Nude Beaches

Mainland

Attica

Limanakia Coves

Limanakia Coves
Vouliagmeni is a high-toned seaside suburb of Athens that is located about 20 kilometers south of the city center. On the south end of Vouliagmeni, the Limanakia are three south-facing coves located within a span of 600 meters. Although there is no beach, these coves are popular with swimmers and sunbathers who spread out on rock ledges. The western cove is the most crowded of the three, and it is entirely textile. Nude bathing is well-established at the middle cove, which is mostly a gay hangout. Nude bathing also occurs regularly at the eastern cove, which is smaller and less popular than the middle cove. Both the middle and eastern coves are attended almost entirely by men, and most visitors at those coves go naked. The Limanakia are easily reached by bus or by car. There is a bus stop and a parking lot directly above the two nudist coves, and from there it is a short hike downhill to the coves, which are out of sight of passing traffic. There is a snack stand at the western (textile) cove.
If you visit the Limanakia, you may want to take the opportunity to visit Lake Vouliagmeni, which is very close by. The small spring-fed lake is partly surrounded by the steep walls of a collapsed cavern, and it is a popular, unique and very scenic swimming area. Alas, you will have to wear a swimsuit there. (If you refer to the given driving directions, the turnoff into Lake Vouliagmeni is located at the point where the median comes to an end, about 1.7 kilometers before the parking area for the nudist coves.)
VISUAL RESOURCES
town, region, country:  Vouliagmeni (suburban Athens), Attica, Greece
There are 13 placemarks related to this site.

DIRECTIONS
Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2gdkOpl
starting point  Exit 20 (E. Venizelos / Koropi) of the A6 motorway near Koropi on the eastern outskirts of Athens
The A6 is a 48-kilometer-long east-west motorway through northern Athens that is a beltway around the inland periphery of the city. Exit 20 is the easternmost numbered exit of the A6. (East of Exit 20, the A6 continues as a regular highway numbered 89.) Exit 20 is the exit for Athens International Airport, which is also named Eleftherios Venizelos. The exit is signed for E. Venizelos and Koropi.
Assuming you are coming from Athens*, you will reach Exit 20 after you pass kilometer marker 46. Once you exit, the exit lanes will split. Follow the signs for Koropi, NOT for the airport. You will then be filtered onto a road that goes southwest toward Koropi, Glyfada and Vari.
A little over a kilometer after you leave the exit interchange, follow the road that bypasses the center of Koropi, which you do by following signs for Glyfada and Vari. Once you are beyond Koropi, continue southwest on the four-lane divided boulevard. In 9 to 10 kilometers you will pass through Vari. Keep straight ahead. A few kilometers past Vari, you will reach a "T" junction with a six-lane divided boulevard where you have to turn one way or the other. At that point, you will be in Voula, a southern suburb of Athens that is just south of the better-known suburb of Glyfada. Turn left (south) at the "T" junction.
Just after you turn, you will pass a sign that points straight ahead toward Vouliagmeni (the next suburb south of Voula). Continue about 2 kilometers to the point where the road narrows from six to four lanes in the vicinity of Vouliagmeni Beach. The far right lane splits off, so make sure you are in the left or middle lane to keep straight ahead on the main road. A few hundred meters farther on, the sea will come into view (on your right-hand side), and the rest of the drive follows the coastline.
About 500 meters after the sea comes into view, the median will end, and from that point you will be on a four-lane non-divided road. About 500 meters farther on, the speed limit will slow to 30 kilometers per hour as the road begins to make several sharp curves. Start paying attention to the tile-roofed, wood-framed bus stop shelters that flank the road. 600-700 meters after the 30 KPH speed limit panel, the next bus stop is named A Limanakia, which is written in uppercase Greek as Α ΛΙΜΑΝΑΚΙΑ on the signs. There is a bus stop shelter on each side of the road, and they are more-or-less directly opposite one another. Keep going. 500 meters farther on, you will reach bus stop B Limanakia (Β ΛΙΜΑΝΑΚΙΑ), but the two shelters (one on each side of the road) are a bit staggered. The first one is on the left (inland) side of the road. Veer right immediately opposite that shelter to enter a long, paved parking pullout that can hold several dozen cars, at coordinates 37.8015N, 23.7939E. The other B Limanakia bus stop shelter (the one on the coast side of the road) is between the two entrances into the pullout. If you miss the first entrance into the pullout, you can make a very sharp right into the second one.
The main nudist Limanakia cove is clearly visible from the parking pullout described above. Go to the far west end of the pullout (to the right when facing the sea) and you will see the cove downhill and slightly to your right. A short, well-defined trail leads down to it. Or, from the far east end of the parking pullout, look slightly to your left and you will see a much smaller cove where nudists are also sometimes present.
* If you happen to be approaching from the opposite direction on the A6, there are two exits at the interchange. Take the first exit after the start of the motorway, which is an unnumbered exit signed for Koropi and Peania. (The next exit, Exit 20, goes only to the airport.) Upon exiting, proceed a little over a kilometers to a red light at a major four-way junction. Turn left and you will be on the road that goes southwest toward Koropi, Glyfada and Vari. Proceed as directed above.
Note: The directions above bypass most of Athens. To get to Limanakia from central Athens, just make your way to the sea and head southeast along the broad seafront boulevard. As you head away from the city center, you will pass the old airport, then you will pass through the suburbs of Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni. The driving distance from the Acropolis to Limanakia is 21 to 25 kilometers, depending on what route you take.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are going east when you exit (coming from Athens).
This placemark pertains to Limanakia Coves.

road begins to follow coastline at this point
This placemark pertains to Limanakia Coves.

Lake Vouliagmeni
This placemark pertains to Limanakia Coves.

median ends (for traffic going south)

30 KPH speed limit panel

bus stop "A Limanakia" of bus lines 115, 117 and 122
The name of this stop is written in uppercase Greek as A ΛΙΜΑΝAΚΙΑ on the sign.
This placemark pinpoints the A Limanakia bus stop that is on the inland side of the road. The tile-roofed, wood-framed bus stop shelters are easy to spot.
Athens area public transit info
Note: The two pairs of Limanakia bus stops are about 500 meters apart, and they are distinguished by the letter "A" or "B" preceding "Limanakia," for Alpha and Beta. However, in words with the Greek letter beta, the Greek "B" often gets transliterated to a "V" in English and other languages that use the Latin alphabet, with the result that many sources name the eastern of the two bus stops as V Limanakia rather than B Limanakia.

bus stop "A Limanakia" of bus lines 115, 117 and 122
The name of this stop is written in uppercase Greek as A ΛΙΜΑΝAΚΙΑ on the sign.
This placemark pinpoints the A Limanakia bus stop that is on the coast side of the road. The tile-roofed, wood-framed bus stop shelters are easy to spot.
Athens area public transit info
Note: The two pairs of Limanakia bus stops are about 500 meters apart, and they are distinguished by the letter "A" or "B" preceding "Limanakia," for Alpha and Beta. However, in words with the Greek letter beta, the Greek "B" often gets transliterated to a "V" in English and other languages that use the Latin alphabet, with the result that many sources name the eastern of the two bus stops as V Limanakia rather than B Limanakia.

westernmost & largest Limanakia cove (textile)

bus stop "B Limanakia" of bus lines 115, 117 and 122
The name of this stop is written in uppercase Greek as B ΛΙΜΑΝAΚΙΑ on the sign.
This placemark pinpoints the B Limanakia bus stop that is on the inland side of the road. The tile-roofed, wood-framed bus stop shelters are easy to spot.
Athens area public transit info
Note: The two pairs of Limanakia bus stops are about 500 meters apart, and they are distinguished by the letter "A" or "B" preceding "Limanakia," for Alpha and Beta. However, in words with the Greek letter beta, the Greek "B" often gets transliterated to a "V" in English and other languages that use the Latin alphabet, with the result that many sources name the eastern of the two bus stops as V Limanakia rather than B Limanakia.

bus stop "B Limanakia" of bus lines 115, 117 and 122
The name of this stop is written in uppercase Greek as B ΛΙΜΑΝAΚΙΑ on the sign.
This placemark pinpoints the B Limanakia bus stop that is on the coast side of the road. The tile-roofed, wood-framed bus stop shelters are easy to spot.

parking area

easternmost & smallest Limanakia cove (potentially nudist, often unused)

coastal road segment

path to beach

Mavro Lithari & Agios Nikolaos Beaches

collective description
About 40 kilometers south-southeast of the center of Athens, the town of Anavyssos is on the western side of the Attica peninsula toward its southern tip. There are two rather obscure beaches in Anavyssos that draw nude bathers, and they are just a few kilometers apart. Both beaches are attended mainly by locals, virtually unknown to tourists.
Toward the north end of Anavyssos, there are two neighboring hotels—Eden Beach Hotel and Alexander Beach Hotel—that are both on the inland side of the coastal road. Each hotel is opposite a very narrow beach that is typically blanketed in sun chairs and umbrellas during peak season. Just south of the hotel beaches, Marvo Lithari Beach begins just beyond a slight projection of the coastline and extends southward a bit more than 500 meters. The beach is quite narrow, and it is actually a series of niches rather than a continuous expanse. You will have to scramble over or around boulder screes several times if you want to explore the entire length of the beach. The coastal road passes directly above Marvo Lithari, elevated about 15 meters above the sea, but the beach is entirely hidden from the road. There are no signs, and it is not readily obvious how to access the beach, especially if you are just whizzing by in a car. Nude bathing is quite common at Marvo Lithari, especially along its middle and southern areas. The two staircases that descend to the beach are about 200 meters apart. The more northern staircase (closer to the hotels) lands in an area that is likely to be all textile, but nude bathers are typically encountered starting a bit to the south. The other staircase lands toward the southern end of the beach, an area heavily visited by gay men. Marvo Lithari is composed of grayish sand mixed with pebbles, and there are no amenities. An island named Arsida is less than a kilometer offshore from Marvo Lithari. Standing anywhere on the beach facing the sea, Arsida is the hilly land mass off to your left a bit.
Going away from Athens, the coastline bends just beyond Marvo Lithari such that it faces more south than west. A bit beyond the bend, Agios Nikolaos Beach has a curious geography. Part of the beach is a sandy isthmus that projects seaward to a prominent scrub-covered hill that is almost an island. The main beach area is along the west side of the isthmus, where sun chairs and umbrellas are available at Neuvo Loco Beach Bar. On the east side of the isthmus, there is a long, narrow, curving reef just offshore. The area around the reef is used as an informal marina, where there are always lots of boats anchored in the shallow water. Fronting the marina, a beach bar called Saint Nicholas is along an eastern extension of Agios Nikolaos Beach that is beyond the isthmus. Going east from the bar, a low escarpment rises perhaps 4 meters above the sea. There are three beaches below the escarpment. First there is a tiny little niche that disappears at high tide. Next is a narrow but more substantial beach that extends over 100 meters, backed by the colorful orangish rock of the escarpment. It comes to an end where a rocky outcropping projects into the sea. Just beyond the outcropping, the easternmost beach of Agios Nikilaos is tucked into the area where the escarpment begins to rise into a more substantial cliff. Nude bathing is prevalent at the easternmost beach, which has about 100 meters of coarse gray sand mixed with rocks. The sheltered setting of the nude beach is quite picturesque.
This placemark pertains to Mavro Lithari Beach and Agios Nikolaos Beach.

Mavro Lithari Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Mavro Lithari Beach and Agios Nikolaos Beach.)
VISUAL RESOURCES
town, region, country:  Anavyssos, Attica, Greece
There are 30 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Mavro Lithari Beach and Agios Nikolaos Beach.

Agios Nikolaos Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Mavro Lithari Beach and Agios Nikolaos Beach.)
VISUAL RESOURCES
town, region, country:  Anavyssos, Attica, Greece
There are 30 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Mavro Lithari Beach and Agios Nikolaos Beach.

DIRECTIONS
Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/43QFTby
National Road 91 is a 68-kilometer-long highway that begins in Athens and follows the coastline south and east along the western side of the Attica peninsula. Kilometer 0 is in central Athens near the Acropolis. Kilometer 68 is near the Sounio archaeological site at the southern tip of the Attica peninsula. (After Sounio, the highway number changes from 91 to 89 as it begins to go north along the eastern side of the peninsula.) Signs with the road number seem non-existent, as is the case with most roads in Greece that aren't motorways. While there do not seem to be any kilometer markers along the first 30 or so kilometers of NR-91, there are markers starting at kilometer 31 and going southward. Those markers are useful landmarks for finding several nude beaches in the southeastern outskirts of Athens.
There are a few things to keep in mind about using kilometer markers as guideposts. First, some of them are missing and others are hard to see, but there are enough visible markers that they are helpful. Furthermore, there are some remaining old stone markers with etched numbers, and those markers are not aligned with the modern blue markers that have replaced them. Going south away from Athens, a modern marker tends to be a few hundred meters past the corresponding old marker. The marker numbers below refer to the modern markers, not the old ones.
Anavyssos is between kilometers 46 and 51. The town is not well signed. Anavyssos is just south of Saronida, which is better signed. Assume you are heading south on the coastal highway as you head into Anavyssos.
To go to Mavro Lithari Beach:
Slow down when you pass kilometer marker 47. Watch for two hotels, both on the left (inland) side of the road: Eden Beach Hotel, then Alexander Beach Hotel. Toward the end of Alexander Beach Hotel, watch for a big sign on the right (coast) side of the road for Alexander Beach Bar. Just past the sign, there is a parking pullout (37.7245N, 23.9081E) on the right that can hold a few dozen cars. When you reach the pullout, you will be about 600 meters past marker 47.
From the parking pullout, continue south on foot, such that the sea is on your right-hand side. Just past the pullout you will see a tennis court on the right, perched above the sea but below the level of the road. Just past the tennis court, step over the guardrail and you will be at the start of a short but steep cement path that descends to the beach. There are a dozen or so steps at the start of the path, then the path makes a sharp rightward curve as it continues downhill, then there is a longer staircase for the final descent. There is no handrail. The path lands directly below the tennis court on the part of the beach that is likely to be all textile. Facing the sea, turn left and shortly you will begin to encounter nudists.
There is another staircase that lands farther south on the beach. Start along the cement path next to the tennis court, as described above, but stop when you get to the point where the path curves sharply rightward. Turn left and proceed south above the low cliffs. Shortly you will reach the start of a retaining wall that is below the road. You will be walking such that the wall is to your left, with the sea to your right. Proceed to the end of the wall (which is a bit less than 200 meters long) to find two cement staircases. One goes up to the level of the road, while the other goes down to the beach, landing directly in the nudist zone. Neither staircase has a handrail. If you were to go up instead of down, you'd land on the road about 50 meters north of kilometer marker 48.
If parking is full in the pullout described above, keep driving south and take note when you pass marker 48. Less than 50 meters farther on, there is a gated driveway on the right (coast) side of the road. Keep going. Continue about 300 meters and take the next possible right (37.7198N, 23.9133E) to enter a gravel parking pullout atop Nissos Beach, which is marked only by a small blue sign reading ΟΔΟΣ ΝΗΣΟΣ ΑΡΣΙΔΑ in uppercase Greek letters. (If you pass a building on the sea side of the road that is signed KTHMA 48, you've just missed it.) On foot, backtrack to marker 48, then continue about 50 meters to find the stairs to the south end of the retaining wall.
To go to Agios Nikolaos East Beach:
Continue driving south past Mavro Lithari Beach. Nearly a kilometer past marker 48 and just before marker 49, there is a small interchange signed Athina and Ag. Nikolaos. While you could get to the beach via the interchange, finding your way to the nude area of Agios Nikolaos is easier if you keep straight ahead. Continue a few hundred meters farther and take the next right (37.7218N, 23.9240E). The turnoff is not signed. There is a large asphalted area at the start of the road, then it quickly narrows. (You have missed the turn by 750 meters if you reach a red light near kilometer 50. The main beach of Anavyssos, a huge crescent that is clearly visible from the road, is just past the red light.)
Upon turning, you will be on a road that goes a few hundred meters to a huge earthen parking lot next to Neuvo Loco Beach Bar at the main area of Agios Nikoloas Beach. Informal parking is available closer to the nude beach, so you do not want to go all the way to the end of the paved road. Follow the road about 150 meters until you see a large boat perched atop stilts in the grass. Next to the boat, turn left onto a dirt track. Shortly you will arrive at Saint Nicholas Bar. There is informal parking amid the maze of dirt tracks (37.7198N, 23.9255E). Go to the east side of the bar (to the left when facing the sea), then continue east atop the low escarpment. About 250 meters from the bar, you will come to a small, boxy, dilapidated outbuilding. At that point, you will be standing above the far end of the long, narrow beach (described above) that is just before the nude beach. The nude beach is just ahead beyond the rocky outcropping that projects into the sea. It is a fairly easy scramble down some rocks to get there.
ADDITIONAL DIRECTIONS
starting point:  eastern terminus of A6 motorway near Koropi (eastern outskirts of Athens)
The A6 is a 48-kilometer-long east-west motorway through northern Athens that is a beltway around the inland periphery of the city. The easternmost exit of the A6 is Exit 20, which is the exit for Athens International Airport (also named Eleftherios Venizelos). Heading southeast on the A6 (toward the airport), the motorway terminates about a kilometer past Exit 20 and morphs into a regular highway that continues southeast into the southernmost part of the Attica peninsula. From the terminus, continue southeast another 5 to 6 kilometers, then turn right at the signs for Kalyvia, Lagonisi and Saronida.
Once you turn, continue south about 2 kilometers and you will reach a stop sign at the northern edge of the town of Kalyvia. You need to make your way to the western side of the town to continue toward the coast, but the route seems to be signed in Greek only. Watch for signs for Αναβυσσο (Anavyssos) and Λαγονησι (Lagonisi) and follow them. You will be driving along a peripheral road that bends around the northwestern edge of Kalyvia, and in 1.3 kilometers you will reach a red light at a four-way junction. Turn right, following more signs for Anavyssos and Lagonisi.
Upon turning, you will begin going southwest away from Kalyvia, and the rest of the route to the coast is straightforward. Continue 4.7 kilometers to a stop sign at a roundabout where the routes to Anavyssos and Lagonisi diverge. Signs (in Greek only) indicate that it is 2 kilometers to Lagonisi and 10 kilometers to Anavyssos. Even though you will eventually pass through Anavyssos, the route is much easier to follow if you go through Lagonisi, so keep straight ahead through the roundabout, following the sign for Lagonisi. Continue another 2 kilometers (keeping straight ahead through several more roundabouts) to the "T" junction with the coastal road. Turn left (south), following the signs for Sounio and Saronida.
Upon turning, you will be on a segment of the coastal road (NR-91) where there are kilometer markers. When you turn onto the coastal road, you will be about halfway between kilometer markers 39 and 40. Head south. In 2.6 kilometers (a bit past marker 42), you will pass the blue-and-white Saronida town sign. 3.4 kilometers farther along (between markers 45 and 46), you will pass a similar blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving Saronida. You will have entered Anavyssos by the time you reach marker 47, but the town is not prominently signed. From marker 47, proceed as directed above.
MAP from starting point to parking (Mavro Lithari, just past Alexander Beach Bar)
MAP from starting point to parking (Agios Nikolaos, next to Saint Nicholas Bar)
This placemark pertains to Mavro Lithari Beach and Agios Nikolaos Beach.

red light between km 46 & 47
This placemark pertains to Mavro Lithari Beach and Agios Nikolaos Beach.

kilometer marker 47

Eden Beach Hotel

Alexander Beach Hotel

big sign for Alexander Beach Bar

parking pullout

tennis court

kilometer marker 48

Nissos Beach (textile)

buidling signed "KTHMA 48"

kilometer marker 49

Neuvo Loco Beach Bar

main beach parking area

Agios Nikolaos, main beach (textile)

boat on stilts on dry land

Saint Nicholas Bar

informal parking

marina

tiny niche (textile)

narrow beach backed by low escarpment (textile)

small, boxy, dilapidated outbuilding

small chapel

main beach of Anavyssos (textile)

red light near km 50

segment of coastal road

path / stairs

path atop cliff

retaining wall

short paved road amid dirt tracks

nude area, roughly

K.A.P.E. Beach

K.A.P.E. Beach
K.A.P.E. Beach is a small beach located near the village of Legrena near the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula, roughly 60 kilometers south-southeast of the city center of Athens. The unusual and informal name applied to the beach comes from the Greek acronym Κ.Α.Π.Ε., which becomes K.A.P.E. in English. That stands for Κεντρο Ανανεωσιμων Πηγων Ενεργειας, which means Center for Renewable Energy Sources. From the parking area, steps lead down to a small pebble beach that is about 60 meters long, and that beach is popular and textile. From the west end of the beach (to the right when facing the sea), there is a short footpath that goes over a scree of rocks to an even smaller pebble beach that is about 25 meters long, situated below a steep wall of red rock. The smaller beach is also quite popular, and it is the domain of nude bathers. You may see a graffito such as ΠΛΑΖ ΓΥΜΝΙΣΤΩΝ ΜΟΝΟ ΓΥΜΝΙΣΤΕΣ spray-painted on the rocks, which means "nude beach, only nudists." On warm summer days, a few dozen visitors may be present on the small beach, with virtually everyone naked. At such times, you will be in close quarters with your neighbors. Despite its diminutive size, K.A.P.E. tends to draw more visitors than any other nudist location in Attica, and it has more of a gender balance than the locations that are closer in to Athens. There are no amenities.
village, region, country:  Legrena (Lavrio), Attica, Greece
There are 5 placemarks related to this site.

DIRECTIONS
Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fWepeL
starting point  the eastern terminus of the A6 motorway near Koropi on the eastern outskirts of Athens
The A6 is a 48-kilometer-long east-west motorway through northern Athens that is a beltway around the inland periphery of the city. The easternmost exit of the A6 is Exit 20, which is the exit for Athens International Airport, which is also named Eleftherios Venizelos. Heading southeast on the A6 (toward the airport), the motorway terminates about a kilometer past Exit 20 and morphs into a regular highway that continues southeast into the southernmost part of the Attica peninsula. From the terminus, continue southeast another 5 to 6 kilometers, then turn right at the signs for Kalyvia, Lagonisi and Saronida.
Once you turn, continue south about 2 kilometers and you will reach a stop sign at the northern edge of the town of Kalyvia. You need to make your way to the western side of the town to continue toward the coast, but the route seems to signed in Greek only. Watch for signs for Αναβυσσο (Anavyssos) and Λαγονησι (Lagonisi) and follow them. You will be driving along a peripheral road that bends around the northwestern edge of Kalyvia, and in 1.3 kilometers you will reach a red light at a four-way junction. Turn right, following more signs for Anavyssos and Lagonisi.
From that point, you will begin going southwest away from Kalyvia, and the rest of the route to the coast is straightforward. Continue 4.7 kilometers to a stop sign at a roundabout where the routes to Anavyssos and Lagonisi diverge. Signs (in Greek only) indicate that it is 2 kilometers to Lagonisi and 10 kilometers to Anavyssos. Even though you will eventually pass through Anavyssos, the route is much easier to follow if you go through Lagonisi, so keep straight ahead through the roundabout, following the sign for Lagonisi. Continue another 2 kilometers (keeping straight ahead through several more roundabouts) to the "T" junction with the coastal road. Turn left (south), following the signs for Sounio and Saronida.
From that point, you will be on a segment of the coastal road where there are kilometer markers, although a number of them are difficult to spot or missing. When you turn onto the coastal road, you will be about halfway between kilometer markers 39 and 40. Your destination is near marker 63. Head south along the coast for 23.3 kilometers (passing through Lagonisi, Saronida, Anavyssos, Palaia Fokaia and Thimari) until you reach a pair of blue-and-white signs that indicate a municipal boundary. The signs are stacked one on top of the other. The top sign indicates you are leaving Keratea. The bottom sign indicates you are entering Lavrio. (Keep in mind these are municipal boundary signs. You will not be near the town center of either Keratea or Lavrio.)
Almost immediately after the municipal boundary signs, take the next possible right onto an unmarked road. (If you pass kilometer marker 63, you have missed it by about 100 meters.) The road is paved but weathered, with a number of eroded segments. Follow the road 700-800 meters to a small parking area on the right (at coordinates 37.6602N, 23.9795E) that is just before an iron gate at the end of the road. (On busy days, there will be cars lined up along the road as well. A bit before the end of the road, there is an overflow parking area next to a sign that reads ΙΔΙΟΚΤΗΣΙΑ Κ.Α.Π.Ε..) From the parking area, a long set of stone steps with a handrail along one side descends to the small textile beach. Facing the sea, go to the right and follow the rough path over the rocks to reach the even smaller nude beach.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking.
This placemark pertains to K.A.P.E. Beach.

Keratea/Lavrio municipal boundary signs
This placemark pertains to K.A.P.E. Beach.

This placemark pertains to K.A.P.E. Beach.

route from Keratea/Lavrio municipal boundary signs to parking

path from textile area to nude area

Ramnous Beach

Ramnous Beach
Ramnous Beach is a rather obscure and somewhat remote beach located 9 to 10 kilometers east of Grammatiko and roughly 55 kilometers northeast of the city center of Athens. The beach is situated below a fenced archaeological site that is a minor tourist attraction, and it looks out over the South Evian Gulf. The mountains visible across the water are on Evia, the large island (about half the size of Crete) that is barely disconnected from the Greek mainland. Composed of pebbles and broken into multiple segments by small outcroppings, Ramnous is an undeveloped beach with no amenities accessed by an unsigned gravel road. Overall visitation is light, and nude bathing is well established. Parking is next to a small chapel at the north end of the beach. From there, it is possible to walk south (to the right when facing the sea) 500 to 600 meters to the opposite end of the beach. Most nudists walk at least half that distance before stripping down, with most nude bathing occurring toward the far south end of the beach. Ramnous is a very quiet beach that never gets crowded, with usually just a dozen or so visitors even during the middle of summer.
village, region, country:  Grammatiko, Attica, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to this site.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2f1GHoI
starting point  the Agios Stefanos / Krioneri exit of the A1 motorway in the northern outskirts of Athens
The A1 motorway is one of the primary thoroughfares of Greece, connecting Athens to Thessaloniki (via Lamia). The Agios Stefanos / Krioneri exit is located roughly 22 kilometers north of the center of Athens, between kilometer markers 27 and 28 of the A1. Upon exiting, follow the sign that points toward Agios Stefanos (NOT Krioneri). You will begin heading east through Agios Stefanos, and in a little over a kilometer you will cross a short bridge where there are blue-and-white signs that indicate you are leaving Agios Stefanos and entering Aniksi. Just after the bridge, take the next possible left at the sign for Marathonas. In 500-600 meters, keep to right to stay on the main course of the road, following another Marathonas sign. Continue north and east about 7.5 kilometers, where the road will narrow to one lane as it runs atop the dam of the Marathon Reservoir. (Traffic is controlled by a red light at either end of the dam.)
Once you have crossed the dam, continue 1.5 kilometers to a fork in the village of Vothonas. (The village is not well signed.) There is a taverna in the middle of the fork with the sign Το Χωριο του Καλοφαγα. Veer left at the fork, following the sign that points toward four localities that are written in Greek only: Γραμματικο (Grammatiko), Σεσι (Sesi), Αγ. Μαρινα (Agia Marina) and Ραμνους (Ramnous). From that point, you will no longer be heading toward Marathonas.
Continue north and east 6.2 kilometers until you reach a sign, in Greek only, that points straight ahead toward the same four localities in the previous sign, except the top line reads Κεντρο Γραμματικου, which means Grammatiko town center. At that point, you will have arrived in Grammatiko, but the route through town is poorly signed and a little confusing. 300-400 meters after the sign, keep to left at a fork to stay on the main road. (The left fork is not signed. The other fork is signed Γηπεδο Ποδοσφαιρου for soccer field.) Continue about 300 meters to a "T" where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn left. (The other direction dead ends at a cemetery.) 200 meters farther on you will reach a stop sign. Keep straight ahead to merge into the main road through Grammatiko. Continue less than 100 meters and take the next possible right at the town square (where there is a stone-tiled plaza with street lamps and two tile-roofed kiosks). If you get lost in Grammatiko, find your way to the town square and then leave the square such that the two tile-roofed kiosks are on your left-hand side.
300-400 meters from the town square, make a sharp left at signs for Agia Marina, Ramnous and Sesi (written in Greek only) and Sports Village Athitaki (written in English only). Immediately after turning, keep to the right, following more signs for the aforementioned locations. At that point, you will begin heading east out of Grammatiko, and the duration of your trip is through the countryside. In about 2.8 kilometers, take note when you pass Sports Village Athitaki, which is on the right side of the road and marked by a tall yellow sign with rather small and inconspicuous lettering.
After passing Athitaki, continue 1.2 kilometers to a fork. Keep to the left to stay on the main road, following the sign for Limnionas, which is written only in Greek as Λιμνιωνας. (The other fork is signed for Agia Marina and Ramnous, which are written only in uppercase Greek as ΑΓ. ΜΑΡΙΝΑ and ΡΑΜΝΟΥΣ.) Continue 2.6 kilometers to the next major fork, which is next to a squat cylindrical black tank of some kind. The left fork is paved, the right fork is gravel and neither road is signed. Keep to the right, following the gravel road.
The gravel road gradually winds downhill to the sea. In 2 kilometers, keep to the right at the only major fork along the way. Continue 500 meters farther along the final descent to the end of the road next to a seaside chapel, which is a small white structure with a red tile roof. Park near the chapel, around coordinates 38.2253N, 24.0261E. Ramnous Beach begins just south of the chapel (to the right when facing the sea) and extends southward about 500 meters. There are several rocky outcroppings that break the beach into multiple segments, and the entirely of the beach is backed by the fence of the Ramnous archaeological site. Nudity occurs toward the southern end of the beach, where the fence ends.
Note: There are no signs pointing toward Ramnous Beach. Any Ramnous signs you encounter along the way refer to the Ramnous archaeological site. Even though the archaeological site overlooks the beach, the beach and the archaeological site are accessed from different roads. For reference, two roads leading to the archaeological site are traced, and those roads meet one another at the gated entry to the archaeological site. The longer aqua line is the paved and signposted route (although some signs are only in Greek). The shorter pink line is the unsigned gravel road. Refer to the paragraph above that begins "After passing Athitaki…" At the fork that is 1.2 kilometers past Sports Village Athitaki, the road to the right is the signposted and paved route to the archaeological site. Starting from that fork, it is 6.4 kilometers to the gated entry to the archaeological site (where the road turns to gravel). Or, if you keep to the left at the aforementioned fork (continuing toward Ramnous Beach), in 2.2 kilometers the next turnoff on the right is the unsigned gravel shortcut road to the archaeological site (which is about 300 meters before the fork that is next to the squat cylindrical black tank). The gravel road leads 1.7 kilometers to the gated entry to the archaeological site (where the road becomes paved).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are going north when you exit (coming from Athens).
This placemark pertains to Ramnous Beach.

Grammatiko town square
This placemark pertains to Ramnous Beach.

Sports Village Athitaki
This placemark pertains to Ramnous Beach.

fork 1.2 kilometers east of Sports Village Athitaki
Heading east toward the sea, this fork is 1.2 kilometers past Sports Village Athitaki. The left fork is signed for Limnionas, which is written only in Greek as Λιμνιωνας. The right fork is signed for Agia Marina and Ramnous, which are written only in uppercase Greek as ΑΓ. ΜΑΡΙΝΑ and ΡΑΜΝΟΥΣ. The left fork continues toward Ramnous Beach, while the right fork is the signposted route to Ramnous archaeological site.

turnoff onto unsigned gravel shortcut to Ramnous archaeological site

fork next to squat cylindrical black tank
This fork of the road is located next to a squat cylindrical black tank of some kind. Heading east toward the sea, the left fork is paved, the right fork is gravel and neither road is signed. The gravel road leads to Ramnous Beach.

small white chapel with red tile roof

turnoff to Ramnous archaeological site from Marathon-Agias Marinis road

entrance gate to Ramnous archaeological site

Ramnous archaeological site

route from Grammatiko town square to parking

main route to archaeological site (paved roads)

gravel road (shortcut to archaeological site)

fence between archaeological site & beach

Askitario Rocks

Askitario Rocks
About 30 kilometers east of the center of Athens along the east coast of Attica, the town of Rafina is an important port, with ferry connections to several of the Cycladic Islands. The town beach is next to the ferry port. Going south, the next beach in Rafina is Marikes Beach, a 600-meter-long sand-and-pebble crescent tucked into a residential area. At the south end of Marikes Beach, a small peninsular notch of land projects into the sea. The peninsula is a rocky hill capped by a minor archaeological site called Askitario that is not much on the tourist radar. Classified as a prehistoric settlement, Askitario dates back at least 4,000 years. With just a few excavations, there isn't much to see in terms of antiquity, but the panoramic views from atop the peninsula are absolutely beautiful.
On the other side of the archaeological site from Marikes Beach, there is a crescent-shaped cove with 400 to 500 meters of jagged coastline covered in rocks and boulders, with intermittent niches flat enough to spread a towel. We'll refer to the area as the Askitario Rocks for lack of a known name. Nudity is common along this rugged expanse. Bare bathers tend to stay toward the north end of the cove, which is the part that is below the archaeological site. It is probably best not to be naked toward the south end of the cove due to the proximity of residences. There are usually just a smattering of nudists present, mainly gay men. While the rocky coastline of Askitario is a minor and fairly obscure nudist site, it is not particularly hidden. Nudists are visible from above, but the area is generally pretty quiet.
town, region, country:  Rafina, Attica, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/43VngmA
starting point:  Exit 15 (Marathonos Ave., Messogion Ave.) of the A6 motorway in Pallini (metro Athens)
alternate starting point:  Exit 16P (Rafina) of the A6 motorway in Pallini (metro Athens)
The A6 is a 48-kilometer-long east-west motorway through northern Athens that is a beltway around the inland periphery of the city. The kilometer marker numbers and the exit numbers both ascend going east, but the sequential exit numbers do not correspond to the kilometer markers. Athens International Airport, which is also named Eleftherios Venizelos, is accessed from Exit 20 near the eastern terminus of the motorway. Exits 15 and 16P are both east of the center of Athens. Exit 15, located between kilometer markers 35 and 37, is a full interchange for traffic either going toward or coming from the airport. Exit 16P is a partial interchange that exists only for traffic going toward the airport, and it is the next exit after marker 36. (There is an Exit 16K for traffic coming from the airport, but it does NOT go where you want to go.) If you are heading toward the airport, your trip will be a bit faster if you take Exit 16P instead of Exit 15.
First, assume you take Exit 15. Upon exiting, turn toward Pallini or Palini (same place, spelled inconsistently on signs). You will begin going east on Marathonos Avenue, a busy multi-lane street that goes all the way to Marathon (a.k.a. Marathonas). Continue 6 to 7 kilometers and take note when you reach a right-hand turnoff signed Spata, but do NOT turn there. The Spata turnoff is just past a small stone church with a brick dome.
Alternatively, assume you take Exit 16P. Exiting traffic is filtered onto the A64 motorway, going east. Proceed about 4 kilometers to the red light at the motorway terminus. Turn left toward Rafina and Pallini. Head north one kilometer to the next red light. Turn right toward Marathonas and Rafina. At that point, you will begin going east on Marathonos Avenue. In 1.7 kilometers, take note when you pass the right-hand Spata turnoff—the one that is past the small stone church, but do NOT turn there.
Once you pass the Spata turnoff, continue east along Marathonos Avenue for 2.6 kilometers, then turn right (38.0102N, 23.9698E) at a cluster of signs that are only in Greek. The locations on the signs are Αγ. Κυριακη or ΑΓ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗΣ (Agia Kyriaki), Αρτεμιδα (Artemida), Περιβολακια (Perivolakia), Αγ. Τριαδα (Agia Triada) and Δροσια (Drosia). The turnoff is located at a red light, and there is a very short right-turn lane.
Upon turning, the rest of your drive is along minor residential streets. There are occasional inconspicuous street signs, which are blue placards with the street name in uppercase Greek. All names begin with ΟΔΟΣ (Odos) or ΛΕΩΦΟΡΟΣ (Leoforos), which are respectively the words for "street" and "avenue." At first you will be on ΑΡΙΩΝΟΣ (Arionos). Proceed 4.9 kilometers to a stop sign at a four-way intersection, at which point you will be just a few hundred meters from the coast. Turn left at the intersection, where a sign points toward Rafina.
Upon turning, you will be on ΑΓΙΟΥ ΧΡΥΣΟΣΤΟΜΟΥ ΣΜΥΡΝΗΣ (Agiou Chrysostomou Smyrnis). In 400-500 meters, just after the road curves leftward a bit, take note on your right of the prominently signed entrance to a city park: ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΟ ΠΑΡΚΟ ΑΝΑΨΥΧΗΣ ΡΑΦΗΝΑΣ - ΠΙΚΕΡΜΙΟΥ (Municipal Recreation Park, Rafina-Pikermi). You will be on the south side of the park. Less than 100 meters past the park entrance, take the next possible right onto ΠΕΤΡΟΥ ΠΑΛΑΙΟΛΟΓΟΥ (Petrou Paleologou), which is the street that borders the west side of the park. Continue about 200 meters and take the next possible right onto ΑΜΑΡΥΛΛΙΔΟΣ (Amarillidos), which borders the north side of the park. There is a tree in the middle of the three-way junction where you turn.
As you head east on Amarillidos, the green mesh fence that surrounds the park will be on your right-hand side. In 300-400 meters, the fence will end when you reach the eastern edge of the park. Keep straight ahead. Continue about 250 meters to the end of the street. When the asphalt ends, a broad gravel road continues about 100 meters to the edge of the cliff overlooking the sea, and there is a tall chain-link fence along the right-hand side of the gravel road. Park along the gravel road (38.0075N, 24.0225E) then walk to the edge of the cliff where the road ends and the fence turns a corner. At that point you will be about 20 meters above the sea, directly above the rocky nudist stretch. Facing the sea, follow the path to your left that makes a gradual descent to sea level.
Instead of descending to the nude area, assume you stay atop the cliff. Facing the sea, turn left and head north on the cliff-top path. Within a few minutes you will catch sight of Marikes Beach, the textile beach that is just north of the nudist stretch. There is a snack stand along the beach that operates during peak season. Look around a bit and you will find a path that descends to Marikes Beach. You will have a bird's-eye view, so it is easy to find the way.
You can also park at Marikes Beach and hike to the nude area from there. Marikes Beach is at the end of the next parallel street north of Amarillidos. Back up to the point where you turn onto Amarillidos at the three-way junction with the tree in the middle. Follow Amarillidos east along the north side of the park for 200 meters and take the next left onto ΠΟΣΙΔΩΝΟΣ (Posidonos). Continue 100 meters and take the next right onto ΕΚΑΒΗΣ (Ekavis). Continue 300 meters to a dirt parking area at the end of the street (38.0090N, 24.0211E). The parking area abuts Marikes Beach near its far south end. Facing the sea, turn right and head south. Soon you will reach a stone retaining wall that extends about 100 meters at the base of a rocky hill, which is the small peninsular land mass the separates Marikes Beach from the nude area. At the end of the retaining wall, climb up the hill and head to the other side of the peninsula. In less than 100 meters you will be standing above the nude area.
MAP from A6 Exit 15 to parking (end of Amarillidos)
MAP from A6 Exit 16P to parking (end of Amarillidos)
This placemark pertains to Askitario Rocks.

4-way intersection near east end of ΑΡΙΩΝΟΣ (Arionos)
This placemark pertains to Askitario Rocks.

entrance to ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΟ ΠΑΡΚΟ ΑΝΑΨΥΧΗΣ ΡΑΦΗΝΑΣ-ΠΙΚΕΡΜΙΟΥ (Municipal Recreation Park, Rafina-Pikermi)
This placemark pertains to Askitario Rocks.

single tree in middle of 3-way intersection

parking at end of Amarillidos

Askitario archaeological site

parking at end of Ekavis

Marikes Beach (textile)

segment of ΑΓΙΟΥ ΧΡΥΣΟΣΤΟΜΟΥ ΣΜΥΡΝΗΣ (Agiou Chrysostomou Smyrnis)

segment of ΠΕΤΡΟΥ ΠΑΛΑΙΟΛΟΓΟΥ (Petrou Paleologou) → ΝΑΥΣΙΚΑΣ (Nafsikas)

ΑΜΑΡΥΛΛΙΔΟΣ (Amarillidos)

ΕΚΑΒΗΣ (Ekavis)

segment of ΠΟΣΙΔΩΝΟΣ (Posidonos)

path down to sea

paths connecting ΑΜΑΡΥΛΛΙΔΟΣ (Amarillidos) to Marikes Beach

Kineta Beach East

Kineta Beach East
The coastal town of Kineta lies along the top of the Saronic Gulf, the large body of water between Attica and the Peloponnese. The town is about 50 kilometers west of Athens and 30 kilometers east of Corinth. A motorway parallels the coastline through Kineta, as does the main road, which is part of an old highway that has been superseded by the motorway. A railroad runs between the motorway and the main road. Kineta has a good bit of fairly small-scale and low-density resort development that sprawls along the coastline for nearly six kilometers. Sun Hotel is the easternmost hotel in Kineta, and it is also the easternmost point of access to the beach. Going east from Sun Hotel, the land becomes hemmed in by mountains such that the main road, the railroad and the motorway run very close together. The main road is roughly 30 to 40 meters above the sea in the vicinity of Sun Hotel, with the railroad and the motorway tiered a bit higher.
Nude bathing is well established along the beach starting a bit east of Sun Hotel. Once you have walked about 5 minutes past the hotel, you will reach the start of a stone retaining wall that is topped by a wrought iron fence. The wall, part of a private residence that is perched above the beach, extends about 60 meters. At the end of the wall, you will reach a cluster of boulders at a slight curvature of the coastline. Round the bend and you will be in the nude area. Backed by red-orange cliffs, the nude beach is thickly blanketed in pebbles and stones. Although the main road passes directly above the nude beach, the steep slope renders the beach completely secluded. The nude area extends about 1.3 kilometers, but the beach becomes harder to negotiate the farther you go. To explore the entire length, you will need to clamber over boulders and possibly step into the water, depending on the tide. The beach comes to an end at a steeply sloping scree of rocks, but few visitors venture that far. Most bathers stay within 500 meters of the start of the nude area.
The nude beach of Kineta is frequented primarily by gay men. Although the beach is well attended on peak summer days, there is so much room that visitors tend to be quite scattered.
town, region, country:  Kineta, Attica, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/45evF5P
starting point:  Exit 6 (Panorama)★ of the A8 motorway in Kineta
★ Exit 6 is not a full exit interchange. It exists only for traffic going west (coming from Athens, heading toward Corinth and Patras). If you are heading toward Athens, you will need to take Exit 7 instead. (See the alternate approach below.)
The A8 motorway connects Athens to Patras, cities that are roughly 210 kilometers apart. The kilometer marker numbers and the exit numbers both ascend going west toward Patras, but the sequential exit numbers do not correspond to the kilometer markers. Furthermore, although the motorway begins on the western outskirts of Athens, the kilometer numbering reflects the distance from the center of Athens. Exit 5 (Pachi) is located at kilometer 41, while Exit 6 is located at kilometer 52.5. Between the exits, you will pass through three long tunnels. Exit 6 is just a few hundred meters past the third tunnel.
From Exit 6, it is just a kilometer or so to the coast. Watch for and follow signs for Kineta Beach. At the end of the exit ramp, turn right. Shortly you will cross under the motorway. Turn right at the next intersection and you will cross under the railroad, immediately beyond which you will reach a stop sign at a four-way intersection. (The cross road is the main road through Kineta.) Keep straight ahead from the stop sign. About 250 meters farther on, the road will bend sharply to the left and begin to run along the beach, with the sea on your right-hand side. The beachfront road continues another 400-500 meters, ending at Sun Hotel. There is parking all along the beachfront road. Park as close as possible to the end of the road at Sun Hotel (37.9753N, 23.2396E).
Facing the sea, turn left and head east along the beach. About 400 meters past Sun Hotel, you will reach the stone retaining wall described above. The nude area begins just a bit past the end of the wall.
ALTERNATE APPROACH
starting point:  Exit 7 (Kineta) of the A8 motorway in Kineta
Exit 7 is between kilometers 55 and 56. Unlike Exit 6, Exit 7 is a full interchange for traffic going either direction on the motorway. Upon exiting, follow signs for Kineta. As you head toward the coast, you will cross under the railroad. Keep straight ahead about 300 meters until you reach a stop sign at a slightly staggered four-way intersection. Turn left, toward Athina. (The other direction is signed Agios Theodoroi.)
Upon turning, you will begin heading east on the main road through Kineta. Continue 3 kilometers until you reach a blue overhead panel indicating an upcoming four-way intersection, with access to the beach and to the motorway. At that point, you will be near Exit 6. Continue another 150 meters to the actual intersection and turn right toward Kineta Beach. At that point, you will be on the road that bends at the coastline and ends at Sun Hotel. Proceed as directed above.
MAP from A8 Exit 6 to parking
MAP from A8 Exit 7 to parking
This placemark pertains to Kineta Beach East.

Exit 6 of A8 motorway (partial interchange, only for westbound traffic)
This placemark pertains to Kineta Beach East.

4-way intersection near Exit 6
This placemark pertains to Kineta Beach East.

Exit 7 interchange of A8 motorway

staggered 4-way intersection near Exit 7

parking along street

Sun Hotel

60-meter-long stone retaining wall topped by wrought iron fence

end of beach at scree of rocks

segment of main road through Kineta

roads from Exit 6 ramp to Sun Hotel

road connecting Exit 7 to main road through Kineta

extent of nude area at low tide

Epirus

D.E.H. North and Micro Drafi

collective description
Syvota is a village that is toward the northern end of the coast of Epirus, at driving distances of roughly 50 kilometers south from the Albanian border and 25 kilometers south from Igoumenitsa, which is the closest major town. There are minor nude bathing possibilities at locations on either end of the village.
On the north end of Syvota, there is a sand-and-pebble beach called D.E.H. Beach, which spans about 200 meters. The acronymic name of the beach, which is Δ.Ε.Η. in Greek, comes from the electric power company that owns the prominent transmission tower at the north end of the beach. The main expanse of D.E.H. is textile, but if you hike north through the woods starting near the transmission tower, shortly you will reach a separate, hidden beach. The hidden beach is a narrow sand-and-pebble expanse of about 50 meters, backed by low orange-hued cliffs that are capped with short trees. The hidden beach is more aptly described as a beach with nudist potential than as an established nude beach. Nude bathing is known to occur from time to time, but the beach is so small that textiles already on the beach may quash its nudist potential. There is a snack bar on the main beach next to the transmission tower.
On the south end of Syvota, a similar set of circumstances exists at a pair of small beaches that are tucked away just below the road that winds along the coastline. Mega Drafi Beach is a sand-and-pebble beach that spans about 100 meters. Just south of Mega Drafi, Micro Drafi is a similar but smaller beach that is about half the length of Mega Drafi. The two beaches are separated by a rocky outcropping that spans about 50 meters, and Micro Drafi is accessed by its own path, which is an unmarked trail that descends directly from the coastal road. Mega Drafi is always textile. Nude bathing occurs at Micro Drafi, but irregularly. On July and August weekends in particular, nudist potential is minimal, except perhaps if you show up early and try to establish a precedent for nudity. Nudity is more likely to occur on weekdays or outside peak beach season. There is a snack bar at Mega Drafi. The beaches are also known by the name Ntrafi, which is a more literal transliteration of the actual Greek name.
This placemark pertains to D.E.H. North Beach and Micro Drafi Beach.

D.E.H. North Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of D.E.H. North Beach and Micro Drafi Beach.)
village, region, country:  Syvota, Epirus, Greece
There are 18 placemarks related to these nearby sites: D.E.H. North Beach and Micro Drafi Beach.

Micro Drafi Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of D.E.H. North Beach and Micro Drafi Beach.)
village, region, country:  Syvota, Epirus, Greece
There are 18 placemarks related to these nearby sites: D.E.H. North Beach and Micro Drafi Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fLcP0x
starting point  the western of the two Igoumenitsa exits of the A2 motorway in Igoumenitsa
The A2 is the roughly 650-kilometer-long east-west motorway that goes all the way across the northern tier of Greece, from the Ionian Sea on its west end to the Turkish border on its east end. Igoumenitsa is the coastal town at the western end of the motorway, and there are two exits signed for Igoumenitsa. Heading west on the A2, the first exit (which is past kilometer marker 1.5) is signed "Preveza / Igoumenitsa-Centre." The second exit (which is past marker 0.5) is signed "Igoumenitsa / Preveza," and it is the westernmost exit of the entire motorway. The westernmost exit exists only for traffic going west, and the speed limit along the motorway is gradually lowered to 60 KPH as you approach the exit and the motorway terminus. (Just past the exit, the motorway ends at the New Port entrance, a controlled-access gateway that resembles a toll plaza, spanning all lanes of the motorway.)
Take the western of the two Igoumenitsa exits (the one that is after kilometer marker 0.5) and follow signs for Preveza to negotiate your way through the exit interchange. Shortly you should cross under the motorway, and you will begin heading south on a road that hews close to the coastline, with the sea on your right-hand side and a low range of mountains on your left-hand side. In 9 to 10 kilometers, you will pass the blue-and-white Plataria village sign. Plataria lies in a flat valley that is wedged between two small mountain ranges.
About a kilometer past the Plataria village sign, you will cross a bridge over a small canal. Less than 200 meters farther on, veer right at the sign for Syvota. Continue 800-900 meters and you will cross a bridge over another canal which lies at the edge of the valley you have just traversed. After that bridge, the road will become curvy as it begins to wind along the coastal periphery of the next mountain range. Just under 9 kilometers past the canal bridge, take note when you reach the blue-and-white Syvota village sign, which is above a 50 KPH speed limit panel.
To go to D.E.H. North Beach:
About 300 meters past the village sign ,you will reach a 30 KPH speed limit panel at the end of a guardrail. To your right, on the other side of the guardrail, there is a road that merges in at a very sharp angle. You want to access that road, but you cannot make a direct right turn, both because there is a sign prohibiting a right turn and because the angle of the intersection is just way too sharp anyway. To access the road, continue a short distance to a roundabout and circle all the way through such that you begin backtracking, then you can veer left onto the road. At the start of the road, there are signs pointing toward Stavedo Restaurant and Sun Bar.
Stavedo Restaurant is located at Zeri Beach. A bit farther along, Sun Bar is located at D.E.H. Beach, where you will park. To get to D.E.H. Beach, the easiest way is to watch for the blue Stavedo Restaurant signs and follow them since those signs are the largest and easiest to spot. (The Sun Bar signs are harder to discern.) There are about five Stavedo Restaurant signs along the road, and each sign indicates the remaining distance to the restaurant. The sign at the start of the road indicates that it is 1.5 kilometers to the restaurant. Proceed about 1.3 kilometers until you get to the sign that has a red arrow pointing left and indicates that it is 200 meters to Stavedo Restaurant. Do NOT turn there. Keep straight ahead, following signs for Sun Bar and ΔΕΗ. Continue another 200 meters to a fork. Veer to the left. (The right fork begins to go slightly uphill.) Shortly you will reach the end of the road at a shaded parking area at D.E.H. Beach, at coordinates 39.4166N, 20.2313E.
When you access the beach, you will be near its north end, next to Sun Bar and a prominent electric transmission tower. Facing the sea, turn right and walk north to the end of the beach, where you will find a footpath that goes into the woods. In less than 100 meters you will reach the small, separate beach that has nudist potential.
To go to Micro Drafi Beach:
About 400 meters past the village sign, you will reach the roundabout mentioned above. Take the departure that is signed for Perdika, which is effectively a left turn. About 200 meters after leaving the roundabout, you should pass a handsome stone church (Church of the Ascension) that abuts the right-hand side of the road. It is a prominent landmark to verify you are on the correct road. After the church, continue another 2.3 kilometers (passing through Syvota) and take note when you pass Hotel Mega Ammos, a well-signed hotel on the right (coast) side of the road that consists of multiple white buildings. After the hotel, the next landmarks to watch for are two large gravel parking pullouts (but you don't want to park at either of them). Both pullouts are on the right (coast) side of the road, and both have unobstructed views of the sea. The first pullout is about 600 meters past Hotel Mega Ammos, and the second pullout is about 400 meters past the first one. After the second pullout, continue about 250 meters and watch for the next right-hand turnoff, which is immediately past a sharp rightward curve of the main road, but do not turn. (The turnoff road leads to Mega Drafi Beach, but it is not signed.) At that point, you will be on a segment of the main road where there is not a guardrail on either side. Continue about 200 meters until you see the start of a guardrail on the right (coast) side of the road. Park along the shoulder of the road leading up to the guardrail, at coordinates 39.3928N, 20.2696E. Next to the start of the guardrail, there is a short but steep footpath that goes down through the trees and lands at Micro Drafi Beach. (Note: If you pass a gravel road on the right that has blue-, red-and-white panels on each side indicating that it is a dead end, you have gone about 250 meters too far.)
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (D.E.H. North).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Micro Drafi).
This placemark pertains to D.E.H. North Beach and Micro Drafi Beach.

Syvota village sign
This placemark pertains to D.E.H. North Beach and Micro Drafi Beach.

30 KPH speed limit panel at end of guardrail
This placemark pertains to D.E.H. North Beach.

roundabout

Stavedo Restaurant at Zeri Beach
This placemark pertains to D.E.H. North Beach.

This placemark pertains to D.E.H. North Beach.

Sun Bar, next to prominent electric transmission tower

D.E.H. Beach (textile)

Church of the Ascension
This placemark pertains to Micro Drafi Beach.

Hotel Mega Ammos
This placemark pertains to Micro Drafi Beach.

large parking pullout
This placemark pertains to Micro Drafi Beach.

Mega Drafi Beach (textile)

roadside parking

signs indicating dead-end side road
At the start of this gravel road, there are blue-, red-and-white panels on each side indicating that it is a dead end. Coming from Syvota, you have missed Micro Drafi Beach by about 250 meters if you pass this road.

road segment between Syvota village sign & roundabout

route from roundabout to parking (D.E.H. North Beach)

route from roundabout to parking (Micro Drafi Beach)

wooded path to beach

Artolithia Beach

Artolithia Beach
Artolithia Beach is located along a rather rural stretch of the coast of Epirus, about 30 kilometers north of Preveza, one of the major towns of the region. About 800 meters long, Artolithia consists of several contiguous crescents. There are some sandy stretches, some pebbly stretches and some stretches of rocky slabs that are thickly coated with dried grassy sea detritus that resembles roof thatching. A distinctive geological feature of the beach is the chain of craggy boulders just offshore that form something of a breakwater. Artolithia is an undeveloped beach with no amenities, and, despite its unique beauty, it is lightly attended. Parking and access is at the north end of the beach, and the bulk of visitors stay within a few hundred meters of the access point. As you go south on the beach (to the left when facing the sea), the beach becomes deserted or nearly so, and nudity is possible toward the southern end of the beach. The south end of the beach draws just a handful of nude bathers, and it is often completely empty.
village, region, country:  Riza, Epirus, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fyahAd
starting point  the Karteri / Vasiliko exit of the A2 motorway near the village of Vasiliko
The A2 is the roughly 650-kilometer-long east-west motorway that goes all the way across the northern tier of Greece, from the Ionian Sea on its west end to the Turkish border on its east end. The Karteri / Vasiliko exit is near the western end of the motorway, between kilometer markers 10 and 11. The exit is about 10 kilometers inland of where the motorway terminates in the coastal town of Igoumenitsa. Upon exiting, follow the sign for Karteri, NOT Vasiliko. Proceed about 7.4 kilometers to a stop sign at a "T" junction where you have to turn. (At that point, you will be at the edge of Karteri, which is a small village.) Turn left, toward Preveza, Parga and Perdika. (The other direction is signed for Igoumenitsa, Syvota and Plataria.)
Upon turning, you will begin going south on the road that runs between Igoumenitsa and Preveza. The road more or less parallels the coastline, hewing closer to the coast as you go farther south. There are kilometer markers along the road which descend going south. Follow the road about 40 kilometers (keeping straight ahead toward Preveza and ignoring the turnoffs to Perdika and Parga) and take note when you pass kilometer marker 29, which is located along a bridge that crosses a small valley. (When you cross the bridge, you will have an unobstructed view of the sea on your right-hand side.)
After marker 29, continue 900 meters to the next four-way junction. Turn right onto the road that is signed simply "beach." (The other direction is signed for Riza and Chimadio.) Follow the winding road downhill toward the coast for one kilometer, then turn left onto a paved road that is marked only by handmade signs that point toward a few local businesses such as rooms to rent. (The turnoff is directly opposite a pair of utility poles that are connected by cross beams that hold transformer boxes.)
Once you turn, you will be going southeast, parallel to the coast but just a bit inland, with the sea on your right-hand side. Proceed 800-900 meters to a fork and keep to the left. Continue another 600 meters and take the next possible right. Continue 500 meters and the road will curve sharply to the right next to the beach and become a dirt track. Park alongside the road at the curve, at coordinates 39.1155N, 20.6052E. Facing the sea, walk left (southeast). It is about 800 meters to the end of the beach, and nudity occurs toward the far (southeast) end.
Alternate Approach (from Preveza):
Preveza, the town located at the southernmost coastal part of the region of Epirus, is located on the north side of the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf, and Aktion National Airport (which is the primary airport serving the island of Lefkada) is on the south side. The road connecting the airport to Preveza is tunneled under the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf, and the total length of the Aktio-Preveza Undersea Tunnel is 1.6 kilometers. Assume you are going north through the tunnel. The tunnel entrance (on the airport side) is considered kilometer 0 of the Preveza-to-Igoumenitsa road. Once you emerge from the tunnel on the Preveza side, continue north another 26 to 27 kilometers to the previously referenced four-way junction, where you will turn left at the beach sign opposite the turnoff to Riza and Chimadio. (The turnoff is just past kilometer 28, but the actual marker seems to be missing.) Proceed as directed above.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are going west when you exit (heading toward Igoumenitsa).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the entrance of the Aktio-Preveza Undersea Tunnel to parking (for the alternate approach).
This placemark pertains to Artolithia Beach.

kilometer marker 29, Preveza-to-Igoumenitsa road
This placemark pertains to Artolithia Beach.

kilometer marker 28, Preveza-to-Igoumenitsa road
For traffic going north (toward Igoumenitsa), this is the location of a sign indicating an upcoming four-way intersection, with a coastal turnoff toward the beach and an inland turnoff toward the villages of Riza and Chimadio. Kilometer marker 28 should be next to the sign, but it seems the actual marker has been knocked down and not replaced.
This placemark pertains to Artolithia Beach.

pair of utility poles with transformer boxes

route from kilometer 29 (Preveza-to-Igoumenitsa road) to parking

Kanali Beach

Kanali Beach
Kanali is a village that is near the southern end of the coastline of Epirus, about 15 kilometers north of Preveza, one of the major towns of the region. The village is near the middle of a long beach that stretches unbroken for more than 12 kilometers. On the south end of Kanali, there is a short stretch of low cliffs extending a few hundred meters, secluded from the coastal road by a small patch of forest. Nude bathing is commonplace along this stretch, but crowds of nudists are always small and usually all male. The nude area is not terribly secluded since there are well-attended textile areas at either end of the informal nudist zone, with a good many passers through on crowded days. At the north end of the nude area, there is an eatery called Mango Beach Bar. At the south end, there is Monolithi Beach Bar, with an associated restaurant and campground on the opposite (inland) side of the coastal road.
village, region, country:  Kanali, Epirus, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fVLOoY
starting point  the Karteri / Vasiliko exit of the A2 motorway near the village of Vasiliko
The A2 is the roughly 650-kilometer-long east-west motorway that goes all the way across the northern tier of Greece, from the Ionian Sea on its west end to the Turkish border on its east end. The Karteri / Vasiliko exit is near the western end of the motorway, between kilometer markers 10 and 11. The exit is about 10 kilometers inland of where the motorway terminates in the coastal town of Igoumenitsa. Upon exiting, follow the sign for Karteri, NOT Vasiliko. Proceed about 7.4 kilometers to a stop sign at a "T" junction where you have to turn. (At that point, you will be at the edge of Karteri, which is a small village.) Turn left, toward Preveza, Parga and Perdika. (The other direction is signed for Igoumenitsa, Syvota and Plataria.)
Upon turning, you will begin going south on the road that runs between Igoumenitsa and Preveza. The road more or less parallels the coastline, hewing closer to the coast as you go farther south. There are kilometer markers along the road which descend going south. Follow the road about 52 kilometers (keeping straight ahead toward Preveza and ignoring the turnoffs to Perdika and Parga) and take note when you pass a large blue "Municipality of Zalongos" sign just past kilometer marker 17. (The sign has half a dozen symbols for food, lodging, camping, etc.) Continue about a kilometer farther and take note when you pass marker 16.
After marker 16, continue 300-400 meters and veer right at the sign for Kanali Beach (which is opposite the turnoff into the village of Kanali). Continue 300 meters and turn left into a large earthen parking area (at coordinates 39.0558N, 20.6996E) just before the road curves sharply to the right at the beach. The parking area, which is next to Mango Beach Bar, is at the southernmost developed part of Kanali Beach, and there will be lots of sunchairs and thatched umbrellas set up during peak season. Facing the sea, turn left and walk south. Less than 200 meters past Mango Beach Bar, small cliffs will begin to rise up behind the beach. The cliffs extend about 400-500 meters before petering out, and nudists gather about halfway along the cliff-backed portion of the beach.
Alternate Access:
Instead of turning at the Kanali Beach sign, keep going south. In 600-700 meters you will pass kilometer marker 15. Continue another 500-600 meters and turn right at a sign for Monolithi Beach Bar, which is directly across the road from Camping Monolithi. Next to Monolithi Beach Bar, there is a large earthen beach parking area that is heavily shaded by a grove of trees, at coordinates 39.0480N, 20.7060E. Facing the sea, turn right and walk north. Within 300 meters you will reach the start of the aforementioned cliffs.
Alternate Approach (from Preveza):
Preveza, the town located at the southernmost coastal part of the region of Epirus, is located on the north side of the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf, and Aktion National Airport (which is the primary airport serving the island of Lefkada) is on the south side. The road connecting the airport to Preveza is tunneled under the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf, and the total length of the Aktio-Preveza Undersea Tunnel is 1.6 kilometers. Assume you are going north through the tunnel. The tunnel entrance (on the airport side) is considered kilometer 0 of the Preveza-to-Igoumenitsa road. Once you emerge from the tunnel on the Preveza side, continue north 12 to 13 kilometers and you will reach Camping Monolithi and Monolithi Beach Bar, where you can access the beach. (The Monolithi establishments are a bit past where kilometer marker 14 should be, but that particular marker seems to be missing.) Or, continue north a little over a kilometer farther to the left-hand turnoff to Kanali Beach, which is past marker 15.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (next to Mango Beach Bar), assuming you are going west when you exit (heading toward Igoumenitsa).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the entrance of the Aktio-Preveza Undersea Tunnel to parking (next to Mango Beach Bar, for the alternate approach).
This placemark pertains to Kanali Beach.

kilometer marker 16, Preveza-to-Igoumenitsa road
This placemark pertains to Kanali Beach.

parking next to Mango Beach Bar
This placemark pertains to Kanali Beach.

parking next to Monolithi Beach Bar

Camping Monolithi

route from kilometer 16 to parking next to Mango Beach Bar

route to parking next to Monolithi Beach Bar

Evia

Hiliadou Beach

Hiliadou Beach
Evia (a.k.a. Euboea) is an island off the eastern coast of Greece, and it is the second largest Greek island after Crete. As the crow flies, it is over 160 kilometers from one extreme of the island to the other. Like Crete, Evia is not grouped with other islands, but unlike Crete, Evia is very close to the mainland. In fact, it is difficult to discern that Evia is an island unless you can zoom way in on a map. Evia is bridged to the mainland at a town called Chalkida (a.k.a. Chalcis). There are actually two bridges. The old bridge, which spans the narrowest part of the Euripus Strait between the island and the mainland, is just 40 meters long. The nearby new bridge (opened in 1993) spans a somewhat wider part of the strait, and it is the primary artery to the island. Because Evia is bridged to the mainland, it essentially functions as part of the mainland.
Hiladou Beach is a popular beach located about midway along the eastern (i.e., Aegean) side of Evia, at a driving distance of about 60 kilometers from the new bridge in Chalkida. The beach is located in something of a geographic cul-de-sac at the end of a dead-end road. As you drive across the island toward the beach, you will be on very twisty mountain roads. When the road emerges from the mountains and meets the sea, you will be at the far southeast end of Hiladou. At that point, the road will bend and run directly along the beach, with the sea on your right-hand side. You will go past a number of tavernas, small accommodations and other beachfront businesses. After driving about one kilometer along the beach, the paved road will turn to gravel, and at that point you will have traversed most of the main (textile) part of Hiladou. Just up ahead, you will see a very prominent monolithic rocky mass that extends into the water. The road ends just before that monolith, and as you continue toward it on foot, you will see that the unusual monolith is not the end of the beach. You can easily walk past it on its inland side, and as you do so a sheer wall of rock will be on your right-hand side between you and the sea. In just a minute, you will be past the monolith at the hidden northwest end of Hiladou Beach. That is where nudists gather. The nude area (like the rest of the beach) is composed mostly of pebbles, and it is about 150 meters long.
Backed by cliffs that are covered in bushes and small trees, the nude area of Hiladou has a very sheltered feel, in contrast to the more wide-open ambience of the main beach. Primitive camping is popular on the beach, and in July and August in particular the beach can be crowded with small tents. There is often a nudist majority at times when the beach is lightly attended, and there is usually at least a substantial nudist minority even during peak season. There are no amenities in the nude area of the beach, but it is a walk of just a few hundred meters to the nearest tavernas along the textile beach.
Just over the headland from the nude area of Hiliadou (to the left when facing the sea), there is a small beach called Anamaki Beach, which is 150 to 200 meters long. Anamaki is a very beautiful beach with a large cave at one end, and nude bathing is commonplace. However, the beach is very difficult to access on foot. There is a path over the headland from the nude area of Hiliadou to Anamaki, but to start along that path you will have to climb up a very precipitous rock face. It is a feat only for an exceptionally agile few. Most visitors get to Anamaki by some type of watercraft such as a kayak or inflatable row boat. If you launch your boat at the nude area of Hiliadou, it is about 300 meters around the headland to Anamaki, which is always considerably less crowded than Hiliadou.
Despite the size of Evia, Hiliadou and neighboring Anamaki are the only beaches on the island known to have an established and consistent nudist presence. Although Evia is a very beautiful island, it does not have a very developed tourist industry, and it is not terribly well known to foreign visitors. Signs on the island are far more likely to be written only in Greek compared to islands and areas of the mainland that are more touristed.
village, region / island, country:  Lamari, Evia, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2gbxNpW
starting point  the southern of the two Chalkida exits of the A1 motorway near Schimatari
The A1 motorway is one of the primary thoroughfares of Greece, connecting Athens to Thessaloniki (via Lamia). There are two motorway exits that are signed for Chalkida (a.k.a. Chalcis and Haldika), which is the primary town of the island of Evia. The southern Chalkida exit interchange (closer to Athens) is located roughly 60 kilometers north of the center of Athens, between kilometer markers 65 and 68 of the A1. (The northern Chalkida exit interchange is between markers 75 and 76.)
Heading north on the A1 (coming from Athens), your exit is just past kilometer marker 65, and all exiting traffic is filtered onto an expressway that continues north toward Chalkida. Heading south on the A1 (going toward Athens), your exit is at marker 68, and exiting traffic must make several turns to access the expressway to Chalkida. Just follow the signs for Chalkida (spelled Halkida on some signs).
After following the expressway 9 to 10 kilometers, you will see signs indicating the end of the expressway, where the speed limit begins to slow down. As you near the end of the expressway, there is an overhead panel that points straight ahead toward Chalkida and an exit that is signed for Chalkida and Old Bridge. Ignore the exit and keep straight ahead. Shortly you will be filtered onto a cable-stayed suspension bridge, which is the newer of the two bridges to Chalkida. The bridge spans a particularly narrow part of the Euripus Strait, and once you have crossed you will be on the island of Evia.
After the bridge, keep straight ahead about 2.5 kilometers to a stop sign at a four-way junction. Keep straight ahead, following the sign for North Evoia (a variant spelling of Evia). Continue another 1.5 kilometers to a stop sign at a "T" junction, at which point you will be facing the Euripus Strait, looking across the water to the mainland. Turn right, following the signs for North Evoia and Aidipsos. Immediately upon turning, take note of your car's trip meter since your next turn is a bit tricky to find. You will be going north along the western side of Evia, driving through the sprawling northern part of Chalkida into an area of town called Nea Artaki. Proceed 5.5 kilometers, then turn right toward Katheni. The turnoff is signed, but the sign is amid a chaotic commercial area with lots of competing signage. Furthermore, the sign is faded and in Greek only. The sign points toward Βατωντας, Καθενοι and Στενη (Vatontas, Katheni and Steni), and the respective distances indicated on the sign are 2, 16 and 24 kilometers. The coordinates of the turnoff are 38.5146N, 23.6373E.
Once you have found the turnoff in Nea Artaki, you will begin going east through the interior of Evia. Your destination, which is on the island's east coast, is still about 52 kilometers away, but there are not many more turns to make. In 13 to 14 kilometers, you will reach a fork that is immediately past a Cyclon gas station. At that point, you are getting close to the village of Katheni. The road to the right goes through Katheni and passes through the dense village center, while the road to the left makes a loop that bypasses the village. It doesn't matter which road you take since they reconnect. Continue either 1.8 kilometers (if you go through the village) or 3.7 kilometers (if you bypass the village) and you will reach the point where the two roads merge together. Continue about 7 kilometers farther and you will pass through the village of Steni. After Steni, the road becomes considerably more curvy. About 15 kilometers past Steni, you will reach the next village, which is Stropones. The blue village sign prints the name only in uppercase Greek letters: ΣΤΡΟΠΩΝΩΝ.
After the village sign, continue about 700 meters to a three-way junction in the heart of the village. Keep to the left, following the sign that points toward Lamari and Hiliadou Beach, noting the those two places are printed only in Greek on the sign: Λαμαρη and Παραλια Χιλιαδους.
From that point, continue winding down the mountain another 12 kilometers (passing through Lamari). As the sea comes into view, the road will bend to the left and begin to run northwestward along the beach for about one kilometer before dead ending, and there is parking all along the road. Park as close as possible to the end, around coordinates 38.6708N, 23.9198E. The nude part of the beach is a bit past the end of the road, beyond the rocky monolith at the shoreline. You can easily walk on the inland side of the rocky monolith to get to the nude area.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are going north when you exit (coming from Athens).
This placemark pertains to Hiliadou Beach.

Anamaki Beach (nude, difficult to reach)
Nudity is quite common on this beach, but it is very difficult to reach on foot. Most visitors get to Anamaki by some type of watercraft such as a kayak or inflatable row boat.
This placemark pertains to Hiliadou Beach.

Stropones (ΣΤΡΟΠΩΝΩΝ) village sign
This placemark pertains to Hiliadou Beach.

approximate midpoint of main beach (textile)

huge rocky mass
This mass of rock divides the nude and textile zones. It has the appearance of a headland with a wedge sliced out, making it possible to go straight through from one part of the beach to the other with no climbing.

route from Stropones village sign to parking

difficult path between Hiliadou Beach & Anamaki Beach

Agia Anna Beach

Agia Anna Beach
The village of Agia Anna is in the far north of Evia, several kilometers inland from the east coast of the island. The beach that is named for the village is a long and broad expanse of dark sand that extends over 4.5 kilometers. Most of the beach is backed by a small coastal plain that tapers going south. Like Evia itself, Agia Anna Beach is pretty much off the foreign tourist radar, but it is fairly popular with Greek visitors. The small seaside village of Agkali is located at the far northern end of the beach, and it is considered part of Agia Anna even though the inland village and the seaside village are about 6 kilometers apart by car. The only paved roads to Agia Anna Beach lead to Agkali. Going south from the small grid of streets in Agkali, there is tourist development along most of the length of Agia Anna Beach. All the tourist facilities are fairly small in scale, and they become more spread out going south along the main beach road. Oasis Village Camping, the southernmost establishment along the beach, is about 3 kilometers removed from Agkali. The beach road ends a bit beyond Oasis Village Camping, fading into a track next to a barely started and never-completed construction project of some sort. The abandoned project is at the far southern end of the coastal plain, where it tapers off completely. Farther south, the beach is backed by a low rocky ridge at the base of a gently sloping hillside. About 500 meters beyond the abandoned building project, Agia Anna Beach ends at the point where the rocky ridge projects slightly into the sea. The ridge runs along the coastline for a few hundred meters to the mouth of a stream. The sandy beach that extends southward from the stream mouth abuts the hamlet of Kria Vrisi.
The far southern end of Agia Anna Beach draws few visitors, and nude bathing is common among those who find their way there. Most nudists go at least a few hundred meters past the end of the road before stripping down. There are never more than a smattering of nudists, and the nude area is often completely deserted. The nude end of the beach seems to be visited mainly by gay men, but there is ample room for everyone. The practice of naturism at Agia Anna Beach is mostly an experience of naked solitude. It is quite different from the more contained and convivial atmosphere of Hiliadou Beach, which is the only really well-known nude beach in Evia.
village, region / island, country:  Agia Anna, Evia, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/3qe7sOj
The villages of Stroflia and Agia Anna are about 7 kilometers apart. Both lie along the main road through northern Evia. (Use postal code 340 10 to find either village on a navigation device.) Agia Anna is the more northern of the two villages. The road to Agia Anna Beach begins at the only significant junction between Strofilia and Agia Anna, which is a three-way junction (38.8578N, 23.4121E) that is just a bit south of Agia Anna. The turnoff to the beach is signed only in Greek as Παραλια Αγ. Αννας.
First, assume you are going north through Strofilia toward Agia Anna (which is the most likely direction of approach). Take note when you pass the blue-and-white sign indicating you are leaving Strofilia. From that point, continue north 4.5 kilometers, then turn right toward Agia Anna Beach. (If you reach a sharp leftward "U" curve, you have missed the turn by about 200 meters. The blue-and-white Agia Anna village sign is 800-900 meters past the "U" curve.)
Alternatively, assume you are going south through Agia Anna toward Strofilia. Take note when you pass the blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving the Agia Anna. Continue 800-900 meters to a sharp rightward "U" curve, then continue another 200 meters and take the next left toward Agia Anna Beach.
Upon turning at the three-way junction, head east 4.3 kilometers to a stop sign at a cross street in Agkali. (The road straight ahead ends at a "T" just one block farther on.) Turn right at the stop sign. You will then begin going south on a road that parallels the beach. In 3 kilometers, watch on the left for Oasis Village Camping, the last (southernmost) business along the beachfront. The road surfacing will have deteriorated by that point, with the road eventually becoming unsurfaced. About 300 meters past Oasis Village Camping, the road bends sharply to the left and heads toward the sea for 200 meters, where it bends rightward and runs along the beach about 300 meters to the abandoned construction project. There are several incomplete fence wall segments along the right (inland) side of the road toward its end. Park at the end of the road (38.8475N, 23.4575E). Facing the sea, the nude area is to your right. Most visitors walk a few hundred meters before disrobing.
ADDITIONAL DIRECTIONS
starting point:  the southern of the two Chalkida exits of the A1 motorway near Schimatari
The A1 motorway is one of the primary thoroughfares of Greece, connecting Athens to Thessaloniki (via Lamia). There are two motorway exits that are signed Chalkida (a.k.a. Chalcis and Haldika), which is the primary town of the island of Evia. The southern Chalkida exit interchange (closer to Athens) is located roughly 60 kilometers north of the center of Athens, between kilometer markers 65 and 68 of the A1. (The northern Chalkida exit interchange is between markers 75 and 76.)
Heading north on the A1 (coming from Athens), your exit is just past kilometer marker 65, and all exiting traffic is filtered onto an expressway that continues north toward Chalkida. Heading south on the A1 (going toward Athens), your exit is at marker 68, and exiting traffic must make several turns to access the expressway to Chalkida. Just follow the signs for Chalkida (spelled Halkida on some signs).
After following the expressway 9 to 10 kilometers, you will see signs indicating the end of the expressway, where the speed limit begins to slow down. As you near the end of the expressway, there is an overhead panel that points straight ahead toward Chalkida and an exit that is signed Chalkida and Old Bridge. Ignore the exit and keep straight ahead. Shortly you will be filtered onto a cable-stayed bridge, which is the newer of the two bridges to Chalkida. The bridge spans a particularly narrow part of the Euripus Strait, and once you have crossed you will be on the island of Evia.
About 2 kilometers past the cable-stayed bridge, take note when you pass beneath a pedestrian bridge that spans the road. 300-400 meters farther on, you will reach a roundabout, which is the junction where the routes that go north and south through the long island begin. The signage is only in Greek.★ The first departure, signed Ν. Ευβοια, is for South Evia. The second departure, signed Β. Ευβοια, is for North Evia. Take the second departure of the roundabout, Β. Ευβοια, which also has a bilingual sign pointing toward a hospital.
Once you depart the roundabout, continue 1.5 kilometers to a red light at a "T" where you have to turn one way or the other. At the junction, you will be facing the Euripus Strait, looking across the water. Turn right to continue into North Evia, following signs for Aidipsos and Steni. As you continue into North Evia, you will at first pass through a sprawling part of Chalkida called Nea Artaki. About 6.5 kilometers after turning at the "T," take note when you see a Lidl supermarket on the right. At that point, you are past the densest part of Nea Artaki. Continue about 4 kilometers to the next red light, which is at a fork. Veer left to stay on the main road. Signs point toward Kastella, Politika, Nerotrivia and Dafni, but all those locations are signed only in Greek: Καστελλα, Πολιτικα, Νεροτριβια, Δαφνη. (The other fork is signed Limnionas, or Λιμνιωνας.)
From the fork, it is about 50 kilometers to Strofilia, and there are four villages along the way: Kastella, Prokopi, Mantoudi and Kirinthos. You will pass through Kastella shortly past the fork. From Kastella to Prokopi, the road becomes quite twisty as it winds through the mountains. In Prokopi, be sure to keep to the right at the only major junction in the village to stay on the main road. In Mantoudi, keep to the left at a fork next to a Cyclon gas station to stay on the main road and bypass the village center. Strofilia is 3 to 4 kilometers past Kirinthos. The blue-and-white Strofilia village sign is located at a three-way intersection that is just past a Revoil gas station. Keep straight ahead. 900 meters farther on, you will pass a similar sign indicating you are leaving Strofilia. From that point, it is 4.5 kilometers to the right-hand turnoff to Agia Anna Beach. Proceed as directed above.
★ Notes about signage: In Β. Ευβοια, the Β is short for Βορεια (Voria), which means "North." In Ν. Ευβοια, the Ν is short for Νοτια (Notia), which means "South." Remember not to incorrectly associate "N" with "north" if the sign is in Greek, but be advised that "N" can be shorthand for "north" if the sign is in English. For example, at the red light at the "T" referenced in the directions above, there is also a bilingual sign pointing toward North Evia that is written as Β. Ευβοια and N. Evoia. The sign uses a variant transliteration of Evia, with an "o" that is often omitted.
MAP from starting point to parking
This placemark pertains to Agia Anna Beach.

"Strofilia" sign (south end of village)
This placemark pertains to Agia Anna Beach.

"Strofilia" sign (north end of village)
This placemark pertains to Agia Anna Beach.

turnoff to Agia Anna Beach

"Agia Anna" sign (south end of village)

"Agia Anna" sign (north end of village)

stop sign in Agkali

Oasis Village Camping

abandoned construction project

informal parking at end of road

segment of main road through North Avia

road to Agia Anna Beach

main road along Agia Anna Beach

Macedonia

Nei Pori Wetlands Beach

Nei Pori Wetlands Beach
Nei Pori is a coastal resort village that is the southernmost coastal locality of Macedonia, at the border with Thessaly. The village lies toward the southern end of the coastal region known as the Olympian Riviera. Mount Olympus, the most famous geographic feature of Greece, is just a bit inland from this part of the coast, straddling the border of Macedonia and Thessaly. The beach of Nei Pori is part of a long sandy beach that spans multiple villages, and the continuity of the beach is occasionally interrupted by the mouth of a lagoon or river. Going southeast along the beach (to the right when facing the sea), it is a walk of about one kilometer from the end of the development of Nei Pori to the start of the development of the next village, which is Kastri (the northernmost coastal village of Thessaly). The undeveloped stretch of beach between the two villages is backed by an area of wetlands with a complex network of lagoons and small rivers. A small number of nudists gather toward the middle of this expanse of the beach, about halfway between Nei Pori and Kastri. The nude beach is more associated with Nei Pori since it is closer to park and access the beach from that end. However, the actual area where nudists gather is technically just over the border in Thessaly, so at some point you will walk across the invisible line that separates Macedonia and Thessaly. The closest food and other amenities are about 500 meters in either direction from the nude area.
village, region, country:  Nei Pori, Macedonia, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2gfxHvQ
starting point  the Nei Pori turnoff of the A1 motorway
The A1 motorway is one of the primary thoroughfares of Greece, connecting Athens to Thessaloniki (via Lamia). The coastal resort village of Nei Pori is located very close to the motorway but along a segment that is still under construction. As of 2015, the A1 is a regular highway in the immediate vicinity of Nei Pori, and the turnoff to Nei Pori is located at a red light at a three-way junction that is between kilometer markers 401 and 402. Nei Pori is roughly 100 kilometers south of Thessaloniki and 400 kilometers north of Athens, and it is roughly 40 kilometers south of Katerini and 50 kilometers north of Larissa (the two closest major towns). At the turnoff, the name of the village is spelled Neoi Poroi on signs even through Nei Pori is the more prevalent transliteration.
Upon turning toward Nei Pori, proceed 1.2 kilometers and you will cross a bridge over two railroads, then 300 meters farther on you will cross a short bridge over a canal and enter Nei Pori proper. Not counting the minor side road that is immediately past the canal, continue 250-300 meters and take the second right, turning onto a broad boulevard with a tree-lined median. Just up ahead you should see Agia Marina Church, a grand white structure with two bell towers and red-orange roof tiles. As you go east-southeast along the boulevard, the church should be on your left-hand side as you drive past it. Less than 200 meters after the church, you will reach a "T" junction at the village square, with a gazebo directly in front of you. Turn right, then almost immediately take the next possible left such that the village square is on your left-hand side as you continue east-southeast.
600 meters farther on, you will reach the end of the village grid, where the buildings and the paved roads abruptly come to an end. Keep straight ahead on the gravel road that goes into the wetlands area, which is a wide open space. (You will see the sea off to your left.) There is actually a maze of tracks through the open space. Just keep straight ahead about 300 meters to a grove of trees, where there are several derelict structures hidden in the trees. When you get to the grove, turn left in front of the grove and continue less than 200 meters to an informal parking area next to the beach, at coordinates 39.9742N, 22.6638E. The parking area abuts the northwest end of a lagoon, and the nude area is the part of the beach that is backed by the lagoon. Facing the sea, turn right and walk southeast. You should encounter nudists within 250 meters.
Note: If the roads through the wetlands area are waterlogged or seem too rough, just park next to the beach at the southeast end of Nei Pori where the paved street grid ends. From there, it is a walk of 300 meters to the informal parking area next to the lagoon then a short distance to the nude beach beyond.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking.
This placemark pertains to Nei Pori Wetlands Beach.

Nei Pori turnoff from the A1 motorway
This placemark pertains to Nei Pori Wetlands Beach.

bridge over two railroads
This placemark pertains to Nei Pori Wetlands Beach.

short bridge over canal

Agia Marina Church

village square

route from motorway to parking

Olympic Beach

Olympic Beach
Toward the western end of the Macedonian coastline near the border with Thessaly, the Pierian plain is a flat coastal area with a coastline that mostly faces east, with mountains encircling much of the inland side of the plain, including Mount Olympus toward the south end. The principal town of the area is Katerini, and the coastline is sometimes referred to as the Olympian Riviera. Olympiaki Akti is a coastal resort village that is about 10 kilometers southeast of Katerini, and the main area of the village seafront is contained within an expanse of about 500 meters. There are large seaside parking lots bracketing either end of that expanse. Going south from the southern parking lot, it is 600 meters to the mouth of a rivulet that is usually dammed by a shoal, such that the rivulet often does not quite flow into the sea. A few nude bathers typically cluster around the rivulet mouth, not venturing much beyond it since there are some scattered houses and other development a bit farther south. There is a dirt track that runs along the beach from the southern parking lot to the rivulet, making it possible to park very close to the nude area. Akti, incidentally, is a Greek word for coast, so Olympiaki Akti and Olympic Beach are used interchangeably to refer to the resort village and its beach.
village, region, country:  Olympiaki Akti (Katerini), Macedonia, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fXGt0z
starting point  the Katerini / Paralia exit of the A1 motorway in Katerini
The A1 motorway is one of the primary thoroughfares of Greece, connecting Athens to Thessaloniki (via Lamia). Roughly 70 kilometers south of Thessaloniki and 430 kilometers north of Athens, Katerini is a major town along the A1, and a segment of the motorway is tunneled underground as it passes through the town. The Katerini / Paralia exit is south of the tunnel.
If you are going south (toward Athens) on the A1, there is just one Katerini / Paralia exit, and it is the first exit after the tunnel. It is 1.3 kilometers past the tunnel and 300 meters past kilometer marker 437. Once you exit, you will have to make your way through a rather convoluted interchange. Follow the signs that point toward Paralia until you begin to see signs for Olympic Beach. At that point, ignore the Paralia signs and follow the signs for Olympic Beach instead.
If you are going north (toward Thessaloniki) on the A1, there are actually two Katerini / Paralia exits, which are about a kilometer apart. You can take either one, but if you take the first of the exits (which is past marker 436), you will have to navigate your way through the convoluted interchange referenced above. It is much easier if you take the second of the exits, which is past marker 437. At the end of the short exit ramp, you will reach a "T." Turn left then immediately take the next right, where you will see an Olympic Beach sign.
Shortly after you begin heading away from the motorway toward the coast, you will cross over a multi-track railroad. From that point, it is about 5.3 kilometers to Olympic Beach, which is the name of both a beach and a seaside resort village. (The name appears as Olympiaki Akti on some maps.) You have arrived when you pass a 20 KPH speed limit panel. From there, continue 300 meters to the first major four-way intersection, where there are signs pointing both to the right and to the left toward parking. Turn right. Shortly after you turn, you should pass Agios Prokopios Church, a grand domed white structure with red-orange roof tiles. 250 meters past the church, the road will bend sharply to the left, then just under 200 meters farther on you will reach a large beach parking lot that abuts the south end of the commercial development. Turn right into the lot at the blue "P" panel. Facing the sea at the parking lot, the nude area is about 600 meters to the right (south), but you do not have to walk. You can drive through the parking lot to access a dirt track that parallels the beach. When you reach the dead end next to an irrigation canal, around coordinates 40.2311N, 22.5860E, you will be in the nude area.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are going south when you exit (coming from Thessaloniki, heading toward Athens).
This placemark pertains to Olympic Beach.

Katerini / Paralia exit interchange of the A1 motorway in Katerini
This placemark pertains to Olympic Beach.

Agios Prokopios Church
This placemark pertains to Olympic Beach.

large beach parking lot at south end of commercial development

parking at end of dirt track

route from exit interchange to parking

Korinos North Beach

Korinos North Beach
Toward the western end of the Macedonian coastline near the border with Thessaly, the Pierian plain is a flat coastal area with a coastline that mostly faces east, with mountains encircling much of the inland side of the plain, including Mount Olympus toward the south end. The principal town of the area is Katerini, and the coastline is sometimes referred to as the Olympian Riviera. Just a bit northeast of Katerini, Korinos is a small town that is just a bit inland from the coast, and the coastal development corresponding to Korinos is called Paralia Korinou. A bit north of Paralia Korinou, there is a tiny chapel named named Agia Paraskevi that is next to the beach. North of the chapel, there is a long and desolate stretch of beach that is frequented by nudists. It is a sandy beach backed by tall grass, and there is quite a bit of debris along the beach. There is seaweed and driftwood, but there is also an unfortunate amount of human-generated litter.
Next to Agia Paraskevi, there is a small cluster of development consisting of portable structures that are present only during summer. There are sunchairs and umbrellas, two snack stands and toilets. The Agia Paraskevi cluster is the northernmost of the clusters of Paralia Korinou, and it is a bit of an outlier since it is over a kilometer north of the next cluster, while all the other clusters of Paralia Korinou are much closer to one another. Going north from Agia Paraskevi (to the left when facing the sea), nude bathing begins to occur a few hundred meters beyond the sunchairs and snack stands. Several hundred meters into the nude area (i.e., about 600 meters north of Agia Paraskevi), there is an irrigation canal that flows toward the sea, but during summer there is usually a shoal at the mouth of the canal (i.e., the water in the canal does not quite flow into the sea during warmer months). About 1.7 kilometers farther north, there is another irrigation canal with a shoal damming its outlet to the sea. Beyond the second canal, the beach continues north another 5 or so kilometers, and the coastline makes a prominent curve in an estuarial area where there are lot of salt ponds and a bird sanctuary.
Most nude bathing takes place south of the first canal (near Agia Paraskevi) and in the area between the two canals. North of the second canal, the beach tends to be completely deserted. The area shaded lightly in red is a rough approximation of where nudity is most prevalent. The area near the second canal (i.e., the northern of the two) is frequented mostly by gay men. Since the beach is so large, nudists are quite widely dispersed.
The two parking placemarks pinpoint access points near the extreme ends of the nude area. One is at Agia Paraskevi and the other is near the second (northern) canal. However, there are driving tracks along the beach that make it possible to park and access the beach pretty much anywhere. The gravel roads that lead to the two pinpointed parking areas both appear on Google Maps and some other maps, but between those two roads there is a complex network of gravel roads that do not seem to appear on any maps. It seems these roads may be the street grid of a development that never came to fruition. Some of those roads can be used as shortcuts to the part of the nude beach that lies between the two canals.
town, region, country:  Korinos, Macedonia, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2gx9CDa
starting point  the Korinos exit of the A1 motorway near Korinos
The A1 motorway is one of the primary thoroughfares of Greece, connecting Athens to Thessaloniki (via Lamia). Korinos is a small town located just off the motorway, on the east (coast) side. Korinos is roughly 60 kilometers south of Thessaloniki and 440 kilometers north of Athens, and it is just 7 or so kilometers north of Katerini (the closest major town). The Korinos exit is between kilometer markers 445 and 446. Upon exiting, follow the Korinos signs to navigate your way through the interchange. Once you begin heading east away from the motorway, in about 300 meters you will see a right-hand turnoff into Korinos near two gas stations (one on each side of the road). Do NOT turn there. Keep straight ahead, following the sign that points toward the beach. Shortly the road will curve sharply to the left (north) and begin to run parallel to a railroad, which will be on your right-hand side.
Continue 700-800 meters until you reach a fork. At that point, you will see a bridge that spans the railroad just up ahead. You want to cross that bridge. To access it, veer left at the fork and then follow the sharp curve of the road. Once you have crossed over the railroad, you will be heading toward the coast on a road that skirts the northern periphery of Korinos. Continue 3.4 kilometers until you get to a stop sign at a junction where the cross street is paved but the roads straight ahead are gravel. There are signs pointing right toward the beach and left toward Alikes and Pydna. There are two ways to access the nude beach.
Option 1: Access from the south end:
Straight ahead at the junction, there are two parallel gravel roads. It does not matter which one you follow since they lead to the same place. Follow either road about 400 meters and you will reach a tiny chapel called Agia Paraskevi. Just beyond the chapel, there is parking next to the beach in an area where beach chairs and umbrellas are set up during summer, around coordinates 40.3185N, 22.6270E. Facing the sea, turn left and walk north. Or, if you can handle the terrain, you can continue driving along the tracks behind the beach. Within a few hundred meters you will reach the start of the area where nudity is possible.
Option 2: Access from the north end:
Turn left at the stop sign. Go north 600-700 hundred meters and take note when you cross a short bridge over an irrigation canal. The bridge has metal side rails painted yellow. From that point, continue north 1.7 kilometers until you reach an intersection where there are small, unmarked gravel roads going off in either direction. Turn right. (At the point where you turn, there is a large municipal boundary sign, but the sign faces traffic coming from the other direction, so you will see the blank back side. The front side reads Δημος Κορινου, Δημοτικο Διαμερισμα Κορινου, which means something on the order of Korinos Municipality and Korinos Municipal District. You have missed the turn by 100 meters if you reach the point where the paved road crosses another irrigation canal via another bridge with metal side rails that are painted yellow.) Follow the gravel road about 1.7 kilometers to the beach, where you will be toward the northern end of the area where most nudity takes place. There are multiple informal parking areas and access points along the track that runs behind the beach, around coordinates 40.3361N, 22.6402E.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Option 1), assuming you are going south when you exit (coming from Thessaloniki, heading toward Katerini and Athens).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Option 2), assuming you are going south when you exit (coming from Thessaloniki, heading toward Katerini and Athens).
This placemark pertains to Korinos North Beach.

Korinos exit interchange of the A1 motorway near Korinos
This placemark pertains to Korinos North Beach.

bridge over railroad
This placemark pertains to Korinos North Beach.

two parallel gravel roads leave from here
junction where the north-south road is paved and the road to the west is paved, but two parallel roads leading to the beach are gravel

Agia Paraskevi chapel

parking area next to chapel

mouth of irrigation canal, often blocked by shoal

short bridge with yellow metal side rails over irrigation canal

route from exit interchange to parking (north end)

road to Agia Paraskevi chapel

Potamos & E.O.T. Camping Beaches

collective description
Epanomi is a town on the west side of Halkidiki, the multi-peninsular land mass that resembles a hand with three fingers that extend southward. Epanomi is on the "hand" part of Halkidiki, about 30 kilometers south-southwest of the city center of Thessaloniki. Just a few kilometers southwest of Epanomi, there is a small peninsula typically called Fanari, which means "light" or "beacon." The name comes from a lighthouse near the tip of the peninsula, which is actually not a classic lighthouse in appearance, instead resembling a small radio transmission tower. The peninsula has two sides, each about 3 kilometers long. One side faces south and the other faces northwest, and part of the interior is covered in wetlands. Moving toward the lighthouse along either side of the peninsula, the two sides of Fanari come to a pointy tip just beyond the lighthouse, giving Fanari a triangular shape, like an arrow or a beak protruding from the mainland. The roads around the periphery of Fanari are sandy tracks suitable only to four-wheel-drive vehicles. There are two areas along Fanari where nudists gather. However, the tip of the peninsula around the lighthouse is a zone of textile use popular with four-wheel drivers.
The south-facing side of Fanari is far more popular than the northwest-facing side since it has a much broader sandy beach. Potamos Beach is the name of a segment of beach where the south-facing part of Fanari blends into the mainland. Potamos is the most popular beach in Epanomi, and its main area extends over a kilometer, with clusters of sunchairs and umbrellas, a few tavernas and several snack stands. West of Potamos, there is an old shipwreck just offshore toward the tip of Fanari. If you are facing the sea at the far west end of the main area of Potamos, where the crowd begins to thin out, then the shipwreck is about 1.8 kilometers to your right, then the lighthouse is another 600 or so meters beyond the shipwreck. The area from the shipwreck to the lighthouse is part of the aforementioned zone of textile use around the tip of the peninsula that is popular with four-wheel drivers. However, there is a zone where nude bathers gather along the 1.8-kilometer expanse between the main area of Potamos and the shipwreck. The nudist zone is roughly a kilometer long, with nude bathers generally leaving a buffer zone of several hundred meters at either end, avoiding getting too close to the textiles at the main area of Potamos and around the shipwreck. There is a sandy track all along the length of the nudist zone, but low dunes and sea grass provide a measure of privacy. Nude bathers tend to be widely scattered, and the beach has more of a gay presence as you move west toward the shipwreck. The shipwreck area is often called Navagio, which is the transliteration of the Greek word for shipwreck. While it is possible to drive all the way to the nude beach and beyond it to the lighthouse, you run the risk of getting stuck in the sand unless you have a vehicle appropriate for the terrain. If you park at the far west end of the main part of Potamos, it is a walk of about 400 meters to the start of the nude area.
On the opposite side of Fanari, there is a large campground called E.O.T. Camping, located at the point where the northwest-facing part of Fanari blends into the mainland. E.O.T. has been closed down and abandoned since circa the turn of the millennium. Going toward the lighthouse from E.O.T., the beach along the northwest-facing part of Fanari draws very few visitors, even during peak season. Nude bathing is common, and the area seems to be attended mostly by gay men. Most nude bathing occurs at or near the abandoned campground since it is not possible to go too far beyond the campground before a four-wheel-drive vehicle becomes necessary. The E.O.T. nudist zone is less popular and less clearly defined than the nudist zone between Potamos and the shipwreck.
Note: The orange line traces a peripheral route around Fanari along sandy tracks where four-wheel drive is advisable.
This placemark pertains to Potamos Beach and E.O.T. Camping Beach

Potamos Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Potamos Beach and E.O.T. Camping Beach.)
town, region, country:  Epanomi, Macedonia, Greece
There are 20 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Potamos Beach and E.O.T. Camping Beach.

E.O.T. Camping Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Potamos Beach and E.O.T. Camping Beach.)
town, region, country:  Epanomi, Macedonia, Greece
There are 20 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Potamos Beach and E.O.T. Camping Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fMOUOt
starting point  the Epanomi / Macedonia Airport exit of the A25 motorway near Thermi
The A25 motorway is the major thoroughfare that connects Thessaloniki to the Halkidiki region. In Thessaloniki, watch for signs for Halkidiki and the airport to access the A25. The Epanomi / Macedonia Airport exit is between kilometer markers 13 and 15, about 13 kilometers south-southeast of the city center of Thessaloniki. Regardless of the direction of approach, all exiting traffic is filtered toward the airport, which is on the coast side of the motorway. Once you exit, proceed to Epanomi, which is about 15 kilometers southwest of the exit interchange. There are several turns to make, but the route is well signed. Most signs appear in Greek and English, but at least one Epanomi sign appears only in uppercase Greek as ΕΠΑΝΟΜΗ.
There does not seem to be a prominent town sign once you reach Epanomi, but you'll known you are getting close when you pass two grocery stores on the periphery of the town. First, on the right, there is a Masoutis supermarket, the name of which is in all lowercase Greek lettering as μασουτης. Just past it, on the opposite (left) side of the road, there is a Lidl supermarket (the logo of which is in Latin script). Just pass the Lidl, you will pass a 50 KPH speed-limit panel.
Once you enter Epanomi, you want to watch for signs pointing toward Paralia and Potamos, but all signage is in Greek only. Paralia is Παραλια and Potamos is Ποταμος. For all subsequent references to Paralia and Potamos, remember the signs will be in Greek.
About 900 meters past the 50 KPH speed-limit panel, the road will bend sharply to the right next to the Church of the Assumption, which consists of two separate structures: a stone building with a bell tower and a building painted brightly in yellow. At the corner of the yellow building, there is a sign pointing left toward Potamos, but do NOT turn there. (It is an alternate route that is harder to follow.) Keep straight ahead another 300 meters, then turn left at a stack of blue signs with arrows pointing toward Paralia, Potamos and Halkidiki (Χαλκιδικη).
From that point, continue following Paralia and Potamos signs. In about a kilometer, after making a few turns, you should be at a red light next to Primary School #3 of Epanomi, which is on the right side of the road. (The school is a mostly white building with some red brick and glass block on the part nearest the road. The name of the school is on the front of the building in uppercase Greek letters: 3ο ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ ΕΠΑΝΟΜΗΣ.) The red light is where the route to Paralia and Potamos diverge.
To go to Potamos Beach:
Turn left at the red light, opposite the primary school. (There is a Potamos sign at the turnoff.) From that point, just keep straight ahead on the main road at all forks and other junctions, watching for Potamos signs to help you along. In a little over 5 kilometers, you will reach Potamos Beach, where the asphalted road ends at a "T" with an earthen track that runs along the beach. At the "T," you will be amid the main textile zone of Potamos Beach, with most of the beach development extending to your left (east). Turn right (west). The nudist zone begins in about 800 meters. It is easy to drive about half that distance on hard-compacted sand. If you are visiting on a busy day, just proceed to the point where the cluster of parked cars of the main textile zone abruptly thins out, around coordinates 40.3811N, 22.9168E. Once the track morphs to looser sand at the end of the main beach area, it is best to have a four-wheel drive vehicle if you are inclined to drive farther.
To go to E.O.T. Camping Beach:
Keep straight ahead at the red light, toward Paralia. Proceed about 2.7 kilometers until the road begins to make a long rightward curve amid a grove of trees with trunks that are painted white near their bases. Turn left at the curve, in the opposite direction from the sign that points toward Πελαγος ΨΑΡΟΤΑΒΕΡΝΑ (Pelagos Fish Taverna). (If you cross a short bridge with yellow iron side rails, you have just missed the turn.) Upon turning, you will be on a road that runs along the inland edge of an abandoned campground. In about one kilometer, the asphalted road will become a broad and well-surfaced gravel road. 400-500 meters farther along, after making a rightward bend then a leftward bend, the road will effectively end next to the beach, with narrower and rougher tracks continuing along the beach. At that point, you will be just south of the campground, and there is informal parking throughout the area, around coordinates 40.3953N, 22.9034E. Facing the sea from the end of the good part of the road, the campground is a short distance to your right, and the tip of the Fanari peninsula is about 2.7 kilometers to your left. Nudity is possible throughout the area, occurring mostly in the vicinity of the campground since four-wheel drive is necessary to continue toward the top of the peninsula.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Potamos), assuming you are going south when you exit (coming from Thessaloniki, heading toward Kassandra).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (E.O.T. Camping), assuming you are going south when you exit (coming from Thessaloniki, heading toward Kassandra).
This placemark pertains to Potamos Beach and E.O.T. Camping Beach

Masoutis (μασουτης) supermarket
This placemark pertains to Potamos Beach and E.O.T. Camping Beach

Lidl supermarket

50 KPH speed-limit panel at edge of Epanomi

Church of the Assumption
This church consists of two separate buildings. One is a stone structure with a bell tower. The other is paint brightly in yellow.

stack of blue Greek-only signs
stack of blue signs with place names that are only in Greek
The straight-ahead arrows point toward Νεα Μηχανιωνα (Nea Michaniona) and Παλιουρα (Paliouri).
The left arrows point toward Παραλια (Paralia), Ποταμος (Potamos) and Χαλκιδικη (Halkidiki).

