25 Coastal Gems In Greece For Your Perfect Escape

Ever catch yourself daydreaming about a getaway where all you hear is the soothing sound of waves and seagulls? If that sounds like your ideal escape, then Greece has plenty of less-crowded coastal spots waiting for you. Here are 25 perfect escapes that’ll make you want to pack your bags and head for the sea.

Kardamyli (Southern Peloponnese)

Kardamyli is filled with stone houses with terracotta rooftops, olive groves that stretch forever, and the Taygetos Mountains looming in the background. Everything has that mellow, sun-soaked Greek charm—peaceful, authentic, and soul-soothing.

Myrtos Beach (Kefalonia)

There’s drama, and then there’s Myrtos Beach. Curved like a moon and flanked by cliffs as high as skyscrapers, it dazzles with white pebbles that shimmer underfoot. Unlike sandy shores, this one crunches as you walk—adding an oddly satisfying soundtrack to your beach stroll.

Voutoumi Beach (Antipaxos)

At Voutoumi Beach, the shore features pebbles and the fine sand underwater squeaks. It’s the kind of place you come to when the world feels too loud. Snorkeling reveals a colorful underwater world, while the peaceful atmosphere makes it perfect for a lazy day under the sun. 

Porto Katsiki (Lefkada)

Backed by a white cliff that plunges into aquamarine waters, Porto Katsiki is Lefkada’s postcard queen. The stairs carved into the cliff lead to a sliver of soft sand that disappears into the sea’s vivid hues. Its wild beauty pairs well with a chilled frappe while you bask in the sun or dip into its inviting depths.

Balos Lagoon (Crete)

Balos Lagoon is situated between hills and tides, but it’s the cotton-candy pink touches along its shore that steal the show. In some areas, the water is so shallow you can walk across the bay, feeling like you’re walking on water. It’s one of those places that seems almost surreal when you’re standing right in the heart of it.

Galaxidi (Gulf Of Corinth)

Galaxidi flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries thanks to its powerful merchant fleet. And, if you visit during Clean Monday, you’ll catch “Alevromoutzouroma”—a flour-throwing festival where locals and visitors alike don protective gear and toss colored flour at each other in a joyful, messy explosion of fun.

Fteroti Beach (Antiparos)

Remote and windswept, Fteroti Beach lies far from Antiparos’ beaten paths. Its isolation means you might share it with a handful of others or have it all to yourself. Pack your own picnic, and stay until sunset for one of the most peaceful spectacles in the Cyclades.

Simos Beach (Elafonisos)

Simos Beach is actually two beaches—Mikros and Megalos Simos—joined by a narrow sandbar on Elafonisos Island. You’ll find a few organized spots with loungers, but there’s also plenty of space to roam freely. Moreover, Megalos Simos is ideal for body surfing.

Agios Pavlos (Crete)

This off-the-radar spot near the village of Saktouria feels like stepping into a prehistoric region. Lizard tracks crisscross the sand, and there’s a good chance you’ll spot wild herbs growing along the cliffs. Moreover, the local taverna serves food that tastes like a secret recipe.

St. George Beach (Naxos)

St. George Beach curves around the bay with a relaxed, family-friendly feel, where kids build fortresses of sand while adults sip frappes within a flip-flop distance of the sea. Just steps from cafes and shops, it offers all the perks of a city break but with gentle surf lapping at your ankles.

Elafonissi Beach (Crete)

Elafonissi Beach is a kaleidoscope of blush-pink sands and shallow lagoons stretching endlessly under the Cretan sun. Ideal for wading or sun lounging, Elafonissi feels like an escape with a Greek twist. Venture slightly offshore to the islet of Elafonissi itself for an even quieter corner.

Kolymbithres (Paros)

Nature clearly got playful here. Kolymbithres is more a sculpture park than the beach, with granite boulders smoothed by millennia into alien curves and nooks. Between these stone pockets lie hidden sandy patches that serve as your private slice of Paros. It’s a beach you explore rather than just sit on.

