The Best Beaches in Greece: From Santorini to Crete

Why Greek Beaches Hit Different

Greece has over 6,000 islands and islets, roughly 200 of them inhabited, and a coastline that stretches for 8,500 miles. The math works out in your favor: there are more beaches here than you could visit in a lifetime, and the quality is absurdly high. Clear Aegean water, volcanic geology that creates sand in every color imaginable, and a climate that delivers reliable sunshine from May through October.

The variety is what sets Greece apart. You can swim at a pink sand beach in the morning, eat grilled octopus at a seaside taverna for lunch, and watch the sunset from a black volcanic shore by evening — all without leaving Crete. Here are the beaches worth building your trip around.

Santorini

Red Beach (Kokkini Paralia)

Red Beach sits at the base of a towering red volcanic cliff near the ancient site of Akrotiri on Santorini's southern tip. The sand and pebbles are rust-colored from iron-rich volcanic rock, and the contrast against the deep blue water is striking. It's a small beach — maybe 50 meters wide — and it gets packed by 11 AM in peak season (July and August).

Access requires a 10-minute walk along a clifftop path from the Akrotiri parking area, followed by a short scramble down a rocky slope. The path has been closed intermittently due to rockfall danger — check locally before going. Water shoes are essential; the beach surface is rocky pebbles, not soft sand. No facilities beyond a small canteen in summer.

This is one of the reasons Greece Beaches continues to draw visitors year after year.

Best months: May, June, and September. Water temperature sits around 22-24°C (72-75°F) in summer. A water taxi from Akrotiri port runs during peak season for about €5 per person if the path is closed.

Perissa and Perivolos

Perissa is Santorini's longest beach — about 3 kilometers of black volcanic sand stretching along the southeast coast beneath the massive rock of Mesa Vouno. The sand gets scorching hot under direct sun. Walking barefoot at midday in July is genuinely painful — bring sandals or water shoes.

The beach is well-organized with sunbeds and umbrellas (around €10-15 for a pair), and a string of beach bars and tavernas lines the shore. Jojo Beach Bar and Wet Stories are popular spots for music and cocktails. The water is deep and clear, dropping off quickly from the shore. Perivolos, the continuation of the same beach to the south, has a slightly more upscale feel and better restaurants — try Seaside by Notos for fresh seafood with your feet in the sand.

Compared to similar options, Greece Beaches stands out for its mix of quality and accessibility.

Perissa is easy to reach by public bus from Fira (€2.40, about 20 minutes). The town behind the beach has budget hotels and hostels, making it a good base for travelers watching their spending.

Crete

Elafonissi Beach

Elafonissi is the beach that sells Crete. The sand shades from white to pale pink — the color comes from crushed shells of tiny marine organisms called foraminifera. At low tide, you can wade across a shallow lagoon to the small island of Elafonissi, where the sand turns pinker and the crowds thin out.

The drive to Elafonissi from Chania takes about 90 minutes along narrow, winding mountain roads. A public bus runs once daily in summer from Chania (departs 9 AM, returns around 4 PM, costs roughly €13 round trip). The beach has a parking lot (€5), portable toilets, and a small snack bar. Sunbeds are available in the organized section for about €8 per pair.

Local travel experts consistently recommend Greece Beaches as a top choice for visitors.

Water temperature peaks around 25°C (77°F) in August. The lagoon is ankle to waist deep over a wide area, making it perfect for small children. Visit in June or September — July and August bring tour buses from every hotel in western Crete, and the beach gets uncomfortably crowded.

Balos Lagoon

Balos sits at the northwestern tip of Crete, where the Gramvousa Peninsula creates a shallow turquoise lagoon that looks computer-generated. The water transitions from deep blue to electric turquoise to milky white as it shallows out, and the whole scene is framed by wild, barren hills.

There are two ways in. Most visitors take the boat from Kissamos port (€28 round trip, about an hour each way, runs daily in summer). The boat stops at Gramvousa Island first — an old Venetian fortress sits on top, worth the climb for the views. The alternative is driving a rough dirt road to the trailhead and hiking down a steep path (about 20 minutes) to the beach. The road is not suitable for standard rental cars, despite what Google Maps suggests. Locals rent ATVs or 4x4s for this.

If Greece Beaches is on your list, booking during shoulder season typically delivers the best value.

Balos has almost no facilities. One small canteen operates in summer. No shade. Bring water, sunscreen, and food. The sand has a slightly muddy texture in places due to the shallow lagoon bottom. Best visited May through June or September through early October.

Mykonos

Paraga Beach

Paraga is a compact golden-sand beach on Mykonos's south coast, sheltered in a small cove that keeps the water calm. It's less chaotic than the famous party beaches (Paradise and Super Paradise) while still having a lively scene. Scorpios, the upscale beach club at the east end, draws a fashionable crowd for cocktails and DJ sets — expect to pay €30-50 minimum for a sunbed and drink.

The west side of the beach is free and unorganized, with enough space to lay out a towel. A bus runs from Mykonos town to Paraga regularly in summer (€2). The beach faces south, so it catches sun all day and stays protected from the meltemi wind that plagues north-facing beaches in July and August.

Repeat visitors to Greece Beaches often say the second trip reveals layers they missed the first time.