Primary School #3 of Epanomi
This structure is a mostly white building with some red brick and glass block on the part nearest the road. The the name of the school is on the front of the building in uppercase Greek letters: 3ο ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ ΕΠΑΝΟΜΗΣ.

end of pavement
This placemark pertains to Potamos Beach

main textile zone of Potamos Beach (shaded in green)
This placemark pertains to Potamos Beach

informal parking along sandy road
This placemark is pinpointed at the west end of the main area of Potamos Beach, where the crowd abruptly thins out, so do the parked cars. Beyond (i.e., west of) this point, it becomes more difficult to drive on the sand.
This placemark pertains to Potamos Beach.

shipwreck site
This placemark pertains to Potamos Beach.

textile zone around lighthouse & shipwreck (shaded in green)
The tip of the peninsula around the lighthouse and the shipwreck is a zone of textile use that is popular with four-wheel drivers.

lighthouse that resembles radio transmission tower

short bridge with yellow iron side rails
This placemark pertains to E.O.T. Camping Beach.

entry gate to E.O.T. Camping (closed)
This large campground has been closed and abandoned since circa the turn of the millennium.
This placemark pertains to E.O.T. Camping Beach

end of pavement
This placemark pertains to E.O.T. Camping Beach

This placemark pertains to E.O.T. Camping Beach

route from speed-limit panel to parking (Potamos)

route from primary school to parking (E.O.T. Camping)

sandy road along beach (4WD recommended)

main textile zone of Potamos Beach

textile zone around lighthouse & shipwreck

Akti Petmeza-Vrachakia Beach

Akti Petmeza-Vrachakia Beach
Nea Kallikratia is a coastal town along the western part of the peninsular land mass known as Halkidiki, about 45 kilometers south-southeast of Thessaloniki. The town center is a dense grid covering less than one square kilometer, then there are sprawling neighborhoods going in either direction along the coast. Nea Kallikratia Beach is adjacent to the town center. From there, a seafront road goes east past a number of beaches. Several kilometers from the town center, the longest and most popular of the beaches on the eastern outskirts of Nea Kallikratia stretches over 3.5 kilometers, and it has three names associated with it: Geoponika Beach, Anthoupolis Beach and Mykoniatika Beach. Take your pick. All refer to the same place. During summer, the beach is quite crowded, lined with multiple clusters of sun chairs and umbrellas.
Between Nea Kallikratia Beach and Geoponika Beach, there are two unsigned beaches that each have very obscure proper names that no one seems to know even though both beaches are fairly well attended. The two beaches are named Akti Petmeza Beach and Vrachakia Beach, and they are located along a stretch of the coastline where the land rises a bit. Akti Petmeza is the closer to Nea Kallikratia of the two, and its main expanse is over a kilometer long. Cliffs rise up behind the east end of the beach, but most of the beach is backed by a fairly low escarpment. There are several staircases with handrails that provide access to the beach from the seafront road. There was a beach bar that provided sun chairs for a time in the 2010s, but the bar closed circa 2017. Continuing east, the seafront road rises to about 20 meters above sea level as it passes above Vrachakia Beach, an expanse of about 1.2 kilometers that is backed by cliffs that are thickly carpeted by coastal scrub. Vrachakia Beach is a wild beach with no amenities, and there are two paths from the seafront road that wind down the cliffs and land toward either end of the beach. Continuing east, the seafront road quickly loses elevation after Vrachakia Beach. The road is near sea level as it runs along the length of Geoponika Beach.
The coastline curves a bit between Akti Petmeza Beach and Vrachakia Beach, and the distance between the beaches measured along the coastline is 500-600 meters. It is possible to walk from one beach to the other at sea level. The coastline is narrow, rocky and strewn with lots of boulders, but amid the rocks there are multiple little niches of sand mixed with pebbles and detritus. Akti Petmeza and Vrachakia are both textile beaches, but nude bathing occurs between the two beaches along the boulder-strewn expanse. This rather obscure nude beach seems to be attended mostly by local gay men. Although the nude area is directly below the seafront road, bathers are secluded by the vegetation that blankets the cliffs.
town, region, country:  Nea Kallikratia, Macedonia, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/45b4RU7
starting point:  the Nea Kallikratia / Nea Triglia exit of the A24 motorway near Nea Kallikratia
The A24 motorway is the major thoroughfare that connects Thessaloniki to the Halkidiki region. In Thessaloniki, watch for signs for Halkidiki and the airport to access the A24. The Nea Kallikratia / Nea Triglia exit is about 32 kilometers south of the Thessaloniki ring road. (There are two Nea Kallikratia exits. The exit you want, between kilometer markers 40 and 41, is also signed Nea Triglia. The exit you do NOT want, between kilometer markers 36 and 37, is also signed Irakleia and Agios Pavlos.)
Upon exiting, follow signs for Nea Kallikratia. Just past the motorway interchange near a Kaoil gas station, watch for a left-hand turnoff signed only in Greek as Γαληνη (Galini), but do not turn there. Keep straight ahead about 400 meters and turn left onto the next asphalted street, which is immediately before a Lidl supermarket. The street is named Riga Ferreou (ΡΗΓΑ ΦΕΡΡΑΙΟΥ or Ρηγα Φερραιου), and it is signed in uppercase Greek and in English. (Note that ΟΔΟΣ or Οδος on a sign is just the word for "street.")
Follow Riga Ferreou about 1.1 kilometers to its end at a "T" where you have to turn one way or the other. The cross street is named Antheon (ΑΝΘΕΩΝ or Ανθεων), but you will not see a sign with the street name. Turn left onto Antheon then almost immediately take the next possible right onto Dryos (ΔΡΥΟΣ or Δρυος), which is signed in uppercase Greek. (The street sign is quite inconspicuous.) Upon turning, you should see a church bell tower straight ahead in the distance.
After following Dryos for 300 meters, you will pass the church (Holy Temple of the Metamorphosis, or Ιερος Ναος Μεταμορφωσεως), which is on the right-hand side of the street. From there, continue 400-500 meters to the end of Dryos at a "T" with a road that follows the coastline. At that point, you will have an unobstructed view of the sea straight ahead. The seafront road is named Anemonon (ΑΝΕΜΩΝΩΝ or Ανεμωνων), but there doesn't seem to be any prominent street signage. When you reach the "T," you will be directly above Vrachakia Beach, with Akti Petmeza Beach to the right (west) and Geoponika Beach to the left (east). To get to the nude area between Vrachakia and Akti Petmeza, you can park near the "T" and follow one of the two paths that go down the cliffs to Vrachakia Beach. Following either path, the elevation loss is roughly 20 meters. To avoid the steep descent, you can access the nude area from Akti Petmeza Beach rather than from Vrachakia Beach.
First, assume you hike down to Vrachakia Beach. Opposite the "T" on the coast side of the seafront road, there is a long dirt pullout (40.3014N, 23.0887E) where you can leave your vehicle. Cars also park along the road on more crowded days, and parking is generally an informal affair. Take note of the utility poles that are on the coast side of the seafront road. There are seven of them that collectively span 250 meters, and they are roughly evenly spaced. There are sequential numbers painted on the poles, with the numbers decreasing going west, but be advised the paint may have worn off on some of them. The first (i.e., easternmost) pole is directly opposite the "T" where you first reach the seafront road, and it is numbered 29. The last (i.e., westernmost) pole is numbered 23.
The more eastern of the two paths down to Vrachakia Beach begins about 25 meters east of pole 29. Watch for cement steps without a handrail and you have found the start of the path. The path lands near the eastern end of the main expanse of the beach. From there, it is about 300 meters to the start of the boulders at the western end of the beach. To find the more western path to the beach, follow the seafront road west until you are near the end of the utility poles. The path begins about halfway between the next-to-last pole and the last pole (24 and 23), opposite a seasonal snack stand called La Gardie that is on the inland side of the seafront road. The start of the well-trod path may be signed by a makeshift "beach" sign (watch for ΠΑΡΑΛΙΑ or παραλια). Follow the path just a few steps and you will begin descending the cliff, landing near the western end of the main expanse of the beach. Heading west, in less than 100 meters you will be at the start of the boulders. Once you reach the start of the boulders, continue a few minutes until you are well secluded from the nearest textiles.
Alternatively, assume you go to Akti Petmeza Beach. When you reach the "T" with the seafront road, turn right and head west past all the utility poles and La Gardie snack stand. After following the seafront road for 800 meters, watch for Hotel Paraktio, a small but well-signed hotel on the right (inland) side of the road. Just past the hotel, there is an informal grassy parking area (40.3054N, 23.0814E) on the inland side of the road, with additional parking available along the road. About 60 meters past (i.e., west of) the hotel, a cement staircase with handrails descends to the beach. (The staircase is the easternmost of several accesses to the beach. The accesses farther west have fewer steps but require a longer walk along the beach to the nude area.) Facing the sea at the bottom of the stairs, turn left. As you head east, the cliff backing the beach will rise higher, and in 100 or so meters you will reach the start of the boulders. Continue a few minutes until you are well secluded from the nearest textiles.
MAP from starting point to parking (above Vrachakia Beach)
MAP from starting point to parking (Akti Petmeza Beach, next to Hotel Paraktio)
This placemark pertains to Akti Petmeza-Vrachakia Beach.

Akti Petmeza Beach (textile along main expanse)
This placemark pertains to Akti Petmeza-Vrachakia Beach.

Vrachakia Beach (textile along main expanse)
This placemark pertains to Akti Petmeza-Vrachakia Beach.

Geoponika Beach, a.k.a. Anthoupolis or Mykoniatika (textile)

Nea Kallikratia / Nea Triglia exit interchange of A24 motorway

Kaoil gas station

roundabout at edge of Nea Kallikratia

Holy Temple of the Metamorphosis

dirt parking pullout

utility pole #29

utility pole #28

utility pole #27

La Gardie (seasonal snack stand)

Hotel Paraktio

grassy parking area

roads, etc.

road from motorway to Nea Kallikratia

Riga Ferreou (ΡΗΓΑ ΦΕΡΡΑΙΟΥ / Ρηγα Φερραιου)

segment of Antheon (ΑΝΘΕΩΝ / Ανθεων)

Dryos (ΔΡΥΟΣ / Δρυος)

segment of seafront road (Anemonon / ΑΝΕΜΩΝΩΝ / Ανεμωνων)

staircase with handrails (easternmost access to Akti Petmeza Beach)

nude area, very roughly

Vothonas Rocks

Vothonas Rocks
Nea Fokea is a coastal resort village that is toward the north end of the eastern coast of Kassandra, the westernmost "finger" or sub-peninsula of the larger peninsular land mass known as Halkidiki. Going south from the village beach of Nea Fokea, the next sandy beach—Vothonas Beach—is about 2 kilometers away. Vothonas is patronized heavily by visitors to two nearby establishments: Skouras Sports & Language Camp and Aristoteles Beach Hotel. The youth camp and the hotel are both on the inland side of the coastal road, and at each location there is a pedestrian bridge over the road that facilitates access to the beach. Vothonas Beach is, of course, a strictly textile beach. However, going north from Vothonas Beach toward Nea Fokea, there is a very rugged stretch of coastline that is backed by cliffs and strewn with clusters of boulders that are punctuated by tiny niches composed of sand, pebbles and detritus. Nude bathing is common along this jagged expanse, which does not have a proper name. We will call it the Vothonas Rocks.
To access the Vothonas Rocks, you should not start at Vothonas Beach. Besides a general lack of nearby parking, it is a bit difficult to get across the rocks that are just north of the beach. To reach the nudist stretch, there are two access points that are about 700 meters apart. The more northern access is located at a large gravel parking area that is easy to find even though it is not signed. The southern access is far more hidden, but informal parking is available nearby. In theory, nudity is possible along the entire expanse between the two accesses. In practice, most visitors stay toward one access or the other since exploring the entire expanse requires a lot of boulder scrambling. Since the northern access is both easier to find and has an easier descent, there are sometimes only textiles in the immediately vicinity of the access, and there is limited space to easily move away from any textiles who are present since the coastline becomes a bit challenging to navigate going in either direction. The southern access is generally better for exploring a longer area of the coastline even though you will be climbing down the cliff from a much higher elevation compared to the northern access. The area around the southern access is especially popular with gay men.
GPS:
village, region, country:  Nea Fokea, Macedonia, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/47gwcGg
starting point:  the Sani Beach / Nea Fokaia exit of the Thessaloniki-to-Kassandra highway near Nea Fokaia
Thessaloniki is connected to the Kassandra peninsula by a roughly 85-kilometer-long highway that, for most of its length, is the A24 motorway. Assume you are coming from Thessaloniki. Watch for signs for Halkidiki and the airport to access A24. The kilometer numbers along the motorway ascend as you go south from Thessaloniki toward the Halkidiki region. The last motorway exit, Polygyros / Sithonia / Nea Moudania, is past kilometer marker 61, about 53 kilometers south of the Thessaloniki ring road. That is the exit you would take for the Sithonia peninsula, but do NOT exit there. Keep straight ahead. The kilometer numbering ends, but the highway continues another 23 kilometers, ending at a roundabout between the towns of Kassandreia and Kallithea. For the most part, the highway is an expressway with exits just like the motorway, but there are a few undivided two-lane segments. Once you pass the Polygyros / Sithonia / Nea Moudania exit, continue 14 kilometers and take the Sani Beach / Nea Fokaia exit. (There are no exits farther south. If you miss the exit, you will have to continue another 9 to 10 kilometers to the aforementioned roundabout and turn around there.)
Upon exiting, follow signs for Nea Fokaia and Afytos. In a little over one kilometer you will reach a stop sign at a "T" where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn right to continue toward Nea Fokaia and Afytos. You will then begin going in a generally southward direction along the coastal road that hews toward the east side of Kassandra. In just under one kilometer you will pass the blue-and-white Nea Fokea village sign. (Note that the name is transliterated a bit differently on the village sign compared to signs leading to the village.)
After the village sign, continue 600-700 meters and take note when you pass beneath a pedestrian bridge that spans the coastal road. Continue about 400 meters to the next major three-way junction, which is poorly signed. The road straight ahead is the coastal road, while the road to the right is a bypass that veers slightly inland. (The coastal road and the bypass reconnect in 3 to 4 kilometers.) Keep straight ahead on the coastal road. Immediately past the junction, you will pass the blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving Nea Fokea. Take note of your car's trip meter and watch for the landmarks noted below. While the two parking and access options are both located within the first 2 kilometers after the "leaving Nea Fokea" sign, other landmarks farther along are given just for reference. Also watch for the guardrail segments along the left (coast) side of the road to assist with finding the two parking areas. There are three guardrails segments along the coast side of the road between the "leaving Nea Fokea" sign and Skouros Camp, and each is roughly 100 meters long.
• km 0.00  "leaving Nea Fokea" sign, at northern junction of coastal road and bypass
• km 0.85  open parking area on left, at northern access (40.1288N, 23.4118E)
This parking area is just past the end of the first guardrail and just before the start of the second one. It is a large gravel pullout with an unobstructed view of the sea, and it is the only really visible and obvious parking area along the entire stretch of the coastal road that is between the two bypass junctions. There are a couple of billboards and other signs that are usually covered in graffiti.
• km 1.45  shaded parking area on left, near southern access (40.1252N, 23.4169E)
This parking area is about 175 meters past the end of the third guardrail, and it is quite hidden compared to the other parking area, obscured by trees and shrubs.
• km 1.60  gated entrance to small residential complex on left
The complex, a cluster of townhouses, is surrounded by a low stone fence wall. It is the first structure on the left after the two parking areas.
• km 1.70  prominently signed entrance to Skouras Camp on right
• km 1.85  pedestrian bridge signed "Skouros Camp" spans coastal road
The gravel path next to the bridge leads to Vothonas Beach (i.e., the textile beach).
• km 2.30  pedestrian bridge signed "Aristoteles Beach" spans coastal road
• km 3.70  southern junction of coastal road and bypass
There is a Lidl supermarket on the left about 300 meters past the junction, in the northern outskirts of Afytos.
The northern access is straightforward. Park in the big open parking area (at km 0.85). Facing the sea, look to your right for the path that descends to the sea. It is a short hike of less than 100 meters, with an elevation loss of about 20 meters.
The southern access is more hidden. When you turn into the shaded parking area (at km 1.45), you will immediately come to rough tracks that go off in either direction, parallel to the coastal road. Park and follow the track that goes south (to the right when facing the sea) for 100-150 meters until you reach a wall that is perpendicular to the road. (The wall is part of the perimeter fence of the small residential complex referenced above.) Just before the wall, you will find the steep path that goes down to the sea. You will be roughly 40 meters above sea level when you begin the descent. The path is basically a long, winding staircase comprised of crude steps, and there is no handrail.
MAP from starting point to parking (northern access)
MAP from starting point to parking (southern access)
This placemark pertains to Vothonas Rocks.

northern access to nudist expanse
This placemark pertains to Vothonas Rocks.

southern access to nudist expanse
This placemark pertains to Vothonas Rocks.

"Nea Fokea" sign (north end of village)

pedestrian bridge spanning coastal road in Nea Fokea

"Nea Fokea" sign (south end of village)

guardrail along coast side of road (see yellow line)

open parking area, with clear view of sea

shaded parking area

gated entrance to small residential complex

entrance to Skouras Camp

pedestrian bridge spanning coastal road at Skouros Camp

Vothonas Beach (textile)

pedestrian bridge spanning coastal road at Aristoteles Beach Resort

bypass road

guardrail along coast side of road

footpath

stone fence wall of residential complex

footpath with lots of steps

broad track

Orange Beach

Orange Beach
Sarti is a coastal resort village along the central area of the eastern coast of Sithonia, the middle "finger" or sub-peninsula of the larger peninsular land mass known as Halkidiki. Several kilometers north of Sarti, there is an exceptionally beautiful beach with three names associated with it. In Greek, the beach is called Kavourotrypes. In English, it is known as Orange Beach. The third name commonly applied to the beach is Narancspart, which is the compound Hungarian word for Orange Beach. Sithonia is especially popular with tourists from Hungary.
Although the general orientation of the coastline is toward the east, Orange Beach is situated in a small cove that faces north. The cove is a semi-circle with a little over 300 meters of coastline, and the shallow water of the cove makes for the ideal swimming area. The forested area ringing the cove is an informal tenting area. The main beach is toward the western side of the cove. It is a sandy expanse of about 50 meters, equipped with a snack bar and a small cluster of sunchairs and umbrellas. Going east from there (to the right when facing the sea), a rugged rocky slab comprises the next short segment of the cove, then the coastline becomes undulating slabs of smoother rock interspersed with tiny sandy niches. As you more toward the far east end of the cove, you will see a number of whimsical sculptures carved into the supple rock, including a mermaid and a sunburst. One of the sculptures is a figure of a nude woman, and etched into the rock above her are the words ΣΥΛΛΟΓΟΣ ΓΥΜΝΙΣΤΩΝ ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ, which means Dionysos Nudist Society.
The eastern end of Orange Beach, around the sculptures, is a traditional gathering place for nude bathers. Sadly, its heyday as a nude beach seems to have been at some point prior to the turn of the millennium, when things were much quieter at Orange Beach. Simply put, the beach has been discovered and invaded by textiles. The custom of nude bathing has not vanished altogether, although it seems that way much of the time. When the beach is crowded, particularly during July and August, there is a good chance it will be entirely textile. Even during peak season, there are sometimes bold nudists among the textiles, but they are always vastly outnumbered, with perhaps one nudist for every few dozen textiles. Such a lopsided ratio obviously inhibits would-be nudists. You are likely to encounter more nudity at times when the beach isn't crowded, say on weekdays before mid-June or after mid-September.
Orange Beach is well worth a visit despite its limited visitation by nudists. Besides the beauty of the beach itself, there are also spectacular views across the water to Mount Athos, the mountainous peninsula that forms the eastern "finger" of Halkidiki. Just keep your expectations in check regarding the nudist potential of Orange Beach, and know that there is a Plan B and a Plan C if conditions just don't seem favorable for getting naked. Kriaritsi Beach and Kalamitsi Beach are farther south in Sithonia, and, although those two beaches are 7 to 8 kilometers from one another, each is about 22 kilometers by car from Orange Beach. Kriaritsi and Kalamitsi both have nude areas that are more reliably attended by nudists than is the nude area of Orange Beach.
town, region, country:  Sarti, Macedonia, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fAhrDZ
starting point  the Polygyros / Sithonia / Nea Moudania exit of the A25 motorway near Nea Moudania
The A25 motorway is the major thoroughfare that connects Thessaloniki to the Halkidiki region. In Thessaloniki, watch for signs for Halkidiki and the airport to access the A25. The Polygyros / Sithonia / Nea Moudania exit is between kilometer markers 61 and 62 of the A25, about 53 kilometers south of the Thessaloniki ring road. Upon exiting, follow signs for Sithonia (the middle of the three sub-peninsulas or "fingers" of the Halkidiki peninsula). When you depart the interchange, you will be on the Nea Moudania-to-Sithonia road, which does not have a number but does have kilometer markers. The marker numbers ascend as you go toward Sithonia. A few hundred meters from the exit interchange, you will pass kilometer marker 1 next to a Kaoil gas station. Continue about 35 kilometers and you will pass the Nikiti village sign. Keep straight ahead for several kilometers, passing through Nikiti. About 500 meters past kilometer marker 38, you will reach a major three-way junction, at which point you will be toward the top of the Sithonia peninsula. That junction is the start of a 110-kilometer-long road that loops around the perimeter of Sithonia. (In other words, no matter which way you go at the junction, if you kept straight ahead about 110 kilometers you'd end up back at the junction.) The road straight ahead, which is signed for Agios Nikolaos, Sarti and Sykia, goes down the east side of the peninsula, while the road to the right, which is signed for Neos Marmaras and Porto Koufo, goes down the west side of the peninsula. The kilometer numbering scheme continues such that the next marker is numbered 39 regardless of which way you go at the junction.
Keep straight ahead at the three-way junction (toward Agios Nikolaos, Sarti and Sykia). Continue another 33 to 34 kilometers and take note when you pass marker 72.
Orange Beach is located between kilometers markers 72 and 73, but there are no signs, and there are several unpaved left-hand turnoffs that take you a short distance into a rather amorphous and informal parking area under the trees, around coordinates 40.1255N, 23.9699E. For the most direct access, continue to the half-kilometer marker (which just has "0.5" on the small blue panel). Immediately past the half-kilometer marker, there is a small road next to a roadside shrine (a miniature chapel that resembles a birdhouse but at the height of a mailbox), but don't turn there. Continue about 100 meters farther and take the next possible left onto a road that is next to a couple of garbage dumpsters. (If you pass marker 73, you've gone 350 meters too far.) That road leads about 400 meters directly to the main area of the beach. The nude area is about 200 meters east (to the right when facing the sea), in the area where there are sculptures carved into the rocks.
Notes: Just for reference, the well-signed turnoff to Platanitsi Beach and Camping Platanitsi is a bit south of Orange Beach, between kilometer markers 73 and 74, and the town of Sarti is just past marker 78.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are going south when you exit (coming from Thessaloniki, heading toward Kassandra).
This placemark pertains to Orange Beach.

kilometer marker 72 of the Sithonia perimeter road
This placemark pertains to Orange Beach.

half-kilometer marker between markers 72 and 73
This placemark pertains to Orange Beach.

tenting area

main textile area
This is the largest area of sand on the bay. There are beach chairs and umbrellas here. This area is always textile.

kilometer marker 73 of the Sithonia perimeter road

turnoff to Camping Platanitsi

Camping Platanitsi

route from kilometer 72 to parking

Platania Beach

Platania Beach
Sarti is located toward the southern end of the eastern coast of Sithonia, the middle "finger" or sub-peninsula of the larger peninsular land mass known as Halkidiki. Although Sarti is not all that big, it is among the larger villages of Sithonia, with a good bit of small-scale tourist development. The sandy beach of Sarti extends more than 2 kilometers. Platania is just south of Sarti. If Sarti is a tourist village, then Platania is a tourist hamlet, with just a smattering of accommodations and eateries. Platania is nestled in a little vale, surrounded by hills except where it borders the sea at a golden sandy beach that extends nearly 300 meters. The south end of the beach is formed by a mass of rock that juts into the sea. On the other side of the rocky mass, there is a hidden beach that is roughly half the size of the main beach. Both beaches are generally referred to as Platania Beach. The main beach is the domain of textiles, and sun chairs and umbrellas are available there during peak season. The wild hidden beach is the domain of nudists. While the main beach mostly faces east, the coastline bends a bit at the rocky mass, so the nude beach is oriented more toward the north. As you hike over the rocky mass from the main beach to the nude beach, you will have a stunning view of the peak of Mount Athos on the other side of the gulf that separates the Sithonia Peninsula from the Athos Peninsula.
The nude beach of Platania is quite gorgeous, and it rarely gets crowded. In fact, there often no more than a dozen visitors scattered along the beach even during peak season. Generally most visitors opt to be naked. Although Platania Beach is a well-established nude beach, it remains fairly obscure among the nude beaches of Sithonia—quite the undiscovered gem.
village, region, country:  Sarti, Macedonia, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/3OlYXZB
Set your GPS device to:
40.0744N, 23.9814E (turnoff into Platania, at km 81★ of Sithonia perimeter road)
★ See the notes below about the Sithonia perimeter road for information about the unusual kilometer numbering scheme.
Platania (postal code 630 72) is just south of the village of Sarti. If you are looking up Platania on a GPS device, be sure to use the postal code since there are multiple places with that name. If you are not using GPS, be sure to take note of landmarks described below in the additional directions since the turnoff is quite inconspicuous and easy to miss. The turnoff is signed, but the sign is written only in Greek as Ακτη Πλατανια. (The first word, Akti, is just a word for beach or coast, while the second word is Platania.) Furthermore, while the turnoff is almost precisely at kilometer 81, that particular marker seems to be missing.
Upon turning away from the highway, follow the narrow road 300-400 meters to the informal earthen parking area (40.0756N, 23.9842E) that is next to the main beach of Platania. Facing the sea, turn right and head south to the prominent mass of rock that juts out from the end of the beach. A fairly easy path over the rocky protrusion takes you to the nude beach that is hidden on the other side. The total walk from the parking area is about 300 meters.
NOTES ABOUT THE SITHONIA PERIMETER ROAD
The main road through the Sithonia Peninsula is a highway that is unnumbered but has kilometer markers. (Most markers are extant, but some are missing or hard to see.) The highway, which has a total length of about 147 kilometers, has two parts—a connector and a loop (or the Sithonia perimeter road). The connector is about 38 kilometers long, and the loop is about 109 kilometers long. The connector connects Nea Moudania, a town at the top of the Kassandra Peninsula, to Nikiti, a town at the top (i.e., north end) of the Sithonia Peninsula. The loop begins in Nikiti and goes around the perimeter of Sithonia. In other words, if you start at one end of the loop in Nikiti and keep straight ahead for 109 kilometers, you will end up back in Nikiti. The village of Sikia (also spelled Sykia) is toward the lower (i.e., south) end of Sithonia. Sikia is a bit inland from the loop, accessed from a short spur road.
The kilometer numbering scheme along the unnumbered highway is a bit unusual. The connector part is straightforward. The kilometer numbers ascend from 0 to 38 going east from Nea Moudania to Nikiti, where the loop begins at a three-way junction that is past marker 38. At that junction, the road signed Agios Nikolaos, Sarti and Sikia goes down the east side of the Sithonia Peninsula, while the road signed Neos Marmaras and Porto Koufo goes down the west side of the peninsula. Here's where things get weird. The next kilometer marker is 39 no matter which way you go at the junction, then the marker numbers continue in sequence until the turnoff to Sikia. Say you go along the east side of Sithonia to get to Sikia, passing through Agios Nikolaos and Sarti. From the start of the loop in Nikiti, it is about 49 kilometers to the turnoff toward Sikia—a right turn that is past kilometer 87. Alternatively, assume you go along the west side of Sithonia to get to Sikia, passing through Neos Marmaras and Porto Koufo. From the start of the loop in Nikiti, it is 59-60 kilometers to the turnoff toward Sikia—a left turn that is past kilometer 98.
ADDITIONAL DIRECTIONS
starting point:  the Polygyros / Sithonia / Nea Moudania exit of the A24 motorway near Nea Moudania
The A24 motorway is the major thoroughfare that connects Thessaloniki to the Halkidiki region. In Thessaloniki, watch for signs for Halkidiki and the airport to access A24. The Polygyros / Sithonia / Nea Moudania exit is between kilometer markers 61 and 62 of A24, about 53 kilometers south of the Thessaloniki ring road. Upon exiting, follow signs for Sithonia. When you depart the interchange, you will be on the road referred to in the previous section as the "connector," with the kilometer marker numbers ascending as you go east. Continue about 35 kilometers and you will pass the Nikiti village sign. Keep straight ahead for several kilometers, passing through Nikiti. About 500 meters past kilometer marker 38, you will reach a major three-way junction. At the junction, you will be at the start of the "loop" described above—i.e., the Sithonia perimeter road. Keep straight ahead at the junction, following the signs for Agios Nikolaos, Sarti and Sykia to head down the east side of the peninsula.
Continue another 39 to 40 kilometers to marker 78, which is just past an Elin (ελιν) gas station that is on the left (coast) side of the road. At that point, you are at the northern edge of Sarti. The main village grid lies between the highway and the sea. There are five signed left-hand turnoffs into Sarti that are sequentially lettered A through E. Continue 2 kilometers and take note when you pass the turnoff signed Sarti-E, which is the last of the Sarti turnoffs, located just before kilometer marker 80. Keep straight ahead. Continue one kilometer, then make a sharp left at the Greek-only sign for Platania and proceed as directed above.
After the Platania turnoff, the highway begins to go uphill, where there is a free-standing mass of rock on the coast side of the road (likely a result of road construction blasting). If you get to the rock mass, you have missed the turnoff into Platania by about 400 meters, but it is worth going there for the views. There is a gravel pullout next to the rock mass, which is more or less aligned with the rock mass at sea level that divides the main beach of Platania from the nude beach. There are two small religious shrines on the north end of the rock mass. Standing there, you will have a panoramic view that includes the main beach of Platania and Sarti Beach. If you go to the other (south) side of the rock mass, you can see the nude beach of Platania.
MAP from starting point to parking
This placemark pertains to Platania Beach.

Elin (ελιν) gas station
This placemark pertains to Platania Beach.

kilometer marker 78 of Sithonia perimeter road
This placemark pertains to Platania Beach.

"Sarti-A" turnoff

"Sarti-B" turnoff

"Sarti-C" turnoff

"Sarti-D" turnoff

"Sarti-E" turnoff

kilometer marker 80 of Sithonia perimeter road

Platania turnoff, signed Ακτη Πλατανια

earthen parking area

Platania Beach (textile)

scenic viewpoint next to free-standing rock mass

kilometer marker 82 of Sithonia perimeter road

segment of Sithonia perimeter road

road into Platania

nude beach

Kriaritsi Beach

Kriaritsi Beach
Kriaritsi is located toward the southern end of the eastern coast of Sithonia, the middle "finger" or sub-peninsula of the larger peninsular land mass known as Halkidiki. Kriaritsi is not a town or a village but rather a boondoggle of sorts. Planned in the '80s, it was supposed to be a tony residential neighborhood, except no houses ever got built. For some reason things never progressed beyond the building of infrastructure, most notably a labyrinthine network of streets and sidewalks covering an area of about 5 square kilometers. For comparison, Kriaritsi is larger than the combined land areas of Sarti or Sikia, the two nearest villages. Kriaritsi is often described as a ghost town, which doesn't seem quite accurate since no one ever had a chance to live there before the development was abandoned. After decades of dormancy, Kriaritsi may finally be coming to fruition, albeit very slowly. In 2016, an entity called The Kriaritsi Project began promoting Kriaritsi as the upscale neighborhood it was originally intended to be. So far it seems just a few houses have been constructed, with grandiose plans still in the planning stages. As of 2021, Kriaritsi remains, for the most part, a surreal landscape of empty streets to nowhere.
Kriaritsi occupies about 5 kilometers of coastline, along which there are several beaches that can only be accessed by navigating the complex grid of streets. The largest of the beaches is just called Kriaritsi Beach, and it actually consists of three distinct beaches along a semicircular bay. The main beach is the northernmost and longest of the three, spanning about 500 meters. Camping Paradisos and Camping Christina are located toward the southern end of the main beach. The other two beaches are much smaller. The middle beach spans about 140 meters, while the southern beach is not quite half that length. All three beaches are quite beautiful, thickly coated in golden sand. The middle and southern beaches are wedged against rocky hillsides, and there are easily traversable rocky outcrops at either end of the middle beach.
Historically, both the middle and southern beaches have been the domain of nudists. However, nude bathing came to an end at the southern beach in 2018, when it was informally christened Hawaii Beach after the name of a beach bar that was built there. Since a new road leads directly to Hawaii Beach, it is not necessary to cross the middle beach to get there from the main beach. So far, nudity continues at the middle beach, which is reasonably secluded from the main beach but not so much from Hawaii Beach. There is no natural shade at any of the beaches. While sun chairs and umbrellas can be rented at the main beach or at Hawaii Beach, you will need to bring your own shade to the nude beach. Free camping is popular along the nude beach during the height of summer, when it is often lined with small tents.
GPS:
40.0261N, 24.0172E main beach (longest & northernmost of three)
40.0232N, 24.0191E nude beach (middle of three)
40.0228N, 24.0204E Hawaii Beach (smallest & southernmost of three)
village, region, country:  Sykia, Macedonia, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fAhgbU
To get to Kriaritsi Beach, you will have to navigate the complex network of streets in the never-completed Kriaritsi development. There are occasional spray-painted markings on the asphalt pointing toward the various beaches accessed through the development, but otherwise signage is scant. Once you turn away from the highway, it is about 4 kilometers to parking next to Kriaritsi Beach (i.e., the main beach). At first you will be on a gravel road, then you will hit the paved street grid. Once you are navigating the paved streets, two landmarks along the way are low bridges that traverse slight depressions in the land created by stream beds.
Set your GPS device to:
40.0183N, 23.9866E (signed turnoff to Klimataria Beach and Kriaritsi Beach, at km 95★ of Sithonia perimeter road)
★ See the notes below about the Sithonia perimeter road for information about the unusual kilometer numbering scheme.
Kilometer 95 is about 12 kilometers south of Sarti, the closest major village. The kilometer marker is located below a short bridge that spans the Sithonia perimeter road. The signed turnoff to Klimataria Beach and Kriaritsi Beach is about 50 meters south of the marker and the bridge.
Upon turning, you will be at the start of a gravel road. In a little over one kilometer, the road will become paved as you enter the complex street grid. Just keep straight ahead another 600 or so meters to a "T" where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn right. You will almost immediately begin to cross the first of the two bridges, which is a rather long bridge that spans nearly 200 meters. From the end of the bridge, continue about 300 meters to the next four-way intersection. Turn left. In about 100 meters you will begin to cross the second bridge (which is about half the length of the first bridge). Shortly past the bridge, the street will begin to make a long rightward "U" curve. 150 meters past the bridge, take the second possible left onto a street that is located in the apex of the curve.
Upon turning, continue 300-400 meters until the street curves leftward, then turn right at the apex of the curve. Proceed a little over 100 meters and take the first possible right. Continue about 600 meters to a dirt parking area next to the beach (40.0262N, 24.0166E). (The road ends just a bit farther along next to Camping Paradisos and Camping Christina.)
When you access the beach, you will be roughly in the middle of the main beach. Walk south (to the right when facing the sea) a few hundred meters to the end of the beach, then follow the path over the rocky outcrop. Shortly you will reach the nude beach, with Hawaii Beach a bit farther on over another outcrop.
Alternate access:
You can also park near Hawaii Beach. Follow the directions above to the long "U" curve that is past the second bridge. Instead of turning left toward the main beach, keep straight ahead another 600 or so meters and take the third left after the curve (which is the fifth left after the second bridge). Upon turning, proceed 500 meters and take the second left onto a street that will immediately begin to curve rightward. Toward the end of the curve, take the first left. Continue about 300 meters to the dead end of the street (40.0214N, 24.0195E), at which point you will be atop a rocky knoll about 45 meters above sea level with a clear view of Hawaii Beach below you. There are actually smaller roads leading all the way to the thatch-roofed bar on the beach, and the route is obvious since the landscape is wide open, but the roads are rough. Whether you drive or walk, the distance is 300-400 meters. Facing the sea on the small beach, go left. The nude beach is just over the rocky outcrop.
NOTES ABOUT THE SITHONIA PERIMETER ROAD
The main road through the Sithonia Peninsula is a highway that is unnumbered but has kilometer markers. (Most markers are extant, but some are missing or hard to see.) The highway, which has a total length of about 147 kilometers, has two parts—a connector and a loop (or the Sithonia perimeter road). The connector is about 38 kilometers long, and the loop is about 109 kilometers long. The connector connects Nea Moudania, a town at the top of the Kassandra Peninsula, to Nikiti, a town at the top (i.e., north end) of the Sithonia Peninsula. The loop begins in Nikiti and goes around the perimeter of Sithonia. In other words, if you start at one end of the loop in Nikiti and keep straight ahead for 109 kilometers, you will end up back in Nikiti. The village of Sikia (also spelled Sykia) is toward the lower (i.e., south) end of Sithonia. Sikia is a bit inland from the loop, accessed from a short spur road.
The kilometer numbering scheme along the unnumbered highway is a bit unusual. The connector part is straightforward. The kilometer numbers ascend from 0 to 38 going east from Nea Moudania to Nikiti, where the loop begins at a three-way junction that is past marker 38. At that junction, the road signed Agios Nikolaos, Sarti and Sikia goes down the east side of the Sithonia Peninsula, while the road signed Neos Marmaras and Porto Koufo goes down the west side of the peninsula. Here's where things get weird. The next kilometer marker is 39 no matter which way you go at the junction, then the marker numbers continue in sequence until the turnoff to Sikia. Say you go along the east side of Sithonia to get to Sikia, passing through Agios Nikolaos and Sarti. From the start of the loop in Nikiti, it is about 49 kilometers to the turnoff toward Sikia—a right turn that is past kilometer 87. Alternatively, assume you go along the west side of Sithonia to get to Sikia, passing through Neos Marmaras and Porto Koufo. From the start of the loop in Nikiti, it is 59-60 kilometers to the turnoff toward Sikia—a left turn that is past kilometer 98.
starting point:  the Polygyros / Sithonia / Nea Moudania exit of the A24 motorway near Nea Moudania
The A24 motorway is the major thoroughfare that connects Thessaloniki to the Halkidiki region. In Thessaloniki, watch for signs for Halkidiki and the airport to access A24. The Polygyros / Sithonia / Nea Moudania exit is between kilometer markers 61 and 62 of A24, about 53 kilometers south of the Thessaloniki ring road. Upon exiting, follow signs for Sithonia. When you depart the interchange, you will be on the road referred to in the previous section as the "connector," with the kilometer marker numbers ascending as you go east. Continue about 35 kilometers and you will pass the Nikiti village sign. Keep straight ahead for several kilometers, passing through Nikiti. About 500 meters past kilometer marker 38, you will reach a major three-way junction. At the junction, you will be at the start of the "loop" described above—i.e., the Sithonia perimeter road. Keep straight ahead at the junction, following the signs for Agios Nikolaos, Sarti and Sykia to head down the east side of the peninsula.
Continue 49 kilometers and take note when you reach the right-hand turnoff to Sikia. Keep straight ahead and remember that the kilometer marker numbers will begin to descend once you are past the Sikia turnoff. 300 meters past the turnoff, you will pass marker 98. Continue another 3 kilometers to marker 95, which is located below a bridge that spans the road. Just after crossing under the bridge, take the next possible left at signs for Klimataria Beach and Kriaritsi Beach, then proceed as directed above.
MAP from starting point to parking (next to main beach)
MAP from starting point to parking (above Hawaii Beach)
This placemark pertains to Kriaritsi Beach.

main beach (textile)
This placemark pertains to Kriaritsi Beach.

Hawaii Beach (textile)
This placemark pertains to Kriaritsi Beach.

kilometer marker 95 of Sithonia perimeter road, beneath bridge that spans highway

gravel road ends, paved road begins

"T" junction

bridge

4-way intersection

long "U" curve

Camping Paradisos

Camping Christina

parking atop rocky knoll

parking partway downhill

parking next to Hawaii Beach Bar

roads from highway to Kriaritsi Beach (main beach)

roads from "U" curve to Hawaii Beach

rough roads for final descent to Hawaii Beach

Kalamitsi Beach

Kalamitsi Beach
Kalamitsi is a small resort village toward the far southern end of the eastern coast of Sithonia, the middle "finger" or sub-peninsula of the larger peninsular land mass known as Halkidiki. There are three distinct beaches at Kalamitsi, each with headlands at either end and all contained within a span of 1.5 kilometers along a curving segment of coastline. All three of these beautiful sandy beaches are collectively referred to as Kalamitsi Beach, and in a nutshell they can be described as the camping beach, the village beach and the nude beach. The most southern of the three is the camping beach, which is backed by a campground called Thalatta Kalamitsi Village Camp. It faces east and spans a little over 400 meters. The village beach is the middle of the three, and it is backed by the accommodations, eateries and other businesses that comprise the village. The village beach is an arcing span of about 500 meters. Facing the sea, you will be looking east at one end of the beach, south at the opposite end and southeast toward the middle. There is parking at the camping beach and at the village beach.
The nude beach is the smallest of the Kalamitsi beaches, spanning about 120 meters. Unlike the other two beaches, there are no amenities at the nude beach, which is tucked away in its own small bay immediately east of the village beach. Facing the sea at the village beach, on the left end of the beach there is a footpath over the low headland. It is a fairly easy hike of less than 200 meters to the nude beach, which typically has a nudist majority even during peak season. Free camping along the beach is popular, and many campers erect canvas-covered structures that are more elaborate that the little pup tents that typically line such beaches. Lending the beach something of a shanty-town feel, these structures either add character or are an eyesore, depending on your point of view. Although the nude beach is along a coastline that generally faces east, its particular orientation is toward the southwest, more or less at a right angle to the camping beach. Facing the sea at the nude beach, you will see the camping beach across the water, about a kilometer away as the crow flies, against a backdrop of gently rolling mountains.
village, region, country:  Kalamitsi (Sykia), Macedonia, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fAlmR6
starting point  the Polygyros / Sithonia / Nea Moudania exit of the A25 motorway near Nea Moudania
The A25 motorway is the major thoroughfare that connects Thessaloniki to the Halkidiki region. In Thessaloniki, watch for signs for Halkidiki and the airport to access the A25. The Polygyros / Sithonia / Nea Moudania exit is between kilometer markers 61 and 62 of the A25, about 53 kilometers south of the Thessaloniki ring road. Upon exiting, follow signs for Sithonia (the middle of the three sub-peninsulas or "fingers" of the Halkidiki peninsula). When you depart the interchange, you will be on the Nea Moudania-to-Sithonia road, which does not have a number but does have kilometer markers. The marker numbers ascend as you go toward Sithonia. A few hundred meters from the exit interchange, you will pass kilometer marker 1 next to a Kaoil gas station. Continue about 35 kilometers and you will pass the Nikiti village sign. Keep straight ahead for several kilometers, passing through Nikiti. About 500 meters past kilometer marker 38, you will reach a major three-way junction, at which point you will be toward the top of the Sithonia peninsula. That junction is the start of a 110-kilometer-long road that loops around the perimeter of Sithonia. (In other words, no matter which way you go at the junction, if you kept straight ahead about 110 kilometers you'd end up back at the junction.) The road straight ahead, which is signed for Agios Nikolaos, Sarti and Sykia, goes down the east side of the peninsula, while the road to the right, which is signed for Neos Marmaras and Porto Koufo, goes down the west side of the peninsula. The kilometer numbering scheme continues such that the next marker is numbered 39 regardless of which way you go at the junction.
Keep straight ahead at the three-way junction (toward Agios Nikolaos, Sarti and Sykia). Continue another 47 to 48 kilometers to marker 86 (which is about 7 kilometers past the town of Sarti). At marker 86, you will have reached the part of the Sithonia loop where the numbering scheme changes. 1.3 kilometers past marker 86, you will pass the right-hand turnoff to Sykia. Keep straight ahead. 300 meters past the Sykia turnoff, you will pass marker 98, and from that point the marker numbers descend. Continue another 6 kilometers and take note when you pass marker 92.
After marker 92, continue just under 300 meters and turn left at the blue Kalamitsi Coast sign, which appears only in Greek as Ακτη Καλαμιτσι. (There is also a sign for Camping Tsitrelli.) In about 200 meters, you will reach a "T" with the road that runs along the main beach of Kalamitsi. There is parking all along the beachfront road. Turn left and follow the beachfront road about 300 meters, parking as close as possible to the end of the road near the far east end of the beach, around coordinates 39.9916N, 23.9933E. From the end of the beach, there is a path that goes east over the headland to the hidden nude beach of Kalamitsi. The hike is less than 200 meters.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are going south when you exit (coming from Thessaloniki, heading toward Kassandra).
This placemark pertains to Kalamitsi Beach.

kilometer marker 92 of the Sithonia perimeter road
This placemark pertains to Kalamitsi Beach.

southeast-facing beach next to buildings of Kalamitsi village (textile)
This placemark pertains to Kalamitsi Beach.

east-facing beach next to Thalatta Kalamitsi Village Camp (textile)

route from kilometer 92 to parking

Aretes South

Aretes Beach South
Toroni is a coastal resort village near the southern end of the western coast of Sithonia, the middle "finger" or sub-peninsula of the larger peninsular land mass known as Halkidiki. Several kilometers north of Toroni, signs along the coastal road point toward Tristinika Beach and Aretes Beach, two nearby textile beaches that are close to one another. Between those two beaches, there is a hidden and rather obscure beach that is popular with those in the know, and it does not seem to have a well-known proper name. We're calling it Aretes Beach South for its position relative to the nearest beach with a known name. The nude beach is a beautiful expanse of sand set against a gently sloping and thickly forested hillside. Despite being hidden, it is possible to park just above the beach, which is accessed via a long staircase with handrails. Free camping is popular, and during peak season the beach can be crowded with small tents. Usually about half the crowd is naked.
The nude beach has no amenities, but food and drink are available at Ethnik Beach Bar at the far north end of Tristinika Beach. By car, it is 2 kilometers from the nude beach to Ethnik Bar, but on foot it is 600 meters away via a path that shortcuts through the forest. There is also a snack bar at Aretes Beach. Just past the turnoff to Aretes Beach, the road that follows the coastline turns to gravel, and going north there is a chain of undeveloped beaches extending several kilometers. All those beaches have nudist potential, particularly during the off season, but nudity patterns are variable. The beach just south of Aretes is the only beach in the area with a consistent nudist presence.
town, region, country:  Toroni, Macedonia, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fmop1E
starting point  the Polygyros / Sithonia / Nea Moudania exit of the A25 motorway near Nea Moudania
The A25 motorway is the major thoroughfare that connects Thessaloniki to the Halkidiki region. In Thessaloniki, watch for signs for Halkidiki and the airport to access the A25. The Polygyros / Sithonia / Nea Moudania exit is between kilometer markers 61 and 62 of the A25, about 53 kilometers south of the Thessaloniki ring road. Upon exiting, follow signs for Sithonia (the middle of the three sub-peninsulas or "fingers" of the Halkidiki peninsula). When you depart the interchange, you will be on the Nea Moudania-to-Sithonia road, which does not have a number but does have kilometer markers. The marker numbers ascend as you go toward Sithonia. A few hundred meters from the exit interchange, you will pass kilometer marker 1 next to a Kaoil gas station. Continue about 35 kilometers and you will pass the Nikiti village sign. Keep straight ahead for several kilometers, passing through Nikiti. About 500 meters past kilometer marker 38, you will reach a major three-way junction, at which point you will be toward the top of the Sithonia peninsula. That junction is the start of a 110-kilometer-long road that loops around the perimeter of Sithonia. (In other words, no matter which way you go at the junction, if you kept straight ahead about 110 kilometers you'd end up back at the junction.) The road straight ahead, which is signed for Agios Nikolaos, Sarti and Sykia, goes down the east side of the peninsula, while the road to the right, which is signed for Neos Marmaras and Porto Koufo, goes down the west side of the peninsula. The kilometer numbering scheme continues such that the next marker is numbered 39 regardless of which way you go at the junction.
Turn right at the three-way junction (toward Neos Marmaras and Porto Koufo). Continue about 34 kilometers and take note when you pass kilometer marker 73 (which is about 15 kilometers past Neos Marmaras, the largest town of Sithonia).
About 600 meters after marker 73, the first road on the right is signed for Tristinika. 600 meters farther on (past marker 74), the next road on the right is signed for Tristinika and Aretes Beach. Turn right onto either one of those roads. After following either road roughly 500 meters, you will reach the point when the roads merge together. From that point, continue another 400-500 meters to a fork. The paved right fork continues toward Aretes Beach, while the unpaved left fork continues toward Tristinika Beach. Keep to the right, staying on the paved road toward Aretes. Continue exactly one kilometer farther until you get to a sharp rightward curve of the road, where a thick, broken white line is painted across the road. At that point, turn left onto a narrow gravel track. (You have just missed it if you pass the blue-and-white sign with the uppercase Greek words ΟΙΚΙΣΜΟΣ ΑΡΕΤΕΣ, which identifies the locality as Aretes. The turnoff to Aretes Beach is a few hundred meters farther along.)
In just 60 meters, the gravel track will bend sharply to the right, with a narrow footpath continuing straight ahead. Turn right to stay on the track and continue another 100-150 meters to the end of the track, where there is an informal parking area in front of a large white villa, at coordinates 40.0003N, 23.8697E. Just beyond the parking area, there is a long cement staircase with handrails that leads to the hidden nude beach.
Note: The footpath referenced above follows overhead power lines, and it leads about 400 meters to the far west end of Tristinika Beach, landing near a large alfresco establishment called Ethnik Beach Bar. An alternative access is to follow signs to Tristinika Beach and park there. The large earthen parking lot is near Ethnik Beach Bar. Watch for the power lines to find the footpath. For reference, the footpath is traced by the longer of the two green lines, while the road to Tristinika is traced by the aqua line.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are going south when you exit (coming from Thessaloniki, heading toward Kassandra).
This placemark pertains to Arete Beach South.

This placemark pertains to Aretes Beach South.

two turnoffs from main road merge here
This is the point where the two turnoffs from the main road merge together into a single road.
This placemark pertains to Arete Beach South.

road fork
The road toward Aretes Beach and Tristinika Beach forks at this point. The paved road that continues toward Aretes is continued in blue, while the unpaved road to Tristinika is drawn in aqua.
This placemark pertains to Aretes Beach South.

Aretes (ΟΙΚΙΣΜΟΣ ΑΡΕΤΕΣ) locality sign
blue-and-white sign with the uppercase Greek words ΟΙΚΙΣΜΟΣ ΑΡΕΤΕΣ, which identifies the locality as Aretes

This placemark pertains to Arete Beach South.

Tristinika Beach (textile)

Ethnik Beach Bar

narrow pebble beach (usually empty)
This narrow pebble beach is visible from Ethnik Beach Bar. It is difficult to access by land and usually empty.

Aretes Beach (textile)

road turns to gravel just past turnoff to Aretes Beach

first beach north of Aretes Beach (sporadic nudity)
This is the first beach north of Aretes Beach, and the short trail leading to it is about 200 meters past the point where the road turns to gravel. Nudity occurs here occasionally, but mainly during the off season. There will probably be too many textiles in July and August. The beaches extending northward also have nudist potential during the off season, but nudity patterns are not well established.

route from kilometer 73 to parking

road to Tristinika Beach

beach access path

wooded path from Tristinika Beach toward Aretes Beach South

Porto Carras South Beaches

Porto Carras South Beaches
Neos Marmaras is a large village along the central area of the western coast of Sithonia, the middle "finger" or sub-peninsula of the larger peninsular land mass known as Halkidiki. It is the largest population center of Sithonia. Porto Carras Grand Resort occupies more than a square kilometer just south of Neos Marmaras. The extensive resort includes multiple hotels, a golf course and about a kilometer of sandy beachfront, with a large private marina occupying the southernmost part of the resort. South of the resort, there is a nature reserve with over a dozen tiny beaches, most of which are accessed via a walking path that winds along the coastline of the reserve for more than 4 kilometers. These undeveloped and lightly attended beaches, isolated in the forested reserve, offer ample nudist potential, but none of them can be described as a really well-established nude beach. The north end of the coastal path is near the Porto Carras marina. The beaches best situated for nude use are clustered near the opposite (south) end of the path. If you park next to the south end of the path, there are five beaches within a walking distance of 600 meters, each of them roughly 50 meters long. Some of these beaches have a bit of sand, but they are mostly composed of pea-sized pebbles, and the beaches are usually deserted or occupied by just a few visitors. If the first beach you try is occupied by textiles, keep looking and you are likely to find one to claim as a nude beach. The nearest place for food and drink is Camping Stavros, which, by car, is about 2 kilometers south of the southern end of the walking path.
village, region, country:  Neos Marmaras, Macedonia, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2gx22s6
Turn right at the three-way junction (toward Neos Marmaras and Porto Koufo). In 16 to 17 kilometers, approximately at kilometer marker 55, the road will begin to skirt the inland edge of Neos Marmaras, the largest town of Sithonia. Keep straight ahead several kilometers. Shortly past marker 59, take note when you pass the prominently signed right-hand turnoff for Porto Carras Grand Resort and Casino, but do not turn there. About 800 meters farther on, you will pass marker 60.
Once you reach marker 60, there is a discrepancy in the kilometer marker distancing. The next marker, 61, is just 300 meters farther along. The Porto Carras southern beaches are accessed from a trail that begins roughly halfway along a 10-kilometer-long winding side road that makes a loop to intersect the main road in two places. (The loop is traced in aqua.) The northern end of the loop is immediately before (i.e., north of) marker 61. The southern end of the loop is 300-400 meters past (i.e., south of) marker 65. At each end of the loop, there are signs pointing toward Camping Stavros, Porto Elena and various other establishments. Along the northern half of the loop road, there are three Porto Carras signboards. Each signboard is covered with a mini-roof and has a satellite photograph of the area. The trail you want begins at the southernmost of the signboards, which is the third signboard if you enter the loop road from its north end of the first signboard if you enter the loop road from its south end.
First, assume you turn onto the northern end of the loop road (just before kilometer marker 61). The sign at the turnoff indicates that it is 6.5 kilometers to Camping Stavros. It is 4.5 kilometers to the southernmost of the three signboards. As you start along the road, there will at first be chain-link fencing on the right-hand side. In 400-500 meters, keep to the left at a three-way junction. As you continue, the fencing will still be on your right. 700-800 meters farther along, you will reach the first (northernmost) of the signboards on the right (coast) side of the road just past the point where the fencing ends. 1.7 kilometers farther along, the second (middle) signboard is on the left (inland) side of the road. 1.6 kilometers farther along, the third (southernmost) signboard is on the right (coast) side of the road. You've gone one kilometer too far if you reach the sign indicating that it is one kilometer to Camping Stavros (or 2 kilometers too far if you reach the gate into Camping Stavros).
Alternatively, assume you turn onto the southern end of the loop road (past kilometer marker 65). The sign at the turnoff indicates that it is 3 kilometers to Camping Stavros (but it is actually 3.5 kilometers to the gate). Follow signs for Camping Stavros until you pass its entry gate, which is on the left (coast) side of the road. Continue another 2 kilometers to the first (southernmost) of the signboards, which is on the left (coast) side of the road.
Near the signboard, there is room to leave your car alongside the road, around coordinates 40.0511N, 23.8035E. The signboard is next to a low, elongated heap of rubble that serves as an automobile barrier. Just over the rubble, the broad and well-defined trail begins at another automobile barrier constructed of metal poles. In the area, there are quite a number of tiny unnamed beaches suitable for nude use. We have pinpointed five locations, labelled A through E, all located within a span of less than one kilometer. These seem to be the best options based on seclusion and ease of access.
To get to location A, do not follow the trail. Instead, walk south along the automobile road, toward Camping Stavros. In about 150 meters you will reach the short path down to the beach, which begins next to a blue sign posted only in Greek. The sign is a prohibition against hunting, and there are several identical signs along the road. Watch for the word κυνηγι to identify the sign.
To get to locations B through E, follow the trail, which goes in a generally northward direction through the trees, slightly inland from the coastline (which will be on your left-hand side). In 200-250 meters, you will reach two side paths that are one after the other, effectively leaving from the same point. The first of the side paths goes about 150 meters toward a tiny peninsula, then the path splits, each fork leading a short distance to beaches (B and C) on opposite sides of the top of the peninsula. The second of the side paths leads about 100 meters to another beach (D). If you stay on the main trail about 300 meters beyond the two nearby side paths, the next side path quickly leads to another beach (E). If you stay on the main trail past the side path to location E, shortly you will pass a small orange grove that is on the right (inland) side of the trail. Just past the orange grove, the main trail begins to run very close to the coastline, and for well over a kilometer there are intermittently several more small beaches just off the trail that may have nudist potential, but they are not as secluded as locations A through E.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (via the northern end of the loop road), assuming you are going south when you exit (coming from Thessaloniki, heading toward Kassandra).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (via the southern end of the loop road), assuming you are going south when you exit (coming from Thessaloniki, heading toward Kassandra).
This placemark pertains to Porto Carras South Beaches.

well-signed turnoff into Porto Carras Grand Resort & Casino
This placemark pertains to Porto Carras South Beaches.

This placemark pertains to Porto Carras South Beaches.

northernmost of three Porto Carras signboards
This placemark is pinpointed at the northernmost of three Porto Carras signboards. Each signboard is covered with a mini-roof and has a satellite photograph of the area.

middle of three Porto Carras signboards
This placemark is pinpointed at the middle of three Porto Carras signboards. Each signboard is covered with a mini-roof and has a satellite photograph of the area.

southernmost of three Porto Carras signboards
This placemark is pinpointed at the southernmost of three Porto Carras signboards. Each signboard is covered with a mini-roof and has a satellite photograph of the area. Near this signboard, there is room to leave your car alongside the road.

roadside parking near southernmost signboard

orange grove

Kilometer marker 61 is only 300 meters south of kilometer marker 60 due to some sort of distancing discrepancy. Continuing south beyond marker 61, the spacing of the kilometer markers is regular again.

entry gate into Camping Stavros

loop road through Porto Carras

path

Loutra Eleftheron Beach

Loutra Eleftheron Beach
Traveling east toward Turkey from Thessaloniki, first you will pass through the upper realm of the Halkidiki peninsula. Past the Halkidiki but before the town of Kavala, there is a lightly traveled segment of coastal road that has been superseded by the A2 motorway. Just off that road, there is a little known beach that draws a handful of nudists in the know. The beach does not have a proper name, at least not one that is well known. We're calling it Loutra Eleftheron after the nearest locality that appears on maps. (Loutra Eleftheron, a.k.a. the Thermal Springs Baths of Eleftheres, is a small mineral water spa that is a few kilometers east of and inland from the beach. The sand-and-pebble beach is over 600 meters long, and it is accessed from a short, unmarked gravel road that goes through a small scrub forrest. It is possible to drive to and park at various locations along the beach.) The beach is attended mostly by men, and there are usually not more than a dozen nudists in attendance, who can be quite spread out considering the size of the beach. There are no amenities. The nude beach is about 45 kilometers west of Kavala, which is the easternmost major town of the Macedonian region of Greece. (The small region known as Thrace begins a bit east of Kavala and extends to the Turkish border, comprising the easternmost area of mainland Greece.)
town, region, country:  Paralia Ofriniou (Pangaio), Macedonia, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fXIh9N
starting point  the Ofrynio / Kariani exit of the A2 motorway near the village of Ofrynio
The A2 is the roughly 650-kilometer-long east-west motorway that goes all the way across the northern tier of Greece, from the Ionian Sea on its west end to the Turkish border on its east end. The city of Thessaloniki lies roughly at the halfway point. The Ofrynio / Kariani exit is about 95 kilometers east of Thessaloniki, and it exists only for traffic going east (toward Kavala and the Turkish border). The exit is just past kilometer marker 416.5
[If you are coming from the opposite direction (heading toward Thessaloniki), you can take the Drama / Serres / Amfipoli exit, which is a full exit for traffic going either direction. For Thessaloniki-bound traffic, the Drama / Serres / Amfipoli exit is just past marker 414.5. Once you exit, cross over the motorway and then enter the motorway again such that you are backtracking toward Kavala and the Turkish border, then in about 2.5 kilometers take the next exit, which is the Ofrynio / Kariani exit.]
All traffic taking the Ofrynio / Kariani exit is filtered onto the eastbound lane of the Old National Road, which follows the coastline. There are kilometer markers on the road that ascend going east, and you will pass marker 102 while you are still on the long one-way exit ramp and marker 103 just after you have merged into two-way traffic. Continue east another 17 kilometer to marker 120.
After marker 120, continue 400-500 meters and take the next possible right onto an unmarked earthen road. That road leads about 200 meters to the nude beach, where it splits into tracks that run behind the beach. There is informal parking throughout the area, around coordinates 40.7205N, 24.0761E.
Notes: To help find the turnoff, watch the guardrail that is on the right (coast) side of the road once you pass marker 120. The turnoff you want is just past the second break in the guardrail. (There is a small pullout and a small dilapidated concrete building at the first break.) If you pass kilometer marker 121, you have missed the turnoff by 500-600 meters. (Marker 121 between two yellow signs that warn of a landslide hazard 100-200 meters farther east. One of the signs is in Greek and the other is in English.) Almost directly opposite the turnoff, there is a large signboard on the inland side of the road, but the sign faces traffic coming from the other direction, so if you follow the directions above you will only see the blank back side of the sign. Coming from the other direction, the blue-and-white sign has three symbols indicating that food, drink and restrooms are available 10 kilometers ahead (west). The turnoff to the the Thermal Springs Baths of Eleftheres is about 2 kilometers past (east of) the turnoff to the nude beach.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are going east when you exit (coming from Thessaloniki, heading toward Kavala and the Turkish border).
This placemark pertains to Loutra Eleftheron Beach.

kilometer marker 120 of the Old National Road
This placemark pertains to Loutra Eleftheron Beach.

sign near unmarked turnoff, facing westbound traffic
Almost directly opposite the unmarked turnoff to the nude beach, there is a signboard on the inland side of the road. However, the sign faces traffic going west, so if you follow the given directions, you will only see the blank back side of the sign. The blue-and-white sign has three symbols indicating that food, drink and restrooms are available 10 kilometers ahead (west).
This placemark pertains to Loutra Eleftheron Beach.

kilometer marker 121 of the Old National Road
This marker is between two yellow signs that warn of a landslide hazard 100-200 meters to the east. One of the signs is in Greek and the other is in English.

turnoff to Thermal Springs Baths of Eleftheres

Peloponnese

Kantia Beach West

Kantia Beach West
The Argolic Gulf is the easternmost of three gulfs that prominently indent the southern side of the Peloponnese. Argos and Nafplio are nearby towns that are among the larger towns of the Peloponnese, and both lie in the valley that is at the top (i.e., the most inland part) of the Argolic Gulf. Southeast of Argos and Nafplio, Vavari Bay is a much smaller indentation of the coastline that is contained within the Argolic Gulf. The small village of Vivari lies along the interior of the peculiarly shaped bay. Just east of Vivari Bay, the village of Kantia lies in a small agricultural plain that is ensconced in the rocky hills.
Kantia Beach consists of two adjacent segments divided by a very small protrusion of land. The longer eastern segment is the main beach. Spanning about 2 kilometers, the main beach is lined with scattered small-scale tourist development. Although the main beach can get somewhat busy during peak season, it is rarely overcrowded. The western segment, spanning about 1.5 kilometers, is covered in dark sand mixed with lots of pebbles and stones. There are no structures along the western beach except a single house toward its eastern end—i.e., near the small protrusion of land that divides the eastern and western beaches. The western beach never gets all that many visitors, in part because there are no signs pointing the way. An unmarked road leads to an informal parking area that is about 500 meters from the far west end of the western beach. Nude bathing is well established. Since the western beach is generally very sparsely attended, bare bathing can potentially occur along most of its length. However, nudity is most prevalent west of the parking area, along the segment of the western beach that is most distant from the main beach. There are usually not more than a dozen bare bathers even during the height of summer, and the beach is often deserted or nearly so.
village, region, country:  Kantia, Peloponnese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/3DIGd1g
Along the main road through Kantia, the village signs at either end of the village are not quite 3 kilometers apart. The unsigned turnoff (37.5280N, 22.9564E) to the the remote western end of Kantia Beach is next to the village sign at the west end of Kantia.
Assume you are going east toward Kantia. The last village before Kantia is Vivari. From Vivari, continue 4 to 5 kilometers and watch for the blue-and-white Kantia village sign. Immediately after the village sign, turn right onto the unsigned road.
Alternatively, assume you are heading west through Kantia (toward Vivari). Watch for a small gazebo at a staggered junction. (The road that goes toward the coast from the junction is the main turnoff to Kantia Beach. The road that goes inland from the junction goes to a large church that will be prominently visible once you pass the junction.) Once you pass the gazebo, continue 400-500 meters and take note when you cross a bridge over a (usually) dry creek bed. After the bridge, continue not quite 100 meters and take the second possible left onto the unsigned road.
The unsigned road is a crudely surfaced road that morphs into a gravel road. Near the start of the road on the right, watch for a small cinderblock outbuilding as a landmark that you are on the correct road. There are no other structures along the right side of the road. Follow the road for 1.3 kilometers to its end at an informal parking area next to the beach (37.5208N, 22.9470E). Most nude bathing occurs west of the parking area (to the right when facing the sea).
starting point:  the Archaia Nemea / Nafplio exit of the A7 motorway near Archaia Nemea
The A7 is a roughly 150-kilometer-long motorway that cuts a diagonal across the Peloponnese, connecting Corinth to Kalamata (via Tripoli). Starting near Corinth, the first kilometer marker along the A7 is numbered 87.5, with the numbers ascending going toward Kalamata. The Archaia Nemea / Nafplio exit is between kilometer markers 107 and 108. From the exit interchange, it is about 30 kilometers to the coastal town of Nafplio, which is south of the motorway. The route to Nafplio requires a few turns, but it is well-signed, and you want to go most of the distance to the town. From the exit interchange, follow the signs for Nafplio for roughly 24 kilometers until you see a sign pointing left into the village of Panariti, but do NOT turn there. After the Panariti turnoff, keep straight ahead about 2 kilometers farther and watch for a large blue panel indicating an upcoming three-way junction. On the panel, the road straight ahead is signed Nafplio (indicating a distance of 4 kilometers). The road to the left is also signed Nafplio as well as Nea Tiryntha, Tolo and Epidaurus. Turn left at the three-way junction.
Upon turning, you will begin going southeast on a road that skirts the inland periphery of Nafplio, and there are three roundabouts along that road. Keep straight ahead through all three, following the signs for Tolo. In about 6 kilometers, you will have departed the last of the roundabouts. Continue another 2.4 kilometers (passing through the periphery of the village of Lefkakia) to a fork, where the road widens to include a left-turn lane. Veer left at the fork, following the signs for Iria and Drepano. (The road straight ahead continues to Tolo.)
Continue southeast 3.7 kilometers to a stop sign at a "T" junction in the village of Drepano. Turn left, following the sign for Vivari, Kantia, Iria and Kranidi. Continue east another 2 kilometers and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Vivari village sign. After the village sign, continue 1.8 kilometers (passing all the way through Vivari) and take note when you pass the entrance to Lefka Beach Camping, which is on the right-hand side of the road overlooking Vivari Bay. Continue 1.2 kilometers and take note of the right-hand turnoff to Kondili, but keep straight ahead. Continue 2 kilometers to the blue-and-white Kantia village sign, then take the next possible right onto the unsigned road and proceed as directed above.
MAP from starting point to parking
This placemark pertains to Kantia Beach West.

entrance to Lefka Beach Camping
This placemark pertains to Kantia Beach West.

turnoff to Kondili
This placemark pertains to Kantia Beach West.

"Kantia" sign (west end of village)

bridge over dry creek bed

small gazebo at staggered 4-way intersection

church

main expanse of Kantia Beach (textile)

"Kantia" sign (east end of village)

segment of road through Kantia

gravel road

Anemomilos Beach

Anemomilos Beach
Foinikounta is a small resort village in the far southwest of the Peloponnese. By car, it is about 70 kilometers from Kalamata, the closest major town. Anemomilos Beach begins just west of the main village beach of Foinikounta. Extending 2 kilometers, Anemomilos is a mostly sandy beach with some pebbly patches, and there are multiple accesses to the beach. In addition to a number of small-scale accommodations, there are four campgrounds adjacent to the beach: Camping Finikes at the west end, Camping Ammos and Camping Thines toward the middle of the beach, and Camping Anemomilos at the east end (closest to Foinikounta). While most of Anemomilos is textile, there is a zone where nude bathers gather that is toward the west end of the beach, but not at the far west end. Nude bathing takes place along a stretch of about 200 meters that is roughly halfway between Camping Finikes and Camping Ammos. There is a public parking area next to Camping Finikes. Facing the sea at the parking area, the nude area is about 200 meters to the left, along the longest stretch of the beach that has no adjacent development. There are usually not more than a dozen nude bathers, and textile passersby seem to take them in stride.
village, region, country:  Foinikounta, Peloponnese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fE1RY3
starting point  the Pylos / Messini exit of the A7 motorway near Kalamata
The A7 is a roughly 150-kilometer-long motorway that cuts a diagonal across the Peloponnese, running from the vicinity of Corinth at its northeast end to the vicinity of Kalamata at its southwest end. Starting near Corinth, the first kilometer marker of the A7 is numbered 85.7. The Pylos / Messini exit is near kilometer marker 231.5, and as of 2015 all Kalamata-bound traffic is forced to exit at the Pylos / Messini exit. (The final several kilometers of the A7, which will ultimately go into Kalamata, is still under construction.)
Upon exiting, follow the signs that point toward Pylos, Messini and the airport, then keep following signs for Pylos. (The Kalamata airport is just a bit west of the motorway and the town of Messini is just a bit west of the airport, but Pylos is farther afield.) After driving west about 45 kilometers from the motorway, you will reach the town of Pylos, which is near the southwest corner of the Peloponnese. Once you get to Pylos, the sea will come into view (on your right-hand side) and the road will begin to wind through town. To navigate your way through Pylos, watch for signs pointing toward Methoni and follow them.
By the time you pass the blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving Pylos, you will be going south. From that point, continue 8.2 kilometers to the Methoni village sign. Just after the village sign, the road will widen to include a median and a left-turn lane. Take the next possible left at a sign that points toward Foinikounta and Koroni and indicates respective distances of 10 and 25 kilometers to those locations.
The beach that is your destination is on the western outskirts of Foinikounta, so you will not go quite all the way to the village proper. Follow the road south and east for 8.3 kilometers and take note when you pass Camping Finikes, which is on the right (coast) side of the road and prominently signed.
Just past Camping Finikes, take note of the blue signs that point left (inland) toward Kamaria and Evangelismos, but do not turn there. Immediately past those signs, take the next possible right onto an unmarked but paved road. That road leads about 300 meters to a large parking area that is near the western end of Anemomilos Beach, at coordinates 36.8015N, 21.7833E. The nude area, contrary to what one might expect, is not at the western extreme of the beach but rather a bit to the east. Facing the sea, turn left and walk about 200 meters to reach the short nudist zone, which is along an undeveloped stretch backed by dunes. If you get to the part of the beach that abuts Camping Ammos, you have walked all the way through and beyond the nudist zone.
Supplemental Directions:
If you are starting from Foinikounta, head west (toward Methoni) and take note when you pass the blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving Foinikounta. After the sign, continue 1.5 kilometers (passing Camping Ammos) and take note when you pass the Medusa Center, a small commercial complex on the left (coast) side of the road that has prominent signs in English advertising a supermarket and a bakery. About 200 meters past the Medusa Center, take the next possible left onto the unmarked paved road that leads to the beach. (The turnoff is directly opposite the sign that points inland toward Evangelismos.)
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are going south (toward Kalamata) when you exit.
This placemark pertains to Anemomilos Beach.

entrance to Camping Finikes
This placemark pertains to Anemomilos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Anemomilos Beach.

Medusa Center
This small commercial complex has prominent signs in English advertising a supermarket and a bakery.

entrance to Camping Ammos

entrance to Camping Thines

Foinikounta village signs
Going east, the sign indicates you are entering the village. Going west, the sign indicates you are leaving the village.

entrance to Camping Anemomilos

segment of main road through Foinikounta

side road to beach

Voidokilia & Glossa Beaches

The village of Petrochori is toward the southern end of the western side of the Peloponnese, about 55 kilometers west of Kalamata, the closest major town. Just south of Petrochori, Voidokilia Beach is a place of stunning and unique beauty, and it is arguably the most renowned beach of the Peloponnese. It is a curving sandy beach spanning about 750 meters, forming a perfect semi-circle. There is a headland at each end of the beach, and those headlands extend toward one another, further enclosing the semi-circular bay. To get a bird's-eye view of the beach and its intricate surroundings, you can hike up to Old Navarino Castle (a.k.a. Paleokastro), a 13th-century fortress in ruins perched above the south end of Voidokilia at the top of Koryphasion Hill, about 120 meters above sea level. From there, you will see that the semi-circular bay combined with its opening to the sea form a shape that bears an uncanny resemblance to a mushroom, and you will see that the large area of dunes behind the beach are backed by a large expanse of wetlands, most notably a body of water called the Gialova Lagoon.
Voidokilia is quite a popular beach despite its lack of any kind of amenities. It is accessed from a parking area at its far north end, next to a headland that contains Tholos Tomb, an archaeological site from the Mycenaean era. The beach offers limited nudist potential. In July and August, there is a good chance the entire beach will be too crowded with textiles for nudity to be a viable option. However, when the beach isn't so crowded, there are often a few nude bathers toward the south end, near the hiking trail that goes up to the castle ruins.
While conditions are often not favorable for nudity at Voidokilia, such is not the case at Glossa Beach, the next beach to the north. Glossa is basically an ancillary to Voidokilia, accessed by parking at Voidokilia then taking a short, easy hike over the headland (past Tholos Tomb). Like Voidokilia, Glossa is nearly encapsulated in a bay, but the scale of Glossa is miniaturized compared to Voidokilia, and the extent of its encapsulation in its bay is more exaggerated. Glossa Beach is just 40 or so meters long, and the rocky masses on either side of its bay taper toward one another going toward the sea. The mouth of the bay, where it opens to the sea, is just 7 meters across. The bay is shaped like a slice of pizza, with the beach at the crust end and the mouth of the bay at the pointy end, and the geography of the beach lends it a very secluded, sheltered ambience. The beach is composed of sand with patches of pebbles, and the surface of the shallow bay is very rocky. If you wade out into the bay toward its mouth, the water becomes deep enough to be a nice swimming area. While Glossa is lightly attended overall, there may be a few dozen bathers present at the small during July and August. Textiles generally predominate on more crowded days, and sometimes no one at all is naked. However, that shouldn't stop you from bathing as you wish since nude bathing is well established. Even if only textiles are present when you arrive, no one is likely to look askance if you go naked.
This placemark pertains to Voidokoilia Beach and Glossa Beach.

Voidokilia Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Voidokoilia Beach and Glossa Beach.)
village, region, country:  Petrochori, Peloponnese, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Voidokilia Beach and Glossa Beach.

Glossa Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Voidokoilia Beach and Glossa Beach.)
village, region, country:  Petrochori, Peloponnese, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Voidokilia Beach and Glossa Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: https://bit.ly/43WHahf
The small village of Petrochori, alternately transliterated as Petroxori and Petrohori (postal code 240 01), is the last settlement along the way to Voidokilia Beach and Glossa Beach. From the village, watch for and follow signs pointing toward Voidokilia or Boidokilia (alternate transliterations of the same name). As you head away from the village, you will be going south-southwest. In about 1.3 kilometers you will cross a short, low bridge over an irrigation ditch, immediately beyond which you will reach a "T" with a gravel road. Turn right, following a brown archaeological site sign. At that point you will be driving between two irrigation ditches. In 300-400 meters the road will end at a large earthen parking area (36.9667N, 21.6612E).
The parking area abuts the far north end of Voidokilia Beach. To the extent that any nudists are present at Voidokilia, they will be toward the south end. To go to Glossa Beach, head in the opposite direction. Facing the sea at the parking area, look to your right to find the path that begins at a sign for Tholos Tomb, which is the archaeological site referenced by the aforementioned brown sign. The tomb is situated atop the headland that forms the far north end of Voidokilia Beach. As you start along the path, at first you will be going slightly uphill through a sandy forested area, then shortly the path will fork as you emerge into a grassy meadow. The left fork continues toward the tomb. Follow the right fork instead, which continues straight across to the opposite side of the meadow, goes downhill through a growth of trees then ends at Glossa Beach. The total walk is a bit less than 200 meters.
starting point:  Exit 18 (Pylos, Messini) of the A7 motorway near Kalamata
The A7 is a roughly 150-kilometer-long motorway that cuts a diagonal across the Peloponnese, connecting Corinth to Kalamata (via Tripoli). Starting near Corinth, the first kilometer marker along the A7 is numbered 87.5. The kilometer marker numbers and the exit numbers both ascend going toward Kalamata, but the sequential exit numbers do not correspond to the kilometer markers. Exit 18 is located in the northwestern outskirts of Kalamata, between kilometer markers 231 and 233. (Marker 232 is between the opposing exit lanes.)
Upon exiting, follow signs for Pylos, a small coastal town about 45 kilometers to the west on the western side of the Peloponnese. You will go almost but not quite all the way to Pylos. About 41 kilometers from the motorway, turn right at signs for Gargalianoi, Chora, Gialova, Filiatra and Kypasrissia. (The turnoff is a bit past kilometer marker 41, but be advised that there are lots of missing markers along the road to Pylos. There is a short right-turn lane at the turnoff. In the vicinity of Pylos, ignore signs pointing toward Pyla. The town of Pylos and the village of Pyla are not the same.)
Upon turning, you will be going in a generally northward direction. Proceed 9.1 kilometers (passing through Gialova) until you reach a major five-way intersection where the road widens and there are both left- and right-turn lanes. Turn left toward Petrochori and Voidokilia. Proceed west 1.3 kilometers and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Petrochori village sign. Continue another 400-500 meters to a three-way junction where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn left toward Voidokilia, then continue as directed above.
This placemark pertains to Voidokoilia Beach and Glossa Beach.

"Petrochori" sign (east side of village)
This placemark pertains to Voidokilia Beach and Glossa Beach.

3-way junction in Petrochori
This placemark pertains to Voidokilia Beach and Glossa Beach.

short bridge over irrigation ditch
This placemark pertains to Voidokilia Beach and Glossa Beach.

Mycenaean Tholos Tomb (archaeological site)

Gialova Lagoon

Nestor's Cave

Old Navarino Castle, a.k.a. Paleokastro

roads from Petrochori to parking

path to Glossa Beach

path to Old Navarino Castle

Kaiafas Beach

Kaiafas Beach
The small town of Zacharo is about halfway along the western coast of the Peloponnese. Just north of town, Kaiafas Lake is a lagoon that occupies a small coastal plain between the mountains and the sea. The lagoon is about 2.6 kilometers long (i.e., extending along the coastline) but never more than 800 meters across (i.e., going from the mountains to the sea). Although it is a natural body of water, Kaiafas Lake looks artificial in satellite views since its shoreline has been heavily altered. The lagoon is separated from the sea by a narrow band of land that is covered in coastal scrub. The sandy beach along the sea side of that band is known as Kaiafas Beach. It is just one segment of a very long beach that spans much of the western Peloponnese, with occasional shallow streams breaking its continuity. Kaiafas Beach is not difficult to access, but there are no developed access points, nor are there any signs pointing to the beach. The coastal highway passes through the coastal band between the beach and the lagoon, but the land is so thickly vegetated that you cannot see any part of the beach or the sea from the road. The lagoon is nearly as hidden. Although the coastal highway follows the entire length of Kaiafas Lake, there is just one short stretch of less than 100 meters where you can readily see the lagoon from the road.
The seclusion of Kaiafas Beach has made it popular with nudists. However, since the beach is so long and has more than one access point, nude bathers tend to be quite spread out. There are basically three places where you can access the beach, described in the directions that follow as the northern, middle and southern accesses. The northern access is a bit south of a small stream that is the lagoon's outlet to the sea, next to an old train station. The northern access is the only part of Kaiafas Beach with a significant textile presence, but it never gets too crowded there since there are no sun chairs available. The southern access to Kaiafas Beach is about 2.5 kilometers from the northern access, not terribly far from the organized town beach of Zacharo. From either the northern or southern access, you need to head a bit toward the opposite access before stripping down. A few hundred meters should be sufficient. That leaves roughly 2 kilometers of beach available to nudists. You will never encounter a crowd, and nude bathers are often 100 meters apart. The middle access takes you to the part of the beach that is most removed from the nearest textiles. That area is favored by gay men.
Kaiafas Beach is a rather obscure beach, while Kaiafas Lake is a location that has faded into obscurity. The lagoon is fed, in part, by thermal springs in the mountains. At one time Kaiafas Lake was a thermal spa destination, served by the old train station (which is no longer operational). Parallel to the shoreline of the lagoon that is closest to the sea, there is a long, skinny island connected to the coastal band by a short causeway. The island is occupied by several decaying buildings of an old resort hotel. While the hotel closed years ago, some of the bathing facilities may be seasonally open with limited hours, but solid information is hard to come by. On the opposite shore of the lake from the old hotel, there is a municipal soaking facility nestled against the mountains. It also has limited seasonal hours. All the soaking possibilities are in communal facilities where bathing attire is required.
town, region, country:  Zacharo, Peloponnese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/3Yj2yvU
In the directions below, three tavernas that are close to one another are referenced as landmarks. Be advised that all of them are signed only in Greek.
National Road 9, which is the coastal highway, is the only major road through Zacharo (also spelled Zaharo and Zaxaro). As is typical in Greece, there are very few signs indicating the road number. The accesses to Kaiafas Beach all leave from the coastal highway, 3 to 6 kilometers north of the center of Zacharo. None of them are signed. It helps to watch for a series of landmarks to find the turnoffs.
Agios Panteleimonas Church is the only church along the coastal highway in Zacharo, and its prominent bell tower makes it an easily identifiable landmark. The church is on the east (inland) side of the road. Follow the coastal highway north out of Zacharo, toward Pyrgos and Patras. Exactly 2 kilometers past the church, take note when you pass the left-hand turnoff to Zacharo Beach, which is signed only in Greek as Παραλια Ζαχαρως. By that point, you will be in the outskirts of Zacharo. Keep straight ahead. About 300 meters farther along, you will pass a Shell gas station on the right.
About a kilometer past the gas station, you will come to two tavernas on opposite sides of the road. Taverna Miltos (Μιλτος) is on the left, but its sign is a little hard to see. Taverna Strofilia (Στροφυλια) is set back a good bit from the road on the right, but its signage is fairly prominent.
Southern access:
Turn left onto the dirt road (37.4927N, 21.6173E) that is immediately before Taverna Miltos and directly across the highway from the sign pointing to Taverna Strofilia. In 150-200 meters, the road will cross the railroad that runs parallel to the highway and the beach. After the railroad, continue about 250 meters to the end of the road at an informal parking area next to the beach. Facing the sea, turn right and head north at least a few minutes before stripping off.
Middle access:
Instead of turning at the southern access, continue north along the coastal highway. About 200 meters past Taverna Miltos and Taverna Strofilia, you will pass Taverna Ta Pefka (Τα Πευκα) on the left. At that point, you are getting close to Lake Kaiafas, which is next to the highway on the right but hidden by trees except in one small area where the lake is clearly in view for less than 100 meters. From Taverna Ta Pefka, continue about 700 meters and watch on the right for the lake. Once the lake disappears from view, continue 150-200 meters and take the next possible left onto a narrow dirt track (37.5013N, 21.6084E). (There is also a track going off to the right at the point where you need to turn left, and you have gone 300-400 meters too far if you reach the start of guardrails along both sides of the highway.)
The narrow dirt track leads about 100 meters to the railroad, but there is no vehicular crossing, so leave your car between the highway and the railroad. There is plenty of room to park informally under the trees. Cross the railroad on foot and follow the track that continues straight ahead on the other side. It is another 200 or so meters through the trees and the dunes out to the beach. You will land roughly in the middle of the long zone of nudist use.
Northern access:
Instead of turning at the middle access, continue north along the coastal highway about 1.5 kilometers to the next building on the left, which is the defunct train station. It is directly opposite a well-signed right-hand turnoff to the Springs Bath of Kaiafa.★ Immediately before the train station (i.e., on the south end), turn left into a small gravel parking area (37.5120N, 21.5973E). On the other end of the station building, there is an al fresco eatery named Café Stathmos Kaiafa (just ΚΑΙΑΦΑ-KAIAFA on the sign). From there, cross the railroad and follow any of the nearby paths that go over the dunes and out to the beach. Facing the sea, turn left and head south at least several hundred meters until you are reasonably removed from the textiles that gather near the old train station.
COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION
From Pyrgos, head south on the coastal highway toward Pylos. In about 22 kilometers you will reach the small village of Kato Samiko, which is the last village before Zacharo. Once you pass the blue-and-white Kato Samiko village sign, it is about 1.3 kilometers to a similar sign indicating you are leaving the village. Once you are past Kato Samiko, there are two left-hand turnoffs prominently signed Springs Bath of Kaiafa.★ 1.4 kilometers past Kato Samiko, you will pass the first (more northern) Springs Bath of Kaiafa turnoff. Keep straight ahead. About 1.7 kilometers farther on, you will reach the second Springs Bath of Kaiafa turnoff. At that point, the old train station will be on the right, with parking for the northern access also on the right just past the station building.
To continue to the other accesses, keep straight ahead. Watch the long guardrail that runs along the right (coast) side of the road as a guide to finding the middle access. About 900 meters past the train station, there is a dirt track on the right at a short break in the guardrail. Stay on the highway. About 300 meters farther on, there is another dirt track on the right immediately past the end of the guardrail. Stay on the highway. Continue 350 meters and turn right at the next dirt track for the middle access. Or, stay on the highway. One kilometer farther on, you will pass Taverna Ta Pefka on the right. Continue 200 meters and turn right next to Taverna Miltos for the southern access.
★ The Springs Bath of Kaiafa turnoff that is closer to Kato Samiko leads to the municipal soaking facility that is on the inland side of the lake next to the mountains, while the Springs Bath of Kaiafa turnoff that is opposite the old train station goes to the island in the lake where the old resort is located.
starting point:  Exit 16 (Patras, Pyrgos, Kyparissia, Meligalas) of the A7 motorway near Meligalas
The A7 is a roughly 150-kilometer-long motorway that cuts a diagonal across the Peloponnese, connecting Corinth to Kalamata (via Tripoli). Starting near Corinth, the first kilometer marker along the A7 is numbered 87.5. The kilometer marker numbers and the exit numbers both ascend going toward Kalamata, but the sequential exit numbers do not correspond to the kilometer markers. Exit 16 is about 50 kilometers southwest of Tripoli, between kilometer markers 210 and 211.
Regardless of the direction of approach, all exiting traffic is filtered onto a highway that goes west. Stay straight ahead on the highway, following signs for Patras and Pyrgos. In about 31 kilometers you will reach Kalo Nero, where the road ends at a "T" with the coastal highway (i.e., National Road 9). Turn right and head north on the coastal highway, continuing toward Patras and Pyrgos. In just over 21 kilometers you will pass the blue Zacharo town sign. Agios Panteleimonas Church is 500-600 meters past the town sign, on the right. From there, proceed as directed above.
MAP from A7 Exit 16 to middle access
This placemark pertains to Kaiafas Beach.

"Zacharo" sign (south end of town)
This placemark pertains to Kaiafas Beach.

Agios Panteleimonas Church
This placemark pertains to Kaiafas Beach.

turnoff to Zacharo Beach (Παραλια Ζαχαρως)

Shell gas station

Taverna Miltos (Μιλτος)

Taverna Strofilia (Στροφυλια)

informal parking, southern access

Taverna Ta Pefka (Τα Πευκα)

Kaiafas Lake

informal parking, middle access

gravel parking lot, northern access

old train station (not operational)

Café Stathmos Kaiafa

textile area of Kaiafas Beach

old spa resort (closed)

stream mouth (lagoon outlet)

municipal thermal spa

"Kato Samiko" sign (south end of village)

"Kato Samiko" sign (north end of village)

segment of coastal highway

railroad segment

dirt road

dirt track

dirt track→sandy path over dunes

one of several paths over dunes

road to old spa resort

road to municipal thermal spa

Kalogria Beach

In the far northwest of the Peloponnese, west of Patras and the iconic Rio-Antirrio Bridge (opened in 2004), Kalogria Beach near the village of Araxos is located amid extraordinary and unlikely scenery where rugged, arid mountains abruptly meet an area of wetlands. Kalogria Beach spans over 7 kilometers, and it is backed by the Strofilia Forest, which is a dense, lush, deep-green band of woodlands comprised mainly of distinctively shaped umbrella pines that lend the area an aura of enchantment. Just inland from the north end of the beach and the north end of the forest, there is a large lagoon called Prokopos Lake. The lagoon and the surrounding marshland have two outlets to the sea, both toward the northern end of Kalogria Beach. Those two outlets, which are 1.2 kilometers apart, are both canal-like rivers that are shored up with large rocks where they flow into the sea, and there are beach parking areas next to each river. The expanse between the two river mouths is the main textile area of Kalogria Beach, where there are clusters of sun chairs and umbrellas along with a taverna and a few snack bars. There are two zones of the beach where nude bathing occurs, and to get to them you will park at one or the other of the river mouths.
If you park next to the northern of the two river mouths, you will be at the northernmost parking area of Kalogria, on the north side of the river. About 200 meters north of the parking area, a huge sand dune backs up against a headland at the far northern end of the main expanse of the beach. A hike of about 200 meters over the low seaward part of the headland leads to a hidden, completely separate sandy beach that is about 100 meters long. Tucked into the forested headland, this secret beach is where nude bathers congregate. There are typically just a scattering of visitors, and the beach seems to draw a mostly gay crowd.
If you park next to the southern of the two river mouths and then wade through or walk across the river bed (which is often dry at its mouth), you will be at the start of the undeveloped stretch of Kalogria Beach, which extends south about 6 kilometers. There are no more automobile accesses until the extreme southern end of the beach at a locality called Kounoupeli, a small collection of buildings that most notably includes a derelict, abandoned spa resort. This vast expanse of sandy beach, backed by dunes and forest, offers ample opportunities for nude bathing. Any nudists present are likely to be widely dispersed within the first kilometer beyond the river, then the beach is likely to become deserted.
This placemark pertains to Kalogria Beach North and Kalogria Beach South.

Kalogria Beach North
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Kalogria Beach North and Kalogria Beach South.)
village, region, country:  Araxos, Peloponnese, Greece
There are 17 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Kalogria Beach North and Kalogria Beach South.

Kalogria Beach South
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Kalogria Beach North and Kalogria Beach South.)
village, region, country:  Araxos, Peloponnese, Greece
There are 17 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Kalogria Beach North and Kalogria Beach South.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fGnKpK
The Araxos Airport is a combined civilian and military facility near the village of Araxos, about 40 kilometers west of the city of Patras. (The airport is a very minor facility for commercial air travel.) There are signs pointing toward the airport along National Road 9, the main road connecting Patras to Pyrgos. Coming from the Patras-to-Pyrgos road, you will be heading north toward Araxos as you approach the airport. Take note when you pass the airport entrance (38.1501N, 21.4136E), which is on the right (east) side of the road at a leftward curve of the road.
After passing the airport entrance, continue another 1.1 kilometers and take the next left, where a sign points toward Metochi and Kalogria. (That sign is next to the blue-and-white Araxos village sign, but the village name is written only in Greek as Αραξος). Follow the road west about 3 kilometers to a stop sign★ at a three-way junction. There are nudist opportunities at both ends of Kalogria Beach, so which way you go at the junction depends on which part of the beach you'd like to explore.
To go to the hidden beach just north of Kalogria Beach:
Keep straight ahead at the stop sign. Continue about 1.3 kilometers to the end of the road at a parking area (38.1622N, 21.3659E). You will be on the northernmost segment of Kalogria Beach, a stretch of about 275 meters that is north of the mouth of the Larissos River. During summer, there is a cluster of sun chairs next to the river mouth. Walk north (to the right when facing the sea), away from the river mouth and toward the low headland at the northern extreme of the beach. As you near the headland, you will see a small stone building in ruins that is situated atop the headland, surrounded by bushes. Go up the headland toward the building. On the inland side of the building, you will reach a junction of several footpaths. Continue north along the path that hews closest to the coast and shortly you will descend to the small, hidden nude beach. The hiking distance across the headland is not quite 200 meters, and the total walk from the parking area is less than 500 meters.
To go to the south end of Kalogria Beach:
Turn left at the stop sign, following a sign for La Mer (a beach bar). You will immediately cross a short bridge over the Larissos River. Less than 100 meters after the bridge, take the next possible right at another La Mer sign. Continue 400 meters to a fork and veer left onto a gravel road. (The paved right fork, which is the main road, continues toward La Mer.) Continue 600-700 meters to the beach, then keep to the left to park as far south as possible (38.1523N, 21.3687E). When you park, you should be just north of a riverlike channel of water that flows toward the sea, but it usually does not quite flow into the sea. Each side of the would-be river mouth is lined with large rocks. Facing the sea, turn left and walk south. Within a few hundred meters you should be far enough away from the crowd to strip down, and nudity is possible for as far as you'd care to walk.
★ If you turn left at the stop sign and cross the river, you will be at the start of an 8.6-kilometer road that goes south to Lappa, skirting the periphery of Metochi on the way. Following the directions above to the south end of Kalogria Beach, you will just barely be on that road before turning toward the beach. However, it is worth continuing along the road for a bit since it passes through a spectacular grove of umbrella pines. Follow the road south for about 2.5 kilometers to appreciate the beauty of the trees. You are past the most scenic stretch when you begin to see farm buildings on the left (east) side of the road.
Two motorways lead to the city of Patras, which is part of the third largest urban area in Greece. The A8 connects Patras to Athens, while the A5 connects Patras to Ioannina (a city in northwestern Greece near Albania). The junction of the two motorways is just south of the Rio-Antirrio Bridge, the nearly 3-kilometer-long cable-stayed bridge that spans the Gulf of Corinth.
First, assume you are heading west toward Patras on the A8. You will reach the Rio toll plaza as you near the city. The toll plaza, located between kilometer markers 199 and 200, spans the entire motorway. After the toll plaza, follow the overhead panels for Pyrgos. In 6 to 7 kilometers you will enter the first of six tunnels.
Alternatively, assume you are heading south toward Patras on the A5. Once you cross the Rio-Antirrio Bridge, keep straight ahead until you see overhead panels for Pyrgos, then follow those panels. About 4 kilometers past the bridge, you will enter the first of six tunnels.
Once you reach the series of tunnels, you will be on the southernmost segment of the A5, which loops around the inland periphery of Patras. 5.3 kilometers after entering the first tunnel, you will emerge from the last and longest tunnel. Continue another 11.4 kilometers to the terminus of the A5, then keep straight ahead. The motorway will narrow into a regular, undivided two-lane highway. That highway is National Road 9,★★ but there is scant signage indicating a road number.
Once you are on the two-lane highway, continue 25 kilometers and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Bonteika village sign. (If you try to look up Bonteika on a digital device, try the alternate spelling Mponteika.) After the village sign, continue 900 meters, then turn right at signs for Lappa, Araxos Airport, Metochi and Kalogria. You will then be on a road that loops through the village of Lappa (alternately transliterated as Lapa, Lapas or Lappas) before reconnecting to the highway. Follow that road for 900 meters until you reach a fork. Veer right away from the loop road, following another sign for the airport. (You have missed the turn by 200-300 meters if you reach the blue-and-white Lappa village sign.) Continue 6 kilometers to the airport entrance, then proceed as directed above.
★★ There are kilometer markers along the two-lane highway, but some are missing and others are very hard to spot. After the motorway ends, marker 9 is the first marker along the two-lane highway. 25 kilometers farther along, marker 34 is between the Bonteika village sign and the airport turnoff.
MAP from A8 Rio toll plaza to parking (north beach)
MAP from A8 Rio toll plaza to parking (south end)
This placemark pertains to Kalogria Beach North and Kalogria Beach South.

"Bonteika" sign (east end of village)
This placemark pertains to Kalogria Beach North and Kalogria Beach South.

"Lappa" sign (east end of village)

Araxos Airport entrance

Prokopos Lake

small church

stop sign at 3-way junction

short bridge over Larissos River

This placemark pertains to Kalogria Beach North.

small stone building in ruins
This placemark pertains to Kalogria Beach North.

This placemark pertains to Kalogria Beach South.

La Mer beach bar
This placemark pertains to Kalogria Beach South.

Kounoupeli

grove of umbrella pines, extending south 2.5 km from Larissos River

segment of National Road 9

road that loops through Lappa

road from Lappa to Araxos (via airport)

road to Kalogria

road from Kalogria to Lappa (via Metochi)

paved road to La Mer beach bar

path over headland

Thessaly

Melani Beach

Melani Beach
Along the central part of the eastern coast of mainland Greece, in the region known as Thessaly, the Pelion peninsula is a hook-shaped land mass that resembles a flexed arm. If you think of the shape of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, invert it then rotate it 90 degrees clockwise and you've got the basic shape of the Pelion. The peninsula lies north of the large island of Evia and south of the city of Thessaloniki. The western side of the peninsula fronts a body of water called the Pagasetic Gulf (which is partially encircled by the "flexed arm"), and the eastern side of the peninsula faces the North Aegean, with the Sporades Islands extending eastward into the Aegean from the southern end of the Pelion. Volos, the large town at the top of the Pagasetic Gulf, is a major departure point for ferries to the Sporades.
Along the eastern (Aegean) coast of the Pelion, Melani Beach and Potistika Beach are neighboring beaches near Xinovrysi and Argalasti. (A bit inland from the beaches, tiny Xinovrysi is the closest population center that is an actual village as opposed to a scattered settlement, while Argalasti, closer to the western coast of the Pelion, is the closest major village.) Melani, the larger and more southern beach, is about 800 meters long, while Potistika is less than half as long but draws larger crowds. Both are gorgeous sand-and-shingle beaches backed by verdant hillsides, and the two beaches are separated by an an outcropping that extends seaward to become a monolithic rocky mass. It is possible to climb over the outcropping on the inland side of the monolithic rock to get from one beach to the other. It is fairly easy to climb up from the Potistika side to get a view of Melani, but it takes a bit more effort to climb up from the Melani side to get a view of Potistika. Nude bathing is well established on the northern end of Melani, just a bit south of the outcropping, along what is actually the central area of Melani and Potistika considered collectively. The parking area at Melani is toward the middle of the beach. Heading north from there (to the left when facing the sea), after just a few minutes you will cross through a prominent but easily traversed collection of boulders that are interspersed with sand. The boulders form the approximate start of the nude area, which extends northward toward the outcropping, which is about 150 meters beyond the boulders. Nudists tend to avoid the last 50 or so meters before the outcropping to ensure a degree of privacy from explorers who climb up the outcropping from the Potistika side. Even on very lightly attended days, nudity is not known to occur on the Potistika side of the outcropping.
The northern end of Melani is the only well-established nude beach of the Pelion, and it is also the best established nude beach of Thessaly. Nudists comprise a significant portion of the crowd even during peak season when there are more textiles about. There are no sunchairs and umbrellas available at Melani, but there is a small taverna, and there is also a taverna and a snack bar at neighboring Potistika. The accompanying driving directions lead to parking at Melani Beach, following a route that bypasses Xinovrysi once you have passed through Argalasti. If you'd rather park at Potistika Beach, just watch for signs once you have passed through Argalasti. Potistika is accessed by passing through Xinovrysi.
village, region, country:  Xinovrysi, Thessaly, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2gmPCQE
starting point  the Volos / Velestino exit of the A1 motorway near Velestino
The A1 motorway is one of the primary thoroughfares of Greece, connecting Athens to Thessaloniki (via Lamia). The Volos / Velestino exit is located between kilometer markers 311 and 313, roughly 300 kilometers north of Athens and 200 kilometers south of Thessaloniki. It is the northern of two exits that are signed for Volos. (The southern Volos exit is between markers 295 and 296.) Upon exiting, follow signs for Volos and you will begin heading east on an expressway. Continue about 12 kilometers, then take the exit that is signed for Portaria.
Once you exit for Portaria, you will be going north and east along a ring road that skirts the inland periphery of Volos, a large town situated at the top of the Pagasetic Gulf. Keep straight ahead on the ring road and ignore any additional signs that point toward Portaria. In about 8.5 kilometers, you will enter a tunnel that is 500-600 meters long. About 750 meters after emerging from the tunnel, turn right at four-way junction. (It is the first possible right you can make after the tunnel.) Continue 500-600 meters to a "T" junction with a road that follows the seafront. Turn left. At that point, you will be in an industrial area on the eastern periphery on Volos, heading east away from Volos into Agria. You will be going in a generally southward direction along the west side of the Pelion peninsula, and the body of water on your right-hand side is the Pagasetic Gulf.
Continue along the seafront road about 2.5 kilometers to a fork. Keep to the left to stay on the main road, which is signed for Pilio. (The other fork is signed for Soutrali.) At that point, the road will veer slightly inland but still hew toward the coastline, and in 1.2 kilometers you will pass a large blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving Agria. From that point, you will begin to pass through a number of scattered villages and communities that are on or near the Pagasetic Gulf. Continue 12 to 13 kilometers to Koropi, which is not well signed. (You will enter Koropi shortly past a large sign that points straight ahead toward Tsagkarada, Neochori and Argalasti, indicating respective distances of 33, 14 and 20 kilometers to those places.)
Once you have passed through Koropi, continue another one to 2 kilometers to a fork. Keep to the left to stay on the main road, which continue toward Tsagkarada, Neochori and Argalasti. (The left fork is not signed, but the fork you do not want is signed for Afissos.) From the fork, you will begin making your way through the interior of the Pelion peninsula toward its eastern (Aegean) side. Continue 7.3 kilometers to a prominently signed three-way junction where several blue panels span overhead. Turn right, following the signs for Milina, Platanias, Argalasti, Trikeri, Lafkos and Promyri.
Go south 7.2 kilometers and take note when you pass the "Welcome to Argalasti" sign, which is written only in Greek as Καλως ηλθατε στην ΑΡΓΑΛΑΣΤΗ. After the sign, continue 1.4 kilometers to a four-way junction that is near the village center, just past an ornate, wedding cake-like church bell tower. Turn left at the junction, following the sign that indicates a distance of 7 kilometers to Xinovrisi.
Proceed east toward Xinovrisi for 3.2 kilometers to the first prominent fork, which is just past a sign that points straight ahead toward Xinovrisi and Plaz Potistika. Veer right at the fork, leaving the main road and following the sign for Paltsi, Agios Kon/Nos and Melani.
Continue is a generally eastward direction for 6.7 kilometers and watch for a blue Koureika sign. (Koureika is the name of a rural locality, not an actual village. The sign may be partially obscured by vegetation.)
After the Koureika sign, continue 500 meters to the next junction, where two roads on the left leave from the same point: a paved road signed for Melani and a gravel road signed for Agios Taxiarches. Make a sharp left onto the paved Melani road, then continue 2.8 kilometers to the dirt parking area next to Melani Beach, where the pavement ends. The parking area is at coordinates 39.2592N, 23.2962E. You will be approximately at the midpoint of the beach. Facing the sea, turn left and walk about 300 meters to reach the nude area at the north end of the beach, just beyond a collection of boulders.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are going north when you exit (coming from Athens).
This placemark pertains to Melani Beach.

Koureika locality sign
This placemark pertains to Melani Beach.

This placemark pertains to Melani Beach.

main expanse of Melani Beach (textile)

prominent collection of boulders interspersed with sand

outcropping between Melani Beach & Potistika Beach
This outcropping extends seaward to become a monolithic rocky mass, and it can be climbed over on the inland side of the monolithic rock. It is fairly easy to climb up from the Potistika side to get a view of Melani, but it takes a bit more effort to climb up from the Melani side to get a view of Potistika.

Potistika Beach (textile)

route from Koureika locality sign to parking

Rakopotamos Beach

Rakopotamos Beach
Situated a bit inland from the the Aegean, Larissa is the capital and largest town of the region of Greece known as Thessaly, and Agiokampos is a coastal village that is about 45 kilometers directly west of Larissa, Going south along the coastline from Agiokampos, it is about 8 kilometers to Rakopotamos, a tiny and rather isolated settlement that consists of a beach and a small cluster of businesses that cater to beachgoers. Rakopotamos Beach consists of three distinct segments that collectively span less than 600 meters. A creek empties into the sea at the northern segment, and the northern and middle segments are basically contiguous, separated only by a very slight rocky outcropping. However, a snack bar built atop the outcropping enhances the feeling of separation between the two segments. The cluster of small buildings that comprise Rakopotamos are slightly uphill from the northern and middle segments.
The southern segment of Rakopotamos is hidden from the other two segments by a much more substantial rocky outcropping, and there are no buildings overlooking it. Thus, nude bathing is commonplace. The southern segment of the beach is about 150 meters long, composed of sand mixed with lots of small pebbles. You can get there by clambering over the outcropping from the middle segment of the beach, or you can follow an unmarked path that descends directly to the nude beach from the road that runs just above the beach. Nudity is well established and well accepted at the southern segment, but textiles often outnumber nudists during July and August. There is a sign prohibiting camping along the northern and middle parts of the beach, so campers congregate on the nude beach, which is often lined with a dozen or so small tents. In addition to the aforementioned snack bar, there are a few tavernas at Rakopotamo, which overlook the textile segments of the beach.
settlement, region, country:  Rakopotamos (Agiokampos), Thessaly, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2f7Hkig
starting point  the Larissa / Agia exit of the A1 motorway near Larissa
The A1 motorway is one of the primary thoroughfares of Greece, connecting Athens to Thessaloniki (via Lamia). The town of Larissa is roughly 350 kilometers north of Athens and 150 kilometers south of Thessaloniki, and there are several exits for Larissa over a span of about 20 kilometers. The exit that you want is between kilometer markers 350 and 352, and it is the only one of the Larissa exits that is also signed for Agia. Regardless of your direction of approach, turn right at the end of the exit ramp to head east (away from Larissa). Shortly you will reach a red light at a three-way junction. Turn left, following signs that point toward Agia and Agiokampos.
Upon turning, you will begin going north on a road that parallels the east side of the motorway. In about 4 kilometers, you will reach an atypical "T" junction where traffic turning right has the right of way. Turn right, following the sign for Eleftherio, Agia and Agiokampos. At that point, you will begin heading east on a road that goes all the way to the coast. Keep straight ahead 33.8 kilometers and you will pass the blue-and-white Agiokampos village sign.
Shortly after you enter Agiokampos, the road will curve rightward and begin to head south. The road will follow the coastline, running a bit inland from the coast. Continue 7 to 8 kilometers until you reach the point where the road winds slightly downhill and begins to run directly next to the sea, with the sea very clearly in view. At that point, you will be next to Papakosta Beach (Παραλια Παπακωστα), but there aren't any prominent signs with the name of the beach.
Once you have passed Papakosta Beach, trees will obscure your view of the sea, but the road continues to hew very close to the coastline. Continue about 1.5 kilometers and take note when you cross a bridge with yellow iron side rails. That bridge is the Rakopotamos Bridge, and there is a sign with name of the bridge that appears in uppercase Greek letters as ΓΕΦΥΡΑ ΡΑΚΟΠΟΤΑΜΟΥ. (The sign is perpendicular to the road, affixed to the side rails on the inland side of the bridge.)
From the end of the bridge, it is 300 meters to the footpath that leads directly to the nude beach. Along the way, you will pass a cluster of several buildings in the tiny settlement of Rakopotamos. Those building overlook the textile beach that is just north of the nude beach. The footpath to the nude beach is not marked. To help find it, watch for the old fashioned wrought iron street lamps that are along the left (coast) side of the road in Rakopotamos. There are just a handful of them. The last street lamp is located at the point where a stretch of chain-link fencing comes to an end. Starting immediately past the last street lamp, start counting the utility poles that are on the coast side of the road. The footpath is about 50 meters past the third utility pole, and the start of the path is marked by about half a dozen cantaloupe-sized rocks. Opposite the footpath, there is room for about 10 cars to park on the grassy road shoulder on the inland side of the road, completely off the pavement, around coordinates 39.6408N, 22.8967E. However, on busy days there are often many more cars parked in narrower shoulder areas on both sides of the road, partially on the pavement. (If you have a GPS, you can use the given parking coordinates to find the footpath.)
The narrow footpath goes downhill through a thick growth of bushes and lands on the north end of the nude beach, just south of the small outcropping that separates it from the textile beach. The walk is slightly less than 200 meters.
This placemark pertains to Rakopotamos Beach.

parking area next to Papakosta Beach
This placemark pertains to Rakopotamos Beach.

