Top 5 Beaches In Greece: Sun-Kissed Escapes

Greece is an incredible country with so much to offer. It’s no wonder it’s one of the world’s most visited countries. On top of all its amazing history, there are thousands of stunning islands, the food is simply scrumptious, and it has some of the best beaches in the world. In this post, I list the top 5 beaches in Greece, many of them also noted on lists of the best beaches in the world! They’re so incredible they should not be missed. Even if you’re not a beach lover. They’re scattered across both the Aegean, to the east of mainland Greece, and Ionian, to the west of it, and include the islands of Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Crete (which has two of the top beaches in Greece), and Milos.

Shipwreck Beach

Shipwreck Beach, Or Navagio Beach, on the Ionian Island of Zakynthos is stunning. It’s not only one of the top 5 beaches in Greece, it’s often listed as one of the top ten most beautiful beaches in the world!

It’s breathtaking, with its white sandy beach cradled by limestone cliffs, some soaring 650’ (200 m) above the sea, and water so incredibly blue you can’t believe it. Especially from this viewpoint above!

All this is made even more intriguing by a rusting old shipwreck, the MV Panagiotis, lying on its beach. Even the shipwreck is interesting. Or at least the tale of it. The legend is that it was carry contraband items and trying to elude the Greek navy when it was grounded during a storm. Of course no one will say of this is true or not, but it makes a great story.

To get the best view of this beach, head to the clifftop above it. There’s both an official viewpoint and an unofficial one. The latter is much better as you get a larger and better view of the beach (and you don’t have to wait in line). It is, however, a little more dangerous to get to.

Unfortunately, the actual beach itself has been closed since 2023 as there falling rocks near the beach. This means, that the boat tours that come here several times a day can now only get within viewing distance of the beach, not all the way to it. Despite all this, it still remains one of the top 5 beaches in Greece.

To learn more about how to visit and about the viewpoints, see my post on Shipwreck Beach.

Myrtos Beach

Myrtos Beach is also on one of the Ionian Islands. It’s on Kefalonia, which is the island north of Zakynthos. Myrtos Beach is also not only one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, but is also regularly on lists of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Nestled between dramatic clifftops with a dazzling white beach and vibrant turquoise waters, it’s absolutely mesmerizing. Both from the two viewpoints high above the beach and on its stunning shoreline.

The viewpoint in its north side provides the best view of the beach as you can see more of the beach area. You can also see the hairpin-turn road leading down to it, which adds some incredible drama to the view. The viewpoint on the south side is also worth exploring. Especially is there are crowds on the northern side.

The beach gets strong waves. The whitish swirls in the photo above is sand being kicked up by the waves. Because of this, it’s not a good beach for children.

It’s accessible by car, with a parking lot at the base of the cliffs. There are sun beds with umbrellas for rent and there’s a snack shop with some Greek snack items.

To learn more about this beach, how to get here, and what to expect, see my post on the Enchanting Beauty of Myrtos Beach.

Balos Beach

Balos Beach and Balos Lagoon, on the northwestern tip of the island of Crete, is another one of the best beaches in Greece. Crete is in the Aegean islands, east of mai land Greece. Balos is visually stunning and the shallow waters here make the beach the perfect for families, solo travelers, and couples to enjoy.

This unique and gorgeous area is created by the position of the Gramvousa peninsula and Cape Tigani at the western edge of Crete. There are really shallow areas perfect for families and for warm water in cold should months as well as deeper water in the Mediterranean for swimming or snorkeling.

There are also a variety of places to explore on the pristine sandy beach. And, of course, you must see the postcard view of this beach. To do so, walk up the path to the top of the cliff. That’s where I took the photo below.

Being remote, there’s minimal development at Balos, which makes the views even more breathtaking!

To learn more about this beach and how to get here, see my post on Balos Beach.

Elafonisi Beach

Elafonisi Island is another of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, also often noted on lists of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and also on the island of Crete. This island is off the southwest coast of Crete and the water between the two is so shallow, you can walk to it.

Not only is the island itself beautiful, with calm, shallow waters, sometimes tinged with rare pink sand, it’s also a protected nature preserve. It’s home to the rare Loggerhead, or Caretta Caretta sea turtle, a small frog that’s endemic to the island, protected lizards, more than 100 rare plants like sea daffodils and endemic junipers, sand dunes, and more.

I also found tiny troves of miniature shells. These teensie shells were a variety of shapes and colors, just like the large ones you usually see, but each was exquisite, and small, less than a quarter of an inch!

Being a protected reserve, there are no buildings, cafes, or sun beds on the island (except the lighthouse and a small chapel). There are, however, sunbeds and a snack shop on the Crete side of this area.

To learn more about this lovely beach and how to get here see my post on Elafonisi Island.

Sarakiniko Beach

Sarakiniko Beach of the most photographed landscapes in the Aegean, with its white volcanic rock formations and crystal-clear waters. It’s definitely interesting to explore the cool terrain here, shaped by centuries of wind and water. This beach is in the island of Milos.

This is not a sandy beach, in fact the surface is a little crispy, so remember to wear comfortable shoes. Explore all its books and crannies, then find a place to lay down your towel and enjoy the scenery. There are shallow areas to wade into the water, there’s a cliff that’s very popular for people to take turns jumping into the water from, and caves to swim into.

Unlike the other beaches above, there are no sun beds or umbrellas for rent here. In fact, there are not even bathrooms or changing rooms here, so plan your visit accordingly. Sometimes there is a food truck near the entrance to buy snacks and drinks, but it’s best to be prepared and bring whatever you need for your visit.

To learn more about Sarakiniko Beach, see my post on the Best Things To Do on Milos.

Want More Of Greece?

Greece is such a spectacular destination I have a long list of favorites places. Rather than list them all, it’s best to see my overview of Greece in my Greece Travel Guide.

Safe Travels!

Julie