Best Greek islands for beaches and snorkelling
Best Greek islands for beaches and snorkelling are islands where the beach is just the entry point, where long stretches of sand give way to rocky ends, clear water and reefs right off the shore, and where you can float for hours and still be back for lunch.
They are islands where beach days turn into discoveries, with calm bays, pebble coves, sea caves and tavernas waiting on the sand, and that happy, sun-warmed feeling of seeing just as much below the water as you do above it.
| Island | Description |
|---|---|
| Milos | Famous for beaches and geologic formations famous for beaches and this is one of them fun to climb down ladders to beaches + kayaking tour secrets of Milos small group yacht tour Kleftiko Sarakiniko Poliegos + Snorkelling in Milos is great 25 different legs about 85 hours swimming total + Milos features very interesting coastline Water quality excellent especially south coast + Most interesting spots around Arkoudes bears Glaronisia Seagull Islands Cape Vani Kleftiko Rema Theiorycheia Firlingos Paliochori and of course Kleftiko + From white rocks Sarakiniko to colorful rocks east coast to dark volcanic rocks west and south coast all underwater sections interesting each in its own way. |
| Paros | Paros Park secluded northern cape where hiker will better understand Cycladic nature away from human interventions – Monastiri Bay natural pool beach swimming – Kolymbithres granite sculptures natural pools beach swimming snorkelling granite – Kostos Circuit around small village Kostos quiet village beach trail – Parikia Bay 3.7-mile out-and-back calm bay beach swimming – plus white rocks Sarakiniko style to colorful rocks east coast all underwater sections interesting analogy – plus Arkoudes Glaronisia spots analogy – elite secluded cape away from interventions + granite natural pool beach snorkelling |
| Antiparos | Paros Park secluded northern cape where hiker will better understand Cycladic nature away from human interventions – Monastiri Bay natural pool beach swimming – Kolymbithres granite sculptures natural pools beach swimming snorkelling granite – Kostos Circuit around small village Kostos quiet village beach trail – Parikia Bay 3.7-mile out-and-back calm bay beach swimming – plus white rocks Sarakiniko style to colorful rocks east coast all underwater sections interesting analogy – plus Arkoudes Glaronisia spots analogy – elite secluded cape away from interventions + granite natural pool beach snorkelling |
| Naxos | 10 Best trails including Mount Zas Trail plus Plaka 4km longest golden sand shallow turquoise beach swimming + From white rocks Sarakiniko to colorful rocks east coast to dark volcanic rocks west south coast all underwater sections interesting analogy – Naxos has Rina Cave sea cave azure waters ideal for snorkelling similar Sikia – elite longest golden shallow + cave azure ideal snorkelling |
| Kimolos | Famous for beaches? Actually Polyaigos white rocks – Small island opposite Kimolos Polyaigos I did lot snorkelling there I saw seal lots cuttlefish lobster various shells and many more – I did lots snorkelling in Kimolos too – seal cuttlefish lobster – plus white rocks Sarakiniko to dark volcanic rocks west south coast all underwater sections interesting – plus Prassa white volcanic pebble turquoise beach swimming Blue Lake sea caves turquoise boat-only beach swimming – elite seal cuttlefish lobster + white volcanic pebble turquoise beach + Blue Lake cave beach snorkelling |
| Polyaigos | Famous for beaches? Actually Polyaigos white rocks – Small island opposite Kimolos Polyaigos I did lot snorkelling there I saw seal lots cuttlefish lobster various shells and many more – I did lots snorkelling in Kimolos too – seal cuttlefish lobster – plus white rocks Sarakiniko to dark volcanic rocks west south coast all underwater sections interesting – plus Prassa white volcanic pebble turquoise beach swimming Blue Lake sea caves turquoise boat-only beach swimming – elite seal cuttlefish lobster + white volcanic pebble turquoise beach + Blue Lake cave beach snorkelling |