Rakopotamos Bridge
This bridge has yellow iron side rails, and there is a sign with name of the bridge that appears in uppercase Greek letters as ΓΕΦΥΡΑ ΡΑΚΟΠΟΤΑΜΟΥ. (The sign is perpendicular to the road, affixed to the side rails on the inland side of the bridge.)
This placemark pertains to Rakopotamos Beach.

snack bar
This snack bar is built atop the slight rocky outcropping that separates the northern and middle segments of Rakopotamos Beach. Both those segments are textile.

route from Papakosta Beach to parking

Crete

North Coast

Saradari Beach

Saradari Beach
Hersonissos is a town on the north coast of Crete that has a number of large resort hotels. Hersonissos is about 25 kilometers east of Iraklio (a.k.a. Heraklion). (Besides being the capital and largest town in Crete, Iraklio is also the location of the main airport as well as Knossos Palace, the most important ancient Minoan archaeological site on the island.)
Although this part of Crete does not have as many nudist opportunities as other parts of the island, nudists have established a tiny part of the east-facing beach of Hersonissos as a haven for bare bathers. This is a semi-hidden site, yet it is easily accessible by car and is also an easy walk from many of the large resort hotels in the area. The nude beach does not have a proper name but is often referenced by the name of the nearby restaurant, Saradari. Standing at this restaurant and facing the sea, to your right is a short, paved path that slopes gently to the beach. Follow this path, then turn right and walk north across the tiny beach. Just around the next bend is the nude area, which consists of a small area of beach flanked by flat rocky outcroppings that are suitable for sunbathing. The beach draws from a dozen to several dozen bathers, mostly nude, and can feel quite crowded at times since the area is small (perhaps 100 meters, roughly drawn by the red line).
town, regional unit, island, country:  Hersonissos, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eZL1Sy
starting point  the Port Hersonissou / Kastelli / Plateau of Lasithi exit of National Road 90 near Hersonissos
National Road 90 is the longest road in Crete. It cleaves toward the northern coast for over 300 kilometers, running from Kissamos near the far west end of the island to Sitia near the far east end. NR-90 passes through Heraklion, which is Crete's capital and largest city, and it skirts the inland edge of Chania, which is the island's second largest city. (Heraklion and Chania are the island's two major ports of entry, each having a ferry port and an airport.) NR-90 has a mix of regular junctions and expressway-type interchanges.
The exit that is signed for Port Hersonissou, Kastelli and the Plateau of Lasithi is about 23 kilometers east of Heraklion. Upon exiting, follow signs for Port Hersonissou to leave the interchange. Proceed north about 2.6 kilometers to a red light at a "T" junction. Turn right, toward Hersonissos. Proceed east 1.5 kilometers to the next red light. When you reach the red light, you will have just passed a Sixt car rental company and a Shell gas station (which are neighboring businesses on the right side of the road), and you will see a Lidl supermarket to your left.
Keep straight ahead through the red light. Continue east 700 meters and turn left immediately past Voss clothing store. (The store is housed in a boxy building, and the signage is quite prominent, with several signs with the name in all upper case letters and an exclamation point: VOSS! You want to turn onto the road that is between Voss and the Cretan Medicare Medical Center.) Upon turning, proceed about 200 meters to the next junction and turn left. Continue about 700 meters and you will begin to pass through Creta Maris Resort, a large resort complex with buildings on both sides of the road. The road passes beneath two pedestrian bridges that are close together. After the second bridge, continue 250 meters and the road will bend sharply to the left and begin to run along the seafront, with the sea on your right-hand side. Continue north 800 meters until the road begins to curve away from the sea, then turn right to continue along the seafront.
Immediately after you turn, there is a paved path on the right that provides a short descent to the sea. Just up ahead, Saradari Restaurant is on the inland side of the road. Park alongside the road (which dead ends less than 200 meters after the restaurant), around coordinates 35.3329N, 25.3843E. The nude part of the beach is about 50 meters past the restaurant, at the point where a stretch of wooden split-rail fencing along the sea side of the road comes to an end. It is possible to step out toward the sea and look down the low cliff onto the nude beach, but there is not an easy way to get down the cliff. Instead, once you find a place to park, backtrack to the aforementioned paved path at the start of the road and descend to the part of the beach that is directly below the restaurant. Facing the sea, turn left and walk until have rounded a bend of the coastline. Within 100 meters you will be in the nude area.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are going east when you exit (coming from Heraklion, heading toward Agios Nikolaos).
This placemark pertains to Saradari Beach.

red light next to Lidl grocery store
This placemark pertains to Saradari Beach.

roadside parking
This placemark pertains to Saradari Beach.

Saradari Restaurant

main entrance to Creta Maris Resort

Cretan Medicare Medical Center

Lidl grocery store

Sixt car rental company

one of two pedestrian bridges that span road

VOSS! clothing store

route from red light to parking

steps down to beach

Kera Beach

Kera Beach
Kera Beach is a rather hidden beach on the eastern periphery of Kalyves, a resort town that is itself on the eastern periphery of Chania, the second largest city in Crete. Stretching about 200 meters, the narrow sandy beach is at the base of a terraced hillside, and it nearly disappears at high tide. Accessed by an unmarked and rather steep gravel road that ends just above the beach, Kera is an undeveloped beach that gets very limited visitation because few people know it is there, and a slight scramble down a low cliff is necessary to get to sea level from the end of the road. There are usually just a few visitors when the beach isn't altogether deserted, and nudity is common among those who find their way there, but Kera probably falls a bit short of being a well-established nude beach. However, Kera is one of a very small number of beaches along the north coast of Crete that allow for nude bathing owing to a combination of seclusion, obscurity and light attendance. If only textiles are about, you can probably find sufficient privacy for nudity toward one end of the beach or the other.
village, regional unit, island, country:  Kalyves, Chania, Crete, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2ey0KLO
starting point  the Armenoi/Kalyves exit of National Road 90 near Kalyves
National Road 90 is the longest road in Crete. It cleaves toward the northern coast for over 300 kilometers, running from Kissamos near the far west end of the island to Sitia near the far east end. NR-90 passes through Heraklion, which is Crete's capital and largest city, and it skirts the inland edge of Chania, which is the island's second largest city. NR-90 has a mix of regular junctions and expressway-type interchanges.
The Armenoi/Kalyves exit is on the eastern outskirts of Chania, 12 kilometers east of the easternmost of the three Chania exits (Chania/Souda). Upon exiting, follow the signs for Kalyves, NOT Armenoi. You will begin heading north toward the coast. In about a kilometer, you will reach a "T" in the commercial center of Kalyves. Turn right, following the sign for Tsivaras and Municipality of Vamos. A little over 100 meters farther on, keep to the right at a fork to stay on the main road. (The road straight ahead is signed as a dead end.) The road will then begin to wind uphill, making a couple of sharp curves, and in 600-700 you will reach a signed three-way junction. Turn left, following the sign for Kokkino Chorio, Plaka, Almyrida and Aspro. (The road straight ahead is signed for Vamos and Tsivaras.)
Continue about 500 meters and the road will make a sharp rightward curve in an area where lots of overhead utility lines crisscross the road. Just after the curve, the sea will come into view (on your left) and a guardrail will begin (on the sea side of the road). Watch the guardrail carefully and continue about 150 meters. Immediately at the end of the guardrail, make a sharp left turn onto a gravel road. (The road is unmarked. At the turnoff, there is a plumbing contraption that connects a number of pipes together, presumably for a large sprinkler system.) The gravel road will immediately begin to go downhill. In about 50 meters, keep to the left to continue downhill, then continue about 400 meters to the end of the road at a small dirt parking area that is just above the beach, at coordinates 35.4503N, 24.1829E. You will have to scramble down a low cliff to get to the beach, but it is not terribly challenging.
Alternate route:
If the sharp left turn at the end of the guardrail seems too dicey, just keep straight ahead. Continue along the main road as it makes a long curve, going slightly inland before heading back toward the sea. In slightly over one kilometer, turn left at the sign for Kera Studios & Apartments. You will then be on a very narrow, crudely surfaced road. Keep straight ahead. In 300-400 meters, you will pass Kera Studios & Apartments (on the right), shortly past which the road will turn to dirt. About 100 meters farther on, you will reach a junction, at which point you will have almost reconnected to the main road near the guardrail. Turn right and follow the road downhill about 400 meters to parking at the end.
Here is a map* that draws the route described above from the starting to the final turn.
Here is a map* that draws the route described above from the starting to the final turn, via the alternate route.
* Both maps assume you are heading east when you exit (coming from Chania, heading toward Heralkion). Furthermore, for either approach, Google Maps will not draw the final 400 meters to parking.
This placemark pertains to Kera Beach.

Armenoi/Kalyves exit interchange of National Road 90
This placemark pertains to Kera Beach.

This placemark pertains to Kera Beach.

turnoff to Kera Studios & Apartments

Kera Studios & Apartments

guardrail
The orange line traces a guardrail that is about 150 meters long. The unmarked turnoff to the beach is at the end of the guardrail.

part of alternate route

guardrail

Maherida Beach

Maherida Beach
Akrotiri is the roughly circular peninsula that juts northeastward from Chania. The peninsula is the location of Chania's international airport, which is Crete's secondary gateway for air traffic after the airport in Heraklion. On the western side of Akrotiri, Maherida Beach is a tiny beach in a tranquil bay, located about 14 kilometers northeast of the city center of Chania. The beach is known to draw nude bathers, but it is not an especially well-documented nude beach. It seems to have core following of local gay men. Nude bathing continues despite a spate of nearby construction in the area that has occurred since the early 2000's. Maherida is just 20 or so meters long, and it typically has a dozen or so visitors. Although it is not difficult to find, there are no signs, so only those in the know are likely to find their way to the beach.
village, regional unit, island, country:  Chorafakia, Chania, Crete, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2dM8Gdh
starting point  the Chania / Souda exit of National Road 90 near Chania
National Road 90 is the longest road in Crete. It cleaves toward the northern coast for over 300 kilometers, running from Kissamos near the far west end of the island to Sitia near the far east end. NR-90 passes through Heraklion, which is Crete's capital and largest city, and it skirts the inland edge of Chania, which is the island's second largest city. (Heraklion and Chania are the island's two major ports of entry, each having a ferry port and an airport.) NR-90 has a mix of regular junctions and expressway-type interchanges.
There are three exits along NR-90 that are signed for Chania, and they are located within a span of 7 kilometers. The eastern exit is signed for Chania and Souda; the middle exit is signed for Chania and Mournies; and the western exit is signed for Chania and Omalos. Take the Chania/Souda exit, then follow signs for Chania and Souda to depart the exit interchange. Proceed north less than a kilometer to a stop sign at an irregular junction and turn right, following signs for Souda, the port and the airport. Continue east less than 300 meters to a red light and turn left, following another airport sign. (The road straight ahead continues toward the port.) You should pass a large INKA supermarket when you turn.
From that point, the road will curve and shift directions several times, but ultimately you will be heading northeast. Just keep straight ahead. 5.7 kilometers from the INKA supermarket, you will merge into a small roundabout. Keep straight ahead through the roundabout, following another airport sign. Continue east just 500 meters, then turn left at a signs for Kounoupidiana, Kalathas and Stavros.
Continue north 1.8 kilometers to a stop sign at a "T" junction. By that point, you will be in the town of Kounoupidiana. Turn right, following the sign for Stavros. In a little over 100 meters, you will reach a red light, immediately beyond which the road will fork. Be sure to keep to the right, following another sign for Stavros. (The left fork is signed for Agios Onoufrios.) Continue north and east 900 meters, then turn left at signs for Kalathas, Chorafakia and Stavros. (The turnoff is at the sign that indicates you are leaving Kounoupidiana.)
Continue north 3.3 kilometers (passing through Kalathas) and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Chorafakia village sign.
After the village sign, continue 600 meters to a stop sign at a three-way junction that is just past Kourtras supermarket (spelled ΚΟΥΤΡΑΣ on the sign). Keep to the left. Continue north just 200 meters and turn left at a sign for Tersanas. (From that point, you will no longer be heading toward Stavros.) Continue west and north about a kilometer and you will begin to pass Tersanas Beach, a small beach on the left that is adjacent to the road, with the sand and a small bay clearly in view. When you reach the end of the small beach, the road will fork. Keep to the right. You should see a small blue bilingual street sign with Machairidas in English and ΜΑΧΑΙΡΙΔΑ in upper-case Greek.
Continue 600-700 meters and watch for Tersanas Beach Lodges on the left (just past a small pond that is on the right). Tersanas Beach Lodges consists of half a dozen two-story pastel-colored houses with tile roofs. The houses are stacked one behind the other and cascade slightly downhill toward the sea. Next to the road in front of Tersanas Beach Lodges, there is fencing with a green wrought-iron fence atop a low stone wall. When the fencing ends, it is about 60 meters to the next utility pole on the left side of the road. The unmarked path to Maherida Beach begins next to that utility pole. At the start of the path, there is a parking pullout that can hold just a few cars, at coordinates 35.5734N, 24.0784E, but there is also room to park along the road. As you start along the path, the sea will be clearly in view, and Maherida Beach is pretty much directly in front of you, but it is hidden by a slight drop-off at the coastline. The total walk is just 150 meters.
(Note that you have driven about 300 meters too far if you reach the left-hand turnoff into Divine Villas.)
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are going west when you exit (coming from Heraklion, heading toward Kissamos).
This placemark pertains to Maherida Beach.

Chorafakia village sign
This placemark pertains to Maherida Beach.

small parking pullout
This placemark pertains to Maherida Beach.

Tersanas Beach Lodges

Kourtras supermarket (ΚΟΥΤΡΑΣ on sign)

turnoff to Tersanas

Tersanas Beach (textile)

Machairidas/ΜΑΧΑΙΡIΔΑ sign
small blue bilingual street sign with Machairidas in English and ΜΑΧΑΙΡIΔΑ in upper-case Greek

pond

Divine Villas

route to beach through Chorafakia

West Coast—Chania

Falassarna North Beach

Falassarna North Beach
Falassarna Beach is a huge, sandy beach located toward the northern end of the western coast of Crete, about 15 kilometers by car from Kissamos. The beach is situated in a small coastal plain that is full of agricultural greenhouses, with mountains as a backdrop. Altogether, Falassarna spans more than 3 kilometers, and it has three basic areas. The southern part of the beach is about a kilometer long and is slightly disconnected from the rest of the beach, and there is a road running directly behind it. The southern area is little used compared to the rest of the beach (and, following the given driving directions, you will bypass the southern area altogether). The central expanse of Falassarna is the main part of the beach, stretching about 800 meters. That part of the beach is known as Big Beach (or, less commonly, as Pachia Ammos), and it is lined with several tavernas and clusters of sunchairs. Beyond Big Beach, the sandy beach extends northward more than a kilometer, but clusters of boulders and rocky outcroppings break the northern realm of Falassarna into multiple coves. There are also clusters of sunchairs in the northern area.
Nude bathing occurs regularly toward the northern end of Falassarna, but it is difficult to pinpoint a precise nude area because nudity patterns change depending on the circumstances, with nudists spreading over larger areas on uncrowded days out of peak season and constricting to smaller areas on crowded days. To go to the part of the beach where nudity occurs most consistently, access the beach at Orange Blue Bar, which is the northernmost taverna along the beach. It is actually situated slightly back from the beach atop a small rocky escarpment. As you head out to the beach from Orange Blue Bar, there is a wooden staircase that descends the escarpment. Depending on the time of year, you may see a small cluster of sunchairs near the stairs. Depending on the crowd, you may encounter nudists near the stairs. If only textiles are about, turn right as you face the sea and very shortly you should find nudists a bit north of the stairs. You can walk about 350 meters north of the stairs before the shoreline becomes rocky. The rocky part of the shoreline extends northward about 700 meters to a headland that is near the Falassarna archaeological site. If you explore the rocky part of the shoreline, you will find several tiny niches amid the rocks that have nudist potential.
A bit farther south, there is another niche of Falassarna that gets a good bit of nude use. It is located between En Plo taverna and Galasia Thea taverna, two eateries that are about 350 meters apart. (The locations of both are referenced in the driving directions.) If you access the beach at En Plo, you will be at the far north end of the continuous expanse of Big Beach. Facing the sea, turn right and walk north just a bit until you reach the cluster of boulders that breaks the continuity of the beach. (The boulders are spaced such that you can easily walk between them.) The nudist niche is just beyond the first of the boulders. It is a boulder-strewn expanse of about 200 meters with lots of patches of thick white sand. As you continue north toward Galasia Thea taverna, the boulders will become more densely clustered, then the beach will open up a bit beyond Galasia Thea, and that area is likely to be textile. If you access the beach at Galasia Thea, turn left as you face the sea and shortly you will reach the nudist niche. Nudity patterns at the niche between En Plo and Galasia Thea seem particularly fluid. For a few years circa 2010, there was a sign posted identifying the area as a nude beach, with sunchairs and umbrellas available to rent. However, the sign is no longer present, and there are times when the area is overrun with textiles. If nudity does not seem like a viable option between En Plo and Galasia Thea, walk north about 800 meters until you reach the wooden stairs below Orange Blue Bar, beyond which you will be in the nudist zone toward the far north end of the beach.
GPS: 35.5043N, 23.5767E (near Orange Blue Bar), 35.4966N, 23.5799E (between En Plo and Galasia Thea tavernas)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Platanos, Chania, Crete, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fgauLQ
starting location  National Road 90 in Kissamos
National Road 90 is the longest road in Crete. It cleaves toward the northern coast for over 300 kilometers, running from Kissamos near the far west end of the island to Sitia near the far east end. NR-90 passes through Heraklion, which is Crete's capital and largest city, and it skirts the inland edge of Chania, which is the island's second largest city. (Heraklion and Chania are the island's two major ports of entry, each having a ferry port and an airport.) NR-90 has a mix of regular junctions and expressway-type interchanges.
Kissamos is about 174 kilometers west of Heraklion and 37 kilometers west of Chania. From Kissamos, head west. At first you will be paralleling the northern coastline. About 200 meters after you pass the sign indicating you are leaving Kissamos, you will pass the right-hand turnoff into the Kavonisi Port. Keep straight ahead on the main road, which will curve leftward and begin to head southwest into the interior. Continue another 5.3 kilometers and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Platanos village sign. Continue another 1.2 kilometers, then turn right at a sign pointing toward Falassarna.
Follow the road northwest 900 meters and turn left at a four-way junction where there is a small church with a red roof. (There does not seem to be any English signage at the junction, so watch for Falassarna written in Greek, either as Φαλασαρνα or ΦΑΛΑΣΑΡΝΑ.) Once you turn, the road will begin a gradual descent toward the sea. Continue 1.8 kilometers, going through three hairpin curves (leftward, rightward, then leftward again). Immediately after the third curve, turn right. (There are lots of billboard-type signs at the turnoff, the most noticeable of which is for Big Beach Playa Paraiso.) At that point, you will be going north. Keep straight ahead past additional signs pointing toward Big Beach. In 1.7 kilometers, take note of an INKA mini-market (on the left), but keep straight ahead. 500-600 meters farther on, take note of the left-hand turnoff toward Galasia Thea taverna, but keep straight ahead. 400-500 meters farther on, park in the lot where the paved road ends, at coordinates 35.5026N, 23.5794E, just past Falassarna Beach Apartments (a three-story yellow building with two curving staircases).
Two gravel roads continue straight ahead from the parking area. Follow the one that angles toward the sea, leading just 100 meters to Orange Blue Bar. (The other gravel road continues to the Falassarna archaeological site.) Go around Orange Blue Bar and you will find a short path toward the sea that takes you to a wooden staircase that descends to the north beach of Falassarna. Depending on the crowd, you may or may not see nudists immediately. If only textiles are about, turn right as you face the sea and you will likely encounter nudists just a bit north of the stairs.
Alternate accesses:
The part of Falassarna Beach near Orange Blue Bar is the most reliable location for nudity, but there are sometimes pockets of nudists a bit farther south in the area where Big Beach blends into the north beach. To explore that area, you can turn toward toward the sea at the above-referenced INKA mini-market and park next to En Plo, a seaside business with a taverna and apartments to rent. Facing the sea at En Plo, turn right (north) and it is about 350 meters to Galasia Thea taverna, and nudists are often present in a niche between the two locations that is sheltered by large rocks. You can also part next to Galasia Thea, the turnoff to which is referenced above.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting location to parking.
This placemark pertains to Falassarna North Beach.

niche that is sometimes nudist
This niche, where there are several clusters of boulders, is north of En Plo taverna but south of Galasia Thea taverna. Nudity is common, but there may be times when this area is overrun with textiles. If conditions are not favorable for nudity at this niche when you visit, go north about a kilometer to the far northern realm of the beach, beyond Orange Blue Bar.
This placemark pertains to Falassarna North Beach.

turnoff to Falassarna
This placemark pertains to Falassarna North Beach.

Platanos village sign

INKA mini-market

Orange Blue Bar

Galasia Thea taverna

En Plo taverna

Playa Paraiso taverna

small church with a red roof

Falassarna Beach Apartments

Falassarna archaeological site

main central expanse of Falassarna (textile)
The main central expanse of Falassarna is known as Big Beach or Pachia Ammos, and it is textile with the exception of the niche at its north end where it blends into the north beach.

Falassarna South Beach (textile)

headland

wooden stairs

route from Platanos to beach

short path to beach

potential nude area, roughly

South Coast—Chania

Elafonisi & Kedrodasos Beaches

Elafonisi Beach and Kedrodasos Beach are nearby beaches that are located at the southwestern extreme of Crete. Both are predominantly textile beaches that get a certain degree of visitation by nude bathers.
Elafonisi is one of the most popular beaches in Crete, and it is perhaps the most geographically distinctive beach on the island. When you first arrive at Elafonisi Beach, you will be on a broad area of sand where there are a few snack stands and multiple clusters of sun chairs during peak season. That area is strictly textile. Just offshore, there is a long, narrow land mass that extends westward, and it is separated from the main beach by a sandy reef that is just slightly submerged. Because the reef is so shallow, the land mass could perhaps be considered a peninsula rather than an island. Whatever the case, you will have to get your feet wet to get there. Depending on the tide, you will have to wade a distance of 50 to 100 meters through water that is typically no more than knee high. The north shore of Elafonisi island is rocky, but the south shore has a series of sandy coves interspersed with small rocky outcroppings. This chain of coves extends a little over one kilometer to a rocky, scrub-covered hillock that forms the western tip of the island. The hillock is capped by a tiny chapel, next to which there is a lighthouse (which looks more like an oil derrick or radio transmission tower than a typical lighthouse). The coves closest to the mainland (i.e., farthest east) are the domain of textiles, but nudity becomes common as you go west toward the rocky hillock. The boundaries are inexact and subject to the overall size of the crowd. When the beach is uncrowded, you may encounter nudity starting about halfway to the rocky hillock. On more crowded days, nudists are likely to gravitate a bit farther toward the hillock to the westernmost coves. The setting is captivating. The coves are covered in lush white sand and backed by dunes, and there are patches where the sand has a slight pinkish hue. The shallow turquoise water extends considerably offshore, creating a large swimming area.
Kedrodasos Beach is a bit east of Elafonisi Beach. Kedrodasos means "cedar forest," and the beach is backed by an extensive area of dunes covered by stunted, twisted trees. Some sources say these are junipers rather than true cedars. Whatever the case, they make for an enchanting forest, and you are likely to see a number of tents set up beneath the trees. Kedrodasos comprises over 1.5 kilometers of coastline, but it is not one continuous beach. The longest unbroken expanse of sand extends over 300 meters, then there are multiple smaller niches on either side tucked into the rocky shoreline. All parts of the beach are strewn with boulders—on the sand, in the water and in the intertidal zone. The geography is similar to that of the coves of Elafonisi island.
Kedrodasos is mostly textile, but nude bathing occurs regularly. Most nudists tend to gravitate to the far east end of the longest beach segment (pinpointed by the GPS coordinates above). A bit farther east, there are isolated pockets over the next 500 meters that get sporadic nude use, then the shoreline becomes rocky for about a kilometer before the next isolated niches that are beyond the realm of Kedrodasos. Going west from the longest beach segment, it is about 1.5 kilometers to Elafonisi. The peripheral western niches of Kedrodasos extend about half that distance, and those niches also get sporadic nudist attendance. Nudity is generally acceptable along many parts of Kedrodasos even though it is difficult to identify a static nudist zone of the beach. Just use a bit of discretion and scope out an area reasonably removed from the nearest textiles.
Kedrodasos Beach lacks amenities, and the snack stands at Elafonisi are a long walk from the nude area. The E4 hiking trail is a coastal path that passes through both beaches, so if you park at one you can hike to the other.
This placemark pertains to Elafonisos Beach and Kedrodasos Beach.

Elafonisi Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Elafonisi Beach and Kedrodasos Beach.)
settlement, regional unit, island, country:  Elafonisi, Chania, Crete, Greece
There are 15 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Elafonisi Beach and Kedrodasos Beach.

Kedrodasos Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Elafonisi Beach and Kedrodasos Beach.)
settlement, regional unit, island, country:  Elafonisi / Chrisoskalitissis, Chania, Crete, Greece
There are 15 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Elafonisi Beach and Kedrodasos Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eQR8tO
Set your GPS device to:
35.3139N, 23.5425E (village sign at north end of Chrysoskalitissas)
The only paved road into Chrysoskalitissas ends a bit south of the village, so you will almost certainly be going south as you approach the village. The bilingual blue-and-white village sign also reads Χρυσοσκαλιτισσα. 500 meters after the village sign, you will reach a fork. Keep to the left, following the Elafonisi sign. (The other fork is signed Monastery of Chrysoskalitissas.) Continue 3.6 kilometers and take note when you reach the left-hand turnoff that is signed Sklavopoula (35.2834N, 23.5478E).
To go to Elafonisi Beach:
Do NOT turn at the Sklavopoula sign. Keep straight ahead. In about 500 meters, you will pass the blue-and-white Elafonisi village sign, then not quite one kilometer farther on you will reach the end of the road at a huge parking area next to the beach (35.2719N, 23.5426E). Walk toward the sea through the main beach area where all the sun chairs are set up, then continue onto the island that extends seaward from the beach. As you step onto the island, keep toward your left and walk along the southern shore of the island, such that the sea is on your left-hand side. It is a bit more than one kilometer to the rocky hillock at the far (west) end of the island, and nudity becomes more prevalent as you near the hillock.
To go to Kedrodasos Beach:
Turn left (east) at the Sklavopoula sign. Just the start of the road is paved, then it turns to gravel and traverses an agricultural area where there are lots of greenhouses. The route to Kedrodasos Beach is not signposted, but you can use the greenhouses as landmarks to help you along. Specifically, be aware of two places where the road is squeezed tightly between two greenhouses (one on each side of the road). From the start of the road, proceed 300-400 meters, then keep to the right at a three-way junction. Immediately after the junction, you will encounter the first place where the road is squeezed between two greenhouses. Once you are past them, continue about one kilometer to the second place where the road is squeezed between two greenhouses. Once you emerge from those, continue 200 meters to a three-way junction at the next cluster of greenhouses. Keep to the right. (The road to the left continues toward Sklavopoula.) You should then be driving such that the greenhouses are on your left-hand side. In 150-200 meters, keep to the left at the next three-way junction. When the road peters out in about 200 meters, you will reach the amorphous earthen parking area for the beach (35.2720N, 23.5596E), and by that point you will be able to see the sea.
A rutted footpath continues downhill about 300 meters to the beach, with an elevation loss of about 140 meters. When you land near the sea, you will be amid the niches that are a bit west of the longest segment of Kedrodasos. Head east (to the left when facing the sea) about 500 meters. Most nudity occurs toward the east end of the long sandy expanse, just before the shoreline becomes rocky.
starting point:  the turnoff to Elafonisi from National Road 90 on the east side of Kissamos
The turnoff to Elafonisi is toward the far western end of NR-90, on the east side of Kissamos. The turnoff is about 172 kilometers west of Heraklion and 35 kilometers west of Chania. If you are going west on NR-90, you will reach the Elafonisi turnoff just 400 meters after you pass the large blue Kissamos town sign, and it will be a left-hand turn. The sign at the turnoff indicates that it is 41 kilometers to Elafonisi. If you are going to Elafonisi Beach, you will travel that entire distance. If you are going to Kedrodasos Beach, you will go almost the entire distance before turning onto a side road. (Signage at NR-90 has the spelling Elafonisos, but most subsequent signs along the way have the spelling Elafonisi.)
You will be heading in a generally southwesterly direction as you head toward Elafonisi, and you will have to turn several times. Just watch the signs carefully and follow them. After you have travelled about 34 to 35 kilometers from NR-90, you will pass the blue-and-white Chrysoskalitissas village sign. Proceed as directed above.
MAP from starting point to parking (Elafonisi)
MAP from starting point to parking (Kedrodasos)
This placemark pertains to Elafonisi Beach and Kedrodasos Beach.

"Chrysoskalitissas" sign (north end of village)
This placemark pertains to Elafonisos Beach and Kedrodasos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Elafonisos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Kedrodasos Beach.

main textile area of Elafonisi Beach
This placemark pertains to Elafonisos Beach.

Chrysoskalitissas Monastery
This placemark pertains to Elafonisos Beach.

chapel atop a hillock
This placemark pertains to Elafonisi Beach.

turnoff to Sklavopoula
This placemark pertains to Kedrodasos Beach.

"Elafonisi" sign (north end of locality)
This placemark pertains to Elafonisi Beach.

road is squeezed between greenhouses
This placemark pertains to Elafonisi Beach.

segment of E4 hiking trail (in pink)

segment of road to Elafonisi

roads to Kedrodasos Beach

walking route

segment of E4 hiking trail

extent of Kedrodasos Beach & nearby niches

Krios & Viena Beaches

Paleochora is a highly touristed village toward the west end of the south coast of Crete. Several kilometers west of Paleochora, Kountoura is a quieter agricultural village located in a small coastal plain that is covered with large greenhouses, with perhaps more greenhouses than dwellings. Krios Beach is located just west of Kountoura, where the coastal plain gives way to coastal mountains—literally. Going east to west along the beach, the backdrop changes from flat land to steeply sloping land. The beach is about 600 meters long, and it is mostly covered in small pebbles. Parking is next to a taverna near the middle of the beach. As you go toward the west end (to the right when facing the sea), there is a small rocky outcropping that extends all the way to the waterline, but it can be climbed over easily. Beyond the outcropping, there is a niche about 50 meters long that is partially obscured from the rest of the beach but not entirely hidden due to the curve of the coastline. During peak season, there are about a dozen umbrellas and pairs of sunchairs in the western niche.
The geographic setup of Krios Beach makes the more private western niche ideal for nude bathing, and nude bathing does occur, but there is sufficient irregularity in nudity patterns that Krios falls a bit short of being a really well-established nude beach. Nude bathing is most apt to occur on uncrowded days. During peak season when the sunchairs along the main beach are full, textiles spill over to the western niche and inhibit the practice of nudity, so it is possible you could show up in July or August to find that the western niche is entirely textile. If you visit during peak season, consider showing up early in the day while the western niche is mostly empty. If you establish a nudity precedent, you are likely to find that others join you.
The E4 hiking trail is a long-distance path that goes all the way across Crete, and the route of the path goes directly across Krios Beach, including through the nude area. If you follow the trail west about 1.2 kilometers, the next beach you will reach is Viena Beach. The walk takes about half an hour. Viena is an unusual beach situated along a small, shallow bay. Altogether, Viena is 300-400 meters long, but it is not a continuous beach. There are lots of boulders on the land and in the bay, but there are several sandy patches amid the boulders. (Most of the sand is mixed with small pebbles.) At the western end of Viena, a rocky outcropping almost encloses part of the bay, creating a particularly calm and shallow swimming area that is like a big swimming pool. There was once a temple at Viena. Look closely and you'll see that some of the bulky masses on the beach are not boulders but rather the remains of ancient marble columns. The archaeological ruins blend into the boulder-strewn landscape such that you'd probably overlook them if you didn't know they were there. Viena is not a well-established nude beach just because it doesn't get enough visitors to be considered a nude beach or a textile beach. However, it is a largely undiscovered gem that is likely to have just a few visitors if it is not altogether empty, and it is an enchanting spot for a naked swim. If you are up to the requisite hike, you may find Viena to be particularly appealing when Krios is overrun with textiles. You may encounter occasional hikers since the E4 continues through Viena Beach, but E4 hikers are unlikely to be fazed by nudity since the E4 passes through several nude beaches.
This placemark pertains to Krios Beach and Viena Beach.

Krios Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Krios Beach and Viena Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Kountoura, Chania, Crete, Greece
There are 11 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Krios Beach and Viena Beach.

Viena Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Krios Beach and Viena Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Kountoura, Chania, Crete, Greece
There are 11 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Krios Beach and Viena Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eLvUNo
starting point  the Paleoochora/Tavronitis exit of National Road 90 near Tavronitis
The Paleoochora/Tavronitis exit is toward the far western end of NR-90, about 156 kilometers west of Heraklion and 20 kilometers west of Chania. The exit is very close to the north coast of the island. Your destination is on the south coast of the island. You will be driving south-southwest through the mountainous interior of the island to get there. At all junctions, just watch for signs pointing to Paleochora and follow them. (Signage at the exit has the spelling Palaiochora, but most subsequent signs along the way have the spelling Paleochora.) About 50 kilometers from the exit, you will pass the blue-and-white Paleochora village sign. Just after the village sign, the road will begin to pass through a colonnade of eucalyptus trees.
After the village sign, continue about 600-700 meters into the village center to a junction where the road straight turns to brick. Turn right. Proceed 200 meters to a "T" junction, where you will see the sea straight ahead. Turn right, following the sign for Voutas and Kountoura. At that point, you will begin driving parallel to the beach. Proceed 500 meters until you see a sign that indicates that Kountoura is straight ahead while the road to the right goes to Voutas and Sarakina. At that point, you will be leaving Paleochora, continuing west along the coastline. Keep straight ahead. 3.9 kilometers farther on, take note when you pass Grammeno Camping, which is on the left (sea) side of the road just past the turnoff to Grammeno Beach. The name is prominently spelled on a low white fence wall, along which there are about half a dozen flags.
Once you pass Grammeno Camping, you will have entered a small but sprawling agricultural village called Kountoura*, but there does not seem to be any prominent signage in the village with the name of the village. Keep straight ahead another 1.3 kilometers and turn right at a three-way junction, following a sign for Elafonisi, Voutas and Sklavopoula. (The junction is next to a community center, a small two-story building with a prominent wheelchair ramp.) Continue 400-500 meters to the next signed three-way junction. Keep to the left, following the sign for Krios. (The other road is signed for Elafonisi, Voutas and Sklavopoula.) From that point, there are still several more turns to make, but the rest of the route is signed. You will be driving through an agricultural area with lots of greenhouses. Continue to follow signs for Krios about 3 kilometers to the end of the paved road, where there are a few dozen demarcated pull-in parking spaces at coordinates 35.2368N, 23.5953E.
The parking area is next to the central area of Krios Beach. (You will have already driven past the eastern end of the beach, which abuts the road.) Facing the sea, turn right and walk west about 200 meters to the low rocky outcropping that extends all the way across the beach to the waterline, beyond which you can see the continuation of the beach. Climb over the outcropping, or walk or wade around the outcropping (depending on the tide). On the other side, you will be at the hidden niche at the far western end of Krios Beach.
The E4 hiking trail goes across Krios Beach, and you can follow the trail to reach Viena Beach, which is the next beach to the west. (The E4 also goes all the way across Viena Beach.) From the far west end of Krios Beach, just watch for the trail posts with the yellow diamond panels and follow them. You will be hiking such that the sea is on your left-hand side, but the portion of the E4 you will follow is actually slightly inland from the coastline. At first you will climb away from Krios Beach and ascend to a maximum elevation of about 90 meters. At the highest point of the trail, it will flatten out and run alongside a rough gravel road for a few hundred meters, then it will veer left away from the road and begin to descend toward the sea. The total hike is 1.2 kilometers and takes about 30 minutes.
Alternate access to Viena Beach:
You can get closer to Viena Beach by car and avoid the initial climb away from Krios Beach. From the Krios Beach parking area, there is a gravel road that goes uphill and inland away from the beach, then it curves and begins to run west above Krios Beach. Follow the road and keep toward the sea at all forks. In about 500 meters you will pass a church (on the right). It is yellow church with a red-tiled dome that is an unexpectedly elaborate structure considering its location along a gravel road. After the church, continue about 500 meters and you will reach the stretch where the E4 trail coincides with the road. Continue a few hundred meters until you see where the trail forks to the left away from the road and begins to go downhill toward the sea. (The gravel road dead ends about 350 meters past that point.) Park along the road around coordinates 35.2370N, 23.5859E and follow the trail downhill about 500 meters to Viena Beach. Note the the gravel road gets rougher once you pass the church, so you may want to drive as far as you're comfortable and walk the rest of the way.
* On Google Maps and some other maps, the name Kountoura does not appear and the village is marked as the neighboring localities of Gialos and Agia Kiriaki. However, Kountoura appears on road signs leading up to the village.
Here is a map** that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking.
Here is a map** that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (for alternate access to Viena Beach).
** Both maps assume you are heading west when you exit (coming from Heraklion or Chania, heading toward Kissamos).
This placemark pertains to Krios Beach and Viena Beach.

Grammeno Camping
This placemark pertains to Krios Beach and Viena Beach.

parking lot

Kountoura community center
(small two-story building with a prominent wheelchair ramp)

yellow church with red-tiled dome

dead end of gravel road

"swimming pool" referenced under the "i" placemark

route from Grammeno Camping to Krios Beach

hiking route from Krios Beach to Viena Beach

Paleochora & Gialiskari Beaches

Located toward the western end of the south coast of Crete, Paleochora is a village built on a peninsular protrusion of land that juts slightly southward. The main beach of the village, Paleochora Beach, is wedged against the west side of the peninsula, facing southwest. It is a broad, sandy beach that is roughly one kilometer long.
There are two places near at hand to Paleochora where nude bathing occurs. First, there is Paleochora Beach itself. Most of the beach is textile, but nudists gather toward the northwestern end of the beach. There is an unmarked gravel parking area just above the nude area, which makes it easy to access. During peak season, Paleochora Beach is lined with several clusters of sunchairs and umbrellas, and the sunchairs that are farthest northwest (which are typically set up next to the gravel parking area) are occupied by nudists. About 150 meters beyond the last of the sunchairs (to the right when facing the sea), there is a small taverna near the northwestern extreme of the beach. Nudity occurs in the area leading all the way up to the taverna and in the small rocky coves just beyond the taverna, but conventional attire is necessary to patronize the taverna, and it is best to be covered in the immediate vicinity of the taverna as well. In the years around the turn of the millennium, there were frequently "no nudism" signs posted along the beach, which nudist visitors tended to ignore. It seems the signs are no longer there, and local authorities may have given up on trying to ban nudity since it seems to be good for business. However, visitors are strongly urged to keep in mind the proximity of textiles. To prevent the kind of complaints that lead to "no nudity" signage in the first place, do not wander into the main textile area of the beach while naked.
The other place where nude bathers gather is farther away from the village. If you follow the paved road east out of Paleochora along the coast, before long you will get to the point where the paved road curves inland and begins to wind uphill toward Anidri, which is a village perched in the hills overlooking the sea. From near that curve, a gravel road continues east along the coastline. If you follow that gravel road a few kilometers to its end, you will reach a beach with two distinct parts and two names: Gialiskari Beach and Anidri Beach. However, while it would be convenient to have one name for each part of the beach, that does not seem to be the way it works. The name variants apply to both parts of the beach. The name at the turnoff from the main road calls the beach Gialiskari. As you get close to the beach, you will see a big sign that reads "Welkome to the Anydri Beach." Go figure.
The first part of Gialiskari Beach you will reach (i.e., the part farther west) is about 300 meters long and has a distinctive shape, with each end of the beach arcing seaward toward a cluster of rocks that forms the protruding center point of the beach. Just over a short stretch of rocks, the eastern part of Gialiskari Beach is about 250 meters long. The western part of Gialiskari, which is composed entirely of small pebbles, is lined with sunchairs and equipped with a small taverna, and all of the western part is textile. The eastern part of Gialiskari is comprised of a mix of sand and pebbles, and it too is lined with sunchairs and equipped with a small taverna. The sunchairs and umbrellas along the beach are typically divided into two clusters, and by custom the sunchairs on the western half of the beach are textile while those on the eastern half (i.e., farther to the left when facing the sea) are nudist. To summarize, nudists gather on the eastern half of the eastern of the two neighboring beaches that are collectively known both as Gialiskari Beach and Anidri Beach. Whew! Most visitors on the eastern half of the beach go nude, and nudists and textiles seem to coexist with no problems on their respective halves of the beach despite the fact that nudists are very clearly visible from the textile part of the beach. The beach is just too small to allow for a meaningful buffer zone between the clad and the unclad.
The E4 hiking trail is a long-distance trail that goes all the way across Crete from east to west, and a coastal segment of the trail passes through Gialiskari Beach. If you'd like to find a more isolated spot for nude bathing, just follow the trail east a bit beyond the beach and you will find a number of rocky coves. The trail cleaves close to the coastline for nearly 3 kilometers before it starts to go uphill and into the interior, so you are likely to tire of walking before you explore all the possibilities. The village of Anidri (referenced previously) is uphill from Gialiskari Beach, and there is also a hiking trail from the village to the beach that winds down through a ravine. It is a hike of about 2.5 kilometers with an elevation loss of about 200 meters. (If you've noticed in the preceding paragraphs some inconsistencies in the spelling of the place name that is Aνυδροι in Greek, consider this: the sign in Paleochora points toward Anydroi; the village sign indicates Anidri; the sign at the beach is Anydri. Ah, Greece!)
This placemark pertains to Paleochora Beach and Gialiskari Beach.

Paleochora Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Paleochora Beach and Gialiskari Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Paleochora, Chania, Crete, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Paleochora Beach and Gialiskari Beach.

Gialiskari Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Paleochora Beach and Gialiskari Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Paleochora / Anidri, Chania, Crete, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Paleochora Beach and Gialiskari Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eTWdQu
starting point  the Paleoochora/Tavronitis exit of National Road 90 near Tavronitis
The Paleoochora/Tavronitis exit is toward the far western end of NR-90, about 156 kilometers west of Heraklion and 20 kilometers west of Chania. The exit is very close to the north coast of the island. Your destination is the village of Paleochora, which is on the south coast of the island. You will be driving south-southwest through the mountainous interior of the island to get there. At all junctions, just watch for signs pointing to Paleochora and follow them. (Signage at the exit has the spelling Palaiochora, but most subsequent signs along the way have the spelling Paleochora.) About 50 kilometers from the exit, you will pass the blue-and-white Paleochora village sign. Just after the village sign, the road will begin to pass through a colonnade of eucalyptus trees.
After the village sign, continue about 400 meters and take note of the left-hand turnoff that is signed for Anydroi.
To go to Paleochora Beach:
Do NOT turn at the Anydroi sign. Continue about 300 meters into the village center to a junction where the road straight turns to brick. Turn right. Proceed 200 meters to a "T" junction, where you will see the sea straight ahead. Turn right, following the sign for Voutas and Kountoura. At that point, you will begin driving parallel to Paleochora Beach (which will be on your left-hand side), but you can continue past the main area of the beach and park near its northwest end to get closer to the nude area. Proceed 500 meters until you see a sign that indicates that Kountoura is straight ahead while the road to the right goes to Voutas and Sarakina. Just after that sign, turn left into a large gravel parking area that overlooks the sea, at coordinates 35.2348N, 23.6764E. The parking area is just above the far northwest end of Paleochora Beach, which is the nude area. (Facing the sea, the main area of Paleochora Beach, which you have driven past, will be to your left.)
To go to Gialiskari Beach:
Turn left at the Anydroi sign. Proceed about 100 meters to a stop sign at a "T" where you have to turn. Turn left. At that point, you will begin heading east, roughly parallel to the sea, but your view of the sea will be mostly obscured by buildings and trees. In just over one kilometer, you will reach a point where the road begins to run directly along the seafront (with the water on your right-hand side) for about 250 meters, then the road will curve sharply to the left, away from the sea. Just after the curve, veer right at the blue sign that points toward Gialiskari Beach. Just over 100 meters farther along, keep to the right at a three-way junction. The road will turn to gravel, and shortly you will begin driving along the seafront again (with the water still on your right-hand side). Continue about 2 kilometers and you will pass a large sign that reads "Welkome to the Anydri Beach." (Anydri Beach is just another name for Gialiskari Beach.)
Just after the sign, the road will fork, with the right fork going downhill to parking next to the western part of Gialiskari Beach, which will be prominently in view. Keep to the left instead. The road will veer slightly inland. At that point, you want to continue about 300 meters farther east to an earthen parking lot at the end of the road, at coordinates 35.2385N, 23.7207E. The road is a little confusing to follow since it forks several times, and the sequence of forks to follow is right, left, left. If you take a wrong turn, you will know quickly since all the roads dead end. You will know you have found the correct place because you will pass through a gateway with wooden gates (which should be open) as you enter the parking lot. The parking lot abuts the western end of the eastern part of Gialiskari Beach. Facing the sea, walk to the left about 100 meters to the nude area, which is the eastern half of the eastern part of the beach.
Here is a map* that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Paleochora).
Here is a map* that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Gialiskari).
* Both maps assume you are heading west when you exit (coming from Heraklion or Chania, heading toward Kissamos).
This placemark pertains to Paleochora Beach and Gialiskari Beach.

Paleochora village sign
This placemark pertains to Paleochora Beach and Gialiskari Beach.

western part of Gialiskari Beach (textile)
This is the western of the two parts of Gialiskari Beach (a.k.a. Anidri Beach), and it is entirely textile.
This placemark pertains to Gialiskari Beach.

This placemark pertains to Paleochora Beach.

This placemark pertains to Gialiskari Beach.

Kountoura/Voutas/Sarakina sign
sign that indicates that Kountoura is straight ahead while the road to the right goes to Voutas and Sarakina
This placemark pertains to Paleochora Beach.

small taverna at far northwestern end of beach
This placemark pertains to Paleochora Beach.

sign pointing to Gialiskari Beach
This placemark pertains to Gialiskari Beach.

"Welkome to the Anydri Beach" sign

roads through Paleochora

route to Gialiskari Beach

Sougia Beach

Sougia Beach
The small village of Sougia is located toward the far western end of Crete's southern coast. It is quite an isolated village that is something of a cul-de-sac. Sougia is accessed by a road the goes through the mountainous interior of the island, and you have to leave the village the same way since there are no roads that follow the coastline in either direction. The beach of Sougia stretches a little over one kilometer, and it is covered with pebbles. In some places, there are just thick layers of pebbles, and in other places there is gray sand mixed in. Making artwork out of the abundance of pebbles is a popular beach activity.
The main cluster of village buildings is approximately at the center point of the beach. Going east from there (to the left when facing the sea), there are several tavernas and small accommodations scattered in the wooded area behind the beach. After the last of those establishments, the beach continues about 250 meters farther, and that easternmost quarter of the beach is occupied by nude bathers. The beach is exceptionally easy to access. If you park in the informal area that is just past the tavernas, you will likely see naked bodies on the beach from your car. At the east end of Sougia Beach, you will see a rocky outcropping that forms the end of the continuous expanse of the beach. The outcropping extends approximately to the waterline, then there is a disconnected islet of rock that is just barely offshore. You are likely to see occasional climbers making their way to the top of the monolithic islet, and those climbers are often naked. Just beyond the outcropping and the islet, there is a hidden niche beach that is about 60 meters long, and it is also attended by nudists. Explore the outcropping and you will find a passage from one side to the other. If the tide is all the way out, you can get to the hidden beach on dry land, but most of the time you will have to wade a bit through very shallow water.
There are no sunchairs available in the nude area. The pebbles on the beach are so small that is easy to smooth out a spot to spread a towel, tossing aside the occasional larger rock. However, Sougia is not a great beach for bare feet. The pebbles can get very hot, and it can be a little uncomfortable to go into the water without water shoes. Despite these drawbacks, Sougia is quite popular. It is among the half dozen or so beaches in Crete that draw sizable crowds of nudists, with nude bathers tending to be a large majority in the nudist area.
GPS: 35.2484N, 23.8163E (east end of beach), 35.2477N, 23.8184E (hidden cove farther east)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Sougia, Chania, Crete, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2dU30ca
starting point  the Chania / Omalos exit of National Road 90 near Chania
There are three exits along NR-90 that are signed for Chania, and they are located within a span of 7 kilometers. The eastern exit is signed for Chania and Souda; the middle exit is signed for Chania and Mournies; and the western exit is signed for Chania and Omalos. Take the Chania/Omalos exit. The exit is close to the north coast of the island. Your destination is the village of Sougia, which is on the south coast of the island. You will be driving in a generally southwesterly direction through the mountainous interior of the island to get there. From the exit, follow signs toward Omalos to get started. Proceed 8.5 to 9 kilometers to a three-way junction where there are two stacks of blue signs that point toward various villages. Turn right, following the signs for Sougia and Skines. The sign indicates that it is 54 kilometers to Sougia. (From that point, you will no longer be heading toward Omalos, which is straight ahead. If you pass the Fournes village sign, you have missed the turnoff toward Sougia by 1.8 kilometers.)
Once you turn, the rest of the route to Sougia is well signposted and easy to follow. Proceed roughly 53 kilometers and you will pass a "Welcome to Sougia" sign, where the speed limit slows down to 30 kilometers per hour.
After the sign, continue 300-400 meters to a "T" next to Sougia Beach, where the sea will be straight ahead in full view. The nude area of the beach is the east end, about 500 meters to your left. Turn left at the "T" and you will be on a short seafront road which will quickly curve inland. Just after the curve, turn right onto a road that continues east along the beach. The road will quickly turn to gravel. In about 250 meters, after the road passes a cluster of several tavernas, it ends in an informal earthen parking area (at coordinates 35.2488N, 23.8151E) that abuts the nude area of the beach.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are going west when you exit (coming from Heraklion, heading toward Kissamos).
This placemark pertains to Sougia Beach.

hidden cove (nudist)
This hidden cove is just beyond the rocks at the end of the main beach.
This placemark pertains to Sougia Beach.

"Welcome to Sougia" sign
This placemark pertains to Sougia Beach.

monolithic islet of rock, barely offshore

roads through Sougia

Filaki & Sweetwater Beaches

Sfakia is a ruggedly mountainous region that is toward the western end of the south coast of Crete, and the principal village of this region is Chora Sfakion (also spelled Hora Skafion). In common parlance, Sfakia is also used to refer to the village, so one person may tell you to go to the village center of Chora Sfakion, another person may tell you to go to the village center of Hora Sfakion and yet another person may tell you to go to the village center of Sfakia, but all three people are telling you to go to the same place. There are two very popular nude beaches in the immediate vicinity of Hora Sfakion. Filaki Beach is on the east side of the village and Sweetwater Beach is on the west side.
Filaki Beach is a small pebble beach, about 150 meters long, that is maintained by the naturist Vritomartis Hotel. The hotel itself is just a bit inland, not quite one kilometer away from the beach. You will skirt the edge of the property en route to Filaki, and you may pass nude hotel guests walking back and forth to the beach. The beach is open to the public but attended primarily by Vritomartis patrons. The hotel has designated the beach for naturist use only, so swimwear is not allowed. Access is easy since parking is immediately next to the beach, and this is a rare location where you can leave all your clothes in your car. Also atypical of Greek nude beaches, there is no need to dress to patronize the small taverna. Sunchairs and umbrellas can be rented, and there are a few tiny coves east of the main beach (to the left when facing the water) that can be explored.
Sweetwater Beach is a complete contrast to Filaki in terms of ease of access. Dramatically nestled against the slope of a huge and nearly barren mountain that plunges precipitously toward the sea from a height of over 500 meters, the setting of Sweetwater is quite stunning. The E4 hiking trail, a long-distance trail that traverses the length of Crete, passes through the beach. There are four ways to access Sweetwater, all of which present limitations and/or challenges. First, you can drive as far as possible from Hora Sfakion and then go on foot the rest of the way, but that approach involves potential parking and hiking difficulties. You will have to leave your vehicle along the road shoulder at a hairpin curve, and space is quite limited. From there, you will follow a segment of the E4 trail (see the green line). While the hike is not particularly long (about a kilometer) or overly strenuous, parts of the trail are hair raising since there are some steep drop-offs. If you are especially prone to vertigo, this is probably not your trail. The second access possibility it to take the boat from Hora Sfakion, but you will be beholden to a particular schedule since the boat does not offer continuous or even frequent service. The boat ferries visitors to the beach late in the morning and picks them up late in the afternoon. That is it. If you want to take the boat, just drive into Hora Sfakion (which is quite small) and watch for signs for Sweetwater Beach. The latest information we have is that the boat departure is at 10:15 am and the return is at 5:30 pm, The third and fourth possibilities are to approach from Loutro, a tiny and isolated village west of Sweetwater, but approaching via Loutro is unlikely unless you happen to be staying there since the village is not accessible by road. To get to Loutro, you have to hike in or take a boat (from Hora Sfakion or one of a few other villages). From Loutro, you can take a boat to Sweetwater Beach, or you can hike east along the E4 trail about 2.8 kilometers. (The specific directions we outline omit the two Loutro approaches.)
About 350 meters long, Sweetwater Beach is mostly comprised of grayish-white pebbles, and it is lined with sunchairs and umbrellas that can be rented. At the far west end of the beach, there is a rather ramshackle-looking structure built over the water, connected to the beach by a short footbridge. That structure serves both as a small taverna and a boat dock. You will land there if you take the boat from Hora Sfakion or Loutro. Nude bathing is quite well established at Sweetwater. On crowded days, nudists tend to occupy the eastern half of the beach (to the left when facing the sea), while the western half (closer to the taverna) is all or mostly textile. On uncrowded days, nudists and textiles may mingle along the entire beach, but nudity should be avoided in the immediate vicinity of the taverna. As aforementioned, the E4 hiking trail passes through the beach, which is no big deal since the trail actually passes through a number of nude beaches.
Most signs refer to Sweetwater Beach by its English name. The Greek name of the beach, Glyka Nera, literally means "fresh water." It is so called because there are a number of pothole-sized freshwater springs on the beach. The spring water is potable—as long as you don't mind drinking after the friendly, docile goats that are commonly present at the beach. Keep in mind that using the springs as a wash basin is considered a serious breach of etiquette. If you want to avail yourself to water from the springs for rinsing off, fill a bottle from the springs then take it elsewhere.
This placemark pertains to Filaki Beach and Sweetwater Beach.

Filaki Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Filaki Beach and Sweetwater Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Chora Sfakion, Chania, Crete, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Filaki Beach and Sweetwater Beach.

Sweetwater Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Filaki Beach and Sweetwater Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Chora Sfakion, Chania, Crete, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Filaki Beach and Sweetwater Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eGUMWE
starting point  either of the two Vryses departures from National Road 90
The village of Vryses is located on the south side of NR-90, about 35 kilometers east of Chania and 108 kilometers west of Heraklion. There are two departures of NR-90 that go into the village, and they are about 3 kilometers apart. The more eastern of the departures is signed for Georgioupoli, Vryses and Vamos, and the departure is signposted for traffic going either direction on NR-90, but the signage is more conspicuous for westbound traffic (i.e., traffic heading toward Chania). The more western of the departures is signed for Vryses and Sfakia, and it is signposted only for eastbound traffic (i.e., traffic heading toward Heraklion). Vryses is located toward the north coast of Crete. Your destination is Chora Sfakion (also spelled Hora Skafion), which is the principal village of the Sfakia region on the south coast. To get there, you will be driving south through the mountainous interior of the island. Although the route is well signposted, the names on the signs are inconsistent, so be aware that signs for Sfakia and signs for Chora Sfakion lead to the same place. Whichever of the two Vryses departures you take, you will begin to see signs pointing toward Sfakia or Chora Sfakion as soon as you leave NR-90.
Once you depart NR-90, head south for 34 to 35 kilometers and take note when you pass the left-hand turnoff to Frangokastello, but do NOT turn there. By that point, you will be very close to the south coast, with the sea clearly in view, and a sign indicates that Chora Sfakion is 4 kilometers straight ahead. Continue another 1.6 kilometers and take note when you reach a tall brown sign that points left toward Vritomartis Hotel & Bungalows.
To go to Filaki Beach:
Turn left at the Vritomartis sign. In just under 100 meters, keep to the left when you reach the gate into Vritomartis Hotel. The road will then begin to run alongside the peripheral fence of the hotel (with the fence on you right-hand side). Just keep straight ahead on the road for a little over one kilometer until you reach the end of the road at a small asphalt parking lot, at coordinates 35.1942N, 24.1568E, that directly abuts Filaki Beach.
To go to Sweetwater Beach:
Do NOT turn at the Vritomartis sign. Keep straight ahead. In 1.7 kilometers you will reach a fork in Chora Skafion. Keep to the right, following the sign for Anopoli. (The left fork goes into the village center*.) 500-600 meters farther on you will pass the last building of Chora Skafion. At that point, the road will begin to run directly above the coastline (with the sea on your left-hand side) for about 800 meters, then for the next 500 meters the road will veer slightly into the interior as it curves through a narrow canyon called the Illingas Gorge. After the canyon, the road will begin to run above the coastline again. From that point, continue about 500 meters until the road makes a rightward hairpin curve. The footpath to Sweetwater Beach begins straight ahead from the curve, and the path is marked with a prominent blue sign with the name of the beach and the number of the trail, which is E4. There is room for perhaps a dozen cars to park alongside the road at the hairpin curve, around coordinates 35.2018N, 24.1176E.
The path to Sweetwater Beach is straightforward. You will be continuing west along the coastline, with the sea on your left-hand side. The first part of the hike is the most challenging for those prone to vertigo. There are steep drops and no handrails. However, it is a well-trodden trail and can be done safely if you take your time. All in all, the hike to the beach is just a kilometer, but the terrain makes it a slow walk. Plan on 30 minutes.
* If you want to go to Sweetwater Beach by boat rather than hiking in, go into the village center at the fork referenced above, then watch for signs for Sweetwater Beach. The village covers a very small area, so you can't get lost.
Here is a map** that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Filaki).
Here is a map** that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Sweetwater).
** Both maps assume that you start from the eastern of the two Vryses departures and that you are heading west when you exit (coming from Heraklion, heading toward Chania).
This placemark pertains to Filaki Beach and Sweetwater Beach.

brown sign pointing toward Vritomartis Hotel
This placemark pertains to Filaki Beach and Sweetwater Beach.

This placemark pertains to Filaki Beach.

roadside parking near hairpin curve
This placemark pertains to Sweetwater Beach.

Vritomartis Hotel entry gate
This placemark pertains to Filaki Beach.

taverna / boat dock
This placemark pertains to Sweetwater Beach.

Illigas Beach (textile)
This placemark pertains to Sweetwater Beach.

boat from Hora Sfakion to Sweetwater Beach
The boat from Hora Sfakion to Sweetwater Beach operates just once a day, taking visitors to the beach late in the morning and picking them up late in the afternoon. If you want to take the boat, just drive into Hora Sfakion (which is quite small) and watch for signs for Sweetwater Beach.

turnoff to Illigas Beach

segment of main road through Chora Sfakion

road to Filaki Beach

boat route

hiking route to Sweetwater Beach

Orthi Ammos Beach

Orthi Ammos Beach
On a remote segment of the south coast of Crete, Frangokastello is located in a coastal plain backed by impressive mountains. Not quite large or cohesive enough to be called a village, Frangokastello is more of a dispersed settlement, and its main landmark is a small, fortress-like castle that dates to the 14th century. Frangokastello literally means "Frankish castle," but the castle was actually built by the Venetians, not the Franks. Locals were apparently inclined to refer to all things foreign as Frankish regardless of actual origin. The castle, which is a popular tourist attraction, overlooks a sandy beach that is simply called Frangokastello Beach. Less than one kilometer away, the next beach to the east is Orthi Ammos Beach.
Orthi Ammos is an unusual beach comprised of very tall sand dunes that are wedged against a cliff, and the name of the beach means "standing sand." The dunes slope steeply toward the sea, with just a narrow ribbon of sand at sea level, particularly at high tide. The beach is about 750 meters long, and it is comprised of two distinct areas of bare dunes. Between those two areas, there is a short expanse where the dunes are less steep and lushly vegetated. That prominent patch of green is the de facto divider between the textile area of the beach (the west side) and the nude area of the beach (the east side). The east side of the beach is about 400 meters long, and there may be nudists scattered over the entire length on uncrowded days, and the beach typically does not get terribly crowded. However, when crowds are larger, nudists tend to gravitate toward the far east end of the beach. (The area shaded in red is where nudity consistently occurs, while the area shaded in pink is the area that may be nudist, textile or mixed, depending on the day and the size of the crowd.)
There are no sunchairs along any part of the beach, but there are three tavernas located just above the beach atop the cliff (i.e., above the level of the top of the dunes). Sunrise Taverna is located just beyond the far western end of the beach, Fata Morgana Taverna is located above the western (textile) side of the beach and Ammos Taverna (which also has rooms to rent) is located above the eastern (nude) side of the beach. There are beach accesses near each taverna. For the quickest access to the nude end of the beach, just park in front of Ammos Taverna, next to which you will find a zig-zagging dirt path that takes you approximately to the middle of the zone of potential nude use. If only textiles are about, turn to the left as you face the sea and go to the far east end of the beach.
village, regional unit, island, country:  Frangokastello, Chania, Crete, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2dPscAs
starting point  the Rethymno / Spili exit of National Road 90 near Rethymno
Rethymno is a major town on the north coast that is about 80 kilometers west of Heraklion and 64 kilometers east of Chania. There are three exits along NR-90 that are signed for Rethymno, and they are located within a span of 6 kilometers. The Rethymno / Spili exit is the middle of the three. (The eastern exit is signed for Rethymno, Amari, Perivolia and Misiria, and the western exit is signed for Rethymno and Atsipopoulo.) From the exit, follow signs that point toward Spili, Tympaki and Agia Galini to get started (but you aren't going all the way to any of those places). Proceed south for just under 16 kilometers, then veer right at the sign for Sellia, Rodakino and Hora Sfakion.
Proceed west 8.4 kilometers and keep straight ahead through an unusual four-way intersection that is just past the tiny village of Agios Ioannis. (You want to follow the sign that points toward Plakias, NOT the one for Kanevos, which appears only in Greek as Κανεβος.) Continue south 1.8 kilometers and keep to the right at a fork, following the signs for Sfakia, Rodakino and Sellia. (The other fork continues to Plakias.)
Continue west about 2 kilometers to the village of Sellia, then follow signs for Rodakino to navigate your way through the village. After Sellia, continue west 9 to 10 kilometers to Rodakino, then continue another 8 to 9 kilometers past Rodakino to the tiny village of Skaloti. Take note when you pass the blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving Skaloti. From that point, continue west another 1.8 kilometers to a fork. Bear left, following the sign for Frangokastello. (The right fork is signed for Hora Sfakion.)
From the fork, continue west 1.2 kilometers and turn left onto the first paved road, where there are signs pointing toward Villas Notos and Argilos Apartments. (The turnoff is located at the point where utility poles begin to run along both sides of the main road, and the turnoff is opposite a gravel road that would require a sharp right turn.)
Follow the paved road 250-300 meters to its end at a "T" with a gravel road. At that point, you will be directly above the east end of Orthi Ammos Beach, and Argilos Taverna and Argilos Apartments will be on your right at the corner of the "T." There is informal parking in pullouts along the gravel road, around coordinates 35.1837N, 24.2491E. Directly across the gravel road from Argilos Apartments, there is a zig-zagging dirt path shored up with rocks that descends directly to the nude area of the beach.
Alternate approach:
The directions above lead directly to the nude area of the beach. To get a better feel for the entire beach, follow the directions above, but keep straight ahead past the turnoff signed for Villas Notos and Argilos Apartments. About 500 meters farther on, take note of the left-hand turnoff into Fata Morgana Studios & Apartments, but keep straight ahead. 200 meters farther on, turn left at the sign for Sunrise Taverna. Proceed 150 meters and you will reach a "T" with the gravel road that runs above the beach, and Sunrise Taverna will be more or less straight ahead of you on the opposite side of the gravel road. Turn left. You will begin driving on the gravel road such that the sea is on your right-hand side. In 250 meters, you will pass Fata Morgana Taverna (on your right), which is perched above the main textile area of the beach. (There are several paths that go down from the road to the beach.) Keep driving another 400-500 meters until you see Argilos Apartments on the left (inland) side of the road. The path to the nude area of the beach is opposite the apartments.
Note 1: Frangokastello is named after a medieval castle. In the alternate approach above, see the reference to the turnoff to Sunrise Taverna. Instead of turning, keep straight ahead (west) another 600 meters and you will pass the fortresslike stone castle, which is on the left (sea) side of the road.
Note 2: Signage in the area is inconsistent. Some signs spell the locality as Frangokastello and others as Fragkokastello.
Note 3: It may fit your itinerary better to follow a different route to Orthi Ammos Beach from the one described above. Refer to the separate collective listing for Filaki Beach and Sweetwater Beach. In the driving directions for that listing, there is a reference to a turnoff for Frangokastello. Turn there, proceed east 8 kilometers, then turn right at another sign for Frangokastello just after you pass an Eko gas station. Continue another 3.3 kilometers and you will pass Frangokastello (i.e., the actual castle), which will be on the right (sea) side of the road. From that point, it is 600 meters to the right-hand turnoff to Sunrise Taverna, or keep straight ahead another 700-800 meters to the right-hand turnoff to Villas Notos and Argilos Apartments.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are heading west when you exit (coming from Heraklion, heading toward Chania).
This placemark pertains to Orthi Ammos Beach.

road fork west of Skaloti
This placemark pertains to Orthi Ammos Beach.

parking along street
This placemark pertains to Orthi Ammos Beach.

vegetation between textile & nude areas
This patch of vegetation is an informal divider between the nude and textile parts of the beach.

Paradisos Apartments

Fata Morgana Taverna

Sunrise Taverna

textile area

Frangokastello (medieval Venetian castle)

Argilos Taverna

Argilos Apartments

Villas Notos

turnoff into Fata Morgana Studios & Apartments

route from road fork to beach

alternate route

nude area

potential / sometimes nude area

Gavdos Beaches

Located about 37 kilometers south of Crete, Gavdos is a small island that is administratively part of Crete. It is the southernmost island of Greece, and it contains what is generally regarded as the southernmost point in Europe (a superlative that applies only when Cyprus and the Atlantic islands of Spain and Portugal are not considered part of Europe). Gavdos is about 100 kilometers closer to Libya (which is about 250 kilometers south of the island) than it is to Athens (about 350 kilometers north). The island covers about 27 square kilometers, spanning at most 10 kilometers from one extreme to the other.
The history of Gavdos is not particularly well documented, but the island seems to have achieved the zenith of its historical significance circa 900 A.D., when it was home to at least several thousand residents (and possibly as many as 8,000). One thousand years later, circa 1900, only 400 or so people resided on Gavdos. In the latter part of the 20th century, an influx of hippies began to seasonally colonize Gavdos as the permanent population continued to dwindle, with most natives migrating to the mainland of Crete. Today, the permanent population is just 50 or so people, but the temporary population can swell to several thousand during July and August. For several decades, the island has been better known for its counterculture than for its traditional culture. In the 1960's and 70's, a dreadlocked ganja vibe resonated in several locations in Crete. While the hippie ethos has dissipated substantially on the mainland of Crete, it continues to thrive in Gavdos. There have been some modest infrastructure improvements in Gavdos since the turn of the millennium, with a few paved roads and a more reliable electric supply, but the island has yet to be gentrified, and nude bathing remains an intrinsic part of the modern counterculture of the island. Nudity occurs on just about all the island's beaches.
The only way to get to Gavdos is by boat. To get there, you will first need to get to Crete, where, whether you arrive by air or by sea, the two major ports of entry are Heraklion and Chania on the north coast of the island. Once you make it to Crete, you will need to get to either Sfakia, Paleochora or Sougia, which are all villages that are toward the west end of the south coast of Crete. There is bus service to all three villages. There are two ferry routes to Gavdos. One of the ferries leaves from Sfakia, and during peak season (July through early September) it goes directly to Gavdos three times a week, while at other times it first makes stops in Loutro and Agia Roumeli. The other ferry leaves from Paleochora and stops at Sougia and Agia Roumeli before going to Gavdos, and it operates twice a week most of the year. You can take a vehicle (whether you leave from Sfakia, Paleochora or Sougia), but you need to reserve space in advance. See the ferry operator website for the schedule and prices. (Notes: Sfakia is also known as Chora Skafion or Hora Sfakion. Both Agia Roumeli and Loutro are isolated Cretan villages that can only be reached by foot or by sea. Since you cannot drive or take a bus to either village, they are unlikely starting points for reaching Gavdos.) Be advised that day tripping to Gavdos is not feasible since there is insufficient lag time between arriving and departing ferries. Furthermore, strong winds and choppy seas result in a higher-than-normal rate of ferry cancellations and delays, so prepare for such possibilities. For example, plan to return from Gavdos to Crete at least several days before you need to depart Crete.
Once you get to Gavdos, there is the matter of getting around and where to stay. As previously mentioned, it is possible to bring a vehicle by ferry, but you should check with the rental car company since some require additional paperwork for taking a car to Gavdos. There are also vehicles that can be rented on the island, but these tend to be decrepit cars. You will not find a well-known agency with a modern fleet. Most visitors just get around on foot and by a mini-bus that makes a regular circuit to a handful of locations throughout the island. As for where to stay, be advised that there are far more visitors than beds on the island, at least during summer. The majority of visitors bring tents and other supplies and camp on the beach (which is free). While there are no hotels per se, there are rooms to rent, mostly attached to tavernas. If you do not intend to camp, arrange your accommodations in advance. Two jumping-off points for finding a place to stay are Gavdos-Online.com and this extensive personal website. If you intend to camp, see the "Advice" section of Gavdos-Online.com for a checklist of things to bring and information on where to go for drinking water and basin water for showering.
Gavdos has an unusual shape that is often described as a triangle (very roughly), but is seems more appropriate to describe it as an irregular pentagon with five coastal segments. Going counterclockwise starting from the part of the island where the ferry lands, those segments (roughly) are east, north, northwest, southwest and south. By road, you can get to parts of the east and north coasts. Here is a rundown of the coastal segments in a nutshell: The east coast has one easily accessible beach, but it is not a draw for nudists. The north coast has three beaches, all of which are highly frequented by nudists. The northwest coast has two beaches which are lightly attended because they are quite remote, but nudity is the norm among those who manage to get to those two beaches. The southwest coast, which stretches about 9 kilometers, is the longest of the coastal segments, but it has no beaches apart from a few minor pockets that are reachable only by boat. The entire coastline is a long cliff that plunges dramatically into the sea. The south coast is the shortest coastal segment, and it has one beach where nudity, while well established, does not occur with the nearly the frequency as at the north-coast beaches.
Ferries to Gavdos land at Karave, a small port that is toward the north end of the east coast. From there, it is about 2 kilometers to Sarakiniko Beach, which is around a bend of the coastline, toward the east end of the north coast. You can take the mini-bus, or it takes about half an hour to walk there from the port. Sarakiniko is sheltered in a small bay, and the settlement along the beach is essentially the tourist village of the island. There are about half a dozen tavernas, a number of rooms to rent (the most of any place on the island) and a grocery shop. You will also need to go to Sarakiniko if you want to check into renting transportation. The beach itself is about 600-700 meters long and thickly coated in golden sand. Nudists and textiles intermingle along the beach. Nudity most often occurs toward each end of the beach, a discreet distance from the tavernas that are closest to the water, but nudity patterns vary depending on how crowded the beach is. Camping also occurs along the beach.
Going west from Sarakiniko, the next beach is Agios Ioannis Beach, about 2.5 kilometers from Sarakiniko as the crow flies. It takes about an hour if you walk all the way from Sarakiniko, but there is a road that goes most of the distance, so you can reduce the walking time to about 10 minutes if you drive or take the mini-bus to the end of the road, where there is a small settlement consisting of a taverna or two, a mini-market and a few rooms to rent. From the end of the road, it is a trek of about 500 meters to Agios Ioannis (which often get contracted to Agiannis). About 400 meters long, Agios Ioannis is an extremely beautiful beach backed by low, rugged brown mountains, with huge sand dunes covered with cedar trees gently sloping from the mountains to the sea. As the heart of the counterculture of Gavdos, Agios Ioannis is the beach where you will find the most campers and the most nudists of any beach on the island, with nudists typically greatly outnumbering textiles.
Continuing west from Agios Ioannis, the next beach is a bit less than one kilometer away. That beach is Lavrakas Beach, and it takes about 30 minutes and a bit of effort to hike there from Agios Ioannis, but no one will bat an eye if you do the hike naked. You can make your way along the coastline, but you may find it necessary to trudge through the water for a bit, or you can climb uphill from Agios Ioannis and make your way west a bit inland from the coast. The landscape of Lavrakas is similar to that of Agios Ioannis, but it is less than half the length of Agios Ioannis and not quite as visually striking as its larger neighbor. It is far less attended than Agios Ioannis since it is less accessible, but just about everyone who treks there goes naked. There is some camping on the beach, but considerably less than at Agios Ioannis and Sarakiniko considering the challenge of hauling camping gear all the way to Lavrakas. There are more campers at Lavrakas in August when Agios Ioannis and Sarakiniko are the most crowded.
Lavrakas, the westernmost of the north-facing beaches of Gavdos, is near the point where the coastline bends. Take a shortcut through the interior and in about 600 meters you will reach Pyrgos Beach, which is located in a bay that is toward the north end of the northwest-facing segment of coastline. Pyrgos consists of two small side-by-side beaches, each of which is about 60 meters long, back by low cliffs. The two beaches are separated by a slight outcropping. The cliffs pose a bit of an access challenge, but if you have what it takes to hike to the beach, you can probably manage to scramble down. The beach rarely has campers and is frequently deserted. There is a good chance that anyone present on the beach will be naked.
If you are facing the sea at Pyrgos, look to your left. A bit past the end of the beach, atop the coastal cliffs, you will see a distinct hilly landform. If you hike to the other side of the hill, you will see Potamos Beach, a northwest-facing beach that has the most breathtaking scenery of any beach on the island. Potamos, about 600 meters long, consists of two expanses of sand with a rocky patch in the middle, and it is backed by a complex network of badlands. The landscape appears to have been plucked out of the American West, except of course the blue-green sea. The beach is stunning, but it is lightly attended and often deserted due to its remoteness. Nudity is the norm. If you hike around the coastline through Agios Ioannis. Lavrakas and Pyrgos, you might as well continue a bit farther for the views of Potamos from its northeast end. However, to actually get down to beach level, the best way by far is to take an altogether different route that takes you to the southwest end of the beach. Your starting point should be the nearly abandoned settlement of Ampelos, which is toward the western extreme of the island, near the corner where the northwest coast meets the southwest coast. Ampelos is a driving distance of 8 to 9 kilometers from either the ferry port or Sarakiniko. (There are signs pointing the way.) If you do not have your own transportation, you can inquire at the port or in Sarakiniko about arranging a ride there. Once you get to Ampelos, the road gets rougher and morphs into a track as it begins to go downhill. The total hike from Ampelos to Potamos is about 2.2 kilometers, with an elevation loss of roughly 300 meters, and there are wooden handrails to assist with the steep final descent. The trail can be a bit confusing, so it helps to study the map carefully and use a GPS, making a list of waypoint coordinates.
The five beaches described thus far are the beaches where nudity is most common. There are a few more beaches to mention, though. Korfos Beach is an east-facing beach that is south of the ferry port, 3.4 kilometers by car from the ferry port. The mini-bus goes there regularly. The main expanse of Korfos, about 200 meters long, consists of sand mixed with pebbles, and that part of the beach is overlooked by a few tavernas with rooms to rent. There is also a narrower northern extension of the beach that adds about 100 more meters, and it is mostly pebble. Nudity is not out of the question at Korfos, particularly on the more hidden northern part of the beach, but it is not a beach where nudity occurs regularly. We are going to err on the side of caution and call it a textile beach. Korfos is the starting point for the long hike to Tripiti Beach, which is the southernmost beach of Gavdos, along the short south-facing coastal segment. The path is well signed, and the hiking distance is 4 kilometers. Aside from a little uphill and downhill, it is not a challenging hike, and it takes 60 to 90 minutes. The main expanse of Tripiti Beach is a little less than 200 meters long, backed by a salt pond that dries up during warmer months. The beach has lots of pebbles mixed with sand. Some nude bathing occurs at Tripiti, although not nearly as much as at the north coast beaches. Furthermore, although the setting is quite beautiful, the beach itself it not as nice as the north coast beaches. However, most visitors trek to Tripiti not to go to the beach but to go to the headland that is the best-known natural landmark of Gavdos. If you are standing on the main part of Tripiti, facing the sea with the salt pond to your back, look to your right. A narrower pebbly extension of the beach leads about 250 meters to a rocky headland that juts prominently into the sea, and that headland contains a trio of arches—that is, sea tunnels in the headland through which you can swim. The tip of the headland is the southernmost point of Europe. It is easy to clamber up to the flat top of the headland. Walk out toward the tip, where you will find a wooden chair that looks out over the sea toward Libya. If you see a photo of the chair with no people around for perspective, it looks perfectly ordinary. A photographic memento of the landmark can be appropriately appreciated only when someone climbs onto the chair, suddenly becoming Lily Tomlin as Edith Ann. The headland is the point where the short south coast meets the long southwest coast, which is one long cliff.
The seven beaches named above are the main island beaches, but there are a few more beaches tucked away here are there that are difficult to access except by boat. You may wish to inquire at Sarakiniko or the port about the possibility of arranging a day trip by boat to Potamos or one of the other more remote locations of the island. While no boats are available to rent, a local may be able to ferry you to a particular location and pick you up at an arranged time.
As alluded to previously, a trip to Gavdos requires a bit of logistical planning due to the limited connectedness of the island to the outside world. Spend some time perusing the websites referenced above and doing a bit more research to determine whether or not it is feasible to incorporate a visit to Gavdos within your visit to Crete. Furthermore, remember that Gavdos is an island with lots of nudist opportunities, but it is not a nudist island throughout. Nudity is acceptable on the beaches and along many of the hiking trails (particularly in the north and west of the island). However, appropriate attire is expected at the port, along the roads, in the tavernas and in the scattered tiny villages and hamlets of the interior of the island.
This placemark pertains to Sarakiniko Beach, Agios Ioannis Beach, Lavrakas Beach, Pyrgos Beach, Potamos Beach and Tripiti Beach.

Sarakiniko Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Sarakiniko Beach, Agios Ioannis Beach, Lavrakas Beach, Pyrgos Beach, Potamos Beach and Tripiti Beach.)
satellite island, regional unit, island, country:  Gavdos, Chania, Crete, Greece
There are 11 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Sarakiniko Beach, Agios Ioannis Beach, Lavrakas Beach, Pyrgos Beach, Potamos Beach and Tripiti Beach.

Agios Ioannis Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Sarakiniko Beach, Agios Ioannis Beach, Lavrakas Beach, Pyrgos Beach, Potamos Beach and Tripiti Beach.)
satellite island, regional unit, island, country:  Gavdos, Chania, Crete, Greece
There are 11 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Sarakiniko Beach, Agios Ioannis Beach, Lavrakas Beach, Pyrgos Beach, Potamos Beach and Tripiti Beach.

Lavrakas Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Sarakiniko Beach, Agios Ioannis Beach, Lavrakas Beach, Pyrgos Beach, Potamos Beach and Tripiti Beach.)
satellite island, regional unit, island, country:  Gavdos, Chania, Crete, Greece
There are 11 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Sarakiniko Beach, Agios Ioannis Beach, Lavrakas Beach, Pyrgos Beach, Potamos Beach and Tripiti Beach.

Pyrgos Beach

Potamos Beach

Tripiti Beach

Korfos Beach (de facto textile)
Nudity is not explicitly prohibited at this beach, but it is not known to draw nudists on a regular basis.
This placemark pertains to Sarakiniko Beach, Agios Ioannis Beach, Lavrakas Beach, Pyrgos Beach, Potamos Beach and Tripiti Beach.

ferry port at Karave
This placemark pertains to Sarakiniko Beach, Agios Ioannis Beach, Lavrakas Beach, Pyrgos Beach, Potamos Beach and Tripiti Beach.

oversized wooden chair at southernmost point of island
This headland is the southernmost point in Europe. The location is marked with an oversized wooden chair.

lighthouse near Ampelos

road

trail

South Coast—Rethymno

Micro Amoudi, Plakias & Souda Beaches

Plakias is a resort village on the south coast of Crete, and it is more or less directly south of Rethymno, a major town on the north coast. There are three established areas for nude bathing near at hand to Plakias, all located within a span of about 6 kilometers. First, there is Plakias Beach itself, which is a broad and sandy beach that stretches about 1.2 kilometers along a segment of the coastline that mostly faces west. The heart of the village of Plakias is next to the northwest end of the beach, while nude bathing occurs on the far southeast end. The last grouping of lounge chairs and umbrellas on the beach is located in the nude area, which is dramatically situated next to the sheer rock wall of the headland at the end of the beach. Despite the overall size of the beach, don't plan on taking a long naked stroll. Nudity occurs only at the last grouping of umbrellas—a stretch of about 100 meters. The nude part of the beach is within reasonable walking distance of anywhere in Plakias, and it is possible to park within 200 meters. The nude area is often the most crowded part of the beach. From the nude area, it is a very short stroll toward the village center to the nearest snack stand and tavernas.
Just a bit east of Plakias, on the other side of the aforementioned headland, there are two small textile beaches called Damnoni Beach and Amoudi Beach, and each can be accessed via a paved road. Damnoni and Amoudi are directly connected to one another by a short dirt road (about 400 meters long) that follows the coastline, and Micro Amoudi Beach is a sandy cove hidden amid the rocky and picturesque terrain of that short stretch of coastline. Micro Amoudi is a pocket beach that is about 50 meters across and 40 meters deep, and it is covered with several rows of sun chairs and thatched umbrellas along with a snack stand. The beach is very popular with nudists and can be crowded due to limited space. Although some textiles visit the beach, Micro Amoudi is a beach where nudists are almost always in the majority and often comprise 75% or more of the crowd. This is the place in Crete where you are likely to find the largest concentration of nude bodies on the smallest patch of earth. Just southeast of Micro Amoudi on the other side of a rocky mass, there is an even tinier pocket beach, about 15 meters across, that is likewise visited by nudists. Micro Amoudi and the tiny neighboring beach are easily accessible since there is an informal dirt parking area just steps away. Micro Amoudi is also known by the name Amoudaki, which is a variant diminutive form of Amoudi. A few sources ascribe the name Klisidi to the tiny beach next to Micro Amoudi, but that name is not at all well known.
While Micro Amoudi Beach is on the east side of Plakias, Souda Beach is on the west side of the village, less than 3 kilometers from the village center. Souda Beach is a sandy beach that stretches 400-500 meters, and there are a couple of tavernas abutting the west end. Most of the beach is textile, but nudists congregate on the east end of the beach. There are typically three clusters of sunchairs and umbrellas, with nudists occupying the cluster that is farthest to the left as you face the sea. While the east end of Souda is reliably nudist, it typically does not draw the same concentration of nudists as either Plakias Beach or Micro Amoudi Beach.
This placemark pertains to Micro Amoudi Beach, Plakias Beach and Souda Beach.

Micro Amoudi Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Micro Amoudi Beach, Plakias Beach and Souda Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Damnoni, Rethymno, Crete, Greece
There are 19 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Micro Amoudi Beach, Plakias Beach and Souda Beach.

Plakias Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Micro Amoudi Beach, Plakias Beach and Souda Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Plakias, Rethymno, Crete, Greece
There are 19 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Micro Amoudi Beach, Plakias Beach and Souda Beach.

Souda Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Micro Amoudi Beach, Plakias Beach and Souda Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Souda, Rethymno, Crete, Greece
There are 19 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Micro Amoudi Beach, Plakias Beach and Souda Beach.

tiny cove (nudist)
This ultra-tiny cove, which is sometimes called Micro Amoudi II, is immediately east of Micro Amoudi and is likewise visited by nudists, but there is not room for many people since the beach is just 15 meters across.
This placemark pertains to Micro Amoudi Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eY5wiJ
starting point  the Rethymno / Spili exit of National Road 90 near Rethymno
Rethymno is a major town on the north coast that is about 80 kilometers west of Heraklion and 64 kilometers east of Chania. There are three exits along NR-90 that are signed for Rethymno, and they are located within a span of 6 kilometers. The Rethymno / Spili exit is the middle of the three. (The eastern exit is signed for Rethymno, Amari, Perivolia and Misiria, and the western exit is signed for Rethymno and Atsipopoulo.) From the exit, follow signs that point toward Spili, Tympaki and Agia Galini to get started (but you aren't going all the way to any of those places). Proceed south for just over 17 kilometers, then turn right at the signs for Plakias, Asomatos, Koxare and the Preveli Monastery.
Proceed west about 7 kilometers to Asomatos. At the far end of the small village, you will reach a fork at the sign that indicates you are leaving the village. Keep to the left, following the signs for Plakias, Preveli and Lefkogeia. (The right fork is signed for Rodakino and Mariou.) Continue south and west 5 kilometers (passing through Lefkogeia) and take note when you reach the left-hand turnoff that is signed for Damnoni.
To go to Micro Amoudi Beach:
Turn left at the sign for Damnoni. Follow the road south about 800 meters to Damnoni Beach, where the road will curve sharply to the left and begin to run eastward along the beach (with the sea on your right-hand side). Continue about 400 meters to a "T" that is just past the end of the beach. Turn right. Follow the gravel road about 250 meters and you will reach an informal earthen parking area next to Micro Amoudi, at coordinates 35.1722N, 24.4195E.
To go to Plakias Beach and Souda Beach:
Do NOT turn toward Damnoni. Keep straight ahead another 800-900 meters to a fork. Keep to the left, following the Plakias sign. (The other fork is signed for Myrthios.) Continue just under 200 meters to the next possible left-hand turnoff.
Turn left to go to Plakias Beach*. Upon turning, you will see that there are actually two roads that leave from the same point. Follow the road that is farther to the right, which has signs pointing to Plakias Resort and Plakias Suites. Follow the road 600 meters to a "T" with the seafront road that runs along Plakias Beach. (At that point, you will be next to Plakias Resort, which will be on your right-hand side.) Turn left onto the seafront road. The road runs along the beach about 300 meters before veering slightly inland and dead ending at Plakia Bay Hotel. There is parking all along the road. Park alongside the road near its end, around coordinates 35.1821N, 24.4014E. When you walk out to the beach, you should be at or very close to the nude area at the far south end of the beach (to the left when facing the sea).
To continue toward Souda Beach, keep straight ahead rather than turning as described in the previous paragraph. In about one kilometer, you will reach a "T" with the Plakias seafront road next to Alianthos Beach Hotel. Turn right*. At that point, you will begin driving northwest through the busy commercialized part of Plakias, with the beach and the sea on your left-hand side, and you will be following the coastline for the rest of your drive. Continue 2.3 kilometers and take note when you pass a road that is signed for Sellia, which veers off to the right and goes uphill, but keep straight ahead, staying on the road that follows the coastline. Continue another 600-700 meters and watch carefully for a sign for Villa Alikes, which is on the right (inland) side of the road just past Souda Mare Hotel. Opposite Villa Alikes, take note of a parking pullout that overlooks the sea and can hold about a dozen cars. Keep going and in less than 50 meters you will reach another pullout on the left that is somewhat smaller. Park there, at coordinates 35.1920N, 24.3684E. Facing the sea, look to your right. At the end of the pullout there are steps that go down through the trees and lead directly to the nude area of Souda Beach. It is a short walk down a few dozen steps. If the parking pullout is full, there is room for parking alongside the road just a bit farther along.
The road continues to run above the beach, and the nude area is partially hidden from the road by a narrow band of trees and brush. If you prefer to enter the beach from its main area, just keep driving several hundred meters until the main road curves sharply rightward and begins to go inland. Keep straight ahead at that curve and the road will end next to two tavernas, and you can park there. The two tavernas overlook the west end of Souda Beach. Facing the sea, turn left and walk east about 300 meters to the nude area.
* The turnoff described for Plakias Beach is a shortcut to the nude area of the beach. Assume instead that you keep going to the "T" next to Alianthos Beach Hotel. Instead of turning right to continue toward Souda Beach, turn left. You will then begin driving south along Plakias Beach, with the sea on your right-hand side. In about 700 meters you will pass Plakias Resort, and shortly beyond that you will reach the nude area of Plakias Beach.
Here is a map** that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Micro Amoudi).
Here is a map** that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Plakias).
Here is a map** that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Souda).
** All maps assume you are heading west when you exit (coming from Heraklion, heading toward Chania).
This placemark pertains to Micro Amoudi Beach, Plakias Beach and Souda Beach.

Damnoni turnoff
This placemark pertains to Micro Amoudi Beach, Plakias Beach and Souda Beach.

This placemark pertains to Micro Amoudi Beach.

This placemark pertains to Plakias Beach.

small parking pullout
This placemark pertains to Souda Beach.

Amoudi Beach (textile)
This placemark pertains to Micro Amoudi Beach.

Damnoni Beach (textile)

Plakias Bay Hotel
This placemark pertains to Plakias Beach.

Plakias Resort
This placemark pertains to Plakias Beach.

road signed for Sellia that veers uphill away from the coastal road
This placemark pertains to Souda Beach.

Villa Alikes
This placemark pertains to Souda Beach.

two neighboring tavernas at west end of Souda Beach

Alianthos Beach Hotel
This placemark pertains to Plakias Beach and Souda Beach.

Souda Mara Hotel

segment of main road through Plakias

road through Damnoni

shortcut road to nude end of Plakias Beach

short path

Agios Pavlos Sandhills Beach

Agios Pavlos Sandhills Beach
Agios Pavlos is a small and rather remote settlement on the south coast of Crete, about 34 kilometers (by car) west of Tympaki, the nearest significant town. Agios Pavlos is located at a bend of the coastline, and there are two beaches associated with it, one facing south and the other facing west. The south-facing main beach is generally just called Agios Pavlos Beach, and it is a small beach nestled in a small bay. The smattering of buildings of Agios Pavlos, which includes a few tavernas and small hotels, overlooks the south-facing beach, so it is entirely textile. At a right angle to the main beach, the west-facing beach of Agios Pavlos is backed by a long, tall and steep slope of sand. For that reason, the beach is usually called something like Agios Pavlos Sandhills or Agios Pavlos Dunes to distinguish it from the main beach.
The sandhills beach stretches about one kilometer, and a rocky outcropping divides it into two distinct areas. The part of the beach south of the outcropping is about 200 meters long, and it is typically lined with a small cluster of sunchairs and umbrellas but no other amenities. The part of the beach north of the outcropping has no amenities at all and is about 700-800 meters long. The main way to access the beach is to park along a dirt road that runs atop the crest of the sandhill above the southern part of the beach. The slope of the sandhill at the southern end of the beach is gentle enough that it is a manageable climb for those who are reasonably fit, but those with mobility issues will find it challenging. There are often boards placed over the steepest parts of the sandhill to form a makeshift walkway to assist with the climb. While the entirety of the sandhills beach is usually said to be nudist, the southern segment of the beach where the sunchairs are located tends to have a textile majority, and on peak usage days it can be entirely textile. Nude bathers tend to gravitate to the larger northern segment of the sandhills beach, and there are some additional access challenges since the slope of the sandhills along the northern segment is much steeper. When the tide is all the way out, it is easy to get from one segment of the beach to the other. Most of the time, it will be necessary to step into the water to skirt around the rocks. Climbing up the sand and over the rocks is an option only for the very fit and agile. An additional access option is to approach the sandhills beach from its far north end, which involves more walking but over much easier terrain. (See the alternate approach in the driving directions.)
The northern segment of the sandhills beach is never crowded and mostly attended by nudists, and out of peak season it is often deserted. Come prepared with food and drink. The amenities of the main Agios Pavlos Beach are just a few hundred meters away as the crow flies, but the terrain makes getting to those amenities challenging and tiring.
GPS: 35.1027N, 24.5606E (main southern section of beach), 35.1058N, 24.5596E (more remote northern section)
settlement, regional unit, island, country:  Agios Pavlos, Rethymno, Crete, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fdk8i2
starting point  the Mires exit of National Road 90 in Heraklion
There are about half a dozen exit interchanges of NR-90 in and around Heraklion. The Mires exit is toward the west end of the city. (The exits for the airport and the ferry port are toward the east end of the city. The Mires exit is 4 kilometers west of the Knossos exit, which is the exit that goes to the Minoan palace that is Crete's top tourist attraction.) For westbound traffic (i.e., traffic heading toward Chania), there are two exits that are part of the same interchange, so be sure to take the one the is signed for Mires and not the one that is signed for Heraklion. For eastbound traffic (i.e., traffic heading toward Agios Nikolaos), there is just one exit that is signed both for Mires and Heraklion (Note that there may be variant spellings of place names on signs. Mires is the same as Moires, and Heraklion in the same as Irakleio.) Upon exiting, follow signs for Mires and Tympaki.
From the exit interchange, head south-southwest about 45 to kilometers to Mires, an interior town that is located toward the south coast of Crete. By the time you reach Mires, you will be going west. (The road temporarily splits into a one-way street system as it passes through the dense town center.) Once you pass through Mires, continue west about 10 kilometers and you will pass through Tympaki, a town that is closer to the coast. Keep straight ahead through Tympaki, which sprawls for a few kilometers. On the western outskirts of Tympaki, take note when you pass Giatrakis Interior Design, a prominently signed business (with signage in English) in a boxy two-story building that is on the right side of the road. Just after Giatrakis, veer right onto a road that has a very inconspicuous, easy-to-miss sign pointing toward Agia Galina. (The road straight ahead continues to Kokkinos Pyrgos, which is more prominently signed.) From that point, continue another 10.3 kilometers, almost but not quite all the way to Agia Galina, then turn right at a sign for Rethymno and Spili.
Once you turn toward Rethymno and Spili, continue northwest another 9.5 kilometers, then turn left at signs for Melampes, Agios Pavlos and Saktouria. Follow the twisty road uphill for 1.2 kilometers, then make a sharp right at signs for Agios Pavlos and Saktouria. (The road straight ahead continues toward Melampes.) At that point, you will begin heading in a generally southwesterly direction. Continue 9.4 kilometers (passing through Saktouria) to a four-way junction. Signage at the junction is only in Greek. The road straight ahead is signed for Agios Pavlos (Αγιος Παυλος) and the road to the right is signed for Keramiani Gialia (Κεραμιανη Γιαλια) and Akoumiani Gialia (Ακουμιανη Γιαλια), while the road on the left is not signed.
The road straight ahead continues 1.9 kilometers and dead ends at parking next to the main beach of Agios Pavlos, but you are not going all the way there. Continuing straight ahead 1.1 kilometers, the next structure you will pass is Livikon Taverna, which directly abuts the right-hand side of the road. After the taverna, continue just over 100 meters and take the next possible right onto a paved road that is at the curving corner of a stone fence wall. Almost immediately after turning onto the paved road, veer left onto a gravel road. In about 200 meters, the gravel road will curve sharply to the left. After the curve, you will be driving along the crest of a sandy hill. Continue about 200 meters and park, around coordinates 35.1026N, 24.5614E. (The road keeps going a bit farther but gets fainter. You are very likely to see a cluster of cars to let you know where to park.) From the road, you can see two beaches. If you are looking straight ahead along the continuation of the road, the beach to your right is Agios Pavlos Sandhills Beach. The beach to your left is the main beach of Agios Pavlos, which is backed by several buildings and a small paved parking area. (That's where you would have ended up had you kept straight ahead instead of turning after Livikon Taverna.) Go down the steep sandy hillside to Agios Pavlos Sandhills Beach. You will land on the southern end of the long beach, where there are sunchairs and umbrellas set up during peak season. Depending on the crowd, that part of the beach may be mixed or may be textile only. Nudity is always possible on the more remote northern part of the beach. Facing the sea, look to your right and you will see a craggy outcropping of rock a short distance away. The northern part of the beach is beyond the outcropping, and the easiest way to get there is to wade around it.
Note: Refer to the sharp leftward curve of the gravel road in the above paragraph. Just beyond that curve, it is possible to descend directly to the northern part of the long beach, just north of the craggy outcropping. However, it is a challenging climb down a very steep embankment of sand.
Alternate approach:
Back up to the four-way junction where the signage is in Greek. Instead of continuing straight ahead toward Agios Pavlos, turn right at the sign for Κεραμιανη Γιαλια and Ακουμιανη Γιαλια (i.e., Keramiani Gialia and Akoumiani Gialia). Follow the winding road downhill about 1.5 kilometers. Just after crossing a short bridge with low concrete side rails, turn left at another sign (in Greek) that points toward Keramiani Gialia and Akoumiani Gialia. (At that point, you will begin driving through a valley toward the sea, and the farther you go, the valley will gradually open up on your left-hand side, with the sea will eventually coming into view.) After following the road about 500 meters, take note when you pass a house on the right that is surrounded by a low stone fence wall, with the number "20" on its gatepost. It is the first structure along the road. After you pass the house, continue about 200 meters to a small gravel pullout on the left, at coordinates 35.1115N, 24.5607E. It can hold just a few cars. (If there is no room to park, there are a few more places nearby where you can park alongside the road. If you see a boxy white house uphill on your right, you have missed the gravel pullout by about 200 meters. By that point, the road will be ascending out of the valley.)
The sea will be clearly visible from the gravel pullout. Just step down into the valley (which is mostly barren except for scattered shrub) and head toward the sea. It is an easy, mostly level walk, and in about 350 meters you will reach the sea. At that point, you will be at the far north end of Agios Pavlos Sandhills Beach, and the beach will very likely be deserted, but it is visible to the road, so you may not want to strip right away. Facing the sea, turn left and walk south just a minute or two. The land will abruptly rise up behind the beach, and shortly you will be walking next to a steeply sloping wall of sand. Once the wall of sand begins, you will be far enough away from the road to get naked, and the rocky outcropping that divides Agios Pavlos Sandhills Beach into two parts will be about 400-500 meters farther south.
Here is a map** that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking.
Here is a map** that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (alternate approach).
**Both maps assume you are heading west when you exit (i.e., heading toward Chania).
This placemark pertains to Agios Pavlos Sandhills Beach.

more remote northern section of beach (nude)
This placemark pertains to Agios Pavlos Sandhills Beach.

northernmost part of beach (usually deserted)
The northernmost 200 or so meters of Agios Pavlos Long Beach is backed by a flat valley that is a sharp contrast to the steep wall of sand that backs the rest of the beach.
This placemark pertains to Agios Pavlos Sandhills Beach.

Agios Pavlos main beach (textile)

4-way junction near Agios Pavlos

small parking pullout

outcropping consisting of two huge rock masses

Livikon Taverna

house surrounded by low stone fence wall, with number "20" on gatepost

boxy white house perched uphill from road

route to main parking area

route to parking for alternate access

hike to northernmost part of beach

South Coast—Heraklion

Komos & Red Beaches

The southern coast of Crete is over 250 kilometers long, but about halfway along that span there is a stretch of roughly 20 kilometers where the coastline faces west rather than south. The village of Matala is sheltered in a small bay on that west-facing segment of coastline. Matala is known for the man-made caves that pocket the sandstone headland on the north end of the village beach. The history of these caves is murky, but they are thought to have been dug out during the Roman occupation of Crete about 2,000 years ago. In more recent times, Matala was occupied by hippies, who squatted in the caves during the 60's and 70's and brought with them a culture that clashed substantially with that of the locals. By the 80's, the hippies had been driven out, and in the ensuing decades Matala has been transformed into a mainstream tourist village.
Matala's counterculture is now mostly a relic of the past, but a holdover of the hippie heyday is the culture of nudity at Red Beach, which is the next beach south of Matala. Although Red Beach is quite close to Matala, it is isolated from the village by a headland, and that isolation has ensured that Red Beach has remained a haven for naturists. Red Beach has been visited by nudists for over half a century, and it is perhaps the most famous nude beach in Crete. It is also one of the most beautiful. Named for the color of its sand, Red Beach is backed by multi-colored cliffs. The moderately challenging hike of about 800 meters to the beach is along a well-marked trail that ascends to a maximum height of about 80 meters above sea level before descending to the beach. Red Beach is 250 to 300 meters long, and there is a ramshackle taverna near the north end where the trail lands, but it does not seem to operate by a reliable schedule, so it is best to bring food and drink with you. There are sunchairs and umbrellas that can be rented, and along the beach you will find whimsical sculptures and images carved out of or into the soft and supple sandstone. Nude bathing may potentially occur along the entire length of Red Beach, but these days that seems to happen only when it isn't too crowded. When it is crowded and there are a lot of textiles about, nudists tend to gravitate to the southern end of the beach (to the left when facing the sea).
Komos Beach is a little north of Matala, and it is an easy-access alternative to Red Beach. However, Komos is also a lovely beach in its own right even though it is less visually dramatic than Red Beach. Getting to Komos Beach involves following the road toward Matala but turning off that road a few kilometers before it dead ends at Matala. Komos Beach is about 1.5 kilometers long, thickly coated with brown sand and backed by tamarisk trees. Like Red Beach, it faces west. Looking north from Komos, the coastline makes a sharp bend, affording fantastic views of the coastal mountains that are located at a right angle to the beach. The south end of Komos is clearly defined by a headland, but the north end is more ambiguous since Komos is continuous with the beach of Kalamaki village. Roughly halfway along the length of Komos, there is an archaeological site behind the beach, and that site is roughly the dividing point between the nude and textile areas of the beach. The southern part of the beach, from the archaeological site to the headland, is textile, and sunchairs are available only along that stretch of the beach. There is a taverna located near the southern extreme next to the headland, and there is often a mobile snack stand set up next to the archaeological site. The northern part of the beach, going from the archaeological site toward Kalamaki, is attended by nudists, and the established nude area is roughly 750 meters long. If you are walking north on the beach (to the right when facing the sea), you will know you are getting close to Kalamaki when the sandy expanse of the beach gets much narrower, and that is where the nude area ends. Although Komos Beach is not as famous as Red Beach, it usually has more nudists since it is a much larger beach, and no hiking is necessary since it is possible to park directly behind the nude area of the beach. Note that Komos and Kommos are the most common English spellings of this beach, but a "c" is sometimes substituted for the "k" and the "s" is sometimes omitted.
This placemark pertains to Komos Beach and Red Beach.

Komos Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Komos Beach and Red Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Pitsidia/Kalamaki, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
There are 13 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Komos Beach and Red Beach.

Red Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Komos Beach and Red Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Pitsidia/Kalamaki, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
There are 13 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Komos Beach and Red Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2dQHTrn
starting point  the Mires exit of National Road 90 in Heraklion
There are about half a dozen exit interchanges of NR-90 in and around Heraklion. The Mires exit interchange is toward the west end of the city. (The exits for the airport and the ferry port are toward the east end of the city. The Mires exit is 4 kilometers west of the Knossos exit, which is the exit that goes to the Minoan palace that is Crete's top tourist attraction.) For westbound traffic (i.e., traffic heading toward Chania), there are two exits that are part of the same interchange, so be sure to take the one the is signed for Mires and not the one that is signed for Heraklion. For eastbound traffic (i.e., traffic heading toward Agios Nikolaos), there is just one exit that is signed both for Mires and Heraklion. (Note that there may be variant spellings of place names on signs. Mires is the same as Moires, and Heraklion is the same as Irakleio.) Upon exiting, follow signs for Mires and Tympaki.
After going south-southwest about 45 kilometers, you will reach Mires, an interior town that is located toward the south coast of Crete. By the time you reach Mires, you will be going west, and the road temporarily splits into a one-way street system for about a kilometer as it passes through the dense town center. Once you reach the point on the western end of Mires where the one-way system ends and you are once again in two-way traffic, take note of your car's trip meter. Continue west another 5.9 kilometers, then turn left at signs for Pitsidia, Matala, Komos Beach, Sivas and the Palace of Phaistos. (The turnoff is several kilometers before the town of Tympaki. If you reach a right-hand turnoff for Skourboula, you have missed the turn by about 400 meters.)
Shortly the road will begin to wind uphill, and in about 2 kilometers you will need to proceed very slowly past the Palace of Phaistos since the popular archaeological site and its main parking area are on opposite sides of the road. After passing the archaeological site, continue south another 3.5 kilometers (passing through the tiny village of Agios Ioannis) to a stop sign at a junction. (Technically, it is a four-way junction, but it feels more like a "T" since the road that continues straight ahead is minor and inconspicuous.) Turn right at the stop sign, following signs for Pitsidia, Matala and Komos Beach. Continue west 2.9 kilometers and you will pass the blue-and-white Pitsidia village sign.
After the village sign, continue west another kilometer and keep straight ahead through a small roundabout that is on the west end of the village. After the roundabout, continue about 700 meters and take note of the right-hand turnoff signed for Komos Beach.
To go to Komos Beach:
Turn right. Proceed 500-600 meters to a three-way junction. Turn right. (The road straight ahead continues to the southern end of Komos Beach.) Continue 200-300 meters to a four-way junction where the road straight ahead turns to gravel. Keep straight ahead. (The road to the left goes to the middle part of Komos Beach.) Continue about 600 meters to the end of the road and park, around coordinates 35.0189N, 24.7617E. The road ends next to the northern end of Komos Beach, which is the nude area.
To go to Red Beach:
Do NOT turn toward Komos Beach. Keep straight ahead. 1.7 kilometers farther on, you will pass the blue-and-white Matala village sign. About 900 meters after the sign, you will enter the dense village center. Take note of Hotel Zafiria (on the left), which is prominently signed. Take the next left after the hotel. (The road straight ahead may be cordoned off, which will force a left turn.) Continue past several tavernas and other buildings. Within 200 meters, the buildings will end and the road will turn to gravel. Suddenly you will be in a small open valley that is hemmed in on three sides by rocky hills. A bit before the road ends, there is an earthen parking lot on the left, at coordinates 34.9914N, 24.7496E, opposite a maze-like area of archaeological ruins.
After parking, continue straight ahead along the gravel road on foot. Very shortly the road will curve sharply to the left, morph into a footpath, then begin to go uphill. There are signs pointing toward Red Beach to help you along. You will be heading south, and you will be just a bit above sea level at the start of the hike. The path ascends to a maximum elevation of about 80 meters, and Red Beach will come into view as you begin to go downhill. The total hike is just 800 meters, but it is moderately challenging due to the climb and descent. You will land on the north end of the beach. Nudists gather on the south end (to the left when facing the sea).
Here is a map** that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Komos).
Here is a map** that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Red).
**Both maps assume you are heading west when you exit (i.e., heading toward Chania).
This placemark pertains to Komos Beach and Red Beach.

