Beach Guide

The beach is half the holiday — and Greece offers the full spectrum, from sandy town beaches with every amenity to wild coves reached by footpath. Here is an overview of the best-known beaches in the regions we cover, plus a few practical things worth knowing before you unroll your towel.

Sithonia

• Kavourotrypes (Orange Beach) — a string of small white-rock coves with turquoise water between Armenistis and Sarti; natural pine shade, limited space — arrive before noon.
• Armenistis — a long beach by the campsite of the same name: sand, a gentle entry, views of Mount Athos.
• Karydi (Vourvourou) — a shallow white-sand bay, made for small children.
• Toroni and Tristinika — spacious sandy beaches for crowd escapers.

Kassandra

• Glarokavos (Pefkochori) — a shallow sandy lagoon, one of the peninsula’s prettiest spots.
• Polychrono — a kilometre-long town beach with a gradual entry, ideal with kids.
• Hanioti — a well-kept town beach with everything within walking distance.

Thassos

• Golden Beach (Chrysi Ammoudia) — the island’s biggest sandy beach, golden sand and shallow water.
• Marble Beach (Saliara) — white marble pebbles and pool-coloured water; reached by a dirt road.
• Giola — a natural rock pool in the cliffs; a cliff-jumping attraction, not one for the youngest.

Olympus region (Pieria)

• Paralia, Olympic Beach, Nei Pori — wide sandy town beaches stretching along the resorts themselves: a gradual entry into the sea, amenities a step away, lifeguards in summer. Not “wild and hidden” — but for families with small children there is hardly anything more practical.

Lefkada

• Porto Katsiki — the postcard white cliff and turquoise; steps down from the car park.
• Egremni — a kilometre of wild beach beneath the cliffs; a long staircase or arrival by boat.
• Kathisma — a big organised beach near Agios Nikitas, with bars and sunbeds.

Sunbeds, free sections and the Blue Flag

• Organised zones: a set of two sunbeds and an umbrella costs roughly €7–15 a day, more on the most popular beaches; many beach bars waive the fee if you order drinks.
• Free sections exist on almost every larger beach — bring your own umbrella; on wild beaches (Egremni, Tristinika) there is generally no shade at all.
• The Blue Flag is the international mark for water quality, safety and facilities — Greece regularly ranks near the very top worldwide by number of Blue Flag beaches, with Halkidiki leading among its regions.

Quick picks by type

You want…	Beach	Region
Shallow water for kids	Karydi, Glarokavos, Golden Beach, Pieria’s town beaches	Sithonia / Kassandra / Thassos / Pieria
A sight to remember	Porto Katsiki, Egremni	Lefkada
Turquoise + wild atmosphere	Kavourotrypes, Marble Beach	Sithonia / Thassos
Everything walkable	Polychrono, Hanioti, Paralia	Kassandra / Pieria

One small thing that saves the day: water shoes on pebble and rock beaches (Marble, Kavourotrypes) — for kids and adults alike. To choose your base, see the regional guides, from Sithonia to Lefkada.