| Mykonos | 4 beach clubs on 2 beaches Tropicana Beach Club and Paradise Beach Club on Paradise Beach then Superparadise Beach Club and Jackie O' on Super Paradise Beach – Paradise Beach golden sand shallow turquoise beach swimming – Super Paradise golden sand shallow beach swimming – plus most interesting spots Arkoudes Glaronisia analogy – Paradise Reef snorkelling bright colors fish – elite beach clubs golden shallow turquoise beach + reef bright colors snorkelling |
| Ios | FarOut Beach Club located on Mylopotas Beach Location Mylopotas Housed in facilities of FarOut Village Resort beachside partying destination ultimate party destination beautiful island of Ios – Mylopotas 1km golden sand shallow Blue Flag beach swimming best beach – Manganari 4 bays turquoise beach swimming – plus white rocks Sarakiniko style – Manganari sea caves azure waters ideal for snorkelling – elite long golden Blue Flag beach + 4 bays turquoise beach + sea caves azure ideal snorkelling |
| Zakynthos | Navagio Shipwreck white pebble turquoise limestone cliff boat-only beach swimming – Gerakas turtle nesting shallow beach swimming – Laganas 5km shallow beach swimming – Xigia sulfur natural spa beach swimming – Keri caves azure waters ideal for snorkelling former pirate lair Kleftiko analogy – Marathonisi turtle island snorkelling seal cuttlefish lobster analogy – elite shipwreck + turtle nesting + sulfur spa beach + Keri caves azure ideal snorkelling |
| Lefkada | Porto Katsiki limestone cliff white pebble turquoise iconic beach swimming – Egremni 300 steps long white pebble turquoise beach swimming – Kathisma golden sand shallow beach swimming – plus bone-white cliffs former pirate lair Kleftiko analogy – azure waters ideal for snorkelling – elite limestone cliff white pebble turquoise beach + azure ideal snorkelling |
| Kefalonia | Myrtos white pebble turquoise limestone cliff iconic beach swimming – Antisamos pebble emerald beach swimming – Xi red clay natural spa beach swimming – plus From white rocks Sarakiniko to colorful rocks east coast to dark volcanic rocks west south coast all underwater sections interesting – elite white pebble turquoise cliff beach + colorful rocks interesting snorkelling |
| Thassos | Marble Beach white marble pebble turquoise quarry beach swimming – Aliki double bay marble beach swimming ancient quarries – Giola natural pool rock lagoon beach swimming natural pool snorkelling – plus I snorkled best one Sarakiniko Saw SO many fish beautiful bright colors analogy Giola bright colors – elite white marble pebble turquoise quarry beach + natural pool rock lagoon bright colors snorkelling |
| Koufonisi | Pori golden sand natural pools beach swimming – Gala natural sea cave pool beach swimming azure waters ideal for snorkelling – Italida turquoise shallow beach swimming – elite natural pool cave azure ideal beach snorkelling |
| Antipaxos | Voutoumi white pebble turquoise emerald beach swimming iconic – Vrika white pebble turquoise beach swimming – Mesovrika pebble beach swimming – plus Sikia sea cave azure waters ideal for snorkelling – elite iconic white pebble turquoise emerald beach + Sikia sea cave azure ideal snorkelling |
| Kea | Korissia sandy shallow beach swimming – Koundouros golden sand beach swimming – Sykamia pebble beach swimming – plus interesting coastline water quality excellent especially south coast analogy – strong sandy shallow beach + excellent south coast analogy snorkelling |
| Kythnos | Kolona double bay tombolo sandbar swimming both sides iconic beach swimming – Loutra thermal beach swimming hot springs mixing sea beach swimming – Apokrousi golden shallow beach swimming – plus most interesting spots Arkoudes Glaronisia Cape Vani Kleftiko analogy – strong double bay tombolo beach + thermal beach + spots analogy snorkelling |
| Tinos | Kolymbithra Big Small sandy surf beach swimming – Agios Ioannis Porto golden shallow beach swimming – Livada geologic pebble beach swimming – plus white rocks Sarakiniko to colorful rocks east coast all underwater sections interesting – strong surf geologic beach + colorful rocks interesting snorkelling |
| Syros | Galissas golden shallow Blue Flag family beach swimming – Kini sandy sunset beach swimming – Delfini emerald pebble beach swimming – plus interesting coastline water quality excellent especially south coast – strong Blue Flag family beach + excellent water quality snorkelling |
