 Beaches
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It’s a blessing having all these beaches gathered in such little islands. Golden beaches that after the end of the winter seem undiscovered, wild or carved rocks that hide fascinating creeks, beaches with white pebbles that shine under the sun, are calling you to dive without a second thought into the crystal green-blue waters. Small or long, well hidden or not, isolated or crowded, Small Cyclades’ beaches are made in order to satisfy every taste and capture your heart forever.
Donoussa
Donousa’s beaches bare a unique natural beauty and their deep blue waters enchant you from the very first moment.
- Stavros: Golden beach with turquoise, shallow waters nearby the port. You have all the shops at a walking distance.
- Kedros: Magical beach-bay just 20 minutes on foot from Stavros. The choice of free campers. At its bottom you can discern the wreck of a German ship, leftovers of the 2nd World War.
- Vathi Limenari: A quite big, pebbled, beach with light blue waters that can only be reached via the sea.
- Livadi: A wonderful long beach with fine sand. Spreads generously under the village of Mersini situated only 20 minutes away. Here you will find lots of campers.
- Fikio: A small sandy beach surrounded by rocks that form caves and a small berth, where the local caique that brings you there stops.
- Sapounochroma and Mesa Ammos: Beaches at Kalotaritissa may be situated at the north but are leeward thanks to the small islet of Skoulonissi.
- Tripiti (Vlychos): The top beach of Kalotaritissa that is a free campers favourite- no need to bring your bathing suit here!
- Xilobatis: At the eye of the northern wind. Don’t consider going there without having consulted/taken an advice from a local.
Koufonissia
Although you are not going to find that many beaches on such a small island, they do follow an organised plan… of seduction to the holiday makers: Crystal blue waters invite you to dive in day & night despite them being cold.
- The beach of the settlement next to the port thanks to the thin sand and the shallow waters is ideal for children.
- Harokopou (Finikas): Long sandy beach with emerald waters. On its small pier at the side you will find the smacks/fishing boats that go round the island. Finikas’ shop in the centre is the meeting point of all lively locals, old and young!
- Fanos or Defteri: One more beach with crystal clear waters. At the end of which, among the rocks, you can find Italidaki, a private beach.
- Platia Pounda (Italida): For the past couple of years you will mainly find nudists, but there is no such segregation in Koufonisi yet.
- Pisina: A small natural pool that is formed by the rocks. Crystal waters that are being renewed from underground. A truly unique experience for those who swim here. And for the ones that cannot get comfortable on the rocks there is a small pebble beach a bit further down.
- Pori: A long golden sandy beach on the northeast of the island. It used to be a small paradise, since it was not easily accessible, but today an asphalted road takes you there from the centre of the island and you can also find two shops for coffee and food. Still high on the nudists list.
- Parianos: On the south side of the island, protected from the north wind, a wide sandy beach with the fishing boats lining up at the back.
- On Kato Koufonissi: Detis with Venetsano’s famous taverna, Nero which is the free campers’ main choice and Pezoulia that has a view of Shinousa.
Schinoussa
Despite the fact that it is a small island it is surrounded by various different beaches one better than the other.
- Mersini: This picturesque beach by the port has a few trees and it’s protected by the winds.
- Tsigouri: The cosmopolitan beach of the island. Golden sand, trees, clear waters and with a view to Ai Vasilis’ (Santa Clauses’) peninsula, Fidousa and Heraklia.
- Livadi: Has a long sandy beach with blue waters. Its deep sand and tall trees with their thick shade make it special.
- Agios Vasilios: It is said that its beaches are the best ones on the island, but access is forbidden, since the whole peninsula is private.
- Alygaria, Gagavi and Kambos: Three small sandy bays in a row. Picturesque and beautiful, ideal for small groups of people.
- Lioliou: Small but wide sandy beach with shallow waters, big trees which afford plenty of shade surrounded by rocks.
- Bazeou: Not too shallow waters but with incredible colour. A small beach with a mixture of pebbles and sand only for the few ‘chosen’ ones.
- Almyros: Two beaches, one after the other, with sand and very clear shallow waters. Ideal for families. The northeastern wind brings a small wave, making this beach ideal for surfers as well.
- Fontana: Small and quite.
- Psili Ammos: Immaculate, undiscovered green-blue-water beach that reaches the top of the nearby hills. The island’s jewel.
- Fykio: A small sandy beach with wild rocks. In the open there are reefs that give a beautiful green colour to the waters and make it ideal for underwater fishing.
- Sifnaiko: A leeward bay on the southwest side of the island. The favourite destination for yachts.
- Gerolimnionas: White sand with waters in all shades of blue and green. Although a difficult beach to reach, one of the islands best.
Heraklia
All Heraklia’s beaches are clean with crystal waters.
- Agios Georgios: The easiest to reach, for those who are not in the mood for walking and moving about. Its waters are crystal and the trees on the beach offer generously their shadow. And after the plunge an ouzo at one of the seaside tavernas is a must.
- Livadi: A long beach stretched both in length and width. The islet of Venetico and the view of Schinoussa complete the scenery. Thanks to its easy access it is the most popular beach, situated on the way to Panagia. Kids love it because of its inviting shallow waters.
- Tourkopigado: With pebbles. Easily accessible after a beautiful drive of about half an hour from Panagia.
- Merichas: A steep beach with pebbles.
- Ammoudi of Merichas: In between the hollow of the rocks of Merichas. Access only from the sea.
- Karvounolakos: A small beach between Merichas and Alimia. The great colour of the waters makes it unique. Better to get there by boat.
- Alimia: Do not even think of coming here without your scuba diving equipment. Under its blue waters it hides a German plane of the 2nd World War. The rich sandy beach is ideal for swimming and sunbathing.
- Vourkaria: A narrow beach with pebbles. It will take an hour and a half walk to get to the small bay, but its emerald waters will pay you back.
- Vorini Spilia: A sandy beach on the northern part of the island, really close to Agios Gorgios. The north wind is to be blamed for the occasional rubbish that is brought to the beach, but that does not disturb the visitors since the waters are clear because of the same reason.
- Xilobatis, Tribounas: Low rocky beaches on the northwest part. If you find yourself there on the sunset you will get enchanted by the feast of colours with which the opposite island of Antiparos is coloured.
- Vala, Strogylos, Cavos tou Thodorou: Steep and sheer.
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