Pitsidia village sign
This placemark pertains to Komos Beach and Red Beach.

This placemark pertains to Komos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Red Beach.

Matala Beach (textile)
This placemark pertains to Red Beach.

archaeological site
This placemark pertains to Red Beach.

archaeological site
This placemark pertains to Komos Beach.

Hotel Zafiria

Matala village sign

small roundabout at west end of Pitsidia

road from Pitsidia to Matala

hiking trail

side roads to Komos

Dytiko Beach

Dytiko Beach
The small village of Lentas and the even tinier village of Dytiko (a.k.a. Diskos) are neighboring localities on the south coast of Crete, located south-southeast of Mires, the nearest major town. Between Lentas and Dytiko, there is a prominent hilly monolith that vaguely resembles a reclining lion, with its head and paws thrust seaward. The semblance to a lion is far more pronounced when the monolith is viewed from the Lentas (eastern) side. From the Dytiko (western) side, it is a picturesque but more ordinary-looking headland. Nudists frequent the easternmost 150 or so meters of the sandy beach of Dytiko, up to the point where the beach ends at the headland. Nude bathing is very well established, with nudists often in the majority. The nude part of the beach is very easy to access, with adjacent parking. Primitive tent camping is popular in the nudist zone. From the nude area of the beach, it is a short stroll to several tavernas in Dytiko.
village, regional unit, island, country:  Dytiko, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2f6bJhs
starting point  the Mires exit of National Road 90 in Heraklion
There are about half a dozen exit interchanges of NR-90 in and around Heraklion. The Mires exit interchange is toward the west end of the city. (The exits for the airport and the ferry port are toward the east end of the city. The Mires exit is 4 kilometers west of the Knossos exit, which is the exit that goes to the Minoan palace that is Crete's top tourist attraction.) For westbound traffic (i.e., traffic heading toward Chania), there are two exits that are part of the same interchange, so be sure to take the one the is signed for Mires and not the one that is signed for Heraklion. For eastbound traffic (i.e., traffic heading toward Agios Nikolaos), there is just one exit that is signed both for Mires and Heraklion. (Note that there may be variant spellings of place names on signs. Mires is the same as Moires, and Heraklion is the same as Irakleio.) Upon exiting, follow signs for Mires and Tympaki.
Signs at the exit interchange indicate that it is 50 kilometers to Mires. You will go most of the way to Mires, but not all the way. Follow the road south-southwest a little over 38 kilometers, then turn left at signs for Lentas and Vagionia. (There is a Silk Oil gas station on the left at the corner where you turn. The turnoff is just 200 meters past the left-hand turnoff to Gangales and Pirgos. If you begin to pass through the village of Agii Deka, you have missed the turnoff, but there is no need to turn around. 600-700 meters farther on at the center of Aggi Deka, there is another left-hand turnoff signed for Vagionia, and it merges into the road you want to be on.)
Once you turn, just follow signs for Lentas, a seaside village that is about 27 kilometers away. You will be heading in a generally southerly direction, and along the way you pass through the inland villages of Vagionia, Vasiliki and Krotos. Several kilometers before you reach Lentas, the sea will come into view as the road begins to wind down from the mountains. You will notice a prominent, monolithic land mass that juts into the sea, forming a cape. The monolith vaguely resembles a reclining lion, with its head and front paws extending seaward. Lentas is nestled against that monolith. Once you descend almost to the sea, you will reach a fork at the edge of Lentas, where there are many signs pointing in both directions toward various accommodations.
Keep to the right at the fork, where a brown sign points toward the Ancient Levin Archaeological Site. Take note of your car's trip meter. You will begin going west, and you will skirt the inland edge of Lentas (bypassing the village center), then you will skirt the inland edge of the hilly monolith (i.e., the lion's hind quarters). You will turn just before the tiny village of Dytikos, which is on the other side of the monolith. From the fork, proceed 1.2 kilometers, the veer left onto a gravel road that is unlikely to be signed. The gravel road runs parallel to the main road, with a small gully forming between the two roads. In 200-300 meters, park at the end of the road (at coordinates 34.9293N, 24.9166E), which abuts the nude area of Dytikos Beach next to the monolith.
If you miss the gravel road, you can just park in Dytikos. 250 meters past the gravel road, the main road curves sharply to the right next to the sea. There may be parked cars at the curve, but the slope of the land makes it a little difficult to descend to the beach from the curve. Keep driving and in less than 100 meters you will pass the blue-and-white Dytikos village sign. A bit farther on, you can park in the middle of the tiny village and access the beach. Facing the sea, turn left and walk 200 to 300 meters to the nude area at the far east end of the beach.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are heading west when you exit (i.e., heading toward Chania).
This placemark pertains to Dytiko Beach.

road fork at edge of Lentas
This placemark pertains to Dytiko Beach.

This placemark pertains to Dytiko Beach.

Dytiko village sign

hilly monolith between Lentas and Dytiko
The hilly monolith between Lentas and Dytiko vaguely resembles a reclining lion (with its head and paws thrust seaward) when viewed from the Lentas side.

road between Lentas and Dytiko

unmarked beach access road

Tertsa Beach

Tertsa Beach
Toward the eastern end of the south coast of Crete, the tiny village of Tertsa is nestled in a small seaside agricultural valley that is hemmed in by mountains. Tertsa is about 20 kilometers west of Ierapetra, the closest major town. The expansive beach of Tertsa is composed of dark grayish-brown sand mixed with lots of pebbles. In the central area of the beach, but closer to the eastern end than to the western end, there is a prominent rocky mass located in the intertidal zone, partially offshore. The village is situated toward the eastern end of the beach east of the large rock, and that area of the beach is textile. On the other side of the rock from the village, the beach tends to be deserted or nearly so, and nude bathing is well established among the few visitors who venture beyond the rock. Going west from the rock (to the right when facing the sea), it is about one kilometer to the end of the beach. For the first few hundred meters beyond the rock, there are rugged cliff-like land formations that form a somewhat sheltered backdrop, then the land behind the beach flattens out a bit and there are greenhouses behind the beach toward the far west end. Most nude bathing takes places in the more sheltered area just beyond the rock, which is really the central area of the beach as a whole. The beach is likely to become completely deserted as you move toward the far west end. There are usually just a few nudists, and all in all Tertsa is quite a minor nudist location compared to the better established nude beaches of Crete that are located farther west. From the big rock, it is just a few hundred meters to the village, where there are a few tavernas.
village, regional unit, island, country:  Tertsa, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fnJied
starting point  the Viannos / Port exit of National Road 90 in Heraklion
There are about half a dozen exit interchanges of NR-90 in and around Heraklion. The Viannos / Port exit is toward the east end of the city. (It is west of the airport exit but east of the Knossos exit, which is the exit that goes to the Minoan palace that is Crete's top tourist attraction.) The exit is near the north coast of the island, and your destination is a village called Tertsa on the south coast. You will be heading in a generally southeasterly direction to get there. To find your way to Tertsa, you will first pass through a village called Ano Viannos, and there are some signage quirks that make the route to Ano Viannos potentially confusing. The most important thing to know is that Ano Viannos is the principal village of a broader municipality called Viannos, but signage along the way is inconsistent. Some signs indicate Viannos and others indicate Ano Viannos, but these names are used interchangeably. In other words, even if a sign just indicates Viannos, it actually leads to Ano Viannos.
From the exit, follow signs for Viannos. In 15 to 16 kilometers, you will reach a stop sign at a "T" where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn left, following the signs for Pyrgos, Arkalochori, Kastelli and Viannos. Immediately after you turn, the road will fork, and both forks are signed for Arkalochori and Viannos (or Ano Viannos). Either fork will get you to Ano Viannos, but the route is shorter if you take the right fork, which is also signed for Kaloni and Pyrgos and indicates a distance of 38 kilometers to Viannos. (The left fork is also signed for Kastelli and indicates a distance of 47 kilometers to Viannos.) Assume you take the right fork. Keep following signs for Arkalochori and Viannos and in just under 11 kilometers you will reach a stop sign at the edge of Arkalochori. Turn right to continue toward Viannos. (The junction is not well signed. You will be on a road that skirts Arkalochori, bypassing the village.) From that point, it is another 25 or so kilometers to Ano Viannos, and you will have to make a few turns along the way, but the rest of the route is well signed.
Once you reach Ano Viannos, you will be heading more east than south. From Ano Viannos, continue east (toward Ierapetra) another 11 to 12 kilometers and take note when you pass the right-hand turnoff to Psari Forada and Faflagos, but do not turn there. Continue another 900 meters and you will reach two right-hand turnoffs that are one after the other. The first turnoff is signed for Psari Forada, Kalami and Sidonia and would require a very sharp right turn. Do NOT turn there. Take the second of the two consecutive right-hand turnoffs, which is signed for Sykologos and Tertsa.
Upon turning, proceed about a kilometer and you will pass the blue-and-white Sykologos village sign. 400-500 meters farther on, you will reach an unsigned fork as you near the village center. Keep to the left. 800 meters farther on, you will reach the sign that indicates you are leaving Sykologos. Around that point, the road will begin to gradually wind downhill toward the sea. 7 kilometers past the "leaving Sykologos" sign, you will reach a point where the road is squeezed between two large greenhouses (i.e., there will be a greenhouse directly abutting the road on each side.) At that point, you are close to Tertsa, and you will be driving through an agricultural area near the sea where there are lots of scattered greenhouses.
Continue another 1.8 kilometers to the point where the main road curves sharply to the left next to the sea. Turn right at that curve, next to a small gazebo-shaped building. (At the curve, the main road enters the small village center of Tertsa.) Upon turning, you will be driving along the beachfront on a gravel road, with the sea on your left-hand side. About 200 meters up ahead, you will see a prominent rocky mass that begins near the waterline and extends seaward. Park along the road near the rock (around coordinates 34.9915N, 25.5307E), but before the road begins to go uphill, then skirt the rock on its inland side to get to the nude area.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking, assuming you are heading west when you exit (i.e., heading toward Chania).
This placemark pertains to Tertsa Beach.

road is squeezed between greenhouses
This placemark pertains to Tertsa Beach.

This placemark pertains to Tertsa Beach.

prominent rocky land mass extending seaward from beach

roads through Tertsa

East Coast—Lasithi

Alona, Gerontolakos & Ligias Lakos Beaches

Xerokampos (alternately spelled Xerokambos, Xerocampos and Xerocambos) is a locality that occupies a small coastal plain nestled against the rugged mountains at the extreme southeast of Crete. It is not a typical village with clustered buildings and a significant number of permanent residents. It is more of a tourist settlement with scattered small-scale accommodations and tavernas and not much else. (There is no gas station, for example.) Xerokampos is quite remote, and it tends to attract a cadre of visitors who appreciate quiet and isolation. The road that passes through Xerokampos connects to Ziros (20 kilometers away) and Zakros (9 kilometers away), which are the two nearest proper villages. Coming from Ziros, the road is particularly twisty and dramatic, and it used to be the only way to get to Xerokampos on pavement. Coming from Zakros, the road was gravel until fairly recently, but it was paved in 2008.
Xerokampos has about 7 kilometers of coastline with a dozen or so beaches. All the beaches have proper names, but there seem to be few if any signs indicating those names, so the proper names don't get used much. With few locals and a limited number of tourists visiting the beaches, there is generally plenty of space for nudists and textiles. Although nude bathing is part of the culture of Xerokampos, it is difficult to pinpoint areas that are consistently nudist since nudity tends to occur spontaneously at a number of places when conditions are favorable, but there are a few spots to which nudists are prone to gravitate. Furthermore, since the aforementioned paved road was completed in 2008, Xerokampos is not as isolated as it used to be, so there is now more textile encroachment during peak season. The full nudist potential of Xerokampos is best experienced before July or after August. If you visit during July or August, your options may be more limited.
As noted in the driving directions, there are three blue signs scattered along the main road through Xerokampos that simply point toward the beach, with no indication of which beach. The middle and the northeasternmost of those signs lead to the same location since the road makes a loop. That loop road takes you to the main beach area of Xerokampos, which consists of four adjacent crescents that span about 600 meters and are collectively known as the Ambelos Coves. The four crescents have three names associated with them since two of the crescents are collectively regarded as one beach. From northeast to southwest, first there is Vourlia Beach, which is comprised of the two sandy crescents that abut the loop road. Vourlia is textile, and it is the only beach in Xerokampos that is likely to have sunchairs and umbrellas. Next, Argilos is the most geographically distinctive of the Ambelos Coves, backed by a low cliff and having sand at each end but a scree of boulders in the middle. It gets some nude use, particularly on its southwest end that is contiguous with Gerontolakos. Less than 100 meters long, Gerontolakos is a beautiful sandy beach that forms a perfect crescent, bracketed by rocky outcroppings at each end. It is a favorite of nude bathers. Although nude bathing occurs regularly at Gerontolakos, it can be overrun with textiles during peak season. If you visit during July and August, consider showing up early in the day to establish a precedent for nudity.
On the southwest side of Gerontolakos, there is a long, rocky hill that juts into the sea and forms a headland. On the other side of the headland, there are three more beaches, and they are accessed by a dead end road that follows the coastline for a little over 2 kilometers. That road is marked by the southwesternmost of the aforementioned blue beach signs. As you follow the road, you will first pass Mazida Ammos Beach, which is a long, sandy beach that is adjacent to the road. Some parts of the beach are not as readily visible from the road as others, so nude bathing is not unheard of at Mazida Ammos, but it seems to have evolved into an all-textile beach during peak season, with nudity occurring irregularly at other times. Farther along the road, after it turns to gravel, there is a small beach called Ligias Lakos Beach, which is a pebble beach with no sand that is backed by low red cliffs. Nude bathing is generally acceptable at Ligias Lakos even through it is visible from the road (which is not heavily trafficked). However, since the beach is less than 100 meters long, it is the type of beach where whoever shows up first may establish a precedent for whether or not swimwear is worn. Ligias Lakos has a beautiful backdrop and a shallow swimming area, but the beach itself is not as nice as Gerontolakos. However, if you find Gerontolakos overrun with textiles, Ligias Lakos may be a good backup option since it is likely to have fewer visitors. Continuing along the gravel road past Ligias Lakos, the road ends at a small beach called Amatos Beach, which is used as a boat launch. It is probably best considered textile by default, which isn't terribly relevant since the beach does not generally draw sunbathers.
Going in the other direction from the Ambelos Coves, there are more beaches toward the northeast end of Xerokampos. There is Alatsolimni Beach, a sandy beach backed by a salt flat or a shallow lagoon, depending on the time of year. Then there is Potamos Beach, which is composed of pebbles. Both Alatsolimni and Potamos have nudist potential, but neither gets a lot of visitors as their landscapes are rather stark compared to the other beaches of Xerokampos. You will pass very close to Potamos Beach on the road to Alona Beach, a more highly regarded beach. Alona is a sandy beach that is less than 100 meters long, and it is backed by a large field of sand dunes covered in grass and scrub, with no trees nearby. Alona is favorite of nude bathers, and most of the year it is deserted or nearly so. However, in recent years Alona has become more popular with textiles during peak season, so it is entirely possible you could show up in July or August to find the small beach crowded with textiles, with no nudists in sight. If that happens, there is a possible Plan B, if you are up for a challenge. Facing the sea at Alona, look to your left. The land nearest the coastline is relatively flat. At first, it is easy to follow the coastline despite the lack of a well-trodden trail, but the terrain gets more difficult the farther you go. If you can make it 800 meters from Alona, you will reach Roussospasma Beach, a unique and virtually unknown beach hidden in a small inlet. The beach is set against two distinct and highly contrasting backgrounds. The larger backdrop of the beach is comprised of rugged and treeless mountains in subtle hues of brown, and it looks as though a chunk of that landscape were deliberately peeled away to reveal the immediate backdrop of the beach, which is formed by steep cliffs of bright orange clay. Much of the coastline at the base of the cliffs is covered in a scree of boulders, but there is also a pebble beach that spans about 40 meters. You will have to scramble down and over the boulders to get to the beach. If you can make it to Roussospasma, you will very likely have it to yourself, even during peak season.
The Xerokampos beaches are generally lacking in amenities. There is a taverna across the road from Vourlia Beach, about 400-500 meters from Gerontolakos. At any of the other beaches where nudity is possible, you will need to come prepared.
This placemark pertains to Alona Beach, Gerontolakos Beach and Ligias Lakos Beach.

Alona Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Alona Beach, Gerontolakos Beach and Ligias Lakos Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Xerokampos, Lasithi, Crete, Greece
There are 27 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Alona Beach, Gerontolakos Beach and Ligias Lakos Beach.

Gerontolakos Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Alona Beach, Gerontolakos Beach and Ligias Lakos Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Xerokampos, Lasithi, Crete, Greece
There are 27 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Alona Beach, Gerontolakos Beach and Ligias Lakos Beach.

Ligias Lakos Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Alona Beach, Gerontolakos Beach and Ligias Lakos Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Xerokampos, Lasithi, Crete, Greece
There are 27 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Alona Beach, Gerontolakos Beach and Ligias Lakos Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eOB6z1
starting point  the major roundabout in Sitia
Sitia is about 130 kilometers east of Heraklion. Assume you are heading east on NR-90. As you reach the outskirts of Sitia, you will see a sign pointing straight ahead toward Sitia and another pointing left toward the port and the small local airport. Keep straight ahead toward the town center. In 2.7 kilometers you will reach a major roundabout in the central area of Sitia. The median of the roundabout includes a fountain, a ring of grass and a few palm trees. At the roundabout, you will see signs pointing toward Palekastro, Zakros and Vai. Follow those signs to continue east out of Sitia. You will have to make several turns, but the route is well signed.
16 to 17 kilometers from the roundabout, you will pass the blue-and-white Palekastro village sign. As you make your way through the village center, follow the signs that point toward Zakros and Kato Zakros. In just over one kilometer, you will pass the sign that indicates you are leaving Palekastro. By that point you will be heading in a mostly southerly direction. Continue another 18.3 kilometers* and you will pass the blue-and-white Zakros village sign.
After you pass the Zakros village sign, continue 300 meters to a "T" junction in the center of the small village. Turn right, following signs for Kato Zakros and Xerokampos. Continue 400-500 meters and turn right again at another sign for Xerokampos, which indicates a distance of 9 kilometers to Xerokampos. (The road straight ahead continues to Kato Zakros.) Continue about 6.7 kilometers and start paying attention to landmarks when the sea comes into view.
Once you can see the sea, continue 700-800 meters and take note when power lines cross the road. Continue another 400 meters and power lines will cross the road again. Just after the power lines, there is a gravel road that requires a hard left turn. The gravel road is next to the Alkionides Villas driveway (which is flanked by stone gateposts), and there is a cluster of signs advertising various local businesses.
To go to Alona Beach:
Turn left onto the gravel road. You should immediately cross under the power lines again. Follow the gravel road 700 meters almost all the way to the sea, then continue along the road as it makes a sharp curve** and crosses a creek bed via a low-water bridge. After the creek bed, the road will head inland. Continue another 400 meters to the dead end of the road at an earthen parking area, at coordinates 35.0570N, 26.2407E. Straight ahead, there is a footpath that leads about 200 meters to Alona Beach.
To continue toward Gerontolakos Beach and Ligias Lakos Beach:
Keep straight ahead on the paved road. In about 300 meters you will pass a 30 KPH speed limit panel and enter the central area of Xerokampos, but there does not seem to be a village sign. Once you enter Xerokampos, there are three blue signs that point left toward the beach, spread out over a distance of 1.7 kilometers. Each sign has Παραλια in Greek and Beach in English, but there are no proper names on any of the signs. The first (northeasternmost) beach sign is 200 meters past the speed limit panel. The second (middle) sign is 900 meters past the first one, near a business called Lithos Traditional Guest Houses. The third (southwesternmost) sign is 800 meters past the second one.
To go to Gerontolakos Beach:
You can turn at either the first or the second beach sign since the two turnoffs form a 1.9-kilometer-long loop road. Assume you turn left at the first beach sign. Follow the road about 500 meters, where it will bend to the right and begin to run along the coastline (with the sea on your left-hand side). Continue 600-700 meters and park alongside the road near the point where the it bends sharply to the right and begins to go away from the sea back toward the main road, at coordinates 35.0404N, 26.2326E. Or, assume you turn left at the second sign. Follow the road 700-800 meters until it bend sharply to the left at the coast and park there. From where you park near the bend of the road, look to your right as you face the sea and you will see a gravel track that follow the coastline. Follow the track about 200 meters and you will reach a small white chapel with a blue roof. The chapel is above Argilos Beach, a cove backed by a low but steep cliff. Keep walking about 100 meters. When the cliff tapers off, you will reach Gerontolakos Beach, which is the last sandy cove before the prominent headland.
To go to Ligias Lakos Beach:
Turn left at the third (last) beach sign. In about 300 meters, the road will begin to run alongside Mazida Ammos Beach for about 500 meters (with the sea on your left-hand side). Shortly after the end of the beach, the you will pass a large gated house that is on the right (inland) side of the road. Just after the large house, the road turns to gravel, continuing along the coastline. Keep going another 300-400 meters to a grove of palm trees that is on the inland side of the road. At that point, you will be next to Ligias Lakos Beach, which is slightly below the road, backed by low cliffs. To access the beach, keep driving about 100 meters and you will reach a small parking area atop a rocky outcropping that juts into the sea, at coordinates 35.0307N, 26.2107E. (The parking area is opposite a driveway that goes to a house that is amid the grove of trees.) Facing the sea at the parking area, on your left there is a short, paved path with steps that descends to the beach.
* 10.1 kilometers after you leave Palekastro, there is an unsigned shortcut that bypasses the hamlet of Azokeramos. If you are using a GPS device that directs you to take the shortcut, you will reach Zakros in 17.1 kilometers instead of 18.3.
** If you turn toward the sea at the curve, in just 50 meters you will reach Potamos Beach, a rocky beach that is likely to be deserted.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to the road toward parking (Alona). [Google Maps will not trace the last 300 meters of the road.]
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Gerontolakos).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Ligias Lakos).
This placemark pertains to Alona Beach, Gerontolakos Beach and Ligias Lakos Beach.

sea comes into view (heading toward Xerokampos)
This placemark pertains to Alona Beach, Gerontolakos Beach and Ligias Lakos Beach.

Roussospasma Beach
This placemark pertains to Alona Beach.

This placemark pertains to Alona Beach.

This placemark pertains to Gerontolakos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Ligias Lakos Beach.

Mazida Ammos Beach
This beach is known to get occasional nude use during the off season despite being overlooked by a road. During peak season, it seems to be visited only by textiles.

Alatsolimni Beach
This beach is potentially nudist, but it usually deserted or nearly so, so it cannot be accurately described as either a nude beach or a textile beach.

Potamos Beach
This beach is potentially nudist, but it usually deserted or nearly so, so it cannot be accurately described as either a nude beach or a textile beach.

Amatos Beach
This beach is used as a boat dock and should probably be considered textile, but it is not a beach used by sunbathers one way or the other.

Vourlia Beach (textile)
This beach consists of two adjacent crescents that abut the road.

Argilos Beach (usually textile, with occasional nudity)

power lines over road
Heading west into Xerokampos, this is the first instance where power lines cross the road after the sea comes into view.

power lines over road
Heading west into Xerokampos, this is the second instance where power lines cross the road after the sea comes into view.

small white chapel with blue roof

beach access turnoff
Going southwest through Xerokampos, this is the first of three turnoffs that are signed for the beach. At each of the three beach turnoffs, there is a blue sign with Παραλία in Greek and Beach in English, but there are no proper names on any of the signs.

beach access turnoff
Going southwest through Xerokampos, this is the second of three turnoffs that are signed for the beach. At each of the three beach turnoffs, there is a blue sign with Παραλία in Greek and Beach in English, but there are no proper names on any of the signs.

beach access turnoff
Going southwest through Xerokampos, this is the third and last of three turnoffs that are signed for the beach. At each of the three beach turnoffs, there is a blue sign with Παραλία in Greek and Beach in English, but there are no proper names on any of the signs.

Alkionides Villas

prominent headland

Lithos Traditional Guest Houses

road turns to gravel

main road through Xerokampos

road to Alona Beach

loop road to Argilos & Gerontolakos Beaches

road to several beaches

Itanos & Psili Ammos Beaches

Toward the far north end of the eastern side of Crete, north of the town of Palekastro, Vai Beach is one of the best-known beaches of Crete. About 250 meters long and lined with palm trees, Vai Beach is backed by a palm forest that is the largest natural palm grove in Europe, with 4000-5000 trees clustered in an area of about 1/4 square kilometer. Although Vai Beach was frequented by nudists during the 70's when it was a countercultural haven, the beach is now strictly textile, as has been the case for several decades since the beach has been gentrified and promoted as a tourist attraction. However, just south of Vai there is a hidden beach called Psili Ammos, which is about 70 meters long and backed by a huge dune that resembles a glacier of sand creeping toward the sea. Psili Ammos is accessed through Vai Beach. At the south end of Vai next to the taverna, there are steps leading up to a scenic overlook. Just keep hiking past the overlook and shortly you will reach Psili Ammos. Although Psili Ammos is often described as a nude beach, that status is a bit iffy. While Psili Ammos is always considerably less crowded than Vai, it is also a small beach, so the presence of textiles can inhibit the practice of nudity. During July and August when Vai is most crowded, there is a good change the Psili Ammos will be all textile. The potential of Psili Ammos as a nude beach is best appreciated out of peak season. Or, consider showing up by 10:00 am before the crowds have arrived to establish a precedent for nudity at the beach.
Just a bit north of Vai, Itanos Beach is next to the archaeological site of the ancient town of Itanos, the ruins of which range from the Minoan era to the early Christian era. The beach actually consists of three distinct and disconnected coves. Parking and access is next to the small middle cove, which is immediately north of the hilltop archeological site. The middle cove is textile since it is the most exposed, and it is comprised of sand mixed with pebbles. Just over a hillock to the north, the northern of the Itanos beaches is about 170 meters long, and it is the most popular of the three beaches since it has the best expanse of sand. The north beach is mostly textile, but a few nudists are often present on the northernmost segment of the beach just beyond the broadest part of the beach, where a narrower strip of sand is wedged against a rugged, rocky hillside. If you walk south through the archaeological site from the parking area, shortly you will come to the the southern of the three Itanos beaches, which is about 130 meters long. Sheltered in a small bay and set between two hills, the setting is beautiful, but the beach draws far few visitors than the north beach. However, it is a lovely sandy beach where a few nude bathers are often present. There are no amenities at any of the Itanos beaches. If you make your way along the rocky coastline south from the southern Itanos beach (going toward Vai Beach), you will find a few more secluded and usually deserted niches with nudist potential.
Psili Ammos and the Itanos beaches are not among the better established nudist venues of Crete. Nudity patterns are far less consistent than at many other beaches on the island, so keep that in mind when planning a visit.
This placemark pertains to Itanos Beach North, Itanos Beach South and Psili Ammos Beach.

Itanos Beach North
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Itanos Beach North, Itanos Beach South and Psili Ammos Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Palekastro, Lasithi, Crete, Greece
There are 13 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Itanos Beach North, Itanos Beach South and Psili Ammos Beach.

Itanos Beach South
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Itanos Beach North, Itanos Beach South and Psili Ammos Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Palekastro, Lasithi, Crete, Greece
There are 13 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Itanos Beach North, Itanos Beach South and Psili Ammos Beach.

Psili Ammos Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Itanos Beach North, Itanos Beach South and Psili Ammos Beach.)
village, regional unit, island, country:  Palekastro, Lasithi, Crete, Greece
There are 13 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Itanos Beach North, Itanos Beach South and Psili Ammos Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2egiYhJ
starting point  the major roundabout in Sitia
Sitia is about 130 kilometers east of Heraklion. Assume you are heading east on NR-90. As you reach the outskirts of Sitia, you will see a sign pointing straight ahead toward Sitia and another pointing left toward the port and the small local airport. Keep straight ahead toward the town center. In 2.7 kilometers you will reach a major roundabout in the central area of Sitia. The median of the roundabout includes a fountain, a ring of grass and a few palm trees. At the roundabout, you will see signs pointing toward Palekastro, Zakros and Vai. Follow those signs to continue east out of Sitia. You will have to make several turns, but the route is well signed.
About 5 kilometers from the roundabout, you will pass through the small village of Agia Fotia. About 6 to 7 kilometers farther on, you will reach a three-way junction with a short left-turn lane. The signage at the junction seems to be only in Greek. The road straight ahead is signed for Palekastro, Zakros and Vai (Παλαιχαστρο, Ζαχρος and Βαι), while the road to the left is signed for the Toplou monastery and Vai (Μ. Τοπλου and Βαι). As indicated by the signage, you can get to Vai by going either direction, but the route via the Toplou monastery is slightly shorter, so assume you turn left at the three-way junction. Continue east about 3.5 kilometers and you will pass the monastery. From there, continue just under 6 kilometers farther on to a stop sign at a three-way junction, where again the signage seems to be only in Greek.
Keep straight ahead through the stop sign, following the sign that indicates it is 3 kilometers to Vai (Βαι). Continue 1.5 kilometers to the final turnoff toward Vai, which is on the right.
To go to Psili Ammos Beach:
Turn right toward Vai and follow the road about 1.2 kilometers to a large parking lot at the end of the road next to Vai Beach, at coordinates 35.2528N, 26.2645E. Next to the parking lot, there is a taverna at the far south end of Vai Beach. Go to the sea side of the taverna. Facing the sea, look to your right and you will find steps going up the headland. Climb to the top of the steps, where there is a scenic overlook, then follow footpath that continue south (such that the sea is on your left-hand side). Shortly you will reach Psili Ammos Beach. The total walk from the parking lot is about 300 meters.
To go to Itanos Beach:
Keep straight ahead past the turnoff to Vai. Continue 1.1 kilometers to a fork. Keep to the right (really just straight ahead), following the brown sign for the Ancient Town of Itanos. About 300 meters farther on, shortly after you pass a blue-and-white Erimoupoli sign, the road will dead end at a parking area, at coordinates 35.2644N, 26.2621E. The middle of the three Itanos Beaches is straight ahead from the parking area, and to your right there is a small hill next to the sea, with the structures of the Itanos archaeological site near the crest of the hill. To go to the north beach, turn to the left as you face the sea. Follow the dirt path about 200 meters and you will land in the middle of the north beach. Nude bathing is most apt to occur at the far north end of the north beach. To go to the south beach, turn to the right as you face the sea and skirt the inland side of the small hill. On the other side you will find the south beach. The total walk is about 300 meters.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (at Vai, for Psili Ammos).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Itanos).
This placemark pertains to Itanos Beach North, Itanos Beach South and Psili Ammos Beach.

3-way junction near Vai
This placemark pertains to Itanos Beach North, Itanos Beach South and Psili Ammos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Itanos Beach North and Itanos Beach South.

parking lot
This placemark pertains to Psili Ammos Beach.

Vai Beach (textile)
This placemark pertains to Psili Ammos Beach.

small beach next to parking area (textile)
This placemark pertains to Itanos Beach North and Itanos Beach South.

scenic overlook
This placemark pertains to Psili Ammos Beach.

Itanos archaeological site
This placemark pertains to Itanos Beach North and Itanos Beach South.

Erimoupoli sign

route from 3-way junction to Itanos

road to Vai Beach

Cyclades

Amorgos

Plakes Bay

Plakes Bay
Katapola Bay is a prominent, fjord-like indentation about midway along the west side of Amorgos. Katapola, Rachidi and Xilokeratidi are three villages that are quite close together, arranged in a semi-circle along the most interior (eastern) part of Katapola Bay. The village of Katapola is one of the two ferry ports of Amorgos. There is a lighthouse along the westernmost part of the north side of the bay, where it opens out to the sea. Along the north side of Katapola Bay, Maltezi Beach is the only sandy beach of the bay. About 100 meters long, Maltezi has sunchairs and umbrellas available for rent during peak season along with a snack bar. On the west end of Maltezi, a steep, rocky hill forms a headland. On the other side, Plakes Bay is a small indentation of the coastline near the lighthouse. Plakes is sort of a bay within a bay at the outermost part of Katapola Bay. Plakes is advertised as the nude beach of Katapola Bay, except there isn't an actual beach, nor are there any amenities. Rocky hills plunge into the sea along most of Plakes Bay, but there are a few flat, rocky ledges along the bay that serve as the "beach."
Both Maltezi Beach and Plakes Bay are rather isolated from the villages in the interior of Katapola Bay. Maltezi can be reached by an easy hike that takes about half an hour, but it takes considerably more effort to get to Plakes on foot. However, there is a boat (called a caïque) that ferries visitors to Maltezi and Plakes for a fare of a few euros. The same boat stops at both Maltezi and Plakes, and the point of departure is the ferry port in Katapola village. There is service about once an hour from mid-morning to late afternoon during peak season. Most Maltezi visitors take the boat rather than walking, and just about all Plakes visitors get there by boat. The boat first goes to Maltezi, dropping off passengers at a small dock on the west end of the beach. Near the dock, there is a large sign with a list of regulations, including "Nudism is forbidden except in the Plakes Bay." Despite the sign, nudity sporadically takes place toward the opposite (east) end of Maltezi during the off season, but nudity is not a viable option at Maltezi when the beach is crowded. From Maltezi, the boat continues to Plakes Bay, dropping off visitors next to the largest expanse of ledges that comprise the main gathering place along the bay. If that area is occupied only by textiles, nudists are likely to move toward more rugged areas of the bay. However, since Plakes is promoted as a nudist area, you shouldn't feel inhibited about stripping wherever you please. The water gets deep just offshore, making Plakes an ideal location for snorkeling near the shoreline. However, getting into the water is a challenge for those with mobility issues, and the geography of Plakes makes it dangerous for small children and non-swimmers.
It is possible to hike all the way to Plakes Bay, but it is a challenging trek. There is an unmarked hiking trail that goes to the lighthouse. To get to Plakes, you will leave that trail before the lighthouse and hike down through a creek drainage that forms a cleft between two hill slopes, and that is the most difficult part of the hike. Depending on your starting point in Katapola, Rachidi or Xilokeratidi, it is a hike of about 2.5 to 3.2 kilometers to Plakes Bay.
village, island, island group, country:  Xilokeratidi, Amorgos, Cyclades, Greece

HIKIING DIRECTIONS
Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2dYHjYA
starting point  the Kartapola Bay waterfront road
Katapola, Rachidi and Xilokeratidi are three villages arranged in a semi-circle along the most interior part of Katapola Bay, and they are so close together that they are often collectively regarded as Katapola, which is the most important of the villages since it is a ferry port. From the ferry port in Katapola, a waterfront road goes north around the perimeter of the bay, coming to a dead end in Xilokeratidi after about one kilometer. The inland turnoff to Chora is located about halfway along the waterfront road, and Rachidi is spread out a bit inland along that road. The hike to Plakes Bay takes you through Xilokeratidi. Heading toward Xilokeratidi on the waterfront road, the bay should be on your left-hand side. After the Chora turnoff, the next inland turnoff goes into Camping Amorgos, and the next inland turnoff after that goes toward Villa Le Grand Bleu. Once you pass the turnoff to Villa Le Grand Bleu, you will be in Xilokeratidi. Continuing along the waterfront road, among the first businesses you will pass are Proton Market (a small grocery shop) and Le Grand Bleu Café-Bar. (By that point, you need to park if you have a car. There is some parking along the street, and there are several informal dirt parking areas slightly inland.)
About 150 meters past Le Grand Bleu Café-Bar, take note when you reach Vitsentzos Restaurant, which is housed in a building with a stone facade at a three-way intersection. The name appears as ΒΙΤΣΕΝΤΖΟΣ on signs. The waterfront road comes to an end shortly past Vitsentzos, but the next road inland continues along the perimeter of the bay. To get there, turn right (inland) onto the road next to Vitsentzos, proceed just a block to a "T" junction, then turn left. There will be buildings along both sides of the road. In 300-400 meters, you will pass Treis Ierarches ("Three Hierarchs") chapel, just past which there is a cemetery. Both are on the left side of the road, overlooking the bay. By the time you pass the chapel and the cemetery, you will have left the main cluster of buildings of Xilokeratidi , and the bay will be in view again.
About 100 meters past the cemetery, take note of the stone steps that descend to the water. Several hundred meters away, toward the outer part of the bay, you will see another chapel (Agios Panteleimon), which sits atop a rocky outcropping that protrudes into the bay. Maltezi Beach is beyond the chapel, out of view, and you could go down the steps and follow the waterfront if you wanted to go there. However, to continue to Plakes Bay, stay on the road, which begins to veer inland after the steps, with Agios Panteleimon remaining in view. The road will begin to gradually ascend, and in 300-400 meters you will reach Nera, a hamlet comprised of just a few buildings.
Just after Nera, the road narrows, and you will pass through a gate. The road continues to ascend, spiraling up a hill that has a distinctly conical peak. The upslope of the hill will be on your right-hand side and the downslope on your left-hand side, with the bay in full view. About 400 meters past Nera, you want to find the trail that goes left toward the lighthouse, but that trail is not marked. At that point, you will be about 80 meters above sea level, and you are looking for the first side trail you can take that stays relatively even. In other words, if you immediately begin to go downhill, you have turned too soon. Furthermore, if you reach a small collection of stone ruins, you have missed the trail by about 150 meters. (The ruins are located in a small plateau.)
Once you are on the trail to the lighthouse, you will be heading more-or-less directly west. After remaining fairly level for about 500 meters, the trail will gradually lose about 15 meters of elevation as it descends into a creek drainage that forms a cleft between two hill slopes. The trail then climbs uphill out of the drainage as it continues toward the lighthouse, but you want to leave the trail at the creek drainage. Turn left and make your way down through the cleft all the way to Plakes Bay. The last segment of the hike, through the cleft, is about 400 meters long, and it is the steepest and most challenging part of the hike.
This placemark pertains to Plakes Bay.

Maltezi Beach (textile during peak season)
One of the posted regulations at this beach reads "Nudism is forbidden except in the Plakes Bay." Despite that posting, nudity occurs sporadically on the far east end of the beach, but only during the off season when the beach is thinly populated.
This placemark pertains to Plakes Bay.

boat to Maltezi Beach and Plakes Bay
The boat to Maltezi Beach and Plakes Bay departs from the ferry port in Katapola. Boats run about once an hour from mid-morning to late afternoon during peak season.
This placemark pertains to Plakes Bay.

turnoff into Camping Amorgos

turnoff toward Villa Le Grand Bleu

Proton Market (small grocery shop)

Le Grand Bleu Café-Bar

Vitsentzos Restaurant (ΒΙΤΣΕΝΤΖΟΣ on the sign)

Treis Ierarches ("Three Hierarchs") chapel

seaside cemetery

stone steps

Agios Panteleimon chapel

gate across the road

small collection of ruins

lighthouse

boat route to Maltezi Beach and Plakes Bay

hiking route from ferry port to Plakes Bay

Psili Ammos & Chochlakas Beaches

Aegiali Bay is a prominent inlet that is toward the far north end of the west side of Amorgos, and the village of Aegiali is the location of one of the island's two ferry ports. Aegiali Beach is the west-facing beach that extends northward about 700 meters from the port. Going north from Aegiali Beach, the coastline bends, and there is a trio of smaller beaches along the north side of the bay. Closest to Aegiali is Levrossos Beach, then the next two beaches going farther out are named Psili Ammos and Chochlakas. All three of those beaches are roughly 150 meters long, and all three face more south than west. It is possible to drive to Levrossos Beach and park uphill from the beach, or you can hike there from the north end of Aegiali Beach. A hike is required to reach the other two beaches. From Levrossos, a hillside coastal path leads to Psili Ammos. From the opposite end of Psili Ammos, a similar but much shorter hillside path continues to Chochlakas.
Levrossos Beach is a beautiful sandy beach that has magnificent views across the bay of Aegiali and the mountainside villages above it. Many sources describe Levrossos as a nude beach, but that's a more apt description of its past than its present. As the beach has become progressively more developed, nudity has become progressively less viable. Some owners of the accommodations that overlook the beach frown upon nudity, and a sign is posted that indicates that nudity is forbidden. While there still may be sporadic nudity during the off season, that seems to be less common each year. To the extent that nudity is possible on the beach, it occurs on the far east end (to the left when facing the sea). However, our best assessment is that nudity has all but vanished from Levrossos.
Nudists now tend to hike to Psili Ammos, a similar if not quite as idyllic beach that offers more seclusion than does Levrossos, with no development. Psili Ammos likewise has terrific views across the bay, but there are more pebbles mixed with the sand. Psili Ammos is typically uncrowded, and nudity is common. The path from Levrossos takes you roughly to the center of Psili Ammos. If a substantial proportion of textiles are present, nudists may gravitate to the far east end of the beach (to the left when facing the bay), which is the most sheltered part of the beach. Or, go to the opposite (west) end of the beach and continue hiking. Within a few minutes you will reach Chochlakas, which has a small sandy expanse at its center flanked by a sand-and-pebble stretch on one end and a very rocky stretch on the other. Chochlakas is not as highly regarded for scenic beauty as is Levrossos or Psili Ammos, but it is likely to be deserted, and it is a nearby Plan B should there be too many textiles at Psili Ammos. The closest amenities to Psili Ammos or Chochlakas are back at Levrossos, where there is a taverna.
Note: Aegiali is the seaside village at the ferry port, and there are three villages overlooking Aegiali. Potamos is just uphill from the port, while Lagkada (a.k.a. Lagada or Langada) and Thoralia are farther up the mountain. The name Aegiali is often applied collectively to all the villages that occupy the amphitheater-like space around Aegiali Bay, and the name Ormos Aegialis is sometimes used as a more specific term for the seaside village. As of 2015, Google Maps labels Lagkada as Aegiali, and this apparent mislabeling is replicated on a number of other maps.
This placemark pertains to Psili Ammos Beach and Chochlakas Beach.

Psili Ammos Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Psili Ammos Beach and Chochlakas Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Aegiali, Amorgos, Cyclades, Greece
There are 10 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Psili Ammos Beach and Chochlakas Beach.

Chochlakas Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Psili Ammos Beach and Chochlakas Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Aegiali, Amorgos, Cyclades, Greece
There are 10 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Psili Ammos Beach and Chochlakas Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2emoOy0
starting point  the ferry port in Aegiali
Located in a prominent bay toward the far north end of the west side of Amorgos, the village of Aegiali is the northern of two ferry ports on the island. From the ferry port, follow the road that runs along the seafront through the main hub of Aegiali, such that the bay is on your left-hand side. In 100 or so meters the short seafront road will veer away from the sea and head inland. Continue 300-400 meters, then turn left toward Thoralia, a village that is perched near the top of a mountain. The Thoralia road is fairly flat for about 600 meters, then it begins to ascend steeply. Continue uphill 500-600 meters to a rightward hairpin curve that is just past the entrance to Aegialis Hotel & Spa, a large resort that is on the right side of the road. At the curve, turn left toward Levrossos Beach. Follow the road about 300 meters to its end at a small parking lot that is perched above Levrossos Beach, at coordinates 36.9094N, 25.9722E.
Facing the sea, there is a stone staircase that descends from the right side of the parking lot. At the bottom of the stairs, you will still be above Levrossos Beach. Turn right and follow the paved walkway that arcs around the northwestern side of the beach. You will be roughly at roof level of the small apartment buildings that cascade down the hillside toward the beach. Shortly the walkway will ascend slightly via 15 or so steps. At the tops of the steps, the walkway becomes a dirt path and continues to ascend as it curves away from Levrossos. The path clings to the side of a mountain, with the sea on your left-hand side. The path rises to a maximum height of about 55 meters before descending gradually toward the sea. When you reach sea level, you will be at Psili Ammos Beach. The total hike from the parking lot is 600-700 meters.
Facing the sea at Psili Ammos, look to your right and you will see a small path that ascends from the west end of the beach. You can follow that mountainside path to reach Chochlakas Beach. The hike from Psili Ammos to Chochlakas is about 200 meters, and the path rises to a maximum height of about 16 meters.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking.
This placemark pertains to Psili Ammos Beach and Chochlakas Beach.

Aegiali ferry port
This placemark pertains to Psili Ammos Beach and Chochlakas Beach.

entrance to Aegialis Hotel & Spa

tiny chapel perched high above Levrossos Beach

Levrossos Beach (likely all textile)
Many sources describe Levrossos as a nude beach, but that's a more apt description of its past than its present. The owners of the accommodations that overlook the beach frown upon nudity, and a sign is posted that indicates that nudity is forbidden. While there still may be sporadic nudity during the off season, that seems to be less common each year. To the extent that nudity is possible on the beach, it occurs on the far east end (to the left when facing the sea).

Aegiali Beach (textile)

route from ferry port to Levrossos Beach

path from Levrossos Beach to Psili Ammos Beach

path from Psili Ammos Beach to Chochlakas Beach

Agia Anna Beach
Agia Anna refers to a rocky stretch of coastline punctuated by patches of shingle beach, located just south of Panagia Hozoviotissaa, a monastery that is one of the top tourist attraction of Amorgos. The beach is easily reached by car or by bus. The parking area and the bus stop are both just uphill from a tiny white chapel built atop a rock at the shoreline. At uncrowded times outside of peak season, there may be some nudity in the tiny coves immediately surrounding the chapel, but otherwise that area is likely to be textile only.
From the parking area, follow the trail that goes downhill to the south (to the right when facing the sea). The first patch of shingle beach you reach at the base of the trail is set amid several huge boulders, but that area is also very likely to be all textile, except perhaps out of season. Keep going south on the distinct footpath across the rocky shoreline (toward the prominent island that is just offshore) and shortly you'll round a bend. Keep going a little farther and you'll reach another patch of shingle beach. That area is likely to be all or mostly nudist even when the rest of the beach is textile. The nude area is effectively the end of the beach since the terrain makes it very difficult to continue any farther south. The secluded nude area of the beach is also known by the name "Kambi," but it is much more commonly regarded as part of Agia Anna.
From the beach, look to the north and you'll see a large patch of white about halfway up the mountainside. This is the Hozoviotissa monastery, and it clings to the cliffside in a manner than will make you ask "How did they build that there?" If you arrive by car, you'll pass the turnoff toward parking for the monastery about 1.5 kilometers before the road ends at Agia Anna parking. There is also a bus stop by the monastery. Either by car or bus, you'll have to hike up a steep path, but the monastery is well worth a visit.
village, island, island group, country:  Chora (i.e., Amorgos town), Amorgos, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2emj8Et
starting point  the ferry port in Katapola
Located in a prominent bay about midway along the west side of Amorgos, the village of Katapola is the southern of two ferry ports on the island. In Katapola, follow signs that point toward Chora (i.e., Amorgos town), the principal village of the island. As you leave Katapola, you will be heading east, uphill into the interior of the island. In about 5 kilometers you will reach a roundabout at the edge of Chora, which is the only roundabout on the island.
Go right at the roundabout, toward Vroutsis, Arkesini, Hozoviotissa monastery and Agia Anna. Continue 1.1 kilometers to a three-way junction. Keep to the left to continue toward the monastery and Agia Anna. (The other road goes to Vroutsis and Arkesini.) At the junction, the road will make a sharp curve and begin to wind downhill, and you will have dramatic views of the sea on the east side of the island. Continue another kilometer to the next three-way junction and keep to the right, following a sign for Agia Anna Beach. (The other road goes to the monastery.) Just beyond the junction, you will pass through a gateway with stone gate posts. Continue 1.7 kilometers to the end of the road, which widens into a parking area, at coordinates 36.8252N, 25.9055E.
From either side of the end of the road, there is a path that descends to the sea. Those two paths lead to different areas of Agia Anna Beach. Looking straight ahead toward the sea from the end of the road, the path to the left is a broad cobbled walkway that goes past a tiny seaside chapel, while the path to the right is a much smaller dirt footpath. Follow the dirt path that is to the right of the end of the road. At the bottom, you will reach a tiny pebble beach amid a cluster of several huge boulders. That beach is very likely to be crowded and textile. Facing the sea, turn right and head south along the rocky coastline. In just a few minutes, after you have rounded a slight bend of the coastline, you will reach the hidden nude beach. The total walk from parking to the nude beach is about 350 meters.

roundabout in Chora

turnoff to Panagia Hozoviotissa (monastery)

Panagia Hozoviotissa (monastery)

gateway with stone gate posts

Agia Anna chapel

textile area (usually)
The short stretch of shingle beach immediately south of the parking area is likely to be textile only.

textile area (usually)
The coves surrounding the chapel are likely to be textile only.

road from Chora to Agia Anna

Mouros Beach

Mouros Beach
Mouros Beach is situated toward the southern end of the east side of Amorgos along a segment of coastline that mostly faces south. There are actually three distinct beaches, each less than 100 meters long, that are located within a span of 500 meters. Nestled against rugged cliffs, these boulder-strewn beaches are composed of grayish sand mixed with pebbles. There are two paths leading down to the beaches. The broader path descends to the western of the three beaches, which is the main beach. Jumping off the rocky ledges at the far end of the main beach is a popular activity. The western beach is almost certain to be all textile, but it is not out of the question to encounter occasional nudity on off-season days when there are just a few visitors present. Another path leads down to the middle beach, which is always less crowded than the western beach. While nudity occurs more often at the middle beach than at the western beach, the middle beach is often entirely textile during peak season. From the middle beach, you can take a short hike over a cluster of boulders to reach the eastern beach, which is the most secluded of the three. The eastern beach is usually nearly empty, and nude bathing occurs frequently. There are typically not more than a handful of nudists even during July and August. There is a café at the top of the cliff next to the parking areas, between the two paths that descend to sea level.
village, island, island group, country:  Vroutsis, Amorgos, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2e95MOk
starting point  the ferry port in Katapola
Located in a prominent bay about midway along the west side of Amorgos, the village of Katapola is the southern of two ferry ports on the island. In Katapola, follow signs that point toward Chora (i.e., Amorgos town), the principal village of the island. As you leave Katapola, you will be heading east, uphill into the interior of the island. In about 5 kilometers you will reach a roundabout at the edge of Chora, which is the only roundabout on the island.
Go right at the roundabout, toward Vroutsis, Arkesini, Hozoviotissa monastery and Agia Anna. Continue 1.1 kilometers to a three-way junction. Keep to the right to continue toward Vroutsis and Arkesini. (The other road goes to the monastery and Agia Anna.) At that point, you will begin heading in a generally southwesterly direction on a road that runs high above the east coast of the island, with the sea on your left-hand side. Continue 9.2 kilometers, then turn left at the Mouros Beach turnoff, which is the first significant turnoff you will reach that is on the left (coast) side of the road. (The turnoff is in the hamlet of Kamari. If you reach the right-hand turnoff that goes into the village of Vroutsis, you have missed the turn by 250 meters.).
Follow the road a bit less than 2 kilometers. When you reach the earthen parking areas near the end of the road, the road will bend such that a short stretch of guardrail and the sea are on your right-hand side. The path to the main (western) of the three Mouros beaches leaves from the start of that guardrail (i.e., the end that is farthest right as you face the sea), but that is not the path you want. Keep going just a short bit until the road bends inland next to Café Moros, then park in the area to the rear of the café, at coordinates 36.7870N, 25.8288E.
Find the path the descends from the east side of the café (i.e., from the left side of the café as you face the sea). That path angles down the cliff and leads about 200 meters to the middle beach, which has nudist potential but may be all textile during peak season. Facing the sea at the middle beach, look to your left and you will see a cluster of huge boulders. Follow the narrow footpath that goes uphill on the inland side of the boulders and then goes downhill. Within 100 meters you will land on the eastern beach, which it the most secluded and best situated for nude use.
This placemark pertains to Mouros Beach.

turnoff to Mouros Beach
This placemark pertains to Mouros Beach.

Café Moros
This placemark pertains to Mouros Beach.

middle of 3 beaches (sometimes nudist)
Nudity sometimes occurs at the middle of three Mouros beaches, but chances are it will be all textile on crowded days.

western of 3 beaches (main beach, usually textile)
Nudity may occur here sporadically outside of peak season, but nudity is not the norm and very unlikely to occur during July and August.

road to to Mouros Beach

path to middle and eastern beaches

path to main beach

Anafi

Anafi Beaches

Anafi is a small island that covers about 40 square kilometers, and it is located roughly 20 kilometers west of Santorini (a.k.a. Thira). While Santorini is one of the most touristed of the Greek islands, Anafi is a complete contrast, lacking mass tourism and having just a few hundred permanent residents. Anafi does not have an airport, and ferry service is limited compared to the more touristed islands, with no daily ferry service to or from any single port. There is service to Santorini and to the mainland at least three times a week, and there is less frequent service to several other islands. The hub of island life is along the southern shore. The ferry port is near the middle of the south coast of Anafi. The one settlement on the island is a picturesque hilltop village located just above the port. That village may be referred to as Anafi or Anafi town, but it is most commonly called Chora (alternately spelled "Hora"), which is the general Greek term for the main village of an island when an island and its main village have the same name.
Other than the port and Chora, the other notable features of the south coast are Mount Kalamos and Zoödóchos Pigí. Kalamos is a limestone monolith at the southeast corner of the island. Rising over 400 meters, Kalamos is reminiscent of the Rock of Gibraltar. Zoödóchos Pigí is a monastery (no longer in operation) built at the inland base of Kalamos. From the port, an asphalted road winds uphill to Chora—a distance of a bit less than 3 kilometers (drawn by the aqua line). Near the top of that road but about 500 meters before Chora, another asphalted road (drawn by the blue line) begins and goes east through the hilly terrain above the coastline, ending at the Zoödóchos Pigí monastery. The entire length of the monastery road, counting all its many twists and turns, is about 8.5 kilometers. (There is a steep footpath about 1.7 kilometers long that continues from the monastery to the peak of Kalamos, and there is another monastery structure at the peak.) Below the monastery road, there is a chain of small beaches between the port and the monastery. These beaches span about 5 kilometers, and they are the most easily accessible of the island's beaches. Thus, they are the best attended. Beaches elsewhere on the island tend to be deserted. Among the beaches below the monastery road are several where nudity is commonplace.
Starting at the port and going east toward the monastery, the first beach is Klissidi Beach. It is a sandy beach about 200 meters in length, and there are a few tavernas and houses with rooms for rent along its western end. Klissidi is the main beach of Anafi, and it is a textile beach. There are signs indicating that nudity is forbidden. The beaches east of Klissidi are all known to get at least occasional nude use, but some are better established as nude beaches than others. To the rear of Klissidi, there is a footpath that is signed for the monastery ("monastíri"), and it winds through the rugged terrain above the coastline but below the monastery road. The beaches east of Klissidi can be accessed from the undulating monastery footpath, and there are signs pointing toward each beach.
The eastern end of Klissidi is formed by a headland. The beach on the other side of that headland is Katsouni Beach. To get there, follow the monastery footpath past Klissidi, where there is a spur path that descends the eastern side of the headland to the beach. Katsouni is a sandy beach about 100 meters in length, and it is attended mostly by nudists. At the east end of Katsouni, there is a prominent cement jetty jutting into the sea. Flamourou Beach lies on the other side of the jetty, extending several hundred meters. Flamourou is a narrow ribbon of sand that gets broken into several small beaches at high tide, and there are several caves that can be explored at its far east end. Like Katsouni, Flamourou is attended mostly by nudists. To get to Flamourou, follow the monastery footpath eastward until you get to the spur path that descends to the beach. If you want to go back and forth between Katsouni and Flamourou at sea level, you will have to go around some rocks that are near the jetty. Since the rocks are at the waterline, you will probably have to do a bit of wading. Neither Katsouni nor Flamourou have any amenities.
Klissidi Beach is the logical starting point for going to either Katsouni Beach or Flamourou Beach, so if you have your own transportation, you'll want to park at Klissidi. Since Klissidi is within reasonable walking distance of the port and Chora, you don't need any kind of transportation to visit either Katsouni or Flamourou. However, if you want to explore the beaches that are closer to the monastery, and especially if you want to explore beaches on other parts of the island, you will probably not want to rely solely on your feet (no pun intended). Cars, mopeds and ATV's are available for hire on the island. There is also bus service along the monastery road, but it only runs 3 or 4 times a day.
Continuing east, Roukounas Beach is the longest beach of Anafi, stretching 400-500 meters. It is a sandy beach backed by tamarisk trees, and there is a taverna. Roukounas draws a mix of nudists and textiles. If you hike all the way to Roukounas from Klissidi Beach, it will take the better part of an hour. If you drive, you will find the signed turnoff to Roukounas about 3.5 kilometers east of the start of the monastery road. From the parking area, it is a walk of just a few hundred meters out to the beach, and you will land near the far east end of the beach. While nudity may be encountered anywhere along the beach, nudists tend to gravitate toward the west end (to the right when facing the sea). Tent camping is popular all along the beach.
About a kilometer east of Roukounas, the Katalymatsa archaeological site sits atop a steep hill. The archaeological site consists of scattered ruins of an ancient Roman port. Between Roukounas and the archaeological site, the coastline is particularly rugged and difficult to access. On the other (i.e., east) side of the archaeological site, there is a trio of small coves. From west to east (i.e., going toward the monastery), they are Katalymatsa Beach, Megas Potamos Beach and Aghoi Anargyroi Beach. Megas Potamos (the middle beach of the trio) is directly accessible by car. The turnoff to Megas Potamos is about 6.5 kilometers east of the start of the monastery road (and 3 kilometers past the Roukounas turnoff). From the parking area, it is just a few dozen paces down to Megas Potamos, which is less than 50 meters long. Due to the ease of access, it tends to be all textile. From the Megas Potamos parking area, look east (to the left when facing the sea) and you will see a small white chapel perched above the sea about 250 meters away. The small beach below the chapel is Aghoi Anargyroi, and it too tends to be all textile. On the west side of Megas Potamos (to the right when facing the sea), there is a hillside that is easy to climb over. Go over the hill to reach Katalymatsa, which is the most secluded of the trio of beaches. Nude bathing is common at Katalymatsa, which is comparable in size to Megas Potamos. The hike from Megas Potamos parking to Katalymatsa is about 250 meters. The hilltop archaeological site is accessible from the monastery road. The turnoff is 1.3 kilometers past (i.e., east of) the Roukounas turnoff. There is a steep hillside path from the archaeological site down to Katalymatsa Beach.
Continuing east, the last beach is Prasies Beach. Just off the monastery road, the access to Prasies is roughly a kilometer before the road ends at the monastery. Due to its proximity to the monastery, Prasies is also commonly known as Monastery Beach or Monastíri Beach. The beach is about 250 meters long, and it is similar in appearance to Roukounas. Nudity occurs at Prasies, but not with the same regularity as at the previously mentioned beaches. Nudity is a bit more of a problematic issue at Prasies than at the other beaches due to its ease of access and proximity to a religious site, and there is a sign posted indicating that nudity is not allowed. However, the beach is lightly attended, and nudity is usually possible, except perhaps during July and August. More discretion is advisable than at the other beaches.
To find out more about visiting Anafi, including information about ferry service, transportation rentals and overnight accommodations, a good jumping-off point is Anafi.gr.
This placemark pertains to Katsouni Beach, Flamourou Beach, Roukounas Beach, Katalymatsa Beach and Prasies Beach.

Katsouni Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of these five beaches: Katsouni Beach, Flamourou Beach, Roukounas Beach, Katalymatsa Beach and Prasies Beach.)
island, island group, country:  Anafi, Cyclades, Greece
There are 17 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Katsouni Beach, Flamourou Beach, Roukounas Beach, Katalymatsa Beach and Prasies Beach.

Flamourou Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of these five beaches: Katsouni Beach, Flamourou Beach, Roukounas Beach, Katalymatsa Beach and Prasies Beach.)
island, island group, country:  Anafi, Cyclades, Greece
There are 17 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Katsouni Beach, Flamourou Beach, Roukounas Beach, Katalymatsa Beach and Prasies Beach.

Roukounas Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of these five beaches: Katsouni Beach, Flamourou Beach, Roukounas Beach, Katalymatsa Beach and Prasies Beach.)
island, island group, country:  Anafi, Cyclades, Greece
There are 17 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Katsouni Beach, Flamourou Beach, Roukounas Beach, Katalymatsa Beach and Prasies Beach.

Katalymatsa Beach

Prasies Beach

Megas Potamos Beach (textile)
This placemark pertains to Katsouni Beach, Flamourou Beach, Roukounas Beach, Katalymatsa Beach and Prasies Beach.

Aghoi Anargyroi Beach (textile)
This placemark pertains to Katsouni Beach, Flamourou Beach, Roukounas Beach, Katalymatsa Beach and Prasies Beach.

Klissidi Beach (textile)

ferry port

Katalymatsa archaeological site

Zoödóchos Pigí monastery

jetty between Katsouni Beach & Flamourou Beach

start of road to monastery

turnoff to Roukounas Beach
3.5 kilometers from the start of the road to the monastery

turnoff to Megas Potamos Beach
6.5 kilometers from the start of the road to the monastery

peak of Mt. Kalamos
Here there is a monastery structure that is separate and smaller the the monastery at the base of the mountain.

road from ferry port to village

road to monastery

Andros

Delavoyas Beach

Delavoyas Beach
Delavoyas Beach is a small sandy beach located on the southern periphery of the village of Batsi (a.k.a. Mpatsi), 9 to 10 kilometers by car from the main ferry port of Andros in Gavrio. The hidden beach, which is no more than 100 meters long, extends northward from Aneroussa Hotel. It may be mistaken for a private hotel beach since there are no obvious signs indicating a public access, but the beach is open to everyone. There are stairs going down to the beach from the hotel, and there is also a very inconspicuous access via stairs from the road that runs above the beach. All accesses lead to the south end of the beach, where there is a bar that serves drinks and snacks. About halfway along Delavoyas, there is a low outcropping of rock extending seaward across the beach. It is quite easy to cross, and during peak season sunchairs and umbrellas (which must be rented) are set up along both halves of the beach. The south side next to the beach bar is textile, while nudity is commonplace on the north side on the other side of the rock. The north side is not exclusively attended by nudists, and on crowded days nudists are apt to gravitate toward the far northern end, often pulling their sunchairs a bit apart from the cluster to create a bit of separation from the nearest textiles. While nudists are always a minority on the overall beach, nudity is well established enough that there is usually at least a small nudist presence toward the north end even during peak season. Delavoyas is the best established nude beach in Andros, but attendance—both nudist and textile—is limited by the small size of the beach.
village, island, island group, country:  Batsi, Andros, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eNVukQ
starting point  the ferry port in Gavrio
The main ferry port in Andros is located in the village of Gavrio, toward the northern end of the west coast of the island. At the ferry port, there is a big blue sign with an arrow pointing toward Andros (i.e., Andros town), Batsi, Ormos Korthiou, Apoikia and Arni. Follow that sign and you will be filtered onto the road that runs along the west coast of the island, heading south. Proceed 5 to 6 kilometers and you will reach the seaside village of Batsi (which is transliterated at Mpatsi on some maps). In Batsi, there are three right-hand turnoffs that go to Batsi Beach, and those turnoffs are signed as Entrances A, B and C. Keep straight ahead past Entrance A, the first (northernmost) turnoff. 1.2 kilometers farther along, keep straight ahead past Entrance B, the second (middle) turnoff, which is signed only in Greek as Εισοδος Β Μπατσιου. 1.2 kilometers farther along, turn right at Entrance C, which is the third (southernmost) of the turnoffs. The turnoff is immediately past a short, curving bridge that spans a gully, and the turnoff is also signed for Stivari and Agia Marina.
Upon turning, follow the road downhill about 600 meters to a three-way junction that is next to the sea, where the main road bends sharply to the right. Turn left at the junction. The road is not signed. Upon turning, you will be on a road that runs south directly along the coastline, with the sea on your right-hand side. Follow the road for one kilometer and watch carefully for Blue Bay Hotel, which is on the left (inland) side of the road. Blue Bay Hotel has heavy stone walls and is built in two tiers up the hillside. Just up ahead, you will see Aneroussa Hotel, which is on the right (coast) side of the road. It consists of several adjoining buildings painted in pastel shades of pink, blue and yellow. Delavoyas Beach is below Blue Bay Hotel but just before Aneroussa Hotel, and the stairs leading down to the beach are immediately before Aneroussa Hotel, at coordinates 37.8483N, 24.7917E.
There are very limited parking opportunities along the road near the stairs. At the corner of Blue Bay Hotel, you will see a road that veers uphill to the left, following the stone wall of the hotel. Follow that road. In less than 100 meters, you will reach a gravel parking area on the right (at coordinates 37.8487N, 24.7920E) that can hold about a dozen cars. Once you backtrack on foot to the coastal road, head toward Aneroussa Hotel about 75 meters and look for an unmarked stone staircase on the coast side of the road. (Just past the stairs, there are two nearby pairs of lantern-topped white gate posts flanking driveways that go into Aneroussa Hotel, so you have just missed the rather inconspicuous staircase if you pass the gate posts.) The stairs descend to the far south end of the beach, and you will see a small, low outcropping of rock roughly midway along the small beach. Nude bathing occurs on the other side of the rock, toward the far north end of the beach.
This placemark pertains to Delavoyas Beach.

Entrance "C" turnoff in Batsi
This placemark pertains to Delavoyas Beach.

small parking lot
This placemark pertains to Delavoyas Beach.

staircase at start of path to beach

Blue Bay Hotel

Aneroussa Hotel

route from Entrance "C" to Delavoyas Beach

Kalamonari and Bouros Beaches

Ormos Korthiou is the southernmost coastal village of Andros, located in a bay of the same name that is toward the southern end of the east side of the island. The village and the bay are alternately known as Korthi Bay in English. The landscape of the bay is one of gently rolling coastal mountains covered in grass and scrub but mostly barren of trees. The mountains of Korthi Bay exude a Celtic greenness during spring that gradually browns out with the progression of summer. North of the village, toward the outer part of the bay where it opens out to the sea, there is a beach with the unusual name of Tis Grias to Pidima, often truncated to Grias Pidima. It is a small, narrow beach accessed by a cliff-hugging footpath that, despite the presence of very necessary handrails, may make your heart stop momentarily. The iconic geological landmark of Grias Pidima is a distinctive column of rock that is just barely offshore, in the tidal zone of the beach. Grias Pidima is far too popular to have nudist potential, except perhaps occasionally during the off season. However, northeast of Grias Pidima, even farther out along Korthi Bay, there are two beaches that are largely off the radar of most visitors, and those beaches get some visitation by nudists, although neither can be described as a well-established nude beach.
Northeast of Grias Pidima, just beyond a rocky outcropping that poses a formidable access barrier, Kalamonari Beach is a small, narrow beach at the mouth of a stream that is usually dry. Very few sources attribute a proper name to the beach, and there are no signs. Kalamonari is the name of the stream, and the stone walls along the stream bed are part of an antiquated system of watermills. Kalamonari Beach is a short and narrow band of pebbles interspersed with larger rocks. It is possible to swim around the outcropping from Grias Pidima to Kalamonari, but a more likely approach is to hike down to the beach from the gravel road that runs above the coastline. Kalamonari is essentially an extension of Grias Pidima, allowing you to soak up a bit of the atmosphere of Grias Pidima, but without clothing. From Kalamonari, you can see part of the rock column for which Grias Pidima is best known.
North of Kalamonari, there is an even more remote and much nicer beach called Bouros. It is a mostly sandy expanse of about 130 meters nestled against the stark yet gentle backdrop of the coastal mountains. The isolation of Bouros affords it nudist potential. It draws few visitors, and those who find the way there are likely to arrive by boat, but it is possible to hike to Bouros from Kalamonari. It is a moderately challenging trek of about 500 meters along a path that runs above the coastline. Despite its isolation, Bouros does not have a particular reputation as a nude beach, so it is probably best to assess the sensitivity of others if only textiles are present when you arrive. If you are the first to arrive, by all means establish a precedent for bare bathing.
This placemark pertains to Kalamonari Beach and Bouros Beach.

Kalamonari Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Kalamonari Beach and Bouros Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Ormos Korthiou, Andros, Cyclades, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Kalamonari Beach and Bouros Beach.

Bouros Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Kalamonari Beach and Bouros Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Ormos Korthiou, Andros, Cyclades, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Kalamonari Beach and Bouros Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2f1fK1t
starting point  the ferry port in Gavrio
The main ferry port in Andros is located in the village of Gavrio, toward the northern end of the west coast of the island. At the ferry port, there is a big blue sign with an arrow pointing toward Andros (i.e., Andros town), Batsi, Ormos Korthiou, Apoikia and Arni, and that sign indicates a distance of 38 kilometers to Ormos Korthiou, which is a village that is toward the southern end of the east coast of the island. You want to go all the way to Ormos Korthiou, and there are no turns to make along the way. For most of the trip to Ormos Korthiou, you will be going south along the west coast of Andros, then the road will begin to wind through the narrow interior of the island. A few kilometers before Ormos Korthiou, you will be able to glimpse the sea on the east coast. Once you get very close to the sea, the road will gradually veer leftward, curving northward toward the center of Ormos Korthiou. Take note when you reach a seaside mini-roundabout.
Keep to the right at the mini-roundabout and you will be at the start of a seafront road, which is the main commercial street of Ormos Korthiou. You will be going north, with the sea on your right-hand side. Continue 300-400 meters, then turn left at the sign for Grias Pidima Beach, which may alternately be written as "Tis Grias to Pidima" or "Grias to Pidima." (If you pass the first of two long piers that are at the north end of Ormos Korthiou, you have missed the turn by about 200 meters. The road dead ends a bit past the piers.)
Once you turn away from the seafront, you will have to make several turns in quick succession to continue along the route toward Grias Pidima, navigating the very narrow streets of the village center. Just watch carefully for the Grias Pidima signs and follow them. Before long you should be heading in a generally northward direction again on a road that winds uphill above the coastline. Not quite a kilometer from the seafront, you will reach the point where the road turns to gravel. Continue a little over 700 meters farther to a "T" junction where there is a green metal gate straight ahead of you. Beyond the gate, you will see a small chapel that is perched above the sea. Turn left to continue along the main road. About 100 meters farther on, there is a parking pullout on the left (inland) side of the road opposite that path that goes downhill to Grias Pidima Beach. Keep driving. About 200 meters farther along, you will see a white metal gate straight ahead of you at the point where the road veers leftward, away from the coastline. Next to the gate, there is a "Private Property, Do Not Enter" sign. Park alongside the road a bit before the gate, around coordinates 37.7836N, 24.9576E. (There isn't much room to park, so you may prefer to to leave you car at the aforementioned pullout and proceed toward the white gate on foot.)
The private driveway that begins at the white gate leads to a stone house that is built below the level of the road. That house is surrounded by a wire mesh fence. Angle down toward the coastline, keeping the fence on your left-hand side. In about 125 meters you will reach Kalamonari Beach, a tiny beach located where a small stream bed opens out to the sea.
To continue to Bouros Beach, you will have to continue north, but the rocky and difficult terrain makes it impossible (or at least extremely difficult) to follow the coastline at sea level. Make your way uphill on the other side of the stream bed. When you are above the level of the craggy cliff face, you will find a line of tombstone-like rocks that run parallel to the coastline, forming a crude fence of sorts. The is a well-worn footpath on the inland side of those rocks. As you follow the path through the open landscape, the sea will be on your right and the upslope of the mostly barren mountainside will be to your left. Eventually the path will go downhill into the next stream bed, where you will reach Bouros Beach, which is a much larger and sandier beach than Kalamonari Beach. The hiking distance from Kalamonari Beach to Bouros Beach is about 500 meters.
This placemark pertains to Kalamonari Beach and Bouros Beach.

mini-roundabout in Ormos Korthiou
This placemark pertains to Kalamonari Beach and Bouros Beach.

green metal gate

small chapel perched above the sea

parking area for Grias Pidima Beach

Grias Pidima Beach (textile)
The actual name of this beach is "Tis Grias to Pidima," but it often gets shortened to Grias Pidima, avoiding the short words that can be confused with a contraction and a preposition in English.

white metal gate
white metal gate at the start of a private driveway that leads to a stone house that is built below the level of the road
Next to the gate, there is a "Private Property, Do Not Enter" sign.

roads through Ormos Korthiou

path to Grias Pidima Beach

hike to KalamonariaBeach & Bouros Beach

Agios Ioannis Kremmydes

Agios Ioannis Kremmydes Beach
Ormos Korthiou is the southernmost coastal village of Andros, located in a bay of the same name that is toward the southern end of the east side of the island. South of Ormos Korthiou, there is a long mountain, the ridge of which runs in a generally east-west direction across the entire island. On the other side of that mountain, there is an isolated beach called Agios Ioannis Kremmydes Beach, which takes its name from a small chapel that is perched above the beach. Although it is one of the most remote beaches of Andros, it is accessible by car. The driving distance to the beach from Ormos Korthiou is about 10 kilometers, and about two-thirds of that route is a gravel road. The winding road to the beach ascends to a maximum height of about 415 meters above sea level at the point where it crosses the mountain ridge.
An east-facing beach in a small bay, Agios Ioannis Kremmydes spans about 175 meters and is composed of compacted sand and gravel, it is possible to drive all the way to Agios Ioannis Kremmydes and park along the beach. The beach is lightly attended even during July and August, and outside those two months it is often deserted. Agios Ioannis Kremmydes has nudist potential because of its isolation, but it cannot said to be a really well-established nude beach. Just north of the beach, over a small headland, there is a much smaller beach, which is a pocket of sand that spans about 40 meters. It offers even more isolation for nude bathing. Anyone present on the pocket beach is likely to get there by boat, but with a little gumption you can hike over the headland to get to the pocket beach.
GPS: 37.7432N, 24.9840E (main beach), 37.7455N, 24.9844E (small beach north of main beach)
village, island, island group, country:  Aidonia, Andros, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2ejwvoM
starting point  the ferry port in Gavrio
The main ferry port in Andros is located in the village of Gavrio, toward the northern end of the west coast of the island. At the ferry port, there is a big blue sign with an arrow pointing toward Andros (i.e., Andros town), Batsi, Ormos Korthiou, Apoikia and Arni, and that sign indicates a distance of 38 kilometers to Ormos Korthiou, which is a village that is toward the southern end of the east coast of the island. You want to go almost all the way to Ormos Korthiou before making your next turn. Follow the sign at the ferry port and you will be filtered onto the road that runs along the west coast of the island, heading south. Once you have driven 31-32 kilometers from the ferry port, take note when you pass the small blue-and-white Aipatia village sign. By the time you reach Aipatia, the west coast will have permanently disappeared from view, and the road will be winding through the narrow interior of the island toward the east coast at Ormos Korthiou. Between Aipatia and Ormos Korthiou, there are two right-hand turnoffs signed for Aidonia, Korthi and Piso Meria. Those two turnoffs are at either end of a loop road.
After you pass the Aipatia village sign, continue 900 meters and take note when you pass the first (western) turnoff for Aidonia, Korthi and Piso Meria, but do not turn there. Keep straight ahead another 3.1 kilometers, then turn right at the second (eastern) turnoff for Aidonia, Korthi and Piso Meria. The eastern turnoff is on the outskirts of Ormos Korthiou, just a few hundred meters from the sea.
Follow the road 800-900 meters. Just before Aidonia, make a sharp left at a large brown sign that points toward Profitis Ilias, Monastery of Panagia Alinou, Agios Ioannis Kournous and Agios Ioannis Kremmydes.
The road will begin to steeply ascend a mountain. In about 300 meters, as you twist around several successive switchbacks, you will pass a chapel that is surrounded by a wall built of white stones. 300-400 meters past the chapel, you will reach an unsigned three-way junction next to a few crumbling stone structures that are partially built into the mountainside. Make a very sharp left in order to continue ascending the mountain. 600-700 meters farther on, the road will turn to gravel. Continue up the mountain another two kilometers to the spine of the mountain, where you will reach a four-way junction with a road that runs along the spine. At that point, you will be a little over 400 meter above sea level. Keep straight ahead. The road will begin to descend.
Continue down the mountain about 4 kilometers. When you are near sea level, the road will cross a dry creek bed. Straight ahead of you, the road will begin to ascend toward Agios Ioannis Kremmydes chapel, which is perched atop a rise on the other side of the creek bed. Do not follow the road once it begins to go uphill. Instead, turn left and drive through the creek bed. In a few hundred meters you will reach Agios Ioannis Kremmydes Beach, where it is possible to park very close to or even along the beach, around coordinates 37.7420N, 24.9837E.
This placemark pertains to Agios Ioannis Kremmydes Beach.

small beach north of Agios Ioannis Kremmydes Beach
This placemark pertains to Agios Ioannis Kremmydes Beach.

eastern of two turnoffs toward Aidonia, Korthi and Piso Meria
This placemark pertains to Agios Ioannis Kremmydes Beach.

brown sign pointing toward Profitis Ilias, etc.
brown sign pointing toward Profitis Ilias, Monastery of Panagia Alinou, Agios Ioannis Kournous, Agios Ioannis Kremmydes

chapel surrounded by a wall built of white stones

unsigned 3-way junction
unsigned three-way junction next to a few crumbling stone structures that are partially built into the mountainside

4-way junction atop spine of mountain

Agios Ioannis Kremmydes chapel

route over mountain from Ormos Korthiou to Agios Ioannis Kremmydes

Antiparos

Camping Beach

Camping Beach
Antiparos is an island of about 45 square kilometers that is just west of the larger and more developed island of Paros. Antiparos is accessed through Paros, and the ferry route linking the two islands is just 1.2 kilometers long. From the ferry port in Antiparos town, a walk of 10 to 15 minutes takes you to the north shore of the island. Just a bit offshore from the north shore, there is a smaller island called Diplo Island (considered part of Antiparos), and the strait between the north shore and Diplo is very shallow. The popular and well-known nude beach of Antiparos is located along the island's north shore, facing Diplo Island. The nude beach does not have a universally agreed-upon proper name but seems to be known as Camping Beach more than anything else due to its proximity to Camping Antiparos. (The nude beach is also sometimes also called Theologos Beach, which is potentially confusing since Theologos is actually the name of a nearby textile beach that is located near the ferry port.)
Camping Beach actually has two distinct parts, both of which are attended by nudists. The main part of the beach (closer to Camping Antiparos) is a notch of sand that protrudes into the strait, and it is about 70 meters long. Walk just a minute or two east and you'll find a beach of 40 to 50 meters in length tucked in a small bay of the strait. Nudity has been freely tolerated at Camping Beach since the 1970's, and it is widely proclaimed as an "official" nude beach (although that claim seems rather ambiguous). Nudists are typically in the majority when the beach is not overcrowded, but there can be an influx of textiles during peak season (particularly August). If you visit on a crowded day when there is a preponderance of textiles on the main part of Camping Beach, you may find that most nudists have gravitated to the eastern cove. Antiparos has several beaches where nudity is reported to occur sporadically as well as a number of isolated beaches with nudist potential, but Camping Beach is the only beach on the island with a regular and consistent nudist presence.
From the main part of the nude beach, it is just 125 meters across the shallow straight to Diplo Island. You can wade most of the way, but swimming or rafting is necessary for a bit. Diplo is uninhabited (except by goats) and covers less than one square kilometer, and the for the most part the terrain is very gentle. Just north and east of Diplo is a somewhat smaller island called Kavouras, which is easily reached from Diplo by wading across a very narrow channel; the two islands are barely disconnected. It is not uncommon for visitors to Camping Beach to wade to Diplo and explore Diplo and Kavouras in the nude, although footwear is recommended for exploring the rocky terrain.
Camping Beach does not have any amenities, but there is a restaurant at Camping Antiparos, just 300-400 meters away. Since Camping Beach is within walking distance from the ferry port in Antiparos town, it is easy to day trip to the beach from Paros, and a car is not necessary.
village, island, island group, country:  Antiparos town, Antiparos, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eSNZJy
Antiparos is just west of the much larger island of Paros, and Antiparos has just one port of entry, which is the ferry port in Antiparos town, located on the east side of the island near its far northern end. Camping Beach is located within easy walking distance of the ferry port in Antiparos town. Vehicles can be ferried to the island or rented in Antiparos town, but you do not need transportation just to get to Camping Beach.
To get to Antiparos, you must start from Paros, which has two ports of entry. There is a major ferry port in Parikia (a.k.a. Paros town) on the west side of the island, which has connections to the Greek mainland and several other islands, and there is a small airport located about 11 kilometers south of the Parikia ferry port. Roughly halfway between the Parikia ferry port and the Paros airport, there is a small ferry port in the village of Pounta. From the ferry port in Pounta, it is just 1.2 kilometers across the water to the ferry port in Antiparos town. To get to the Antiparos ferry port from Paros, you have two options. If you are starting from Parikia and you do not have a vehicle to transport, you can take a small ferry to Antiparos. There is frequent service during summer, and the trip takes about 30 minutes. Your other option is to go to Pounta by car, taxi or bus. The Pounta ferry goes only to Antiparos town, and there is frequent ferry service back and forth between Pounta and Antiparos town. It is a short ride of about 10 minutes, and you can take a vehicle.
Once you are at the Antiparos ferry port, the directions to Camping Beach are the same whether you are on foot or in a vehicle. From the seafront road next to the ferry port, head north, such that the water is on your right-hand side. Shortly you will reach the end of the seafront and there will be structures on both sides of the road. From that point, continue about 100 meters to the next intersection (which is effectively a "T" since the road straight ahead dead ends just beyond the intersection). Turn right. The road will gradually curve leftward such that you continue north. In 500-600 meters, watch for Camping Antiparos on the left, which has a prominent arched stone gateway. If you have a vehicle, you can park it on the right side of the road opposite the entry to Camping Anitparos. Keep straight ahead past Camping Antiparos another 100 meters and you will reach the waterfront. Turn right. At that point, you will begin walking east along a dirt path, with the water on your left-hand side. In about 200 meters, you will reach the main part of Camping Beach, which is marked by a sign indicating that it is a nude beach. If you keep straight ahead and continue about 150 meters beyond the main beach, you will reach the separate eastern cove of Camping Beach, which is also attended by nudists. The total walk from the ferry port to the main area of Camping Beach is 1.2 kilometers and takes about 15 minutes.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the Antiparos ferry port to Camping Beach.
This placemark pertains to Camping Beach.

eastern cove (nudist)
This placemark pertains to Camping Beach.

entrance to Camping Antiparos
This placemark pertains to Camping Beach.

Antiparos ferry port

Diplo Island

Kavouras Island

Theologos Beach (textile)

walking route from ferry port to beach

Donoussa

Donoussa Beaches

Follow this link to print this article: http://bit.ly/2edjeAD
Donoussa is a small island with a land area a bit less than 15 square kilometers. It has fewer than 200 permanent residents, and tourism exists on a small scale. Donoussa is most popular with youthful visitors who don't mind roughing it a bit. The island does not have an airport. Most visitors arrive by ferry from nearby Naxos, a much larger and more populated island. Naxos has an airport and is also well connected to other islands by ferry (but there is no direct ferry service between Naxos and the mainland). Donoussa is roughly 18 kilometers east of Naxos. However, all ferries from Naxos depart from Naxos town on the western side of the island, so the ferry trip is a journey of about 50 kilometers. A journey by ferry from the mainland to Donoussa involves three legs: Piraeus (Athens) to Paros, Paros to Naxos, then Naxos to Donoussa. There is no daily ferry service between Donoussa and any single port. Ferries between Naxos and Donoussa run four times a week. Service to other islands is less frequent, and the schedule seems irregular. To visit Donoussa, you will have to stay overnight for at least one night.
The ferry port is at Stavros, a village on the west side of the island. (Many maps label the village as Donoussa rather than Stavros.) If you want some form of transportation to get around, you'll need to bring it with you. Cars and other vehicles can be ferried from Naxos, but no transportation can be rented on the island: no cars, no mopeds, not even bicycles. Nor is there bus or taxi service. Since the island is small, most visitors arrive without transportation and get around on foot, and cars are fairly uncommon sights. There are no hotels on Donoussa. Many who visit camp informally on one of a couple of beaches. Tents and other supplies must be brought with you, and be aware that camping means primitive tent camping. There are also a number of rooms available for rent in Stavros. Villagers with rooms to rent wait for arriving ferries. Planning ahead is not necessary out of peak season, but you may want to plan in advance if you visit during July or August. (Several rooms are available at Donoussarooms.gr, and a few properties are available at Booking.com.)
Besides Stavros, there are two other settlements on the island: Mersini and Kalotaritissa. Both are tiny, each consisting of several houses and a chapel, and they are better described as hamlets than villages. Kalotaritissa is in the northeast of the island, and the as-the-crow-flies distance from Stavros to Kalotaritissa is about 3.2 kilometers. However, the mountainous interior of the island is between Stavros and Kalotaritissas, with the peak elevation of the island at 383 meters. There is a hiking trail from Stavros to Kalotaritissa across the northern side of the island. The trail is about 4.5 kilometers long and takes about 75 to 90 minutes to hike. There is also an asphalted road from Stavros to Kalotaritissa. The road begins at the ferry port at Stavros and winds through the southern and eastern sides of the island, ending at Kalotaritissa. The asphalted road is a little over 10 kilometers long, and it takes about 2 1/2 hours to walk the entire length (which is traced by the green line). Mersini is located roughly halfway along the asphalted road, on the southern side of the island.
Donoussa has just a handful of small beaches since most of the coastline is rocky and rugged. Two of the beaches, Kendros and Livadi, draw a significant contigent of nude bathers, while nudity patterns are more irregular at three more beaches. Most nude bathing on Donoussa occurs on the southern side of the island between Stavros and Mersini, but there is also one location in Kalotaritissa as well. All the nudist locations can be accessed from the asphalted road. The orange lines trace the paths from the asphalted road to the various beaches.
The first beach you will encounter upon reaching Donoussa is Stavros Beach, which is next to Stavros village and the ferry port. As you might expect, it is a strictly textile beach. Make your way uphill from the village or the village beach to connect to the asphalted road, then follow the road away from the village, such that the sea is on your right-hand side. Within 5 to 10 minutes you will see Kedros Beach, which is clearly visible below the road. There are two paths that leave the asphalted road and descend to the beach. If you are on foot, you can take the first path. If you are in a vehicle, stay on the asphalted road 600 meters past the first path and take the second path, which is wide enough for cars. About 150 meters long, Kedros is a sandy beach with a good many pebbles, and it is the main nude beach of Donoussa. During peak summer season, the beach is lined with tents, often several rows deep. It is one of the two beaches on the islands where free informal camping is tolerated. There is a taverna in the flat atea behind the beach. Kedros tends to draw a roughly even mix of nudists and textiles, with nudists often comprising a majority. Note that clothing should be worn in and around the taverna.
After Kedros Beach, the next beach (continuing counterclockwise around the island) is Vathi Limenari Beach. Unlike Kedros, Vathi Limenari is quite hidden. Just 30 or so meters long, it is a pebble beach tucked away in a small, picturesque bay. Vathi Limenari really isn't a nude beach or a textile beach. It is usually just an empty beach. It is the kind of beach where you are free to be naked if you are the first one there. To find Vathi Limenari, your starting point of reference should be the second side path down to Kedros (i.e., the one that is wide enough for cars). From there, continue along the asphalted road (away from the port) about 1.2 kilometers until you get to a sharp leftward curve where a dirt track (wide enough for cars) continue straight ahead. At that point, look toward the sea. In the distance, you should see a stone cylindrical structure. It is the base of a dilapidated windmill called Kato Milos, but the blades are not extant. Vathi Limenari is downhill to the left of the windmill base, out of sight. To get there, follow the track that leaves from the sharp leftward curve of the asphalted road. In 500-600 meters, you will reach a point where the track bends sharply to the left and begins to go slightly uphill. At that point, keep straight ahead on a narrower path that continues downhill all the way to the beach. The hike from the asphalted road to the beach is about 1.2 kilometers.
After Vathi Limenari, the next two beaches of Donoussa are Livadi Beach and Fikio Beach. They are neighboring beaches separated by a rocky outcropping. Livadi Beach is about 120 meters long, and it is quite similar in character and appearance to Kedros Beach. Like at Kedros, informal tent camping is tolerated at Livadi, and so is nudity. While Livadi draws fewer visitors than Kedros, it tends to have a higher proportion of nudists, with a nudist-to-textile ratio of about 3 to 1. Unlike Kedros, Livadi is secluded from the asphalted road, and there is no taverna abutting the beach. Over the small headland from Livadi, Fikio Beach is quite tiny, with room for just a handful of visitors. It is a small patch of sand partially sheltered by a cavelike mass of reddish rock, situated in a tiny bay that is a particularly nice swimming area. Fikio is basically considered a nude beach by default. It is next to an established nude beach, but it is often empty. To get to Livadi and Fikio, follow the asphalted road until you get to the settlement of Mersini, which is about 4 kilometers from Stavros and 3 kilometers past Kedros. Follow the side road through Mersini past the small church (Agia Sophia), where there is a marked trail to the beaches. Follow the trail downhill about 800 meters and you will reach the headland between Livadi and Fikip. Facing the sea, Livadi will be prominently in view to your right, while Fikio is more hidden off to your left. While it is a short walk from Stavros to Kedros, it will take at least an hour to walk from Stavros to Livadi or Fikio. There is often an informal boat shuttle service between Stavros and Livadi, but you will have to inquire about it in the village since it does not seem to adhere to a fixed schedule. There are two tavernas uphill from Livadi and Fikio in Mersini.
Continuing counterclockwise from Livadi and Fikio, there is a long stretch of rocky and rugged shoreline, and you have to go all the way to Kalotaritissa at the end of the asphalted road before you get to another beach. In Kalotaritissa, there is a trio of tiny beaches in a span of less than a kilometer. All three are usually assigned the name Tripiti, often as Tripiti #1, Tripiti #2 and Tripiti #3. All are small pebbly beaches that are about the same size, each less than 50 meters across. Tripiti #1 and Tripiti #2 are often empty but usually regarded as textile beaches, while nude bathing commonly occurs at Tripiti #3. As you head into Kalotaritissa along the asphalted road, you will first pass Tripiti #1, which is just off the road when the road makes a double curve. After Tripiti #1, the road curves away from the sea. At that point, leave the road and follow the dirt path along the coastline. Almost immediately you will reach Tripiti #2, which is tucked into a corner where the coastline makes a sharp bend. Keep following the coastline. 300-400 meters farther along you will reach Tripiti #3, the most distant of the trio of beaches. Tripiti #3 is situated opposite Kalotaritissa. In other words, if you are standing on Tripiti #3 facing the water, you will be looking at Tripiti #2 and the small cluster of buildings that comprise Kalotaritissa. Tripiti #3 gets some nude use, but not nearly as much as Kedros or Livadi. It is probably more likely to be deserted than to have any bathers, nude or textile. There is a taverna in Kalotaritissa.
Besides the beaches named above, there are numerous rocky coves all along the shoreline where nudity can occur since they are likely to be deserted. Some can be easily reached on foot, while other are difficult to reach except by boat. The most comprehensive website about Donoussa is Donoussa.gr, which, as of 2015, is available in Greek only, although an English version has been posted in the past. Until an English version reappears use Google Translate to interpret the website.
This placemark pertains to Kedros Beach, Vathi Limenari Beach, Livadi Beach, Fikio Beach and Tripiti #3 Beach.

Kedros Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of these five beaches: Kedros Beach, Vathi Limenari Beach, Livadi Beach, Fikio Beach and Tripiti #3 Beach.)
island, island group, country:  Donoussa, Cyclades, Greece
There are 13 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Kedros Beach, Vathi Limenari Beach, Livadi Beach, Fikio Beach and Tripiti #3 Beach.

Vathi Limenari Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of these five beaches: Kedros Beach, Vathi Limenari Beach, Livadi Beach, Fikio Beach and Tripiti #3 Beach.)
island, island group, country:  Donoussa, Cyclades, Greece
There are 13 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Kedros Beach, Vathi Limenari Beach, Livadi Beach, Fikio Beach and Tripiti #3 Beach.

Livadi Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of these five beaches: Kedros Beach, Vathi Limenari Beach, Livadi Beach, Fikio Beach and Tripiti #3 Beach.)
island, island group, country:  Donoussa, Cyclades, Greece
There are 13 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Kedros Beach, Vathi Limenari Beach, Livadi Beach, Fikio Beach and Tripiti #3 Beach.

Fikio Beach

Tripiti #3 Beach

ferry port
This placemark pertains to Kedros Beach, Vathi Limenari Beach, Livadi Beach, Fikio Beach and Tripiti #3 Beach.

Kato Milos, a windmill in ruins
Only the cylindrical stone base remains.
This placemark pertains to Kedros Beach, Vathi Limenari Beach, Livadi Beach, Fikio Beach and Tripiti #3 Beach.

Agia Sophia chapel

Agios Georgios chapel

Stavros Beach (textile)

Tripiti #1 Beach (textile)

Tripiti #2 Beach (textile)

main island road

loop path through Kedros Beach

side path to Vathi Limenari Beach

side path to Livadi & Fikio Beaches

side path to Tripiti #3 Beach

Folegandros

Agios Nikolaos & Fira Beaches

Among the smaller of the Cyclades, Folegandros is a mountainous island with three villages that collectively have fewer than 1,000 residents. The main village, known as Folegandros town or the Chora, is impossibly idyllic in a way that rivals famous Oia in Santorini, with clustered whitewashed buildings perched dramatically atop a steep cliff, overlooked by a magnificent solid-white church perched even higher up the cliff. Tourism exists on a fairly small scale. There are no large hotels, and the stock of accommodations is limited. The island is pretty easy to navigate. The main road of the island begins at the ferry port at the southeastern extreme of the island and goes across the island to its northwestern extreme, which is a distance of not quite 13 kilometers. Everything on the island is either along the main road or along short spur roads from the main road.
Folegandros is oriented along a diagonal line such that the west coast and the south coast are one in the same, as are the east coast and the north coast. We'll go with west and east. If you look at a map of the island, you will see that it is "cinched" in the middle, and in that area the distance across the island from the west coast to the east coast is just over one kilometer. The small tourist village of Agkali is located along the cinched part of the island, in a bay on the island's west coast. There are two (maybe three) beaches where nudists gather that are accessed via hikes that start in Agkali.
If you hike west from Agkali, in about 400 meters you will reach a tiny pebble beach called Galifos Beach that is just 20 meters long. The beach has a nice, shallow swimming area. Galifos is the "maybe" beach alluded to in the previous paragraph. You may encounter a sign indicating that nudity is prohibited, and you may also find that any such sign has been altered by those with different ideas. You will probably encounter only textiles as Galifos, especially during peak season, but nudity occurs sporadically at the beach in spite of any no-nudity signage that is present (or defaced). When nudists are present, they are most often not on the beach proper but on the rocks and small platforms that are just beyond the west end of the beach. Galifos is mostly a footnote to the beach that is farther west. Hike along the steep coastline 400-500 meters past Galifos and you will reach Agios Nikolaos Beach, a picturesque sandy beach that stretches about 100 meters. There is a row of trees behind the beach, with a rugged mountainside covered in scrub forming the backdrop. As you descend to the beach, you will pass the tiny white chapel for which the beach is named. The chapel is perched above the east end of the beach.
Agios Nikolaos is considered the nude beach of Folegandros, but there are a few thing to know before you make any assumptions. Although nudity is tolerated at the beach, there is usually a textile majority. On uncrowded days, nudists may be scattered along the entire beach. On more crowded days, nudists tend to gravitate toward the west end (the side of the beach farthest from the chapel). On peak days, particularly during August, there may be just a few bold nudists among a preponderance of textiles, or perhaps even no nudists at all. However, Agios Nikolaos is well known as a nude beach, so if you are brave enough to buck the trend, nudity should be okay even if no one else is naked. If you visit during peak season, you may consider arriving in the morning to claim the west end of the beach for nudists. If you establish a nudity precedent along the periphery of the beach before textiles can populate the entire beach, other nudists are likely to join you. Surprisingly for such a small beach with no roads leading to it, there are two tavernas, both near the chapel. One is directly on the beach below the chapel, and the other is uphill just above the chapel. The hike to Agios Nikolaos requires a little effort, but during peak season there is often a boat that shuttles visitors to the beach from Agkali. There are no sunchairs on the beach.
If you hike southeast from Agkali, in about 400 meters you will reach Fira Beach, which is so rocky that you may wonder if you've really found a beach, especially if no one else is present. An identifying man-made landmark of Fira is a small, boxy stone building that is built directly along the beach against a mass of rock. Fira Beach is about 75 meters long, and it is composed of pebbles, quite a few larger rocks and just a little sand. Low red cliffs begin to rise up behind the far (i.e., south) end of the beach, and if you wade a bit you can explore a few tiny niches beyond the south end of the beach. Unlike Agios Nikolaos, Fira Beach has no amenities, and it is often empty or occupied by just a few people, but there are days during peak season when up to a dozen visitors may be present. Nude bathing is quite common at the beach, but it is the type of beach where the first people to arrive may set the trend. If you arrive and there are already people present, you are likely to find either that everyone is nude or that no one is nude. Although Fira Beach has its fans, there seem to be about as many people who find the beach unappealing due to its rocky terrain. Just taking into account the beach itself, Fira does not compare at all to Agios Nikolaos. However, the backdrop of Fira Beach is absolutely spectacular, so it is worth hiking through the area for the scenery alone even if you don't think much of the beach. (The green hiker placemark details a longer, more challenging access to Fira Beach that may be of interest to avid hikers.)
You have to hike over rugged terrain to get to any of the beaches that are near Agkali, so be sure to wear sturdy shoes that will give you proper footing.
This placemark pertains to Agios Nikolaos Beach and Fira Beach.

Agios Nikolaos Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Agios Nikolaos Beach and Fira Beach.)
GPS: 36.6302N, 24.8846E (Agios Nikolaos Beach), 36.6312N, 24.8896E (Galifos Beach)
village, island, island group, country:  Agkali, Folegandros, Cyclades, Greece
There are 14 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Agios Nikolaos Beach and Fira Beach.

Galifos Beach (occasional nudity)
Sporadic nudity occurs at this tiny beach despite a sign that prohibits nudity.
This placemark pertains to Agios Nikolaos Beach.

