15 Best Beaches in Greece

Paralia Platis Gialos,  in the vibrant resort town of the same name, is one of Mykonos’ best beaches, exemplifying the island’s dynamic reputation.

Sunbeds cover the shoreline, providing shade and a place to rest between swims in the crystal-clear Aegean waters. Along the boardwalk, chic bars and restaurants hum with visitors enjoying Greek mezze and embracing the lively spirit of Mykonos.

Platis Gialos is a brilliant place for families with young and older children, couples, and senior travelers. It is shallow for safe swimming, there are watersports like parasailing for teens, the restaurants offer gourmet menus for romantic dinners, and the shady beds are perfect for spending the day on Mykonos Vacations.

Best For: Mykonos watersports and nightlife

Red Beach is one of Greece’s most unique shores and the crown jewel of beach day trips on Santorini Vacations.

The distinct red, Mars-like sands owe their hues to the volcanic activity of the caldera. Behind the beach, cliffs rise hundreds of feet, creating one of the most intriguing slices of Santorini's coastline. The beach is an excellent place to explore as a family, capturing photos with backdrops of the dramatic scenery.

Couples also adore day trips to Red Beach, one of Greece’s best for relaxation and sunbathing, as its natural land and seascape steal the show.

Best For: Cinematic beach photography

The white sands of Plaka Beach extend more than two miles, making it one of the best Greek beaches to visit for long walks or to escape the crowds. While many flock to the shoreline, its length makes it easy to find a quiet nook to spend the day.

Families with children and senior travelers can find shady sunbeds and pergolas dotting the beach and settle in for a day of relaxation and swimming in the turquoise waters of the Cycladic island. There are also glamorous beach bars and clubs behind the shoreline where couples can experience the lavish local lifestyle on Naxos Vacations.

Best For: Long walks away from the crowds

Paleokastritsa Beach is a small, busy but charming beach on Corfu Island at the base of a breathtaking Greek village with views of the Ionian Sea.

What makes it such a spectacular place to visit is the image of a headland sticking out in the sea and creating two sides of the beach where you could spend the day. Paleokastritsa is also ideal for luxury trips, as you can avoid crowds on the beach by accessing the bay by boat.

On these lavish Corfu Island Vacations, you can enjoy swims at Paleokastritsa or walk the rocky coves, with tours of the 13th-century village adding to the allure of a day here.

Best For: Luxury escapes on Corfu Island

There is no shortage of fascinating beaches to visit in Greece and Sarakiniko Beach on Milos island is another to add to your list.

Attracting families, couples, and seniors searching for scenic shores, the white volcanic rock formations that create a lunar landscape provide lovely photo opportunities. The waters are translucent and the world feels miles away as only yachts, a few buildings, and lush vegetation flank the shoreline.

Milos Vacations are ideal for luxury Greece trips, as catamarans can get you to the island's best beach in style, with Sarakiniko a gateway to the Aegean island’s picturesque coastline.

Best For: Catamaran cruises around the Greek island of Milos

The island off Crete, Elafonissi, is one of Greece’s longest-kept secrets, only recently sharing the limelight of top places to visit on vacation. Today, Elafonissi Beach is a must-visit destination, with its iconic pink sands setting the stage for an enchanting afternoon in the sun.

Parents with young kids can build castles with rose-colored sands, enjoy snorkeling in the calm sea, and walk up and down the beach. Couples can find a pergola to lounge under and embrace intimacy far from the world. Senior travelers adore long walks along the coast to the island’s 17-century Chrysoskalitissa Monastery.

Elafonissi Beach is a jewel of Crete that all travelers should make a trip to during their island-hopping adventures in Greece.

Best For: Show-stealing photography of pink sands

Sand and pebbles combine on the shores of Saint Paul’s Bay, creating banks around the small beach on Rhodes Island. It is still a somewhat secret spot, with only several shaded sunbeds to snap up when arriving from Lindos village or by boat.

The turquoise waters contrast the rocky yellow headlands and a beach bar lets travelers relax and appreciate the natural beauty. At the right time of the year, you may find yourself swimming in crystal-clear waters alone or wandering the quiet neighboring towns.

Rhodes Island Vacations offer couples a chance to embrace the dreamy atmosphere of Saint Paul’s Bay, whether on Greek Honeymoons or romantic trips to the islands.

Best For: Honeymoon beach days far from the crowds

Ornos is Mykonos’ best beach for families and, though popular, is a brilliant white-sand shoreline on which to spend afternoons soaking up the sunshine, swimming, and building sandcastles with your young children on Greece Family Vacations.

Around the corner from the busy town, Ornos Beach also offers fun for parents traveling with older children. Families can explore the trendy bars and restaurants along the coast for a taste of the Greek island’s vibrant atmosphere while safe from the nightlife crowds.