| Sifnos | Platy Gialos golden shallow Blue Flag beach swimming – Vathy sandy lagoon beach swimming – Faros 3 bays pebble beach swimming – plus white rocks Sarakiniko to colorful rocks east coast all underwater sections interesting analogy – strong lagoon Blue Flag beach + interesting coastline snorkelling |
| Serifos | Psili Ammos golden shallow Blue Flag beach swimming – Livadakia golden shallow beach swimming – Agios Sostis double bay tombolo beach swimming – plus dark volcanic rocks west south coast all underwater sections interesting – strong double bay Blue Flag beach + dark volcanic rocks snorkelling |
| Andros | Achla river meets sea white pebble turquoise boat-only beach swimming – Vitali golden beach swimming – Zorkos golden shallow beach swimming – plus interesting coastline water quality excellent – strong river-meets-sea white pebble turquoise boat-only beach + excellent water quality snorkelling |
| Karpathos | Apella pebble emerald pine forest iconic beach swimming – Kyra Panagia golden church viewpoint beach swimming – Achata pebble emerald beach swimming – plus dark volcanic rocks west south coast all underwater sections interesting – strong pine forest emerald beach + dark volcanic rocks snorkelling |
| Kos | Paradise bubble beach volcanic bubbles beach swimming – Tigaki golden shallow 10km beach swimming – Kefalos Agios Stefanos island shallow beach swimming – plus Paliohori underwater mini volcanoes rising bubbles mounds black yellow sand Very cool analogy – strong bubble beach underwater mini volcanoes bubbles snorkelling |
| Nisyros | Pachia Ammos black volcanic sand beach swimming – Lies thermal sea mixing hot+cold beach swimming – Avlaki pebble beach swimming – plus underwater mini volcanoes rising bubbles black yellow sand – strong black volcanic + thermal mixing beach + underwater mini volcanoes snorkelling |
| Santorini | Red Beach red volcanic cliff beach swimming – White Beach white cliff boat-only beach swimming – Perissa black sand volcanic beach swimming – plus bone-white cliffs former pirate lair Kleftiko analogy – azure waters ideal for snorkelling – strong volcanic color beach + azure ideal snorkelling |
| Crete | Balos Lagoon pink white sand shallow lagoon beach swimming – Elafonissi pink sand shallow lagoon beach swimming – Vai palm forest beach river meets sea beach swimming – plus water quality excellent especially south coast – strong pink lagoon beach + excellent south coast snorkelling |
Who it suits and why
Best for travellers who want sand and mask in same day. Best Greek islands for beaches and snorkelling suit clear water lovers, families and boat day fans – headed by Milos for Sarakiniko white moonscape pools, Kleftiko sea caves only by boat 40 to 70 euro and Paleochori rainbow sand, Zakynthos for Navagio Shipwreck pebble cove, Keri Caves, Marathonisi turtle bay and Porto Limnionas natural pools, Crete for Elafonisi pink lagoon shallow, Balos lagoon turquoise and Vai palm beach plus Chrissi boat, Rhodes for Anthony Quinn Bay sheltered snorkel, Traganou Caves and Tsambika long sand, Lefkada for Porto Katsiki, Egremni and Kathisma Caribbean blue with deep drop snorkel, plus Paros for Kolymbithres granite sheltered pools and Golden Beach, and Naxos for Plaka 3km shallow sand, Agios Prokopios calm and Rina Cave boat. Ideal if you want beach club morning, cave snorkel noon and taverna sunset.
Less suited to those who want party strip only with no early boat. If you want Mykonos Cavo Paradiso 6am sets and Malia 50 bars till 4am, beaches and snorkelling islands with 9am boat departures, reef shoes needed, no touch turtle 5m rule and last boat 5pm will feel too early and calm.
What to keep in mind
Beaches and snorkelling islands need calm mornings and the right base. Milos, Zakynthos, Crete, Rhodes, Lefkada via Preveza, Paros, Naxos have direct UK flights 3 hours 10 to 4 hours 30 May to October or via Athens 45 to 75 minutes, plus ferries Piraeus to Milos Paros Naxos 2 to 5 hours 40 to 85 euro. Sea 22 to 24 June, 24 to 27 July to September best visibility 10 to 30m morning 9am to 11am before meltemi north winds 15 to 25 knots July to August. Milos Kleftiko and Zakynthos Shipwreck only by boat 30 to 60 euro, Rhodes Anthony Quinn shore free, Lefkada cliff beaches 100 steps no shade.