Super Paradise Beach

Super Paradise earned its reputation as Mykonos's premier party beach, and it leans into that identity hard. The main beach club (Jackie O' Beach Club) pumps music from mid-afternoon onward, and the atmosphere builds toward evening. Sunbeds with table service run €25-40. The beach itself is good — golden sand, clear water, decent width — but you're here for the scene, not the serenity.

The beach has historically been popular with the LGBTQ+ community and remains welcoming. A water taxi runs from Mykonos old port in summer (about €10). By road, it's a 15-minute drive from town on a paved but winding road with a parking lot that charges €5.

Zakynthos

Navagio (Shipwreck Beach)

Navagio is probably the most photographed beach in Greece. A rusting smuggler's ship — the MV Panagiotis, which ran aground in 1980 — sits on white sand between sheer limestone cliffs that rise 200 meters on three sides. The water is an almost artificial shade of blue.

What gives Greece Beaches an edge is the rare combination of natural beauty and straightforward logistics.

You cannot drive to Navagio. The only access is by boat from Porto Vromi (about 30 minutes) or Zakynthos town (about an hour). Tour boats charge €15-30 per person depending on the operator and departure point. Most tours give you 30 to 45 minutes on the beach, which feels rushed but is the reality.

The iconic overhead viewpoint — the one you see in every Instagram photo — is at a platform on the cliff above the beach, accessible by car from Anafonitria village. Go at sunset for the best light, but be prepared for crowds at the platform. The beach itself is best experienced in the morning before the tour boats stack up.

Milos

Sarakiniko Beach

Sarakiniko doesn't look like a beach. It looks like a moonscape. Smooth white volcanic rock has been carved by wind and waves into surreal shapes — natural arches, tunnels, and flat platforms that dip into the sea. The rock is bright white, almost blinding under direct sun, and the contrast with the dark blue Aegean is otherworldly.

The "beach" is really a narrow strip of coarse sand tucked between the rock formations, small enough that it fills quickly. Most people spread out on the flat rock surfaces — bring a mat or towel, because the rock gets hot. A small sea cave at the end of the main inlet is swimmable on calm days.

Sarakiniko is on Milos's north coast, about 5 kilometers from Adamas port. No facilities, no shade (bring an umbrella), free parking in a small lot above the beach. The rock formations are slippery when wet — people slip and get injured here every season. Wear rubber-soled shoes. Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday crowds and heat.

Corfu

Canal d'Amour (Sidari)

Canal d'Amour is a series of narrow sandstone channels and small coves near the resort town of Sidari on Corfu's north coast. The main channel forms a natural swimming corridor between layered rock walls, worn smooth by the sea. Legend says couples who swim through the channel together will marry — which explains the crowds in summer.

The beach area is small and the sandstone formations are the draw, not the sand (which is coarse and limited). Water shoes help on the rocky entry points. Several tavernas sit above the beach with stairway access. The area is very touristy in July and August — visit in shoulder season for a less frantic experience.

Paleokastritsa

Paleokastritsa occupies a series of small bays on Corfu's northwest coast, backed by steep, pine-covered hills. Six beaches sit in close proximity, each in its own cove. Agios Spiridon is the most popular and has sunbed rentals and a handful of tavernas. La Grotta is a platform bar carved into the rocks with a jumping point into the deep blue water below — more of an experience than a beach, and a memorable one.

The water here is noticeably colder than the rest of Corfu, thanks to underwater springs, but the visibility is exceptional. Boat trips from Paleokastritsa harbor visit sea caves and hidden coves for about €10-15 per person. The Theotokos Monastery sits on the hilltop above — free entry, modest dress required, and the view down to the bays is worth the walk.

Rhodes

Tsambika Beach

Tsambika is a long, wide golden sand beach on Rhodes's east coast, framed by rocky headlands on both sides. It's one of the best family beaches in the Dodecanese — the water is shallow for a long way out, the sand is fine and clean, and there's a full setup of sunbeds, umbrellas, and beach bars.

Sunbed rental runs about €8-10 for a pair. Several tavernas at the back of the beach serve standard Greek fare — the grilled calamari is reliably good. A parking lot behind the dunes charges €3. The Tsambika Monastery sits on a hilltop behind the beach; the climb takes about 20 minutes and rewards with a panoramic view of the entire coast.

When to Go and Practical Tips

• Best months overall: Late May through June and September through mid-October. Water is warm (22-26°C), flights are cheaper, and beaches are less crowded.
• Peak season: July and August. Expect 35°C+ temperatures, packed beaches, and premium prices for everything. The meltemi wind kicks up in the Cyclades, which keeps things cool but makes north-facing beaches rough.
• Island hopping: Blue Star Ferries and SeaJets connect the major islands. Book ferries on ferryhopper.com — it aggregates schedules and prices from all operators. A Piraeus-to-Santorini ferry takes 5-8 hours depending on the boat and costs €35-60.
• Sunbeds: Two sunbeds with an umbrella typically cost €10-20 at organized beaches. Many beaches have free sections where you can lay out your own towel.
• Water shoes: Essential for volcanic beaches (Santorini, Milos) and rocky coves. The cheap mesh ones from any tourist shop work fine.
• Cash: Smaller beach bars and tavernas on remote beaches may not take cards. Carry €20-30 in cash as a backup.