Fira Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Agios Nikolaos Beach and Fira Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Agkali, Folegandros, Cyclades, Greece
There are 14 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Agios Nikolaos Beach and Fira Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2f82bz7
starting point  the ferry port in Karavostasis
The only ferry port in Folegandros is located in the village of Karavostasis at the southeastern end of the island, and it is the island's only port of entry since there is no airport. There is regular ferry service to Folegandros from the mainland as well as from Santorini and Naxos, both of which are heavily touristed nearby islands. The main road of the island begins straight ahead from the ferry port. Follow that road and you will begin heading northwest into the interior of the island, and you will see signs pointing toward the Chora (a.k.a. Folegandros town, labelled on some maps simply as Folegandros). Just 500 or so meters from the ferry port, you will pass a blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving Karavostasis. Continue 2.3 kilometers and you will pass the blue-and-white Chora village sign. The main road will twist and turn several times as it winds around the inland periphery of the Chora. The road bypasses the densest part of the village, which is perched atop a cliff that overlooks the sea.
1.4 kilometers after you pass the Chora sign, you will pass a similar blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving the Chora. From that point, continue north 600-700 meters and take note of the left-hand turnoff signed for Christos and Fira, but do NOT turn there. Keep straight ahead another 1.6 kilometers, then turn left at the signed turnoff to Agkali. There are a few signs at and leading up to the turnoff, and at least one of them is bilingual, but the sign that is most prominent spells Agkali only in upper-case Greek letters as ΑΓΚΑΛΗ. There is a white bus stop shelter at the turnoff.
Once you turn, you will be on a road that goes gradually downhill about one kilometer, ending at Agkali, a small collection of buildings next to the sea. There is parking along the road leading up to its end, around coordinates 36.6321N, 24.8943E.
To hike to Agios Nikolaos Beach:
Walk out to the small beach of Agkali. Facing the sea, look to your right. You will see a prominent path that goes steeply uphill. Follow that path. At first, you will be walking up cement steps, then about halfway up the hill the path will become a gravel track. You will be heading west, with the sea on your left-hand side. Once you get to the top of the hill, the track will briefly level out and narrow into a footpath, then it will gradually descend back toward sea level and you will reach a tiny pebble beach called Galifos Beach, where there are several small boat sheds. By that point, you will have walked about 400 meters from Agkali Beach. After you pass Galifos Beach, the path will go uphill a bit then level out again, clinging to the side of the cliff. The next segment of the hike may be bit challenging for those inclined to vertigo since the drop-off is quite steep. You will be about 10 meters above sea level (about the height of a building with three stories). Once you are about 200 meters past Galifos Beach, you will be beyond the scariest part of the path. Continue several hundred meters and you will reach Papalagi Taverna, which is perched above Agios Nikolaos Beach. From the taverna, a paved path goes down to the beach, and along the descent you will pass directly by the tiny white chapel for which the beach is named. Most nudity takes place toward the west end of the small beach, which is the far end of the beach from the chapel. The total walk from Agkali Beach to Agios Nikolaos Beach is about 900 meters and takes about 15 minutes.
To hike to Fira Beach:
Walk out to the small beach of Agkali, but just as you step onto the beach, turn left onto a broad walkway that is next to a small white apartment building that abuts the beach. The walkway is on the inland side of the apartment building, and shortly it morphs into steps that go up toward a cluster of similar white apartment buildings. At the top of the steps, you will reach the start of a dirt footpath. The path takes you past the apartment buildings as it runs atop the cliff above the east end of Agkali Beach, then it goes downhill and begins to follow the rocky coastline a little closer to sea level. You will be hiking southeast, with the sea on your right-hand side. In 5 to 10 minutes you will reach Fira Beach, which is recognizable by the small, boxy stone building that abuts the beach. The total hike is about 400 meters.
Alternative access to Fira Beach:
In the driving directions above, there is a reference to a turnoff signed for Christos and Fira. That turnoff is the start of an alternative access to Fira Beach, but it involves a much longer and more strenuous walk, so the alternative access will likely be of interest only if you are an avid hiker. The hiking route for the alternative access is drawn in dark green, in contrast to the more neon green that draws the two walking routes that begin at the blue parking placemark.
If you turn at the sign for Christos and Fira, you will be on a gravel road that very quickly turns into a track that is not passable to vehicles, so you will have to park right away. The track is easy to follow, and parts are cobblestone. At your starting point, you will be about 175 meters above sea level. For the first 600-700 meters of the walk, the path has a gentle grade, then it begins to go downhill more steeply for a few hundred meters to its end at Christos chapel, which is a typical white Greek chapel perched on the hillside overlooking the sea. When you reach the chapel, you will have walked about one kilometer, and you will be about 100 meters above sea level.
Fira Beach is more or less directly below the chapel, but there is not a distinct footpath that goes all the way there. However, the landscape is wide open, so it is not difficult to find the way. Facing the sea from the chapel, you will be looking down a hillside that is mostly treeless, and there is a network of old, low stone fence walls along the hillside. One of the stone walls begins at the chapel and goes downhill at a steep grade. Follow that wall until you reach its intersection with another wall about halfway down the hillside. At that point, you should see a small, derelict, boxy cement building perched above the sea. Head to that building, which is situated above Fira Beach. Facing the sea at the boxy building, go to the right just 50 meters or so and you will find an easy descent to the beach. Once you are on the beach, you should see another boxy building similar to one you just passed, except smaller and made of stone.
The total hike is about 1.5 kilometers and takes about half an hour going down but longer going back up. The grade of the hillside from the chapel down to the sea is steep, and it is particularly tiring on the return trip. The views from Christos chapel are extraordinary, so you may consider hiking from the main road to the chapel as a worthwhile pursuit in and of itself even if you aren't interested in doing the more strenuous leg of the hike down to Fira Beach.
This placemark pertains to Agios Nikolaos Beach and Fira Beach.

turnoff signed for Agkali
This placemark pertains to Agios Nikolaos Beach and Fira Beach.

turnoff signed for Christos and Fira

Christos chapel

Agkali Beach (textile)

Agios Nikolaos chapel

Papalagi Taverna

Agios Nikolaos Taverna

small boxy cement building
small, derelict, boxy cement building perched above Fira Beach
Use this building as a landmark if you are hiking from Christos chapel. Be aware there is a similar structure directly on Fira Beach, but it is smaller and made of stone.

road to Agkali Beach

hiking route to Agios Nikolaos Beach

hiking route to Fira Beach

alternative hiking route to Fira Beach

Livadaki Beach

Livadaki Beach
Toward the north end of the west coast of Folegandros, Livadaki is a small pebble beach—perhaps 50 meters long—tucked away in a small inlet amid a landscape of arid, gently rolling mountains. It is a positively idyllic setting that invites nude bathing, and nudity indeed occurs frequently but not consistently. Lavadaki is an isolated beach, and there are two ways to get there. You can hike there, which takes about 45 minutes, or you can take a taxi boat from Agkali. Far more visitors get to the beach by boat than by hiking, and nudity is often a viable option at Livadaki when the boat is not running. Like most such beach shuttles that operate in the Greek islands, the taxi boat is a rather informal service, so it is not possible to look up a definitive schedule online. The boat operates throughout July and August but may also operate during late June and early September. If you visit during a time of the year when there is no taxi boat service, you are likely to find that Livadaki is sparsely attended and that conditions are amenable for nudity. If you visit during a time of year when there is taxi boat service, nudity is not necessarily out of the question, but chances are far higher that textiles arriving by boat will overtake the small beach. The first taxi boat arrives around 11:00 am, so during peak season you can still enjoy Livadaki in the nude if you get an early start.
Livadaki Beach has absolutely no amenities, so come prepared, and especially be sure to bring plenty of water and wear appropriate shoes for the rocky terrain of the 2-kilometer-long hike, which involves a gradual descent (and returning ascent) that is not difficult for those who are reasonably in shape. There is a small grove of trees behind the beach to which you can retreat for shade. In the driving directions, the turnoff to Agkali is noted. You can drive there to determine if and when the taxi boat is running and plan your hike accordingly. See also the separate combined listing for Agios Nikolaos Beach and Fira Beach, which includes more information about Agkali since the hike to those two beaches starts there. That listing also has a bit more general information about Folegandros.
village, island, island group, country:  Ano Meria, Folegandros, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eWxSua
starting point  the ferry port in Karavostasis
The only ferry port in Folegandros is located in the village of Karavostasis at the southeastern end of the island, and it is the island's only port of entry since there is no airport. There is regular ferry service to Folegandros from the mainland as well as from Santorini and Naxos, both of which are heavily touristed nearby islands. The main road of the island begins straight ahead from the ferry port. Follow that road and you will begin heading northwest into the interior of the island, and you will see signs pointing toward the Chora (a.k.a. Folegandros town, labelled on some maps simply as Folegandros). Just 500 or so meters from the ferry port, you will pass a blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving Karavostasis. Continue 2.3 kilometers and you will pass the blue-and-white Chora village sign. The main road will twist and turn several times as it winds around the inland periphery of the Chora. The road bypasses the densest part of the village, which is perched atop a cliff that overlooks the sea.
1.4 kilometers after you pass the Chora sign, you will pass a similar blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving the Chora. From that point, continue north 2.3 kilometers and take note of the left-hand turnoff to Agkali. (There are a few signs at and leading up to the turnoff, and at least one of them is bilingual, but the sign that is most prominent spells Agkali only in upper-case Greek letters as ΑΓΚΑΛΗ.) About 400 meters past the Agkoli turnoff, you will reach the blue-and-white Ano Meria village sign.
Ano Meria is atypical of Greek island villages in that its buildings are spread out over several kilometers rather that being all clustered together. Your hike to Livadaki Beach begins on the opposite end of the sprawling village. Once you pass the village sign, continue 1.8 kilometers and watch for the main village church as a landmark to let you know you are getting close. (The main church is named Agios Georgios*, but there is no conspicuous signage with the name.) Than main church is not the only church in Ano Meria, but it is the largest, and it is a rather grand church, not a little chapel. The church, which is on the left side of the road, is a white structure with a blue dome on top and a blue semi-domed apse at one end.
After you pass the church, continue 1.2 kilometers and take note when you pass a large blue sign with the names Agios Georgios*, Valsamo, Ampeli and Livadaki. The sign is placed at the end of the scattered buildings of Ano Meria, and the purpose of the sign is a little confusing since it does not indicate distances. The four names on the sign are beaches or other localities that are straight ahead near the northwestern extreme of the island. Once you pass the sign, continue just 350 meters to the next track that veers off to the left. That is the path to Livadaki Beach, and there is a sign at the start of the path the spells Livadaki only in Greek letters as Λιβαδαχι. The track is not passable to vehicles. There is room for several cars to park just off the road at the start of the track, at coordinates 36.6497N, 24.8617E. (If you pass the sign that points left toward Agios Panteleimonas chapel, you have missed the track to Livadaki Beach by about 100 meters, but there is more space to park alongside the road near the Agios Panteleimonas sign if there is no room at the start of the Livadaki track.)
The track to Livakadi Beach is easy to follow, and along much of the path there are low stone walls on one or both sides. The distance is just slightly over 2 kilometers, with an elevation loss of about 240 meters. The downhill grade is gradual and fairly consistent. The hike takes about 45 minutes.
* Agios Georgios is the name of both the main church in Ano Meria and a beach near the northernmost point of the island, but that is just a coincidence.
This placemark pertains to Livadaki Beach.

main church in Ano Meria
This placemark pertains to Livadaki Beach.

sign indicating Agios Georgios, Valsamo, Ampeli & Livadaki
This placemark pertains to Livadaki Beach.

sign pointing toward Agios Panteleimonas

Agios Panteleimonas chapel

Agii Anargyri chapel

segment of road between Ano Meria and Agios Georgios

hiking route

Ios

Kolitsani Beach

Kolitsani Beach
Kolitsani Beach is the best established nude beach in Ios, and it is surprisingly close to Chora and the ferry port. Most visitors head to the large and easily accessible beaches that are on either side of the hilltop Chora, namely Gialos Beach and Mylopotas Beach. Kolitsani flies somewhat under the radar even though it is at the bottom of the large hill atop which Chora is situated. The beach is overlooked by a scattering of vacation villas and small accommodations that are perched in various tiers along the steep hillside. Signs pointing the way are not terribly conspicuous, and a downhill hike is required from the closest parking. There are actually two access paths, and each is roughly 400 meters long, but one is substantially steeper than the other. Kolitsani is about 150 meters long, and it is divided into two parts by a rocky outcropping which you can easily wade around or hike over. The two aforementioned paths both land on the eastern side of the beach, where a small, ramshackle trailer situated close to the water typically has "nude beach" spray-painted on it. That part of the beach is mostly rocky and has just a few patches of sand. Most visitors, whether nudist or textile, go over the outcropping to the western side, where there is a longer stretch of sand that extends about 50 meters.
Kolitsani no longer draws consistent nudist majorities as it did in decades past. During peak season, textiles usually outnumber nudists, and in August there may be only two or three naked bodies in a crowd of a few dozen. However, you should not feel inhibited about stripping down even if no one else is naked when you arrive. No one is likely to take offense. Kolitsani is considered the nude beach of Ios, after all, and the trailer graffito serves as a fair warning. Before July and after August, the textile-to-nudist ratio is apt to be far less lopsided. The beach has no amenities, so come prepared.
island, island group, country:  Ios, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2ejxcRo
starting point  the ferry port in Ormos Harbor
Ormos Harbor is a prominent bay that is toward the north end of the west coast of Ios. The principal village of Ios, which is known as Chora but often labeled simply as Ios on maps, is situated atop a hill overlooking the harbor, in full view from the ferry port. From the ferry port, follow the signs that point toward Chora (Χωρα). As the road winds uphill, it will make five sharp U-curves as well as a few less pronounced curves. When you reach the fifth and final U-curve, you will have driven a bit less than 2 kilometers from the ferry port. After the last curve, continue about 200 meters and take note when you pass a brown sign that points toward Ancient City Wall just as a landmark to assess your location. Continue another 200 meters and take note when you pass a large blue sign affixed to a building on the right side of the road. The blue sign points right toward Police, Telephone Office, Post Office, Heliport, Valmas Beach and Kolitsani Beach.
Access Option 1:
Keep straight ahead past the large blue sign. As you continue through Chora, you will pass two medical clinics that are both on the right side of the road, and the second clinic is the landmark for finding the turnoff to Kolitsani Beach. In 250 meters you will pass the first clinic, which is opposite the main Chora parking lot and a basketball court. The clinic is marked by a red cross against a white background, and it is signed (in English) as an emergency clinic. Keep going. About 175 meters farther on, you will pass the second clinic, which is clearly signed (in English) as Ios Medical Care, with a white cross against a red background. Just past the clinic, you will see a low-slung white building that directly abuts the right side of the road. Turn right onto a minor road that is immediately before that building, next to a "left turn prohibited" sign. Once you make the turn, the corner wall of the low-slung white building (which has signs affixed advertising local businesses) should be to your immediate left.
[More notes about the turnoff: Although there is a sign for Kolitsani Beach, it faces traffic coming from the other direction, so you will not see it. You have just missed the turnoff if you pass Agios Nikolaos, a church on the left side of the main road. The church is a white building with a blue dome ringed by arched window casings. Just past the church, there is a left-hand turnoff signed for Apano Kampos, Agia Theodoti, Plakotos, Manganari, Psathi and Kalamos.]
Once you turn onto the minor road, follow it downhill 300-400 meters and take note when you pass Blue Horizon Apartments, which is on the right. Keep straight ahead past the right-hand turnoff that is immediately past Blue Horizon. As you continue downhill along the road, keep to the right at all forks. In about 250 meters you will see a "To Kolitsani Beach" sign on the right side of the road (just before the road begins to climb slightly uphill toward a leftward curve). There is a small earthen parking area next to the sign (at coordinates 36.7162N, 25.2835E), which marks the start of the footpath to the beach. At the sign, you will be about 50 meters above sea level. As you follow the path, you will be walking west, going downhill through a cleft between two hills. In about 350 meters you will arrive at the beach.
Access Option 2:
This access requires a hike that is more tiring since it starts at about 100 meters above see level, but it affords panoramic views of Kolitsani Bay. Refer above to the big blue sign that points right toward Police, etc. Veer right at that sign, then take note of the utility poles along the road. Continue 250-300 meters until you see, on the left, a pair of utility poles connected by cross beams that hold transformer boxes, then turn left onto the road that begins at that pair of poles. (If you pass a 30 KPH speed limit panel, you've missed the turn by about 40 meters.) Follow the road a short distance until you begin to pass the white wall of a house on the left that directly abuts the road. Immediately past that house, turn left into a parking lot (at coordinates 36.7196N, 25.2804E) that is partly surrounded by a stone retaining wall. You will have an unobstructed view of Kolitsani Bay from the parking lot.
Continue along the road on foot. In about 50 meters, after rounding a couple of sharp bends in the road, you will reach a stone gateway with a sign indicating the road farther ahead is private. The stone structure that forms the left side of the gateway contains two triangular niches and a small equipment box, and there are steps descending immediately before that structure. Those steps are the start of the path to the beach. As you follow the path, there are occasional faded signs to keep you on course. Some of the signs have only the upper-case Greek lettering ΘΑΛΑΣΣΑ, which just means "sea," conveying "this way to the sea." The trail is a little over 400 meters long.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Option 1).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Option 2).
This placemark pertains to Kolitsani Beach.

ferry port in Ormos Harbor
This placemark pertains to Kolitsani Beach.

This placemark pertains to Kolitsani Beach.

emergency medical clinic

Ios Medical Care

sign pointing toward police, etc.
This large blue sign (affixed to the side of a building) points right toward Police, Telephone Office, Post Office, Heliport, Valmas Beach and Kolitsani Beach.

Agios Nikolaos church
white building with a blue dome ringed by arched window casings

pair of utility poles
These poles are connected by cross beams that hold transformer boxes.

stone gateway
The road beyond this gateway is signed as private. The stone structure that forms the left side of the gateway contains two triangular niches and a small equipment box, and there are steps descending immediately before that structure. Those steps are the start of the path to the beach.

Blue Horizon Apartments

brown sign pointing toward Ancient City Wall

route from ferry port to parking

road to alternate parking

alternate path to beach

Ios Southeastern Beaches

The southern coast of Ios has a number of beaches that get some nude use, but none of them seems to qualify as a really well-established nude beach. If you visit any of these beaches, odds are that you will not encounter a significant number of nudists, and opportunities for nudity vary considerably by season (July and August are iffiest due to larger crowds) and also from day to day, when who happens to get to a certain spot first may set a trend.
Manganari Beach is located in a bay in the far south of Ios, and it is the only developed beach in southern Ios. The beach has a number of alternate spellings in English (Magganari, Maganari, Magkanari, etc.), but Manganari is the most prevalent. Although usually referred to as one beach, Manganari is really four distinct sandy beaches: two eastern beaches and two western beaches. The eastern beaches are the larger beaches. Each is over 300 meters long, the two are separated from one another by a very low rocky outcropping. The beaches are backed by scattered tavernas and small-scale accommodations, and both are textile. Just a bit separate from the eastern beaches, there is another pair of beaches that are considerably smaller. The western beaches are each under 100 meters long, and they are separated from one another by a rocky hillock that is easily skirted on its inland side. One of the western beaches—the one closest to the eastern beaches—is backed by a taverna, a couple of low-slung apartment buildings and a tennis court, and that beach is textile. The other of the western beaches, which is the westernmost of all the Manganari beaches, is the only one of the Manganari beaches that lacks any kind of development (except a sports court at the periphery of the beach, behind the hillock that separates the two western beaches). The westernmost beach gets some nude use, but nudity is unlikely to occur on crowded days. Any nudists present at the beach are likely to be toward its far end (i.e., farthest to the right when facing the sea).
Going counterclockwise from Manganari, the other beaches discussed below are all toward the southern end of the east side of Ios, and all are undeveloped and somewhat remote beaches that offer nudist potential due to limited attendance. Treis Ekklisies Bay is an inlet that contains two small sandy beaches, each of which is overlooked by a private residence. (Those two houses are the only two structures on the bay.) A small footpath through a gully descends to the more southern and larger of the two beaches, which is the beach typically known as Treis Ekklisies Beach. It is not quite 100 meters long. Because the way to the beach is not obvious and signs pointing the way are virtually non-existent, the beach is often empty, and it is sparsely attended even during peak season. Nude bathing is common among those who find their way to the beach, and the house that overlooks the beach is far enough uphill that its proximity is not an issue. If you are facing the sea at Treis Ekklisies Beach, look to your left and you will see a white house perched slightly above the sea, 300 to 400 meters away. That house overlooks the only other beach on the bay, which is a pocket beach about 40 meters long. The pocket beach seems like the perfect niche for nude bathing, but we have come across no evidence that nudity occurs there, and the beach is so closely overlooked by the white house that nudity is probably not advisable.
North of Treis Ekklisies, Kalamos Beach is accessed by driving about 4 kilometers along a gravel road that winds down a mountain. It is a beautiful sandy crescent backed by a small plain that is tucked into an otherwise mountainous landscape, and the main expanse of the beach is a bit less than 400 meters long. Toward the north end of the beach, there is a slight rocky outcropping that is easily walked or waded around (depending on the tide), with another 150 or so meters of sandy beach beyond the outcropping. Kalamos gets very limited visitation and is never crowded, even during peak season. Although Kalamos does not have a particular reputation for nude bathing, the size of the beach combined with its sparse attendance allows for nudity, perhaps with discretion if others are present. Nudity is best practiced toward the south end (to the right when facing the sea) since there are a few houses near the north end.
Just a bit north of Kalamos, Plakes Beach is a comparably beautiful beach that is basically a miniaturized version of Kalamos, with a broad expanse of sand that stretches about 150 meters, backed by a small plain where there is a cluster of three houses nestled in a copse of trees. Also like Kalamos, Plakes is a sparsely attended beach that never gets crowded. Nudity occurs sporadically, particularly toward each end of the beach, but a certain critical mass of textiles may quash the potential for nudity unless there are early arrivals who establish a bare bathing precedent. If conditions are not favorable for nudity at Plakes, just take a hike northward along the coastline for 5 or so minutes and you will find a tiny sandy niche nestled in a small bay. The micro-beach is quite likely to be deserted and makes the perfect private nude beach for a couple. (One source refers to this niche as Vryses Beach, but we have not been able to verify that name with any other sources.)
The gravel road from which Kalamos and Plakes are accessed continues north, where it morphs into a hiking trail a bit beyond Plakes. That trail winds through the mountainous terrain above the coastline about 5 to 6 kilometers to Psathi Beach, a textile beach that is accessed from another road. Along the part of the coastline between Plakes and Psathi, there are several isolated pocket beaches that can be accessed by hiking down through creek drainages, and these beaches are quite likely to be deserted, offering nudist potential for hikers who want to get farther off the beaten path.
This placemark pertains to Manganari Beach, Treis Ekklisies Beach, Kalamos Beach and Plakes Beach.

Manganari Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Manganari Beach, Treis Ekklisies Beach, Kalamos Beach and Plakes Beach.)
island, island group, country:  Ios, Cyclades, Greece
There are 27 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Manganari Beach, Treis Ekklisies Beach, Kalamos Beach and Plakes Beach.

Treis Ekklisies Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Manganari Beach, Treis Ekklisies Beach, Kalamos Beach and Plakes Beach.)
island, island group, country:  Ios, Cyclades, Greece
There are 27 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Manganari Beach, Treis Ekklisies Beach, Kalamos Beach and Plakes Beach.

Kalamos Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Manganari Beach, Treis Ekklisies Beach, Kalamos Beach and Plakes Beach.)
There are 27 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Manganari Beach, Treis Ekklisies Beach, Kalamos Beach and Plakes Beach.

Plakes Beach

tiny beach just north of Plakes Beach (potentially nudist)
This placemark pertains to Plakes Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eQWfvO
starting point  the ferry port in Ormos Harbor
Ormos Harbor is a prominent bay that is toward the north end of the west coast of Ios. The principal village of Ios, which is known as Chora but often labeled simply as Ios on maps, is situated atop a hill overlooking the harbor, in full view from the ferry port. From the ferry port, follow the signs that point toward Chora (Χωρα). Once you have driven about 2.5 kilometers, you will be in the heart of Chora. On your left-hand side, you will see a dense cluster of buildings ascending the highest part of the hill as you pass the main Chora parking area and a basketball court. 250-300 meters past the basketball court, turn left at the large blue sign that points toward Apano Kampos, Agia Theodoti, Plakotos, Manganari, Psathi and Kalamos. The turnoff is just past Agios Nikolaos church, a white building with a blue dome ringed by arched window casings. Just after you turn, the road will double back a bit and pass directly next to the opposite end of the church. Not quite 300 meters farther on, keep straight ahead as the road passes through a line of traditional Greek windmills (squat, thatch-roofed whitewashed cylinders in various states of repair).
Shortly past the windmills, the development of Chora will begin to thin out, and there are only scattered building along the rest of your drive as the road takes a somewhat circuitous path toward the south end of the island. You will go though several well-signed three-way junctions. At each junction, follow signs that point toward Manganari and Kalamos. Once you have driven 18 to 19 kilometers past the Chora windmills, you will reach the three-way junction where the routes to Manganari and Kalamos diverge. At the junction, a sign points right toward Manganari, and another sign points left toward Kalamos and Plakes.
To go to Manganari Beach or Treis Ekklisies Beach:
Keep to the right at the junction as the road makes a hairpin curve. Continue 5.5 kilometers to the next significant junction, where you will see a number of signs pointing toward businesses along Manganari Beach, which is actually a cluster of four distinct beaches. At the junction, the paved road straight ahead and the paved road to the right both lead to Manganari, while the unmarked, narrow gravel road going off to the left leads to Treis Ekklisies. Just beyond the junction, there is a small chapel on the left side of the straight-ahead road.
Turn right at the junction to continue to the nude area of Manganari. Continue about 800 meters and you will reach the next junction as you enter the scattered development that rings the Manganari beaches. Keep to the right, following the signs that point toward Antonis, Dmitri's and Elena's (all small establishments that offer food, rooms for rent or both). About 300 meters farther on, keep straight ahead past more signs for Antonis, Dmitri's and Elena's (which are clustered close together). The road will turn to gravel. Continue 600-700 meters to a fork and keep to the right, following the more straight-ahead of the two roads. 200 meters farther along, you will reach a metal gate in a stone fence wall that spans the road. Beyond the gate and the fence, you will see the next-to-last of the four Manganari Beaches, which is backed by a couple of low-slung beige apartment buildings, a taverna and a tennis court. Park outside the gate without blocking the road, around coordinates 36.6592N, 25.3660E, then walk around the fence wall to get to the next-to-last beach, which is accessible to the public despite the fence. The far end of the next-to-last beach is formed by a land formation that is basically a rocky hillock. The last (i.e., westernmost) beach is just beyond that hillock. To get there, you can easily skirt the inland side of the hillock, passing next to the tennis court. Less than 100 meters past the tennis court, there is another sports court, which has green turf and is surrounded by see-through fencing. That sports court is at the edge of the last Manganari beach, which is the one with nudist potential.
To go to Treis Ekklisies Beach, back up to the junction that is just before the chapel, which is a small whitewashed structure with a facade that is mostly brown stone. The unmarked, narrow gravel road going off to the left leads toward Treis Ekklisies. You can park opposite the chapel, at coordinates 36.6668N, 25.3792E. The sign above the door and below the bell reads ΑΓΙΑ ΤΡΙΑΣ, which translates as Agia Trias or Agia Triada. Near the start of the gravel road, there is a rather ramshackle wire gate across the road. Go through the gate, closing it behind you. The gravel road is about 300 meters long, ending at a private residence. Follow it about half that distance, or roughly 150 meters, then on your left you will see a small path that goes downhill through a rugged gully that is fully of craggy rock formations. At the start of the footpath, you are likely to see makeshift signage pointing toward the beach and indicating that the road farther ahead is private. The small sandy beach at the end of the path is Treis Ekklisies. The walking distance from the chapel is about 400 meters.
To go to Kalamos Beach or Plakes Beach:
Go left at the junction, following the Kalamos-Plakes sign. From that point, it is 4.1 kilometers to the final turnoff to Kalamos Beach. Zero out your car's trip meter and watch for the following landmarks.
km 0.3 The road turns to gravel as you go past Agios Ioannis Kalamos monastery, which is on the left side of the road.
km 1.0 The road makes a rightward hairpin curve. Leading up to the curve, there is a drop-off on your right-hand side. After the curve, the drop-off is on your left-hand side.
km 1.6 You will reach the first significant junction along the road. Keep straight ahead past a road that goes slightly uphill to your right. At that point, the drop-off on your left-hand side will have just come to an end, and there will be a stone fence wall parallel to the road on your right-hand side. Very shortly the road will pass through a gap in a perpendicular stone fence wall.
km 2.7 The road veers away from the stone fence wall when you pass a large electrical equipment box that is connected to a utility pole. Shortly Kalamos Beach will come into view. As the road winds down toward the sea, it will make two U-curves (the first is a hairpin, the second is less abrupt).
km 3.8 The road passes through a gap in a stone fence wall that slopes down the hillside. At that point, you will have descended most of the way to sea level, and you will see an orchard just up ahead in the valley below you. About 150 meters farther along, take note when you pass a metal gate on your right that goes into the orchard. Once you pass the metal gate, the next two turnoffs on the right both lead to Kalamos Beach. Just over 100 meters past the metal gate, the first of the turnoffs is not signed. Is is next to a lone tree, at the point where a stretch of wire fencing comes to an end. The second turnoff is about 50 meters past the first, and it is marked by a small blue Kalamos sign. Both short roads lead to earthen parking areas near the beach. Even though the first turnoff is not signed, it leads to the better parking area (at coordinates 36.6933N, 25.3797E), just steps from the beach.
After the two Kalamos turnoffs, the turnoff to Plakes Beach is about 2 kilometers farther along, and it is the next road on the right that is not a private driveway. Once you pass the Kalamos turnoffs, the road will veer slightly inland as it winds up, over and down a hill, then it will flatten out a bit as it begins to follow the coastline, with the sea on your right-hand side. Once you have driven about 1.4 kilometers past the Kalamos turnoffs, Plakes Beach will come into view. It is situated in a bend in the coastline such that it is more or less perpendicular to the road. Roughly 600 meters after the beach comes into view, turn right at the small blue Plakes sign. About 50 meters after turning, keep to the right at a fork, then continue about 100 meters to a small earthen parking area next to the beach, at coordinates 36.7045N, 25.3851E.
The tiny beach that is a bit north of Plakes is accessed on foot from Plakes. Facing the sea at Plakes, look to your left and you will see a peninsular land mass projecting into the sea at the end of the beach. It is basically an elongated, rocky hillock. Head in that direction. When you reach the end of the sand, veer left to skirt the inland side of the hillock. You will be heading toward a cluster of three small houses that are nestled in a copse of short trees just a bit behind the beach. One you are past the houses, you will see the coastline again. Follow it north (such that the sea is on your right-hand side) until you reach a small patch of sand in a small bay. The total walk from the Plakes parking area to the tiny beach is about 600 meters.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Manganari).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Treis Ekklisies).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Kalamos).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Plakes).
This placemark pertains to Manganari Beach, Treis Ekklisies Beach, Kalamos Beach and Plakes Beach.

3-way junction where routes to Manganari & Kalamos diverge
This placemark pertains to Manganari Beach, Treis Ekklisies Beach, Kalamos Beach and Plakes Beach.

This placemark pertains to Manganari Beach.

This placemark pertains to Treis Ekklisies Beach.

This placemark pertains to Kalamos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Plakes Beach.

textile areas of Manganari Beach
Manganari Beach actually consists of four distinct beaches, and the three of the four that have tavernas and other development are shaded in green. Those three beaches are always textile.
This placemark pertains to Manganari Beach.

taverna
This placemark pertains to Manganari Beach.

Agia Trias chapel
Agia Trias (a.k.a. Agia Triada) chapel, a small whitewashed structure with a facade that is mostly brown stone
The sign above the door and below the bell reads ΑΓΙΑ ΤΡΙΑΣ
This placemark pertains to Treis Ekklisies Beach.

private residence at end of gravel road
This placemark pertains to Treis Ekklisies Beach.

tiny beach
This small and secluded beach seems perfectly situated for nudity. However, it is so closely overlooked by a private villa that it is probably best regarded as textile.

Agios Ioannis Kalamos monastery
This placemark pertains to Kalamos Beach and Plakes Beach.

rightward hairpin curve
This placemark pertains to Kalamos Beach and Plakes Beach.

start of stone fence wall
Heading toward the sea, just after you pass a right-hand turnoff, a stone fence wall will begin to parallel the road on your right-hand side. Just after the start of the fence wall, the road will pass through a gap in a perpendicular stone fence wall.
This placemark pertains to Kalamos Beach and Plakes Beach.

Papas Beach (textile)
This beach used to be accessible only by boat or via a challenging hike, but at some point in the 00's a few luxury properties were constructed next to the beach along with a road leading to them. It seems to now function as a de facto private beach.

electrical equipment box connected to utility pole
Heading toward the sea, this is the point where you will pass a large electrical equipment box that is connected to a utility pole. The road will veer away from a stone fence wall that has been on your right-hand side for about one kilometer, and shortly past this point Kalamos Beach will come into view.

road passes through gap in stone wall
This is the point where road passes through a gap in a stone fence wall that slopes down the hillside.

metal gate into an orchard

small blue "Kalamos" sign
At this turnoff, there is a small blue Kalamos sign. However, parking is easier if you turn onto the unsigned turnoff that is about 50 meters before this one.

Plakes Beach comes into view
Heading north along the gravel road, this is approximately the point where Plakes Beach comes into view.
This placemark pertains to Plakes Beach.

small blue "Plakes" sign
The turnoff to Plakes Beach is marked by a small blue Plakes sign.

textile areas of Manganari Beach

route from 3-way junction to Manganari & Tris Ekklisies

route from 3-way junction to Kalamos & Plakes

side road to Kalamos

path to Tris Ekklisies

path from Plakes Beach to tiny beach

Iraklia

Livadi Beach

Livadi Beach
Iraklia (also spelled Irakleia, Heraklia or Herakleia) is an island of about 17 square kilometers that is the westernmost of the Lesser Cyclades (a.k.a the Little Cyclades or the Small Cyclades), a cluster of small islands to the south and east of Naxos. The Lesser Cyclades are just a subset of the Cyclades. Iraklia has a tiny population (about 150 residents) and a very limited tourist industry and infrastructure. For example, the eastern half of the island has a small network of roads, but the island lacks a gas station, and while cars can be ferried to the island, cars are not available for rent on the island (but there is a business that rents mopeds). Most visitors get around on foot.
Iraklia has just two villages. The seaside village of Agios Georgios is in the northeast of the island, and that is the location of the ferry port that is the island's only port of entry. From Agios Georgios, the main road of the island leads about 4 kilometers to Panagia, which is located roughly at the geographic center of the island. (Panagia is also known as Chora, and some maps label it simply as Iraklia.) Along the way from Agios Georgios to Panagia, the road goes past Livadi Beach, which is one of just two beaches of significance on the island. (The other one is next to the ferry port in Agios Georgios.) Located on the eastern side of Iraklia, Livadi is a picturesque sandy beach backed hills that are mostly barren. There are a few small trees scattered along the beach, which is nestled in a small bay that creates a calm, shallow swimming area. Livadi is accessed from its northwest end, and nude bathing occurs regularly toward the opposite (southeast) end. The beach rarely gets crowded, so there is usually plenty of space for nudists and textiles to coexist even though the beach is not terribly long, stretching just 250 to 300 meters. Depending on the size of the overall crowd, nudists may be spread out over half the beach (on uncrowded days) or may be nudged to the far end of the beach (on more crowded days). There are usually a dozen or fewer nudists on the beach. Livadi Beach lacks amenities. There are some rooms for rent toward the northwest end of the beach, near where the main road is tangential to the beach.
You will need to do a little research before visiting Iraklia. Ferry service is limited, so you will have to stay overnight at lease one night, and accommodations are also limited. Bring sufficient cash in case the island's one ATM is out of order; there is no bank.
village, island, island group, country:  Agios Georgios, Iraklia, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2ehOdLX
The ferry port in Iraklia is the island's only port of entry, and ferry service is limited, with service of at most once a day to any other port. Most visitors to Iraklia arrive via Naxos, and few visitors transport automobiles to the island. The directions below apply whether you are in some type of vehicle or on foot.
The ferry port is located in a small bay next to the village of Agios Georgios. When you exit the ferry dock, follow the road toward the village. The bay will be on your right-hand side. When you reach the first junction, turn left, toward Panagia. The road will go slightly uphill before gradually descending, and you will be walking in a generally southward direction such that the sea is on your left-hand side. In 1.4 kilometers, at the point where the main road curves away from the sea and begins to go inland, you will reach a short dirt road on your left that goes down to Livadi Beach. It is easy to find since you will be walking through a wide-open landscape, and the dirt road is marked with a prominent blue-and-white sign with Livadi written in English and Greek. You will land on the northwest end of the beach. Walk just a minute or two across the beach toward its opposite end for nude bathing. The total walk from the ferry port to the nude area of Livadi Beach takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the Iraklia ferry port to Livadi Beach.
This placemark pertains to Livadi Beach.

Iraklia ferry port
This placemark pertains to Livadi Beach.

road from ferry port to Livadi

Koufonisia

Koufonisia Beaches

Koufonisia is the collective name of several islands and islets of the Lesser Cyclades, the cluster of islands to the south and east of Naxos. The three main islands of Koufonisia are Ano Koufonisi, Kato Koufonisi and Keros. (Note that the "a" on the end of the collective name is dropped when referring to an individual island.) Uninhabited Keros is the largest and most rugged of the three, but the island lacks any good beaches and is devoid of even the most basic amenities like running water, nor or there any established walking paths over its difficult terrain. Although excursions to Keros are possible, most visitors choose to appreciate its beauty from afar. The other two islands are just 400 meters apart at their closest points. The more northern of those islands is Ano Koufonisi, while the southern island is Kato Koufonisi. The Ano in Ano Koufonisi is a shortened form of Epano ("Upper"), which is also often abbreviated as Pano. Just be aware that Ano Koufonisi, Pano Koufonisi and Epano Koufonisi are just slightly different ways of referring to the same island.
With a land area of 5 to 6 square kilometers, Ano Koufonisi is roughly circular in shape. From any point along the coastline, the as-the-crow-flies distance to the opposite side of the island is typically at least 2 but not more than 3 kilometers. With a land area of about 4 square kilometers, Kato Koufonisi is comparable in size to Central Park in New York. Although Ano Koufonisi is the larger of the two islands, Kato Koufonisi actually has a bit more coastline due to its elongated shape. Ano Koufonisi has a permanent population of 400 to 500, and the only village of the island is Chora, which is the general term for the principal settlement of an island. There is a small tourist infrastructure consisting mostly of vacation rentals along with a few small hotels. The only hamlet on Kato Koufonisi was abandoned in the late 1960s. The island has no permanent residents, nor is there any lodging. The only option for an overnight stay is primitive camping, which seems to be neither expressly permitted nor explicitly prohibited.
Koufonisia is not served by an airport. All visitors arrive at the ferry port in Chora (Ano Koufonisi), and most visitors come from nearby Naxos. Few visitors ferry cars over since Ano Koufonisi has a very limited road network, nor are motorized vehicles available for hire. If you feel the need for your own wheels, bicycles are available for rent in Chora. Most visitors suffice with getting around on foot and by boat. There are regular boat shuttles to the small number of beaches on the island, and there is also a limited seasonal bus. To go to Kato Koufonisi, there are regular boat shuttles from Chora. Once you are on the island, your mode of transit will be your feet. There are some day-trip excursions from Naxos to Ano Koufonisi, which generally allow about eight hours on the island. Fitting in an excursion to Kato Koufonisi on a day trip from Naxos seems a bit much, so plan to stay overnight in Ano Koufonisi to visit Kato Koufonisi. There isn't much to do in Koufonisia other than relaxing, going to the beach or perhaps hiking. None of the beaches are equipped with sun chairs or umbrellas.
All the beaches of Ano Koufonisi are located along the south and east side of the island. Chora is located toward the west end of the south coast. If you hike counterclockwise along the coastline from Chora (i.e., keeping the sea on your right-hand side), you can survey all the island's beaches in a hike of about 4 kilometers, which is a walk of roughly an hour. Assume you start at the ferry port and head east along the automobile road. Shortly you will reach the central beach of Chora, Ammos Beach. It is a small sandy beach that is about 125 meters long, lined with a dozen or so park benches. At the opposite end of the beach, you will come to the fork of two cobbled roads. Follow the road that is farther left. The sea will temporarily disappear from view as you head through an area of small hotels and rooms to rent. When you reach El Greco taverna, the road will again run along the seafront. At that point, you will be one kilometer from the ferry port. Continuing east, the next substantial beach (not counting little niches) is Finikas Beach (alternately spelled "Foinikas"), which is about 175 meters long. At the far end of the beach, the automobile road curves away from the sea. At that point you need to head toward the sea and follow the footpath that continues east along the coastline. Just around the bend you will come to Fanos Beach, which is a bit less than 150 meters long. Go all the way across the beach to pick up the continuation of the coastal path on the other side. A bit farther along, you will reach Italida Beach. By the time you get there, you will be about 2.3 kilometers from the port. The three beaches along the way—Ammos, Finikas and Fanos—are all textile beaches that are close to accommodations and eateries. Italida Beach is a bit past the end of the more developed area, and it thus presents opportunities for nudity.
Italida Beach, which means Italian Beach, is the nickname of the beach that is actually named Platia Pounta, but the nickname is used more often than the real name. A white villa perched slightly uphill about 175 meters inland is the only structure overlooking the beach, and the nickname is apparently a reference to that property. Italida Beach has two parts. The main beach is a broad expanse of sand that extends about 100 meters. Just east of the main expanse (i.e., to the left when facing the sea), there is a narrow pebble niche that is roughly 30 meters long. Italida is regarded as a naturist location, with nudity occurring regularly along both the main expanse and the eastern niche. However, the beach gets a lot of textile usage as well, and nudity patterns are quite variable depending on the month and time of day. If you visit during the afternoon during July and August, you can generally expect the beach to be overwhelmingly textile, with perhaps a few intrepid nudists and sometimes none at all. During peak season, there tends to be more nudity in the morning and toward evening. There are no amenities at Italida. You will have to backtrack to Fanos Beach for the nearest food and drink, or backtrack farther toward Chora for more options.
If you continue hiking along the coastline away from Chora, a bit past Italida Beach the coastline will curve such that you are hiking north rather than east. As you make your way to the last beach of the island, you will first pass through a very rugged expanse of coastline that is pocked with a number of indentations and two particularly notable natural features: the Piscina and the Devil's Eye. The Piscina (36.9396N, 25.6245E) is easy to find and obvious. About the size of a swimming pool (thus the name), the Piscina is a natural pool surrounded by rock, connected to the sea by a narrow opening that is below the surface of the water. Popular with swimmers and deep enough for diving, the nudist potential of the Piscina is virtually nil, but it is one of the island's top photo ops. Nearby, the Devil's Eye (36.9421N, 25.6238E) is more hidden from the coastal path, and it is not a swimming spot. Usually described as a sea cave, the Devil's Eye is really more of a tunnel since it is open on both ends. From the inland side, you can see water rushing in from the sea side. The Piscina and the Devil's Eye are about 300 meters apart, and they are very frequently conflated. In particular, the name "Devil's Eye" is quite often erroneously attributed to the Piscina. Even Google Maps screws it up.
Once you have hiked about a kilometer past Italida Beach, you will come to the spectacular sight that is Pori Bay. The body of water is basically a big circle that is surrounded by land along about 70% of its circumference. The curving shoreline of the bay is over a kilometer long. Much of that length is rocky, but the innermost part of the bay is occupied by Pori Beach, an expanse of sand that extends more than 300 meters. It is not necessary to hike all the way along the coastline to get to Pori Beach. There is a road through the interior of the island that connects Chora to the beach. The road ends near the north end of the beach, where there are two tavernas. Nude bathers are often present near the south end of the beach, which is the first part of the beach you will come to if you hike there from Italida. Like at Italida, Pori Beach can get very crowded during July and August, when the beach is usually overrun with textiles.
If you keep hiking around Pori Bay all the way to the seaward end of the land mass that forms the north end of the bay, you will find another geological anomaly. Gala Beach (36.9468N, 25.6269E) is an enclosed beach of sorts—something like a sea cave with a missing ceiling. About the size of a large house, the "beach" is thickly covered in pebbles and completely encircled by a wall of rock, with sea water washing into the open-air chamber through a small tunnel. Depending on the tides, at times there is almost no water coming through and at times the water forms a pool substantial enough for bathing. As is the case with the Piscina, Gala Beach is far too visited to have nudist potential, but it is still a natural wonder worth seeing.
In peak season, the two nude beaches of Ano Koufonisi may not be nudist enough for your liking, but you can always find plenty of space for nudity at Kato Koufonisi. Nudity is in theory possible on all the beaches of Kato Koufonisi, but some beaches are inaccessible or very hard to reach over land. Kato Koufonisi is a long island that spans a northeast-to-southwest diagonal, with one coastline oriented to the southeast (toward Keros) and the other coastline oriented to the northwest (toward Naxos). For simplicity we'll just say the south coast and the north coast. Four easily accessible beaches where nudity is possible are all located on the south coast. From east to west, those locations are Hawaii Beach, Detis Beach, Nero Beach and Pezoulia Beach. If you were to hike from Hawaii Beach at one extreme of the island to Pezoulia Beach at the other, it would be a moderate hike of about 4.2 kilometers. The boat that shuttles visitors to Kato Koufonisi makes two stops on the island. One stop is at the previously mentioned depopulated hamlet, which is the location of a small seaside church along with the island's only business—a taverna named Venetsanos. The hamlet is toward the east end of the south coast of Kato Koufonisi, and the boat stop is known both as "taverna" and "Panagia," with the latter being a reference to the church. The other location where the boat stops is Nero Beach, which is part of the reason Nero is the most popular beach on the island.
Assume you start at the taverna/Panagia boat stop to explore Kato Koufonisi. You have to hike a good ways beyond the hamlet in either direction to get to a beach where nudity occurs regularly. To go to Hawaii Beach, head east along the coastline by going from the taverna toward the church, such that the sea is on your right-hand side. Once you are past the church, continue another 800 meters to Hawaii Beach. The beach is next to a small fenced utility station consisting of a white outbuilding and several solar panels. Not quite 40 meters long, Hawaii Beach is a pocket of sand in a shallow bay, tucked against a low rocky escarpment. The beach is near the northeastern tip of Kato Koufonisi, with great views both of Chora (about a kilometer away across the water) and the mountainous mass of Keros (about 4 kilometers away, beyond the flat islet of Glaronisi). While Hawaii Beach is not as visually dramatic as the beaches toward the opposite end of the island, it is a pleasant and typically uncrowded little niche where nude bathing is well accepted.
Now assume you head west along the south coast of the island by following the cement lane to the rear (inland side) of the taverna. The lane morphs into a dirt path just past the taverna, and in just 50 or so meters you will come to a gate on the left signed "Laki Beach." It is a short side trek of less than 100 meters to the small pebble beach if you'd like to check it out. While nudity occurs occasionally at Laki Beach, it is usually all textile. Continuing along the path, you will begin going gradually uphill just a bit inland from the coast, with the sea clearly in view off to your left. You will be going downhill by the time the path veers closer to the coast. Continue until you reach a wire mesh fence that is perpendicular to the coastline. There is a gate in the fence that you should close behind you to continue along the path. The gate is one kilometer past the taverna, and when you get there you will be standing slightly above Detis Beach. It is a quick and easy climb down the gentle slope of the hillside to the beach. Just follow the fence to its end and you are there. About 90 meters long and backed by a low rocky escarpment, Detis Beach is mostly coated in pebbles with intermittent patches of sand. The beach is never crowded and sometimes deserted, and visitors are about equally likely to be clad or unclad.
Continuing west past Detis Beach, the path ascends as it hews to the edge of a steep drop-off above the sea. Once you have hiked 300-400 meters past Detis, the path bends away from the sea and gains elevation more gradually as it meanders through a plain. Continue 400-500 meters and watch for a couple of small stone buildings in ruins. They are about 20 meters apart. By that point the path will have veered backed toward the sea. Perched about 60 meters above the sea, the derelict structures are at the highest elevation of the hike. You will be standing above the northeast end of Nero Beach in an area where you can get some great photos, maybe with a few goats posing for you. For most of the rest of the hike to Nero Beach, you will be descending gradually as the path runs roughly parallel to the sea, above and just slightly inland from the beach. There is an abrupt descent at the end of the hike. You will land on the beach where an oasis-like gully opens out to the sea. The total hiking distance from the taverna to Nero Beach is 2.4 kilometers.
Arcing slightly for nearly 500 meters, Nero Beach is an expanse of sand and pebbles that is by far the largest beach of Kato Koufonisi. It is also widely regarded as the most beautiful beach of the island, with a rugged backdrop of jagged cliffs that are particularly colorful in the area where the gully opens out to the sand. If you hike to Nero from the taverna, you will be a bit southwest of the midpoint of the beach when you land on the beach at the gully. If you take the boat to Nero, you will be dropped off at a small dock that is a bit northeast of the midpoint of the beach. The gully and the boat landing are about 150 meters apart. Looking to the left when facing the sea, a bit past the boat dock the last segment of the beach gets cut off from the rest of Nero at high tide, but it is easy to wade around the protruding rock mass that sometimes isolates the northeasternmost 100 or so meters of the beach. Nudists and textiles mix all along the beach, and there is always space to put a little distance between yourself and the nearest textiles. You can find a bit of shade in the gully, where there is a cluster of tamarisk and palm trees.
To go to Pezoulia Beach, you need to hike out of the small gully of Nero Beach. The gully extends about 100 meters inland, and while it is not difficult to climb to the top, the only well-trod path out of the gully is the same path on which you arrived if you hiked from the taverna. The path is to your right if your back is to the sea. Once you climb away from the beach and make your way to the inland end of the gully, find the path that goes west. If your back is to Nero Beach, the path will be to your left. The path cuts through a plain that is flat but not level, wide open save a scattering of bushes. You will gain elevation gradually until you reach a ridge that is about 40 meters above the sea, then the path takes you downhill to the beach. The distance from Nero Beach to Pezoulia Beach is 600-700 meters, and the hike takes about 10 minutes.
Pezoulia Beach and Nero Beach are at a right angle to one another. Nero mostly faces east, while Pezoulia faces south. Spanning about 175 meters, Pezoulia is an expanse of sand and pebbles with a backdrop of cliffs that are rippled and eroded in a manner that lends the beach a badlands character. The beach is generally quiet, and there are always far fewer visitors than at nearby Nero. As with the other beaches, nudity doesn't raise eyebrows. Pezoulia Beach is sometimes named as Genoupas Beach, but the former name is used much more than the latter one.
Be sure to come prepared when you visit Kato Koufonisi. Nothing at all is available at any of the beaches, so at a very minimum be sure you bring plenty of drinking water with you. Venetsanos Taverna keeps long hours, and it is the only place on the island where anything at all is available.
This placemark pertains to Koufonisia Beaches.

Italida Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Italida Beach, Pori Beach, Hawaii Beach, Detis Beach, Nero Beach and Pezoulia Beach.)
GPS:
island, island group, country:  Ano Koufonisi, Cyclades, Greece
There are 29 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Italida Beach, Pori Beach, Hawaii Beach, Detis Beach, Nero Beach and Pezoulia Beach.

Italida Beach, main expanse
This placemark pertains to Koufonisia Beaches.

Italida Beach, eastern niche
This placemark pertains to Koufonisia Beaches.

Pori Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Italida Beach, Pori Beach, Hawaii Beach, Detis Beach, Nero Beach and Pezoulia Beach.)
island, island group, country:  Ano Koufonisi, Cyclades, Greece
There are 29 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Italida Beach, Pori Beach, Hawaii Beach, Detis Beach, Nero Beach and Pezoulia Beach.

Hawaii Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Italida Beach, Pori Beach, Hawaii Beach, Detis Beach, Nero Beach and Pezoulia Beach.)
island, island group, country:  Kato Koufonisi, Cyclades, Greece
There are 29 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Italida Beach, Pori Beach, Hawaii Beach, Detis Beach, Nero Beach and Pezoulia Beach.

Detis Beach
island, island group, country:  Kato Koufonisi, Cyclades, Greece

Nero Beach
island, island group, country:  Kato Koufonisi, Cyclades, Greece

Pezoulia Beach

Follow this link for printable directions: https://bit.ly/44WeK8f
The hiking directions to the various beaches are contained in the collective description (see the "i" information placemark.)
To take a boat to any of the beaches, the ferry port in Chora (Ano Koufonisi) is the common start and end point for boats that shuttle passengers to the beaches of Ano Koufonisi and Kato Koufonisi. Just look for kiosks signed "Boat Tours" and pick up printed schedules to keep with you. A few operators offer boat shuttle services. Boats generally run hourly, and fares are inexpensive. Boats hold about the same number of passengers as a school bus.
On Ano Koufonisi, you can get to either Italida Beach or Pori Beach by boat. (Remember that Italida Beach may be named as "Platia Pounta" on the boat schedule.) The stop for Italida Beach is on the rocks just west of the beach. When you step off the boat, head to the right (or to the left if facing the sea). The stop for Pori Beach is along the rocky north side of Pori Bay. Facing the bay, head to your right. It is a walk of about 500 meters to the south end of Pori Beach, and you will pass through the main area next to the tavernas on the way. Or, if you head in the opposite direction from the boat stop, it is just a few hundred meters to Gala Beach (a geological point of interest described above).
If you take the boat to Kato Koufonisi, there are just two stops: Taverna/Panagia and Nero Beach.
There is a mini-bus service in Ano Koufonisi that operates during peak season. From Chora, you can take the bus to Pori Beach or to Fanos Beach. From Fanos Beach, it is a short walk to Italida Beach.

shuttle boat departure point at ferry port

Ammos Beach (textile)

El Greco taverna

shuttle boat stop

Finikas Beach (textile)

Fanos Beach (textile)

Piscina (geological point of interest)

Devil's Eye (geological point of interest)

Gala Beach (geological point of interest)

small white church

Venetsanos taverna

Laki Beach (usually all textile)

gate in wire mesh fence

derelict stone structures at highest point of path

automobile road from ferry port to Finikas Beach

automobile road from ferry port to Pori Beach

coastal path from Finikas Beach to Gala Beach

path from taverna to Nero Beach

path from taverna to Hawaii Beach

path connecting Nero Beach & Genoupas Beach

shuttle boat route (Ano Koufonisi)

shuttle boat route (Kato Koufonisi)

short side path to Laki Beach

wire mesh fence

Milos

Paliochori Beach

Paliochori Beach
Paliochori is a locality at the far east end of the south coast of Milos, and there are three distinct beaches associated with Paliochori that collectively span about 1.25 kilometers. These picturesque beaches are backed by beautiful multicolored cliffs. The middle and longest of the three is the only one that is technically named Paliochori Beach, but the small beaches flanking either side have proper names that are not well known and hardly ever used, so in common parlance all three beaches are called Paliochori Beach.
The middle (main) Paliochori Beach is 500-600 meters long, and there are three beachside tavernas along its western half. During peak season, sunchairs and umbrellas line most of the main beach. Looking east from the main beach (to the left when facing the sea), in the near distance you will see a rocky outcropping that breaks the continuity of the beach, then farther in the background you will see a prominent headland that juts substantially seaward. The nude beach is beyond the outcropping, toward the headland. As you make your way in that direction, there is a slim possibility that you may encounter a few nude bathers at the far east end of the main beach, just before the rocky outcropping. However, nudity along the main beach occurs sporadically when the beach is uncrowded. During peak season, the main beach is highly likely to be entirely textile. Once you make your way around the outcropping, you still have to go a few hundred meters farther past a narrow and rocky stretch of shoreline to get to the nude beach, which is an expanse of about 150 meters at the base of a high and very precipitous cliff wall. The nude beach, which is composed of dark sand and pebbles, is technically named Tourkaki Beach, but it is far more likely just to be called the far east end of Paliochori Beach. Since scrambling over rocky terrain is necessary to get to the nude beach, it draws few visitors, and there are typically just a few nude bathers when the beach is not completely deserted.
Incidentally, the western Paliochori Beach is technically named Tourlos Beach (which, like Tourkaki, is a name that is almost never used). About 200 meters long, the western beach is contiguous with the main beach at low tide, and with a backdrop composed significantly of deep red rock, it is the most colorful part of Paliochori. Like the main beach, the western beach is lined with sunchairs during peak season, and a beach bar called Deep Blue overlooks the beach, built in tiers down the cliff. While worth visiting for the scenery, the western beach is far too popular to have nudist potential.
island, island group, country:  Milos, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eaK09C
starting point  the ferry port in Adamantas
The Bay of Milos is the most prominent geographic feature of Milos, making a huge indentation into the north side of the island. The ferry port is located in Adamantas on the east side of the bay. From the ferry port, follow the shoreline road south, such that the bay is on your right-hand side. In about 3.5 kilometers, as you approach a fork, you will see a power plant smokestack that resembles a lighthouse, painted in broad red and white horizontal stripes. When you get to the fork that is a bit before the smokestack, veer to the left, following the sign for Zefiria. At that point, you will begin heading away from the bay into the interior of the island.
From the fork, continue 1.7 kilometers and you will pass the blue-and-white Zefiria village sign, which is above a 30 KPH speed limit panel. After the village sign, continue another 200 or so meters to the next signed three-way junction. Turn right, following the signs for Paliochori and Agia Kiriaki. At that point, you will be on the road that takes you all the way to the south coast of the island. Follow the road for 4.1 kilometers and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Paliochori locality sign, which is just before Deep Blue Beach Bar (which has a prominently signed gateway into its large earthen parking lot).
After you pass the Paliochori sign and Deep Blue, continue about 250 meters and take note when you pass a small white chapel with a turquoise door, which is on the left side of the road just after a sharp rightward curve of the road. Parking for the main area of Paliochori Beach is all along the road amid a small collection of accommodations and beachfront restaurants. On busy days, you will likely begin to see parked cars starting approximately at the chapel. Continue about 250 meters past the chapel and look for parking near Pelagos Taverna (which may appear as ΠΕΛΑΓΟΣ on signs), around coordinates 36.6754N, 24.5184E. (The road dead ends shortly past the handful of buildings that comprise Paliochori.)
Once you access the beach, look to the east (to the left when facing the sea). Pelagos Taverna is the easternmost of the beachfront restaurants. In the near distance you will see a rocky outcropping that breaks the continuity of the beach, then farther in the background you will see a prominent headland that juts substantially seaward. The nude beach is beyond the outcropping, toward the headland. From Pelagos Taverna, walk about 300 meters to the rocky outcropping and make your way to the other side, which involves some rough walking over the scree of rocks and boulders at the base of the outcropping. Once you are on the other side of the outcropping, there is a very short stretch where the beach essentially disappears, so you will either have to cling very close to the shoreline or else step into the water in order to continue. The next part of the beach is a narrow and rocky stretch at the base of a gently sloping part of the cliff face that is covered in multiple patches of vegetation. Once you are past the vegetated, gently sloping part of the cliff face, the beach will open up and the cliffs behind the beach will abruptly become quite precipitous. At that point, you are at the nude beach. The total distance from Pelages Taverna to the nude beach is about 600 meters.
This placemark pertains to Paliochori Beach.

Paliochori locality sign
This placemark pertains to Paliochori Beach.

This placemark pertains to Paliochori Beach.

Deep Blue Beach Bar
This establishment overlooks the distinct western part of Paliochori Beach, which is cut off from the main expanse of the beach at high tide.

Sirocco Taverna
This is the westernmost of three beachfront restaurants along the main expanse of Paliochori Beach.

Artemis Fishtavern
This is the middle of three beachfront restaurants along the main expanse of Paliochori Beach.

Pelagos Taverna
This is the easternmost of three beachfront restaurants along the main expanse of Paliochori Beach.

small white chapel with turquoise door

rocky outcropping at east end of main expanse of Paliochori Beach

patches of vegetation on cliff face
This is the area where the cliff face slopes more gently and is covered in multiple patches of vegetation. The shoreline along this stretch is narrow and rocky.

road segment from Paliochori sign to parking

Psaravolada Beach

Psaravolada Beach
Psaravolada Beach is a rather obscure beach located toward the east end of the south coast of Milos. It is just east of a much better-known and well-signposted beach called Agia Kiriaki. Psaravolada is tucked away below a rugged cliff, and it actually consists of three distinct beaches (highlighted in yellow) that are separated by rocky outcroppings. These beaches collectively span about 350 meters and are composed of grayish sand mixed with pebbles. At low tide, you may be able to go around the rocks from one beach to the other without getting your feet wet, but most of the time a bit a wading will be necessary. Overall, Psaravolada is a lightly attended beach, and there are no amenities.
There are two accesses to Psaravolada. A small hotel called Milos Psaravolada Resort is perched high above the eastern end of the beach, and from there a very long staircase with handrails zigzags down to the beach. While the staircase is accessible to the public, it is not a well-known access, so it is effectively a private access for resort guests. The staircase, which has roughly 200 steps, lands at the eastern of the three Psaravolada beaches, which is mostly attended by hotel guests. That beach is almost certain to be all textile. The other access is an unsigned but well-worn footpath that descends through a gully and lands at the western of the three beaches. That is the beach with the most nudist potential. The western beach generally draws few visitors, but at any given time it may be all nude, all textile, mixed or altogether deserted. Even if only textiles are about, it is unlikely anyone would take offense to nudity. The middle beach is accessible only through one of the other beaches. It too has nudist potential, but the middle beach nearly disappears altogether at high tide, while the other two have exposed sand at all times.
island, island group, country:  Milos, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2dZzrLo
starting point  the ferry port in Adamantas
The Bay of Milos is the most prominent geographic feature of Milos, making a huge indentation into the north side of the island. The ferry port is located in Adamantas on the east side of the bay. From the ferry port, follow the shoreline road south, such that the bay is on your right-hand side. In about 3.5 kilometers, as you approach a fork, you will see a power plant smokestack that resembles a lighthouse, painted in broad red and white horizontal stripes. When you get to the fork that is a bit before the smokestack, veer to the left, following the sign for Zefiria. At that point, you will begin heading away from the bay into the interior of the island.
From the fork, continue 1.7 kilometers and you will pass the blue-and-white Zefiria village sign, which is above a 30 KPH speed limit panel. After the village sign, continue another 200 or so meters to the next signed three-way junction. Turn right, following the signs for Paliochori and Agia Kiriaki. Proceed 1.6 kilometers, then turn right at the sign for Agia Kiriaki.
From the turnoff, it is 2.4 kilometers to the end of the road at Agia Kiriaki Beach, and you want to go most of that distance before making your next turn. Follow the road about 1.7 kilometers and take note when you reach the start of a guardrail that is on the right-hand side of the road above a drop-off. By that point, the sea will be in full view straight ahead of you. The guardrail goes on a little over 200 meters. Less than 50 meters past the end of the guardrail, take the next left onto a narrow and inconspicuously signed road. (The turnoff is approximately at the point where the main road begins a sharp descent toward the sea.) At the start of the road, there is a sign for Agia Kiriaki Studios, and there is also a small "Psaravolada" sign which appears only in upper-case Greek characters as ΨΑΡΑΒΟΛΑΔΑ. Follow the road 300 meters to a three-way junction. The road straight ahead has another "Psaravolada" sign (in Greek). The road to your right leads to a small white chapel with a barrel roof (which is in full view at the junction) and then to Agia Kiriaki Studios, which is just beyond the chapel. The path to the beach leaves from the road that is straight ahead of you, but there is no room to park along that road, so leave your car next to the chapel, where there is ample room to park, around coordinates 36.6721N, 24.5024E.
As you continue along the Psaravolada road on foot, there will be a stretch of wire fencing on your right-hand side, at the top of a gully. Follow the road about 50 meters, then turn right onto a footpath at a break in the fencing. (The footpath begins immediately before the road curves rightward and begins to go slightly uphill.) As you follow the footpath toward the sea, the gully will be on your right-hand side, and the chapel and Agia Kiriaki Studios will be visible on the opposite side of the gully. Eventually the footpath goes down into the gully and takes you all the way to the western of the three small adjacent beaches that comprise Psaravolada Beach, which is the one best situated for nudity. The total length of the footpath is about 250 meters.
Alternate Access:
The road from which the gully trail is accessed ends about 250 meters farther along at Psaravolada Milos Resort. From there, a very long staircase descends to the beach. The stairs are accessible to the public, but you should ask permission to park if you drive to the resort rather than walk from the chapel. The staircase, which has handrails, zig-zags down the steep mountainside a little less than 200 meters, landing at the eastern of the three adjacent beaches, which is likely to be textile since it is mostly visited by resort guests. Facing the sea, go to the right, making your way across the small middle beach to reach the western beach. The three beaches are separated by small rocky outcroppings.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (next to the chapel).
This placemark pertains to Psaravolada Beach.

turnoff to Agia Kiriaki
This placemark pertains to Psaravolada Beach.

This placemark pertains to Psaravolada Beach.

small white chapel with barrel roof

path through gully
The strip of land that is lightly shaded in orange is a gully that is immediately east of a small chapel and Agia Kiriaki Studios. The unmarked footpath to Psaravolada Beach at first runs along the opposite (east) side of the gully from the chapel, then the footpath goes down into the gully for the final descent to the beach.

Psaravolada Milos Resort
The long staircase leading down to the sea from Psaravolada Milos Resort is accessible to the public, but you should ask permission to park if you drive rather than walk to the resort.

Agia Kiriaki Beach (textile)

Agia Kiriaki Studios

guardrail
The orange line traces a guardrail along the west side of the road that extends a little over 200 meters. Heading toward the sea, the poorly signed turnoff toward Psaravolada Beach is the next left after the end of the guardrail.

gully

one of 3 beach segments

route from Agia Kiriaki turnoff to parking

path through gully

stairs from Psaravolada Milos Resort to beach

Achivadolimni Beach

Achivadolimni Beach
Achivadolimni Beach is located along the Bay of Milos, the body of water that makes a very prominent indentation in the north side of Milos. The north-facing beach is located at the most inland part of the bay (i.e., the part that is farthest south), a bit west of the island's small airport. Achivadolimni stretches about 1.3 kilometers and is covered in coarse sand, and from the beach there are fantastic views of the bay and the village of Adamantas, which is about 3.5 kilometers across the bay as the crow flies. Most visitors to Achivadolimni cluster toward its west end, where there is a snack stand and where sunchairs and umbrellas are set up during peak season. Moving east from the main area of the beach (to the right when facing the sea), cliffs rise up behind the central expanse of the beach, then the cliffs taper off and become much lower behind the eastern end of the beach. Nude bathing occurs on the eastern third of the beach, below the lower cliffs. Achivadolimni is large enough that nudity is the norm on the eastern side even when the western side is packed during peak season. When the overall beach is uncrowded, nudity can also take place along the central expanse (below the higher cliffs). It is possible to bypass the main area of the beach and access the nude area directly, so there is no need for a long walk from the textile area.
A few sources apply the name Achivadolimni only to the western end of the beach and refer to the rest of the beach (the part backed by cliffs) as Mavra Gremna. However, it is all one long beach, and the name Mavra Gremna is fairly obscure and little used.
island, island group, country:  Milos, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2ewMLTK
starting point  the ferry port in Adamantas
The Bay of Milos is the most prominent geographic feature of Milos, making a huge indentation into the north side of the island. The ferry port is located in Adamantas on the east side of the bay, and the island's small airport is located toward the most inland part of the bay (i.e., the part that is farthest south). The distance from the ferry port to the airport is about 4.5 kilometers, via the road that runs along the shoreline of the bay. Achivadolimni Beach is on the Bay of Milos, a bit west of the airport.
From the ferry port, follow the shoreline road south, such that the bay is on your right-hand side. In about 3.5 kilometers, as you approach a fork, you will see a power plant smokestack that resembles a lighthouse, painted in broad red and white horizontal stripes. Keep to the right at the fork to stay on the shoreline road. (The left fork veers inland toward Zefiria.) Once you veer right at the fork, you will pass directly next to the candy cane-like smokestack, then you will begin to pass a chain of several square salt ponds that are on the left (inland) side of the road. You will see the white airport control tower at the end of the salt ponds. About 800 meters past the power plant and immediately past the last salt pond, you will cross a short bridge, then the next road on the left is the turnoff into the airport. (There is a bus stop shelter at the corner.)
There are a couple of ways you can access the nude east end of Achivadolimni Beach, and both options outlined below bypass the main area of the beach (toward its west end). If you follow Option 1, you will park near a staircase that descends to the beach from the main road. If you follow Option 2, you will follow a gravel road that goes past the main area of the beach then ends at the bottom of the staircase.
Option 1:
The aforementioned staircase is not marked. If you have a GPS, you can use the coordinates of the parking placemark (the one at the top of the staircase) to find it. Otherwise, take note of your car's trip meter at the airport turnoff. Continue straight ahead 1.6 kilometers and watch very carefully for the metal handrails of the staircase on the right side of the road. (If you pass Milos Achivadolimni Camping & Bungalows, which is on the right, you have missed it by 600 meters.) There is room for several cars to park along the shoulder of the road near the staircase, around coordinates 36.6907N, 24.4531E. If all the shoulder space is occupied, your best bet is to turn around and backtrack toward the airport about 200 meters, where there is a dirt pullout on the inland side of the road that can hold a dozen or so cars. The stairs descend to the beach, landing at the approximate dividing point between the textile and nude areas. Facing the bay, the nude area is to your right and extends about 400 meters to the east end of the beach, but you may have to walk about half that distance before encountering any nudists.
Option 2:
Follow the directions for Option 1, but keep driving past the staircase. About 600 meters past the staircase, you will pass the entrance to Achivadolimni Camping & Bungalows, which is on the right. 100-200 meters farther on, you will reach a signed three-way junction. Veer right, following the sign for Agia Marina. Proceed a little over 300 meters and take the next possible right turn onto a gravel road, which is immediately past a small blue Chivadolimni sign (an alternate spelling of Achivadolimni) and a symbol sign that indicates "no camping." You want to follow the gravel road about 750 meters to where it turns into a narrow track. At the start of the road, you will pass the main area of Achivadolimni Beach and its earthen parking area (which are on the left), then the beach and the bay will disappear from view as the road skirts the inland edge of a hilly land formation. When the sea comes back into view, the road will begin to run parallel to and just slightly above the beach, gradually descending toward sea level. Park where the broadest part of the gravel road comes to an end at beach level (where the much narrower track begins to go uphill away from the beach), around coordinates 36.6913N, 24.4525E. At that point, you will be near the bottom of the staircase.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Option 1).
This placemark pertains to Achivadolimni Beach.

turnoff toward airport
This placemark pertains to Achivadolimni Beach.

airport control tower
This placemark pertains to Achivadolimni Beach.

small blue "Chivadolimni" sign

entrance to Milos Achivadolimni Camping & Bungalows

main (textile) area of Achivadolimni Beach

road segment from airport turnoff to roadside parking

route for alternate access

staircase

Firiplaka Beach

Firiplaka Beach
Firiplaka Beach is located toward the middle of the south coast of Milos. Backed by craggy cliffs in multiple hues of red, orange and violet, it is among the more visually striking beaches on an island that has no shortage of visually striking beaches. Altogether, the beach is about one kilometer long. When you enter the beach, you will be at its far southeast end. The first 200 or so meters is the sandiest part of the beach. Along the main sandy expanse there is a snack stand and, during peak season, a long line of sunchairs and umbrellas. The end of the main expanse is demarcated by a monolithic rock at the shoreline. It is an unmistakable landmark, and you will pass on the inland side of the rock as you go northwest to get to more secluded parts of the beach. Beyond the rock, the beach continues another 800 or so meters and becomes narrower, with parts of it nearly disappearing at high tide. The narrower part of the beach has more pebbles mixed with the sand, with some stretches that are entirely pebble. All the beach beyond the rock is the area of potential nude use, with "potential" being the key word. Patterns of nude use vary depending on the size of the overall crowd. If you visit, say, during May or October when the beach has just a scattering of visitors, you may find that it is possible to be naked at or even a bit before the big rock. During June and September, nudity is likely to begin just a bit beyond the rock. During July and especially during August, large crowds of textiles are likely to overtake much of the beach beyond the rock, pushing nudists farther back. About 500 meters past the big rock, there is a boulder-like rocky outcropping where the cliffs taper off, and beyond the outcropping a small valley opens out to the beach. You will have to wade around the outcropping to explore the final few hundred meters of the beach, where you are likely to find sufficient seclusion for nudity if textiles have overtaken the rest of the beach.
On the way to Firiplaka Beach, you will pass a signed turnoff to nearby Tsigrado Beach, which is accessed by climbing down a crevice in a cliff wall with the assistance of a rope. Tsigrado is too small and too popular to have any nudist potential during peak season, nor it is known to draw nudists during the off season, but the beach is a worthwhile excursion for its scenery. It is easily viewed from above if you aren't up for the physical challenge of the descent.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fa1FQQ
The Bay of Milos is the most prominent geographic feature of Milos, making a huge indentation into the north side of the island. The ferry port is located in Adamantas on the east side of the bay, and the island's small airport is located toward the most inland part of the bay (i.e., the part that is farthest south). The distance from the ferry port to the airport is about 4.5 kilometers, via the road that runs along the shoreline of the bay. The drive from Adamantas to Firiplaka Beach is very straightforward, with no turns involved. Some landmarks are noted below.
From the ferry port, follow the shoreline road south, such that the bay is on your right-hand side. In about 3.5 kilometers, as you approach a fork, you will see a power plant smokestack that resembles a lighthouse, painted in broad red and white horizontal stripes. Keep to the right at the fork to stay on the shoreline road. (The left fork veers inland toward Zefiria.) Once you veer right at the fork, you will pass directly next to the candy cane-like smokestack, then you will begin to pass a chain of several square salt ponds that are on the left (inland) side of the road. You will see the white airport control tower at the end of the salt ponds. About 800 meters past the power plant and immediately past the last salt pond, you will cross a short bridge, then the next road on the left is the turnoff into the airport. (There is a bus stop shelter at the corner.)
After you pass the airport, continue another 2.5 kilometers to the next signed three-way junction and keep straight ahead past the right-hand turnoff to Agia Marina. (By that point, the road will have curved away from the bay and you will be heading into the interior of the island toward the south coast.) Continue another 800 meters to the next signed three-way junction and keep straight ahead past the right-hand turnoff to Provatas. Continue another 2.3 kilometers and take note when you pass a cluster of large industrial buildings of a mining operation. The buildings are on the left-hand side of the road.
After you pass the mining buildings, continue another 700-800 meters and take note when you pass the left-hand turnoff to Tsigrado (a textile beach that is a worthwhile excursion for the scenery). Keep straight ahead, following the sign for Firiplaka. After the sign, the road turns to gravel and continues about 500 meters farther, dead ending at Firiplaka Beach. There is parking all along the road toward its end, around coordinates 36.6646N, 24.4665E.
When you access the beach, you will be at its far southeast end. Walk northwest (to the right when facing the sea) a little over 200 meters until you reach the prominent monolithic rock at the shoreline. (It's a can't-miss landmark.) After the big rock, the beach continues another 800 or so meters. That entire area is potentially nudist, but patterns vary. On lightly attended days, you may encounter nudists shortly past the big rock. On crowded days, you may have to walk a few hundred meters or more past the big rock before the crowd thins out enough to allow for nudity.
This placemark pertains to Firiplaka Beach.

mining operation buildings
This placemark pertains to Firiplaka Beach.

This placemark pertains to Firiplaka Beach.

Tsigrado Beach (textile)
This small and picturesque beach is accessed by a system of ropes and ladders in a crevice in the cliff wall. Despite the effort required to reach it, the beach is very popular and has no nudist potential during peak season and very limited nudist potential at other times.

main textile area of Firiplaka Beach (textile)
main textile area of Firiplaka Beach between the parking area and the prominent monolithic rock

signed turnoff to Tsigrado

prominent monolithic rock at shoreline

boulder-like rocky outcropping where cliffs taper off

road segment from mining operation to parking

Agios Ioannis, Ammoudaraki & Triades

The eastern half of Milos is served by a network of paved roads, but the roads on the western half of the island are gravel. While those roads are generally in pretty good repair, they are far less traveled than are the paved roads, and there are remote and lightly attended beaches on the western coast of the island that are frequented by nude bathers. However, nudity seems rather sporadic at all the western beaches, so these locations are better regarded as potential nude beaches rather than as established nude beaches. As you drive into the western part of the island, you can follow a paved road as far as a church called Agia Marina. From there, it is another 9 to 11 kilometers along gravel roads to the remote beaches. Altogether, there are ten small sandy beaches that occur in two clusters, but there are three names associated with them: Triades, Ammoudaraki and Agios Ioannis. All are undeveloped beaches with no amenities.
The northern of the two clusters is a chain of seven beaches spanning about 1.2 kilometers, the largest of which is about 150 meters long and the smallest of which is just 20 meters long. Four of these seven beaches (the ones farthest north) are called the Triades Beaches, while the other three are called the Ammoudaraki Beaches. The naming distinction seems arbitrary, and the seven beaches are separated by rocky outcroppings that are easily hiked over. It is possible to park close to five of the seven beaches, the exceptions being the middle two Triades Beaches. All the beaches are often deserted or very lightly attended, but at times (particularly during peak season) some of the beaches may be occupied only by textiles. However, with a little exploring, you are likely to find a beach where you can strip down even during peak season. The best bets for nudity are the middle two of the Traides Beaches (T-2 and T-3) or the southernmost of the Ammoudaraki Beaches (A-3).
The other cluster is a chain of three adjacent beaches called the Agios Ioannis Beaches, located about 2 kilometers south of Triades and Ammoudaraki as the crow flies but considerably farther by car. The Agios Ioannis Beaches, which cover a span of 500-600 meters, are downhill from a monastery of the same name. The three beaches are separated from one another by rocky outcroppings and backed by low cliffs of multi-colored sandstone. Parking is next to the southernmost and largest of the beaches, which is the one most likely to be occupied by textiles. Conditions for nudity are generally better at the other two Agios Ioannis Beaches, which are smaller and prettier than the southernmost beach. To get to the middle beach, you can follow a footpath over the outcropping. It is not terribly difficult. If the middle beach is occupied only by textiles, you are almost certain to find sufficient seclusion for nudity at the northernmost of the three beaches. However, going over the outcropping from the middle to the northern beach is considerably more challenging than going from the southern to the middle beach. If it seems too daunting, it may be better to try wading around the outcropping instead.
This placemark pertains to Agios Ioannis Beaches, Ammoudaraki Beaches and Triades Beaches.

Agios Ioannis Beaches
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Agios Ioannis Beaches, Ammoudaraki Beaches and Triades Beaches.)
There are 31 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Agios Ioannis Beaches, Ammoudaraki Beaches and Triades Beaches.

Ammoudaraki Beaches
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Agios Ioannis Beaches, Ammoudaraki Beaches and Triades Beaches.)
There are 31 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Agios Ioannis Beaches, Ammoudaraki Beaches and Triades Beaches.

Triades Beaches
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Agios Ioannis Beaches, Ammoudaraki Beaches and Triades Beaches.)
There are 31 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Agios Ioannis Beaches, Ammoudaraki Beaches and Triades Beaches.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2faOiA0
The Bay of Milos is the most prominent geographic feature of Milos, making a huge indentation into the north side of the island. The ferry port is located in Adamantas on the east side of the bay, and the island's small airport is located toward the most inland part of the bay (i.e., the part that is farthest south). The distance from the ferry port to the airport is about 4.5 kilometers, via the road that runs along the shoreline of the bay.
From the ferry port, follow the shoreline road south, such that the bay is on your right-hand side. In about 3.5 kilometers, as you approach a fork, you will see a power plant smokestack that resembles a lighthouse, painted in broad red and white horizontal stripes. Keep to the right at the fork to stay on the shoreline road. (The left fork veers inland toward Zefiria.) Once you veer right at the fork, you will pass directly next to the candy cane-like smokestack, then you will begin to pass a chain of several square salt ponds that are on the left (inland) side of the road. You will see the white airport control tower at the end of the salt ponds. About 800 meters past the power plant and immediately past the last salt pond, you will cross a short bridge, then the next road on the left is the turnoff into the airport. (There is a bus stop shelter at the corner.)
Once you pass the airport entrance, continue another 2.4 kilometers to the next signed three-way junction, which is just past Milos Achivadolimni Camping & Bungalows. Turn right at the junction, where a sign points toward Agia Marina. Follow the road a little over 5 kilometers until you reach a three-way fork, which is at coordinates 36.6882N, 24.4022E. When you get to that fork, you will see Agia Marina church (a solid white structure with a dome) off to your right, about 150 meters away.
At the junction where the road splits into three forks, only the paved right fork is prominently signed, with signs pointing toward Agia Marina, Embourios and Rivari. The left fork is a gravel road that begins to go slightly uphill. Keep straight ahead on the middle of the three forks, which is a gravel road that is the broadest of the three roads. Shortly the road will begin to wind through the mountains, with drop-offs on your right-hand side and incredible views of the Bay of Milos, also to your right. Continue 4.2 kilometers to a four-way junction where there is a small cave-like stone structure at one corner. At the junction, which is at coordinates 36.6983N, 24.3770E, there is a sign pointing straight ahead toward Vani (indicating a distance of 8 kilometers) and a sign pointing left toward Agios Ioannis (indicating a distance of 6 kilometers). Turn left, toward Agios Ioannis.
Follow the road west about 700 meters and take note when you pass a small white chapel surrounded by a low white fence wall. (The chapel is on the left, very close to the road.) After the small chapel, continue another 400-500 meters to a fork, where a sign points left toward Agios Ioannis. The coordinates of the fork are 36.6961N, 24.3662E.
To go to the Agios Ioannis Beaches:
Go left at the fork*, following this sign for Agios Ioannis. Follow the road for 4.7 kilometers, almost all the way to Agios Ioannis monastery. As the monastery buildings come into view, make a sharp right onto the road that descends toward the sea. (The first structure of the monastery is a tiny chapel, and a long sidewalk connects it to the main buildings of the monastery. If you reach the tiny chapel, you have missed the beach turnoff by 100 meters.) Once you turn, follow the road about 600 meters to its end (at coordinates 36.6770N, 24.3321E) at the southernmost of the three Agios Ioannis beaches. Facing the sea, the other two beaches are to your right, with small headlands separating each beach from the next. It is not terribly difficult to hike over the headland to the middle beach, but the northernmost beach takes considerably more effort to reach.
To go to the Ammoudaraki Beaches or the Triades Beaches:
Go right at the fork, following the road that is not signed for Agios Ioannis. Continue 1.3 kilometers to a three-way junction that is more or less a "T." (It is not a perfect "T," but you have to veer sharply to the left or to the right at the junction.) The coordinates of the junction are 36.6973N, 24.3530E. If you go to the left at the junction, you can park near any of the three Ammoudaraki Beaches or at the southernmost of the four Triades Beaches. If you go to the right at the junction, you can park near the northernmost of the four Triades Beaches.
First, assume you go to the left at the junction. Continue 1.9 kilometers until you reach the point where the road passes through a gateway in a stone fence wall, at coordinates 36.7000N, 24.3412E. Immediately beyond the gateway, the road will fork. The two forks will briefly run parallel to one another before diverging, and the right fork is just slightly uphill from the left fork. If you follow the right fork, in about 600 meters you will reach the end of the road (at coordinates 36.7014N, 24.3355E) at the south end of the southernmost of the Triades Beaches (T-4), with all the Triades Beaches to your right as you face the sea. If you follow the left fork, which is the more prominent of the two roads, take note of your car's trip meter. Continue 700 meters to a side track on the right where the main road curves to the left. That track leads a short distance to the northernmost and smallest of the Ammoudaraki Beaches (A-1), where you can park at coordinates 36.6995N, 24.3364E. Keep driving another 200 meters and you will reach a large parking pullout (at coordinates 36.6984N, 24.3346E) next to the middle and largest of the Ammoudaraki Beaches (A-2). Or, continue another 200-300 meters to the dead end of the road (at coordinates 36.6980N, 24.3318E) next to the southernmost of the Ammoudaraki Beaches (A-3).
Or, assume you go right at the junction. Follow the road about 2.2 kilometers to its end, at coordinates 36.7059N, 24.3381E. The northernmost of the Triades Beaches (T-1) is downhill from the end of the road, and the others Triades Beaches are to your left as you face the sea.
* Along the way to Agios Ioannis, you will pass a left-hand turnoff signed for Profitis Ilias, but the sign is written only in Greek as Προφητης Ηλιας. The turnoff is at coordinates 36.6875N, 24.3529E, about 1.7 kilometers past the aforementioned fork (marked by the asterisk). The road leads to the top of Mount Profitis Ilias, which is the highest point of Milos, affording panoramic views of the entire island.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Agios Ioannis).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Ammoudaraki, A-2).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Triades, T-1).
This placemark pertains to Agios Ioannis Beaches, Ammoudaraki Beaches and Triades Beaches.

3-way fork near Agia Marina church
This placemark pertains to Agios Ioannis Beaches, Ammoudaraki Beaches and Triades Beaches.

This placemark pertains to Agios Ioannis Beaches.

This placemark pertains to Ammoudaraki Beaches.

This placemark pertains to Triades Beaches.

Agia Marina church

Agios Ioannis monastery
This placemark pertains to Agios Ioannis Beaches.

At this junction, there is a sign pointing straight ahead toward Vani (indicating a distance of 8 kilometers) and a sign pointing left toward Agios Ioannis (indicating a distance of 6 kilometers).

At this fork, a sign points left toward Agios Ioannis.

This three-way junction is more or less a "T." It is not a perfect "T," but you have to veer sharply to the left or to the right at the junction.

At this location, the road passes through a gateway in a stone fence wall then forks immediately past the gateway.
This placemark pertains to Triades Beaches and Ammoudaraki Beaches.

small chapel surrounded by low white fence wall, very close to road

small chapel atop Mt. Profitis Ilias
A small chapel and several other small buildings sit atop Mount Profitis Ilias. At a height of about 750 meters, the peak of Mount Profitis Ilias is the highest point in Milos. It is accessible from a gravel road that is a turnoff along the gravel road that goes to the Agios Ioannis monastery and the Agios Ioannis Beaches. The road to the top of Mount Profitis Ilias is about 5 kilometers long and has an elevation gain of over 500 meters, and from the peak there are unparalleled views of all of Milos. Profitis Ilias refers to the Prophet Elijah, and the sign that marks the road is in Greek only, reading Προφητης Ηλιας.

start of road to Mt. Profitis Ilias

AI-1, Agios Ioannis Beach #1, southernmost of three
This placemark pertains to Agios Ioannis Beaches.

AI-2, Agios Ioannis Beach #2, middle of three

AI-3, Agios Ioannis Beach #3, northernmost of three

A-1, Ammoudaraki Beach #1, northernmost of three
This placemark pertains to Ammoudaraki Beaches.

A-2, Ammoudaraki Beach #2, middle of three
This placemark pertains to Ammoudaraki Beaches.

A-3, Ammoudaraki Beach #3, southernmost of three

T-1, Triades Beach #1, northernmost of four
This placemark pertains to Triades Beaches.

T-2, Triades Beach #2, second northernmost of four
This placemark pertains to Triades Beaches.

T-3, Triades Beach #3, second southernmost of four

T-4, Triades Beach #4, southernmost of four

road from 3-way fork to 2-way fork

road to Agios Ioannis Beaches

road to Ammoudaraki and Triades Beaches

road to Triades Beach T-1

road to Triades Beach T-4

Mykonos

Mykonos Beaches

Follow this link to print this article: http://bit.ly/2eeH37R
Mykonos is one of the most iconic Greek islands, notable for its whitewashed buildings, thatch-roofed windmills and friendly pelicans but notorious for its youthful party scene and rather high prices. The island covers roughly 85 square kilometers. For perspective, Mykonos would fit into the city limits of San Francisco with a bit of room to spare, and that is a particularly apt analogy since the island is also one of the world's foremost gay destinations. Mykonos is also quite famous for its nude beaches. The custom of bare bathing began with the influx of hippies in the 60's and continued with the influx of gay men in the 70's. However, the island's reputation as a nude beach mecca is arguably more of a relic of its past rather than an accurate description of its present since there are no beaches left that are consistently predominantly nudist. As the island has evolved over the decades and skyrocketed in popularity, it now draws far more visitors who prefer designer swimwear than those who prefer no swimwear at all.
Mykonos town, also simply known as Chora, is located on the west side of the island, but the island's most popular beaches are on its south side. Among the southern beaches are five that have a well-established nudist presence. Going from west to east, those beaches are named Paranga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia. As the crow flies, these five beaches are located within an expanse of less than 5 kilometers. However, there are no maintained walking paths that quickly connect all the beaches, nor is it especially convenient to go from one beach to the next by car or bus. All the southern Mykonos beaches are sandy beaches nestled in coves with warm and shallow water that is great for swimming, and all are lined with sunbeds and a forest of thatched umbrellas several rows deep. Each is backed by varying degrees of development, including tavernas, bars and accommodations. All five beaches are predominantly textile. At each location, nude bathers gravitate to the west end of the beach (to the right when facing the sea), typically occupying the westernmost sunbeds and the areas beyond the end of the sunbeds. Some of the southern Mykonos beaches have reputations as lively party venues. Expect to hear blaring club music at Paradise and Super Paradise. There is also music at Paranga and Elia, but it plays on the opposite end of the beach from where nudists gather. Agrari is the only consistently music-free beach.
Paranga has long been a mostly textile beach, but there is a consistent nudist presence at the far west end. Of all the beaches in Mykonos, the names Paradise and Super Paradise have the most cachet (deservedly or not). Several decades ago when Mykonos first began to gain notoriety for bare bathing, Paradise was the straight nude beach and Super Paradise was the gay nude beach, and to a certain extent those reputations remain, even though the demographics started to shift as far back as the 80's. Paradise Beach evolved into a mostly textile party beach. Nudity never vanished altogether, but nudists have long been a rather small minority. Super Paradise has likewise changed, and while the western end of the beach is still heavily gay and gets a fair amount of nude use, the rest of the beach is mostly straight and textile. Agrari Beach is probably the iffiest of the five beaches for nudity during peak season. The beach is covered with sunbeds from one end to the other, so any nudists present tend to be at one extreme end or the other (usually the far west end but sometimes the far east end or both ends). Elia Beach, the most distant of the five beaches, did not gain prominence until the 90's, when nudists began to seek a less crowded alternative to Paradise and Super Paradise, but as more and more tourists have continued to flock to Mykonos, Elia did not remain a quiet alternative for long, and it now gets just as crowded as the others. Stretching about 500 meters, Elia is by far the largest of the five southern beaches. (Each of the other four is half that length or less.) Toward the west end, the land protrudes toward the sea in a way that partially isolates the westernmost 100 or so meters from the rest of the beach, and nudists and textiles mingle among the sunbeds and umbrellas along that part of the beach . The nude area of Elia is attended predominantly by gay men, and somewhere around the turn of the millennium it superseded Super Paradise as the preeminent gay beach of Mykonos. Furthermore, about 50 meters beyond the far west end of Elia (going toward Agrari), there is a tiny sandy niche that is perhaps 25 meters long. This hidden nook seems to always be the exclusive domain of gay men, and it can be jam packed with several dozen bodies, almost all of them naked. It is the only spot on the southern coast of Mykonos where nudists greatly outnumber textiles during peak season.
At the five southern beaches of Mykonos, nudity is always well accepted but not always widely practiced. If you visit during July and especially during August, be prepared for big crowds and lots of textiles. Even in the peripheral areas where nudists congregate, textiles can vastly outnumber nudists during peak season, so you will have to be comfortable being in a small nudist minority. During May, June, September and October, nudists comprise a higher percentage of the smaller overall crowds at all five beaches, and nudity can be more comfortably practiced on a larger segment of each beach.
Although the southern Mykonos coast is more associated with nude bathing than other parts of the coast, there are also a few options for nudists on the opposite side of the island. On the north coast of Mykonos, Panormos Bay is the very prominent inlet that cuts several kilometers into the interior of the island, and there are two sandy east-facing beaches along the western side of the bay. Panormos Beach stretches about 500 meters, and it is accessed from its north end, where there is a taverna on the beach and a scattering of accommodations slightly uphill. During peak season, a limited number of sunbeds and umbrellas are set up next to the taverna. Nude bathing occurs well beyond the taverna toward the opposite end of Panormos, near the butte-like land formation that dramatically punctuates the south side of the beach. Just a bit north, Agios Sostis Beach has a very similar set up, except it is about half the length of Panormos. There are several accommodations and a tiny taverna perched slightly uphill at the northern end of Agios Sostis where the beach is accessed, but there are no structures along the actual beach, nor are there any sunbeds available to rent, even during peak season. Nude bathers gather toward the hilly land formation at the south end of the beach. Panormos and Agios Sostis are considerably more serene than the bustling south coast beaches. During peak season there is loud music at the taverna at Panormos, but the source of the music is 300-400 meters away from where most nudists gather. During August, Panormos is often a better option for nudists than Agios Sostis simply because there is substantially more room for nudists to separate themselves from textiles.
All the beaches of Mykonos are easily reached by car (or motor scooter or ATV), and the island's roads are fairly well signed with the names of the beaches, so finding your way around is not difficult. However, quite a few visitors elect to get around without a car. Taxis are available, but buses are far more economical, and there is a regular bus service during peak season. For more about bus service, go to Mykonosbus.com. There is bus service to Paranga, Paradise and Elia but not to Super Paradise or Agrari. However, all five southern beaches are accessible by water taxi from Plati Yialos, a textile beach that is located a bit north of Paranga, around a bend of the coastline. Plati Yialos is easily reached by bus from Mykonos town, with buses running every half hour for most of the day during peak season. At Plati Yialos, water taxis depart frequently. The taxis are converted fishing boats called caïques that can shuttle about 20 passengers at a time. Boats stop at all five southern beaches (in order, going west to east), and the per-person round-tip fare is €5 to €7, depending on how far you are going. (Note that Plati Yialos is also commonly spelled Platy Gialos, or mix and match the first and second word of each variant.) As for the northern beaches, Panormos and Agios Sostis had long been accessible only to those with their own wheels until a limited bus service to Panormos was introduced in 2014.
Besides the seven beaches mentioned above, there is a scattering of other beaches in Mykonos where nudity sometimes takes place, but we have omitted those since they seem to fall short of being accurately described as well-established nudist venues. With a car and a map, you can easily explore some of the lesser-known beaches, particularly those in the far east of the island. Although Mykonos is a tremendously popular gay destination, there is considerable mixing of people of all persuasions. While the western ends of Super Paradise and Elia are predominantly gay, some straight visitors are to be found there as well, and there is gay patronage of the other beaches of Mykonos.
This placemark pertains to Paranga Beach, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, Agrari Beach, Elia Beach, Panormos Beach and Agios Sostis Beach.

Paranga Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Paranga Beach, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, Agrari Beach, Elia Beach, Panormos Beach and Agios Sostis Beach.)
island, island group, country:  Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece
There are 27 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Paranga Beach, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, Agrari Beach, Elia Beach, Panormos Beach and Agios Sostis Beach.

Paradise Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Paranga Beach, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, Agrari Beach, Elia Beach, Panormos Beach and Agios Sostis Beach.)
island, island group, country:  Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece
There are 27 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Paranga Beach, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, Agrari Beach, Elia Beach, Panormos Beach and Agios Sostis Beach.

Super Paradise Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Paranga Beach, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, Agrari Beach, Elia Beach, Panormos Beach and Agios Sostis Beach.)
island, island group, country:  Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece
There are 27 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Paranga Beach, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, Agrari Beach, Elia Beach, Panormos Beach and Agios Sostis Beach.

Agrari Beach

Elia Beach
GPS: 37.4228N, 25.3876E (west end of Elia), 37.4226N, 25.3860E (hidden beach between Elia and Agrari)

Panormos Beach

Agios Sostis Beach

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2f22A5e
starting point  the Mykonos airport
The small airport of Mykonos is located just a few kilometers inland from the center of Mykonos town (a.k.a. Chora), and it makes a good central starting point for finding your way by car to any of the better-established nude beaches of Mykonos. The airport entrance is opposite Hertz Rent A Car.
To go to Paranga Beach or Paradise Beach:
Head northwest from the airport, toward Mykonos town. In just 400-500 meters, turn left at the signs for Paradise Beach, Paranga and Agia Anna. At that point, you will begin going south. In 2.3 kilometers, you will reach a signed fork where the route to the two beaches diverge. Paranga Beach is to the right and Paradise is to the left. From the fork, it is roughly one kilometer to parking at either beach. Just keep following the signs. Paranga parking is at coordinates 37.4081N, 25.3492E. Paradise parking at coordinates 37.4107N, 25.3574E. (If you are going to Paranga, you will pass Agia Anna Beach shortly before you arrive at your destination.)
To go to Super Paradise Beach or Agrari Beach:
Head south from the airport, away from Mykonos town. You will be driving parallel to the west side of the airport runway, and before long the road will begin to run directly alongside the chain-link fence that surrounds the runway. (The fence will be on your left-hand side.) In about a kilometer, the road will make two sharp leftward curves as it loops around the south end of the runway. Almost immediately after the second of those curves, turn right at the sign for Super Paradise and Agrari. About 100 meters farther on, you will reach a three-way junction. A sign points left toward Agrari, but there are signs pointing to the left and to the right toward Super Paradise. You can get to Super Paradise either way*, but assume you keep to the left and continue along the route that also goes toward Agrari. Keep following the signs for the two beaches for 750 meters and you will get to the point where the route diverges. From that point, it is 1.5 kilometers to Super Paradise or 2.2 kilometers to Agrari. The route to both beaches is well signed. Super Paradise parking is at coordinates 37.4159N, 25.3689E. Agrari parking is at coordinates 37.4218N, 25.3827E.
* The other route to Super Paradise is also signed for Coco Club. There is far less parking via that route.
To go to Panormos Beach or Agios Sostis Beach:
Head northwest from the airport, toward Mykonos town, continuing 1.2 kilometers to a stop sign at a roundabout that has a white marble sculpture (a bust on a pedestal) in its center. Turn right, following the sign for Tourlos. Continue one kilometer to a stop sign at the next roundabout, which is next to a store called Hondos Center. Turn right, following the sign that points toward Ano Mera, Panormos and several other locations. Proceed 1.6 kilometers (toward Ano Mera), then turn left at the sign for Panormos and Agios Sostis. From that point, the rest of the route is well signed. Continue another 3.5 kilometers and you will reach the short right-hand spur road that goes to Panormos Beach (also prominently signed for the Albatros Club). Or, keep following signs for Agios Sostis, parking for which is about 1.3 kilometers past Panormos. Panormos parking is at coordinates 37.4772N, 25.3601E. Agios Sostis parking is at coordinates 37.4860N, 25.3604E.
To go to Elia Beach:
To get to Elia, you will pass through Ano Mera, which is a village in the interior of Mykonos. Elia is not well signed until you get to Ano Mera, and there are two basic ways to Ano Mera. First, refer to the directions for Panormos and Agios Sostis. At the roundabout next to Hondos Center, there are signs pointing toward Ano Mera. It is a straight shot to the village. 5.2 kilometers from the roundabout, you will pass a "Welcome to Ano Mera" sign in Greek and English. Keep straight ahead on the main road another 1.7 kilometers and take note when you pass a grassy sports field, which is on the right-hand side of the road, surrounded by a stone fence wall. The first really prominent signs that point toward Elia Beach begin at the sports field. From that point, it is about 3 kilometers to Elia, and the rest to the route is well signed. Elia parking is at coordinates 37.4233N, 25.3897E.
Alternatively, refer to the directions to Super Paradise and Agrari. Follow those directions as though you are going to Agrari. About 2 kilometers before you get to Agrari, you will reach a three-way junction where signs point right toward Agrari and left toward Ano Mera, but the name of the village may appear only in Greek as Ανω Μερα. Turn toward Ano Mera. From that point, the next junctions are not signed. Just keep straight ahead about 3 kilometers until you reach a "T" junction where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn right. At that point, you will be going southeast on the main road through Ano Mera, and in about 1.2 kilometers you will pass the soccer field, from which there are signs pointing the rest of the way to Elia.
Note 1: At Paranga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia, nudity occurs on the west end of the beach. At Panormos and Agios Sostis, nudity occurs on the south end. At each location, go to the right when facing the sea to reach the nude area.
Note 2: The maps below draw the best-signed roads on the island that go to the seven beaches. There are quite a number of shortcuts and alternate routes that are possible.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Paranga).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Paradise).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Super Paradise).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Agrari).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Elia, via Mykonos town).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Elia, via the Super Paradise/Agrari route).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Panormos).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Agios Sostis).
This placemark pertains to Paranga Beach, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, Agrari Beach, Elia Beach, Panormos Beach and Agios Sostis Beach.

hidden beach west of Elia (nudist, gay)
This tiny niche beyond the western end of Elia Beach is a niche that is exclusively gay, virtually all nude and often crowded to capacity.
This placemark pertains to Elia Beach.

Plati Yialos Beach (a.k.a. Platy Gialos)
This textile beach can be reached by bus from Mykonos town. Taxi boats shuttle visitors back and forth from Plati Yialos to the cluster of nude beaches to the east.
This placemark pertains to Paranga Beach, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, Agrari Beach and Elia Beach.

Agia Anna Beach (textile)
Pinpointed just for reference, you'll pass through this small beach if you drive to Paranga Beach or if you walk there from Plati Yialos Beach.
This placemark pertains to Paranga Beach.

boats to nude beaches
Boats called caïques shuttle visitors back and forth from Plati Yialos Beach to the cluster of nude beaches to the east for round-tip fare of €5 to €7. All the nude beaches are located within a span of 5 kilometers.
This placemark pertains to Paranga Beach, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, Agrari Beach and Elia Beach.

airport entrance, opposite Hertz Rent A Car
This placemark pertains to Paranga Beach, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, Agrari Beach, Elia Beach, Panormos Beach and Agios Sostis Beach.

This placemark pertains to Paranga Beach.

This placemark pertains to Paradise Beach.

This placemark pertains to Super Paradise Beach.

This placemark pertains to Agrari Beach.

This placemark pertains to Elia Beach.

This placemark pertains to Panormos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Agios Sostis Beach.

"Welcome to Ano Mera" sign (in Greek and English)

roundabout with white marble sculpture (bust on pedestal) in center

roundabout next to Hondos Center

grassy sports field

Fabrika bus hub
the bus hub on the south end of Mykonos town is called Fabrika
See Mykonosbus.com for more about getting around the island by bus.

Ote bus hub
the bus hub on the north end of Mykonos town is called Ote
See Mykonosbus.com for more about getting around the island by bus.

Naxos

Plaka Beach

The seaside resort village of Agia Anna is located roughly halfway along the western side of Naxos, a driving distance of about 7.5 kilometers south of the ferry port in Naxos town and a bit south of the island's tiny airport. Plaka Beach begins just south of Agia Anna and extends southward for almost 4 kilometers. A beautiful beach of soft white sand, Plaka is backed by plains, with mountains farther in the background. A well-surfaced dirt road runs along most of the beachfront but does not extend quite all the way to the southern end of the beach. There is development along the beach and in the plains slightly inland from the beach, including two campgrounds, lots of tavernas and a number of accommodations. However, most of the hotels are small in scale and set back a bit from the beachfront road, so the beach does not feel overdeveloped. Plaka is the beach of Naxos that is most associated with nude bathing, but nudity does not occur all over the beach. In a nutshell, there is a niche at the far northern end of Plaka that is a very well-established nude beach, and nudity occurs in pockets along the southern part of the beach.
To better understand when and where nudity occurs at Plaka, let's start at the north end. Heading south away from Agia Anna, the sea will briefly disappear from view. When the sea comes back into view and the road begins to run along the beach, you will be near the far north end of Plaka Beach, and the first beachfront establishment you will see is Paradiso Taverna. (All the beachfront establishments are located on the inland side of the beachfront road.) Directly opposite Paradiso Taverna, there is usually a cluster of a dozen or so tables with chairs set up on the sand under a tree, providing Paradiso patrons with an alfresco dining option directly on the beach. (Waiters carrying trays frequently cross the road, so drive slowly!) If you are standing near the alfresco tables facing the sea, the beach extends about 250 meters to your right, ending at a rocky outcropping atop which there is a tiny white chapel called Agios Nikolaos. This is the northernmost segment of Plaka Beach. Walk north just a minute or so from the alfresco tables and you will encounter nude bathers. The nude area (which is shaded lightly in red) spans at most 150 meters, and the northernmost part of the nude area is a sandy niche just below the chapel that is mostly surrounded by large, smooth rocks. The nude area is secluded from the nearby road by an expanse of sand dunes covered in cedar trees, but a boardwalk that begins near Paradiso Taverna goes to the chapel and runs directly behind the nude area, so it is quite visible to pedestrians who pass through. Nonetheless, just about everyone at the far northern end of Plaka goes naked, and this is the part of the beach that has the most consistent and clustered nudist presence. There are no sunchairs available for rent in the northern nude area. Many visitors bring along an umbrella for shade. If you explore the rocky area just beyond the chapel, you will find a rock with an uncanny resemblance to a shark. Visitors enhance the likeness by placing little pebbles in a crevice of the rock to form shark teeth. (Note that nudity should be confined to the sandy beach. Put something on to explore nearby areas.)
Continuing south from Paradiso Taverna, the road runs directly along the beach, and there are multiple clusters of sunchairs and umbrellas. About a kilometer south of Paradiso, the road veers behind low sand dunes near Three Brothers Taverna, and from that point southward the beach is a bit more secluded from the road. The stretch of the beach between Paradiso and Three Brothers is textile, and that part of the beach is often referred to as Maragas Beach, although it is just a segment of the longer beach called Plaka Beach. Beyond (i.e., south of) Three Brothers, nudity becomes common for over 2 kilometers to the far southern end of the beach, but it is not a continuous area of nude use. Nudists and textiles are interspersed in various areas of the beach. The southern zone of the beach that has mixed nudist and textile use is shaded lightly in pink, and there are multiple clusters of sunchairs along this stretch, but they are a bit more spread out than the clusters along Maragas Beach. Generally speaking, nudity is acceptable in areas between the sunchairs. As for the clusters of sunchairs, the nudity situation is too quixotic to pin down definitively. During July and August, you are likely to find few if any naturists amid the sunchairs. At other times, some of the sunchair clusters get mixed nudist and textile use, but some sunchair concessionaires are not amenable to nudity. You will just have to explore the beach a little to figure out the current status quo. If you take an extended nude walk through the southern realm of Plaka, it is best to cover up when passing through an area of sunchairs occupied only by textiles since there have been a number of reports of hostility toward those who stroll naked through textile-only sunchair clusters. You can expect that nudity will not be practiced as freely on as much of the beach during July and August.
If you continue south along the beachfront road past Three Brothers Taverna, in about 500 meters you will pass Plaka Camping, then another 500 meters farther on you will pass Plaza Beach Hotel. The area just beyond Plaza Beach Hotel is probably the best area for nudity during peak season when there are lots of textiles farther north. About 700 meters beyond Plaza Beach Hotel, the beachfront road ends. About 350 meters beyond the end of the road, there is a beachfront hotel called Medusa Resort (accessed from a road through the interior). Farther south, the beach becomes narrower and extends another 400-500 meters, ending where a dirt road that comes from the interior meets the coast and then continues south to Mikri Vigla. The segment of the beach south of Medusa Resort is potentially nudist but does not have a really well-established nudist presence.
There is regular bus service from Naxos town to Plaka Beach, with seven bus stops along the beach. The first bus stop is next to Paradiso Taverna, so get off there if you want to go to the far northern nudist zone. The second, third and fourth bus stops are along Maragas Beach. The fifth bus stop is a bit before Three Brothers Taverna, the sixth is a bit past Plaka Camping and the seventh and final stop (where the bus turns around) is next to Plaza Beach Hotel.
This placemark pertains to Plaka Beach North and Plaka Beach South.

Plaka Beach North
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Plaka Beach North and Plaka Beach South.)
village, island, island group, country:  Agia Anna/Plaka, Naxos, Cyclades, Greece
There are 17 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Plaka Beach North and Plaka Beach South.

Plaka Beach South
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Plaka Beach North and Plaka Beach South.)
village, island, island group, country:  Agia Anna/Plaka, Naxos, Cyclades, Greece
There are 17 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Plaka Beach North and Plaka Beach South.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2f3jJvx
starting point  the ferry port in Naxos town (a.k.a. Chora)
Naxos is the capital of the island of the same name, and it is often called Naxos town or Chora to distinguish it from the island. Naxos town is roughly halfway along the west coast of the island (but somewhat closer to the north end than to the south end). All traffic leaving the ferry port is filtered away from the seafront toward the town center. (A brown sign points toward Metropolis Square and Ancient Town of Naxos.) Once you turn away from the seafront, keep straight ahead (east) about one kilometer, then turn right at a sign for the airport and Halki. (The sign indicates distances of 3.5 kilometers to the airport and 17 kilometers to Halki.)
Continue southwest one kilometer to a stop sign at a "T" junction. Turn left, following another sign for the airport and Halki. Just 100 meters farther on, take the next possible right at a sign for the airport, Agia Anna, Agios Prokopios and Stelida. (Straight ahead continues toward Halki. The turnoff is immediately before a large white multi-domed church called Agios Nikodimos.)
Less than 100 meters after you turn, the road will split into narrow one-way streets that pass through a dense cluster of buildings, and the route is not well-signed. Continue about 150 meters and turn left at a "T" junction, then continue just 40 meters and turn right at another "T" junction. At that point, you will be on a two-way street again, continuing south. About 250 meters farther on, keep straight ahead through the next signed junction, where there is another sign pointing toward the airport. Continue another 1.6 kilometers, then turn right at a sign for Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna. (The turnoff is a bit before the airport entrance, and another sign indicates that the airport is 500 meters straight ahead.)
Proceed west one kilometer to a fork and keep to the left, following another sign for Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna. (The other fork has a brown sign pointing toward Temple Agios Prokopiou.) Continue southwest another 1.8 kilometers to a three way junction that is next to the sea. At that point, you will be in Agios Prokopios. Keep to the left, following a sign for Agia Anna and Maragas. You will then begin driving along the seafront, with the sea on your right-hand side.
Continue south about 600 meters and the road will veer slightly inland, with the sea temporarily disappearing from view. (At that point, you will be in the neighboring village of Agia Anna.) Continue another 300 meters to a "T" junction.
Turn right at the "T," following the sign for Maragas and Plaka. Just after you turn, the sea will be in view again and the road will bend sharply to the left such that the sea is on your right-hand side, then within 100 meters the sea will disappear from view again and the road will turn to dirt. Continue southwest 300-400 meters until the sea comes into view yet again. At that point, you will see Paradiso Taverna on the left (inland) side of the road.
To go to Plaka Beach North:
Just as soon as the sea comes into view, look for parking. There is room for half a dozen or so vehicles to park just off the sea side of the road directly opposite Paradiso Taverna (around coordinates 37.0629N, 25.3551E), but you may have to look for parking elsewhere and return on foot. Facing the sea near Paradiso Taverna, go right just 100 or so meters and you will reach the northern nudist zone of Plaka Beach, which extends just 150 or so meters to the rocky outcropping that forms the end of the beach.
To go to Plaka Beach South:
Keep driving south along the dirt road that runs along the beach. You will pass Maragas Camping and a number of tavernas and small hotels, all on the left (inland) side of the road. At just slightly over one kilometer past Paradiso Taverna, you will pass Three Brothers Taverna, which is located around the point where low sand dunes begin to separate the road and the beach. The nudist zone of the beach begins at that point and extends south over 2 kilometers. You can park and access the beach anywhere along the road, around coordinates 37.0496N, 25.3716E. (Those particular coordinates pinpoint a location that is just past Plaza Beach Hotel, about a kilometer past Three Brother Taverna. The beachfront road dead ends about 700 meters past Plaza Beach Hotel.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (near Paradiso Taverna).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (near Plaza Beach Hotel).
This placemark pertains to Plaka Beach North and Plaka Beach South.

"T" junction in Agia Anna
This placemark pertains to Plaka Beach North and Plaka Beach South.

This placemark pertains to Plaka Beach North.

This placemark pertains to Plaka Beach South.

Agios Nikolaos chapel
This placemark pertains to Plaka Beach North.

the "shark" rock is located somewhere in this area
This placemark pertains to Plaka Beach North.

Paradiso Taverna

alfresco tables on beach, across road from Paradiso Taverna

entrance to Maragas Camping
This placemark pertains to Plaka Beach South.

