can enjoy any time of the day or night on this beach - whether you feel like day drinking, sipping on coffee while watching the sunset, eating local food from one of the beach stands, or want to party hard into the dawn, Paradise Beach has it all.
Navagio Beach Or Shipwreck Beach, Zakynthos
The Navagio beach, commonly known as Shipwreck Beach, is one of the most famous beaches in Greece. The wreckage of a ship thought to have transported contraband cigarettes in the early 1980s, is perched on an exposed bay in a secluded cove on the Zakynthos coast, one of the islands on the Ionian Sea.
It is undoubtedly a sight to behold, with its magnificent deep blue seas and the majestic standalone shipwreck that make tourists flock to see this unique occurrence. The stunning sea caves on the island of Zakynthos, which are unlike anything you've ever seen, are also remarkable.
Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia
One of the most stunning beaches in Greece and the world, the Myrtos Beach on Kefalonia island, one of the Ionian islands, is a remarkable shore nestled in an alcove.
It can be viewed from a vantage point on top from where you can see the waters turn from a deep blue to a light turquoise towards the coast. You can then go down to the beach and relax on the shore.
The shore is made up of sand and small white pebbles that glisten magnificently in the sunlight. This beach also offers a lovely sunset view.
It's important to note that the current on this beach can be unpredictably strong, so we advise caution. It's also best to arrive early at this beach to beat the crowd!
Another must-visit near Kefalonia island is the Melissani cave which is a gorgeous sea cave that you can take a boat trip through. A magnificent geological phenomenon, this sea cave is located adjacent to a number of Ionian islands in the ocean. It is also known as the Cave of Nymphs and will make you feel completely out of this world.
Koukounaries Beach, Skiathos
The Koukounaries Beach in Skiathos used to be one of the few serene beaches in Greece. It has now become a tourist hotspot and can get quite crowded in the summers.
Even so, this beach is ever-so-worth the visit owing to the beautiful crown of pine trees that adorn the bay, the lovely beach bars that serve authentic Greek food, sunbeds that you can rent and relax on, and a wide array of water sports for the adventurers to engage in.
Even though the area around this beach has been classified as a protected nature reserve, it does get crowded during the peak season.
From the second you enter this beach, you would feel electrified by the zippy energy of the place, making it the perfect vibe to spend an amazing day at a beach bar. We would recommend visiting this beach more so in the off-season than during the peak summer months.
Balos Beach, Crete
Greece's Crete island is home to some of the country's best beaches. With its white sand and aquamarine waves, the Balos beach in Crete is unquestionably well-known for its Mediterranean natural beauty, turquoise waters, and some of the best scenery on the Greek islands.
Balos Beach is an amazing beach that attracts several tourists in the summer since it is the perfect beach for swimming and for kids to enjoy, owing to its shallow waters. This is another beach that happens to be quite busy during the peak summer months.
The best way to reach Balos beach is by the ferry that leaves from Kissamos, which also features a picturesque ride with lovely views of the coastline and a dalliance with dolphins if you're lucky! The ferry also stops to allow passengers to take a dip in the Imeri Gramousa islet.
Voidokilia Beach, Messinia
The Voidokilia Beach located in Messinia in the Mediterranean region is a gorgeous beach that is one of Greece's most unique. A crescent beach in the shape of the Greek letter omega, this sandy beach features a semicircle-shaped formation of sand dunes encircling some of the most vibrant turquoise waters in all of Greece.
Sit back and relax on the fine sand of this beach that has been classified as "A Place Of Particular Natural Beauty" and is renowned to be one of the best beaches in Greece. This site will be unlike anything you've ever seen before.
Elafonisi Beach, Crete
Also located on the island of Crete, the Elafonisi beach is one of the most unique and beautiful beaches in Greece. This beach is famous for its signature pink ombré shore composed of white sand and pink crushed seashells that provide a gorgeous pastel contrast to the crisp blue-green water.
Once a well-kept secret, Elafonisi beach is now a popular tourist destination during the peak season but is a must-visit no matter the time of year that you visit the Greek islands.
A classified protected nature reserve, this beach is not just one of the best beaches in Greece but is also one of the top 25 best beaches in the world.
Sarakiniko Beach, Milos
Situated on the north shore of Milos island, this will be a truly otherworldly experience to enjoy and no Greek beach vacation would be complete without a visit to this wonderful beach. Sarakiniko is one of the most widely photographed beaches in Greece.
With a stark resemblance to the moon's surface owing to the waves of white-gray volcanic rock that this beach is made of, it's no wonder that the locals refer to the scenic shore of this beach as 'Lunar'.
Regardless of the time of year that you decide to visit Greece, make sure to stop by this wonderous beach for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Lalaria Beach, Skiathos
A well-known and highly visited white pebbled beach, Lalaria beach on the island of Skiathos is a wonder of clear waters, scenic rock formations, and most importantly, its famed white pebbles that glisten on the shore.
This beach is a must-see while visiting Greece because of its beautiful seas and stunning coastal formations.
There has recently been a heavy fine imposed on taking a pebble from the shore as a memento since, due to several people collecting pebbles, the beach started to lose its natural beauty. So, we urge you to take a picture, not a pebble!
Plaka Beach, Naxos
The perfect calm family-friendly beach apt for swimming, the Plaka beach in Naxos is, for the most part, one of the few beautiful beaches in Greece that are still commercially untouched. If you want a beach where you can just lounge on a day bed without the hustle and bustle of tourists and beach bars, then this particular beach is perfect for you.
Especially if you are looking forward to taking a dip on a Greek beach that isn't very crowded, you must visit the peaceful and serene Plaka beach.
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