With around 3,000 islands and approximately 8,500 miles of coastline, Greece is certainly not short on beaches! White sand or black sand, stone or pebble, bustling resorts or isolated coves, you’ll find the full plethora of stunning beaches all across the archipelago. 

We’ve done the hard yards here and have compiled our top 10 of the very best beaches across Greece and the Greek Islands. Contact our dedicated Greece specialists to find out how you can build a tailor-made tour or small ship cruise including some (or all!) of these beautiful beaches.

Kokkini – Santorini

Santorini’s red beach is so-called for its scarlet cliffs and sand, which provide a striking contrast with the crystal clear waters in front of them. This isolated beach is a 10-minute walk (or short boat trip) from Akrotiri. There are minimal facilities, so pack for the day! Combine your beach day with a visit to the Bronze Age excavations back in Akrotiri village.

Super Paradise Beach – Mykonos

At the opposite end of the scale, Super Paradise is the buzzing heart of Mykonos’ party scene. With golden sands, turquoise waters, opulent beach bars, and water sports galore, Super Paradise is not subtle…but it is very fun! Located around 7km south of Mykonos Town, it is accessed by bus, taxi, or water taxi from Platis Gialos beach. 

Plaka Beach – Naxos

The long sandy beach at Plaka stretches for approximately 4km and is largely unspoiled, with a few loungers and umbrellas and minimal facilities. It’s a well-known nudist beach in the offseason, but during the peak summer months is welcoming for families and all travelers. The wider facilities of Naxos town are around 9km away. 

Golden Beach – Paros

Paros is one of the most beautiful islands of the Aegean Sea and is becoming increasingly popular with couples, friends, and families alike. Its renowned Chrissi Akti ‘Golden Beach’ has beautiful white sand, and is a known hotspot for wind surfings with perfect conditions for riding the gentle waves. 

Elafonisi – Crete

Situated in the isolated southwest of Crete, Elafonisi may take some getting to but is certainly worth it. The striking pink sand beach and lunar-like rock formations are actually a low tide crossing over to a small islet. Bring a camera as you may catch sight of rare loggerhead turtles and wildflowers in bloom at the right time of year. 

Sidari – Corfu

Moving over to the Ionian islands, Corfu is not short on incredible beaches but if we wanted to pick a winner it would be Sidari. With the excellent hotels and resort facilities of Sidari town nearby, the extremely photogenic thin cove of Sidari is perfect for gentle padding and sunbathing. 

Navagio – Zakynthos

Arguably Greece’s most famous and well-photographed beach, Navagio on Zakynthos simply had to make this list. Framed by high-arched limestone cliffs and with just a thin sliver of perfect white sand, it’s one of Greece’s most striking beauty spots. Navagio is also known as ‘smuggler’s cove’ – and with such a perfect natural shelter and isolated location, it’s easy to see why! 

Myrtos Beach – Kefalonia

Myrtos has been voted many times the best in Greece, and regularly features in lists of the very best in the world. Backed by steep cliffs and made up of millions of tiny white pebbles, it has managed to retain an unspoiled allure despite its global popularity. You may recognize Myrtos from a starring role in the 1994 Hollywood film ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’, based on the book of the same name by Louis de Bernieres. 

Porto Katsiki – Lefkada

Translating as ‘goat port’, Porto Katsiki is so-called as at one a time it could only be accessed by intrepid mountain goats! Around 35km from Lefkada town, it is accessed by a steep path down from the soaring white cliffs under which it sits. Boat trips can also be taken from nearby Nidri. As one of several blue flag beaches on the islands, it’s a perfect spot for swimming. 

Arvanitia – Nafplio

Finally, it’s important to remember that Greece’s mainland has just as much coastline appeal as the outer islands. The Peloponnese peninsula at the southern end of the mainland marks the meeting of the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean seas. It’s also littered with incredible historic sites – and of course, fantastic beaches! 

Nafplio is possibly our favorite coastal resort in the region, with its compact and attractive Arvanita beach a great place to spend the day. Book ahead to dine in the renowned Blue Blanc restaurant which overlooks the beach.

Explore the many highlights of Unforgettable Greece on either a luxury small ship cruise, or a fully bespoke private tour. Contact us online or call our travel experts at +44 208 004 2345 to start planning a memorable holiday filled with exciting destinations like this and more.