Three Brothers Taverna
This placemark pertains to Plaka Beach South.

entrance to Plaka Camping

Plaza Beach Hotel

end of beachfront road

Medusa Resort

road from "T" junction to Paradiso Taverna

beachfront road

nude area of north beach

potential nude area of south beach

Kedros Beach

Kedros Beach
Kastraki and Pirgaki are nearby areas of scattered resort development that are toward the southern end of the west coast of Naxos, about 20 kilometers south of Naxos town. Two long sandy beaches of the area are Glyfada Beach, which faces west, and Pirgaki Beach, which faces southwest. Each of those beaches stretches over one kilometer. The area between Glyfada and Pirgaki, where the coastline changes direction, is a peninsular notch of land called Aliko (also spelled Alyko). Roughly square in shape, Aliko is a sandy mass of less than one square kilometer that is blanketed by a forest of short juniper trees and coastal scrub. The southwest corner of the Aliko peninsula is occupied by a labyrinthine network of stone walls and arched colonnades. These are not ancient ruins but rather the modern ruins of a large hotel complex that never opened, abandoned without ever being completed.
There are four sandy beaches on the Aliko peninsula. Two of them face south and two of them face west. All four beaches are often collectively called Aliko Beach since their individual names are not well known. The more eastern of the south-facing beaches is St. George Beach (usually not called by the Greek name Agios Georgios since there is another beach with that name in Naxos town). St. George is a little over 200 meters long, and it is very easy to access since you can drive all the way to the beach. The other south-facing beach is Mikrolimano Beach, a much smaller beach that is about 70 meters long. The abandoned hotel is located between St. George Beach and Mikrolimano Beach. Both the south-facing beaches are textile.
Of the two west-facing Aliko beaches, the one farther south is Hawaii Beach and the one farther north is Kedros Beach. They are separated by a rocky outcropping that is easy to cross. Hawaii Beach is a sandy crescent that is just under 400 meters long. Part of the beach is backed by low reddish cliffs, and it is generally considered the most picturesque of the Aliko beaches. Kedros Beach is a sandy crescent that is a little over 300 meters long, and it is partially backed by very low reddish cliffs. Kedros is a pretty beach, but it is not quite as visually striking as is Hawaii. Nudity occurs on both the west-facing Aliko beaches, but to very different degrees. Hawaii Beach is often all textile, with nudity occurring occasionally and irregularly, particularly on uncrowded days. Kedros Beach is the established and accepted nude beach of Aliko, with nude bathers typically in the majority. Kedros never gets overcrowded, with a few dozen or fewer visitors even during peak season.
None of the Aliko beaches are equipped with any kind of amenities, so come prepared. Kedros Beach is just 700 meters away from a bus stop (which is pinpointed and referenced in the driving directions), but bus service is quite infrequent, so make sure you know the schedule. It is best to have your own transportation to get to the beach.
village, island, island group, country:  Kastraki, Naxos, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2f3cNhK
starting point  the ferry port in Naxos town (a.k.a. Chora)
Naxos is the capital of the island of the same name, and it is often called Naxos town or Chora to distinguish it from the island. Naxos town is roughly halfway along the west coast of the island (but somewhat closer to the north end than to the south end). All traffic leaving the ferry port is filtered away from the seafront toward the town center. (A brown sign points toward Metropolis Square and Ancient Town of Naxos.) Once you turn away from the seafront, keep straight ahead (east) about one kilometer, then turn right at a sign for the airport and Halki. (The sign indicates distances of 3.5 kilometers to the airport and 17 kilometers to Halki.)
Continue southwest one kilometer to a stop sign at a "T" junction. Turn left, following another sign for the airport and Halki. Just 100 meters farther on, keep straight ahead toward Halki and ignore the right-hand turn toward the airport. Continue southeast another 1.7 kilometers, then veer right at a sign for Vivlos and Halki .
Continue southeast 1.9 kilometers to the next signed junction and keep straight ahead toward Glinado, Vivlos and Pirgaki. (The road to the left continues toward Halki and Galanado.) 1.4 kilometers farther on, stay on the main road as it makes a right turn in the middle of the village of Glinado. 2.8 kilometers farther on, you will reach a "T" in the village of Vivlos. Turn right, following a sign for Mikri Vigla, Kastraki and Alyko1.
Continue in a generally southerly direction for 8 kilometers (keeping straight ahead past right-hand turnoffs toward Mikri Vigla/Orkos and Kastraki) and take note when you reach a right-hand turnoff for Glyfada Beach, but do not turn there. 1.4 kilometers farther on, take note when you pass Faros Taverna & Pool Bar, which is on the left side of the road.
After you pass Faros Taverna & Pool Bar, continue 600-700 meters to a fork that is just past a white bus stop shelter. Keep to the right, staying on the paved road, which is signed for Aliko1. (The left fork, which is a gravel road, is signed for Pirgaki.)
After the fork, continue just 200 meters and take note of the first turnoff2 on the right, which is a dirt track that leads directly to Kedros Beach. However, the track is rough and there aren't any good places to park, so keep going just 25 or so meters and turn right at the next turnoff2, which is a dirt track that goes just 50 meters to an earthen parking area, 3 at coordinates 36.9807N, 25.3885E. Just as soon as you enter the parking area, there is a footpath that veers off to the right. Follow that footpath a little over 200 meters, then keep to the left when the footpath merges into the aforementioned track that leads directly to Kedros Beach. Continue about 150 meters along the track and you will reach the beach.
1 Spelling on signage is inconsistent. Some read "Alyko" and others "Aliko."
2 Opposite the two right-hand turnoffs, there is a dirt track on the left that goes a short distance to St. George Beach. If you were to keep straight ahead on the paved road, in about 300 meters the road would dead end at the abandoned, incomplete hotel complex.
3 If you were to walk straight ahead from the earthen parking area instead of following the footpath that veers off to the right, you would reach Hawaii Beach. Facing the sea at Hawaii Beach, Kedros Beach is to the right (north), over a rocky outcropping.
This placemark pertains to Kedros Beach.

Hawaii Beach (sometimes nudist)
This beach gets some nudist use but is often all textile during peak season. It is not as consistently nude as is Kedros Beach immediately to the north.
This placemark pertains to Kedros Beach.

Faros Taverna & Pool Bar
This placemark pertains to Kedros Beach.

Mikrolimano Beach (textile)

St. George Beach (textile)

Glyfada Beach (textile)

Pirgaki Beach (textile)

abandoned, incomplete hotel complex

bus stop "Aliko"

route from Faros Taverna to parking

path to Kedros Beach

Paros

Naousa Bay Beaches

Naousa Bay is a prominent and intricate inlet at the north end of Paros. The village of Naousa, which is the second largest village in Paros after Parikia (a.k.a. Paros town), is situated along the southern shoreline of the bay. Naousa Bay is over 5 kilometers wide (east-west), and peninsular land masses on each end of the northern side of the bay extend toward one another, enclosing the bay except for a mouth (directly north of Naousa) that is about 2 kilometers wide. The bay has about 15 kilometers of shoreline, along which there are three beaches where nudists gather.
On the east side of the bay, there is a sandy beach called Lageri Beach (alternately spelled Langeri, Laggeri, Laggery, etc.), which is by far the most popular nude beach in Paros. The beach includes a continuous stretch of about 700 meters along with a few disconnected coves. To understand the layout of Lageri Beach, start at a small white bayside chapel called Zoodohos Pigi (pinpointed). Just north of the chapel (to the right when facing the bay), there is a small sandy hillock covered in vegetation where the shoreline is mostly rocky. The main expanse of Lageri Beach begins just beyond the hillock and extends northward. About 300-400 meters beyond the hillock, there is a stretch of about 100 meters where there is a low stone fence wall that runs along the beach. By that point, there are a number of scattered vacation properties along and behind the beach, including a few that are very close to the water. About 250-300 meters beyond the end of the low stone fence wall, the main sandy expanse of the beach ends, and just beyond it there is a boat jetty (pinpointed) along a rocky part of the shoreline, then just beyond the boat jetty there is a separate small sandy cove that does not appear to get much use. Nudity potentially occurs all along Lageri Beach despite the close proximity of the vacation houses. However, nudists tend to be concentrated at the southern end of the beach (i.e., north of the hillock but south of the low stone fence wall). Lageri is a popular beach despite some access difficulties. There is not much in the way of signage pointing toward the beach, nor is there a designated parking area, so it is difficult to find the way to the beach unless you have precise directions. Lageri is attended by a mix of people but has a sizable gay presence.
Lageri always has the largest concentration of nudists of any beach on Naousa Bay (or in all of Paros, for that matter), but there are a few more options for nudists on the opposite end of the bay. On the west side of Naousa Bay, there is a resort called Porto Paros Hotel. A bit north of the hotel, there are two nearby hidden coves that do not have proper names. We're going to refer to them collectively as Porto Paros Beach, but keep in mind that these are not the actual names and that the coves are north of the hotel, not next to it or associated with it. The northern of the two coves is just 30 meters long, and the larger southern cove is about 100 meters long. The two coves are about 100 meters apart, with an informal parking area between them. Nude bathing is known to occur at the coves, but there is not a lot of documented information about them. The coves are hidden yet very close to a main road, and they are very easy to access if you have a car, so it takes little effort to check them out.
A bit farther north on the west side of Naousa Bay, there is a peninsular land mass that extends eastward to the western end of the wide mouth of the bay. The peninsula is occupied by a nature preserve called the Environmental & Cultural Park of Paros, where there are several hiking paths. The main beach of the park is Monastiri Beach, a small sandy bayshore beach with a taverna. The beach takes its name from the nearby Agios Ioannis monastery. Monastiri Beach is covered with sunchairs and umbrellas during peak season, and it is a textile beach. However, if you hike along path #3 about a kilometer, you will reach a beach toward the eastern tip of the peninsula (on the bay side) that is called Tourkou Ammos Beach ("Turkish Sands"). It is a picturesque crescent of sand mixed with pebbles that stretches a little over 100 meters. Because of its isolation, nude bathing is very common, but there are rarely more than a handful of visitors. It should be noted that the proper name Tourkou Ammos is not at all very well known, so the beach is most often called Monastiri after the nearby textile beach through which it is accessed. Tourkou Ammos once had the reputation as the gay beach of Paros, but it now seems that Lageri has the larger gay presence.
There are no amenities at any of the nudist locations of Naousa Bay, so come prepared. As an alternative to driving to the beaches, you may consider taking a water taxi from the small port in Naousa village. There does not seem to be a publicized schedule available online, so you will just have to go to the port to inquire. If you take a boat to Lageri Beach, you will be dropped off at the boat jetty referenced above. To go to either of the other two nude beaches, you can take a boat to Monastiri Beach and then hike the rest of the way.
This placemark pertains to Lageri Beach, Porto Paros Beach and Tourkou Ammos Beach.

Lageri Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Lageri Beach, Porto Paros Beach and Tourkou Ammos Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Santa Maria, Paros, Cyclades, Greece
There are 25 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Lageri Beach, Porto Paros Beach and Tourkou Ammos Beach.

Tourkou Ammos Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Lageri Beach, Porto Paros Beach and Tourkou Ammos Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Kolybithres, Paros, Cyclades, Greece
There are 25 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Lageri Beach, Porto Paros Beach and Tourkou Ammos Beach.

Porto Paros Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Lageri Beach, Porto Paros Beach and Tourkou Ammos Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Kolybithres, Paros, Cyclades, Greece
There are 25 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Lageri Beach, Porto Paros Beach and Tourkou Ammos Beach.

northern cove of Porto Paros Beach (potentially nudist)
This placemark pertains to Porto Paros Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fxNYz5
starting point  the ferry port in Paros town (a.k.a. Parikia)
Paros is the capital of the island of the same name, but it is most often called Parikia (or sometimes Paros town). Parikia is located in a prominent bay that is about halfway along the west coast of the island, and it is the location of the island's only major ferry port. (The island's only other ferry port, located about 8 kilometers to the south in Pounta, is a minor port with service back and forth between Paros and Antiparos.) Next to the ferry port, there is a small roundabout with a windmill in the middle. At that roundabout, watch for signs Naousa and Lefkes and follow them to navigate your way out of Parikia. You will head into the interior of the island, and in about one kilometer you will reach a fork where the routes to Naousa and Lefkes diverge, with signs indicating that it is 8 kilometers to Naousa and 9 kilometers to Lefkes. Keep to the left to stay on the main road, which continues toward Naousa. Continue northeast another 7 kilometers through the interior of the island until you reach a three-way junction that is next to Naousa Bay. At the junction, signs point right toward Naousa and left toward Kolybithres, Limnes and Agios Ioannis, and either way you go you will begin driving along the waterfront.
To go to Lageri Beach:
Keep to the right at the three-way junction to stay on the main road, continuing toward Naousa. You will begin driving such that the bay is on your left-hand side, and in 200-300 meters you will pass the blue-and-white Naousa village sign. 500-600 meters farther on, you will reach a signed three-way junction, but the signage appears only in Greek. Turn right. The sign points toward Μαρπησσα, Πισω Λιβαδι, Δρυος, Αγ. Αναργυροι, Σαντα Μαρια, Αμπελασ and Υστερνι (which are Marpissa, Piso Livadi, Dryos, Agios Anargyroi, Santa Maria, Ampelas and Isterni).
Upon turning, you will be on a road that bypasses the village center. Keep straight ahead on that road for 1.4 kilometers until you reach a stop sign a "T" junction where you have to turn. Turn right, following the sign for Santa Maria and Lefkes, then almost immediately take the next possible left, following the sign for Santa Maria, Langeri and Filizi. Continue 800-900 meters to a stop sign an another "T" junction and turn right, following a sign for Santa Maria.
Proceed east and you will pass a power plant (on the left) that has a distinctive red-and-white striped tower that looks like a lighthouse. Just after the power plant, the road will begin to follow the waterfront, with the bay on your left-hand side. At 1.5 kilometers from your last turn and just past a business called Mika Bungalows, you will reach an unsigned three-way junction. Keep to the left to stay along the waterfront.
Continue about 500 meters and the road will veer slightly away from the waterfront, then there will be low fence walls on both sides of the road as you begin to pass through an area of scattered residences. At that point, you need to be aware of landmarks since the turnoff to the beach is easy to miss. In a bit over 200 meters, you will reach a break in the stone fence wall that is on your left and you will pass an open grassy area where the bay is briefly visible, then in a bit less than 100 meters farther along the stone fence wall (on the left) will start up again. From that point, continue just under 200 meters and take the next possible left that is not a private driveway. The road does not have any English signage, but there is a blue-, red-and-white "T" sign at the start of the road indicating that it dead ends, and there is also a sign in all uppercase Greek that reads ΠΡΟΣ ΙΕΡΟΝ ΝΑΟΝ ΖΩΟΔΟΧΟΥ ΠΗΓΗΣ, which indicates the road goes to a chapel called Zoodohos Pigi.
Once you turn, you will be on a narrow, roughly paved road. Follow it for 400 meters until you see a narrow gravel track going off to the left which may be marked by a makeshift sign that reads "To Lageri Beach." At that point, you need to park, around coordinates 37.1333N, 25.2708E. There are often cars parked tightly along the side of the road, but there is not a lot of room. You may be able to park in the field that is off to the right. Walk along the gravel track about 250 meters and you will reach Zoodohos Pigi, a tiny white chapel that is next to the bay. Follow the coastline north from the chapel (to the right when facing the water), passing a couple of tiny beaches then continuing along a rocky stretch of coastline at the base of a small sandy hillock that is covered in vegetation. When you get to the start of a long sandy expanse, you will be at the main nude area of the beach. The total walk from the start of the gravel track is about 600 meters.
If parking is difficult, there is an alternate access you can try. Instead of turning toward Zoodohos Pigi, keep straight ahead on the main road toward Santa Maria. In 300 meters, take note of the next right-hand turnoff, which is signed for Santa Maria Surfing Beach & Camping Village, but do not turn there. Continue about 100 meters farther and watch for the Santa Laggery apartments on the left-hand side of the road. The complex of apartments is most easily identifiable by its fence, which is a low wall of cream-colored stones topped with two horizontal wooden planks that are painted light blue. (There is also a monument-like stone sign with "Santa Laggery" in embossed lettering, but it faces the other direction, so you can't see it head on but may catch sight of it in your rear-view mirror.) Turn left onto the road that is at the corner of the Santa Laggery fence wall. Once you turn, you will be driving along another side of the Santa Laggery fence wall (still on your left-hand side). In about 50 meters, the road will turn to dirt. About 50 meters farther on, veer slightly to the right to stay on the dirt road. (Straight ahead dead ends at a cluster of houses.) Continue another 200 meters to the next dirt track on your left, which is behind a fence gate. Park nearby alongside the road (around coordinates 37.1351N, 25.2753E) and go through the gate, which goes into a cattle grazing area. As you follow the track, you will be walking west, then eventually the track will curve northward (to the right) next to a cluster of apartment buildings that will be to your right. At that point, you are very close to the bay. Keep walking just a bit and you will see several short paths on your left that cut over to the main nude area of the beach. The total walk is about 600 meters.
To go to Porto Paros Beach and Tourkou Ammos Beach:
Turn left at the three-way junction, toward Kolybithres, Limnes and Agios Ioannis. You will begin driving such that the bay is on your right-hand side. Proceed west for one kilometer, then turn right at signs for Kolybithres and the Mycenaean Akropolis. Continue north 2.4 kilometers and take note when you pass the entrance to Porto Paros Hotel (on the right), which is an easily identifiable landmark, with the name of the hotel and "Welcome" in large lettering on a white cylindrical windmill base. After the hotel, take note of the low stone fence wall that is on the right side of the road. Continue 700 meters (passing two houses on the right side of the road) and take note of an unmarked, narrow gravel road on the right. The turnoff is located in a gap near the end of the fence wall where it begins to crumble and peter out, and up ahead less than 200 meters away you will see a boatyard.
To go to Porto Paros Beach, turn right onto the unmarked gravel road. The bay will be clearly in view, and the road will veer toward the water and the run along the waterfront such that the bay is on your left-hand side. In about 250 meters, the road ends at a small earthen parking area next to the water, at coordinates 37.1402N, 25.2233E. Along the way, you will pass the small northern cove of Porto Paros Beach. Just beyond the parking area (i.e., to the right when facing the bay) in the larger southern cove.
To go to Tourkou Ammos Beach, do not turn onto the unmarked gravel road. Keep straight ahead and in less than 200 meters you will pass through a stone gateway signed Environmental & Cultural Park of Paros. From that point, continue 350 meters, passing through the boatyard and past Agios Ioannis monastery. Watch on the right for a hiking trail sign, with a hiker symbol and the number "3." It is next to a round red-and-white panel that indicates no entry for vehicles. Your hike to Tourkou Ammos Beach starts at the sign. Just past the sign, the paved road ends in a parking area that is ringed with solar-powered street lights, at coordinates 37.1467N, 25.2237E.
As you start along Trail 3, you will first skirt the edge of Monastiri Beach, a small sandy beach with sunchairs and umbrellas, then the path will begin to follow the shoreline, undulating a bit as it runs along the base of a rocky hillside. You will be hiking along a peninsular land mass that projects eastward and separates Naousa Bay from the open sea. As you follow the path, the bay will be on your right-hand side and the open sea will be out of view on the other side of the rocky hill, and you will pass a number of small sandy patches that may have nudist potential but are likely to be empty. Keep walking until you reach the end of the hill where the land opens up, then you will see Tourkou Ammos, a sandy crescent on the bay side of the peninsula a bit before the end of the peninsula. It is the only significant expanse of sand along the peninsula. The total walk is about one kilometer.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Lageri).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Lageri, alternate access).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to the turnoff toward parking (Porto Paros). [Google Maps does not recognize the short gravel road that leads to the beach.]
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Tourkou Ammos).
This placemark pertains to Lageri Beach, Porto Paros Beach and Tourkou Ammos Beach.

3-way junction next to Naousa Bay
This placemark pertains to Lageri Beach, Porto Paros Beach and Tourkou Ammos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Lageri Beach.

entrance to Porto Paros Hotel
next to a white cylindrical windmill base with the name of the hotel and "Welcome" in large lettering
This placemark pertains to Porto Paros Beach and Tourkou Ammos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Porto Paros Beach.

This placemark pertains to Tourkou Ammos Beach.

Monastiri Beach, a.k.a. Katholiko Beach (textile)
This placemark pertains to Tourkou Ammos Beach.

boatyard
This placemark pertains to Porto Paros Beach and Tourkou Ammos Beach.

small port in Naousa village

Zoodohos Pigi chapel
This placemark pertains to Lageri Beach.

jetty at northern end of Lageri Beach
This placemark pertains to Lageri Beach.

power plant
power plant with a distinctive red-and-white striped tower that looks like a lighthouse

Naousa village sign

turnoff into Mika Bungalows

sign pointing toward Trail 3
This placemark pertains to Tourkou Ammos Beach.

Agios Ioannis monastery

low stone fence wall
The brown line shows a stretch of just over 100 meters where a low stone fence wall runs directly along the beach, very close to the waterline.

small sandy hillock
The area shaded in yellow is a small sandy hillock that is just north of the chapel.

Santa Laggery apartments

route from 3-way junction next to Naousa Bay to parking near Lageri Beach

route from 3-way junction next to Naousa Bay to Monastiri Beach

side road to Porto Paros beaches

route to alternate parking possibility near Lageri Beach

walking path

low stone fence wall

small sandy hillock

Voutakos Beach

Voutakos Beach
Near the southwestern corner of Paros, Voutakos Beach a bit west of the village of Alyki. Voutakos is a pretty beach with lots of sand and great views of Antiparos, but there are no signs pointing the way there. The beach remains relatively undiscovered and never gets crowded. Voutakos consists of two distinct segments separated by a notch of land where there is a small marina. The longer western segment is about 600 meters long, and there is a jetty about midway along the western beach. The shorter eastern segment is less than 200 meters long. The unsigned access road leads to the longer western segment of Voutakos, meeting the sea just east of the jetty, where the road bends and follows the beach a short distance to the marina, with the shorter eastern segment of the beach just beyond the end of the road. Nude bathing occurs regularly at Voutakos, with nudists generally gravitating toward the western end of the western beach (to the right of the jetty when facing the sea). The eastern segment of Voutakos Beach is not known to get regular nude use, but nudity is probably possible there at least sometimes.
The western part of Voutakos Beach is backed by a flat plain that is flanked by two low hills, and the part of the plain closest to the nude area remained devoid of development until several years into the new millennium. Beginning at some point in the 00's, several villas (a few of them very large) have gone up behind the nude area of Voutakos, but the beach is still relatively private. The development behind the beach consists only of vacation houses, with no hotels or eateries. Since there are no amenities, Voutakos is a quiet beach that draws few visitors overall, and it remains a haven for a few naturists in the know despite the spate of recent construction.
village, island, island group, country:  Aliki, Paros, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fhdHID
starting point  the ferry port in Paros town (a.k.a. Parikia)
Paros is the capital of the island of the same name, but it is most often called Parikia (or sometimes Paros town). Parikia is located in a prominent bay that is about halfway along the west coast of the island, and it is the location of the island's only major ferry port. (The island's only other ferry port, located about 8 kilometers to the south in Pounta, is a minor port with service back and forth between Paros and Antiparos.) Next to the ferry port, there is a small roundabout with a windmill in the middle. At that roundabout, watch for a sign pointing toward Antiparos, Alyki, Agkairia, Aspro Chorio and Dryos and follow it. You should begin heading south, with the sea on your right-hand side. Continue 1.3 kilometers to a stop sign at a "T" junction. Turn right, following more signs for the same list of locations (Antiparos, etc.)
Continue south about 4 kilometers to a fork and keep to the left, toward Alyki and Agkairia. (The right fork is signed for to Pounta and Antiparos.) Continue about 3 kilometers farther and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Agkaira village sign.
After the village sign, continue about 800 meters to the next fork and keep to the right (really just straight ahead), toward Alyki. (The other fork is signed for Dryos and Agkaira.) Continue 1.9 kilometers and take the next paved right turn, which is signed for Pounta and Voutakos. (The turnoff is at the edge of Alyki, opposite a Proton grocery market. There is a bakery at the corner where you turn.)
Once you turn, your next turn is about 2.1 kilometers ahead, but the turnoff is unsigned. To help you along, count the red-and-yellow triangular caution signs along the road. You will pass five of them. (The fourth one is a general caution sign with an exclamation point, while all the others warn of upcoming curves. The second and third of the signs are very close together.) Once you pass the fifth caution sign, you will have driven about 2 kilometers. Continue about 100 meters and take the next left that is not a private driveway. Four landmarks clustered together near the start of the road will let you know you have found the correct road: a blue community mailbox; a red fire hydrant; a utility pole with the numbers 301 and 31 on an equipment box; and a 30 KPH speed limit panel.
Upon turning, follow the narrow paved road about 400 meters and it will turn to gravel. Keep straight ahead a little over 100 meters farther and the road will reach the sea, where it will bend to the left and begin to run east along Voutakos Beach toward a small marina. Park alongside the road as soon as the road meets the sea, at coordinates 37.0056N, 25.1108E. Facing the sea, walk to the right (west). In about 60 meters you will pass a small jetty. From there, the beach continues west another 300 meters, and nudity occurs toward the end of that expanse.
This placemark pertains to Voutakos Beach.

Agkaira village sign
This placemark pertains to Voutakos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Voutakos Beach.

Proton grocery market

bakery

red-and-yellow triangular caution sign
This is the first of five caution signs between the bakery and the unmarked turnoff to the beach. It warns of an upcoming curve.

red-and-yellow triangular caution signs
There are five such signs between the bakery and the unmarked turnoff to the beach, and this placemark is pinpointed between the second and third of those signs, which are very close together, one after the other. Both warn of of an upcoming curve.

red-and-yellow triangular caution sign
This is the fourth of five caution signs between the bakery and the unmarked turnoff to the beach. It is the only one of the signs with an exclamation point in the middle. All the other warn of upcoming curves.

red-and-yellow triangular caution sign
This is the fifth of five caution signs between the bakery and the unmarked turnoff to the beach. It warns of an upcoming curve.

redfire hydrant at unsigned turnoff
This turnoff in unsigned, but four landmarks clustered together near the start of the road will let you know you have found the correct road: a blue community mailbox; a red fire hydrant; a utility pole with the numbers 301 and 31 on an equipment box; and a 30 KPH speed limit panel.

old Paros airport (until July 2016)

new Paros airport (since July 2016)

small jetty

small marina

eastern segment of Voutakos (potentially nudist)
The eastern segment of Voutakos, on the other side of the small marina from where the access road meets the sea, is not known to get regular nude use, but nudity is probably possible here at least sometimes.

route from Agkaira village sign to parking

Messada Beach

Messada Beach
On the eastern coast of Paros, just south of the village of Marpissa, Punda Beach is a small textile beach that is always packed during peak season, known for its lively atmosphere. Just 500 meters south of Punda (as the crow flies), Messada Beach is so close that it is often possible to hear music emanating from the party beach, yet Messada is about as obscure as Punda is popular. Less than 100 meters long, Messada is mostly covered in pebbles and backed by a line of tamarisk trees that provide a bit of shade. There are scattered vacation house on either end of the beach. Messada may have just a handful of visitors during the off season to a dozen or more during peak season, and nude bathing is well established, with half or more of those present usually nude. There is a taverna about 200 meters inland from the beach, which you will pass en route to the beach along poorly signed roads. It is also possible to hike along the coastline from Punda Beach to Messada Beach.
village, island, island group, country:  Marpissa, Paros, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2feXmUa
starting point  the ferry port in Paros town (a.k.a. Parikia)
Paros is the capital of the island of the same name, but it is most often called Parikia (or sometimes Paros town). Parikia is located in a prominent bay that is about halfway along the west coast of the island, and it is the location of the island's only major ferry port. (The island's only other ferry port, located about 8 kilometers to the south in Pounta, is a minor port with service back and forth between Paros and Antiparos.) Next to the ferry port, there is a small roundabout with a windmill in the middle. At that roundabout, watch for signs Naousa and Lefkes and follow them to navigate your way out of Parikia. You will head into the interior of the island, and in about one kilometer you will reach a fork where the routes to Naousa and Lefkes diverge, with signs indicating that it is 8 kilometers to Naousa and 9 kilometers to Lefkes. Bear right, toward Lefkes.
At that point, you will begin heading east toward the opposite side of the island, and in about 9 kilometers you will reach a fork at the edge of Lefkes, with both roads signed for Lefkes. Keep to the left, following the road that is also signed for Naousa, Prodromos, Marmara, Marpissa, Aspro Chorio and Alyki. Keep straight ahead another 3.8 kilometers and you will pass the blue-and-white Prodomos village sign, then one kilometer father along you will pass the blue-and-white Marpissa village sign, by which point you will be nearing the east coast of Paros.
Continue 1.2 kilometers, passing through Marpissa, and take note when you pass the left-hand turnoff into Piso Livadi, but do not turn there. (At the Piso Livadi turnoff, there is a small but rather intricate solid-white chapel with a dome.) Keep straight ahead (toward Dryos and Agkairia). 1.2 kilometers farther on, take note when you pass the prominently signed left-hand turnoff to Punda Beach, but do not turn there. About 600 meters farther on, watch for an Argo gas station on the right side of the road. Immediately past the gas station, turn left onto a narrow, inconspicuous road with hand-made signs in Greek pointing toward ΜΕΣΣΑΔΑ (Messada) and 5Φ ΤΑΒΕΡΝΑ (5F Taverna).
Follow the curving road a little over 200 meters and take the first right that is not a private driveway. (At the turnoff, there is a short utility pole with a small box attached. On the box, the number 211 is written above 35-36.) Proceed less than 50 meters and take the next left onto a gravel road, at another sign for 5F Taverna. (Watch for 5Φ on the sign.) After passing through a canopy of trees, you will pass the taverna. The road continues a little over 200 meters farther, leading directly to Messada Beach, getting narrower the farther you go. Drive as far as possible, parking around at coordinates 37.0235N, 25.2489E, then continue on foot to the beach.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to the turnoff onto the gravel road. [Google Maps does not recognize the gravel road that leads to the beach.]
This placemark pertains to Messade Beach.

Marpissa village sign
This placemark pertains to Messada Beach.

This placemark pertains to Messada Beach.

5F Taverna (written as 5Φ on signs)
This placemark pertains to Messada Beach.

Argo gas station

utility pole
At this junction, there is a short utility pole with a small box attached. On the box, the number 211 is written above 35-36.

solid-white chapel
small but rather intricate solid-white chapel with a dome, at the turnoff into Piso Livadi

prominently signed turnoff to Punda Beach

Punda Beach (textile)

route from Marpissa village sign to parking

Santorini

Vlychada Beach

Vlychada Beach
Vlychada is a locality on the southern coast of Santorini, and the two prominent features of Vlychada are a marina and a beach. Vlychada Beach begins just west of the marina and extends northwestward about 900 meters. The beach is covered in dark sand and is backed by a dramatic vertical wall of spectacular rock formations in shades of light brown. The various patterns in the rock are wavy, crinkled and pockmarked. The parking area for Vlychada Beach is at its southeastern extreme next to the marina and a taverna. During peak season, beach chairs and thatched umbrellas are set up along the beach near the parking area, extending about 150 meters. That part of the beach is textile. However, just walk 100 or perhaps 200 meters beyond the umbrellas (i.e., to the right when facing the sea) and you will begin to encounter nudists, with nudity possible along the rest of the beach. As you walk northwest across Vlychada, the beach will become narrower and you will see a building with a prominent thatched roof in the distance. That building is a taverna that overlooks Eros Beach, which is the next segment of beach that is accessed from a different road. Vlychada and Eros are connected by a very narrow sliver of beach. Despite its suggestive name, Eros Beach is textile, so you should not be naked within easy eyesight of it. Vlychada is easily the most popular and best established nude beach of Santorini, and most visitors beyond the umbrellas opt to be naked. Vlychada is also the only beach in Santorini where nudity is possible over a substantial distance, with the nude area extending roughly 500 meters.
island, island group, country:  Santorini, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2feWbnZ
starting point  the top of the ferry port road, between Fira and Megalochori
The ferry port in Santorini is located on the western side of the island, about 4 to 5 kilometers south of Fira, the island's capital. The ferry port is located at the bottom of a steep hillside, and it is connected to a main road of the island by an uphill road with several long switchback segments. The top of the ferry port road is at 36.3826N, 25.4338E. At the top of the ferry port road, there are two large blue signs. One points north toward Fira, Oia, Kamari and the airport. The other points south toward Megalochori, Akrotiri, Emporio and Perissa.
From the top of the ferry port road, follow the sign that points south. In 2.9 kilometers, after passing through Megalochori, turn right at the sign for Vlychada and Limanaki. (The turnoff is 400 meters past the turnoff that is signed for Acrotiri, Archaeological Site and Red Beach. If you pass the Emporio town sign, which is written in all upper-case Greek letters as ΕΜΠΟΡΕΙΟ, you have missed the turn by 300-400 meters.)
Once you turn, follow the winding paved road in a generally southward direction for 3.2 kilometers. Just before the road reaches the sea, it will pass between some old factory structures, and you will see two smokestacks—one on each side of the road. Just past the smokestacks, there is a seaside parking area (at coordinates 36.3382N, 25.4325E) that can hold several dozen vehicles, but you may have to keep going a bit farther on crowded days to find parking. (The road bends to the left next to the sea and runs along a marina.)
The parking area near the smokestacks is next to the extreme southeastern end of the beach, which is the main textile area of the beach. Walk northwest across the beach (to the right when facing the sea). Within 200 meters you should pass end of where the beach chairs are set up during peak season. Keep walking a minute or two farther and you will begin to encounter nudity, and nudity is possible along the rest of the beach, up to the point where it gets very narrow at its northwest end.
This placemark pertains to Vlychada Beach.

turnoff to Vlychada and Limanaki
This placemark pertains to Vlychada Beach.

This placemark pertains to Vlychada Beach.

smokestack of old factory

Vlychada marina

Eros Beach (textile)

Emporio town sign, written as ΕΜΠΟΡΕΙΟ

route from Vlychada/Limanaki to parking

Kampia Beach

Kampia Beach
The village of Akrotiri is located on a peninsula that juts westward from the south end of Santorini, and there is a chain of beaches along the south side of the peninsula near the village. Among those beaches are Red Beach and Kampia Beach, which are neighboring beaches that are separated by a short stretch of rocky coastline. Red Beach, the eastern of those two beaches, spans about 325 meters and is named for the deep red rock of the tall cliffs that back the eastern part of the beach. (The western end of Red Beach actually has much lower white cliffs.) Red Beach is arguably the most distinctive beach in Santorini, and it is quite popular despite a short but moderately challenging hike over rugged terrain required to get there. The access path lands at the far east end of Red Beach, and there are beach chairs and umbrellas below the red cliffs, along with snack stands in the parking lot and at beach level. While nude bathing used to be common at Red Beach many years ago, it has become too popular with textiles and is no longer a viable nude beach.
Kampia Beach is the next beach west of Red Beach, and it is far less attended than Red Beach even though it is more accessible by car, with a gravel road leading directly to a parking area that abuts the beach. The parking area is near the western end of the beach, where there is a taverna and a cluster of beach chairs and umbrellas. Although Kampia beach is about 400 meters long, virtually all visitors stay along the westernmost 100 meters of the beach next to the access point. That area of the beach is textile, but the rest of the beach is usually mostly empty, and it is secluded from view of the main part of the beach due to a curvature of the coastline. A small number of nude bathers frequent the secluded part of Kampia Beach, tending to cluster near the far east end. The nude area is situated roughly halfway between the most populated parts of Kampia Beach and Red Beach, and you can approach the nude area from either beach access.
While Vlychada Beach and Koloumpos Beach are fairly well-known nude beaches in Santorini, the east end of Kampia Beach is more obscure and usually has half a dozen or fewer visitors. Furthermore, be aware that multiple sources name the nude area of Kampia Beach as White Beach, but that is not correct. The cliffs behind the secluded part of Kampia Beach have a light sandy hue, which is probably the origin of the confusion. However, the actual beach called White Beach is the next beach west of Kampia Beach, and it is a textile beach even though it is very secluded. (White Beach can only be reached by boat. In the driving directions, there is a reference to the location of a boat dock near the archaeological site from which there is water taxi service to Red Beach, White Beach and Black Beach. The last of those beaches is also known as Mesa Pigadia Beach, and it is also accessible by car via a signed turnoff that is farther west than the turnoff to Kampia Beach. Note that Red Beach and White Beach are named for the color of their cliffs, but Black Beach is named for the color of its sand.)
Like just about everything is Greece, Kampia Beach has numerous transliterated variants: Cambia, Kambia, Kabia, etc. Furthermore, different signs in the area spell the village both as Akrotiri and Acrotiri.
island, island group, country:  Santorini, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fe1lTH
starting point  the top of the ferry port road, between Fira and Megalochori
The ferry port in Santorini is located on the western side of the island, about 4 to 5 kilometers south of Fira, the island's capital. The ferry port is located at the bottom of a steep hillside, and it is connected to a main road of the island by an uphill road with several long switchback segments. The top of the ferry port road is at 36.3826N, 25.4338E. At the top of the ferry port road, there are two large blue signs. One points north toward Fira, Oia, Kamari and the airport. The other points south toward Megalochori, Akrotiri, Emporio and Perissa.
From the top of the ferry port road, follow the sign that points south. In 2.5 kilometers, after passing through Megalochori, turn right at the sign for Acrotiri, Archaeological Site and Red Beach. (If you reach the turnoff for Vlychada and Limanaki, you have missed your turn by 400 meters.) Upon turning, follow the road west for 2.6 kilometers until you reach a three-way junction on the outskirts of Akrotiri, a bit past a sign for Kokkinos Villas. At the junction, there are large blue signs. One sign points straight ahead toward Red Beach and the archaeological site. The other points right toward Kampia Beach and Mesa Pigadia Beach.
The nude beach that is you destination is between Red Beach and Kampia Beach, and there are two approaches. Option 1 below takes you through Kampia Beach, and it involves the least walking of the two options, but you will be driving on a gravel road for the last stretch. Option 2 below takes you through Red Beach, and the roads are paved up to the parking lot. The walk is longer, but it involves walking across Red Beach, which is a popular and scenic beach which may be on your sightseeing agenda anyway.
Option 1, via Kampia Beach:
Turn right at the three-way junction and take note of your vehicle's trip meter. Proceed 1.9 kilometers, then turn left onto a gravel road at a sign for Cambia Beach. (Note that Cambia Beach is the same as Kampia Beach. Different signs have different spellings.) Follow the gravel road south for 2.2 kilometers, keeping straight ahead at all junctions, until you reach the end of the road at a small parking area next to Kampia Beach, at coordinates 36.3484N, 25.3874E. Facing the sea, turn left and walk east, away from the main area of the beach. The rocky shoreline will immediately begin to curve to your left, and shortly you will be out of view of those on the main beach. The beach continues about 250 meters to a mass of rock that forms its far east end. Nudity occurs toward the far eastern end. As you are walking along the beach, you will see Red Beach in the distance. You can't miss it. It is below a steep monolith of distinctively colored reddish rock. You can hike up the rock mass at the far eastern end of Kampia Beach and keep heading east along the shoreline if you want to explore Red Beach.
Option 2, via Red Beach:
Keep straight ahead at the three-way junction. Continue 300-400 meters into Akrotiri, then turn left when you see another sign that points toward Red Beach and the archaeological site. Continue about a kilometer and watch for a long parking lot along the right side of the road, but do not turn into it. The parking lot is for the archaeological site (the ancient village of Akrotiri), which is on the opposite (left) side of the road. Just after you pass the "exit only" sign at the far end of the parking lot, the road will fork. Keep to the right, following another Red Beach sign. (The other fork goes downhill to a boat dock where there is water taxi service to Red Beach, White Beach and Black Beach.) Continue about 600 meters to the end of the road at a long parking lot for Red Beach, at coordinates 36.3478N, 25.3962E. You will see a small church at the far end of the parking lot. The hike to Red Beach begins just past the church. The beach will not be in view immediately, but, after walking just a minute or so along the footpath, Red Beach will dramatically appear as you round a bend. About 250 meters from the church, you will land on the far east end of Red Beach. Notice that the top of the red cliff that forms the backdrop of the beach slopes downward going west, and at the far west end of the beach there is a lower white cliff. Walk west across Red Beach until you are past the area where the color of the cliff face changes from red to white. Watch for a break in the white cliff where the hillside behind the beach slopes downward all the way to the beach. At that point, leave the beach and climb above the white cliff, continuing west (such that the sea in on your left-hand side). Within a minute or two you will be past the western extreme of Red Beach, where there will be a short stretch where there is no beach below you, with the rocks plunging into the water. Keep walking west another minute or two until you see more beach below you. At that point, you have reached the eastern extreme of Kampia Beach, which is the nude beach. The total walk from the Red Beach parking lot is about 750 meters.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Kampia Beach).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Red Beach).
This placemark pertains to Kampia Beach.

3-way junction on outskirts of Akrotiri
This placemark pertains to Kampia Beach.

parking at Kampia Beach (a.k.a. Cambia Beach)
This placemark pertains to Kampia Beach.

parking at Red Beach

rocky stretch of shoreline
The orange line traces the short, rocky stretch of shoreline between the eastern extreme of Kampia Beach and the western extreme of Red Beach.

start of gravel road to Kampia Beach

main area of Kampia Beach (textile)

Red Beach (textile)

White Beach (textile; accessible only by boat)

Black Beach, a.k.a. Mesa Pigadia Beach (textile)

ancient Akrotiri village archaeological site

parking lot opposite ancient Akrotiri village archaeological site

Agios Nikolaos church

shortcut road, restricted to buses

boat dock
From this dock, there is water taxi service to Red Beach, White Beach and Black Beach.

hike from Kampia Beach to Red Beach, passing through nude beach

rocky stretch of shoreline

route from 3-way junction to parking at Kampia Beach

route from 3-way junction to parking at Red Beach

Koloumpos Beach

Koloumpos Beach
Composed of volcanic black sand and pebbles, Koloumpos is a striking beach that is located on Santorini's northeastern coast, not far from the impossibly beautiful cliffside village of Oia, which is a top tourist attraction of Santorini and one of the most iconic villages in all of Greece. Koloumpos Beach takes its name from the locality of Koloumpos, which is a subdivision of Oia that is about 5 to 6 kilometers east of the village proper. The main access to the beach is next to a parking area that is signed Koloubos Beach, which is an alternate transliterated spelling. There are beach chairs and thatched umbrellas set up at the main access during peak season, and there is a taverna nearby on the inland side of the coastal road. The area around the main access is textile. From the main area of Koloumpos, the beach extends southeastward (to the right when facing the sea) about one kilometer. At the southeast end of the beach, the cliff behind the beach rises higher and curves seaward to form a headland. The rock of the cliff face becomes dark and takes on a wavy pattern, forming a distinctive backdrop. Nude bathing is well established along the southeasternmost several hundred meters of the beach, extending all the way to the headland. To get to the nude end of the beach, you do not have to enter at the main access. You can cut your walk considerably by parking in a unmarked area that is much closer to the nude area of the beach. Nudity patterns seem to vary from one day to the next, but you can usually expect that a large minority or small majority of visitors at the southeastern end of the beach will be naked. Koloumpos is the second best established nude beach of Santorini, after Vlychada Beach on the southern side of the island.
island, island group, country:  Santorini, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2f3fcJD
starting point  the top of the ferry port road, between Fira and Megalochori
The ferry port in Santorini is located on the western side of the island, about 4 to 5 kilometers south of Fira, the island's capital. The ferry port is located at the bottom of a steep hillside, and it is connected to a main road of the island by an uphill road with several long switchback segments. The top of the ferry port road is at 36.3826N, 25.4338E. At the top of the ferry port road, there are two large blue signs. One points north toward Fira, Oia, Kamari and the airport. The other points south toward Megalochori, Akrotiri, Emporio and Perissa.
From the top of the ferry port road, follow the sign that points north. After 1.9 kilometers, keep straight ahead at the sign that indicates that Fira is 3 kilometers ahead. Continue another 2.7 kilometers into Fira, where all traffic must turn right next to Hotel Daedalus. Proceed about 100 meters to a stop sign at a "T," then turn left, following the sign for Center, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia. At that point, there are no more turns to make until you have made your way through Fira. Continue north toward Oia another 5.8 kilometers, then turn right at the sign for Pori and Koloumpos. (The turnoff is 3.4 kilometers before the "Welcome to Oia" sign on the outskirts of Oia.)
Once you turn, you will be on a twisty road that goes downhill toward the eastern coast of the island. Proceed 1.5 kilometers until you reach a "T" junction where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn left. At that point, you should be going north, with the sea on your right-hand side. In about 300 meters you will pass a "Boundaries of Oia Parish" sign. About 750 meters farther on, you will pass a Koloumpos sign. At that point, you are getting close to the unmarked parking area that is near the nude area of the beach. About 500 meters past the Koloumpos sign, watch for the next cluster of housing on the right (sea) side of the road. The cluster consists of two neighboring but disconnected white structures, one of which has two stories and the other of which has a single story. There is a bus stop sign in front. After you pass the housing cluster, continue about 100 meters and take the next possible right turn into an earthen parking area that overlooks the sea, at coordinates 36.4752N, 25.4163E. (It is easy to miss.) There is a path down the low cliff to the beach. Facing the sea below the earthen parking area, the main textile area of the beach (where sun chairs and umbrellas are set up) will be 400-500 meters to your left on the northwest end of the beach. About 500 meters to your right, the cliff abruptly gets taller and steeper at the southeast end of the beach, forming a headland where the beach ends. Turn right and walk toward the southeast end of the beach, where you will generally encounter more nudists the farther you go.
Note: If you were to keep going past the unmarked parking area, in about 100 meters you would pass a small white two-story apartment-like building on the sea side of the road that is very close to the road. Another 300 meters farther on is the main parking area for Koloumpos Beach, which is spelled "Koloubos" on the sign.
This placemark pertains to Koloumpos Beach.

turnoff to Pori and Koloumpos
This placemark pertains to Koloumpos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Koloumpos Beach.

"Boundaries of Oia Parish" sign

"Koloumpos" sign

cluster of houses
Following the given driving directions, this is the first cluster of housing on the sea side of the road after the Koloumpos sign. The cluster consists of two neighboring but disconnected white structures, one of which has two stories and the other of which has a single story. There is a bus stop sign in front.

cluster of houses
Following the given driving directions, this is the second cluster of housing on the sea side of the road after the Koloumpos sign. This cluster is comprised of a small white two-story apartment-like building that is very close the road.

main beach parking area, next to sun chairs & umbrellas

route from turnoff to Pori and Koloumpos to parking

Syros

Armeos Beach

Armeos Beach
Galissas Bay and the village of Galissas are located toward the center of the west coast of Syros. The sandy beach of the bay is 300-400 meters long. Just south of Galissas Beach, on the other side of a small headland that is capped by a chapel, there is a small beach called Armeos Beach. Just 50 meters long, Armeos is tucked away in its own tiny bay that is a sub-inlet of Galissas Bay. Bracketed by headlands on either side, the tiny bay has shallow water that makes for a great swimming area . Armeos is the best established nude beach in Syros, and it is even publicized as such in local tourist information. Depending on the time of year, the beach may draw just a few or up to a few dozen visitors. Even during July and August, a majority of those in attendance eschew swimwear. Armeos has little sand and is composed of stones of varying sizes, so you may want to consider bringing water shoes and a padded surface for sunbathing. While the beach has no amenities, there are a number tavernas just over the headland in Galissas, where the short hike to the nude beach begins.
village, island, island group, country:  Galissas, Syros, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eCgV7V
starting point  the ferry port in Ermoupoli
Toward the center of the east coast of Syros, Ermoupoli is the principal town of the island, and it is the location of the island's only ferry port. Ferries dock along the harborfront road in the central hub of Ermoupoli. Follow the harborfront road west toward the interior of the island, such that the water is on your left-hand side. Shortly the road will curve away from the harbor and you will see large blue signs pointing toward about 10 villages, all the island's major locations. Follow the signs for Galissas, a village that is toward the center of the west coast of Syros. There are several turns to make, but the route is well signed. 6 to 7 kilometers from the ferry port, you will reach the blue-and-white Galissas village sign.
After the village sign, continue 1.1 kilometers, then veer right at the signs that point toward Danakos, Melagouri and Galissas Beach. From that point, keep straight ahead, ignoring subsequent signs for Danakos and Melagouri. In 500 to 600 meters, the road will curve sharply to the left next to a small market, then about 100 meters farther on you will reach a four-way intersection that is amid a cluster of small businesses (tavernas, car rentals, rooms to rent). Turn right, following another Galissas Beach sign. Once you turn, continue a little over 100 meters and watch for the prominently signed entry to Dolphin Bay Hotel, which is on the left. Immediately past that turnoff, there are gravel parking areas on either side of the road, at coordinates 37.4201N, 24.8775E.
Park and continue along the road on foot. Very shortly Galissas Bay will come into view and you will pass through a mini-roundabout that has a single short palm tree in the middle. At that point, Galissas Beach will be to your right. Just 25 or so meters past the mini-roundabout, next to a single handicapped parking space, you will see a sign pointing left to Armeos Beach. That sign directs you up a stone staircase. Go all the way up the staircase, which consists of several dozen steps. At the top, you will reach a small chapel called Agia Pakou (ΑΓΙΑ ΠΑΚΟΥ), which sits atop the small headland that separates Galissas Beach from Armeos Beach. On the other side of the chapel, a short path descends to Armeos Beach. The total walk from the parking area to the beach is about 300 meters
This placemark pertains to Armeos Beach.

Galissas village sign
This placemark pertains to Armeos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Armeos Beach.

signs that point toward Danakos, Melagouri & Galissas Beach

4-way intersection
four-way intersection amid a cluster of small businesses (tavernas, car rentals, rooms to rent)

Galissas Beach (textile)

mini-roundabout with single short palm tree in middle

sign pointing to Armeos Beach
The Armeos Beach sign, which is next to a single handicapped parking space, directs you up a stone staircase.

Dolphin Bay Hotel complex

Agia Pakou chapel (ΑΓΙΑ ΠΑΚΟΥ), atop small headland

route from Galissas village sign to parking

steps/path over headland to beach

Delfini Beach

Delfini Beach
Toward the northern end of the west side of Syros, Delfini Beach is located a few kilometers north of the village of Kini. A little over 300 meters long, the beach is mostly comprised of pebbles with a few patches of sand. At the far north end of the beach, there is a taverna, next to which a small cluster of beach chairs and umbrellas is set up along the sandiest part of the beach. That area is the most crowded part of the beach, and it is strictly textile. Nudity is commonplace toward the opposite (south) end of the beach, starting about 150 meters from the sunchairs. A slight curving of the coastline provides a bit of demarcation and seclusion between the nude and textile areas. Outside peak season when it isn't too crowded, most visitors on the south end of the beach are likely to be naked. On more crowded days, nudists are usually in the minority on the south end of the beach, and the percentage of nude bathers varies considerably. Delfini is the second best established nude beach of Syros after Armeos Beach. While it is easier to access compared to Armeos, it is not as reliably nudist as is Armeos, particularly during peak season.
village, island, island group, country:  Kini, Syros, Cyclades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fdYsSK
starting point  the ferry port in Ermoupoli
Toward the center of the east coast of Syros, Ermoupoli is the principal town of the island, and it is the location of the island's only ferry port. Ferries dock along the harborfront road in the central hub of Ermoupoli. Follow the harborfront road west toward the interior of the island, such that the water is on your left-hand side. Shortly the road will curve away from the harbor and you will see large blue signs pointing toward about 10 villages, all the island's major locations. Follow the signs for Kini, a village that is toward the central-north part of the west coast of Syros. There are several turns to make, but the route is well signed. Once you have driven about 5 kilometers from the ferry port, you will pass Agia Varvara (i.e., Santa Barbara) monastery, which is on the left side of the road. The monastery is a white structure with a prominent red-tiled dome, and it is perched uphill and slightly inland from Kini.
By the time you pass the monastery, the road will have begun winding gradually downhill toward Kini, which will be in view. Continue downhill toward Kini. About 1.3 kilometers past the monastery, the road will make a sharp rightward U-curve. (There are two roads on the left that leave from the curve, one signed for Lotus Beach and the other signed for Catholic Church. Take note but don't turn at either.) Continuing through the sharp curve, proceed another 400 to 500 meters and take the next possible right (not counting private driveways) at the sign for Delfini Beach*.
Once you turn, it is about 2.3 kilometers to Delfini Beach, which is at the dead end of a road. There are a few more turns to make along the way, but those turns are well signed. As you near the end of the road, watch the utility poles that run alongside the right side of the road, then take note when you reach a pair of poles connected by cross beams that hold transformer boxes. Just past the double pole, there is an unmarked gravel road on the left that leads just a short distance to parking closest to the nude end of the beach, at coordinates 37.4589N, 24.8987E. Or, keep straight ahead to the main parking area (at coordinates 37.4599N, 24.8984E) at the end of the road next to the north end of the beach, which is the main area of the beach. Those two parking areas are just 100 meters apart (as the crow flies). From either location, go to the left as you face the sea to reach the nude area at the south end of the beach.
* If you miss the turnoff referenced above, just proceed a short distance into the center of Kini. There are more signs pointing toward Delfini Beach that will take you there via the roads that are traced in aqua.
This placemark pertains to Delfini Beach.

Agia Varvara (i.e., Santa Barbara) monastery
white structure with prominent red-tiled dome
This placemark pertains to Delfini Beach.

sharp curve in Kini
Heading toward Kini, there are two roads on the left that leave from this U-curve, one signed for Lotus Beach and the other signed for Catholic Church. Take note but don't turn at either.
This placemark pertains to Delfini Beach.

1st signed turnoff to Delfini Beach
the first signed turnoff to Delfini Beach from the main road into Kini
The rest of the route is signposted. If you miss this turnoff, the are more signs in Kini pointing toward Delfini that take you along the route traced in aqua.

pair of utility poles
pair of utility poles connected by cross beams that hold transformer boxes

route from Agia Varvara monastery to main beach parking area

short road to parking closest to nude area

alternate route through Kini

Dodecanese

Astypalaia

Tzanaki Beach & Plakes Beach

Astypalaia is the westernmost of the Dodecanese Islands, although it could just as easily be grouped with the Cyclades. The island has a peculiar shape that is often compared to a butterfly, with two land masses connected by an isthmus. The western land mass, or Mesa Nisi, corresponds to the butterfly's left wing. The eastern land mass, or Exo Nisi, corresponds to the right wing. The isthmus, or the Steno, corresponds to the body. The only real village on the island is Astypalaia town, more commonly known as Chora. There are just two other substantial clusters of development, Livadi and Analipsi, but those locations are more aptly described as settlements than as villages. Chora is located a bit south of the isthmus along the eastern side of the western land mass—or, put another way, along the lower inside edge of the left wing of the butterfly. It is a postcard-perfect village capped by a Venetian castle perched high above the sea, with boxy whitewashed houses cascading downhill to a small bay. Ferries used to land at the harbor in Chora, but some years ago the ferry port was relocated to a site called Agios Andreas. Like Chora, the ferry port is also along the eastern side of the western land mass, but just north of the isthmus—i.e., along the upper inside edge of the left wing of the butterfly. There is also a small airport with limited seasonal service, mainly from Athens. The airport is located on the isthmus. Astypalaia covers almost 100 square kilometers, but it has a permanent population of no more than 1,500. (For comparison, the island has a land area similar to that of Walt Disney World with its multitude of theme parks and resorts.) The island's tourist industry is well developed yet small in scale. There are no large hotels, for example.
There are dozens of beaches along the rugged and complex coastline of Astypalaia, which is indented by a seemingly endless number of bays and coves. Since Astypalaia has limited road infrastructure, relatively few of its beaches are easily accessible via paved roads. Some beaches can be reached via rough dirt roads, others require substantial hikes, then there are beaches that are reachable only by sea. The most popular beach on the island is Livadi Beach, which is just a bit south and west of Chora. The 300-meter-long beach lies at the end of a small valley that is hemmed in by hills except where it opens to the sea. The scattered houses and small hotels of Livadi blanket the valley, which extends inland more than a kilometer. Livadi Beach is among a small number of beaches that are equipped with sun chairs and umbrellas during peak season. It is, of course, a strictly textile beach.
Astypalaia has no shortage of beaches with nudist potential, especially if you are an avid hiker. Even some of the beaches accessible by dirt roads that are organized during the height of summer may get occasional nude use outside of peak season. However, there is just one location on the island that has a solid reputation as a beach for naturists, plus another that is more of a "maybe" nude beach. Both are accessible by short and fairly easy hikes that begin at paved roads. By car, the two beaches are 10 to 11 kilometers apart.
The nude beach of Astypalaia is Tzanaki Beach, which is located a bit south and west of Livadi Beach. Tucked against a steep, scrub-covered hillside, Tzanaki is a small beach that is coated in gray-white pebbles. The beach is actually comprised of several little niches that span a few hundred meters. When you land on the beach, you will be at the northernmost and largest of the niches, which is less than 50 meters long. It is generally the only one of the niches where bathers are present. With a little effort you may be able to clamber over the rocks to get to the next niche, but the other niches are much more challenging to reach. Tzanaki typically has a dozen or fewer visitors even during peak season. Sometimes everyone is naked and other times no one is naked. However, Tzanaki is well known as the island's nude beach, so you should not feel inhibited about casting off your trunks even if there are only textiles about. From Tzanaki, you will have magnificent views of Chora and its hilltop castle, which is about 1.4 kilometers away as the crow flies.
Plakes Beach is located on the south side of the isthmus of Astypalaia, just west of the settlement of Analipsi and just downhill from (and across the road from) the south end of the airport runway. Plakes beach has two distinct areas that are not far removed from one another. There is a very small pebble beach that spans perhaps 35 meters. It is quite similar in appearance to Tzanaki Beach. A bit to the east, there is a big rock slab that is roughly the same size as the pebble beach. Bathers gather in both areas. During peak season, the pebble beach is almost certain to be all textile. Nudity occurs more frequently on the rock slab. However, you may need to employ due discretion if only textiles are about. Plakes has far less a reputation for nude bathing than does Tzanaki.
While far-flung Astypalaia is a bit better connected to the mainland and other islands than it used to be, you should still expect more limited ferry and flight options compared to more touristed islands. While you will arrive in Astypalaia at either the ferry port or the airport, be advised that all car rental companies are located in Chora. Most rental agencies will deliver your vehicle to your port of entry and then pick it up there upon your departure. If you plan to arrive in Astypalaia without renting transportation in advance, consult your accommodations for advice, especially if your ferry arrives in the wee hours of the morning. (Accommodations often handle or provide assistance with transfers.) There is a local bus service, and taxis are also available. However, bus service is quite infrequent except during July and August. Furthermore, it seems next to impossible to find any published schedules online. If you plan to explore Astypalaia beyond the beaten path, remember that your options will be limited in a conventional vehicle. Consider renting a 4x4 or ATV to expand your possibilities.
This placemark pertains to Tzanaki Beach and Plakes Beach.

Tzanaki Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Tzanaki Beach and Plakes Beach.)
settlement, island, island group, country:  Livadi, Astypalaia, Dodecanese, Greece
There are 22 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Tzanaki Beach and Plakes Beach.

Plakes Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Tzanaki Beach and Plakes Beach.)
36.5744N, 26.3764E rock slab (irregular nudity)
36.5742N, 26.3753E small pebble beach (typically all textile)
settlement, island, island group, country:  Analipsi, Astypalaia, Dodecanese, Greece
There are 22 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Tzanaki Beach and Plakes Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/43VWmuX
starting point:  three-way intersection (36.5679N, 26.3540E) between Chora, ferry port and airport
The most significant junction in Astypalaia is the three-way intersection named above, located where the isthmus attaches to the western land mass. You will pass through that junction en route from Chora to the ferry port (a distance of about 5 kilometers); from Chora to the airport (a distance of about 8 kilometers); or from the airport to the ferry port (a distance of 6 to 7 kilometers).
To go to Tzanaki Beach:
From the three-way intersection, follow signs for Chora. In 3.1 kilometers, veer right toward Livadi when you reach the edge of Chora. You will then be on a road that winds through the upper tier of Chora. In 1.6 kilometers, you will reach a "T" amid an array of eight traditional Greek windmills—squat white cylinders with red roofs. At that point, you will be about 80 meters above sea level. (The road to the left, which has a vehicular barricade, continues uphill to the castle at the peak of Chora.) Turn right at the windmills to continue to Livadi. Shortly you will begin going downhill. Continue 500 meters to a fork next to Pylaia Hotel. Keep to the left, following the road that is closer to the sea.
About 500 meters past the fork, the road will have descended nearly to sea level and will begin to run along Livadi Beach, with the beach and the sea on your left-hand side. In a few hundred meters, at the opposite end of Livadi Beach the road will begin to climb a bit, winding above the coastline. Continue about 700 meters past the end of Livadi Beach and watch for Arhitektoniki Studios, a multi-tiered structure that directly abuts the right (inland) side of the road. At that point, you are getting close. Continue 300 meters and watch on the left for stone steps that descend toward the sea (36.5361N, 26.3410E). That is the start of the path to the beach. (If you reach a broad dirt track on the left that winds downhill toward the sea, you have missed the steps by 300 meters.) There may be a sign for Tzanaki Beach, but the steps are easy to spot whether or not the sign is present since there is little vegetation to obscure your view. Once you find the stone steps, continue until you can find a suitable place to park alongside the road, being careful not to block the road.
At the top of the steps, you will be about 50 meters above sea level. There is no handrail. The steps end after just a bit, with a well-defined dirt track continuing downhill toward the sea. There will be a metal mesh fence on your left-hand side for most of the descent. As you near the sea, you will intersect a path that follows the coastline. Turn right, following the path such that the sea is on your left-hand side. The path takes you to Tzanaki Beach. The total walk from the top of the stone steps is about 250 meters.
To go to Plakes Beach:
From the three-way intersection, follow signs for the airport. In 1.8 kilometers, you will pass a small church (Agios Mamas) that directly abuts the right side of the road. Within 500 meters past the church, you will pass two beaches on the right—Micro Steno Beach then Steno Beach. After Steno Beach, the road will curve a bit inland as it begins to wind uphill. Continue about 1.3 kilometers to a small parking pullout on the right (36.5760N, 26.3769E) that is next to a bus stop named Plakes. (If you reach the left-hand turnoff that continues toward the airport, you have gone 400 meters too far.)
From the pullout, the path to the beach begins at a ramshackle gate that you should close behind you. At the gate, you will be about 40 meters above sea level with a clear view of the sea. The path angles a bit to the right as it goes downhill. It is a short walk of a few hundred meters to the coast. As you near the sea, the path will branch into a maze of paths, but it is a contained area where you can't get lost. The rock slab and the pebble beach are less than 100 meters apart, and the rock slab is the farther left of the two areas when you are facing the sea. Remember that the rock slab generally has far more nudist potential than the pebble beach.
MAP from starting point to stone steps (Tzanaki)
MAP from starting point to parking (Plakes)
This placemark pertains to Tzanaki Beach and Plakes Beach.

rock slab (irregular nudity)
This placemark pertains to Tzanaki Beach and Plakes Beach.

small pebble beach (typically all textile)

Agios Andreas ferry port

3-way intersection of roads going to Chora, ferry port & airport

array of eight traditional windmills

fork next to Pylaia Hotel

prominent stone castle at highest part of Chora

Livadi Beach (textile)

Agios Vasilis Beach (textile)

Arhitektoniki Studios & Apartment

stone steps at start of path to beach

informal roadside parking

pavement ends

Agios Mamas church

Micro Steno Beach (textile)

Steno Beach (textile)

parking pullout at "Plakes" bus stop

airport entrance

segment of main island road, from Chora to Analipsi

road from Chora through Livadi

road connecting ferry port to main island road

Kalymnos

Paradise Beach

Paradise Beach
The island of Kalymnos has long been famous for harvesting sea sponges, and since around the turn of the millennium it has become a mecca for hardcore rock climbers due to its challenging topography. Kalymnos has several remote and hard-to-reach beaches where nudity is possible because the beaches are likely to be deserted, but there are no beaches on the main body of the island where nudity occurs regularly. To get to the only established nude beach in Kalymnos, you have to leave Kalymnos… pardon the contradiction. The nude beach is located on a satellite island called Telendos, which is a very short boat ride away.
There is a legend that is often repeated and widely accepted as truth although not universally regarded as scientifically plausible. The story goes that Telendos was once part of Kalymnos, and an ancient village called Kellaris occupied a low-lying area that is now the strait between the two islands, but a calamitous earthquake in the 6th century (A.D. or C.E.) resulted in the sinking of Kellaris and the formation of the strait. The earthquake is historically documented, but the existence of Kellaris and the geographic changes attributed to the earthquake are debatable. However it got that way, Telendos is one kilometer offshore from Kalymnos, and it is basically a long mountain that covers 8 to 9 square kilometers. Development on the island is limited. There is a small village at the eastern end of the island at the base of the mountain. The village is located along the strait, facing the villages on Myrties and Masouri in Kalymnos. No automobiles are allowed on the island. A fishing boat ferries visitors back and forth from Myrties to Telendos. It is a short and inexpensive trip, with frequent service during warm months. Once you are there, the only way to get around Telendos is on foot, but the segment of the island that most casual visitors explore is located within a span of about 2 kilometers on the east coast of the island. The rest of the island is mostly the realm of serious hikers and rock climbers. While there is a small selection of overnight accommodations in Telendos village, most visitors day trip to the island.
As you follow the seafront walkway north away from Telendos village, you will reach a point where the cobbled sidewalk ends and a dirt path continues. Follow the dirt path just a minute or two and you will reach the first of a trio of small beaches that are located within a span of 250 meters. All three beaches are very narrow pebble beaches, and, a bit surprisingly, all three are lined with sunchairs and umbrellas. The first and longest of the beaches is called Potha Beach, and it is textile. The next beach is a tiny beach that does not seem to have a proper name, and it is usually also textile but occasionally has nudists. The third and final beach is Paradise Beach, and it is a designated nude beach. (Officially designated? Who knows. There is generally some sort of makeshift sign indicating that it is a nudist beach.) Paradise Beach is perhaps 40 meters long, and with limited space it can be a bit crowded during July and August. Most visitors go nude. There are no amenities other than the sunchairs and umbrellas, but they are not free. A money collector shows up from time to time, so be prepared to pay if you lay claim to a chair. Snacks and meals are available in Telendos village, where the fishing boat drops you off.
village, island, island group, country:  Telendos, Telendos/Kalymnos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fOXUTZ
starting point  the ferry port in Kalymnos town, a.k.a. Pothia
Kalymnos is the principal town of the island of the same name, and it is situated in a bay that is toward the southern end of the east side of the island. Kalymnos is sometimes called Kalymnos town to distinguish it from the island, but it is more commonly called Pothia by the locals. From Pothia, you want to go through the valley that spans the interior of the island to get to Myrties on the west side of Kalymnos, about 7 to 8 kilometers away. Along the way, you will pass through a continuum of towns and villages that form an almost unbroken span of development. To navigate your way away from the ferry port, watch for signs for the airport and follow them. Once you turn away from the Pothia seafront and begin to head inland, continue about 3.5 kilometers, passing through all of Pothia and most of the adjacent town of Chorio, then take note when you pass the left-hand turnoff toward Argo and the airport, but do not turn. Continue west through the next town, which is Panormos. About 3.5 kilometers past the airport turnoff and just a bit past Panormos, you will arrive in the seaside village of Myrties (which is just before Masouri, the village with which Myrties is contiguous). Once you are in Myrties, watch for signs advertising boat trips to Telendos. A short side road leads to the concrete jetty from which the boat departs. There is limited parking next to the jetty (around coordinates 36.9909N, 26.9314E), so you may have to look for streetside parking in the area and return on foot. (The jetty is a bit north of the marina where all the boats are moored. Facing the sea, the jetty is to the right of the marina.)
A fishing boat (often called a caïque) ferries passengers back in forth to Telendos. The cost is a few euros each way. During warm months, service is frequent, with trips every half hour from mid-morning to late at night. The journey is about one kilometer and takes less than five minutes.
Once you land at the Telendos jetty, head north (to the left when facing the sea, or, put another way, keeping the sea on your right-hand side). At first, you will pass through the seafront of Telendos village. Once you are past the main cluster of village development, you will be on a cobbled walkway that continues along the seafront. When you reach the point where the cobbled walkway ends and a dirt path continues straight ahead, you will have walked about 700 meters, and you will be next to Hotel Porto Potha, which consists of a pair of two-story white buildings. The hotel is the northernmost development of Telendos and the last structure you will pass on the way to the nude beach. Once you are on the dirt path, continue a little over 200 meters and you will reach the first of three small beaches that are one after the other, all within a span of 250 meters. The first and longest beach is Potha Beach, which is textile. Stay on the path as is passes just above Potha Beach. Next, you will see the second beach, which is a tiny beach that does not seem to have a proper name and may be occupied by nudists or textiles. Keep going and shortly you will reach Paradise Beach, the third and last beach. It is typically marked by some sort of makeshift sign that identifies it as a nude beach. Paradise is accessed from a short side path that leaves from the point where the main path begins to go uphill away from the sea. The total walk from the Telendos jetty to Paradise Beach is about 1.1 kilometers.
This placemark pertains to Paradise Beach.

jetty in Myrties
This placemark pertains to Paradise Beach.

limited parking near jetty

Hotel Porto Potha

cobbled sidewalk becomes dirt path

Potha Beach (textile)

tiny beach between Potha & Paradise (sometimes nudist)
This tiny beach between Potha Beach and Paradise Beach does not seem to have a proper name. It is usually textile but occasionally has nude bathers.

Myrties marina

jetty in Telendos village

ferry route

Karpathos

Pouliou Potami Beach

Pouliou Potami Beach
Pigadia (a.k.a. Karpathos town) is the capital of the island of Karpathos, and Amopi is a popular resort area that is just 6 kilometers from the capital. Although Pigadia and Amopi are both on the eastern side of the island, they are on opposite sides of a peninsular land mass that juts eastward from the main body of the island, such that Pigadia is along a segment of coastline that mostly faces north while Amopi is along a segment of coastline that mostly faces south. There are a couple of things to know about Amopi lest you are left scratching your head. First, there are several ways to spell the name of the resort area. The prevalent spellings are Amopi and Amoopi, while Ammopi and Ammoopi are somewhat less common variants. Spellings involving double P's are the least common. We're going with Amopi since that is how it is spelled at the main turnoff to the resort area. Second, Amopi is alternately known by the name Lakki. Maps tend to label the locality as Lakki, but Amopi (or some variant) is more commonly used in real life. Go figure.
There are several small sandy beaches along the Amopi coastline, all of which are textile. At the east end of the Amopi development, there is a stretch of rocky coastline, and the land just above the coast is flat and treeless. That stretch of coastline, which is pocked by several tiny inlets, extends eastward from Amopi about 2 kilometers until it is broken by a mountain-like headland that rises up abruptly. If you follow the gravel road that runs above the coastline through the flat, treeless area, when you get almost to the headland you will find a small pebble beach called Pouliou Potami, which is at most 50 meters long. You can park right next to it. Surprisingly for such an "off-the-grid" beach, there are about half a dozen thatched umbrellas and about a dozen beach chairs along the beach. Someone shows up occasionally to collect a fee for occupying them. There are no other amenities, however. Nudity is known to occur sporadically, but not consistently, at Pouliou Potami. If you are the first to arrive, you may establish a precedent for nudity. If the beach is packed and no one else is naked, it is probably best not to buck the trend. Otherwise, you'll have to assess the sensibilities of those already present to determine whether or not nudity is an option.
If conditions at Pouliou Potami are not favorable to nudity, there is a possible Plan B. Going east from Pouliou Potami (to the left when facing the sea), there is less than 200 meters of relatively flat land before the steep slope of the headland makes it difficult to continue farther. Along that stretch, there is a tiny pocket beach hidden beneath low cliffs. It is easy to find, but getting there requires clambering down and over some large rocks, so a certain level of agility is required. The pocket beach, which is comprised of pebbles, is at most 15 meters long. It is likely to be empty, but nudists sometimes find their way to the hidden beach.
village, island, island group, country:  Amopi (Lakki), Karpathos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fbDtjd
starting location  Karpathos town, a.k.a. Pigadia
Karpathos is the principal town of the island of the same name, and it is situated along the central part of the island's eastern coast (but closer to the southern end of the island than to the northern end). Karpathos is sometimes called Karpathos town to distinguish it from the island, but it is more commonly called Pigadia by the locals. From Pigadia, follow signs for the airport to navigate your way out of town, heading south. Once the development of Pigadia starts to thin out, keep going another 3 to 4 kilometers and watch for the turnoff to Menetes and Arkasa, which veers off to the right from the main road, but keep straight ahead on the main road. Continue south toward the airport another 700 meters, then turn left at the Amopi sign.
Once you turn, follow the winding road downhill through the Amopi resort area, which consists of lots of scattered hotels. In 1.5 kilometers, watch for the entrance to Apolis Hotel (which is on the right) to let you know you are getting to close to your next turn. Once you pass Apolis, continue about 300 meters to Hotel Argo, which is the next hotel on the right. Turn left onto the road that is directly opposite Hotel Argo. (If you reach a white seaside chapel with a blue dome and blue trim, you have missed the turn by about 200 meters.)
Once you turn, you will be roughly in the middle of the Amopi resort area, and you want to go to the east end*, past all the development. Proceed a little over 200 meters to the next four-way junction, where the road straight ahead goes toward Hotel Nymfes. Turn left. Continue about 300 meters to a three-way junction where turning left would require a very sharp left turn, but keep to the right instead. At that point, the road will make a long rightward curve, and in a little over 100 meters you will reach another three-way junction. It makes no difference which road you take since they will rejoin. Continue along either road for 400-500 meters. Just past the point where the two roads merge back together, the road turns to gravel.
Once the road turns to gravel, you will have passed all the development of Amopi, and you will begin driving through an open, flat, treeless area, with the sea clearly visible on your right-hand side. You will be going almost all the way to the mountain-like headland that abruptly rises up in the distance. Follow the gravel road 1.9 kilometers to what is effectively the end of the road, where a less-defined track continues straight ahead and another track goes off to the left, uphill away from the sea. Turn right into the dirt parking area that directly abuts Pouliou Potami Beach, at coordinates 35.4819N, 27.2211E. If you want to go to the hidden beach that is just east of Pouliou Potami, keep walking along the track that continues straight ahead from the gravel road. You will find the hidden beach tucked into a niche about 100 meters past the dirt parking area, a bit before the track peters out altogether at the edge of the headland.
* If you make a wrong turn, just remember that you want to make your way to the east end of Amopi, keeping the sea on your right-hand side. You can't help but eventually find the gravel road that goes east along the coastline.
Here is a map** that draws the route described above from the starting location to parking.
** You'll notice that the referenced Google Map draws a somewhat circuitous route from Pigadia to Pouliou Potami. There are shortcuts you could take, but there aren't any signs to help you along.
This placemark pertains to Pouliou Potami Beach.

hidden beach (nudist)
This placemark pertains to Pouliou Potami Beach.

This placemark pertains to Pouliou Potami Beach.

Kato Lako Beach

Kato Lako Beach
Kato Lako Beach is on the east side of Karpathos, about 13 kilometers north of Pigadia (a.k.a. Karpathos town). It is among the most beautiful beaches of the island, but it is uncrowded since it is not well signed and takes a bit of effort to reach. Getting there by car requires driving along a steep gravel road for 1.7 kilometers, or it is 1.2 kilometers on foot from the nearest access point along a paved road. Kato Lako is a sand-and-shingle beach backed by forested cliffs, and altogether it is about 750 meters long, but the beach is broken into multiple niches by clusters of rocks and boulders. You will have to clamber over rocks to explore the entire length of the beach, but none of the rocks are serious obstacles for those who are reasonably fit.
When you enter the beach, you will be along the central part of the beach but closer to the southern end than to the northern end. You will see a rather ramshackle wooden pier built across several small boulders in the sea, next to a couple of massive boulders. If you go south (to the right when facing the sea) for just a minute or two, you will find a cluster of about a dozen umbrellas and pairs of sunchairs that are available for rent at the southern end of the beach. Although the presence of sunchairs usually suggests the presence of other amenities, that is not the case here. Nudity rarely occurs along the umbrella part of the beach, but it is not out of the question to find bare bathers during the off season when there are few visitors.
The opposite end of the beach from the sunchairs offers much better opportunities for nude bathing. From the pier, go north (to the left when facing the sea). Because of the contours of the beach, you do not have to go very far until you are out of view of the pier, and you are likely to encounter nudists scattered along the northern niches of Kato Lako, but there are never large crowds of nude bathers. Not quite 300 meters north of the pier, you will come upon a particularly large and craggy mass of rock that is partly on land and partly in the water. Explore it and you will discover a big surprise: it is actually a grotto that is partially filled with sea water. You can enter this unusual sea cave from its inland side and wade or swim through it. There may be a few textiles about exploring the cave, particularly during peak season, but it is a particularly enchanting spot for a naked swim if conditions are favorable. Not quite 200 meters north of the sea cave, there is a distinctive pinnacle-shaped column of rock that hugs the cliff wall except at its pointy peak. The pinnacle is near the far northern end of Kato Lako Beach. If the tide is all the way in, waves will be lapping the base of the pinnacle and it will be challenging to explore farther, but if the tide is out there are a few more niches beyond the pinnacle you can explore.
To access Kato Lako Beach you will first drive partway along a paved road that dead ends at a small resort village called Kira Panagia, which has a popular textile beach. You don't have to go quite all the way to Kira Panagia to get to Kato Lako, but the village is very much worth a visit both for its gorgeous backdrop and because it is the closest place to Kato Lako to find a meal or a snack.
There is a boat called the Love Boat that offers excursions from the port in Pigadia to several beaches in the area, including to Kato Lako. During peak season, the boat is generally docked at the aforementioned rickety pier for two to three hours a day, and you can expect a slight textile influx during those times. While nudity is still possible at the northernmost niches of Kato Lako when the boat is docked, conditions are not likely to be optimal for exploring the sea cave in the nude. If you are interested in an excursion on the Love Boat or another boat, there is hardly any useful information online that allows for pre-planning. You generally have to just go to the port to see what is available and book a trip for the next day.
village, island, island group, country:  Kira Panagia, Karpathos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fyyG86
starting location  Karpathos town, a.k.a. Pigadia
Karpathos is the principal town of the island of the same name, and it is situated along the central part of the island's eastern coast (but closer to the southern end of the island than to the northern end). Karpathos is sometimes called Karpathos town to distinguish it from the island, but it is more commonly called Pigadia by the locals. From Pigadia, follow signs for Olympos to navigate your way out of town, heading north. For the first several kilometers, you will be driving parallel to the long beach of Pigadia, with the sea on your right-hand side. At the end of the long beach, the road will curve leftward away from the coast and begin to go into the interior of the island. From the point where the road curves away from the sea, continue about 3.5 kilometers to a fork on the outskirts of Aperi. Keep to the right* to bypass Aperi and continue toward Olympos. Continue 2.5 kilometers to the next signed three-way junction and keep to the right, continuing toward Olympos. (The other direction goes toward Volada and Othos.) Continue 900 kilometers, then turn right toward Kira Panagia. The turnoff is signed for Kira Panagia and Katodio.
Once you turn, you will be on a very twisty paved road that winds downhill about 5 kilometers to the seaside village of Kira Panagia, but you will not go all the way to the village. Follow the road for 2.4 kilometers until you reach a paved pullout on the right-hand side of the road at a sharp leftward curve of the road. The pullout is located at the top of Katodio, a hamlet that consists of several houses and other structures that spill downhill toward the sea. There are a few scattered houses on the way to Kira Panagia, but Katodio is the only cluster of buildings along the road. The most distinctive building of Katodio is a small white chapel with a red dome. If you want to walk to Kato Lako Beach, Katodio is your stopping point. If you want to drive all the way, you will continue past Katodio to find the narrow gravel road that goes to the beach.
To walk to the beach:
Park at the pullout that is at the top of Katodio, at coordinates 35.5754N, 27.1819E. From there, start along the stepped path that takes you downhill through the hamlet. After you pass the red-domed chapel, keep straight ahead on a gravel road for just under 200 meters to a junction with another gravel road. Keep to the right, continuing downhill toward the sea along the winding road until you reach its end at the beach. The total walk is about 1.2 kilometers.
To drive to the beach:
Once you pass the pullout at the top of Katodio, continue toward Kira Panagia another 800 meters until you reach a junction where there are gravel roads going off in either direction from the paved road. The road on the right requires a hard right turn from the paved road, while the road on the left veers away from the paved road and begins to go uphill. Turn right. The road in unlikely to be signed. Follow the gravel road about 700 meters, then make a sharp left at a three-way junction. (The road on the right goes uphill to Katodio.) From that point, the road becomes steeper and curvier. Continue about a kilometer farther to the end of the road at a parking area next to the beach, at coordinates 35.5774N, 27.1883E.
On the beach, walk north (to the left when facing the sea) a few hundred meters to find secluded areas for nude bathing.
* At the fork on the outskirts of Aperi, you could also keep to the left and drive through the village center. If you do that, continue 1.8 kilometers to a three-way junction at the north end of the village, then keep to the right to continue toward Olympos. From that point, it is 1.6 kilometers to the right-hand turnoff to Kira Panagia.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting location to parking (above Katodio).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting location to the road toward parking (at the beach). [Google Maps shows the road ending about 500 meters before it actually ends.]
This placemark pertains to Kato Lako Beach.

turnoff to Kira Panagia & Katodio
This placemark pertains to Kato Lako Beach.

parking pullout above Katodio
This placemark pertains to Kato Lako Beach.

small chapel with red dome in Katodio

sunchairs & umbrellas at far southern end of beach (usually all textile)

Kira Panagia Beach (textile)

junction with gravel roads before Kira Panagia
At this junction, there are gravel roads leaving from either side of the paved road. Heading toward Kira Panagia, the gravel road on the right (toward the sea) requires a hard right turn, while the gravel road on the left (inland) veers away from the paved road and begins to go uphill.

ramshackle pier built across boulders

sea cave

pinnacle-shaped column of rock

route from Kira Panagia/Katodio turnoff to parking

walking route through Katodio

Micro Apella Beach

Micro Apella Beach
Apella Beach is located along the central part of the east coast of Karpathos, between the villages of Aperi and Spoa, roughly 20 kilometers north of Pigadia (a.k.a. Karpathos town). Apella is widely regarded as the most beautiful beach in Karpathos, and it consistently pops up on lists of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. About 300 meters long, the beach is composed of white sand mixed with tiny pebbles, and layers of mountains form a stunningly beautiful backdrop. Apella Beach is a very popular beach that is lined with sunchairs and umbrellas, and it is a textile beach. However, just over the headland at the south end of Apella Beach, there is a hidden beach that is about as obscure as Apella is famous. The hidden beach does not seem to have a proper name, but it seems to be called Micro Apella as often as anything. Micro Apella is about 150 meters long, and like Apella it is blanketed in white sand mixed with tiny pebbles. The steep cliffs behind Micro Apella lend it a more sheltered feeling compared to its big sister.
Micro Apella usually has just a handful of visitors even when Apella is packed, and nudity is quite common among those who find the way there. The reason for sparse attendance is simply that the Micro Apella is difficult to reach. There is a footpath to Micro Apella over the headland from Apella. The walking distance along the path is just 200 meters, but the path is steep and unnerving for those prone to vertigo. You absolutely need sturdy footwear for the hike. Other than following the path, other access options include swimming or rafting around the heading (a distance of about 150 meters) or getting there by boat (see the next paragraph). Even if you are uncertain about following the path, you might as well check it out and assess it for yourself since Apella Beach will doubtless be on your "must-see" list for Karpathos. If you are able to make it to Micro Apella, so much the better. There is a taverna next the parking area at the north end of Apella. Micro Apella, as you may have already guessed, has no amenities.
Farther north from Apella Beach, there is a tiny seaside village called Agios Nikolaos. (See the separate listing for Agios Ioannis Beach for information about getting to Agios Nikolaos.) From Agios Nikolaos, there is a boat called Pegasus that operates as a water taxi to beaches that are difficult to access by land, so you can arrange to take a boat to Micro Apella if you find land access too daunting. (For more information, go to Greeka.com and type "Karpathos" and "Pegasus" in the search field to find a page entitled "Day Tour To Virgin Beaches.")
village, island, island group, country:  Aperi/Spoa, Karpathos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fzz9af
starting location  Karpathos town, a.k.a. Pigadia
Karpathos is the principal town of the island of the same name, and it is situated along the central part of the island's eastern coast (but closer to the southern end of the island than to the northern end). Karpathos is sometimes called Karpathos town to distinguish it from the island, but it is more commonly called Pigadia by the locals. From Pigadia, follow signs for Olympos to navigate your way out of town, heading north. For the first several kilometers, you will be driving parallel to the long beach of Pigadia, with the sea on your right-hand side. At the end of the long beach, the road will curve leftward away from the coast and begin to go into the interior of the island. From the point where the road curves away from the sea, continue about 3.5 kilometers to a fork on the outskirts of Aperi. Keep to the right* to bypass Aperi and continue toward Olympos. Continue 2.5 kilometers to the next signed three-way junction and keep to the right, continuing toward Olympos. (The other direction goes toward Volada and Othos.)
Once you turn, continue 900 meters and take note of the right-hand turnoff to Kira Panagia and Katodio, but keep straight ahead. Continue another 6.8 kilometers, then turn right at the signed turnoff to Apella Beach. (The Apella turnoff is the next paved road after the Kira Panagia turnoff.)
Follow the winding road downhill for 2.3 kilometers to parking at the end of the road, at coordinates 35.6042N, 27.1576E. From there, a short path leads to the far north end of Apella Beach. Walk south across the beach (to the right when facing the sea) about 200 meters to the broad central expanse of the beach, from which you will have incredible views of the mountains behind the beach. Watch for a cliff that begins to rise up behind the beach, gradually getting higher going toward the headland at the southern end of the beach. Along the central part of the beach, find the footpath that follows the top of the cliff. That footpath takes you above the southern end of Apella Beach. As you follow the path, the beach and the sea will be downhill to your left, and there will be a chain-link fence on your right-hand side. The steep path takes you over a headland then descends to Micro Apella Beach. The walk along the footpath is about 200 meters, and the total walk from the parking area is 400-500 meters.
* At the fork on the outskirts of Aperi, you could also keep to the left and drive through the village center. If you do that, continue 1.8 kilometers to a three-way junction at the north end of the village, then keep to the right to continue toward Olympos. From that point, it is 1.6 kilometers to the right-hand turnoff to Kira Panagia and Katodio.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting location to parking.
This placemark pertains to Micro Apella Beach.

turnoff to Apella Beach
This placemark pertains to Micro Apella Beach.

This placemark pertains to Micro Apella Beach.

Apella Beach (textile)

road to Apella Beach

hike from Apella Beach to Micro Apella Beach

Agios Ioannis Beach

Agios Ioannis Beach
Agios Nikolaos is a tiny village along the central part of the eastern coast of Karpathos. The seaside village is roughly equidistant from Pigadia (a.k.a. Karpathos town) and Olympos (both about 25 kilometers away), and it is downhill from the mountaintop village of Spoa. Just uphill from Agios Nikoloas, there is a gravel road that clings to the mountainside and goes south and then west above the coastline. If you follow that road to its end (a distance of just under 3 kilometers) and then make your way down a short but steep hillside, you will arrive at Agios Ioannis Beach, a small beach that is among the most obscure in Karpathos. Agios Ioannis is a pebble beach that is about 50 meters long, and it strewn with large boulders. The beach takes its name from a tiny chapel that is built against a sheer wall of rock. You will pass it en route to the beach. Nude bathing is known to occur at Agios Ioannis, but it seems too lightly visited to be described as a well-established nude beach. It is the type of frequently empty beach where the first person to arrive may set a precedent. Needless to say, there are no amenities. (The closest are in Agios Nikolaos.)
Agios Ioannis is wedged into a corner where the coastline changes direction. If you are standing on the beach looking straight ahead, you will be facing southeast, and slightly to your right you will have incredible views of the mountains that continue southward along the coastline. About halfway along the segment of coastline that is in your field of vision, you can glimpse a patch of sand across the water. That patch of sand is Apella Beach, which is widely heralded as the most beautiful beach of Karpathos. Apella is renowned for its majestic mountainous backdrop, and standing on Agios Iaonnis provides a panoramic perspective of Apella that is otherwise only possible from a boat. Agios Ioannis and Apella are 1.6 kilometers apart as the crow flies. However, the circuitous driving route through the mountains from one beach to the other is 15 kilometers. (Apella Beach has its own separate, hidden nude beach which is detailed under a separate listing.)
Roughly a kilometer east of Agios Ioannis Beach, there are two similar pebble beaches that get comparable nude use: Sfaka Beach and Manari Beach. Those two beaches are very close to one another. At both beaches, the terrain is such that you can hike almost all the way down, but the final descent seems impossible without rock-climbing gear, so the beaches are effectively reachable only by boat. It is not terribly difficult to climb down toward the beaches to view them from above. In the driving directions, there is a reference to the point where the gravel road curves sharply to the right, corresponding to a bend in the coastline. Just 150 meters after the curve (but about 350 meters before Agios Ioannis chapel), you will see a track that goes downhill. You should not attempt to navigate it in a vehicle. The track is about 500 meters long, and it makes three switchbacks. (See the green line.) If you follow the track as far as possible, you will be standing above Sfaka Beach, a charming and sheltered little cove beach that is at most 40 meters long. Manari Beach is a bit west of Sfaka (to the right when facing the sea). To go toward it, leave the track at the second switchback and hike above the coastline about 100 meters and you can glimpse the beach. Manari is about 50 meters long, and you will know you have found it if you see a tall boulder that resembles a shark fin sticking out of the water just offshore. If you decide you'd like to visit Sfaka or Manari or both, inquire in Agios Nikolaos. There is a boat called Pegasus that operates as a water taxi to beaches that are difficult to access by land. (For more information, go to Greeka.com and type "Karpathos" and "Pegasus" in the search field to find a page entitled "Day Tour To Virgin Beaches.")
village, island, island group, country:  Agios Nikolaos/Spoa, Karpathos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2f8HUeA
Karpathos is the principal town of the island of the same name, and it is situated along the central part of the island's eastern coast (but closer to the southern end of the island than to the northern end). Karpathos is sometimes called Karpathos town to distinguish it from the island, but it is more commonly called Pigadia by the locals. From Pigadia, follow signs for Olympos to navigate your way out of town, heading north. For the first several kilometers, you will be driving parallel to the long beach of Pigadia, with the sea on your right-hand side. At the end of the long beach, the road will curve leftward away from the coast and begin to go into the interior of the island. From the point where the road curves away from the sea, continue about 3.5 kilometers to a fork on the outskirts of Aperi. Keep to the right* to bypass Aperi and continue toward Olympos. Continue 2.5 kilometers to the next signed three-way junction and keep to the right, continuing toward Olympos. (The other direction goes toward Volada and Othos.)
From that point, watch for a few turnoffs to help you along, but stay on the main road. In 900 meters, you will pass the right-hand turnoff to Kira Panagia and Katodio. Keep straight ahead. 6.8 kilometers farther along, you will pass the right-hand turnoff to Apella Beach. Keep straight ahead. 5.1 kilometers farther along, you will reach a "T' junction where there are several dilapidated stone windmill bases straight ahead. Turn right to continue toward Olympos. (The other direction goes toward Mesochori and Lefkos.)
Just 800 meters after the "T," the road will fork. Keep to the right to go toward the village center of Spoa. (The left fork continues toward Olympos.)
Continue 350 meters to the next three-way junction. Turn right. (The other direction continues toward the village center.) At that point, you will begin heading toward the seaside village of Agios Nikolaos, which is 4 kilometers away at the end of the paved road. You want to go almost but not quite all the way there before making your next turn. Follow the twisty road downhill for 3.6 kilometers until the road crosses through a creek bed. Just after the creek bed, veer right onto a gravel road that is unlikely to be marked. (It is the last turnoff before the paved road ends at Agios Nikolaos. If you miss it, just turn around in Agios Nikolaos, head back uphill and take the first possible left.)
As you follow the gravel road, you will be going in a generally southerly direction, with the sea on your left-hand side. Stay on the widest road at all forks. In 1.5 kilometers, the road will curve sharply to the right. The curve corresponds to a bend in the coastline. About 500 meters farther along, you will pass Agios Ioannis chapel, a tiny white church uphill to your right that is built against a sheer rock face. 900 meters farther along, park at the dead end of the road (at coordinates 35.6173N, 27.1495E), then make your way downhill to the beach. It is a short but steep hike.
* At the fork on the outskirts of Aperi, you could also keep to the left and drive through the village center. If you do that, continue 1.8 kilometers to a three-way junction at the north end of the village, then keep to the right to continue toward Olympos. From that point, it is 1.6 kilometers to the right-hand turnoff to Kira Panagia and Katodio.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting location to parking.
This placemark pertains to Agios Ioannis Beach.

Sfaka Beach (very difficult to access by land)
This placemark pertains to Agios Ioannis Beach.

Manari Beach (very difficult to access by land)
This placemark pertains to Agios Ioannis Beach.

Spoa/Olympos fork

parking at end of road

turnoff onto gravel road

Agios Ioannis chapel

Agios Nikolaos Beach (textile)

route from Spoa/Olympos fork to parking

path to Sfaka Beach (very difficult final acsent)

Agnontia Beach

Agnontia Beach
Agnontia Beach is located toward the northern end of the east coast of Karpathos. It is about 12 kilometers south of Olympos, the stunningly picturesque hilltop village that is in the northern part of the island. Agnontia is a broad crescent that is a little less than 200 meters long, bracketed by a rocky outcropping on its south end and a more massive headland on its north end. The beach has no sand. It is composed entirely of a thick layer of smooth, flat, light gray pebbles. The beach is very lightly attended, both because it is poorly signposted and because it is accessed via a rough gravel road that follows a mountain ridge before descending to the beach. The upshot is that you can park next to the beach, and sometimes people even drive directly onto the beach. Nudity seems to be well accepted at Agnontia, but it does not get enough nudist visitation to be regarded as a well established nude beach. You are not likely to encounter more than a handful of visitors, and it may be that everyone is naked or that no one is naked, but the beach is big enough and empty enough that you can usually strip down while leaving a sufficient buffer zone between yourself and the nearest textiles. Agnontia has a distinctively wide-open feel compared to the other nudist locations of Karpathos, and there are no amenities at the beach or anywhere nearby, so come prepared.
Agnontia Beach is accessed from the same turnoff that leads to Agios Minas Beach, a better-known textile beach that is about 2.5 kilometers north of Agnontia as the crow flies. The gravel turnoff road splits along the way, with one fork going to either beach. Along the rugged stretch of coastline between Agnontia and Agios Minas, there are a number of small beaches that can only be accessed by boat, all of which are potentially private nude beach for those with the means to get to them.
village, island, island group, country:  Spoa/Olympos, Karpathos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fLKAAy
Karpathos is the principal town of the island of the same name, and it is situated along the central part of the island's eastern coast (but closer to the southern end of the island than to the northern end). Karpathos is sometimes called Karpathos town to distinguish it from the island, but it is more commonly called Pigadia by the locals. From Pigadia, follow signs for Olympos to navigate your way out of town, heading north. For the first several kilometers, you will be driving parallel to the long beach of Pigadia, with the sea on your right-hand side. At the end of the long beach, the road will curve leftward away from the coast and begin to go into the interior of the island. From the point where the road curves away from the sea, continue about 3.5 kilometers to a fork on the outskirts of Aperi. Keep to the right* to bypass Aperi and continue toward Olympos. Continue 2.5 kilometers to the next signed three-way junction and keep to the right, continuing toward Olympos. (The other direction goes toward Volada and Othos.)
From that point, watch for a few turnoffs to help you along, but stay on the main road. In 900 meters, you will pass the right-hand turnoff to Kira Panagia and Katodio. Keep straight ahead. 6.8 kilometers farther along, you will pass the right-hand turnoff to Apella Beach. Keep straight ahead. 5.1 kilometers farther along, you will reach a "T' junction where there are several dilapidated stone windmill bases straight ahead. Turn right to continue toward Olympos. (The other direction goes toward Mesochori and Lefkos.)
Just 800 meters after the "T," the road will fork. Keep to the left to continue toward Olympos. (The right fork goes into the village of Spoa.) From that point, it is 20 kilometers to Olympos, but you will only go about half that distance before turning off toward Agnontia Beach. There are no villages and few landmarks along the way.
After the fork, proceed 4.7 kilometers and the road will temporarily turn to gravel. 1.8 kilometers farther on, the road will turn back to pavement. 3.1 kilometers farther on, you will pass a church on the left (inland) side of the road, which is the only structure anywhere in the area. It is a white church with a red barrel roof and a red dome that is situated a bit back from the road. After you pass the church, continue 400-500 meters and take the next possible right onto a gravel road which may have crude signage pointing toward Agnontia Beach and Agios Minas Beach**, or it may be unsigned.
Follow the gravel road 900 meters to a fork. Keep to the right. (The left fork continues to Agios Minas. Again, there may or may not be some sort of crude signage.) 1.4 kilometers farther on, keep to the right at a fork with a smaller road. 300-400 meters farther on, make a sharp left at a three-way junction. About 500 meters farther on, the road ends at the beach, with parking around coordinates 35.6684N, 27.1762E
* At the fork on the outskirts of Aperi, you could also keep to the left and drive through the village center. If you do that, continue 1.8 kilometers to a three-way junction at the north end of the village, then keep to the right to continue toward Olympos. From that point, it is 1.6 kilometers to the right-hand turnoff to Kira Panagia and Katadio.
** There are actually two roads that lead to Agios Minas Beach, and the turnoff onto the other one is about 700 meters farther north (toward Olympos), so don't be thrown off by the two Agios Minas turnoffs if you miss your turn or if you start from Olympos.
This placemark pertains to Agnontia Beach.

turnoff from main road toward Agnontia & Agios Minas
This placemark pertains to Agnontia Beach.

parking next to beach
This placemark pertains to Agnontia Beach.

church with red roof & dome
white church with a red barrel roof and a red dome that is halfway between Spoa and Olympos

Agios Minas Beach (textile)

route from Agnontia/Agios Minas turnoff to parking

Perdikas Potami Beach

Perdikas Potami Beach
Kato Lefkos is a resort area that is about halfway along the western coast of Karpathos, about 33 kilometers from Pigadia (a.k.a. Karpathos town). There are five sandy beaches in the immediate vicinity of Kato Lefkos. A bit south of the main resort area, there is Potali Beach, a textile beach backed by a few small hotels. Next to Kato Lefkos proper, there are three adjacent crescent beaches that are wedged together such that one faces south, one faces west and one is oriented slightly to the northwest. Those three beaches are named Gialou Chorafi, Limani Panagia and Frangolimionas, and all three are textile. The north end of Frangolimionas Beach corresponds to the north end of the development of Kato Lefkos. A bit farther north, there is a prominent rocky islet called Sokastro Island that is just barely offshore. Sokastro has a diameter of 300-400 meters, and when you first glimpse it from Kato Lefkos, it resembles a miniature flat-topped mountain. From the north end of Kato Lefkos, a gravel road begins and winds along the coastline for 1.2 kilometers (see the green line) to the point where Sokastro is closest to the mainland of Karpathos. Along the way, that road passes just above Perdikas Potami Beach, which is the fifth and final beach of Kato Lefkos. Perdikas Potami is an undeveloped beach that is attended by nude bathers even though many parts of the beach are visible from the gravel road. Although the road can accommodate vehicles, it is narrow and there aren't many places to park or turn around, so most visitors park near the start of the road and walk.
From the start of the gravel road, it is a walk of 300-400 meters to the start of Perdikas Potami, and there are a number of places where you can leave the road and go slightly downhill to the beach. The main part of Perdikas Potami is about 250 meters long, with lots of small boulders strewn along its sandy expanse. The far (north) end of the main part of the beach is formed by a cluster of large boulders. Beyond those boulders, there is a chain of smaller, narrower beaches that spans another 250 or so meters, extending all the way to the closest point to Sokoastro Island. The gravel road also passes above those niche beaches, but climbing down from the road is more difficult compared to the main beach. Nude bathers are typically the majority both along the main part of Perdikas Potami and at the niche beaches just beyond it, but there are typically a dozen or fewer nudist scattered along the entire beach. Even with such modest numbers, Perdikas Potami still usually has the largest concentration of bare bathers of any beach of Karpathos.
village, island, island group, country:  Kato Lefkos, Karpathos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fygIEx
From that point, watch for a few turnoffs to help you along, but stay on the main road. In 900 meters, you will pass the right-hand turnoff to Kira Panagia and Katodio. Keep straight ahead. 6.8 kilometers farther along, you will pass the right-hand turnoff to Apella Beach. Keep straight ahead. 5.1 kilometers farther along, you will reach a "T' junction where there are several dilapidated stone windmill bases straight ahead. Turn left, toward Mesochori and Lefkos. (The other direction goes toward Spoa and Olympos.)
Follow the road in a generally southwesterly direction for 8.2 kilometers to Lefkos, then turn right toward Kato Lefkos.
Continue southwest for 2 kilometers, then keep straight ahead past the left-hand turnoff to Potali Beach. The road will gradually curve northward and begin to follow the coastline. 1.2 kilometers past the Potali turnoff, you will pass the main parking area for Kato Lefkos. Keep straight ahead. Just past the parking area, the road will begin to run alongside Frangolimionas Beach, which will be clearly in view on your left-hand side. Continue a few hundred meters and watch for Hotel Sarris**, which is on the right (inland) side of the road. At the hotel entrance, the paved road curves rightward, away from the beach. At the curve, a gravel road continues straight ahead along the coastline. Perdikas Potami Beach is accessed from the gravel road. However, the road is narrow, and there is not a lot of room along the gravel road to park or turn around, so it is probably best to park near the hotel (around coordinates 35.5915N, 27.0690E) and continue on foot.
As you walk along the gravel road, you will be continuing north along a rocky part of the coastline, with the sea on your left-hand side. The prominent land mass that is clearly visible up ahead of you just offshore is Sokastro Island. In about 300-400 meters, when you see the start of the next expanse of sand, you will be at Perdikas Potami Beach. The road continues to run above the beach, so you can leave the road to go down to the beach or continue along the road. If you stay on the road, it will briefly curve away from the beach before curving back toward the beach and continuing to run above it, then shortly you will pass the prominent cluster of boulders that forms the end of the main expanse of the beach. Continuing along the road past the boulders, there are several narrower little beaches that collectively span about 250 meters, extending to a bend in the direction of the coastline. At the end of the small beaches, you will be very close to Sokastro Island. If you walk that far, you will have walked about 1.2 kilometers.
* At the fork on the outskirts of Aperi, you could also keep to the left and drive through the village center. If you do that, continue 1.8 kilometers to a three-way junction at the north end of the village, then keep to the right to continue toward Olympos. From that point, it is 1.6 kilometers to the right-hand turnoff to Kira Panagia and Katadio.
** Hotel Sarris is reported to have closed after the 2014 season, so be advised it may have a new name or it may remain empty. It is the northernmost hotel in Kato Lefkos.
This placemark pertains to Perdikas Potami Beach.

turnoff toward Kato Lefkos
This placemark pertains to Perdikas Potami Beach.

This placemark pertains to Perdikas Potami Beach.

