The best Greek beaches – from hidden gems to Hollywood stars & turtle havens
WHO doesn’t love a beach holiday? Forget the Caribbean or Australia – just three hours from the UK, Greece boasts some of the world’s most stunning, Insta-perfect shorelines.
It also has some of the cleanest beaches, including a staggering 617 stretches so pristine they’ve been awarded the Blue Flag.
Whether you enjoy paddleboarding, windsurfing, kayaking, wreck diving, building a sandcastle or just sipping a cocktail in a gorgeous setting, there’s a Greek beach with your name on it.
And as Jet2holidays is the UK’s No1 tour operator to Greece, it can get you there, no fuss. Jet2holidays allows you to explore 19 Greek destinations, with flights departing from 11 regional UK airports and a superb choice of packages to suit all styles and budgets.
Here’s just a few of the Greek beaches you could be enjoying this summer…
Agia Pelagia, western Crete – family fave
Agia Pelagia is a glorious sandy beach a lovely 20-minute drive along the coast from Heraklion. The beach is super family-friendly – set in a sheltered tree-lined bay that protects it from the wind, with calm jade-green waters lapping the long stretch of sand.
This is a great spot for families as there’s plenty to see and do. Formerly a fishing village, the town of Agia Pelagia also has a good selection of cafes and tavernas. Here you’ll find lots of operators offering scuba, snorkelling and water sports, so you can stay local or explore the hidden coves and sea caves along the coast.
Beyond the beach
A short walk up into the hills is the traditional village of Rogdia, and the Savvathiana monastery from the island’s Venetian period – just one of many heritage sites in the area.
Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia – breathtaking beauty for couples
In 2001, when filmgoers first laid eyes on Myrtos Beach in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, many booked the next flight to Kefalonia to see if it could possibly be real.
The colours are mesmerising: a glowing white crescent tucked under marble cliffs, framed against the blazing blue sky and scintillating azure of the sea. The incredible views as you descend the steep road are part of the joy, but do bring swim shoes—up close, Myrtos is more pebbles than sand.
Beyond the beach
Stop for lunch in nearby Assos, an exquisite fishing village tucked beneath a Venetian castle.
Koukounaries, Skiathos – water sports galore
Fringed with fragrant pine forests, a lake and a nature reserve, the enormous silvery sweep of Koukounaries wouldn’t look out of place in the South Pacific.
The longest of Skiathos’s 62 beaches, it has a lively, fun atmosphere, and offers every kind of water sport imaginable: paddleboards, scuba diving, jet and water skis, kayaks, windsurfing and banana boats. Get plenty of useful tuition at one of the local schools and try something new.
Beyond the beach
Have a night out in the buzzy bars and tavernas of Skiathos Town – you might even spot regulars Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell!
Voidokilia Bay, southwest Peloponnese – ideal for chilling
In Greek, Voidokilia means “ox belly”, which brilliantly describes the unique rounded shape of this magnificent dune-fringed beach. It’s a geological one-off, a perfect semicircle of white sand framed by a lagoon and wooded hills.
Voidokilia’s sandy seabed and shallow turquoise water, with scarcely a ripple of current, make it just right for a dip. But this protected natural site is also peaceful, rustic and unspoilt, so somewhere to simply relax and take in the incredible beauty of the area. Stop for lunch or grab a sundowner at the cool beach cafe a mile up the beach.
Beyond the beach
Make the short drive up to one of the Peloponnese’s most remarkable archaeological sites: Nestor’s Palace dating to 1300 BC.
Paleokastritsa Beach, Corfu – best for exploring
Nicknamed the Capri of Greece, Paleokastritsa enjoys a spectacular setting of mythical beauty, a jewel set in mountains dense with cypresses, olive trees and pines. Its horseshoe-shaped beach is tucked deep in an azure jigsaw-puzzle bay of coves and caves.
Hire a little boat and spend the day exploring the surrounding coves, enjoying some of the best diving and snorkelling in the Med. Though make time to visit the 13th-century Byzantine monastery set in lovely gardens.
Beyond the beach
Drink in the otherworldly views from the clifftop cafes at nearby Lakones.
Gerakas Beach, Zante – natural wonder
Endangered loggerhead turtles frequent Zante more than anywhere else in the Mediterranean, coming ashore on summer nights to lay their eggs in the sand.
Part of the island’s National Marine Park, beautiful Gerakas Beach with its soft warm sand is their special favourite. It’s safe for the smallest toddler, but you won’t find any tavernas or water sports, and it’s off limits from sunset to dawn to give the turtles peace and space.
Beyond the beach
Visit the cafe, shop and turtles at the Gerakas Sea Turtle Rescue Centre.
Let Jet2holidays transport you to the Greek beach of your dreams and discover why people rave about its superb customer service and value for money.
Whether you’re after a B&B, a luxe stay by the sea or something in between, it offers an amazing choice of centrally located accommodation in Greece’s top locations.
Named the UK’s best airline by Trip Advisor, family friendly Jet2holidays offers an exceptional array of extras: 10kg hand luggage, 22kg baggage, free transfers, free travel for infants and thousands of free seats for older children.* And you can secure your Abta and Atol protected holiday with just a £60pp deposit.*
Make your summer dreams come true and book your gorgeous Greek getaway now with Jet2holidays
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