Kokkini Ammos (Crete)

Follow the goat trail over a dusty bluff from Matala, and you’ll find yourself staring at one of Crete’s most surreal sights—Kokkini Ammos, or “Red Sand Beach.” The sand here is coppery, like powdered cinnamon, and the cliffs burn orange at sunset, setting the whole place aglow.

Psaromoura Beach (Crete)

Hidden in a cove near Agia Pelagia, this beach feels like a beach locals would rather not tell you about. It’s compact, cozy, and often shaded by towering cliffs. Lastly, don’t be surprised if a friendly stray cat joins your towel party or a fisherman ambles past with the morning’s catch.

Lalaria Beach (Skiathos)

Reachable only by boat, Lalaria Beach is Skiathos’s showstopper—wild, white, and otherworldly. The beach is made entirely of round white pebbles that clatter like marbles as the waves roll in and out. Boats bob nearby, dropping off travelers who gasp at their first glimpse of this stark, sun-bleached haven.

Chrysi Island (Crete)

This uninhabited beauty stuns with its Caribbean-like beaches lined with centuries-old cedar trees. Golden Beach is the island’s crown jewel, with glittering sands and seashell mosaics underfoot. There’s not much else here other than raw nature, gentle waves, and the occasional hermit crab going about its day.

Agios Nikolaos (Pelion)

Don’t confuse this with the town in Crete—Agios Nikolaos in Pelion, which is a quiet coastal village where the beach hugs a sleepy promenade. Here, traditional stone houses peek through olive groves, and the bay is dotted with small fishing boats that look like they’ve been parked since the ’60s.

Vagia Beach (Hydra)

Hydra is famous for its donkeys and cobbled streets, but Vagia Beach keeps a low profile compared to its glitzy port. After a short hike through pine-fringed paths, you’ll arrive at a quiet bay where a little stone chapel watches over the waves. 
Falasarna Beach (Crete)

Falasarna Beach (Crete)

Sunsets don’t get much better than this. Falasarna is a west-facing powerhouse of a beach, with broad sands that seem to stretch forever and surfable waves crashing in rhythmic bursts. Behind the beach lie ancient ruins from a Greco-Roman harbor, almost forgotten among the wildflowers.

Kaladi Beach (Kythira)

Kaladi doesn’t give up its treasures easily—but that’s half the charm. Sea caves line the water’s edge, making it a favorite for snorkelers and daydreamers alike. Plus, the sound of waves echoing through stone chambers creates a soundtrack you won’t find on Spotify.

Tersanas Beach (Crete)

A crescent of calm on Crete’s Akrotiri Peninsula, Tersanas Beach feels like it was carved for lazy afternoons and uninterrupted books. What makes this spot pop is its natural harbor history, as you’ll still see fishing boats resting offshore, bobbing like sleepy turtles.

Paleokastritsa (Corfu)

The coastline here doesn’t settle for one beach—it offers a mosaic of coves. Legend has it this was the spot where Odysseus met Nausicaa, and it’s easy to see why ancient myths stuck around. Look up, and you’ll see the Paleokastritsa Monastery perched above.

Manganari Beach (Ios)

Divided into multiple sandy inlets, the water here is glass-flat and changes color like a chameleon throughout the day. You might spot a local shepherd bringing goats down for a drink or a family of ducks waddling by like it’s their morning routine. Far from the noise, close to perfection.

Alonissos Island Beaches (Alonissos)

Alonissos is a treasure trove of diverse beaches, each with its own personality. Agios Dimitrios has a snaking pebble shoreline and surreal blue hues, while Leftos Gialos offers chalk-white pebbles beside swaying pine trees. What really sets the island apart, though, is its place inside a marine park—Europe’s largest.

Kea Beach (Kea)

Last but never least, Kea Beach—also known as Otzias Beach—is a peaceful northern gem that locals quietly adore. Shaped like a soft horseshoe, the water is calm and shallow. Nearby, you might stumble upon a tiny chapel or an olive grove buzzing with cicadas.