Potali Beach (textile)

Gialou Chorafi Beach (textile)

Limani Panagia Beach (textile)

Frangolimionas Beach (textile)

Sarris Hotel

cluster of boulders at end of main expanse of beach

Sokastro Island

route from Kato Lefkos turnoff to parking

gravel road behind beach

Kos

Tigaki Beach

Tigaki Beach
Tigaki is a small seaside village that is located toward the eastern end of the north coast of Kos. Just west of the village and just inland from the coast, there is a saltwater lagoon called Alykes Lake that has a perimeter of about 3.5 kilometers. Tigaki has a long, sandy beach, and the segment of its beach that corresponds to the lagoon is attended by nude bathers. The nude beach is backed by dunes that separate it from the lagoon, and it has fantastic views of Pserimos, a mountainous island that is just 4 kilometers away. The nude beach can be accessed from either end. Most visitors access the beach from the village of Tigaki, so the part of the nude beach that is closer to the village tends to be more populated. Toward the eastern end of the lagoon, the westernmost parking in Tigaki is next to a shallow channel of water that is the lagoon's outlet to the sea, but that channel usually does not flow all the way to the sea during warmer months, so it is unlikely you will have to wade across it. The nude area begins just beyond the channel and extends west roughly 1.2 kilometers to the next beach access, which is a dirt road that skirts the western end of the lagoon. (About 300 meters beyond that access, there is a short segment of beach with sunchairs and umbrellas called Pithos Beach, and it is a textile beach.)
Tigaki is the closest nude beach to Kos town, and it can reached within 20 minutes by car from the ferry port or the airport. Although not universally regarded as the best nude beach of Kos, Tigaki tends to have more nudists than any other beach on the island, and it is the only beach that has a discernible gay presence. There are no amenities and no shade, so many visitors bring their own umbrellas. If you approach through the village of Tigaki, you will pass shops and eateries along the way to the beach. The nude beach has textile strollers and horseback riders that occasionally pass through, but nude bathing occurs freely on the beach nonetheless.
village, island, island group, country:  Tigaki, Kos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fsSkm0
starting point  the ferry port in Kos town
Kos is the principal town of the island of the same name, and it is often called Kos town to distinguish it from the island. Kos town is located at the eastern end of the island, and it is the location of the island's primary ferry port. To get to Tigaki Beach from Kos town, you want to go west on the island's main road, and the easiest way to navigate your way out of Kos town and onto the main road is to watch for signs for the airport and follow them. (The airport is well signed starting at the ferry port.) Once you have made it beyond the densest part of town, watch for the blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving the town limits of Kos. (That sign is a driving distance of 3.7 kilometers from the ferry port.)
Once you are past the Kos town limits, continue west 4.6 kilometers and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Zipari town sign. 1.1 kilometers farther on, you will pass a similar sign that indicates you are leaving Zipari. 750 meters farther on, you will reach a red light at a four-way junction.
Turn right at the red light, following the signs for Tigaki and Alykes. Proceed 1.7 kilometers and you will reach a small seaside plaza that basically functions as the village center of Tigaki. There is a small fountain in the middle (traffic moves around the fountain in roundabout fashion), and there are about a dozen flagpoles on the beach side of the plaza. Turn left just as soon as you enter the plaza, before the fountain. You will then begin going west on a road that parallels the beach, and you should see an "Alykes" signs as you depart the plaza. In 300-400 meters, you will pass Alykes Restaurant, which is on the left (inland) side of the road immediately adjacent to the road. After the restaurant, the road will pass through an open and mostly treeless area, and in another 300-400 meters you will reach a "T." Turn right and very shortly you will reach a dirt parking area next to the beach, at coordinates 36.8904N, 27.1749E. Facing the sea, turn left and you will see a shallow channel of water that is Alyke Lake's outlet to the sea. During warmer months, the channel usually does not break through to the sea, so you will most likely not have to wade across. The nude beach starts beyond the channel.
Alternate access:
Most nudity takes place closer to the east end of the Tigaki nude beach, the access to which is described above, but it is also possible to approach the nude beach from its opposite (western) end. Instead of turning at the red light, keep straight ahead through it, continuing west along the main road. In about 1.7 kilometers, the opposing lanes of the road will split apart, and for just a short stretch there will be a median with grass and trees between the two lanes of the road. In a bit over 100 meters, the lanes will merge together again. From that point, start watching the gas stations on the right (sea) side of the road to help you find the turnoff, ignoring any gas stations on the inland side of the road. In 300-400 meters, you will pass an Eko gas station. Keep straight ahead. About 900 meters farther on, you will pass another Eko gas station. Immediately past that gas station, take the next possible right. The road has a small green street sign with "Poseidonos" in English and ΟΔΟΣ ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝΟΣ in upper-case Greek.
Follow the road about 100 meters and keep to the right at a fork, where there is another "Poseidonos" sign. Continue about 500 meters and keep straight ahead through a stop sign at a four-way intersection. Continue another 500-600 meters to the next stop sign at the next four-way intersection and turn right, following a sign for Tigaki. Proceed 500-600 meters and turn left onto a road that is directly opposite a go-kart track. Follow that road about 200 meters, then keep to the right at a fork. Continue another 400 meters and the pavement will end, and the remainder of the drive is along dirt roads. Just over 100 meters after the pavement ends, you will reach a "T" with a road that follows the inland edge of Alykes Lake. Turn left. Continue about 600 meters and park at the end of the road next to the beach, at coordinates 36.8860N, 27.1620E. At that point, you will be at the west end of the nude area. Facing the sea, the previously described access will be about 1.2 kilometers to your right.
Note 1: If you want to access the nude beach from its west end while avoiding dirt roads, follow the alternate access directions up to the second stop sign, but keep straight ahead rather than turning toward Tigaki. Continue another 1.2 kilometers, where the road widens into a small parking area at its end. The parking area abuts a small segment of beach known as Pithos Beach, where there is a small cluster of sunchairs and umbrellas during peak season. Facing the sea, turn right and walk east about 300 meters to the start of the nude area at the dirt road access described above.
Note 2: There are a number of shortcuts you could take to get to the western access, but the route described above is easiest to follow.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (east end of beach, closer to Tigaki village).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (west end of beach).
This placemark pertains to Tigaki Beach.

1st red light west of Zipari
This placemark pertains to Tigaki Beach.

This placemark pertains to Tigaki Beach.

Alykes Lake (saltwater lagoon)

seaside plaza with fountain
seaside plaza with a small fountain in the middle, where about a dozen flagpoles line the beach side of the plaza

Alykes Restaurant

start of median
For traffic going west, this is the start of a stretch where the opposing lanes of traffic are divided by a median with grass and trees.

end of median
For traffic going west, this is the end of a stretch where the opposing lanes of traffic are divided by a median with grass and trees.

Eko gas station
Going west, this is the first gas station on the right (coast) side of the road past the point where the two lanes of the road merge back together after a brief stretch where the lanes are divided by a median.

Eko gas station
Going west, this is the second gas station on the right (coast) side of the road past the point where the two lanes of the road merge back together after a brief stretch where the lanes are divided by a median.

large metal storage silo

go-kart track

Pithos Beach (textile)

route from red light to parking (alternate access)

Mastichari Beach

Mastichari Beach
Mastichari is a village that is about halfway along the northern coast of Kos, and there are several large-scale resorts in the vicinity of the village. Although the major ferry port in Kos is located in Kos town, there is a minor ferry port in Mastichari with service to Kalymnos. Mastichari Beach extends westward about 1.2 kilometers from Mastichari village. Toward the east end of the beach, there is a large cluster of sunchairs and umbrellas, and there are several eateries at the edge of the village at the far east end of the sunchairs. Toward the west end of the beach, there is a much smaller cluster of sunchairs and umbrellas next to part of EuroVillage Achilleas Hotel, a sprawling resort that extends westward beyond the end of Mastichari Beach. The two clusters of sunchairs are about 700 meters apart, and the central expanse of the beach between the sunchairs is lightly attended, drawing a small number of nude bathers. The central expanse is backed by dunes, and there is a path that runs parallel to the beach through the dunes. The beach is not readily visible from that path. Most foot traffic though the area occurs along the dunes path rather than along the open beach, which reduces the number of textiles passing through. Although nudity is common along the central area of Mastichari, there are not nearly as many nudists at Mastichari as there are at Tigaki Beach, which is about 12 kilometers to the east.
village, island, island group, country:  Mastichari, Kos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fsR0Q0
starting point  the ferry port in Kos town
Kos is the principal town of the island of the same name, and it is often called Kos town to distinguish it from the island. Kos town is located at the eastern end of the island, and it is the location of the island's primary ferry port. To get to Mastichari Beach from Kos town, you want to go west on the island's main road, and the easiest way to navigate your way out of Kos town and onto the main road is to watch for signs for the airport and follow them. (The airport is well signed starting at the ferry port.) Once you have made it beyond the densest part of town, watch for the blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving the town limits of Kos. (That sign is a driving distance of 3.7 kilometers from the ferry port.)
Once you are past the Kos town limits, continue west 12.2 kilometers (passing through Zipari), then turn right at a large blue sign that points toward Mastichari, Tourist Zone and a number of hotels. Continue west 4 kilometers and take note of a right-hand turnoff toward Mastichari, but do not turn there. Keep straight ahead, following the sign for Antimacheia and the airport. Continue 1.6 kilometers to a stop sign at a four-way intersection next to an Eko gas station. At the intersection, signs point right toward Mastichari, left toward Antimacheia and straight ahead toward Agios Ioannis. Turn right, toward Mastichari.
Upon turning, proceed about 300 meters and watch for a tiny chapel on the right side of the road. The chapel is built atop a foundation of red and white tiles arranged in checkerboard fashion, and it is close to the road, in front of an apartment building that is farther back from the road. After the chapel, continue about 200 meters and turn left onto a paved road that is marked by handmade signs advertising a surf center. (The signs have the words "surf, sail, kite." The turnoff is the next left turn you can make after the chapel that is not a gravel road or a driveway.) The road passes through a cluster of several small white and pastel apartment buildings. In about 125 meters, as you emerge from the apartment buildings, keep to the left to merge into a gravel road, then quickly thereafter keep to the right onto a dirt track that leads about 125 meters to a large dirt parking lot next to the beach, at coordinates 36.8469N, 27.0743E.
Orient yourself to the surf center, a shack-like building with the words "surf, sail, kite." The surf center is at the west end of the sunchairs and umbrellas. If you are facing the sea near the surf center, the next cluster of sunchairs is about 700 meters to your left (west) next to EuroVillage Achilleas Hotel. Walk about half that distance to reach the nude area, which is along a quiet stretch of beach between the clusters of sunchairs. You can walk along the beach or follow the path through the dunes just behind the beach.
This placemark pertains to Mastichari Beach.

4-way junction near Mastichari
This placemark pertains to Mastichari Beach.

This placemark pertains to Mastichari Beach.

small chapel
small chapel built atop a foundation of red and white tiles arranged in checkerboard fashion

east end of EuroVillage Achilleas Hotel

main entrance to EuroVillage Achilleas Hotel

route from 4-way junction to parking

Tropical Beach

Tropical Beach
Kardamena is one of the larger villages of Kos, and it is located roughly halfway along the south coast of the island, about 5 kilometers from the airport. Aegean Village and Atlantica Porto Bello Royal are two of the larger resorts in the vicinity of Kardamena. Aegean Villge is a bit less than 2 kilometers southwest of the village center, and Atlantica Porto Bello Royal is about 1.5 kilometers farther southwest. Between the two resorts, there is a pastoral stretch of land that is mostly empty, with a picturesque flat-topped mountain as its backdrop. Tropical Beach is located along the stretch between the two resorts. It is accessed from a dirt track that is not well signed, and it has the feel of a hidden beach despite being close to large-scale development. The concessionaire that runs the beach promotes it as a nude beach. Tropical Beach is actually a short stretch of a continuous beach, and its centerpiece is a thatch-roofed snack stand where drinks, sandwiches and salads are available and from which sunchairs and umbrellas can be rented. There is also a solar shower. There are usually no more than a few dozen visitors even during peak season, and virtually everyone goes naked. Although the nude area does not seem to have definite boundaries, most nude bathing occurs within 100 meters of either side of the snack stand, and you shouldn't stroll too far away while naked considering the proximity of resort development. Due to the nearby development, there are sometimes textiles who stroll through.
Tropical Beach is also known by the name Natural Beach, and the handmade sign at the beach actually reads "Tropical FKK Natural Beach." The sandy beach is backed by low dunes and trees, but there are a lot of flat shelf-like rocks along the waterline, which makes access to the water a little tricky. As you look out over the sea from Tropical Beach, you will see multiple clusters of mountains on the horizon. Some of the mountains are on small Greek islands and some are on a peninsular extension of the Turkish mainland, while the faintest mountains farthest in the background belong to the large island of Rhodes, over 80 kilometers away.
village, island, island group, country:  Kardamena, Kos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fp2GHr
starting point  the ferry port in Kos town
Kos is the principal town of the island of the same name, and it is often called Kos town to distinguish it from the island. Kos town is located at the eastern end of the island, and it is the location of the island's primary ferry port. The airport is roughly in the center of the island. In Kos town, watch for signs pointing toward the airport and follow them. (The airport is well signed starting at the ferry port.) About 23 kilometers from the ferry port, you will reach the roundabout from which the airport entrance is accessed. It is quite a large roundabout with six departures, and its grassy center is ringed with palm trees. At the roundabout, take the departure that is signed for Kardamena and Taxiarches. Once you depart the roundabout, follow the road south-southeast for 4.6 kilometers and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Kardamena village sign.
After the village sign, continue 200 meters to the next signed junction and turn right, following a sign labelled "beach" and "hotels." Continue just 100 meters and you will reach an unsigned junction where there are two roads going off to the left. They are parallel streets divided by a drainage ditch, and although the setup looks like opposing lanes of a divided street, both streets carry two-way traffic. Turn left onto either street and proceed about 300 meters to a stop sign, then turn right. You will then begin heading southwest along a road that parallels the seafront. For the first 300 or so meters, you will pass through a dense cluster of buildings, then the road will begin to run directly along the sea, with the water on your left-hand side.
Continue along the seafront road a little over a kilometer and take note when you pass the entrance to a large resort development called Aegean Village. Its buildings are built in tiers on a hill on the right (inland) side of the road. After Aegean Village, you will pass an embankment on the right side of the road that is topped by a tall metal mesh fence that stretches about 100 meters. After the end of the fence, proceed about 400 meters and the next structure you will see on the left (sea) side of the road is an apartment building that is close to the road. The name of the complex is Olympia Mare, but there do not seem to be any conspicuous signs. The building is beige with blue doors and blue window trim. Once you pass Olympia Mare, proceed slightly less than 100 meters until you get to the point where there are dirt tracks going off in either direction. The track on the left goes toward the sea, while the track on the right goes toward a prominent flat-topped mountain that resembles a butte from your vantage point. Turn left. You will then be on the track from which Tropical Beach is accessed.
The track makes a loop and reconnects to a paved road in a bit less than 400 meters. About 50 meters after you turn onto the track, it will bend to the right and begin to follow the coastline. Keep going about 175 meters and you will see a makeshift sign for Tropical Beach affixed to a tree branch. Park alongside the track, around coordinates 36.7652N, 27.1217E, and walk through the trees for just a minute to get to the beach.
Alternate access:
As mentioned above, the dirt track makes a loop, so there is no need to turn around if you miss the first turnoff. A few hundred meters past Olympia Mare, the paved road forks. Keep to the left, following the sign for Lakitira. Continue just 150 meters and take the next possible left onto a dirt track. You will then have turned onto the other end of the loop track. Follow it just over 100 meters to find the makeshift sign for Tropical Beach affixed to a tree branch.
At either end of the loop track, there may be some sort of sign pointing toward Tropical Beach, but the presence of signage does not seem to be consistent.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to the turnoff onto the first end of the loop track. (Google Maps does not draw the track.)
This placemark pertains to Tropical Beach.

Kardamena village sign
This placemark pertains to Tropical Beach.

This placemark pertains to Tropical Beach.

turnoff to Aegean Village
Aegean Village is a large resort on the inland side of the road built in tiers going up a hill.

tall metal mesh fence
tall metal mesh fence along the inland side of the road that stretches about 100 meters

Olympia Mare
Olympia Mare is a beige apartment building with blue doors and blue window trim, located on the sea side of the road.

flat-topped mountain
This is the seaward end of a flat-topped mountain. From the road, it looks like a butte.

Atlantica Porto Bello Royal resort complex

route from Kardamena village sign to parking

alternate access

Polemi Beach

Polemi Beach
Toward the west end of the south side of Kos, between Kardamaina and Kefalos, there is a beautiful, broad, sandy beach backed by vegetated sand hills. The beach stretches a bit more than 5 kilometers, and from here on we'll refer to the beach as "the long beach" since there is not one name that applies to its entirety. In a nutshell, the western half of the long beach (the end closer to Kefalos) is a developed beach with five access roads and five names—one for each access. The eastern half of the long beach used to be completely undeveloped except for a small military installation at the eastern extreme of the beach, but in 2011 a huge resort called Blue Lagoon Village opened up at the eastern end, reducing the length of the wild and pristine stretch of the beach. From west to east, the five beaches along the western half of the long beach are Paradise Beach, Lagada Beach, Markos Beach, Sunny Beach and Polemi Beach. Keep in mind that these are just contiguous segments of a continuous beach. Along each of the named beaches, there are sunchairs and umbrellas along with restaurants or snack stands or both. Polemi Beach is the segment that is roughly in the middle of the long beach.
When you first reach Polemi Beach, you will see a parking area next to a long line of sunchairs. That's the main part of the beach, which is textile. Instead of parking there, head east (to the left when facing the sea) along a sandy track that follows the beach and within a few hundred meters you will reach the end of the track at a parking area that abuts the designated nude part of the beach. The parking area is so close to the nude beach that you can disrobe at your vehicle if you wish. The nude area is lined with about 25 thatched umbrellas, each of which has two sunchairs and a windscreen (a standard amenity along the chain of beaches since it is frequently windy). The wild and pristine part of the beach begins beyond the sunchairs, and it is an eastward walk of 1.3 kilometers to the start of the resort development of Blue Lagoon Village. Nudity is possible along most of that expanse but should be avoided within a few hundred meters of the resort. You can take a naked stroll away from the sunchairs for about 10 minutes while leaving an ample buffer zone before the resort. During July and August, most or all of the sunchairs are occupied, but there are usually plenty of unoccupied chairs outside of peak season, and there is always ample space along the wild part of the beach. The sunchairs can be rented at the snack stand that is along the main (textile) part of the beach. There are no amenities in the nude area other than the chairs, umbrellas and windscreens.
Polemi Beach has a couple of aliases. The textile part of the beach is also known as Magic Beach, and an eatery called Magic Beach Restaurant is just uphill from the beach. (You will pass it on the way in.) The nude part of the beach is also known as Exotic Beach. In other words, Magic Beach and Exotic Beach are sectors of Polemi Beach, which is in turn a sector of a beach that is more than 5 kilometers long. Polemi is generally considered the best nude beach of Kos.
village, island, island group, country:  Kefalos, Kos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eKsGJB
Kos is the principal town of the island of the same name, and it is often called Kos town to distinguish it from the island. Kos town is located at the eastern end of the island, and it is the location of the island's primary ferry port. To get from Kos town to Polemi Beach, you will be going west across the island most of the way to Kefalos, a large village near the western end of the island, but you will reach the turnoff of Polemi Beach a bit before Kefalos. Along the way, you will pass the island's airport, which is roughly in the center of the island.
In Kos town, watch for signs pointing toward the airport and follow them. (The airport is well signed starting at the ferry port.) About 23 kilometers from the ferry port, you will reach the roundabout from which the airport entrance is accessed. It is quite a large roundabout with six departures, and its grassy center is ringed with palm trees. At the roundabout, take the departure that is signed for Kefalos. The sign indicates that Kefalos is 17 kilometers away.
Once you depart the roundabout, continue west another 7.6 kilometers and watch for the signed left-hand turnoff to Blue Lagoon Village Hotel as a landmark to let you know you are getting close. After passing the Blue Lagoon Village turnoff, continue another 1.6 kilometers, then turn left at the sign for Polemi Beach. (The turnoff is amid a cluster of a few structures that are the first structures you will reach after the Blue Lagoon Village turnoff. There is also a sign pointing toward Magic Beach Restaurant about 100 meters in advance of the turnoff. If you reach the signed turnoff for Sunny Beach, you have gone about one kilometer too far.)
The road to Polemi Beach goes gradually downhill. Although the road is paved, the surfacing has deteriorated and worn away altogether in places, so it feels more like a gravel road. Take it slow and beware of cracks and ruts. In about 900 meters, you will pass Magic Beach Restaurant. Just after the restaurant, the road continues downhill to a large earthen parking area that abuts the textile part of the beach. Instead of parking there, veer left onto the dirt track that runs along the beach (such that the sea is on your right-hand side). In about 300 meters you will reach the end of the track at an earthen parking area that directly abuts the nude part of the beach, at coordinates 36.7673N, 27.0312E.
This placemark pertains to Polemi Beach.

turnoff to Blue Lagoon Village Hotel
This placemark pertains to Polemi Beach.

Blue Lagoon Village Hotel
This placemark pertains to Polemi Beach.

turnoff to Polemi Beach

Magic Beach restaurant

Polemi Beach (textile section, also known as Magic Beach)

turnoff to Sunny Beach

Sunny Beach (textile)

turnoff to Markos Beach

Markos Beach (textile)

turnoff to Lagada Beach

Lagada Beach (textile)

turnoff to Paradise Beach

Paradise Beach (textile)

road to Polemi Beach

Kavo Paradiso Beach

Kavo Paradiso Beach
Kos has a long northern coastline and an even longer southern coastline, but the segment of its coast that is mostly oriented toward the west stretches just 13 or so kilometers. Kavo Paradiso Beach is located toward the southern end of the west coast of Kos in a remote corner of the island, and it is regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches of the island. Kavo Paradiso used to be an undiscovered gem, but visitation during peak season has increased substantially since the mid-00's. Getting to Kavo Paradiso is an adventure. From Kefalos, the westernmost village of Kos, it is 6 to 7 kilometers to Agios Ioannis Monastery. The trip is along roads that are paved but deteriorated in places, and along the gradual ascent there are several spectacular overlooks that afford panoramic views of almost all of the island. The turnoff to Kavo Paradiso is just before the monastery, and the remaining 3.6 kilometers of the drive is along rough gravel roads, with a rather steep and hair-raising final descent. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is ideal but not essential as long as you drive slowly and carefully.
Kavo Paradiso is a sandy beach that stretches more than one kilometer, and it consists of three segments. The parking area is next to the northern segment, which is the main part of the beach. Next to the parking area, there is a snack bar with a limited selection, and it will likely be closed if the beach is not sufficiently crowded, so it is best to brink food and drink with you. There are about a dozen pairs of beach chairs with umbrellas that can be rented, or you can help yourself to a chair for free on days when the snack stand is not manned. If you look to the left as you face the sea, just past the sun chairs you will see a line of several craggy boulders that extend into the sea, and farther in the background you will see a massive headland. As you walk past the craggy boulders, you will be on the central expanse of the beach, which extends a little over 300 meters. Much of the central expanse disappears at high tide. It is always possible to walk across it, but you will be clinging to the rocky shoreline if the tide is all the way in. You will be past the central expanse when the beach opens up into a broad crescent that abuts the headland. That sandy crescent is the southern part of the beach, and it is about 300 meters long.
As for nudity at Kavo Paradiso, set the status to "it's complicated." The concessionnaire that runs the beach promotes Kavo Paradiso as a nude beach, and along the route to the beach there are signs that read "Kavo Paradiso Beach FKK." (FKK is an acronym for the German word Freikörperkultur, which is synonymous with naturism in German-speaking Europe and widely known in other parts of Europe.) However, Kavo Paradiso is a nude beach in theory more than in practice. Despite its remoteness, and despite signage indicating that it is a beach for naturists, Kavo Paradiso is a beach where textiles predominate during peak season, and often by large majorities. One possibility for this counterintuitive reality is that Kavo Paradiso is especially popular with Italians (as is true of Kos in general), who are less keen on naturism than Northern Europeans, particularly Germans. On peak days, there is often a textile-only status quo along the umbrella stretch of the beach, and it would take an intrepid nudist to buck the trend, which does happen sometimes. When the sun chairs are full of textiles, nudists gravitate to the south, and you may want to go all the way to the southern crescent if you are not comfortable with textiles who pass by exploring the beach. The preponderance of textiles is worst during August and somewhat less so during July. During June and September, crowds are significantly smaller and nudity can be practiced more comfortably along most of the beach. However, even though the umbrella stretch of the beach often does not fill up out of peak season, there still seems to be a general reluctance of visitors to be nude in the sun chairs even though it is permissible. If you are bold enough to get naked amid the sun chairs, you may find that a few others follow suit by losing their suits.
village, island, island group, country:  Kefalos, Kos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fsPfSZ
starting point:  ferry port in Kos town
Kos is the principal town of the island of the same name, and it is often called Kos town to distinguish it from the island. Kos town is located at the eastern end of the island, and it is the location of the island's primary ferry port. To get from Kos town to Kavo Paradiso Beach, you will be going west across the entire length of the island, passing through Kefalos, a large village that is toward the western end. Along the way, you will pass the island's airport, which is roughly in the center of the island.
In Kos town, watch for signs pointing toward the airport and follow them. (The airport is well signed starting at the ferry port.) About 23 kilometers from the ferry port, you will reach the roundabout from which the airport entrance is accessed. It is quite a large roundabout with six departures, and its grassy center is ringed with palm trees. At the roundabout, take the departure that is signed Kefalos. The sign indicates that Kefalos is 17 kilometers away.
Once you depart the roundabout, continue west about 17 kilometers and the road will begin to wind uphill as you enter the village center of Kefalos. At the top of the hill, turn left at a blue sign that points toward Palatia, Agios Theologos and Agios Ioannis. Once you turn left, keep to the left at the next few junctions to navigate your way through the dense village center. To ensure you are on the correct road out of the village, watch for these three landmarks, which are all on the left (sea) side of the road: a small children's park with colorful playground equipment; a cemetery; and a large outdoor sports complex. About 300 meters past the sports complex, keep straight ahead at a three-way junction, following the sign that points toward Palatia, Agios Ioannis, Agios Theologos, Aspri Petra, Kasteli and Pyrgi. By this point, you will be heading south, and you will continue in a mostly southerly direction for the remainder of the trip.
Continue about a kilometer to the next signed three-way junction and turn left, following the large sign for Aspri Petra, Pyrgi, Kasteli, Agios Ioannis and Agios Mamas. There is also a separate sign for Kavo Paradiso★. (The opposite direction is signed Panagia Stiloti and Agios Theologos.) Once you turn, you will still be on a paved road, but segments of the road are quite deteriorated and rutted. Stay on the paved road and disregard any forks with unmarked gravel roads.
Continue 1.7 kilometers to the next signed fork. Keep to the right (really just straight ahead), following the sign for Agios Ioannis and Agios Mamas. (The other fork is a gravel road signed Zini, Aspri Petra and Panagia Ziniotisa. Along the segment of the paved road leading up to the fork, there are several pullouts with remarkable panoramic views, the best of which is immediately before the fork, at 36.7209N, 26.9599E.)
Continue 2.6 kilometers to a three-way junction where you will see a small, ramshackle house next to a wall of exposed rock. Keep straight ahead. (The road that turns off sharply to the left is signed as a dead end.)
Continue just 150 meters farther and veer left onto the next gravel road, which is signed Kavo Paradiso★ and may also have a sign for Agios Mamas. (Just after the gravel turnoff, the paved road makes a rightward hairpin curve and ends at Agios Ioannis Monastery, so you have missed the turn by about 200 meters if you reach the monastery.)
The remainder of your drive to the beach is along gravel roads that are rough in places, so take it very slow. Proceed 1.8 kilometers, then turn right at a Kavo Paradiso★ sign. It is the first right turn you can make. Continue 1.2 kilometers to a three-way junction that overlooks the sea. Turn left, following another Kavo Paradiso★ sign. Follow the road downhill about 600 meters to its end at parking next to the beach (36.6849N, 26.9483E).
★ Note: In the directions above, there are four references to Kavo Paradiso signs. These are actually unofficial, handmade signs that read Kavo Paradiso Beach FKK. Such makeshift signs tend to be ephemeral, and over the years there have indeed been numerous reports of missing signs. The other signs and landmarks in the directions above should get you to the beach even if none of the beach signs are present.
This placemark pertains to Kavo Paradiso Beach.

main beach (sporadic nudity)
This placemark pertains to Kavo Paradiso Beach.

southern crescent (often nudist)
This placemark pertains to Kavo Paradiso Beach.

start of gravel road near Agios Ioannis Monastery

Agios Ioannis Monastery

Agios Mamas chapel

route to beach, starting from near Agios Ioannis Monastery

Nisyros

Pachia Ammos Beach

Pachia Ammos Beach
Nisyros is a small island that is roughly circular, with a diameter of 7 to 8 kilometers. The entire island is a volcanic mountain with an enormous caldera at its center. The island has just a handful of beaches, one of which is Pachia Ammos Beach on the island's east side. If you think of Nisyros as a clock, then Pachia Ammos is at 3 o'clock. Just under 400 meters long, Pachia Ammos is a sandy crescent backed by dunes. The beach is thickly coated in coarse, dark brown sand. (Pachia Ammos literally means "thick sand.") The beach is hidden and takes a bit of effort to reach, and thus it is popular with nude bathers.
Nisyros does not have an airport. Its only port of entry is the ferry port in Mandraki at the northwest corner of the island. From there, you can follow a paved road along the coastline in a clockwise direction. About 10 kilometers from Mandraki, the paved road ends about 700 meters north of Pachia Ammos Beach. There is a beach at the end of the paved road that does not seem to have a proper name, and nudists may occasionally be found on that beach, but for the most part it is textile or empty. To get to Pachia Ammos, you follow the path that runs above the end-of-the-road beach then continues south, clinging to the side of a headland. The walk takes about 10 minutes, and for the most part it is an easy hike with a drop-off that is not frighteningly abrupt. However, there is a rather unnerving segment of the path near its end where the path is narrower and the drop-off is steeper. Just take it slow and watch your footing, and avoid doing the hike in any kind of flip shoes that aren't firmly secured to your feet. You will land on the north end of Pachia Ammos Beach. While nudity may occur along the entire beach, the north end is often all or mostly textile, with bare bathers gravitating toward the southern end of the beach, which tends to be all or mostly nudist. There are often tents clustered at the far southern end of the beach, lending it the air of a temporary counterculture community. There are no amenities at Pachia Ammos, nor is there any shade, so come prepared with food and water and consider bringing an umbrella or beach tent as well.
Nisyros is located directly south of Kos, a larger and more touristed island. Nisyros is typically an add-on to a trip to Kos, with most visitors ferrying to the island from Kos (either from Kos town or Kardamena). The highlight of Nisyros is a tour of the caldera. Although day tripping from Kos is possible, you will very likely find that day tripping to Nisyros is not a good option for visiting Pachia Ammos Beach, particularly if you want to have time to explore other parts of the island as well, so plan to stay overnight at least one night. You will need your own transportation to get to the beach. Vehicles can be ferried to the island or hired on the island. Besides car, mopeds and ATVs are available for rent.
village, island, island group, country:  Pali, Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fWbGUT
starting location  Mandraki
At the northwest corner of Nisyros, Mandraki is the principal village of the island and the location of the island's only ferry port. Mandraki is the island's only port of entry since there is no airport. From Mandraki, head east along the seafront road, such that the sea is on your left-hand side. You will be following the coastline for the entire trip to Pachia Ammos Beach, going around the island in a clockwise direction. In 3 to 4 kilometers, the road will fork at the edge of the village of Pali. Veer left to go into Pali. (The right fork begins to wind uphill away from the sea and goes into the interior of the island.)
Follow the road 700-800 meters to a "T" junction next to the harbor in Pali. Turn right, continuing along the coastline as you pass through Pali. After the village, continue about 5 kilometers farther (going east and then eventually south) until you reach the end of the paved road, where there is a parking area that overlooks the sea, at coordinates 36.5967N, 27.2039E. (At the parking area, the road curves inland and continues uphill as a dirt track.) The parking area is at the north end of a beach that does not seem to have a name. Follow the path that runs just above that beach. You will be going south, with the beach and the sea on your left-hand side. About halfway along the end-of-the-road beach, the path will start to climb uphill a little, then once you are past the end of the beach, the path will cling to the side of a headland. Once you are past the headland, the path will descend to the north end of Pachia Ammos Beach. Most nudity takes place across the beach at its southern end. The walk from the parking area to the beach is 700 meters, plus another few hundred meters across the beach to its southern end.
This placemark pertains to Pachia Ammos Beach.

fork towad Pali
This placemark pertains to Pachia Ammos Beach.

beach north of Pachia Ammos
This is the beach north of Pachia Ammos Beach, above which you will have to walk to get to Pachia Ammos. This beach has occasional nude bathers, but for the most part it is textile or empty.
This placemark pertains to Pachia Ammos Beach.

route from Pali to parking

hike to beach

Patmos

Psili Ammos Beach

Patmos is a small island that covers less than 35 square kilometers (roughly 40% the size of Manhattan in land area) and has a peculiar shape reminiscent of a seahorse. Patmos holds a special Christian religious significance since the biblical Book of Revelation was composed there in the 1st century (A.D. or C.E.) by a John of disputed identity. (No longer thought by most scholars to be the same as John the Apostle, the John who authored the Book of Revelation is variously known as John of Patmos, John the Theologian, John the Divine and John the Revelator.) Because of the island's religious conservatism, nudity and even topless bathing for women is taboo, but there is one location where nudity occurs in spite of general disapproval.
Patmos consists of three land masses, each connected to the next by an isthmus. The middle land mass is the location of Skala (the village where the ferry lands) and Patmos town (the hilltop village that is more commonly known as Hora or Chora) as well as most sites of historical and religious significance. The northern and largest land mass (the head of the seahorse, facing east) is the location of the village of Kampos and about eight beaches that are easily accessible by car and strictly textile. In contrast to the middle and northern land masses, the southern and smallest land mass is virtually free of roads and development (the exception being near the isthmus where it connects to the rest of the island). The entire southern land mass is basically a low, sprawling mountain that peaks at about 230 meters, and, although there are patches of forest along the southern slopes, much of the land mass is devoid of vegetation except for low-lying scrub. Psili Ammos Beach is a small beach located along the western side of the southern land mass.
About 230 meters long, Psili Ammos is thickly coated in golden sand, lined with tamarisk trees and bracketed by headlands at both ends. (The name Psili Ammos means "fine sand.") It is widely regarded as the most beautiful beach in Patmos, but attendance is kept in check by the effort required to get there, and there are no sunchairs or umbrellas available at the beach. The beach is accessed by hiking along a rugged but well-defined path over a rocky hillside. The path is exposed, with no shade at all, starting near sea level and gradually ascending to about 60 meters before descending to the beach. It is a hike of about 1.2 kilometers that takes 20 to 30 minutes. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes for the hike, avoiding any kind of flimsy flip shoes, and pack water and sunscreen and maybe a wide-brimmed hat as protection against the hot afternoon sun. The path lands at a charming little al fresco taverna that is next to the northern end of the beach. The southern end of the beach is backed by dunes that resemble a glacier of sand flowing down the hillside. Nude bathing is quite common and well established at Psili Ammos, with a few caveats. Nudity generally occurs toward the southern end of the beach (to the left when facing the sea). When there are not many people on the beach, nudity occurs more freely along most of the beach (but not directly in front of the taverna). When the beach is crowded, nudists gravitate all the way to the southern extreme, and it is possible that there may be no nudity at all when there are just too many textiles about.
Besides hiking over the hill, Psili Ammos can also by reached by a boat that leaves from Skala (except on days when it is too windy). The boat ride takes about 40 minutes, and it drops visitors off around 11:00 am and picks them up around 4:00 pm. The times when boat visitors are present are the times when the textile-to-nudist ratio is most heavily skewed toward textiles. Once the boat departs, the beach population drops substantially and nudity tends to occur more freely in the late afternoon, so nudists are likely to find that hiking to the beach is a better alternative than taking the boat toward the end of being present at the beach when conditions are most favorable to nudity. Furthermore, be advised that Sunday afternoon is the most popular time for local families to trek to the beach, and it is highly recommended that you show deference to local mores by keeping a discreet distance away from locals while naked and suiting up if necessary.
village, island, island group, country:  Patmos (town), Patmos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eQoE28
starting point  the seafront road next to the ferry port in Skala
The seaside village of Skala is the location of the only ferry port in Patmos, which is the island's only port of entry since there is no airport. Skala is just north of and downhill from Patmos town, more commonly known as Hora (or Chora). Hora is a hilltop village that is crowned with the castle-like Monastery of St. John the Theologian. Along the seafront road next to the ferry port, watch for the sign pointing toward Hora and Apokalypsi and follow it. The road leaves the seafront next to a white church with two domes.
The road gradually winds uphill. In 1.6 kilometers, you will pass the Cave of the Apocalypse (Apokalypsi on signs), then about 1.7 kilometers farther on the road will begin to skirt the edge of Hora, which is on the right side of the road. Keep straight ahead past all the turnoffs that go uphill into the village. For the next 1.7 kilometers or so, the road will make a peripheral loop around the north, east and south sides of the village before curving leftward (south) away from the village. From that point, continue just 200 or so meters and turn right at the sign for Profitis Ilias (a hilltop chapel located at the highest point on the island).
Once you turn, the road goes west about 200 meters then makes a sharp leftward curve. After the curve, continue south about 300 meters to a fork. Veer to the left. (The other fork continues toward Profitis Ilias.)
After the fork, the road will begin to angle southeast. At first, hills on your right-hand side will block your view of the sea, then the landscape will open up such that you have a clear view of a prominent inlet called Stavros Bay, on your right. 1.8 kilometers from the fork, take note of the first side road on your right, which goes downhill toward a small lagoon (which will be in clear view) that is barely separated from the bay, but do not turn there. Continue another 300 meters and make a sharp right onto the next road. (A bit past that road, the main road dead ends next to a boatyard.)
Shortly after you turn, the road will begin to run along the southern edge of Stavros Bay, with the water on your right-hand side, then within 600 meters the road will dead end at a dirt parking area, at coordinates 37.2856N, 26.5541E.
The path to Psili Ammos Beach starts straight ahead. It is a narrow but very well worn footpath that goes over a rocky, scrub-covered hill that is virtually treeless. At first the path parallels the coastline (with the bay on your right-hand side), then it veers uphill away from the sea, then it goes downhill and lands at the beach. The total walk is about 1.2 kilometers, and there are markings to help you along. The path ends at the taverna at the north end of the small beach. Facing the sea, turn left and walk a minute or two to the southern end.
Alternate approach:
At the Skala seafront, follow the sign for Grikos instead of heading toward Hora. You will be going south, with the sea on your left-hand side. In about 3 kilometers, a bit after the road curves inland, keep straight ahead past the left-hand turnoff that goes into Grikos. The road will begin to gradually wind uphill toward Hora (but you will be approaching Hora from a different direction than the route described in the preceding paragraphs, and you will not go all the way to the village). About 2.5 kilometers past the turnoff into Grikos, turn left at the sign for Profitis Ilias and proceed as directed above.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting location to parking (via Hora).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting location to parking (via Grikos).

Skala seafront next to ferry port

Profitis Ilias (hilltop chapel at highest point on island)

turnoff toward Profitis Ilias

Cave of the Apocalypse (Apokalypsi on signs)
purported site where John of Patmos (a.k.a. John the Theologian, John the Revelator and John the Divine) authored the biblical Book of Revelation

Monastery of St. John the Theologian

boatyard

lagoon next to Stavros Bay

route from Skala seafront to parking, via Chora

alternate route, bypassing Chora

Rhodes

Mandomata Beach

Mandomata Beach
Faliraki is a resort town that is toward the north end of the east coast of Rhodes, not far from Rhodes town at the northern tip of the island. It has a reputation as a vibrant and youthful party destination or, in less charitable terms, as a mecca for Brits behaving badly. It is not insignificant that the first question on the F.A.Q. page of a Faliraki travel website reads as such: "Faliraki is described as a 'lively' resort and I have been informed that it is full of drunken youths who cause problems in bars, restaurants etc., and not a suitable resort for families. Is this true?" Faliraki actually seems to have achieved the pinnacle of bacchanalian excess in the years surrounding the turn of the millennium, and in more recent years there have been efforts to reinvent Faliraki as a more family-friendly destination, but it remains plenty popular with the revelrous set.
Toward the southern end of Faliraki, Mandomata Beach is among the rare locations in Greece where nudists predominate along the entire beach. Although the beach is quite popular and widely known, the proper name "Mandomata" (also spelled "Mantomata") is not. Mandomata is usually just referred to as the nude beach of Faliraki, and it is also often called Faliraki Beach, which is actually the huge textile main beach of the town that is a bit to the north. Stretching about 300 meters, Mandomata is a sand-and-shingle beach backed by sand hills that are covered in scrub, and it is easy to access since you can drive all the way to the beach. You can literally park just steps away from naked bodies, unless the beach is really crowded, in which case you'll probably have to park at the top of the hill and walk down to the beach. The beach is fully equipped with a taverna, restrooms and showers, and sunchairs and umbrellas. Almost all visitors go nude, and the southern end of the beach beyond the sunchairs has a significant gay presence.
Mandomata Beach is at once one of the most beloved nude beaches of Greece and one that is a lightning rod for criticism, and that doubtless has something to do with its location in a town that similarly has its devotees and detractors. The beach seems to have more than its share of gawkers (watching above from the hills as well as from boats) and indiscreet sexual behavior. Nonetheless, it is the only really well-established nude beach in Rhodes, and it is among the nude beaches with amenities that are few and far between in Greece. It is also among a small number of nude beaches anywhere with a dedicated website: Faliraki-nudist.gr.
Just a bit south of Mandomata Beach, Ladiko Bay and Anthony Quinn Bay are exceptionally gorgeous neighboring coves that are well worth a visit, even through their beaches are textile. Anthony Quinn Bay was named for the actor following the 1961 movie "The Guns of Navarone," part of which was filmed there.
village, island, island group, country:  Faliraki, Rhodes, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fj9Nhw
starting point  the ferry port in Rhodes town
Rhodes, or Rodos, is the capital and largest city of the island of the same name. It is often called Rhodes town to distinguish it from the island. Rhodes town is located at the northernmost tip of the large island, and it is the location of the island's primary ferry port. The ferry port is on the north side of the fortressed medieval old town of Rhodes. The old town is surrounded by a bulky stone wall which is in turn surrounded by a ring road with a circumference of roughly 4 kilometers. Follow the ring road to the south side of the fortress. Watch for signs pointing toward Faliraki and Lindos and follow them. The exact route you will take will depend on which direction you were going along the ring road. Just follow the signs and eventually you will get to a point where the signs for Lindos and Faliraki point in different directions. Even though Faliraki is your destination, it actually does not matter which signs you follow. If you continue to follow the Faliraki signs, you will be routed to Faliraki along a secondary road that goes south along the eastern coastline of the island. If you continue to follow the Lindos signs, you will be routed to Faliraki along the main road of the island, which also goes south along the eastern coastline but runs a bit farther inland. Either way, it is roughly 15 kilometers from the ferry port to Faliraki. If you follow the secondary route (the one closer to the coastline), follow the Lindos signs once you get to Faliraki to join the main road.
In Faliraki, continue south along the main island road and watch for Agios Nektarios Church, a prominent landmark that is on the left (coast) side of the road. Agios Nektarios is a domed church built with earth-toned stone blocks and reddish-brown roof tiles, and its most distinctive architectural feature is an arched colonnade that leads to a bell tower that stands apart from the main building.
About 150 meters past the church, you will reach a red light at the signed right-hand turnoff toward Kalithies and Psinthos. Go through the light and almost immediately thereafter take the next possible left turn. The turnoff has signs pointing toward Kathara Beach, Mandomata Beach and the Postal Agency, but the signs are difficult to pick out since the turnoff is cluttered with lots of other signs for various businesses.
Once you turn away from the main road, you will see that there are actually two roads that leave from the same point. Follow the road that goes straight ahead, not the one that veers off to the right. In 400-500 meters, you will reach a "T" junction, with Epsilon Rent-A-Car directly in front of you. Turn right. Follow the road south 900 meters, then turn left at the signed gravel turnoff to Mandomata Beach, which is a bit past Hotel Danae. In about 300 meters, you will reach a three-way junction next to the sea after going down a hill. Make a sharp right and continue a bit farther to the end of the road next to the beach taverna. Parking is all along the road, around coordinates 36.3303N, 28.2113E. On crowded days when parking is tight, you can park at the top of the hill, where there is a footpath that shortcuts to the taverna.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (via the main road to Lindos).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (via the secondary coastal route).
This placemark pertains to Mandomata Beach.

Agios Nektarios Church
This placemark pertains to Mandomata Beach.

parking along road
This placemark pertains to Mandomata Beach.

turnoff toward Kalithies & Psinthos

Epsilon Rent-a-Car

Hotel Danae

Anthony Quinn Bay

Ladiko Bay

route from Agios Nektarios Church to parking

Tsambika Beach

Tsambika Beach
Tsambika Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Rhodes. It is located near Archangelos on the eastern coast of the island, about 25 kilometers south of Rhodes town, which is at the northern tip of the island. Tsambika (also commonly spelled Tsampika, Tzambika and Tsampika) is a broad, sandy beach that stretches about 1.2 kilometers, with prominent headlands at each end. Tsambika is highly commercialized, with about a dozen tavernas lining the beach. During peak season, there is a nearly unbroken line of sunchairs and umbrellas stretching about 800 meters, corresponding to the chain of tavernas. That area is strictly textile. However, at the southern end of the beach (to the right when facing the sea), there is a little over 200 meters of beach beyond the last taverna. Nude bathing is common along the southernmost stretch. On uncrowded days out of peak season, nudity can occur shortly past the last of the sunchairs. However, on peak days when there are throngs of visitors, nudity is apt to occur only at the southern extreme of the beach next to the headland, and it is entirely possible that nudists could be squeezed out altogether on the most crowded days. Tsambika is a beach where nudists are always a very small fraction of the overall crowd, in sharp contrast to Mandomata, the beach located about 16 kilometers to the north where nudists are always a large majority.
If you are standing on Tsambika Beach and you look to your left as you face the sea, you will see a notch at the peak of the mountain that forms the headland at the north end of the beach. Atop the notch, you can vaguely detect a small white structure. That structure is the old location of the Tsambika monastery, which is about 300 meters above sea level. The old monastery may be referred to as the upper monastery to distinguish it from the nearby current location of the monastery, which is known as the lower monastery since it is closer to sea level next to the main island road. The turnoff to the upper monastery is referenced in the driving directions. You can drive partway up the mountain, where there is parking next to Panoramic Restaurant. However, you will have to do the final ascent on foot along a cement walkway that has about 300 steps. If you make the effort, you will be rewarded with spectacular, unparalleled views of Tsambika Beach and the coastline going beyond the beach in either direction as well as of the interior of the island.
village, island, island group, country:  Kolympia/Archangelos, Rhodes, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fyD2O9
starting point  the ferry port in Rhodes town
Rhodes, or Rodos, is the capital and largest city of the island of the same name. It is often called Rhodes town to distinguish it from the island. Rhodes town is located at the northernmost tip of the large island, and it is the location of the island's primary ferry port. The ferry port is on the north side of the fortressed medieval old town of Rhodes. The old town is surrounded by a bulky stone wall which is in turn surrounded by a ring road with a circumference of roughly 4 kilometers. Follow the ring road to the south side of the fortress. Along the ring road, there are signs pointing toward Lindos and Faliraki, and you will actually pass through Faliraki regardless of which signs you follow. For the quickest route to Tsambika Beach, ignore the Faliraki signs along the ring road and instead follow signs for Lindos. Once you turn away from the ring road, you will be at the start of the island's main road, which follows the eastern coastline of the island but runs a bit inland from the coast. The Rhodes-to-Lindos road (i.e., the main road) is a four lane divided highway for much of its length.
From the start of the Rhodes-to-Lindos road, it is about 25 kilometers to the signed turnoff to Tsambika Beach, which is roughly half the distance to Lindos. Here are some landmarks to help you along. At 11 to 13 kilometers from the start of the main road, you will pass through Faliraki. 3 to 4 kilometers past Faliraki, take note of the sign pointing right to Afounda Center, Psinthos and Butterflies, but stay on the main road. 1.6 kilometers farther on, you will cross under an overpass. 400 meters farther on, you will cross a river bed that is very likely to be completely dry. 3.3 kilometers farther on, you will cross a wider river bed that is also very likely to be completely dry. At that point, you will be in Kolympia. About 2 kilometers farther on, watch for the left-hand turnoff for the upper Tsambika monastery. The turnoff is marked by a bilingual orange sign in Greek and English that reads Holy Monastery Santa Maria Tsampika KYRA, and there is also a sign for Panoramic Restaurant. Keep straight ahead past the turnoff another 600 meters to the next four-way junction and turn left, following the sign for Tsambika Beach.
[Notes: The turnoff to the beach is about 1.2 kilometers before (i.e., north of) the lower Tsambika monastery, which is on the right (inland) side of the main road. The lower monastery is identifiable by a white brick entrance gate with three arches and a tiered white bell tower that sort of resembles a square wedding cake. Once you turn away from the main road, there is another ecclesiastical structure you will pass on the left near the start of the road to the beach. It is a small domed chapel built of stone, with white trim and red roof tiles.]
Follow the road about 1.5 kilometers to the end of the pavement. At that point, the north end of Tsambika Beach will be straight ahead of you. Turn right onto the gravel road that starts where the paved road ends. The gravel road runs to the rear of the beach past a chain of beachfront tavernas, and there is parking all along the road. Follow the gravel road about 500 meters and park as close to its end as possible, around coordinates 36.2264N, 28.1465E. When you access the beach from the end of the gravel road, you will be toward the southern end of the beach at the end of the tavernas and sunchairs. To your right when facing the sea, the beach goes on a little more than 200 meters before ending at a headland. Nudity occurs along that final southern stretch of the beach, but on really crowded days you will probably have to go all the way to the headland to get far enough away from the textiles.
This placemark pertains to Tsambika Beach.

turnoff to Tsambika Beach
This placemark pertains to Tsambika Beach.

This placemark pertains to Tsambika Beach.

signs for monastery & Panoramic Restaurant
The turnoff to the Upper Tsambika Monastery is marked by a bilingual orange sign in Greek and English that reads Holy Monastery Santa Maria Tsampika KYRA. There is also a sign for Panoramic Restaurant at the turnoff.

Panoramic Restaurant

Upper Tsambika Monastery
This is the historic mountaintop location of the monastery. The current monastery is nearby closer to sea level.

Lower Tsambika Monastery
This is the current location of the monastery. (The historic location is atop a nearby mountain.) The identifying features of the current monastery are the white brick entrance gate with three arches and the tiered white bell tower that sort of resembles a square wedding cake.

small domed chapel
small domed chapel built of stone, with white trim and red roof tiles

route from Tsambika Beach turnoff to parking

Tilos

Lethra Beach

Lethra Beach
Lethra Beach is a lightly attended beach located a bit north of Livadia, the village where the ferry port of Tilos is located. The beach is in a picturesque grassy valley full of scattered trees and low stone fence walls that must have served some bygone purpose. The valley of Lethra Beach is backed by and bracketed by steep hills that isolate it even through the valley is actually very close to the island's only port of entry. The beach and the valley are inaccessible by automobile. Getting to Lethra requires a hike of roughly 3 kilometers. The broad, well-maintained gravel path to the beach begins a bit uphill from the ferry port and gradually ascends to a maximum height of about 120 meters above sea level before descending into the valley. It is quite a scenic walk with coastal views along the entire length of the path.
Lethra Beach is about 300 meters long, and it consists mostly of pebbles. Because of its isolation, nudity is quite common, but textiles also hike to the beach. The beach does not have a particular nudist section, but it is probably best to leave a slight buffer zone between yourself and any textiles already present. If you walk south along the beach (to the right when facing the sea) to the point where the valley ends and the hill abruptly rises, you will see that the far south end of the beach is a partially hidden niche wedged into the hillside. That niche is the most secluded part of the beach. Lethra lacks any amenities, so come prepared. Wear good shoes for the hike and bring plenty of water along with sunscreen and maybe a hat for protection since the path has no shade.
village, island, island group, country:  Livadia, Tilos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fdAwhI
starting point  the ferry port in Livadia
The seaside village of Livadia is located in a prominent bay that is along the northeast-facing segment of the coastline of Tilos. Livadia is the location of the island's ferry port, which is the island's only port of entry since there is no airport. You do not need a car to get from the ferry port to Lethra Beach, and if you have one you should leave it parked as close as possible to the ferry port.
The ferry port is near the northern end of Livadia. If you are facing the sea at the ferry port, look to your left (north) and you will see Ilidi Rock Hotel, a cluster of white buildings built in several terraces along the rocky hillside above the sea. Ilidi Rock is the northernmost development of Livadia. To find the start of the path to Lethra Beach, you first need to make your way up to the asphalted road that runs above the topmost terrace of Ilidi Rock Hotel. Head in the direction of Ilidi Rock to find the start of a cobbled walkway with wooden side rails that follows the coastline a little over 100 meters to the hotel. Near the start of the cobbled walkway, there is a dirt track that veers uphill. You can skirt around the hotel by going uphill on the dirt track, or you can follow the cobbled walkway to the hotel and then go up several sets of stairs amid the hotel buildings. Either way, you want to continue north once you get to the asphalted road that runs above the hotel (keeping the sea on your right-hand side).
Shortly past the hotel, the asphalted road ends and a broad gravel walking path continues straight ahead. The path, which ascends gradually, is shored up with a stone embankment, and it clings to a rocky hillside that is mostly treeless but covered in scrub. For the first several minutes, you will be on the steepest part of the path, then the terrain will change such that the land on your right-hand side slopes more gently down to the sea. After hiking roughly one kilometer along the gravel path, an islet will come into view. It is a hilly islet less than 50 meters offshore that covers less than one square kilometer, and it does not seem to have a well-known proper name. In front of the islet on the mainland of Tilos, you will see a small beach called Red Beach that is located in a tiny bay. It takes its name from the deep red of the rocky terrain in the immediately vicinity of the beach. (You will pass a number of small beaches along the hike, most of which are difficult to access, but Red Beach is the one that is closest to the islet.)
Once the islet and Red Beach come into view, keep walking about 700 meters until the path begins to make a long leftward curve such that your back is to the islet. If you want to trek downhill to Red Beach, leave the main path around the point where the path starts to curve away from the islet, at approximately 36.4334N, 27.3906E. Red Beach offers some nudist potential but is not known to have a regular nudist presence. The side trek down to Red Beach is a moderately taxing hike of about 300 meters, with an elevation loss of about 90 meters.
Continuing along the main path, you will be past the highest part of the path once the islet is to your back, and the path will begin to go gradually downhill. In several hundred meters Lethra Beach will come into sight, at the end of a broad valley with scattered olive trees and a network of low stone fence walls. Once you descend into the valley, turn right and head out to the beach. The total walk from the ferry port to Lethra Beach is 3.2 kilometers. Allow 45 minutes to an hour.
This placemark pertains to Lethra Beach.

ferry port in Livadia
This placemark pertains to Lethra Beach.

Ilidi Rock Hotel
This placemark pertains to Lethra Beach.

Red Beach (potentially nudist)

islet just offshore

partially hidden niche wedged into hillside at south end of beach

Eristos Beach

Eristos Beach
Eristos Beach is located in a bay on the south side of Tilos, a few kilometers from Megalo Chorio, the village that is the island's capital. A little over one kilometer long, Eristos has sand mixed with pebbles. The central expanse of the beach, extending about 600 meters, is backed by a line of tamarisk trees, and there is parking available all along a road that runs parallel to the beach behind the line of trees, which makes the beach very easy to access. The beach extends a few hundred meters in either direction beyond the trees, where very low cliffs rise up behind the beach. Eristos is generally regarded as the best beach of Tilos, but it never gets crowded even during peak season owing to the small population and limited tourism of the island. At the west end of the tree-lined expanse of the beach, there is a small cluster of sunchairs and umbrellas available for rent near Eristos Beach Hotel, which is the only beachfront development (and even it is set a bit back from the beach). The umbrella portion of the beach is textile. Going east along the beach (to the left when facing the sea), nude bathing becomes common. The nude area does not have definitive boundaries, and nudists and textiles may be spread out all along the eastern half of the beach. Sometimes the eastern half of the beach is predominantly nudist, sometimes it is predominantly textile and sometimes there is an even mix. Since the beach always has plenty of space, it is best to leave a slight buffer zone between yourself and any area already occupied only by textiles. There is a restaurant at Eristos Beach Hotel, and there is also a taverna about 150 meters back from the central part of the beach.
Beyond the east end of Eristos, there is a hidden beach nestled against a backdrop of rugged red rocks. The hidden beach is about 75 meters long, and it is often empty, but when it is occupied it is usually occupied by nude bathers. To get there, follow the rocky stretch of coastline beyond the east end of the main beach and in less than 200 meters you find will the hidden beach. You will have to do some rock climbing and clambering to leave the main beach then descend to the hidden beach, so a certain level of fitness and agility is necessary.
GPS: 36.4326N, 27.3518E (east end of Eristos), 36.4302N, 27.3562E (hidden beach east of Eristos)
village, island, island group, country:  Megalo Chorio, Tilos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fPYTEf
starting point  the ferry port in Livadia
The seaside village of Livadia is located in a prominent bay that is along the northeast-facing segment of the coastline of Tilos. Livadia is the location of the island's ferry port, which is the island's only port of entry since there is no airport. The village of Megalo Chorio, the capital of Tilos, is toward the northern end of the island on the inland slope of a mountain, not along the sea. The distance from Livadia to Megalo Chorio is about 7 kilometers. If you keep straight ahead from the ferry port in Livadia, you will be filtered to the main road of Tilos, which will wind uphill out of the village and head toward Megalo Chorio. Once the road straightens out a bit, you will be heading in a generally northwesterly direction.
About 6 kilometers from the ferry port, take note when you pass the left-hand turnoff toward Charkadio Cave, which is opposite a heliport. At that point, you are getting close to Megalo Chorio, and you will see the village up ahead against a prominent mountain. Keep straight ahead another 800-900 meters, then turn left toward Eristos and Agios Antonios. (The turnoff is just past a small children's park that is on the left-hand side of the main road. Watch for colorful playground equipment. If you reach the point where the main road curves rightward as it enters the village center of Megalo Chorio, then you have missed the turn by about 175 meters.)
Once you turn, follow the road south 400-500 meters to a junction that is effectively a "T" since the road straight ahead will quickly dead end. Turn left to continue toward Eristos. (The other direction goes toward Agios Antonios and the Agios Panteleimon monastery.) Shortly after you turn, the road will curve rightward and continue south, and in 2 kilometers you will reach a "T" next to Eristos Beach. Turn left. At that point, you will be going east next to the beach, with the sea on your right-hand side. The road continues about 400 meters before dead ending. You can park and access the beach at any point (for example, around coordinates 36.4332N, 27.3500E). Depending on the crowd, nudity may be possible right away, or you may need to walk east a bit (to the left when facing the sea). The beach continues about 300 meters past the point where the beachfront road ends. If you clamber up the rocks at the east end of the beach and follow the rocky shoreline about 200 meters, you will reach a hidden beach where nudity is also possible.
This placemark pertains to Eristos Beach.

hidden beach (nudist)
This placemark pertains to Eristos Beach.

turnoff toward Eristos & Agios Antonios
This placemark pertains to Eristos Beach.

Eristos Beach Hotel

route from Eristos/Agios Antonios turnoff to parking

Plaka Beach
Plaka Beach is located at the northwesternmost part of Tilos, about 5 kilometers from Megalo Chorio, the village that is the island's capital. The beach faces northeast, and it is a little over 300 meters long, consisting of sand and pebbles and backed by trees that provide a bit of shad. Plaka Beach has no amenities, and it does not get overcrowded even during peak season. Most of Plaka is textile, but nude bathing is well-established at the far northwest end of the beach (to the left when facing the sea). In fact, an official-looking sign reading "Nudism Area" was post at the northwest end of the beach as recently as 2011, but the sign is old and worn and may not still be present. Plaka Beach is easily accessible by car. The beach is located just off the road that leads to Agios Panteleimon, a 15th century monastery that is a top tourist attraction of Tilos. The monastery, which is magnificent both for its mountainside setting and it architecture, is located where the road dead ends about 2.7 kilometers past the turnoff to Plaka Beach.
village, island, island group, country:  Agios Antonios, Tilos, Dodecanese, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fBC5mG
starting point  the ferry port in Livadia
The seaside village of Livadia is located in a prominent bay that is along the northeast-facing segment of the coastline of Tilos. Livadia is the location of the island's ferry port, which is the island's only port of entry since there is no airport. The village of Megalo Chorio, the capital of Tilos, is toward the northern end of the island on the inland slope of a mountain, not along the sea. The distance from Livadia to Megalo Chorio is about 7 kilometers. If you keep straight ahead from the ferry port in Livadia, you will be filtered to the main road of Tilos, which will wind uphill out of the village and head toward Megalo Chorio. Once the road straightens out a bit, you will be heading in a generally northwesterly direction.
About 6 kilometers from the ferry port, take note when you pass the left-hand turnoff toward Charkadio Cave, which is opposite a heliport. At that point, you are getting close to Megalo Chorio, and you will see the village up ahead against a prominent mountain. Keep straight ahead another 800-900 meters, then turn left toward Eristos and Agios Antonios. (The turnoff is just past a small children's park that is on the left-hand side of the main road. Watch for colorful playground equipment. If you reach the point where the main road curves rightward as it enters the village center of Megalo Chorio, then you have missed the turn by about 175 meters.)
Once you turn, follow the road south 400-500 meters to a junction that is effectively a "T" since the road straight ahead will quickly dead end. Turn right to continue toward Agios Antonios and the Agios Panteleimon monastery. (The other direction goes toward Eristos.)
Follow the road northwest about 1.7 kilometers, then keep straight ahead past the right-hand turnoff that goes into Agios Antonios. Just after that turnoff, the road will begin to follow the coastline, with the sea on your right-hand side.
Continue northwest another 2.6 kilometers, then turn right toward Plaka Beach. (It is the next right you can make after Agios Antonios.) Follow the road 300-400 meters to parking next to the southeast end of the beach, at coordinates 36.4650N, 27.3052E. Facing the sea, turn left and walk about 200 meters to the northwest end of the beach.
This placemark pertains to Plaka Beach.

road begins to follow coastline
This placemark pertains to Plaka Beach.

This placemark pertains to Plaka Beach.

Agios Panteleimon monastery

route from road begins to follow coastline to parking

Ionian

Corfu

Mirtiotissa & Glyfada Beaches

Glyfada is a beach resort village located on the central part of Corfu's western coast. It is directly west of Corfu Town, the island's capital that is situated on the eastern coast. There are two nude bathing opportunities near at hand to Glyfada. One is a rather minor nudist location, while the other is the best established nude beach on the island.
First, there is Glyfada Beach itself, which is a broad, sandy beach that spans slightly more than one kilometer. Most of Glyfada Beach is backed by hotels and beach villas, and most of the beach is lined with sun chairs. That area is, of course, strictly textile. There is no development along the southeastern third of Glyfada Beach (i.e., the part farthest to your left when facing the sea). At the southeastern extreme of the beach, there is a stretch of about 100 meters where the beach is much narrower than the rest of the beach. A few nude bathers gather along the extreme southeastern part of Glyfada Beach, which disappears altogether at high tide.
Glyfada Beach itself is at best tenuously described as a nude beach. However, just over the headland at the northwestern end of Glyfada, there is Mirtiotissa Beach, which is the most popular nude beach in all of Corfu. Mirtiotissa is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean. It is a golden patch of sand backed by cliffs covered in greenery, and several boulders in the water scattered just offshore form an ideal swimming area. One would be hard pressed to find a more idyllic beach. Mirtiotissa is among the nude beaches of Europe that have achieved iconic status, and it has quite a loyal following. The beach is well attended and can get quite crowded on peak days since space is limited. Almost everyone on the nude end of the beach is naked.
Mirtiotissa spans about 250 meters at low tide, but it contracts considerably at high tide. The beach is accessed from the road that goes to the Mirtiotissa monastery. To understand the layout of the beach, assume that you are following the road toward the monastery, either on foot or in a car. Along the final segment of the road, it begins to go steeply downhill. At the lowest part of the road, it is very near sea level, and it flattens out for less than 100 meters before starting to go uphill again, where it dead ends at the monastery. When you get to the lowest part of the road, you have arrived at Mirtiotissa Beach. The flattened-out part of the road runs next to the northwestern segment of the beach, which is the part of the beach that virtually vanishes at high tide. Since that part of the beach is quite exposed, it is almost always all textile. Facing the sea, turn left and walk around a few boulders, then, voilà, you'll discover the more hidden southeastern segment of Mirtiotissa, which is tucked away beneath the steeply sloping part of the road. The more hidden part of the beach is the nudist part, and it always has at least 50 meters of exposed sand, even at high tide.
There is a taverna (Elia) uphill from the southeast end of Mirtiotissa Beach. You will pass it along the way to the beach, either on foot or by car. (You can drive all the way to the beach, but roadside parking is often tight. There is a parking lot a bit inland from Elia taverna, from which you can do the last stretch on foot.) There is another taverna (Bella Vista) uphill from the beach on its opposite (northwest) end, near the monastery. Along the textile part of the beach (next to the flattened-out part of the road), there is a snack stand, and you can also rent beach chairs and umbrellas there. If you are staying in Glyfada, it is possible to hike over the headland to get to Mirtiotissa. However, the path is not signed and the hike is quite steep and tiring since the headland is formidable, so it is unlikely you would want to attempt it. There is also bus service from Corfu Town to Glyfada that makes a stop next to Villa Myrto (the location of which is referenced in the the driving directions, next to the start of the road to the monastery). From there, it is a walk of 1.3 kilometers to the beach. However, bus service is quite infrequent. All in all, it is best to have your own transportation to get to the beach.
If you follow the road past the beach, where it starts to go back uphill, in about 400 meters you will reach the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin of Mirtiotissa. It is a small collection of buildings from which there are fantastic views of Mirtiotissa Beach. As an institution, the monastery is said to date back to the 1300's, but the present collection of buildings do not date back nearly that far. These days, a sole monk occupies and runs the monastery, which is open to the public. When you visit the beach, it is a quick and worthwhile excursion to wander around the monastery and visit with the formerly homeless dogs and cats who have found sanctuary there.
This placemark pertains to Mirtiotissa Beach and Glyfada Beach.

Mirtiotissa Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Mirtiotissa Beach and Glyfada Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Glyfada, Corfu, Ionian, Greece
There are 17 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Mirtiotissa Beach and Glyfada Beach.

Glyfada Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Mirtiotissa Beach and Glyfada Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Glyfada, Corfu, Ionian, Greece
There are 17 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Mirtiotissa Beach and Glyfada Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fDB4yd
starting point  the main ferry port of Corfu
The main ferry port in Corfu is located on the east side of the island, just north of the island's eponymous capital city, which is often called Corfu Town to distinguish it from the island. (Both the island and the capital are also known as Kerkyra.) As you exit the ferry port, turn right, following the sign that points to North Corfu and South Corfu. You will be angling north and west along the coastline, with the water on your right-hand side. In 1.6 kilometers, shortly after the road curves inland, you will reach a red light at a "T" junction where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn left, following the signs that point toward Kerkyra (i.e., Corfu Town), Lefkimmi and the airport.
Upon turning, follow the road southeast for 2 kilometers to a fork and keep to the right. (The left fork is signed for the city center.) You will then briefly be on a one-way street. Continue 300 meters to a red light and turn right, following the sign that points toward Pelekas.
Proceed in a generally westward direction for 4.6 kilometers until the road forks at a junction that has a small roundabout in the middle. Take the left fork to continue toward Pelekas. (The right fork is signed for Afra.) Continue west 800-900 meters and take note of the prominent blue overhead panels at a three-way junction. Keep straight ahead toward Palaiokastritsa, Glyfada and Ermones. (The left-hand turnoff is signed for Pelekas and Sinarades.)
Continue west another 3.8 kilometers, passing by Aqualand water park, until you get to a roundabout junction.
At the roundabout, turn left, following signs that point toward Glyfada and Ermones. Proceed southwest 1.3 kilometers and take note of another left-hand turnoff toward Pelekas and Sinarades, but do NOT turn. Continue as the road makes a sharp rightward curve and take note of a yellow stucco house with a two-story front porch on the left at the end of the curve. From that point, keep straight ahead (northwest) another 1.4 kilometers, then turn left onto the road that is signed for Pelekas and Glyfada. Follow the road southeast for 1.2 kilometers and watch for Villa Myrto, a salmon-colored structure on the right with a sign advertising apartments for rent. Just after Villa Myrto, the Mirtiotissa access road is on the right, marked by signs pointing to Mirtiotissa Beach and the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin of Mirtiotissa.
To go to Mirtiotissa Beach:
Turn right onto the Mirtiotissa access road. At that point, you will be on the road that goes south all the way to the beach, so there are no more turns to make. Stay straight ahead at all subsequent junctions. In 600 meters, you will reach an earthen parking lot on the left (at coordinates 39.5987N, 19.8006E) that is surrounded by a chain-link fence, and there is a fee to park. The walk to the beach is another 700 meters, and it is possible to drive all the way to the beach and park informally for free alongside the road. However, if there are a good many cars in the parking lot, that is probably an indication that the road farther on is already full of parked cars and that finding a spot will be difficult. After the parking lot, walk or drive another 400 meters and you will pass Elia taverna on the left. Shortly after the taverna, the road will bend rightward and go steeply downhill for the final 200 meters to the beach. While it is possible to drive downhill to sea level, it can be a hassle to negotiate a car down the hill on crowded days, so, unless your mode of transit is a bicycle or moped, you will probably want to park uphill and do the final stretch on foot.
At the bottom of the hill, the road will be very near sea level, flattening out very briefly before climbing back uphill as it continues toward the monastery. The segment of the road that is near sea level abuts a short stretch of beach that is less than 100 meters long, and it will very likely be all textile since it is so exposed. Facing the sea, turn left and walk around the boulders. Very shortly you will reach the more hidden part of the beach that is below the steeply sloping segment of the road, and that part of the beach is where nudists gather.
To go to Glyfada Beach:
Do not turn onto the Mirtiotissa access road. Keep straight ahead. Continue another 1.1 kilometers, then turn right at a sign for Glyfada. Continue another 1.6 kilometers until you get to the next three-way junction, which is next to a bus stop shelter and a "Seashore of Glyfada" sign. By that point, you will be ad the edge of Glyfada, having just descended a number of switchbacks. Turn left. Within a few hundred meters, you will see signs pointing toward beach parking at the end of the road, at coordinates 39.5929N, 19.8082E. When you access the beach, you will be approximately at its midpoint. Facing the sea, turn left and walk southeast about 500 meters until you are at the far end of the beach, where it gets much narrower, then you will be in the nude area.
Shortcut:
The route described above is not the shortest route from the ferry port to Mirtiotissa Beach or Glyfada Beach, but it is the easiest to follow, with English-language signs at all turns. Shortcuts in the vicinity of Corfu town are best avoided, but there is an easy shortcut you can take as you get close to the two beaches, following an unsigned road that cuts over to the Pelekas-Glyfada road. In the directions above, there is a reference to a yellow stucco house with a two-story front porch that is just after a sharp curve. When you see that house, turn left onto the unsigned road that is immediately next to the house. Follow the road southeast about one kilometer to a "T" junction with the Pelekas-Glyfada road. At that junction, you will be less than 100 meters west of the Mirtiotissa access road. To go to Mirtiotissa Beach, turn right at the "T," proceed less than 100 meters, then take the next possible left, where you will see signs pointing to Mirtiotissa Beach and the monastery. Proceed as directed above. To go to Glyfada Beach, turn left at the "T" and proceed as directed above, following signs that point toward Glyfada.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Mirtiotissa, in the pay lot).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Mirtiotissa, in the pay lot) that includes the shortcut.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Glyfada).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Glyfada) that includes the shortcut.
This placemark pertains to Mirtiotissa Beach and Glyfada Beach.

roundabout west of Aqualand
This placemark pertains to Mirtiotissa Beach and Glyfada Beach.

pay parking lot
It is also possible to park for free along the part of the road that is traced in green, but roadside parking can be challenging on busy days.
This placemark pertains to Mirtiotissa Beach.

This placemark pertains to Glyfada Beach.

Villa Myrto

Aqualand water park

turnoff toward Pelekas & Sinarades
This is the second of the two turnoffs described in the driving directions that are signed for both Pelekas and Sinarades.

turnoff signed for Pelekas & Glyfada

Elia taverna
This placemark pertains to Mirtiotissa Beach.

"T" junction
In the driving directions, this is the "T" junction described as part of the shortcut.

yellow stucco house with two-story front porch

Bella Vista taverna
This placemark pertains to Mirtiotissa Beach.

Monastery of the Blessed Virgin of Mirtiotissa

route from roundabout to Villa Myrto

shortcut

route from pay parking lot to beach

road from Villa Myrto to pay parking lot

road from Villa Myrto to Glyfada

Halikounas & Issos Beaches

Korission Lake is a large lagoon located along the west coast of Corfu toward the southern end of the island, roughly halfway between Corfu Town and Lefkimmi. Korission Lake is over 5 kilometers long, and about halfway along its length there is a narrow channel of water that is the lagoon's outlet to the sea. There are two long beaches that are backed by the lagoon, and the lagoon outlet is the dividing point between them. There is a footbridge over the lagoon outlet that makes it possible to explore both beaches on foot. By car, the two beaches are approached from opposites ends of Korission Lake. Halikounas Beach is next to the northern part of the lagoon, while Issos Beach is next to the southern part of the lagoon. Both beaches are frequented by nude bathers along their more remote parts.
The small village of Halikounas is situated a bit north of the north end of Korission Lake, and the beach that bears the name of the village begins just south of the village and extends southward for several kilometers to the lagoon outlet. (The village and the beach are variously spelled as beginning with "ch" or just "h" and ending with "as" or just "a," thus Halikounas, Chalikounas, Halikouna and Chalikouna all refer to the same locality.) Approaching by car, you will drive past the north end of Korission Lake to access the beach. When the road meets the sea, turn left. The beach road continues 2.7 kilometers, extending all the way to the lagoon outlet where the footbridge is located. As you follow the road southwest, you will be on a narrow peninsular land mass, with the lagoon to your left and the sea to your right. Near the start of the beach road, you will pass a snack bar. About a kilometer farther on, you will pass another snack bar. The stretch of beach between the snack bars is the main textile part of the beach. Just a bit past the second snack bar, you will pass a beach shack that houses the kitesurf center. Once you are past the kitesurf center, the beach becomes mostly deserted, and nudity can be practiced along most of the rest of the beach, extending toward the lagoon outlet. (However, nudity should be avoided in the immediate vicinity of the lagoon outlet.) Just park alongside the road and cross the dunes to get the beach. The dunes are not very high but provide privacy from passersby on the beach road.
Issos Beach is located just north of the seaside village of Agios Georgios, but the main access to the beach is through Linia, a smaller village that is slightly inland. Issos Beach is not exactly a mirror image of Halikounas. While it is possible to drive along the entire length of Halikounas, there is not a beachfront road at Issos. Futhermore, Issos is more separated from Korission Lake than is Halikounas. Behind the main expanse of Issos Beach, there is a vast area of sand dunes that extends inland over 500 meters to the shore of the lagoon. When you get to the Issos parking lot, you will be just slightly south of the south end of the lagoon. There is a taverna next to the parking lot. Facing the sea, turn right and walk north until you are past the small building that houses the kitesurf center. After the kitesurf center, you are past the area where most beachgoers congregate. The beach becomes comparably deserted, with nudity common among those that venture that far. If you were to walk 1.6 kilometers past the kitesurf center, you would reach a prominent bend of the coastline. (By that point, there is not likely to be a soul around, regardless of swimwear preference or lack thereof.) After the bend, the beach gets narrower, with low cliffs rising up behind the beach. The narrower part of the beach beyond the bend extends 1.4 kilometers to the lagoon outlet where the footbridge is located, and much of that segment of the beach disappears at high tide.
As previously mentioned, the footbridge over the lagoon outlet makes it possible to walk from one beach to the other, but it is a long walk and slow walk that takes you through a lot of sand dunes.
Issos Beach is regarded as one of the best beaches of Corfu, highly esteemed for its remarkable dunes, so it gets more overall visitors than does Halikounas, and it also tends to draw more nudists. However, nudists at both beaches tend to be widely scattered.
This placemark pertains to Halikounas Beach and Issos Beach.

Halikounas Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Halikounas Beach and Issos Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Halikounas, Corfu, Ionian, Greece
There are 16 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Halikounas Beach and Issos Beach.

Issos Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Halikounas Beach and Issos Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Linia/Agios Georgios, Corfu, Ionian, Greece
There are 16 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Halikounas Beach and Issos Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2g0ifWy
starting point  the main ferry port of Corfu
The main ferry port in Corfu is located on the east side of the island, just north of the island's eponymous capital city, which is often called Corfu Town to distinguish it from the island. (Both the island and the capital are also known as Kerkyra.) As you exit the ferry port, turn right, following the sign that points to North Corfu and South Corfu. You will be angling north and west along the coastline, with the water on your right-hand side. In 1.6 kilometers, shortly after the road curves inland, you will reach a red light at a "T" junction where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn left, following the signs that point toward Kerkyra (i.e., Corfu Town), Lefkimmi and the airport.
Upon turning, follow the road southeast for 2 kilometers to a fork and keep to the right. (The left fork is signed for the city center.) You will then briefly be on a one-way street. Continue 300 meters to a red light where the road widens. Get in the right lane (since the left lane must turn left) and continue straight ahead through the light. About 400 meters farther on, veer right at the sign for Achilleio and Lefkimmi.
Continue south for 3.3 kilometers, then turn left at a sign for Lefkimmi. (The road straight ahead continues toward Achilleio.) Upon turning, continue in a generally southerly direction for 15.1 kilometers until you reach a roundabout in the village of Moraitiki. (For most of that distance, the road follows the coastline, with the sea visible on your left-hand side.)
At the roundabout, turn right toward Lefkimmi. (A sign indicates that Lefkimmi is 19 kilometers away.) Once you leave the roundabout, you will begin heading west into the interior of the island. In 1.4 kilometers, stay on the main course of the road as it curves sharply to the left at a three-way junction, following the sign that points toward Kavos, Lefkimmi and Argyrades.
After the curve, you will be going south. In just 250 meters, watch for the right-hand turnoff for Agios Mattheos and Halikounas. The turnoff is between a café and a gas station.
To go to Halikounas Beach:
[Note: The route to the beach is well signed, but the name of the beach is variously spelled Halikounas, Chalikounas and Chalikouna.]
Turn right toward Agios Mattheos and Halikounas. Follow the road west for 2.5 kilometers until you reach an array of overhead signs that span the road, then turn left, following the signs for Prasoudi, Gargiki and Halikounas. Continue southwest for 800 meters to the next junction, where there are lots of signs pointing to various attractions and businesses. Turn left, following signs for Halikounas Beach and Alonaki Beach. Continue 2.1 south kilometers, then turn left at signs for Halikounas Beach and Korission Lake. Continue south 1.3 kilometers until the road reaches the sea. (By that point, the road will have become gravel.) Turn left and follow the beachfront road. You will be driving such that the beach and the sea are on your right, with Korission Lake on your left. Shortly you will pass a snack bar. About a kilometer farther on, you will pass another snack bar, then less than 200 meters thereafter you will pass the kitesurf center (housed in a small beach shack). After the kitesurf center, the beachfront road goes on another 1.3 kilometers before ending at the channel of water that is the lake's outlet to the sea, and the segment of the road between the kitesurf center and the outlet corresponds to the mostly deserted part of the beach where nudity can take place. Park anywhere next to the road (around coordinates 39.4469N, 19.8903E) and cross the dunes to the beach.
To go to Issos Beach:
Do NOT turn toward Agios Mattheos and Halikounas. Keep straight ahead another 4 kilometers and watch for the blue-and-white Linia village sign. After the sign, continue another 1.2 kilometers, then turn right at the large sign that points toward Issos Beach And Korission Lake. Follow the road 1.7 kilometers until it dead ends at the parking lot for Issos Beach, at coordinates 39.4330N, 19.9333E. The parking lot is next to the main area of the beach, where there is a taverna along with beach chairs. Facing the sea, turn right and walk northwest about 200 meters until you are past the small structure that houses the kitesurf center, then continue just a short distance and the rest of the beach is informally available for nude use.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Halikounas).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Issos).
This placemark pertains to Halikounas Beach and Issos Beach.

turnoff to Agios Mattheos and Halikounas
This placemark pertains to Halikounas Beach and Issos Beach.

parking along road
This placemark pertains to Halikounas Beach.

This placemark pertains to Issos Beach.

Linia village sign (at northwest end of village)
This placemark pertains to Issos Beach.

array of overhead signs spanning road
This placemark pertains to Halikounas Beach.

lots of signs pointing to various attractions & businesses
This placemark pertains to Halikounas Beach.

turnoff signed for Halikounas Beach & Korission Lake

kitesurf center
This placemark pertains to Issos Beach.

footbridge over channel that connects Korission Lake to sea

snack bar

kitesurf center

route from Agios Mattheos/Halikounas to parking (Halikounas)

route from Agios Mattheos/Halikounas to parking (Issos)

Agios Stefanos & Arillas Beaches

Agios Stefanos and Arillas are neighboring villages that more or less blend into one another. Located on the western coast of Corfu at the far north of the island, the villages both have a good bit of small-scale tourist development. As the crow flies, the central area of the beach at Agios Stefanos is about 1.5 kilometers from the central area of the beach at Arillas. By car, it is about twice that distance. Both beaches have similar setups. The main beach areas are backed by commercial development such as small hotels and eateries. Going north from either beach, cliffs begins to rise up and the beach becomes narrower. At both beaches, nude bathers gather along the northern end, beneath the cliffs.
Facing the sea at Agios Stefanos, go to the right (north) and cliffs will begin to rise up behind the beach toward the end of the beach chairs. At first, the cliffs slope down gently and are covered with vegetation, then you will reach a derelict house situated close to sea level at a gap in the cliffs. After the derelict house, the cliffs will abruptly become far more sheer, with the cliff faces consisting mostly of exposed white rock. When you get to that point, you have reached the start of the informal nude area. Along the nude part of the beach, the cliffs take on an appearance reminiscent of the White Cliffs of Dover. The steep white cliffs go on for several kilometers, but the beach below the cliffs is very narrow, and in places the beach disappears altogether, even at low tide. At low tide, nude bathers are spread out, but at high tide nudists may be forced into the area near the start of the sheer cliffs. Whatever the case, it is about 700 meters from the closest parking to the start of the area where nudity is commonplace.
At Arillas, there is a paved road that fronts the main textile area of the beach. Going north on that road (i.e., to the right when facing the sea), the paved beachfront road curves inland at the point where cliffs begin to rise up behind the beach. From that curve, a broad dirt track continues straight ahead and becomes the cliff-top path. The cliffs are not very high at first. To go to the nude area of the beach, you can walk along the beach all the way or follow the cliff-top path part of the way. Either way, walk north about 200 meters until you get to the point where the cliff-top path suddenly begins to ascend very steeply, curving away from the sea as the cliffs abruptly begin to rise higher. This change in topography is quite obvious, so you will be aware of it whether you are on the cliff-top path or on the beach below it. If you are on the cliff-top path, descend to the beach. There is an easy side path down to beach level at the point where the cliffs begin to rise higher. Continue north about 200 meters until you get a slight rocky outcropping. The nude area begins just beyond the outcropping and extends over 400 meters to the end of the beach at the very prominent headland that separates Arillas Beach from Agios Stefanos Beach. At low tide, you can skirt around the slight outcropping without getting your feet wet, but much of the time you will have to wade through a bit of water. If high tide or rough seas make getting around the outcropping difficult, nudists may gather just before the outcropping.
Of the two beaches, Agios Stefanos draws the most overall visitors, but Arillas seems to be a bit more popular with nude bathers. Although the backdrop of Agios Stefanos is more dramatic, that of Arillas is softer and greener. At either beach, be aware that falling rocks are a potential hazard.
This placemark pertains to Agios Stefanos Beach and Arillas Beach.

Agios Stefanos Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Agios Stefanos Beach and Arillas Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Agios Stefanos, Corfu, Ionian, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Agios Stefanos Beach and Arillas Beach.

Arillas Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Agios Stefanos Beach and Arillas Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Arillas, Corfu, Ionian, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Agios Stefanos Beach and Arillas Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2elubSt
starting point  the main ferry port of Corfu
The main ferry port in Corfu is located on the east side of the island, just north of the island's eponymous capital city, which is often called Corfu Town to distinguish it from the island. (Both the island and the capital are also known as Kerkyra.) As you exit the ferry port, turn right, following the sign that points to North Corfu and South Corfu. You will be angling north and west along the coastline, with the water on your right-hand side. In 1.6 kilometers, shortly after the road curves inland, you will reach a red light at a "T" junction where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn right, following the sign that points toward Palaiokastritsa.
Follow the road northwest for 9.9 kilometers until you see blue overhead panels at a three-way junction. Turn right, following the panel that points toward Sidari, Agros, Roda and Acharavi. (The other overhead panel points straight ahead toward Palaiokastritsa.)
Continue in a generally northwesterly direction for 20.9 kilometers until your reach the Sadari village sign, which reads "Municipality of Esperion, Sidari Village." After the village sign, take the next possible left, at the corner of a restaurant, following a sign that points toward Avliotes and Peroulades. (The turnoff is easy to miss despite the signage. It is 900 meters before—i.e., south of—the sign that points toward the port in the densest part of Sidari.)
Follow the road in a generally southwesterly direction for 6.1 kilometers, passing through Avliotes*, until you reach a fork at a sign that points toward Agios Stefanos. (* Note: A new segment of the road is under construction that skirts the inland side of Avliotes. If you keep straight ahead and the road does not take you through Avliotes, then the new segment is complete, and the distance to the fork will be 5.3 kilometers instead of 6.1 kilometers.)
Keep to the right at the fork, following the sign for Agios Stefanos. Continue 1.3 kilometers and watch for the blue-and-white Agios Stefanos village sign. You will see the sign just after the sea comes very dramatically into view.
After the village sign, continue 700 meters and watch for a large sign pointing right toward Havana Beach Bar.
To go to Agios Stefanos Beach:
Turn right at the Havana Beach Bar sign, then almost immediately turn right again into a parking lot at a large "To the Beach" sign. The parking lot is at coordinates 39.7571N, 19.6454E. From the parking a lot, a short path takes you down to the beach. You will land on the beach next to Havana Beach Bar. Facing the sea, turn right and walk north, past the end of the sun chairs. As you go north, cliffs will rise up behind the beach. The nude area begins in the area where the cliffs suddenly become very steep. The total walk from the parking lot to the start of the nude area is about 700 meters.
To go to Arillas Beach:
Keep straight ahead past the Havana Beach Bar sign and start counting the "T" junctions. There are five "T" junctions on the way to Arillas Beach. Proceed 400-500 meters to the first "T" and turn left. Continue 800-900 meters to the second "T" and turn left. (A sign points toward Arillas and Kerkyra.) Continue 300-400 meters to the third "T" and turn right. (A sign points toward Arillas.) Continue 800 meters to the fourth "T" and turn right. Continue 200 meters to the fifth "T." At that point, the sea and Arillas Beach will be directly in front of you in full view. Turn right onto the beachfront road. There is parking all along the road, which follows the beach for 200 meters before curving inland. Park as close as possible to that curve (around coordinates 39.7449N, 19.6472E) and access the beach. Walk north (to the right when facing the sea). Cliffs soon begin to rise up behind the beach. The nude area starts after about 400 meters, just beyond a slight outcropping of rock around which you may have to wade, depending on the tide.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Agios Stefanos).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Arillas).
This placemark pertains to Agios Stefanos Beach and Arillas Beach.

Agios Stefanos village sign
This placemark pertains to Agios Stefanos Beach and Arillas Beach.

This placemark pertains to Agios Stefanos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Arillas Beach.

derelict house situated at beach level at gap in cliffs
This placemark pertains to Agios Stefanos Beach.

Havana Beach Bar
This placemark pertains to Agios Stefanos Beach.

beach access point
The green line traces part of the cliff-top path. You can follow it part of the way until you get to this point, where the cliffs begin to rise abruptly and the path starts to steeply ascend. There is an easy side path down to the beach.
This placemark pertains to Arillas Beach.

tip of peninsular headland between Agios Stefanos & Arillas

slight outcropping beyond which informal nude area begins
This placemark pertains to Arillas Beach.

route from Agios Stefanos village sign to parking

part of clifftop path

Almiros & Antinioti West Beaches

Toward the eastern end of Corfu's northern coast, there is a long, continuous stretch of beach that extends over 5 kilometers. The village of Roda is next to the western end of the beach, and the village of Acharavi is next to the central part of the beach. The eastern half of the beach, roughly, is called Almiros Beach. Extending eastward from Acharavi, Almiros is backed by scattered houses and small-scale resort development, and there are several roads that go to various areas of the beach. The eastern end of the beach is defined by a canal-like channel of water that flows into the sea. The easternmost part of Almiros Beach is an informal nude beach. To access the nude part of Almiros, you will be going east on a road that runs along the beach, with the beach in clear view just steps away. You will reach a point where the road turns to gravel. From that point, the road continues about 500 meters, ending at the canal-like channel of water. The informal nude part of Almiros roughly corresponds to the gravel part of the road. You can park your vehicle anywhere in the wide-open area and be on the beach straight away. Although the beach is sandy, there are also lots of large, flat rocks along the waterline. The easternmost part of Almiros is lightly attended and draws just a scattering of visitors, both nudists and textiles.
To the east of Almiros, there is a body of water called the Antinioti Lagoon. The main expanse of the lagoon is a bit inland, and the lagoon has two outlets to the sea. The western outlet is the previously mentioned canal-like channel of water that forms the eastern end of Almiros Beach. The eastern outlet is a similar channel of water next to the small resort village of Agios Spiridon. The land mass between the lagoon and the sea is effectively an island. That island has a little more than 2 kilometers of coastline, most of which is rocky, but there are two small beaches on the island—one toward each end of the island's coastline. Each of the two beaches is less than 100 meters long, any neither seems to have a commonly agreed-upon proper name, so we'll call them Antinioti West Beach and Antinioti East Beach, and we'll refer to the land mass where they are located as Antinioti Island. While nudity may potentially be encountered at either of the Antinioti beaches, the west beach is much better established as a nudist venue, with nude bathing possible any time. The east beach seems to be a textile beach during July and August but may see sporadic nudity at other times of year.
There are bridges over both lagoon outlets, making it possible to access Antinioti Island from either end. A footbridge over the western outlet connects the island to the nudist end of Almiros Beach. If you go to Almiros and follow the gravel road east as far as possible, you can park next to the footbridge. Once you cross the footbridge, it is a walk of less than 400 meters to the western Antinioti beach, which is the one preferred by nudists. If you want to continue to the eastern beach, you will have to walk a full kilometer farther. The bridge over the eastern outlet is a narrow bridge that can carry automobile traffic, so if you drive through Agios Spiridon, you can cross that bridge and continue to either of the Antinioti beaches, with parking adjacent to each. After crossing the automobile bridge, in 400 meters you will reach a spur road that goes to the eastern beach, which is the one that is likely to be all textile. If you continue another 800-900 meters, you will reach the western Antinioti beach, which is preferred by nude bathers. If you keep driving past the western Antinioti beach, within 400 meters you will reach the footbridge that connects to the nudist end of Almiros, and that's as far as you can go in a car.
If you are facing the sea at the western Antinioti beach, look to your right and you will see that the rocky shoreline beyond the beach curves slightly northward. If you walk in that direction about 200 meters, you will be at the northernmost point of Corfu. The big mountains that are visible to the right (east) are in Albania, which is about 11 kilometers away as the crow flies.
This placemark pertains to Almiros Beach and Antinioti West Beach.

Almiros Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Almiros Beach and Antinioti West Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Acharavi/Agios Spyridon, Corfu, Ionian, Greece
There are 15 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Almiros Beach and Antinioti West Beach.

Antinioti West Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Almiros Beach and Antinioti West Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Acharavi/Agios Spyridon, Corfu, Ionian, Greece
There are 15 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Almiros Beach and Antinioti West Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2g0gF7d
The main ferry port in Corfu is located on the east side of the island, just north of the island's eponymous capital city, which is often called Corfu Town to distinguish it from the island. (Both the island and the capital are also known as Kerkyra.) As you exit the ferry port, turn right, following the sign that points to North Corfu and South Corfu. You will be angling north and west along the coastline, with the water on your right-hand side. In 1.6 kilometers, shortly after the road curves inland, you will reach a red light at a "T" junction where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn right, following the sign that points toward Palaiokastritsa.
Follow the road northwest for 9.9 kilometers until you see blue overhead panels at a three-way junction. Turn right, following the panel that points toward Sidari, Agros, Roda and Acharavi. (The other overhead panel points straight ahead toward Palaiokastritsa.)
Continue northwest another 9.2 kilometers along a road that winds through the mountains until you reach the next blue overhead panels at a three-way junction. Turn right, following the panel that points toward Sidari, Roda and Acharavi. (The other overhead panel points straight ahead toward Agros, Arillas and Agios Georgios.)
Continue north and east another 11.4 kilometers until you reach a fork that is just past the sign indicating you are leaving the village of Platonos. Keep to the left, following the sign for Roda. (The right fork goes into Sfakera.) Continue another 800 meters to a three-way junction and keep to the right to continue toward Roda. Continue another 800 meters to a red light at a four-way junction. (At that point, you will be in Roda.) Turn right, following the signs for Kassiopi and Archaravi. You will then begin heading east on the road that follows the north coast of the island between Sidari and Acharavi.
Continue 3.3 kilometers, passing through Acharavi. At the eastern edge of Acharavi, take note of the entrance gate to Hydropolis Water Park & Sports Center, which is on the left. Don't turn. Just note the location as a landmark.
Once you pass Hydropolis, you will be driving parallel to Almiros Beach, and there are multiple left-hand turnoffs that go toward the beach. To find the correct turnoff, set your car's trip meter at the Hydropolis gate, then continue east 1.6 kilometers and turn left at an Almiros Beach sign that is just past a stack of signs that point toward Villa Pami and several eateries (George, Avra and Tarepna).
Once you turn, you will be on a minor asphalted road that goes out to the beach, and in just over 100 meters you will reach a "T." Turn left. Less than 100 meters farther on, stay on the asphalted road as it bend sharply to the right. Continue about 800 meters and the road will bend sharply to the right again near the point where the sea comes into clear view. After the bend, you will be driving such that the sea is on your left-hand side. 500 meters farther on, the road will turn to gravel. By that point, the road will directly abut the beach, and you will be at the easternmost segment of Almiros. The gravel portion of the road extends about 500 meters and corresponds to the nude area of the beach. There is informal parking throughout the area, around coordinates 39.8165N, 19.8425E.
If you go to the far end of the beach where the gravel road ends, you will find a short footbridge over a lagoon outlet. Cross the bridge and turn left, following the dirt road that follows the coastline. Shortly you will reach the hidden cove that is the western of the two Antinioti beaches. The walk from the footbridge to the hidden cove is just 300-400 meters, but it is also possible to drive all the way to the cove and park adjacent to it. See the alternate directions that follow.
Alternate Approach:
Follow the directions above up to the point where you are instructed to turn left at the Almiros Beach sign, but do not turn. Keep straight ahead another 2 kilometers until the road makes a sharp rightward curve, then turn left at the sign for St. Spyridon. (There are also signs for Ammus and Pyramid restaurants at the turnoff.) Upon turning, follow the narrow road 400-500 meters to a three-way junction and turn left. Continue another 500 meters and the road will curve sharply leftward next to the sea. After the curve, you will pass Agios Spyridon Beach, which will be on your right-hand side. Within 300 meters you will have passed the entire length of the small beach and you will reach a short one-lane bridge that crosses a lagoon outlet (same lagoon mentioned above; different outlet). Cross the bridge and the road will turn to gravel. You will be going west, a bit inland from the coastline. Continue not quite 400 meters and take note of a side road on your right. It is a short road that leads to the eastern of the two Antinioti beaches, which has nudist potential but may be all textile during peak season. It is near at hand if you want to check it out. Otherwise, continue straight ahead another 800-900 meters and you will arrive at the eastern Antinioti beach just as soon as the road meets the coastline. There is parking next to the beach, at coordinates 39.8199N, 19.8463E. If you were to continue along the gravel road another 300-400 meters to its end, you would be at the footbridge that connects to Almiros Beach.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (eastern end of Almiros).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Antinioti West Beach).
This placemark pertains to Almiros Beach and Antinioti West Beach.

Antinioti East Beach (potentially nudist but usually textile during peak season)
This placemark pertains to Almiros Beach and Antinioti West Beach.

entrance gate to Hydropolis Water Park

Almiros Beach sign

footbridge

one-lane automobile bridge

Agios Spiridon Beach (textile)

Antinioti Lagoon (wetland nature reserve)

northernmost point in Corfu

route from Hydropolis Water Park to parking at Almiros Beach

route from Almiros Beach sign to parking at Antinioti West Beach

walking route between Almiros Beach & Antinioti West Beach

Avlaki East Beach

Avlaki East Beach
Avlaki Bay is a small indentation of the coastline in the far northeast of Corfu, and Avlaki Beach is the north-facing crescent-shaped beach along the innermost part of the bay. Avlaki Beach stretches about 600 meters and is composed mostly of pebbles, with a road running directly along a bit more than half its length. Avlaki is too exposed to have nudist potential, but just north and east of the beach there is a much smaller hidden beach where nude use occurs frequently although somewhat irregularly. Covered mostly in pea-sized pebbles, the hidden beach does not seem to have a distinct proper name, so we'll refer to it as Avlaki East. It is accessed by an easy hike of a few hundred meters through the forest starting near the far east end of Avlaki. The forest path brings you to the broadest part of Avlaki East, which is about 80 meters long. Looking northeast (to the right when facing the water) from the broadest part of the beach, there is a much narrower and rockier segment of the beach that extends another 80 or so meters. If only textiles are about on the broadest part of Avlaki East, you may find sufficient seclusion for nudity along the narrower segment. Or, if you go all the way to the end of the narrower segment then clamber along the rocky coastline about 100 meters, you will find an even smaller and more hidden beach that is about 30 meters long. That beach is likely to be empty. There are a few more tiny niches a bit farther along, but they are difficult to reach without a boat. Food is available at Avlaki Beach, but Avlaki East has no amenities.
village, island, island group, country:  Kassiopi, Corfu, Ionian, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fge07Z
The main ferry port in Corfu is located on the east side of the island, just north of the island's eponymous capital city, which is often called Corfu Town to distinguish it from the island. (Both the island and the capital are also known as Kerkyra.) As you exit the ferry port, turn right, following the sign that points to North Corfu and South Corfu. You will be angling north and west along the coastline, with the water on your right-hand side. In 1.6 kilometers, shortly after the road curves inland, you will reach a red light at a "T" junction where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn right, following the sign that points toward Palaiokastritsa.
Follow the road northwest for 5.8 kilometers until you see blue overhead panels at a three-way junction. Turn right, following the panel that points toward Kassiopi and Dasia. (The other overhead panel points straight ahead toward Palaiokastritsa.)
Once you turn, the rest of the route to Kassiopi is signed, and there aren't any turns to make along the way. Follow the road north and east for 24 kilometers and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Kassiopi village sign. (To your left, across the street from the village sign, there is a large multi-story house built in tiers up a hillside, with its bottom level formed by a stone wall that abuts the road. Looking to your right at the village sign, you can see the sea and the mountains of Albania in the distance.)
After the village sign, continue 700-800 meters, then turn right at the sign for Avlaki and Agios Stefanos, which is the first signed turnoff you will reach. Follow the road for 1.5 kilometers and you will pass a small blue "Avlaki" sign, immediately beyond which the road will curve rightward and begin to run alongside Avlaki Beach. (The sea, or more precisely Avlaki Bay, will be on your left-hand side, surprising close to the road.) Continue 300-400 meters to the point where the road curves inland. At that point, veer left (really just straight ahead) into the gravel parking area, at coordinates 39.7796N, 19.9424E.
The parking area abuts the east end of Avlaki Beach and extends about 150 meters. At the end of the parking area, find the track that goes slightly uphill and into the woods. The track hews toward the coastline as it traverses a densely forested area. In about 200 meters you will reach the hidden nude beach.
Alternate Approach:
There is a gravel track that goes directly to the nude beach, but it is quite narrow, and it is unlikely you'd want to take a car along it. However, if your mode of transit is a bicycle or motorbike, it is a reasonable access option. Follow the directions above, but stay on the paved road when it curves inland away from Avlaki Beach. In about 400 meters, you will pass the first of two gates into an equestrian ground, both of which are on the left side of the road. (There may be "horse riding" signs at one or both gates.) 150 meters farther on, you will pass the second gate. Just 25 or so meters after the second gate, take the next possible left onto a narrow gravel track. (If you reach the point where the paved road makes a leftward hairpin curve, you have gone about 300 meters too far.) Follow the gravel track 400 meters, then keep straight ahead past a right-hand turnoff that is the only significant junction you will encounter. Continue another 700 meters to the end of the track at the hidden nude beach.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (at Avlaki Beach).
This placemark pertains to Avlaki East Beach.

small niche beach
This placemark pertains to Avlaki East Beach.

Kassiopi village sign
This placemark pertains to Avlaki East Beach.

parking at Avlaki Beach

small blue "Avlaki" sign

one of two gates into an equestrian ground

route from Kassiopi village sign to parking

hike from main beach to east beach

Kefalonia

Antisamos Beach

Antisamos Beach
Antisamos Beach is situated in a bay on the east coast of Kefalonia, with a striking backdrop of green mountains. It is a short drive from the village of Sami, which is the location of the island's most important ferry port. Altogether, Antisamos Beach is about 700 meters long, and the beach is composed entirely of white pebbles and stones, with no sand. The main area of the beach is its broader northwestern half, where you will find two neighboring tavernas, a huge parking area, and a long line of sun chairs. That area is strictly textile. Walking southeast from the main beach (to the right when facing the sea), the beach gets narrower, and within a minute or two you will reach a long, low boulder (less than waist high) that basically forms a natural fence across the beach. Once you are beyond the boulder, you will be on the part of the beach where nudity sometimes occurs. If you continue about 200 meters, you will reach a cluster of boulders near the southeastern extreme of the beach. After those boulders, there is about 50 more meters of beach, backed by low red cliffs. This final stretch of the beach is basically a separate little cove, hidden from the rest of the beach. On crowded summer days, you are likely to find that any nudists present have migrated to the southeastern extreme of the beach beyond the cluster of boulders.
Antisamos Beach draws just a smattering of nudists, so you will generally encounter mostly textiles even toward the southeastern end of the beach. As you go toward the part of the beach where nudity is generally acceptable, the beach morphs from pebbly to stoney. You will not be comfortable sunbathing unless you have a thick padding. As you look across the sea at Antisamos, the mountains you see in the distance are on the nearby island of Ithaca, about 5 to 6 kilometers away.
village, island, island group, country:  Sami, Kefalonia, Ionian, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fkp7Ni
starting point  the ferry port in Sami
There are several ferry ports in Kefalonia. The most important is at Sami, which is in a prominent harbor about midway up the island's eastern coastline. From the ferry port, turn left and keep straight across a small plaza. Watch for a stack of signs pointing toward the Acropolis of Ancient Same, Castle and Antisamos Beach. Head in that direction. Shortly you will reach a "T" junction where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn left, following another sign for the Acropolis of Ancient Same as well as signs for Antisamos and Dichalia. At that point you will begin going north.
Continue 2 kilometers and note the sign pointing right toward the Acropolis of Ancient Same, but do not turn. 300 meters farther on, keep right at a three-way junction, following another Antisamos Beach sign. 1.2 kilometers farther on, the road will make the first of a series of five switchbacks. You will see a small information board at the first switchback. 300-400 meters farther on, you will reach the last switchback, where a gravel road continues straight ahead at the point where the paved road bends to the left.
If you were to follow the paved road, shortly you would reach parking at the northwest end of Antisamos Beach, but parking there is limited and it is as far away as you could park from the nude area anyway. At the last switchback, keep straight ahead on the gravel road and in a few hundred meters you will reach a huge earthen parking area that is to the rear of two neighboring tavernas, at coordinates 38.2596N, 20.6739E. Facing the sea next to the tavernas, turn to your right and walk southeast. Shortly the beach will become narrower, with the narrow sliver of beach extending about 400 meters. The farther you go along the narrow part of the beach, the more likely you are to encounter nudists.
This placemark pertains to Antisamos Beach.

ferry port in Sami
This placemark pertains to Antisamos Beach.

Acropolis of Ancient Same archaeological site
This placemark pertains to Antisamos Beach.

long, low boulder
long, low boulder (less than waist high) that basically forms a natural fence across the beach

cluster of boulders

Spithi & Mounda Beaches

In the extreme southeast of Kefalonia, Cape Mounda (also spelled without an "n" as "Mouda") is a headland that forms the southernmost point of the island. The coastline changes directions at Cape Mounda, and there are two nude beaches in the immediate vicinity. Spithi Beach is along the part of the coastline that faces southeast, and Mounda Beach is along the part of the coastline that faces southwest. The two beaches are part of continuous area of potential nude use that includes Cape Mounda.
The village of Skala is located a bit north of Cape Mounda, and the east-facing sandy beach of the village is about 2 kilometers long. It is a popular beach that, during summer, is lined with clusters of sun chairs for almost its entire length. You can drive and park at the far southern end of the beach. Facing the sea at the southern end of Skala Beach, look to the right (south). The beach tapers, cliffs begin to rise, and you will see lots of boulders. Some of the boulders are on land, others are slightly at sea and others are in the intertidal zone. The boulders go on for a little over 300 meters. If you make your way past them, you will arrive at Spithi Beach, which is an expanse of sand tucked beneath low, vegetation-covered cliffs. Spithi Beach is well established as a nude beach. The main expanse of the beach is just beyond the boulders, and it is a little over 100 meters long. Beyond the main expanse, a narrow ribbon of sand continues south for several hundred meters, then the coastline morphs to a narrower ribbon of stones and dried seaweed that continues to Cape Mounda. The walk from the main part of Spithi Beach to Cape Mounda is 1.2 kilometers, and that entire expanse can be considered potentially nudist.
Rounding the bend at Cape Mounda, there is another expanse of sand that is over 2 kilometers long, facing southwest. Even though it is one continuous beach, there are two names associated with it. The northwestern end of the beach (i.e., the end that is farther away from Cape Mounda) is called Kaminia Beach, and it is a popular textile beach that is lined with clusters of sun chairs during summer. A beachfront road runs behind much of Kaminia Beach. The southeastern end of the beach, which extends to Cape Mounda, is called Mounda Beach, and it is far less populated, in part because there is no road that runs along it. If you follow the given directions to Mounda Beach, the area where you are instructed to park is roughly the dividing point between Kaminia Beach and Mounda Beach. If you are facing the sea at the parking area, Kaminia Beach will be to your right and Mounda Beach will be to your left. Looking across Mounda Beach from the parking area, you can see Cape Mounda in the distance, about 1.2 kilometers away. There is a small hotel (Marina Bay Hotel) near the parking area, and during summer there is likely to be a cluster of sun chairs in front of the hotel. Walking toward Cape Mounda, the crowd will quickly thin out after you pass the hotel and the sun chairs, with hills rising up behind the beach. Within a few hundred meters, you are likely to encounter nudists, extending all the way to Cape Mounda.
Historically, Spithi Beach has been the best established nude beach in Kefalonia, in part because nudists are clustered together in a fairly small area. Mounda Beach may in fact have just as many or more naturists than Spithi at any given time, but it usually does not feel that way since nudists at Mounda have a lot of room to scatter. There are a few factors that have depressed attendance at Spithi in recent years, and you should be aware of them in deciding whether or not to visit. In the early 00's, there were a few years when cops regularly visited the beach and ordered nudists to dress, reportedly acting on complaints that stemmed from a single homeowner. The threat of police interference cast a bit of a dark shadow over Spithi for a while, but happily that seems to have lifted, with no apparent police interference since circa 2010. A more recent development is the erosion of most of the sand around the boulders that are between the southern end of Skala Beach and Spithi Beach. It used to be a fairly easy walk from Skala to Spithi at low tide, but now (circa 2014) it is necessary to wade and clamber over rocks, which is especially difficult at high tide. The erosion has also made it more difficult to walk from Spithi Beach to Cape Mounda. If you find that Spithi is too difficult to access from Skala Beach, there is a little-known alternative access that is detailed under the driving directions. The alternative directions take you along unmarked, unpaved roads that are access roads to a scattering of vacation villas, leading to a footpath down a gully to a point that is a bit southwest of the main part of Spithi. Following the alternative directions, you will bypass the boulders altogether. Also remember that Mounda Beach is nearby. Access to the nude area of Mounda requires only walking along the sand, and it also has no known history of policy interference despite being located just beyond a bend of the coastline.
There are tavernas all along Skala Beach. There is a restaurant at Marina Bay Hotel, and there are several tavernas along Kaminia Beach.
This placemark pertains to Spithi Beach and Mounda Beach.