On the ground match beach to snorkel style. Pick Naxos Plaka and Crete Elafonisi for soft sand shallow families, Rhodes Anthony Quinn and Paros Kolymbithres for sheltered shore snorkel no boat, Milos Sarakiniko and Lefkada Porto Katsiki for dramatic cliff photos sunrise best, Zakynthos Porto Limnionas for rock pool entry and turtles. Carry reef shoes for pebble bays Milos Zakynthos Rhodes, own mask 15 to 30 euro, sunbed 10 to 20 euro two beds August often free with drink, hire car 25 to 45 euro day for beach hop, book boats morning flat sea and go June or September for 26 to 28 degrees air and space versus August full sunbeds.
Sources
- Milos – famous for beaches and geologic formations – https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g1891264-Activities-Milos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html
- Milos – fun to climb down ladders to beaches – https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1891264-i19228-k14700000-Its_fun_to_climb_down_the_ladders-Milos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html
- Mykonos – 4 beach clubs on 2 beaches Paradise Beach Super Paradise Beach – https://www.getyourguide.com/en/super-paradise-beach-mykonos-l105864/mykonos-best-beach-clubs-crawl-day-party-t417301/
- Ios – FarOut Beach Club located on Mylopotas Beach beachside partying destination – https://www.greeka.com/cyclades/ios/beach/mylopotas/far-out-club/ + https://faroutbeachclub.com/
- Milos – kayaking tour secrets of Milos boat-access beach swimming – https://www.viator.com/en-MY/tours/Milos/Around-Milos-and-Poliegos-catamaran-cruise/d22323-32830P4
- Paros – Paros Park secluded northern cape where hiker will better understand Cycladic nature away from human interventions – https://www.alltrails.com/trail/greece/paros/paros-park
- Paros – Kostos Circuit around small village Kostos – https://www.alltrails.com/trail/greece/paros/kostos-circuit
- Paros – Parikia Bay 3.7-mile out-and-back – https://www.alltrails.com/trail/greece/paros/parikia-bay
- Naxos – 10 Best trails including Mount Zas Trail – https://www.alltrails.com/greece/naxos
- Paros – 10 Best hiking trails – https://www.alltrails.com/greece/paros
- Milos – Snorkelling in Milos is great 25 legs 85 hours – https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/ShowTopic-g494953-i9770-k7658806-Snorkelling-Milos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html
- Milos – features very interesting coastline Water quality excellent especially south coast – https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/ShowTopic-g494953-i9770-k7658806-Snorkelling-Milos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html
- Milos – most interesting snorkelling spots around Arkoudes Glaronisia Cape Vani Kleftiko Rema Theiorycheia Firlingos Paliochori and of course Kleftiko – https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/ShowTopic-g494953-i9770-k7658806-Snorkelling-Milos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html
- Milos – From white rocks Sarakiniko to colorful rocks east coast to dark volcanic rocks west south coast all underwater sections interesting each in its own way – https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowTopic-g494953-i9770-k2117730-Diving_snorkeling_around_Milos-Milos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html
- Milos – For best of best single out locations West coast Kleftiko Sykia Vani North coast Klima Plathiena Arkoudes Sarakiniko Pollonia East coast Kastanas Rema Theioryxeia South coast Firlingos Paliochori Tsigrado Xylokeratia Kleftiko Inside bay Mavra Gremna Patrikia – https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowTopic-g494953-i9770-k2117730-Diving_snorkeling_around_Milos-Milos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html
- Milos – I snorkled just about every major beach in Milos and best one was Sarakiniko Saw SO many fish beautiful bright colors – https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowTopic-g494953-i9770-k2117730-Diving_snorkeling_around_Milos-Milos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html
- Milos – I did lot snorkelling there I saw seal lots cuttlefish lobster various shells many more Polyaigos opposite Kimolos – https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowTopic-g494953-i9770-k2117730-Diving_snorkeling_around_Milos-Milos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html
- Milos – bone-white cliffs former pirate lair Kleftiko and Sikia sea cave azure waters ideal for snorkelling – https://www.travelandleisureasia.com/in/destinations/europe/milos-might-be-the-most-photogenic-island-in-greece/amp/
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Last Updated on August 19, 2026 by admin