Yachting and catamaran cruises are available for families of all ages wishing to splurge on breathtaking sunset sails. At the same time, scooters are available to rent with your adult children if you would like to zip around the bay and explore the headlands.

Best For: Family vacations in Mykonos

The lesser-known Greek island of Zakynthos is an exotic Ionian jewel, home to the famous Navagio Beach, often referred to as Smuggler’s Cove or Shipwreck Beach.

Travelers gather on the small shore to see the rusting shipwreck in the middle of the beach, only accessible by boat. The sapphire waters shimmer, flanked by tall yellow cliffs that conceal the exposed cove. Viewpoints on the headlands provide panoramas of the cove, shipwreck, and coast, a perfect place to catch the sunset over Zakynthos.

You could spend a good hour or two in the company of your family, friends, or partner, admiring the shipwreck and the scenery surrounding one of Greece’s most unique beaches.

Best For: Shipwreck sightseeing on a beach accessible by boat

Myrtos Beach is Kefalonia’s main attraction, a white-pebbled Ionian shoreline at the foothills of Kefalonia’s coastal slopes, with deep blue waters and space for travelers to find comfort somewhere on the shore.

Kefalonia’s deep seas are not ideal for families with young children, but are great for older teens, couples, and active seniors on Greece Tours for Seniors wishing to cool off in the Ionian Sea after an afternoon of sunbathing.

The views of Myrtos from sunbeds peppering the shore are spectacular, showcasing the iconic combination of pebbles, azure water, and lush forests that cascade the cliffs behind the beach.

Best For: Active seniors retreat to a breathtaking beach

Travel to the splendid Greek island of Skiathos and stop at Koukounaries Beach, where the blue waters shift to emerald along a coastline covered in green trees.

Views are breathtaking from all angles, exposing the lush vegetation circling the pearly sands, making Koukounaries feel like a tropical beach hideaway among Greece’s famous Mediterranean islands.

Several beach bars lie tucked beneath the trees, where you can enjoy the shade and sundowners between swims. There are also many spots along the shoreline dedicated to sunbeds for visitors to lounge on between ocean activities and exploring the neighboring pine forests.

Best For: Exploring a beach on the border of a pine forest

Faragas Beach is an excellent place for couples visiting Paros Island, as chic beach bars and trendy restaurants offer a spot to unwind and share a cocktail while enjoying the views.

You can hop on intimate catamaran cruises around Faragas to see the beach and surrounding coastline from the water or stand-up paddleboard across the gentle swells. There is not much around Faragas Beach to entertain families with young children, but couples exploring Paros will find the beach a relaxing spot for some downtime on dreamy Greece Tours for Couples.

You can also access some of Paros’ highlights, including Porto Naoussa and Lefkés, from Faragas Beach.

Best For: Sunsets for couples enjoying intimate evenings on the beach

Voidokilia Beach is one of the most breathtaking in all of Greece and a photogenic spot for couples visiting the Peloponnese coastal region of Messinia.

The horseshoe-shaped beach, with crystal-clear waters, low-lying foliage, endless sands, and no sign of construction, is a shore to explore for its scenery alone. There are no beach bars or restaurants to spend the day at. Instead, you trade food for adventure in the heart of coastal nature for cinematic seaside splendor.

You can kayak around the beach, swim in the translucent water, or bob along with the gentle swells in a lilo, admiring the natural beauty of Messinia’s coastline and capturing enchanting photos.

Best For: Beach photography with few people in sight

Prasonisi is a picturesque Greek beach on Rhodes Island. The sea flanks a strip of sand on either side that runs towards a small, shrubbed island at the end of the shoreline. Beyond being cinematically stunning, Prasonisi is an adventure traveler's dream.

Wind and kitesurfers gather on Prasonisi en masse, taking advantage of the swells that splash against the windswept beach. The waves are still small enough for beginners to try their hands at the watersports and rental equipment is available for all your sea escapades.

Best For: Windsurfing, kitesurfing, and other watersports

Ios’ Aegean beach, Paralia Milopotas, is a stunning shoreline near a small Greek island where families, couples, and seniors can enjoy a slice of paradise, with blue waters, soft sands, and charming restaurants.

You can spend an entire day on the beach and around the nearby village, enjoying seafood at gourmet restaurants and swimming in the turquoise waters. Private boat tours take travelers on Luxury Greece Tours around Milopotas in style, with dining on deck and cocktails come sunset.

Watersports are also available for parents and their children to enjoy some fun on Ios’ famous beach.

Best For: Luxury living and lavish cruises

The best beaches in Greece can show you the beauty of the coastal mainland or lesser-known Greek islands as you explore the 10 Best Greek Islands to Visit and the historic cities neighboring the shorelines on Greece Vacations & Tours.

You can explore Greek tours, including stops at these popular beaches in our Greek Island Hopping Itineraries or find out more about Greece and what to do on your vacation in our Greece Travel Guide. You can also find more travel ideas in our Beach Vacations & Tours.