Spithi Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Spithi Beach and Mounda Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Skala, Kefalonia, Ionian, Greece
There are 24 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Spithi Beach and Mounda Beach.

Mounda Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Spithi Beach and Mounda Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Skala/Ratzakli, Kefalonia, Ionian, Greece
There are 24 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Spithi Beach and Mounda Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eM2aib
starting point  the ferry port in Sami
There are several ferry ports in Kefalonia. The most important is at Sami, which is in a prominent harbor about midway up the island's eastern coastline. From the ferry port, turn right. You will be on a harborfront road, with the water on your right-hand side. In 200 meters, you will reach a plaza. Cut through the plaza, look for the sign that points toward Argostoli, then follow that road. 400-500 meters farther on, you will reach two blue overhead panels near the southern edge of Sami. One sign points straight ahead toward Argostoli, Poros, Pyrgi, Grizata, Drogkarati and Chaliotata. The other sign points right toward Lixouri, Fiskardo, Agia Efimia, Karavomylos, Melissani and Poulata.
Keep straight ahead (toward Argostoli, etc). Continue 1.2 kilometers to a fork, where the left fork is signed for Grizata, Pyrgi, Avythos and Poros and the right fork is signed for Chaliotata and Argostoli. Take the left fork (toward Grizata, etc).
Continue in a generally southeasterly direction for 21.2 kilometers until you reach a stop sign at a three-way junction. Turn left, following the sign for Poros an Skala. Continue east for 2.4 kilometers and you will pass the village sign for Poros. (Another ferry port is located in Poros.) Keep straight ahead through the village and in 2.1 kilometers you will pass the sign indicating you are leaving Poros. At that point, the road will begin to head south along the east coast of the island, with the sea clearly in view on your left-hand side. Continue 9.5 kilometers and you will reach the blue-and-white Skala village sign.
At the village sign, you will be driving alongside Skala Beach, a long, sandy beach which will be in clear view on your left-hand side. Continue 800 meters and watch for the next building on the left (beach) side of the road, which is a restaurant called Metaxa Beach. Just after Metaxa Beach, the road will fork. Which fork you take depends on which beach is your destination.
To go to Spithi Beach:
Veer left at the fork, following the Spithi Beach sign. Continue along the beachfront road for 500-600 meters to the dead end of the road and park, at coordinates 38.0687N, 20.7979E. At the end of the road, you will be at the far southern end of Skala Beach. Continue south on foot (to the right when facing the sea), making your way beyond the scree of boulders that line the coast just beyond Skala Beach. When the boulders end, you will be at Spithi Beach. The walk is about 400 meters. See the "i" information placemark for important information about access since much of the sand around the boulders has eroded in recent years, making access much more difficult.
To go to Mounda Beach:
To continue to Mounda Beach, you need to continue through Skala and leave the village, but the route out of the village is not terribly well signed. Keep to the right at the fork that is just past Metaxa Beach restaurant, staying on the main road. In 100-200 meters, the road will bend sharply to the right, then 100-200 meters farther on the road will bend sharply to the right again and there will be a short median with two palm trees. At the end of the short median, turn left. Continue less than 100 meters to a stop sign at a five-way intersection. Turn left, following a blue sign that points toward ΑΡΓΟΣΤΟΛΙ (which is Argostoli written in upper-case Greek letters; there is no English transliteration on the sign). At that point, you will be past any potentially confusing junctions, and very shortly you will pass the blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving Skala as you head in a generally westward direction away from the village. 800-900 meters after the "leaving Skala" sign, you will pass a gas station (on your right) which is directly opposite a cemetery (on your left). About 400 meters farther on, you will pass a red-and-yellow triangular sign that indicates a double curve. At that point, the road will begin to make two successive curves, first to the left and then to the right. After the second (i.e., rightward) curve, continue about 500 meters, then turn left at the Mounda Beach sign. (If you pass a blue-and-white village sign for Ρατζακλι, which is Ratzakli written only in Greek, then you have missed the turn by 800 meters.)
Once you turn, follow the road for 800 meters until it makes a sharp rightward curve at the beach next to Marina Bay Hotel. Park at the curve. (Parking is informal alongside the road, around coordinates 38.0650N ,20.7781E. There is no parking lot.) Facing the sea near the curve, look to your left and you will see a headland in the distance. The headland is Cape Mounda, which forms the southeastern end of Mounda Beach. It is 1.2 kilometers away from the curve. Walk at least several hundred meters toward the headland until you are beyond the textiles, then you can expect to encounter nudists scattered along the rest of the beach.
Alternative access to Spithi Beach:
The alternative access to Spithi Beach involves following unsigned gravel roads, so you will have to rely on landmarks to get you there. Refer to the directions to Mounda Beach. Follow those directions until you get to the red-and-yellow triangular sign that indicates a double curve (which is past the gas station and cemetery). From that sign, continue about 300 meters and take the next possible left turn onto an unmarked gravel road. The turnoff is near the end of the second (i.e., rightward) curve of the double curve, and it is opposite the wrought iron gate of a private residence.
Once you turn left onto the gravel road, there will immediately be another gravel road that goes off to the left, but ignore it. Follow the road such that a stretch of chain-link fencing is on your right-hand side. In 300 meters, keep straight ahead through a four-way intersection with a somewhat smaller road. Just 50 or so meters farther on, veer to the left at a fork. From that point, you want to keep straight ahead and ignore any other roads that fork off in either direction since they all lead to private residences. In 700 meters, you will reach a point where the road bends sharply to the left at the gateway to a private villa. The villa is called Villa 3 Rondini, but you will not necessarily see a sign. Watch for yellow stucco gate posts topped with white pineapple-shaped post caps. The road continues about 100 meters farther, but you should probably park a bit before the bend and do the rest on foot. You can leave your car alongside the road (around coordinates 38.0630N, 20.7904E) as long as you leave plenty of room for passing vehicles. Walk along the final bit of the road as it bends a few times, following the hedge-lined fence wall of the villa. When you reach the end of the road, you will be at the rear of the Villa 3 Rondini property, at the gate to another villa. At the end of the road, you will be standing above the beach near the top of a small gully. There is a footpath through the gully that goes down to the beach. The footpath is about 100 meters long, with an elevation loss of about 20 meters. When you land on the beach, you will be at a point that is between the main expanse of Spithi Beach and Cape Mounda. If you turn to the left as you face the sea and walk northeast 300-400 meters, you will reach the main part of Spithi Beach. If you turn to the right as you face the sea and walk southwest about 800 meters, you will reach Cape Mounda.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Spithi, at Skala Beach).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Spithi, alternative access).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Mounda).
This placemark pertains to Spithi Beach and Mounda Beach.

Skala village sign
This placemark pertains to Spithi Beach and Mounda Beach.

parking at end of road, next to Skala Beach
This placemark pertains to Spithi Beach.

This placemark pertains to Spithi Beach.

This placemark pertains to Mounda Beach.

sign pointing to Mounda Beach
This placemark pertains to Mounda Beach.

Ratzakli (Ρατζακλι) village sign
This placemark pertains to Mounda Beach.

sign pointing toward Argostoli (ΑΡΓΟΣΤΟΛΙ)

Metaxa Beach restaurant

short median with two palm trees

Cape Mouda (a.k.a. Cape Mounda)

Kaminia Beach (textile)

Marina Bay Hotel

"leaving Skala" sign

gas station

cemetery

sign indicating double curve

Villa 3 Rondini
You need to go around the fence wall of this property to find the path to the beach. The property is idenfiable by yellow stucco gate posts topped with white pineapple-shaped post caps.
This placemark pertains to Spithi Beach.

separate villa to rear of Villa 3 Rondini

turnoff onto unmarked graved road
turnoff onto unmarked graved road (for the alternative access to Spithi Beach)
Once you turn onto this road, ignore the gravel road that immediately takes off to your left and keep straight ahead such that a stretch of chain-link fencing is on your right-hand side.

expanse of boulders
The area shaded lightly in purple delineates the expanse of boulders between the far southern end of Skala Beach and Spithi Beach.

route from Skala village sign to parking (Mounda Beach)

road along south end of Skla Beach

walking route to beach

expanse of boulders

Sissia Beach

Sissia Beach
On the southern coast of Kefalonia, Sissia Beach is located between the villages of Simotata and Platies. (Simotata is just east of the larger village of Vlachata.) The beach is situated below the Sissia Monastery, and it is not well known for a couple of reasons. First, there are no signs pointing the way. (The monastery is actually well signposted, but the signs do not indicate that the road also leads to a beach.) Secondly, it takes a little effort to get there. There is a road all the way down, but you probably don't want to attempt to drive all the way unless you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Without such transport, you will have to walk about a kilometer to get to the beach, with an elevation loss of about 100 meters. The wooded hike to the beach is pretty easy going down but moderately taxing on the way back up. Because of its relative obscurity, Sissia Beach has become a favorite with naturists in the know. The beach, which can be deserted even during peak season, rarely has more than a dozen visitors at a time. Since the beach is about 700 meters long, there is always room for nudists and textiles to share the beach without rubbing elbows. As you may have guessed, Sissia is a completely undeveloped beach, so you need to bring everything you need with you, particularly water. There are also beaches you may wish to explore beyond either end of Sissia Beach that are also likely to be deserted or nearly so.
Facing the sea, look to your left and you will see a prominent headland with a steep slope that forms the southeast end of Sissia Beach. The face of the headland consists largely of exposed rock that has a distinctive caramel color. As you walk toward that headland, you will get to a scree of small boulders. Scramble across the boulders and you'll reach a short expanse of sand that is a somewhat hidden niche of Sissia Beach. On the other side of the headland, there is an altogether separate beach that is quite gorgeous. It is a golden crescent of sand tucked away in a semi-circular bay, backed by verdant cliff slopes. This crescent beach does not seem to have a proper name, and it will very likely be deserted. To get to it, you can skirt around the rocky base of the caramel-colored headland provided that the tide is low enough and the surf is calm enough. (Otherwise, you probably should not attempt to go there.) The trek around the base of the headland is 300-400 meters.
Facing the sea, look to your right and you will see the headland that forms the northwest end of Sissia Beach. (It is not nearly as prominent as the caramel-colored headland described in the previous paragraph.) If the surf is calm enough, you can clamber over and around the rocks at the base of the headland. In less than 100 meters, you will reach the next stretch of beach, which extends northwest about 500 meters. This beach does not have a documented proper name. To the extent that is known at all, it is called Stella Vineyard Beach after the Stella Vineyard Studios, a small hotel situated above the far northwest end of the beach (i.e., the opposite end of the beach from the headland that separates it from Sissia Beach). Stella Vineyard is quite a beautiful beach with a backdrop that is distinct from that of Sissia. While Sissia is backed by sloping cliffs that are heavily forested, Stella Vineyard is backed by more vertical cliffs with lots of exposed rock that has a slightly orangish hue. Stella Vineyard Beach is little known and very lightly attended, and hotel guests can get to the beach from stairs that descend to the far northwest end of the beach. Stella Vineyard Studios describes the beach as private, but it is private only in the sense that access to the stairs is private and few people attempt to get there by other means. (All beaches in Greece are considered public. As long as you can get to a beach without trespassing on private property, you can be there legally.) Stella Vineyard Beach seems like a beach that has nudist potential, particularly at its southeast end near the headland that separates it from Sissia Beach, but it should be noted that we have found no documentation whatsoever that nudity occurs at Stella Vineyard . For that reason, we will cautiously classify it as a textile beach. If you can manage to get beyond the headland, Stella Vineyard is a very pretty beach to explore.
As you make your way to Sissia Beach, you will pass a small monastery. Actually, there are two of them. The first one (farther away from the beach) is the current location of the Sissia Monastery. About 200 meters away, a bit closer to the beach, the second monastery is the same institution, but in ruins. Legend has it that the monastery was founded by St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century, but the age and origin of the monastery do not seem to be well-documented facts. The monastery that is in ruins was destroyed by the massive 1953 earthquake that devastated the entire island. Note that there are lots of variant spellings of the beach and the monastery: Sissia, Sisia, Sissi, Sission, etc. Sissia Beach is also sometimes known as Paradisi Beach.
village, island, island group, country:  Simotata/Platies, Kefalonia, Ionian, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fsSY3K
starting point  the ferry port in Sami
There are several ferry ports in Kefalonia. The most important is at Sami, which is in a prominent harbor about midway up the island's eastern coastline. From the ferry port, turn right. You will be on a harborfront road, with the water on your right-hand side. In 200 meters, you will reach a plaza. Cut through the plaza, look for the sign that points toward Argostoli, then follow that road. 400-500 meters farther on, you will reach two blue overhead panels near the southern edge of Sami. One sign points straight ahead toward Argostoli, Poros, Pyrgi, Grizata, Drogkarati and Chaliotata. The other sign points right toward Lixouri, Fiskardo, Agia Efimia, Karavomylos, Melissani and Poulata.
Keep straight ahead (toward Argostoli, etc). Continue 1.2 kilometers to a fork, where the left fork is signed for Grizata, Pyrgi, Avythos and Poros and the right fork is signed for Chaliotata and Argostoli. Take the right fork (toward Chaliotata and Argostoli).
Continue in a generally southwesterly direction for 13.1 kilometers, then turn left toward the Robola cooperative winery. (There are a lot of signs at the turnoff, mostly in Greek, but several landmarks make the turnoff easy to find. At one corner, there is a stone bus stop shelter. At another corner, there is a large billboard advertising the winery, next to a dollhouse-size likeness of a church atop a pedestal.)
Follow the road southeast and before long you will pass through the western edge of the twin villages of Fragata and Valsamata. (On signs, Fragata is written as Φραγκατα and ΦΡΑΓΚΑΤΑ, the latter form being all uppercase, while Valsamata may appear as Βαλσαματα or ΒΑΛΣΑΜΑΤΑ.) 2.2 kilometers from the start of the road, watch for the sign indicating you are leaving Fragata, keeping in mind the name of the village appears only in Greek on the sign, as Φραγκατα. About 100 meters past that sign, keep to the right at a fork, following signs for St. Gerasimos and the Robola winery. About 1.2 kilometers farther on, you will pass the St. Gerasimos monastery on your right. The monastery consists of multiple buildings, the most prominent of which is a large main church with a red-tiled dome. (This is the church that is depicted in miniature by the previously referenced dollhouse-sized likeness.) At the southern edge of the monastery, the road will bend sharply to the left and you will see a sign indicating that it is 500 meters to Mixata.
Continue 1.4 kilometers, passing through the hamlet of Mixata (a.k.a. Mihata), until you reach a three-way junction where there is a red-roofed bus stop shelter. Turn right, directly opposite the bus stop shelter, following the sign that points toward ΒΛΑΧΑΤΑ and ΜΟΥΣΑΤΑ (which are, respectively, Vlachata and Moussata, written in uppercase Greek). Continue southeast another 3.7 kilometers to an unsigned fork that is next to an isolated villa. (It is a large yellow stucco house perched slightly uphill on the left, and its open, sloping lawn is shored up by a cement retaining wall that is next to the road.) Keep to the right at the fork to stay on the main road, then continue another 2 kilometers until you reach a stop sign at a "T" junction. Turn left. In less than 200 meters, you will pass the blue-and-white Vlachata village sign.
After the village sign, continue east 3.9 kilometers and take note when you cross a short bridge with yellow metal side rails. (By that point, you will be in Simotata, the next village east of Vlychada.) At the bridge, start watching for your turnoff. 400-500 meters past the bridge, you will pass a blue-and-white sign that indicated you are leaving Simotata. 500 meters after that, turn right at the sign for Sissia Monastery.
Once you turn, follow the road for 900 meters and the pavement will end next to the small Sissia Monastery (a pale yellow church with white and blue trim). After the monastery, the road turns to gravel and continues to the beach, but it becomes rougher the farther you go. Depending on your vehicle, you can drive all the way to the beach, or you can park next to the monastery (at coordinates 38.1007N, 20.6604E) and walk the entire length of the gravel portion of the road, or you can drive as far as you feel comfortable then park alongside the road and walk the rest of the way.
Follow the gravel road about 250 meters and you will reach the old Sissia Monastery, which in ruins. (You can probably drive at least that far in any kind of vehicle.) The road forks next to the monastery. Follow the left fork, which is the fork that is most directly straight ahead. The road will begin to descend more steeply as it winds to the beach, landing toward the northwest end of the beach. If you begin your walk at the current monastery (where the paved road ends), the total walk is 1.2 kilometers, with an elevation loss of about 120 meters. If you begin your walk at the old monastery (in ruins), the total walk is slightly less than one kilometer, with an elevation loss of about 90 meters.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (next to the current monastery).
This placemark pertains to Sissia Beach.

unnamed cove southeast of Sissia Beach
This placemark pertains to Sissia Beach.

Stella Vineyard Beach (probably only textile)
This placemark pertains to Sissia Beach.

turnoff toward Sissia Monastery

parking area next to monastery

short bridge with yellow metal side rails

Sissia Monastery (current location)

Sissia Monastery (old location, in ruins)

"leaving Simotata" sign
Simotata village limit sign at the east end of the village
(Driving east, this sign indicates you are leaving Simotata.)

rocks at NW end of Sissia Beach

headland at SE end of Sissia Beach

Stella Vineyard Studios

private stairs to Stella Vineyard Beach

road from monastery to beach

Kanali Beach
The village of Vlachata is located about midway along the southern coast of Kefalonia. Below Vlachata and a conglomeration of smaller neighboring villages, there is a chain of three beaches that collectively spans over 3 kilometers. On the eastern end of span, Lourdas Beach is about 1.2 kilometers long, and there is a beachfront road that runs along almost all of its length, which makes it very easy to access. On the western end of the span, Trapezaki Beach is just 200 meters long, and it is also easy to access, with adjacent parking. Both Lourdas and Trapezaki are textile beaches that are lined with sun chairs during peak season. The middle beach of the span is Kanali Beach, and it is about 1.7 kilometers long, backed by verdant, gradually sloping cliffs. A peculiarity of Kanali Beach is that hardly anyone seems to know its actual name. The eastern end of Kanali is typically regarded as an extension of Lourdas Beach, and the western end is typically regarded as an extension of Trapezaki Beach. The name "Kanali" is not well known, and there seems to be only one sign will the name of the beach. That sign leads to a small parking area at the top of a cliff, from which there is a path down to the beach. That path is surprisingly well defined and maintained, especially considering that is a rather obscure beach access. There are handrails and cement surfacing along the more difficult stretches, making the hike down easy.
The middle stretch of Kanali Beach is far enough away from both Lourdas and Trapezaki that it is always uncrowded, and nude bathing is quite common. The area shaded lightly in red is a rough approximation of the part of the beach where most nude bathing takes place. It is an expanse of about 700 meters. If you park at Lourdas or Trapezaki, you will have to walk along the beach about 10 minutes to get to the nude area, where there is likely to be just a small number of nudists with plenty of space between them. If you park at the small cliff-top area (referenced in the previous paragraph) and follow the well-defined path downhill to the beach, you will land directly on the nude area of the beach. At the end of the path, you will be roughly halfway between Trapezaki and Lourdas. You are likely to find more nudists east of the path landing (to the left when facing the sea, toward Lourdas). There are tavernas at Lourdas and Trapezaki that you will pass along the way if you park at either of those beaches.
village, island, island group, country:  Vlachata, Kefalonia, Ionian, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fLCFQE
There are several ferry ports in Kefalonia. The most important is at Sami, which is in a prominent harbor about midway up the island's eastern coastline. From the ferry port, turn right. You will be on a harborfront road, with the water on your right-hand side. In 200 meters, you will reach a plaza. Cut through the plaza, look for the sign that points toward Argostoli, then follow that road. 400-500 meters farther on, you will reach two blue overhead panels near the southern edge of Sami. One sign points straight ahead toward Argostoli, Poros, Pyrgi, Grizata, Drogkarati and Chaliotata. The other sign points right toward Lixouri, Fiskardo, Agia Efimia, Karavomylos, Melissani and Poulata.
Keep straight ahead (toward Argostoli, etc). Continue 1.2 kilometers to a fork, where the left fork is signed for Grizata, Pyrgi, Avythos and Poros and the right fork is signed for Chaliotata and Argostoli. Take the right fork (toward Chaliotata and Argostoli).
Continue in a generally southwesterly direction for 13.1 kilometers, then turn left toward the Robola cooperative winery. (There are a lot of signs at the turnoff, mostly in Greek, but several landmarks make the turnoff easy to find. At one corner, there is a stone bus stop shelter. At another corner, there is a large billboard advertising the winery, next to a dollhouse-size likeness of a church atop a pedestal.)
Follow the road southeast and before long you will pass through the western edge of the twin villages of Fragata and Valsamata. (On signs, Fragata is written as Φραγκατα and ΦΡΑΓΚΑΤΑ, the latter form being all uppercase, while Valsamata may appear as Βαλσαματα or ΒΑΛΣΑΜΑΤΑ.) 2.2 kilometers from the start of the road, watch for the sign indicating you are leaving Fragata, keeping in mind the name of the village appears only in Greek on the sign, as Φραγκατα. About 100 meters past that sign, keep to the right at a fork, following signs for St. Gerasimos and the Robola winery. About 1.2 kilometers farther on, you will pass the St. Gerasimos monastery on your right. The monastery consists of multiple buildings, the most prominent of which is a large main church with a red-tiled dome. (This is the church that is depicted in miniature by the previously referenced dollhouse-sized likeness.) At the southern edge of the monastery, the road will bend sharply to the left and you will see a sign indicating that it is 500 meters to Mixata.
Continue 1.4 kilometers, passing through the hamlet of Mixata (a.k.a. Mihata), until you reach a three-way junction where there is a red-roofed bus stop shelter. Turn right, directly opposite the bus stop shelter, following the sign that points toward ΒΛΑΧΑΤΑ and ΜΟΥΣΑΤΑ (which are, respectively, Vlachata and Moussata, written in uppercase Greek). Continue southeast another 3.7 kilometers to an unsigned fork that is next to an isolated villa. (It is a large yellow stucco house perched slightly uphill on the left, and its open, sloping lawn is shored up by a cement retaining wall that is next to the road.) Keep to the right at the fork to stay on the main road, then continue another 2 kilometers until you reach a stop sign at a "T" junction. Turn left. In less than 200 meters, you will pass the blue-and-white Vlachata village sign.
After the village sign, continue east 400-500 meters, then turn right at the sign for Lourdas Beach. From that point, the road will twist and turn a number of times at it gradually winds down toward the sea. Follow the road for 1.2 kilometers to the first four-way intersection, where you will see two blue signs: one points straight ahead toward Lourdas Beach; the other points right toward Trapezaki Beach. There are three ways to continue to Kanali Beach.
Option 1: Go to the central access of Kanali Beach
Turn right at the four-way intersection, following the sign toward Trapezaki Beach. Proceed west for 900 meters, then turn left at the sign for Kanali Beach. Follow the road about 200 meters to its end and park alongside the road, around coordinates 38.1185N, 20.6181E. A broad and well-defined footpath begins at the point where the driveable part of the road ends. The path winds downhill to the beach. The total walk is 400 meters, with an elevation loss of 60 meters. When you land at the beach, you will be along a remote stretch of beach where nudity is possible. Nudity is most likely to occur to the east of the path landing (i.e., to the left when facing the sea). If you walk east about 200 meters, the sand is interrupted by a short rocky expanse. About 300 meters farther on, you will reach a cluster of boulders. The boulders are generally regarded as the end of the nude area.
Option 2: Access Kanali Beach from Trapezaki Beach
Follow the Option 1 directions as though you are going to the central access of Kanali Beach, but do not turn at the Kanali Beach sign. Instead, continue west another 800-900 meters to a stop sign at a four-way intersection. There is a small gazebo at one corner. Turn left. (There is a sign pointing toward Trapezaki Beach, but it is hard to see until you have already turned.) Continue just under one kilometer to parking next to the beach, at coordinates 38.1178N, 20.6102E. Next to the parking area, there are three landmarks that are all close together: a taverna, a gazebo and a small boat harbor formed by two rock jetties. Facing the sea near those landmarks, Trapezaki Beach is the small beach to your right. The beach to your left is actually Kanali Beach, but there are no signs to that effect, so it is generally regarded as part of Trapezaki Beach. Head east across the beach (to the left when facing the sea). In about 800 meters, you will reach the point where the downhill path to Kanali Beach lands on the beach (i.e., the point where you would land on the beach if you followed Option 1). By that point you will be in the area where nudity is generally acceptable. (See also the last four sentences under Option 1.)
Option 3: Access Kanali Beach from Lourdas Beach
Keep straight ahead at the four-way intersection and continue another 1.4 kilometers to a "T" with a beachfront road. At that point, the sea will be in full view directly in front of you. Turn right onto the beachfront road and follow it west about 400 meters, then park as close as possible to the point where the pavement ends and the road narrows and turns to gravel. Parking is along the road, around coordinates 38.1142N, 20.6314E. At the end of the pavement, you will be at the far west end of Lourdas Beach. Facing the sea, look to your right and you will see a couple of rock jetties that form a small boat harbor. Kanali Beach is just beyond (i.e., west of) the boat harbor, out of view. To get there, you can follow the coastline next to the boat harbor, or you can follow the gravel road that continues beyond the pavement. If you follow the gravel road, you will pass through the Lithero Fish Taverna, which overlooks the small boat harbor. (The path through the taverna is a public right of way.) Either way, it takes just minute or two to get from one beach to the other. Once you get to Kanali Beach, continue walking west (i.e., to the right when facing the sea) about 300 meters until you get to a cluster of large boulders, which are scattered such that you can get past them without too much scrambling. Once you pass the boulders, you will be at the start of the stretch of the beach where nude bathing is most apt to occur. About 300 meters beyond (i.e., west of) the boulders, the sand is interrupted by a short rocky expanse. If you cross that rocky expanse and continue about 200 meters, you will reach the point where the downhill path to Kanali Beach lands on the beach (i.e., the point where you would land on the beach if you followed Option 1). The Trapezaki access is 800 meters farther west, and is best to be clothed before you get too close to that point.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Kanali).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Trapezaki).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Lourdas).

Vlachata village sign

small parking area for Kanali Beach

parking at Trapezaki Beach
The parking area is next to these three landmarks: a taverna, a gazebo and a small boat harbor formed by two rock jettie.s

streetside parking at far west end of Lourdas Beach

large boulders

rocky stretch

4-way intersection with gazebo at one corner

Lithero Fish Taverna
located just above a small boat harbor that is formed by a couple of rock jetties

4-way intersection
4-way intersection described in the driving directions just before the three access options

approximate midpoint of Lourdas Beach (textile)

Trapezaki Beach (textile)

route from Vlachata village sign to parking (central access)

route to parking at Trapezaki Beach

route to parking at Lourdas Beach

steps/path to beach

Megali Petra & Paliolinos Beaches

Megali Petra Beach, Avithos Beach and Paliolinos Beach are adjacent southwest-facing beaches that collectively span a little over 2 kilometers. They are located toward the southwestern corner of the main body of Kefalonia, close to the island's airport and about 11 to 12 kilometer's by car from Argostoli, the island's capital. There are parking areas adjacent to Avithos Beach and Paliolinos Beach, while Megali Petra Beach is accessed by a short walk from Avithos Beach. Along the collective span of the three beaches, there are three areas where nudists are often present. Avithos Beach is the middle beach of the three, and there area rocky areas at both ends of the beach that are easily crossed to get to Megali Petra Beach or Paliolinos Beach. The parking area and taverna are located near the northwest end of Avithos. Next to the parking area, there is a sandy expanse of less than 200 meters that is lined with sun chairs during summer. As you move to the southeast (to the left when facing the sea), the beach becomes narrower and rockier. The entire expanse of Avithos is generally textile only.
Megali Petra Beach is just beyond the northwest end of Avithos, just a short walk from parking at Avithos. As you step onto Megali Petra Beach, you will see a very prominent rock monolith that is just barely offshore. It is an exceptionally massive boulder, and it is the can't-miss landmark for which the beach is named: Megali Petra means "Big Rock" in Greek. Megali Petra Beach is roughly 250-300 meters long, and the rock monolith is next to the middle area of the beach, effectively dividing the beach into two segments that are comparable in size. The part of the beach that is beyond (i.e., northwest of) the monolith is generally regarded as a nude area.
Paliolinos is roughly a kilometer long, and it is quite narrow, especially at high tide. All along the beach, there are multiple clusters of boulders. Paliolinos does not have any really long expanses of sand, but there are small patches of sand amid the boulders. The effect of its particular geography is that Paliolinos is really a series of small niche beaches. Overall, Paliolinos is lightly attended, but the immediate vicinity of the parking area is still generally regarded as textile. (There is a shelter in the parking area that is a framework for a seasonal taverna, but you probably should not count on the taverna being open.) The parking area is roughly at the center of Paliolinos Beach. Move away from the parking area in either direction and you are likely encounter nudists in the niche beaches formed by the boulders. If you go to the left when you face the sea, you will be moving toward the southeast end of Paliolinos. Very quickly you will get to niches where nudity may be possible, but if only textiles are about you may need to scramble over some boulders to explore the harder-to-reaches niches a little farther on. If you go to the right when you face the sea, you will be moving toward the northwest end of Paliolinos. If you continue 400-500 meters from the access point, you will reach a rocky outcropping that separates Paliolinos and Avithos. Just before the outcropping, there is an expanse of sand about 50 meters long that is a favorite spot for nude bathers. You can go around the outcropping and continue across the length of Avithos Beach to get to Megali Petra Beach. Likewise, if you park at Avithos and head to the left as you face the sea, just beyond the outcropping you will be at the northwest end of Paliolinos.
This placemark pertains to Megali Petra Beach, Paliolinos Beach Northwest and Paliolinos Beach Southeast.

Megali Petra Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Megali Petra Beach, Paliolinos Beach Northwest and Paliolinos Beach Southeast.)
village, island, island group, country:  Kaligata/Metaxata/Klismata, Kefalonia, Ionian, Greece
There are 23 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Megali Petra Beach, Paliolinos Beach Northwest and Paliolinos Beach Southeast.

Paliolinos Beach Northwest
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Megali Petra Beach, Paliolinos Beach Northwest and Paliolinos Beach Southeast.)
village, island, island group, country:  Kaligata/Metaxata/Klismata, Kefalonia, Ionian, Greece
There are 23 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Megali Petra Beach, Paliolinos Beach Northwest and Paliolinos Beach Southeast.

Paliolinos Beach Southeast
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Megali Petra Beach, Paliolinos Beach Northwest and Paliolinos Beach Southeast.)
village, island, island group, country:  Kaligata/Metaxata/Klismata, Kefalonia, Ionian, Greece
There are 23 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Megali Petra Beach, Paliolinos Beach Northwest and Paliolinos Beach Southeast.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2frAr7Q
Keep straight ahead (toward Argostoli, etc). Continue 1.2 kilometers to a fork, where the left fork is signed for Grizata, Pyrgi, Avythos and Poros and the right fork is signed for Chaliotata and Argostoli. Take the right fork (toward Chaliotata and Argostoli).
From that point, follow the road in a generally southwesterly direction across the interior of the island for 20 kilometers until you reach a red light at a "T" junction. When you reach that "T," you will be facing a small bay, with the town of Argostoli clearly visible on the opposite side of the bay. Turn left at the "T," following the sign for Argostoli. (The other direction is signed for Lixouri and Fiskardo.) Continue 2.4 kilometers to a roundabout, then go to the left, following the sign for Poros and Skala (NOT Argostoli, which is in the other direction.)
When you leave the roundabout, you will be at the start of a four-lane divided expressway. Follow the road southeast for 2.5 kilometers to a junction where the expressway ends. Keep straight ahead, following the sign for Pessada, Lakithra and the airport. Continue southeast 2 kilometers to a fork that is just past a green Municipality of Livathos sign. Keep to the left, following the sign for Pessada. Continue one kilometer farther to a stop sign at a four-way intersection.
Turn right at the intersection, following signs for Lakithra and the airport. Follow the road southwest just 200-300 meters and take note of the left-hand turnoff toward Kerameies and Spartia. On the sign, the names of those two villages appear only in Greek, as Κεραμιες and Σπαρτια. At the turnoff, there is also a large cluster of signs pointing toward various local accommodations and eateries.
To go to Avithos Beach, for access to Megali Petra Beach or Paliolinos Beach:
Do NOT turn toward Kerameies and Spartia. Keep straight ahead, continuing southwest about 800 meters farther, then turn left at signs for Avithos Beach and the airport. (From that point, it is 3.6 kilometers to Avithos Beach along roads that wind in a generally southerly direction, but not all of the subsequent turns are well signed.)
300-400 meters from your last turn, you will reach junction where there is a tree in the middle of the road. Turn right. (You should then immediately see a "Kindergarten, Slow" sign.) About 300 meters farther on, you will pass a blue Kourkoumelata village sign. 400-500 meters farther on, turn left at a "T" (opposite the direction that is signed for Sarlata). 300-400 meters farther on, you will pass the Kaligata village sign, but it is written only in Greek as Καλιγατα. Just past the sign, keep to the left at a fork, where there is another sign pointing to Avithos Beach. (The right fork goes to the airport.) Continue 800-900 meters to a three-way junction where the road straight ahead turns to gravel. Turn right, staying on the paved road. Continue 600-700 meters to another three-way junction where the road straight ahead turns to gravel. Turn left, staying on the paved road. 500 meters farther on, you will reach a beach parking lot at the end of the road, at coordinates 38.1024N, 20.5380E.
To go to Megali Petra Beach, look to your right facing the sea from the parking area at Avithos Beach. You will be very close to the rocky area at the northwest end Avithos. Walk across the rocky area and very quickly you will reach another expanse of sand. At that point, you will be on Megali Petra Beach, which extends a few hundred meters. When you first get to the beach, you will be in an area where a gully opens out to the beach. Farther along the beach, there is a very prominent rock monolith that is just barely offshore. Keep walking until you are just past the monolith and you will reach the final stretch of the beach, which is the nude area. It is a sandy expanse of about 100 meters before the coastline becomes rocky. The total walk from the parking area is just 300-400 meters.
To go to Paliolinos Beach, look to your left facing the sea from the parking area at Avithos Beach. Walk about 500 meters along the beach, then continue around a rocky outcropping. On the other side of the outcropping, you will be at a small sandy niche at the northwest end of Paliolinos, which is one of the two nude areas of the beach. If you keep walking, the beach quickly becomes rocky again. In about 400 meters, you will be at the main access point of Paliolinos, which is a textile area. (It is where you would end up if you followed the "To go directly to Paliolinos Beach" directions below.) Continue walking another 300-400 meters to a collection of small sandy niches at the southeast end of Paliolinos, which is the other nude area of the beach.
To go directly to Paliolinos Beach:
Turn left toward Kerameies and Spartia (i.e., Κεραμιες and Σπαρτια on the sign). Follow the road southeast for 1.7 kilometers to a three-way junction where there is another larger cluster of signs pointing toward various local accommodations and eateries. Turn right, toward Korianna and Klismata. On the sign, the names of those two villages appear only in Greek, as Κοριαννα and Κλεισματα. From that point, there are no more turns to make. At all subsequent junctions, stay on the paved road if the junction is with a gravel road or keep straight ahead if the junction is with another paved road. In 2.9 kilometers, you will reach the dead of the road at a small parking area next to Paliolinos Beach, at coordinates 38.0964N, 20.5468E. (There do not seem to be any signs with the name of the beach, either at the beach or along the way.)
If you go to the left as you face the sea, in 300-400 meters you will reach a collection of small sandy niches at the southeast end of Paliolinos, which is one of the two nude areas of the beach. Or, if you go to the right as you face the sea, in about 400 meters you will reach a sandy niche just before a rocky outcropping. That niche is the other nude area, at the northwest end of Paliolinos. If you were to keep walking beyond the outcropping, you would be on Avithos Beach, with Megali Petra Beach beyond its opposite end.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Avithos).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Paliolinos).
This placemark pertains to Megali Petra Beach, Paliolinos Beach Northwest and Paliolinos Beach Southeast.

4-way intersection one kilometer east of "Municipality of Livathos" sign
This placemark pertains to Megali Petra Beach, Paliolinos Beach Northwest and Paliolinos Beach Southeast.

turnoff signed for Avithos Beach & airport

"Kindergarten, Slow" sign at junction with tree in middle of road

Kourkoumelata village sign

Avithos/Sarlata "T" junction

Kaligata (Καλιγατα) village sign

Avithos/airport fork

junction with gravel road (stay on paved road)

parking at Avithos Beach

Avithos Beach (textile)

gully that opens out to beach

prominent rock monolith barely offshore

turnoff toward Kerameies (Κεραμιες) & Spartia (Σπαρτια)

turnoff toward Korianna (Κοριαννα) & Klismata (Κλεισματα)

parking at Paliolinos Beach

rocky outcropping

route from 4-way intersection to parking (Avithos)

route from Kerameies/Spartia turnoff to parking (Paliolinos)

Myrtos Beach

Myrtos Beach
Myrtos Beach is the most famous beach is Kefalonia, and it is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Greece. Myrtos is located in a semicircular bay on the west side of the peninsular land mass that forms the northernmost part of Kefalonia. Composed of granules the size of pea gravel, Myrtos is a white shingle beach that is about 750 meters long. The beach is renowned for its exceptionally dramatic backdrop, with mountainsides rising steeply on both ends of the beach but more gradually behind the center of the beach. Despite the rugged terrain, Myrtos is easy to access. An asphalted road twists and turns all the way down to the beach. Along the central area of the beach next to the parking area, there is a snack bar along with restrooms and showers, and sun chairs and umbrellas can be rented. Myrtos is a very popular beach that is overwhelmingly textile, and there will be only textiles along the most populated central part of the beach. However, if you walk north a few hundred meters (to the right when facing the sea), there are usually nudists present at the northern extreme of the beach. Nudists constitute just a tiny fraction of the overall crowd.
At the southern extreme of Myrtos Beach (to the left when facing the sea), there is a cave that is partially filled with water. The amount of water varies with the tide. It is worth going to see. However, nudity is not possible at the southern end of the beach since there is too much textile traffic. There is a scenic overlook above the northern end of Myrtos that provides the best photo ops of the entire beach. To get there, refer to the driving directions. Instead of turning onto the Myrtos access road, keeping going north another 2.2 kilometers and you will find the scenic overlook on the left, just past a red-and-yellow triangular panel that indicates an upcoming double curve.
village, island, island group, country:  Divarata, Kefalonia, Ionian, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eqhRAm
Turn right (toward Lixouri, etc). Proceed west 1.3 kilometers to a fork. Keep to the right, staying on the main road as it curves northward. About 400 meters farther on, you will pass the Karavomylos village sign, then 600-700 meters after that you will pass a sign indicating you are leaving Karavomylos. Shortly after that sign, the road will begin to follow the coastline, with the sea visible on your right-hand side. Continue north along the coastline for 5.5 kilometers to the Agia Efimia village sign. After the village sign, continue 500 meters, then turn left at a sign for Drakopoulala and Makryotika. (The sign for Drakopoulala and Makryotika is situated such that it is difficult to see until you have already made the turn. You are looking for the first left after the Agia Efimia village sign that is not a dead-end road. There is a yellow telephone booth at the turnoff.)
Once you turn, you will begin going inland in a generally westerly direction. Continue 5.5 kilometers, passing through Drakopoulala and Makryotika, to a three-way junction where there is a blue sign with an arrow pointing straight ahead toward Argostoli and another arrow pointing right toward Sami and Agia Efimia. Keep straight ahead. Less than 100 meters farther on, keep to the right at a fork, staying on the main road. (The Georgakata village sign is at the start of the other fork, which goes uphill.) Continue another 2 kilometers to a four-way intersection, where there is a sign indicating that it is 28 kilometers to Lixouri. (By that point, you will be in the village of Divarata, but there do not seem to be any obvious signs that let you know where you are.) Turn right at the four-way intersection, following signs for Myrtos and Asos.
Once you turn, continue slightly less than 200 meters, then turn left at another Myrtos sign. At that point, you will be at the start of the Mytos Beach access road.
Follow the road west 2.4 kilometers to its end. The long parking area abuts the central area of the beach, at coordinates 38.3433N, 20.5369E. To shorten your walk to the nude area, park as far north as possible (i.e., as far right as possible when facing the sea), then continue on foot a short distance to the northern extreme of the beach.
This placemark pertains to Myrtos Beach.

start of Mytos Beach access road in Divarata
This placemark pertains to Myrtos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Myrtos Beach.

scenic overlook

cave

Mytos Beach access road

Mania Beach

Mania Beach
The Paliki peninsula dominates most of the western side of Kefalonia, and it is separated from the rest of the island by the prominent Argostoli Bay. One of the most renowned beaches of Paliki is Xi Beach, located on the south coast of the peninsula. It is distinctive for its orange-hued sand, and much of the beach is backed by walls of sheer gray rock. While Xi Beach used to draw a few nudists along its more remote western end, the general consensus in recent years seems to be that it is no longer a viable naturist location, with too many textiles exploring the beach. However, there is a headland at the far west end of Xi Beach, and beyond that headland is a relatively unknown expanse of coastline that draws few visitors but looks virtually identical to Xi Beach, with a narrow ribbon of orange sand and sheer walls of gray rock. It is unclear if there is a proper name that applies to the entire expanse, but at least part of this stretch of coastline is known as Mania Beach, so for simplicity we're going to call the entire length Mania Beach. This beach is attended by just a few naturists in the know.
There are two ways to get to Mania Beach. Heading southwest past the turnoff to Xi Beach, the first access to Mania Beach is an unmarked gravel road. If you follow that road, you will reach the low grassy headland that separates Xi Beach and Mania Beach. Facing the sea, Mania Beach is the beach to your right. Since the gravel road is an unsigned and little-known access, there is likely to be no one else around. If you walk west across the beach a little over 400 meters, you will reach a rocky stretch of about 100 meters below a slight headland, and there is more beach beyond it.
The main access to Mania Beach is farther southwest, where there is a paved road with a sign pointing to the beach. (It seems to be the only sign with the name "Mania" on it, so the name is not well known.) The paved road ends at the beach. From there, look to your left as you face the sea and you will see a slight rocky headland less than 100 meters away that blocks your view of the rest of the beach. Skirt around that headland and you will find lots more beach going east but few or no people. If you walk east just under 500 meters, you will reach the 100-meter-long rocky stretch mentioned in the previous paragraph, but you will be approaching from the opposite end.
Walking along the beach between the two accesses, the distance is just over one kilometer. All of that stretch can be regarded as potentially nudist, except for the small part of the beach that is visible from the end of the paved road. Besides the rocky stretch that is about halfway along the beach, there are also smaller rock screes all along the beach. Because the beach is very narrow and has intermittent rocky patches, at high tide it is difficult to explore the entire length of the beach between the two access points.
There are no amenities at Mania, not even at the end of the paved road. However, if you follow the driving directions but continue southwest past the signed turnoff to Mania Beach, then 800 meters farther along you will reach a taverna, which is on the left. At that point, you will be in an area called Kounopetra, which is mostly just a scattering of vacation properties. If you keep to the left at the three-way junction that is just past the taverna and continue another 600 meters, you will reach the end of the road, next to the sea. There is a blue Kounopetra sign. At that point, you will be on Cape Kounopetra, a low projection of land that forms the southernmost point of the Paliki peninsula. Facing the sea at the cape, look to your left and you will have a panoramic view of the entire length of Mania Beach across the water in the distance.
village, island, island group, country:  Kounopetra, Kefalonia, Ionian, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fJQT6p
Turn right (toward Lixouri, etc). Proceed west 1.3 kilometers to a fork. Keep to the right, staying on the main road as it curves northward. About 400 meters farther on, you will pass the Karavomylos village sign, then 600-700 meters after that you will pass a sign indicating you are leaving Karavomylos. Shortly after that sign, the road will begin to follow the coastline, with the sea visible on your right-hand side. Continue north along the coastline for 5.5 kilometers to the Agia Efimia village sign. After the village sign, continue 500 meters, then turn left at a sign for Drakopoulala and Makryotika. (The sign for Drakopoulala and Makryotika is situated such that it is difficult to see until you have already made the turn. You are looking for the first left after the Agia Efimia village sign that is not a dead-end road. There is a yellow telephone booth at the turnoff.)
Once you turn, you will begin going inland in a generally westerly direction. Continue 5.5 kilometers, passing through Drakopoulala and Makryotika, to a three-way junction where there is a blue sign with an arrow pointing straight ahead toward Argostoli and another arrow pointing right toward Sami and Agia Efimia. Keep straight ahead. Less than 100 meters farther on, keep to the right at a fork, staying on the main road. (The Georgakata village sign is at the start of the other fork, which goes uphill.) Continue another 2 kilometers to a four-way intersection, where there is a sign indicating that it is 28 kilometers to Lixouri. (By that point, you will be in the village of Divarata, but there do not seem to be any obvious signs that let you know where you are.) Keep straight ahead, toward Lixouri. After the four-way intersection, the road will begin to go uphill and will eventually curve westward, running above a portion of the northern coast of the island. (You will have great views of the sea on your right-hand side.) 12.1 kilometers beyond the four-way intersection in Divarata (after passing through Agkonas), turn right at a blue sign that points toward Zola, Lixouri and Livadi.
Upon turning, follow the road in a generally westerly direction for 8.4 kilometers to a three-way junction. (For most of that distance, you will be following the north end of Argostoli Bay, with the water on your left-hand side.) At the three-way junction, keep to the left, staying on the main road and following the sign for Lixouri. Continue south for 11.3 kilometers (passing all the way through Lixouri) to the blue-and-white Mantzavinata village sign. The sign is written only in Greek, as Μαντζαβινατα, and it is 2.6 meters past the sign that indicates you are leaving Lixouri.
After the village sign, continue 700 meters to a three-way junction, where one sign points straight ahead toward Kounopetra and Xy and another sign points right toward Vouni and Chavriata. Keep straight ahead. Less than 50 meters farther on, the road will fork. Keep to the right, following the signs for Kounopetra, Agios Nikolaos-Vatsa Beach and Vrahinari Beach. (The left fork is signed for Xi Beach.)
Once you leave the fork, continue southwest 1.2 kilometers and the road will make a sharp leftward curve at another sign that points toward Kounopetra. After the curve and the sign, continue about 400 meters to the next sharp curve, where the road bends rightward. At that curve, there is a gravel road that veers off to the left. There are no signs, and you've missed it by 300-400 meters if you pass Almyros Studios. If you follow the gravel road, you can access Mania Beach from its far east end. If you continue along the main (paved) road, you can continue to the main beach access, with paved roads all the way.
To go to the far east end of the beach:
Veer left onto the unsigned gravel road. Follow it about 1.4 kilometers and park next to the sea, at coordinates 38.1550N, 20.4056E. You will be on the low headland that separates Xi Beach and Mania Beach. Facing the sea, Mania Beach is to your right. If you were to walk west all the way across the beach, skirting around a few slight headlands along the way, in a little over one kilometer you would reach the main access of Mania Beach.
To go to the main access of the beach:
Do not turn onto the gravel road. Continue west along the main road another 600-700 meters (passing Almyros Studios) to a fork where both road are paved. Veer to the left. (The right fork is signed for Agios Nikolaos and Batsa.) Continue another 500–600 meters, then take the next possible left, where there is a sign pointing toward Mania Beach. Follow the road about 400 meters and the asphalt will abruptly end at the sand, just a few paces from the water. Parking is alongside the road, around coordinates 38.1558N, 20.3928E. Facing the sea at the end of the road, look to your left (east) and will see a slight headland where the sand ends, less than 100 meter away. You will have to skirt around that headland to get to the next stretch of sand. If you were to continue walking east a little over one kilometer farther, you would reach the access at the far east end of Mania Beach.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (far east end of beach).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (main access).
This placemark pertains to Mania Beach.

Mantzavinata village sign
This placemark pertains to Mania Beach.

start of unsigned gravel road
start of the unsigned gravel road (traced in orange) that goes to the headland that separates Xi Beach and Mania Beach
This placemark pertains to Mania Beach.

Almyros Studios

taverna

Cape Kounopetra

Xi Beach (textile)

route from Mantzavinata village sign to start of unsigned gravel road

route to parking at main area of Mania Beach, via paved roads

route to parking east of Mania Beach, via gravel road

Platia Ammos Beach

Platia Ammos Beach
The Paliki peninsula dominates most of the western side of Kefalonia, and it is separated from the rest of the island by the prominent Argostoli Bay. Platia Ammos Beach is located on the western side of the peninsula, about 15 kilometers by car from Lixouri, the principal village of Paliki that is located along the bay on the eastern side of the peninsula. Platia Ammos has one of the most stunning backdrops of any beaches on the island, with a rocky and rugged mountainside sloping steeply down to the sea. The main sandy expanse of the beach is about 600 meters long. The beach is accessed by a rather breathtaking staircase that would be terrifying were it not for the handrails. Even with handrails, the descent may be a bit nerve wracking for those prone to vertigo. The parking area is about 100 meters above sea level, and almost the entire descent is one stair step after the next. Since there are several hundred steps, be sure you are in shape for the climb back up before you commit to going all the way down.
Due to the challenging access, Platia Ammos is never crowded, evening during peak season. There is always ample room for nudists and textiles to share the beach. The stairs land on the far southwest end of the beach. Facing the sea at the bottom of the stairs, the beach extends to your right (northeast). Walk across the beach a few hundred meters until you are beyond the textiles and you are apt to encounter nude bathers. If you continue beyond the main expanse of the beach, there is a narrower, boulder-strewn northeastern extension of the beach that can be explored if the tide is low enough.
There are no amenities at Platia Ammos, either at beach level or at the top of the cliff. If you follow the given driving directions, you will pass the Kipouria Monastery about 1.4 kilometers before you get to the turnoff to the beach. There is a taverna between the monastery and the beach turnoff.
village, island, island group, country:  Kaminarata, Kefalonia, Ionian, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eR2GPa
Turn right (toward Lixouri, etc). Proceed west 1.3 kilometers to a fork. Keep to the right, staying on the main road as it curves northward. About 400 meters farther on, you will pass the Karavomylos village sign, then 600-700 meters after that you will pass a sign indicating you are leaving Karavomylos. Shortly after that sign, the road will begin to follow the coastline, with the sea visible on your right-hand side. Continue north along the coastline for 5.5 kilometers to the Agia Efimia village sign. After the village sign, continue 500 meters, then turn left at a sign for Drakopoulala and Makryotika. (The sign for Drakopoulala and Makryotika is situated such that it is difficult to see until you have already made the turn. You are looking for the first left after the Agia Efimia village sign that is not a dead-end road. There is a yellow telephone booth at the turnoff.)
Once you turn, you will begin going inland in a generally westerly direction. Continue 5.5 kilometers, passing through Drakopoulala and Makryotika, to a three-way junction where there is a blue sign with an arrow pointing straight ahead toward Argostoli and another arrow pointing right toward Sami and Agia Efimia. Keep straight ahead. Less than 100 meters farther on, keep to the right at a fork, staying on the main road. (The Georgakata village sign is at the start of the other fork, which goes uphill.) Continue another 2 kilometers to a four-way intersection, where there is a sign indicating that it is 28 kilometers to Lixouri. (By that point, you will be in the village of Divarata, but there do not seem to be any obvious signs that let you know where you are.) Keep straight ahead, toward Lixouri. After the four-way intersection, the road will begin to go uphill and will eventually curve westward, running above a portion of the northern coast of the island. (You will have great views of the sea on your right-hand side.) 12.1 kilometers beyond the four-way intersection in Divarata (after passing through Agkonas), turn right at a blue sign that points toward Zola, Lixouri and Livadi.
Upon turning, follow the road in a generally westerly direction for 8.4 kilometers to a three-way junction. (For most of that distance, you will be following the north end of Argostoli Bay, with the water on your left-hand side.) At the three-way junction, keep to the left, staying on the main road and following the sign for Lixouri. Continue south for 6.1 kilometers, then turn right at a "Ring Road" sign. (At that point, you will be at the northern edge of Lixouri. You will bypass the town center by turning onto the ring road.)
Follow the ring road southwest for 800 meters to the first four-way intersection, where you will see a gas station and a supermarket on opposite sides of the road. Keep straight ahead through that intersection and continue 300-400 meters to an irregular junction of several roads. The location is recognizable by the yellow metal fencing that is along one or both sides of all the roads that radiate from the junction. When you reach the junction, first veer right, then almost immediately thereafter make a hard right turn at a large blue sign that points toward multiple locations: Havdata, Mantoukata, Favatata, Koronato Monastery and Kipouria Monastery.
Follow the road west for 3.9 kilometers and you will pass the Havdata village sign. After the village sign, continue another kilometer (staying to the left at all forks) until you reach a "T" junction where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn left, following the sign for the Kipouria Monastery. Proceed south 700-800 meters, then turn right at another Kipouria Monastery sign.
From that point, the road will begin to go uphill and wind westward around a mostly barren mountainside. In 5.3 kilometers, take note when you pass the Kipouria Monastery, which is on the left side of the road. The monastery is perched above the sea, and the name of the monastery is written in uppercase Greek letters next to its arched entryway: ΙΕΡΑ ΜΟΝΗ ΚΗΠΟΥΡΑΙΦΝ
By the time you reach the monastery, the road will be going northeast above the coastline. After the monastery, continue northeast another 1.4 kilometers, then turn left at the Platia Ammos sign. Follow the road for one kilometer to parking at its end, at coordinates 38.2138N, 20.3531E. The parking area is roughly 100 meters above sea level, and from there a stepped walkway descends to the beach. There are several hundred steps, and there are handrails along the steeper parts. You will land on the far southwest end of the beach. From there, walk a few hundred meters toward the opposite (northeast) of the beach, beyond the textiles.
This placemark pertains to Platia Ammos Beach.

Kipouria Monastery (ΙΕΡΑ ΜΟΝΗ ΚΗΠΟΥΡΑΙΦΝ)
This placemark pertains to Platia Ammos Beach.

taverna
This placemark pertains to Platia Ammos Beach.

route from Kipouria Monastery to parking

winding stairs to beach

Petani & Agia Eleni Beaches

The Paliki peninsula dominates most of the western side of Kefalonia, and it is separated from the rest of the island by the prominent Argostoli Bay. Petani Beach is located on the western side of the peninsula, below a conglomeration of small villages that includes Vovikes, Vilatoria and Agia Thekli. The beach is about 15 kilometers by car from Lixouri, the principal village of Paliki that is located along the bay on the eastern side of the peninsula. Petani Beach is quite picturesque, located in a semicircular bay and backed by verdant cliffs. It is easy to access, with a road leading to parking adjacent to the beach. There are two tavernas next to the main expanse of the beach, which is lined with sun chair and umbrellas during summer. That area is always textile, but nudity sometimes occurs toward either extreme of the beach. However, the crowd can be dispersed over the entire beach during July and August, so be advised that the nudist potential of Petani is greatly diminished during peak season.
If you are facing the sea next to the tavernas, look to your right and you will see a small boat launch about 200 meters away. Head in that direction (northeast) and continue beyond the boat launch, where you will find a boulder-strewn expanse of sand that is a little over 100 meters long. A few nudists are sometimes present along that stretch, particularly toward the far end (farthest from the boat launch).
If you are facing the sea next to the tavernas, look to your left (southwest). Just after the tavernas, cliffs begin to rise behind the beach. In about 250 meters, there is a prominent scree of boulders that interrupts the continuity of the beach. As you head toward the boulders, you may encounter a few nude bathers. If there are too many textiles about, then clamber over the boulders, which stretch about 60 meters. On the other side, you will reach a final sandy stretch of the beach that mostly disappears at high tide. The hidden niche provides the most seclusion for nude bathing of any part of the beach, and it is probably the best bet for bare bathing during peak season.
Beyond the southwest end of Petani, there is a distinctive land formation, which you will see if you turn to your left when facing the sea. The land formation is a huge rocky mass that projects into the sea, barely connected to the mainland. It has the shape of a classic mountain, albeit a miniature mountain. From the mainland, the crest of the rock rises to a high point and then slopes downward. There is a small beach just before that rocky mass, but it is hidden from view. It is called Agia Eleni Beach. From Petani, Agia Eleni is so close, yet so far away. If you walk to the prominent scree of boulders mentioned in the previous paragraph (near the southwestern extreme of Petani), then Agia Eleni is just 400 meters farther on. However, the coastline is very rugged, so it is not possible to get from Petani to Agia Eleni on dry land, unless perhaps you are an especially agile and skilled rock climber. It the tide is low and the surf is calm, you may consider wading or rafting to Agia Eleni from Petani. Otherwise, you can drive there. Although Petani and Agia Eleni are quite close together, the driving distance from one beach to the other is 11.2 kilometers. (There is a shortcut that shaves off about 4 kilometers, but it involves driving on a narrow dirt track that may be a bit iffy.) Along the final stretch of the road to Agia Eleni, the road makes a series of switchbacks as it descends toward the sea. At the third switchback from the top, you will have an especially good panoramic view of Petani Beach.
From the Agia Eleni parking area, a short ramp leads down to the beach. Facing the sea at the end of the ramp, to your left there is a narrow ribbon of sand that extends about 50 meters. It mostly disappears at high tide, and it lies below a massive wall of white rock. At the base of the rock wall, there is a series of shallow caves along the length of the sandy expanse. (The mountain-shaped rocky mass described in the previous paragraph will also be to your left, but you can only see part of it, so it doesn't have nearly the same effect as when viewed from Petani Beach.) Now, look to your right from the end of the ramp and you will see a cluster of boulders. Clamber over and around the boulders and you will find a hidden pocket beach that is about 25 meters long. The far side of the pocket beach is formed by a rocky outcropping that projects into the sea, blocking the view of Petani Beach beyond it. If you are a strong enough rock climber, you can climb over the rocky outcropping to see Petani Beach, or you can wade or swim around the outcropping.
Agia Eleni is a lovely little beach that is a hidden jewel, and it is a bit of a challenge to find. The roads are narrow and crudely surfaced but passable for all vehicles. The beach used to be so lightly attended that it nearly always had nudist potential, but that has changed. Despite a lack of signage pointing the way, Agia Eleni seems to have been discovered, so during peak season there are typically far too many textiles present for nudity to be a viable option. The beach is worthwhile for its beauty and for the pastoral scenery along the way there, but remember that nudity is now largely limited to shoulder seasons. There are no amenities.
This placemark pertains to Petani Beach Northeast, Petani Beach Southwest and Agia Eleni Beach.

Petani Beach Northeast
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Petani Beach Northeast, Petani Beach Southwest and Agia Eleni Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Vovikes/Vilatoria/Agia Thekli, Kefalonia, Ionian, Greece
There are 24 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Petani Beach Northeast, Petani Beach Southwest and Agia Eleni Beach.

Petani Beach Southwest
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Petani Beach Northeast, Petani Beach Southwest and Agia Eleni Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Vovikes/Vilatoria/Agia Thekli, Kefalonia, Ionian, Greece
There are 24 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Petani Beach Northeast, Petani Beach Southwest and Agia Eleni Beach.

Agia Eleni Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Petani Beach Northeast, Petani Beach Southwest and Agia Eleni Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Vovikes/Vilatoria/Agia Thekli, Kefalonia, Ionian, Greece
There are 24 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Petani Beach Northeast, Petani Beach Southwest and Agia Eleni Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: https://bit.ly/2f1Bcns
Once you turn, you will begin going inland in a generally westerly direction. Continue 5.5 kilometers, passing through Drakopoulala and Makryotika, to a three-way junction where there is a blue sign with an arrow pointing straight ahead toward Argostoli and another arrow pointing right toward Sami and Agia Efimia. Keep straight ahead. Less than 100 meters farther on, keep to the right at a fork, staying on the main road. (The Georgakata village sign is at the start of the other fork, which goes uphill.) Continue another 2 kilometers to a four-way intersection, where there is a sign indicating that it is 28 kilometers to Lixouri. (By that point, you will be in the village of Divarata, but there do not seem to be any obvious signs that let you know where you are.) Keep straight ahead, toward Lixouri. After the four-way intersection, the road will begin to go uphill and will eventually curve westward, running above a portion of the northern coast of the island. (You will have great views of the sea on your right-hand side.) 12.1 kilometers beyond the four-way intersection in Divarata (after passing through Agkonas), turn right at a blue sign that points toward Zola, Lixouri and Livadi.
Upon turning, follow the road in a generally westerly direction for 8.4 kilometers to a three-way junction. (For most of that distance, you will be following the north end of Argostoli Bay, with the water on your left-hand side.) At the three-way junction, turn right, following the sign for Atheras, Petanoi Beach and Porto Atheras Beach. Go north 800-900 meters to the next three-way junction and turn left, following the sign for Petanoi Beach. (Straight ahead continues toward Atheras and Porto Atheras Beach.) Continue west 4.1 kilometers, where you will reach the final turnoff to Petani Beach.
To go to Petani Beach:
Turn right at the sign for Petanoi Beach. At that point, you will be at the start of the Petani Beach access road. (Signs insert an "o" into the name, but "Petani" is the more common spelling. There is a stretch of wooden split-rail fencing along both sides of the road near its start. Taverna Petani is also near the start of the road.) As you follow the road toward the beach, it will twist and turn a number of times as it winds downhill. In 2.4 kilometers, you will reach a fork next to the beach. At that point, the sea will be in full view straight ahead of you. Each fork leads a short distance to a parking area. There are areas of potential nude use at either end of the beach. If you want to explore the area at the northeast end of the beach, it is a little closer if you take the right fork and park next to the boat launch, at coordinates 38.2610N, 20.3773E. If you want to explore the area at the southwest end of the beach, it is a little closer if you take the left fork and park between the two tavernas, at coordinates 38.2628N, 20.3786E. The two parking areas are 250 meters apart.
To go to Agia Eleni Beach:
Keep straight ahead past the Petani Beach turnoff. Continue about one kilometer to a three-way junction and keep to the right (more or less just straight ahead), following the sign for Agia Thekli and Lixouri. About 100 meters farther on, you will reach the blue-and-white Vilatoria village sign, but the name of the village appears only in Greek, as Βιλατωρια. After the village sign, proceed slightly less than 200 meters and turn right onto an unmarked road. (It is the second possible right you can make after the village sign, but the first possible right is a road so inconspicuous that you are likely not to even notice it. At the point where you need to turn, the fencing that surrounds a house on one corner is an identifying landmark. The fence has a stone base, but the top part is a metal latticework, and there are two utility poles at the fence corner. If you reach a small plaza on your right that is paved in gray tiles and has a few park benches and street lamps, then you have missed the turnoff by 50 meters.)
Once you have found the correct turnoff in Vilatoria, the rest of the route is fairly straightforward. The road goes gradually uphill toward the coastline. It is paved at first but turns to gravel. Follow the road exactly one kilometer. Just before the road makes a rightward hairpin turn and ends at some sort of development that overlooks the sea, veer left onto another gravel road. At that point, you will begin heading southwest. Follow the road exactly one kilometer until you reach a three-way junction with a crudely paved road. You should see the corner of a low stone fence when you get to the junction. Turn right. (Once you turn, the low stone fence should be on your left-hand side.) At that point, you will begin heading northeast, and there are no more turns. Just keep straight ahead on the crudely paved road. For about one kilometer, the road has a very gradual downhill grade, then suddenly it begins to go more steeply downhill, making a number of switchbacks along its final 700 meters. The road ends in a small parking area that is just above the beach, at coordinates 38.2599N, 20.3670E.
[Note: There do not seem to be any signs that point the way to Agia Eleni Beach. The route described above, starting at the Petani Beach turnoff, is just under 5 kilometers long, and about 1/3 of it is along gravel roads. If you prefer to stick to paved roads all the way, it is possible, but 4 kilometers will be added to the trip, which will take you all the way through the villages of Agia Thekli and Damoulianata. We'll leave you to your wits or a GPS device to figure it out.]
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Petani, next to the tavernas).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Agia Eleni).
This placemark pertains to Petani Beach Northeast, Petani Beach Southwest and Agia Eleni Beach.

signed turnoff to Petani Beach
This placemark pertains to Petani Beach and Agia Eleni Beach.

parking between two tavernas
This placemark pertains to Petani Beach and Agia Eleni Beach.

parking next to boat launch
This placemark pertains to Petani Beach and Agia Eleni Beach.

boat launch

scree of boulders

narrow niche beach beyond scree of boulders

"Vilatoria" sign (north end of village)

"Vilatoria" sign (south end of village)

"Agia Thekli" sign (north end of village)

"Agia Thekli" sign (south end of village)

fork in Kalata

"Kalata" sign (south end of village)

3-way junction in Damoulianata / Rifi

small park plaza with several benches

one of two nearby forks

fork next to corner of low stone fence

rocky land mass

segment of road through Vilatoria, Agia Thekli & Kalata

road to Petani Beach

short spur road to boat launch

road connecting Kalata to Damoulianata & Rifi

roads from Damoulianata to Agia Eleni

alternate downhill road

area of occasional nude use, roughly

Lefkada

Agios Ioannis Beach is a west-facing beach in the far north of Lefkada, not far from the eponymous principal town of the island. The most prominent feature of the beach is a group of windmills. The windmills are short, squat, cylindrical towers made of stone. There are five of them altogether, three of which are in good repair and two of which are decaying. Assume you park at the main access to the beach, which is just southwest of the windmills. Walk northeast across the beach (to the right when facing the sea). Shortly you will pass through the main area of the beach, next to a cluster of bungalows and small hotels. The first windmill you will pass is next to a taverna. The second is one of the decaying windmills. The third and fourth are at the start of the part of the beach where kite surfing is popular. The fifth windmill is set a little farther apart from all the others, and it is also decaying. By the time you reach the fifth (and last) windmill, you will have walked about 800 meters. After the last windmill, the beach continues northeast about a kilometer farther until a prominent eastward bend of the coastline. That stretch is typically thinly populated, and nudity is somewhat common, particularly on quiet weekdays. However, if you visit on a weekend during peak season, you may find that there are too many textiles about for discreet nudity to occur, so keep your expectations in check.
Agios Ioannis is backed by a lagoon, and the immediate vicinity of the beach is quite flat, so the backdrop of the beach is quite distinct from that of most of the beaches that are farther south on the island where the terrain is quite mountainous. There is a road that runs between the beach and the lagoon, but the dunes are just high enough to provide seclusion from view of the road. Instead of parking at the main area of the beach, you can also park in a dirt area that is beyond all the windmills, closer to the area of the beach that is potentially nudist.
village, island, island group, country:  Lefkada (town), Lefkada, Ionian, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fSw9Yk
starting point  the floating bridge to Lefkada
Lefkada is connected to the mainland by a causeway that is a few kilometers long. At the end of the causeway, the final connection to the island is a short floating bridge. Immediately at the end of the bridge, you will reach a "T" junction.
To continue via the town of Lefkada:
At the "T" at the end of the floating bridge, turn left, following the sign that points toward Lefkada (i.e., the eponymous principal town of the island). You will then begin heading southwest on another causeway, which is lined with street lamps. A lagoon will be on your right-hand side, while a boat channel will be to your left. In one kilometer you will cross a short bridge with iron side rails. Just after the bridge, you will reach a small roundabout as you enter the town of Lefkada. Keep to the right. You will then be on the ring road that encircles the heart of the town, driving such that a line of shops is to your left while the lagoon is still to your right. In 400-500 meters, the road will begin to curve away from the lagoon, and you will reach a three-way junction next to a small arts complex, which is on the right. One of the buildings has the Greek lettering ΑΝΟΙΧΤΟ ΘΕΑΤΡΟ (amphitheater) and another has the lettering ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ (cultural center). Turn right at the three-way junction, following the sign for Agios Ioannis.
Once you turn, you will begin heading west, and shortly the lagoon will come back into view (still on your right-hand side). Continue 2 kilometers until you reach a three-way junction where the main road begins to curve rightward. There are lots of signs at the junction pointing toward apartments and rooms for rent. Which way you go at the junction depends on whether you want to park at the main area of the beach or go directly to the remote northern end of the beach.
To park at the main beach:
Turn left at the three-way junction. Proceed south a little over 100 meters, then turn right at an Agios Ioannis sign. Continue a bit less than 200 meters and the road will curve leftward (south) and will begin to run along the beach. Shortly after the curve, it becomes possible to park along the road just steps from the beach. Park as soon as possible, around coordinates 38.8358N, 20.6792E. Facing the sea, turn right and walk north about 800 meters until you have passed the five windmills along the beach, then continue a sufficiently discreet distance beyond the nearest textiles.
To continue directly to the northeast end of the beach:
Stay straight ahead on the main road at the three-way junction. The road will curve sharply to the right and you will begin heading north, with the beach to your left and the lagoon still to your right. Shortly you will begin to pass the last three of the five windmills that are along the beach. (The first two windmills are not readily visible from the road.) In 600-700 meters, you will pass the last of the windmills. Continue about 700 meters farther. At the point where the road begins to curve rightward, turn left at an unmarked turnoff that immediately leads to a dirt area where you can park, at coordinates 38.8486N, 20.6864E. Agios Ioannis Beach is just over the low sand dunes, and you will be near the typically deserted far northeast end of the beach.
To bypass the town of Lefkada and go to the northeast end of the beach:
At the "T" at the end of the floating bridge, turn right, following the sign that points toward Gira and Ammoglossa. Almost immediately you will reach a three-way junction where the main road curves sharply to the left. Keep to the left at that junction, staying on the main road and following a sign for Gira and Agios Ioannis. At that point, you will begin going northwest across an isthmus, with the lagoon to your left and the sea to your right. Continue 2 kilometers and take note when you pass the signs for Blue Sea Beach Bar, which is at the far end of a small beach community called Gyra (or Gira). The bar is on the right, but there are signs for the bar on each side of the road. After those signs, take note of your car's trip meter. Continue 900 meters, then turn right at an unmarked turnoff that immediately leads to a dirt area where you can park. (It is the same area described in the preceding paragraph. It is the second unmarked turnoff on the right after Blue Sea Beach Bar.)
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (main area of Agios Ioannis, via the town of Lefkada).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (remote area of Agios Ioannis, via the town of Lefkada).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (remote area of Agios Ioannis, bypassing the town of Lefkada).

island end of floating bridge

parking closest to main area of beach

unmarked dirt parking area at north end of beach

small arts complex
One of the buildings has the Greek lettering ΑΝΟΙΧΤΟ ΘΕΑΤΡΟ (amphitheater) and another has the lettering ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ (cultural center).

signs for Blue Sea Beach Bar

windmill (next to a taverna)

windmill (in ruins)

windmill

route from floating bridge to beach, along south side of lagoon

route from floating bridge to beach, along north side of lagoon

road along beach

road to main area of beach

Pefkoulia Beach

Pefkoulia Beach
Pefkoulia Beach is located between Tsoukalades and Agios Nikitas, about 10 kilometers by car from Lefkada town. About 1.3 kilometers long, the beach is below the coastal road, but it is hidden from the road both by trees and the steep slope of the land. Access to the beach is at its south end, and the southernmost several hundred meters is a developed beach with a taverna and sunchairs along with rooms available to rent. That part of the beach is textile. As you go north along the beach from the main area (to the right when facing the sea), there is a gradual mixing of nudists and textiles, with nudity becoming increasing prevalent as the overall crowd begins to thin out. Pefkoulia consists of coarse sand, and at its northern extreme there are a number of large rocks along the beach and in the shallow turquoise water.
village, island, island group, country:  Tsoukalades/Agios Nikitas, Lefkada, Ionian, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eydLGw
starting point  the floating bridge to Lefkada
Lefkada is connected to the mainland by a causeway that is a few kilometers long. At the end of the causeway, the final connection to the island is a short floating bridge. Immediately at the end of the bridge, you will reach a "T" junction. Turn left, following the sign that points toward Lefkada (i.e., the eponymous principal town of the island). You will then begin heading southwest on another causeway, which is lined with street lamps. A lagoon will be on your right-hand side, while a boat channel will be to your left. In one kilometer you will cross a short bridge with iron side rails. Just after the bridge, you will reach a small roundabout as you enter the town of Lefkada. Keep to the right. You will then be on the ring road that encircles the heart of the town, driving such that a line of shops is to your left while the lagoon is still to your right. In 400-500 meters, the road will begin to curve away from the lagoon, and you will reach a three-way junction next to a small arts complex, which is on the right. One of the buildings has the Greek lettering ΑΝΟΙΧΤΟ ΘΕΑΤΡΟ (amphitheater) and another has the lettering ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ (cultural center). Turn right at the three-way junction, following the sign for Agios Ioannis.
Upon turning, proceed southwest 1.4 kilometers and you will pass the blue-and-white Frini village sign. As you proceed through Frini, the road will make a few switchbacks as it winds uphill through the village. 2.2 kilometers after the village sign, just after you pass the Faneromenis Monastery, you will reach a "T" junction that is not well signed. Turn right.
Upon turning, continue southwest another 1.4 kilometers and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Tsoukalades village sign.
After the village sign, continue another 1.9 kilometers and you will pass the sign that indicates you are leaving Tsoukalades. 1.1 kilometers farther on, you will reach the start of a long cement retaining wall that runs along the left (inland) side of the road. The wall is topped by metal mesh fencing that serves to contain falling rocks. By that point, the road will be running above the coastline, with the sea visible on your right-hand side. There are a few short gaps in the continuity of the retaining wall, but you will be able to see where it picks back up again. Follow the retaining wall for 1.3 kilometers until you reach what appears to be its end. (It actually picks back up again about 200 meters farther on beyond a curve, but the continuation will be out of sight..) Immediately after the end of the wall, you will cross a very short bridge. Immediately after the bridge, turn right through a stone gateway where there is a sign advertising a snack bar and rooms for rent.
Once you turn, you will be in the Pefkoulia Beach parking area (at coordinates 38.8045N, 20.6328E), but there does not seem to be a sign with the proper name of the beach. On crowded days, there are likely to be cars lined up along the road as well. The parking area abuts the main textile area of the beach, where sunchairs are set up during summer. Facing the sea, turn right and walk north. The beach continues a little less than a kilometer, and nudity tends to become more prevalent the farther north you go.
This placemark pertains to Pefkoulia Beach.

Tsoukalades village sign
This placemark pertains to Pefkoulia Beach.

"leaving Tsoukalades" sign
This placemark pertains to Pefkoulia Beach.

start of long cement retaining wall
Coming from Tsoukalades, this is the start of a long cement retaining wall that is topped by metal mesh fencing. The wall is on the inland side of the road, and there are a few gaps in its continuity, but the wall goes on for 1.3 kilometers before there is a gap so long you can't see where the wall picks back up again.

end of long cement retaining wall
Coming from Tsoukalades, this is the end of a long cement retaining wall that is topped by metal mesh fencing. (The wall picks back up again about 200 meters farther south, but you will not be able to see the continuation of the wall when you pass this point.)

route from Tsoukalades village sign to parking

Milos Beach

Milos Beach
Agios Nikitas is a picturesque and very popular seaside village that is about 13 kilometers by car from Lefkada town. The small sandy village beach is enchanting but crowded and textile. Just over a headland, the next beach to the south is Milos Beach, a much roomier sand-and-shingle beach that spans about 700 meters. The beach is backed by dunes and further backed by a dozen or so hilltop villas. While there are a couple of paths from the villas down to the beach, those are private. The publicly accessible path to Milos goes over the headland from Agios Nikitas. It is a hike of about 500 meters, and from the village the path ascends to a height of about 70 meters above sea level before descending to Milos, landing near the northern end of the beach. There is also a water taxi service between Agios Nikitas and Milos that operates frequently during peak season.
Although Milos is attended mostly by textiles, nudity occurs frequently, but nudity patterns seem a bit inconsistent and unpredictable. Outside of peak season when the water taxi is not running, nudists may be dispersed along the entire beach. As the beach becomes more crowded, nudists tend to gravitate southward (to the left when facing the sea). Toward the southern end of the beach, there is a rocky outcropping and a cluster of boulders, and the southernmost 100 or so meters of the beach lies beyond those landmarks. That part of the beach offers the most seclusion for nudists. At low tide, there is plenty of exposed beach between the outcropping and the sea. At high tide, the water comes all the way up to the outcropping, but it is still possible to scramble around the outcropping easily. There are no amenities and no shade at Milos, so come prepared with food, drink and perhaps an umbrella. If you visit in August, be prepared for the possibility that there may be little or no nudity during peak afternoon hours.
village, island, island group, country:  Agios Nikitas, Lefkada, Ionian, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fRF3al
starting point  the floating bridge to Lefkada
Lefkada is connected to the mainland by a causeway that is a few kilometers long. At the end of the causeway, the final connection to the island is a short floating bridge. Immediately at the end of the bridge, you will reach a "T" junction. Turn left, following the sign that points toward Lefkada (i.e., the eponymous principal town of the island). You will then begin heading southwest on another causeway, which is lined with street lamps. A lagoon will be on your right-hand side, while a boat channel will be to your left. In one kilometer you will cross a short bridge with iron side rails. Just after the bridge, you will reach a small roundabout as you enter the town of Lefkada. Keep to the right. You will then be on the ring road that encircles the heart of the town, driving such that a line of shops is to your left while the lagoon is still to your right. In 400-500 meters, the road will begin to curve away from the lagoon, and you will reach a three-way junction next to a small arts complex, which is on the right. One of the buildings has the Greek lettering ΑΝΟΙΧΤΟ ΘΕΑΤΡΟ (amphitheater) and another has the lettering ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ (cultural center). Turn right at the three-way junction, following the sign for Agios Ioannis.
Upon turning, proceed southwest 1.4 kilometers and you will pass the blue-and-white Frini village sign. As you proceed through Frini, the road will make a few switchbacks as it winds uphill through the village. 2.2 kilometers after the village sign, just after you pass the Faneromenis Monastery, you will reach a "T" junction that is not well signed. Turn right.
Upon turning, continue southwest another 8 kilometers (passing through Tsoukalades) and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Agios Nikitas village sign.
At the village sign, the road will be next to the sea, with the water visible on your right-hand side. Just after the village sign, the road will curve inland. The path to Milos Beach begins in the heart of Agios Nikitas, but there is no public parking in the village proper. 400-500 meters after the village sign, there is a road on the right that is identifiable by two prominent signs: one is a large signboard with a map of the village; the other indicates the road is open only to pedestrians. Parking is available along most of the stretch of the road that is between the village sign and the start of the pedestrian road, around coordinates 38.7872N, 20.6130E.
Once you find a place to park, follow the cobbled pedestrian road into the village about 150 meters until you reach a restaurant on the left called Poseidon Taverna. At the far corner of the restaurant, turn left onto another cobbled road. (You may see a makeshift sign pointing toward Milos Beach, but the sign does not seem to be consistently present.) Follow that road to the rear of Poseidon Taverna, where you will find the start of the path to Milos Beach. The rugged dirt path immediately begins to ascend a headland that is basically a big forested hill. You will be hiking in a generally westward direction, and you are about halfway to the beach when you begin to go downhill. The path lands near the far north end of Milos Beach. The walk from Poseideon Taverna to the beach is about 500 meters. Facing the sea, turn left and walk south across the beach about 500 meters to a rocky mass the projects toward the sea near the southern end of the beach. Depending on the tide, the rocky mass may only extend about halfway across the sand, or it may almost reach the waterline. Beyond the rocky mass, the beach continues about 100 meters farther before ending at a prominent headland. Most nudity occurs on that stretch of the beach.
Here is a map that draws the walking route from the start of the pedestrian road to the end of the path to the beach.
This placemark pertains to Milos Beach.

Agios Nikitas village sign
This placemark pertains to Milos Beach.

This placemark pertains to Milos Beach.

Poseidon Taverna

route from Agios Nikitas village sign to parking

hiking route to beach

Kathisma South & Megali Petra Beaches

The village of Kalamitsi is perched atop a mountain overlooking the sea, about 380 meters above sea level. By car, it is about 6 kilometers south of the popular seaside village of Agios Nikitas. Below Kalamitsi, there is a 2.7-kilometer-long stretch of beach that is more-or-less continuous excepting a few minor outcroppings. The northern part the beach is known as Kathisma Beach, and it is accessed from a well-signed turnoff between Agios Nikitas and Kalamitsi. Covered in a sea of sunbeds during peak season, Kathimsa is the most crowded and developed beach of Lefkada, backed by a kilometer-long span of tavernas, nightclubs and small hotels. The southern part of the aforementioned long beach is known as Avali Beach, and is accessed from poorly signed, very twisty roads that wind down the mountains from Kalamitsi. Avali is a total contrast to Kalamitsi, with far smaller crowds and just one taverna. While the main expanses of both Kathisma and Avali are textile, a few nudists congregate on the segment of beach between those areas. The nude beach does not seem to have a distinct proper name, but it is far more associated with popular Kathisma than with relatively obscure Avali. We've called it Kathisma Beach South, but it could just as well be called Avali Beach North. While the mountains form the panoramic backdrop of the beach, the more immediate backdrop of the nude part of the beach is a low, undulating cliff with a vertical face. Kathisma South can be accessed from either end. From Kalamitsi, the nude area begins about 500 meters south of the southernmost parking. Or, you can follow a beachfront road north from Avali and park at or near the dead end, just beyond which lies the nude beach. The nude area is about 400 meters long, and it is usually sparsely attended and mostly nude. While Kathisma South has no amenities, it is just a short walk to the amenities of Kathisma Beach.
Going south from Avali, there is a short stretch of rocky coastline, then there is a small boulder-strewn beach called Kavalikefta Beach, which has adjacent parking. Kavalikefta is entirely textile, but just south of it there is a much larger beach called Megali Petra Beach, which takes more effort to reach since a short downhill hike is required. Megali Petra is roughly 600 meters long, and the trail lands at its far north end. Looking south from that point (to the left when facing the sea), about halfway along the beach you will see a prominent cluster of exceptionally large boulders on the beach and in the water. These boulders, which are spaced far enough apart that they do not create a barrier to passing through, give the beach its name; "megali petra" means "big rock." Megali Petra is an outstandingly beautiful beach that never gets crowded. However, even when the beach is very lightly attended, the northern segment of the beach tends to be textile only. Nudity is well established beyond the boulders on the southern half of the beach since the boulders provide more privacy and separation from nearby Kavalikefta. Megali Petra has no amenities, but there is a snack stand at Kavalikefta. To get to it, you will either have to hike back uphill and follow the road to Kavalikefta, or you can scramble across the scree of rocks and boulders that separates the two beaches.
All the beaches named above are comprised of shingle and coarse sand. During peak season, particularly during August, Kathisma South can get a good bit of textile spillover from Kathisma. Far fewer textiles venture to the southern segment of Megali Petra, which makes it a better choice for nudity if you are visiting when the beaches are especially crowded. Megali Petra Beach is also known simply at Kalamitsi Beach.
This placemark pertains to Kathisma Beach South and Megali Petra Beach.

Kathisma Beach South
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Kathisma Beach South and Megali Petra Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Agios Nikitas/Kalamitsi, Lefkada, Ionian, Greece
There are 21 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Kathisma Beach South and Megali Petra Beach.

Megali Petra Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Kathisma Beach South and Megali Petra Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Kalamitsi, Lefkada, Ionian, Greece
There are 21 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Kathisma Beach South and Megali Petra Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fRF1zf
Lefkada is connected to the mainland by a causeway that is a few kilometers long. At the end of the causeway, the final connection to the island is a short floating bridge. Immediately at the end of the bridge, you will reach a "T" junction. Turn left, following the sign that points toward Lefkada (i.e., the eponymous principal town of the island). You will then begin heading southwest on another causeway, which is lined with street lamps. A lagoon will be on your right-hand side, while a boat channel will be to your left. In one kilometer you will cross a short bridge with iron side rails. Just after the bridge, you will reach a small roundabout as you enter the town of Lefkada. Keep to the right. You will then be on the ring road that encircles the heart of the town, driving such that a line of shops is to your left while the lagoon is still to your right. In 400-500 meters, the road will begin to curve away from the lagoon, and you will reach a three-way junction next to a small arts complex, which is on the right. One of the buildings has the Greek lettering ΑΝΟΙΧΤΟ ΘΕΑΤΡΟ (amphitheater) and another has the lettering ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ (cultural center). Turn right at the three-way junction, following the sign for Agios Ioannis.
Upon turning, proceed southwest 1.4 kilometers and you will pass the blue-and-white Frini village sign. As you proceed through Frini, the road will make a few switchbacks as it winds uphill through the village. 2.2 kilometers after the village sign, just after you pass the Faneromenis Monastery, you will reach a "T" junction that is not well signed. Turn right.
Upon turning, continue southwest another 8 kilometers (passing through Tsoukalades) and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Agios Nikitas village sign. Just 800 meters farther on, you will pass the sign indicating you are leaving Agios Nikitas. After that sign, continue 1.4 kilometers and you will reach a right-hand turn signed for Kathisma. There are also a number of other signs pointing toward bars, restaurants and apartment rentals.
To go to Kathisma Beach South via the main area of Kathisma Beach:
Turn right at the Kathisma sign. It is a very sharp right turn. Follow the road downhill for 1.4 kilometers to Kathisma Beach, where you will reach a "T" with a road that follows the beachfront. There is parking all along that road. To shorten your walk, turn left and follow the road 400-500 meters to its end next to a taverna, parking around coordinates 38.7738N, 20.5996E. If you access the beach at that point, you will be at the far southern end of the main expanse of the beach. Facing the sea, look to your left (south). You will see a cluster of large, craggy boulders in the near distance, some on land and some in the water. Walk past those large boulders and the beach will become narrower and lined with smaller boulders. Along that segment of the beach, a wall of sand and rocks slopes steeply toward the sea. (There is a parallel path atop the wall of sand you could follow instead of walking along the beach.) Continue until the beach suddenly gets substantially wider, then you will be at the nude area of the beach. The total walk from the closest parking is about 500 meters. The nudist cove of Kathisma is about 300 meters long, and at the far end there is the dead end of an asphalted road. The road would be your entry point if you followed the directions below, completely bypassing the main area of Kathisma Beach.
To go to Kathisma Beach South via the village of Kalamitsi, or to go to Megali Petra Beach :
Do NOT turn at the Kathisma sign. Continue in a generally southerly direction along the curvy road for 4 kilometers (keeping straight ahead past the left-hand turnoff for Drimonas and Exanthia) and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Kalamitsi village sign. After the village sign, continue 800 meters to a three-way junction where there are two blue signs pointing in different directions. Keep straight ahead, following the sign that simply reads "Beach." (The other sign points toward Porto Katsiki and Vasiliki.) At that point, you will be uphill in the village, and the road will begin to gradually descend toward the sea. Stay on the main paved road and ignore any minor side roads. In 1.8 kilometers, you will reach the first fork where both roads are paved. Keep to the right, continuing downhill. Continue 1.4 kilometers to the next fork where both roads are paved. Which fork you take depends on which beach is your destination.
To go to Kathisma Beach South, keep to the right at the fork, following the road the goes slightly uphill. In about a kilometer, just after the road makes two switchbacks in quick succession, there is a short stretch of stone fencing on the right side of the road. About 300 meters farther on, you will reach the next switchback, where you are likely to pass a lot of parked cars. Avali Beach (which lacks a parking lot) is accessed from the switchback. (The taverna of Avali Beach is located at the switchback, but it isn't readily visible since it is below the level of the road.) Keep going. After the switchback, you will be driving north next to the beach, with the sea on your left-hand side. Continue about a kilometer and park at or as close as possible to the dead end of the road, around coordinates 38.7668N, 20.5965E. At the end of the road, the nudist cove of Kathisma Beach extends northward about 400 meters.
To go to Megali Petra Beach, keep to the left at the fork, following the road that continues downhill. (A sign points toward Kavalikefta Beach.) The road continues another kilometer, making five switchbacks before ending at parking next to Kavalikefta, which is a small textile beach. However, it is best if you park a bit before the end of the road. From the fork, continue 600-700 meters to the third switchback. From there, the fourth switchback is about 100 meters farther on. Look for parking alongside the road between the third and fourth switchbacks (around coordinates 38.7538N, 20.5900E), then follow the gravel track that begins at the fourth switchback. You will be walking south, with the sea on you right-hand side. Very shortly the track will narrow into a walking path that goes downhill through the woods. About 150 meters from the switchback, you will land at the far north end of Megali Petra Beach, and you will be amid a cluster of large boulders. Facing the sea, Kavalikefta Beach will be to your right, beyond a prominent scree of boulders. Head in the opposite direction (south; to the left when facing the sea). Continue about 300 meters across the open expanse of Megali Petra Beach until you get to another cluster of large boulders. Some of the boulders are on the beach and others are in the water. Just beyond the boulders, you will reach the nude area of the beach. (Note: The last of the five switchbacks is located at the blue gate into a pay parking lot for Kavalikefta Beach. If you get to that point, you have missed the start of the trail to Megali Petra Beach, so backtrack to the next switchback uphill.)
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Kathisma South, at the southern end of the main beach).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Kathisma South, at the end of the road from Kalamitsi).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Megali Petra).
This placemark pertains to Kathisma Beach South and Megali Petra Beach.

Kathisma turnoff
This placemark pertains to Kathisma Beach South and Megali Petra Beach.

Kavalikefta Beach (textile)
This placemark pertains to Megali Petra Beach.

main expanse of Kathisma Beach (textile)
This placemark pertains to Kathisma Beach South.

parking at far south end of main beach
This placemark pertains to Kathisma Beach South.

parking at end of asphalted road from Kalamitsi
This placemark pertains to Kathisma Beach South.

This placemark pertains to Megali Petra Beach.

narrow stretch of Kathisma Beach
This is the approximate midpoint of a narrow stretch of Kathisma Beach near a cluster of large boulders, just south of the main beach. When the beach opens up again after you have passed through this area, going south, you will be at the nude section of the beach.

fork, both roads paved

turnoff to Drimonas & Exanthia

Kalamitsi village sign

signs for "Beach" & Porto Katsiki/Vasiliki
At this three-way junction in Kalamitsi, there are two blue signs pointing in different directions. One signs simply says "Beach" and the other sign is for Porto Katsiki and Vasiliki.

Avali Beach (textile)

taverna (below road level & not readily visible from road)

taverna at far south end of main expanse of Kathisma Beach

cluster of large boulders
This cluster of large boulders about mid-way along Megali Petra Beach divides it into two distinct expanses of sand.
This placemark pertains to Megali Petra Beach.

short stretch of stone fencing

Kathisma Beach access road

route from Kathisma Beach turnoff to second paved fork after Kalamitsi

route from second paved fork after Kalamitsi to parking near Kavalikefta Beach

route from second paved fork after Kalamitsi to parking past Avali Beach

path to Megali Petra Beach

Gialos Beach

Gialos Beach
Toward the southern end of the west coast of Lefkada, the village of Athani sits about 380 meters above sea level, and its situation affords panoramic views of the sea. Gialos Beach is located below Athani, and it is accessed by a very twisty road that winds down the mountain. Gialos is a sand-and-pebble beach that extends about 3.5 kilometers, and the road that descends the mountain ends along the central expanse of the beach, but much closer to the northern end than to the southern end. Although Gialos can draw a substantial number of visitors during peak season, nearly everyone clusters near the ramshackle cantina(s) in the parking area, from which sun chairs can be rented. (At times two or three such cantinas have been operational.) Going south from the sun chairs, the beach continues more than 2 kilometers. Once the crowd thins out, nude bathing becomes acceptable. There is not a definitive start to the nude area. Just move a discreet distance beyond the textiles. Nudists have ample room to spread out, and if you keep walking far enough you'll likely have the beach to yourself. Gialos is an ideal place for an extended naked stroll. It takes at least half an hour to walk all the way to the headland at the south end of the beach.
There are two notable beaches south of Gialos that are worth mentioning. The next beach to the south of Gialos is Egremni Beach, which is about 2 kilometers long and backed by steep limestone cliffs. Egremni used to be accessible via a very long staircase (350 steps) from a clifftop parking area, but the steps were damaged in a 2015 earthquake. As of 2020, the beach remains inaccessible except by boat. Nude bathers used to cluster toward either extreme of Egremni (but mainly at the north end). However, we have temporarily withdrawn Egremni from this guide until land access is restored.
Several kilometers south of Egremni there is a beach called Porto Katsiki, which is the southernmost beach of Lefkada. Widely regarded as the most visually stunning beach of the island, Porto Katsiki is a touristic high point that is on the itinerary of virtually all visitors. While some nudity once occurred on the south end of the beach, there does not seem to have been a viable nudist presence at Porto Katsiki for decades. Go there to take in some spectacular scenery, but you'll need to go elsewhere to take your clothes off.
village, island, island group, country:  Athani, Lefkada, Ionian, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/47fPICF
starting point:  floating bridge to Lefkada
Lefkada is connected to the mainland by a causeway that is a few kilometers long. At the end of the causeway, the final connection to the island is a short floating bridge. Immediately at the end of the bridge, you will reach a "T" junction.
At the "T" at the end of the floating bridge, turn left, following the sign that points toward Lefkada (i.e., the eponymous principal town of the island). You will then begin heading southwest on another causeway, which is lined with street lamps. A lagoon will be on your right-hand side, while a boat channel will be to your left. In one kilometer you will cross a short bridge with iron side rails. Just after the bridge, you will reach a small roundabout as you enter the town of Lefkada. Keep to the right. You will then be on the ring road that encircles the heart of the town, driving such that a line of shops is to your left while the lagoon is still to your right. In 400-500 meters, the road will begin to curve away from the lagoon, and you will reach a three-way junction next to a small arts complex, which is on the right. One of the buildings has the Greek lettering ΑΝΟΙΧΤΟ ΘΕΑΤΡΟ (amphitheater) and another has the lettering ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ (cultural center). Turn right at the three-way junction, following the sign for Agios Ioannis.
Upon turning, continue south and west another 14.3 kilometers (passing through Tsoukalades and Agios Nikitas) and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Kalamitsi village sign. After the village sign, continue 800 meters to a signed three-way junction and keep to the left, toward Porto Katsiki and Vasiliki. (The other road is signed simply Beach.) Continue 250 meters to the next signed three-way junction and keep to the right, toward Chortata, Porto Katsiki and Vasiliki. (The other road is signed Exanthia.) Continue south 3.5 kilometers to a stop sign at a three-way junction. Keep to the right to merge into a broad road that continues south toward Vasiliki. Continue south another 3.5 kilometers (passing through Chortata, which appears only in Greek as Χορτατα on the village sign), then turn right at signs for Porto Katsiki, Egremni, Gialos and the Agios Nikolaos Monastery.
Continue south 4 kilometers (passing through Kamilio) and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Dragano village sign. 500-600 meters farther on, you will pass the sign that indicates you are leaving Dragano. Continue another 1.5 kilometers, then veer right toward Gialos Beach. The signed turnoff is immediately next to the blue-and-white Athani village sign.
Upon turning, you will be on a road that winds gradually downhill through a cluster of houses. In about one kilometer, make a sharp right turn at a three-way junction. Just after turning, you should pass a small chapel with a red-tile roof (which will be on your left). Continue about 500 meters and keep to the left at a fork. About 400 meters after the fork, the road will suddenly begin a very steep and twisty descent. Continue about 2.5 kilometers. At the end of the road, there is an informal earthen parking area (38.6711N, 20.5575E) that directly abuts the beach. Facing the sea, the nude area is to your left (south). Nude bathing becomes acceptable once you are a discreet distance beyond the textiles.
The road to Gialos Beach morphs into a rough dirt track that continues south along the beach another 500 to 600 meters beyond the parking area. It used to be possible to drive on the track to park farther south, but rock slides and erosion have rendered the track impassable to conventional vehicles. If you walk south along the track to where it peters out, you should be well beyond the textiles even on the most crowded days.
This placemark pertains to Gialos Beach.

"Dragano" sign (north end of village)
This placemark pertains to Gialos Beach.

"Dragano" sign (south end of village)
This placemark pertains to Gialos Beach.

"Athani" sign (north end of village)

"Athani" sign (south end of village)

3-way junction

small chapel with red-tile roof

fork

cantina (sometimes more than one)

segment of main road through Dragano & Athani

roads to Gialos Beach

rough track along beach

Zakynthos

Vrontonero Beach

Vrontonero Beach
Laganas Bay is the prominent concavity along most of the south end of Zakynthos, and Kalamaki is a village that is toward the east end of the most inland part of the bay, just east of the island's airport. The easternmost beachfront development of Kalamaki is Crystal Beach Hotel, and the beach abutting the hotel is informally known as Crystal Beach. About 500 meters east of the hotel, there is a low headland, just beyond which lies a hidden and lightly attended beach. That beach is Vrontonero Beach, but the name of the beach is not at all well know, nor are there any signs with the name of the beach. Vrontonero is a little over 500 meters long, and nude bathing is well established along its entire length. It is a grayish-brown sand-and-shingle beach that is backed by the steep slope of the rugged coastal mountains. It is possible to follow a gravel road to parking near the far west end of the beach. The beach is undeveloped with no amenities, and most visitors who find the way to the beach go naked.
village, island, island group, country:  Kalamaki, Zakynthos, Ionian, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fsdYKz
starting point  the ferry port in Zakynthos town
The main ferry port on the island of Zakynthos is located in its eponymous principal town. As you leave the ferry port, you will come to a stop sign at a four-way intersection next to the prominent bell tower of Agios Dionysios Church. Turn left, following the blue signs that point toward the airport, Kalamaki, Argasi, Vasilikos and several other locations. In about 200 meters you will reach a junction where there are large blue signs pointing in different directions. Keep to the left, following the sign for Argasi, Kalamaki and Vasilikos. You will then immediately cross a short bridge over a canal. Keep to the left just after the bridge to stay on the main road. Continue 400-500 meters, then turn right at the sign for Kalamaki and Laganas. Proceed south 2.1 kilometers and you will pass the blue-and-white Kalamaki village sign.
After the village sign, continue south another 1.5 kilometers and take note when you reach the next major three-way junction, where a broad road comes in from your right. There are lot of signs at the junction pointing toward nearby hotels, eateries and other businesses. Keep straight ahead. Less than 100 meters after the junction, take the next possible left onto the road that is next to a business called Auto Traffic Rentals. There is a sign for Cave Bar at the turnoff, but it is difficult to see.
Once you turn, you will be on a paved road that is lined with street lamps on one side. Follow the road about 250 meters to Cave Bar, which is distinctive for its castle-like stone turret. After you pass Cave Bar, there are two parallel roads that continue straight ahead, but the one that is farther to the right is marked with do-not-enter panels. Continue along the road that is farther to the left, which is a gravel road. The gravel road will pass very close to a couple of ramshackle houses as it winds toward the sea. A little over 600 meters from the start of the gravel road, turn right onto a short spur road that slopes all the way down to sea level. Park along the spur road, around coordinates 37.7374N, 20.9133E. At the end of the spur road, you will be at the far west end of Vrontonero Beach. Facing the sea, to your right there is a rocky area that separates Vrontonero Beach from Crystal Beach (the next beach going west). To your left, Vrontonero Beach extends eastward about 600 meters, and nudity occurs along the entire expanse.
Alternate access via Crystal Beach:
There is a way to avoid the gravel road altogether, but the walk will be longer and more challenging. Instead of turning next to Auto Traffic Rentals, keep straight ahead, continuing south. About 400 meters farther along, the road will curve sharply to the right. At the curve, you will pass Crystal Beach Hotel, on your left. Immediately at the end of the hotel, turn left next to Peluzo Restaurant (which is part of the hotel). You will pass a "Welcome to Crystal Beach" sign advertising snacks, sun beds, etc. as you enter a seaside parking area next to the hotel, at coordinates 37.7374N, 20.9061E. Facing the sea, turn left and walk east about 500 meters until you reach the end of the beach, where the shoreline becomes lined with boulders for about 75 meters. Scramble over the boulders and/or wade through the water. The next stretch of beach is the start of Vrontonero Beach, but at first most of the beach will be out of view. Continue just a minute until you round a bend and the rest of the beach will come into view.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (via the gravel road).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (alternate access).
This placemark pertains to Vrontonero Beach.

Kalamaki village sign
This placemark pertains to Vrontonero Beach.

This placemark pertains to Vrontonero Beach.

Crystal Beach (textile)

Cave Bar

Auto Traffic Rentals

Crystal Beach Hotel

boulders separating Crystal Beach & Vrontonero Beach

route from Kalamaki village sign to parking

alternate access via Crystal Beach

Dafni Beach

Dafni Beach
Laganas Bay is the prominent concavity along most of the south end of Zakynthos, and the Vasilikos Peninsula is the land mass that forms the east side of the bay at the southeastern extreme of the island. Dafni Beach is a southwest-facing beach on the bay side of the peninsula in a rather isolated location that is accessible by roads that wind through the low coastal mountains. The main part of the beach is a sandy stretch of 400-500 meters that is lined with several tavernas and small-scale accommodations, and that part of the beach is textile. Southeast of the main beach (to the left when facing the sea), a steep cliff rises rather abruptly, with a nearly vertical wall of rock stretching 300-400 meters. Nude bathing occurs on the part of the beach that is below the cliff. As you walk away from the main beach, the beach at first gets very narrow and rocky. There is a short stretch along the start of the cliff where the waves lap against the cliff at high tide, then the beach gets wider. The best part of the nude area with the most sand is toward the far (east) end of the cliff, so if the tide is all the way in you will have to trudge through a bit of shallow water to get there. Most people who trek to the cliff part of the beach do so for nude bathing, but there are usually just a dozen or so nudists.
Past the end of the exposed rock, the coastline begins to curve and the land becomes less steep and covered with shrubbery. The beach continues but gets narrower. If you were to keep walking along the undulating coastline, in about 2.5 kilometers you would reach Gerakas Beach (described in a separate listing). The rocky stretch of coastline between Dafni and Gerakas is quite isolated, and there are no access points between the two beaches. It is a deserted stretch that lends itself to naked solitude.
village, island, island group, country:  Vasilikos, Zakynthos, Ionian, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2eYLsiZ
starting point  the ferry port in Zakynthos town
The main ferry port on the island of Zakynthos is located in its eponymous principal town. As you leave the ferry port, you will come to a stop sign at a four-way intersection next to the prominent bell tower of Agios Dionysios Church. Turn left, following the blue signs that point toward the airport, Kalamaki, Argasi, Vasilikos and several other locations. In about 200 meters you will reach a junction where there are large blue signs pointing in different directions. Keep to the left, following the sign for Argasi, Kalamaki and Vasilikos. You will then immediately cross a short bridge over a canal. Keep to the left just after the bridge to stay on the main road. Continue southeast 7.4 kilometers (passing through the large village of Argasi) until you reach the blue sign that points right toward Dafni Beach. (There is also a sign pointing toward the Sea Turtle Exhibition Center. The turnoff is just 50 or so meters past the right-hand turnoff into Sea View Village Studios and Apartments.) When you reach the blue sign, you will be at the western of two turnoffs that lead to Dafni Beach.
To go to Dafni Beach via the western turnoff:
Turn right at the blue sign that points toward Dafni Beach. You will then be on a road that goes all the way to the beach. The road is paved, but there a good many potholes and washed-out areas. In 1.1 kilometers, keep to the right at a fork. (The left fork goes uphill to the Sea Turtle Exhibition Center.) About 2.2 kilometers farther on, you will reach parking at the end of the road* next to several tavernas and other small buildings that line the beach, at coordinates 37.7217N, 20.9541E. Facing the sea, turn left and walk east past the tavernas to the narrow east end of the beach.
To go to Dafni Beach via the eastern turnoff:
Be advised that the road to Dafni Beach via the eastern turnoff is very twisty, and, although it starts out paved, most of the length of the road is gravel. Keep straight ahead past the western turnoff to Dafni Beach, continuing in a generally southeasterly direction toward Vasilikos. In 1.9 kilometers, turn right at another sign for Dafni Beach. There are also lots of other signs for various local businesses at the turnoff. (If you pass the left-hand turnoff for Porto Azzuro Restaurant, you have missed the turn by about 250 meters.) Follow the road 900 meters to a fork and keep to the right. Continue another 2.3 kilometers to parking at the end of the road* next to several tavernas and other small buildings that line the beach, at coordinates 37.7216N, 20.9548E. Facing the sea, turn left and walk east past the tavernas to the narrow east end of the beach.
*The two parking areas referenced above are adjacent but, oddly, not connected. In other words, the two roads leading to Dafni Beach almost connect, but not quite, so it is not possible to make a loop. Whichever road you take, you will have to go out the same way.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (via the western turnoff).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (via the eastern turnoff).
This placemark pertains to Dafni Beach.

turnoff into Sea View Village Studios & Apartments
This placemark pertains to Dafni Beach.

western of two turnoffs to Dafni Beach
This placemark pertains to Dafni Beach.

Sea Turtle Exhibition Center

eastern of two turnoffs to Dafni Beach

turnoff toward Porto Azzuro Restaurant

segment of main road

road to Dafni Beach, from western of two turnoffs

road to Dafni Beach, from eastern of two turnoffs

Gerakas Beach

Laganas Bay is the prominent concavity along most of the south end of Zakynthos, and the Vasilikos Peninsula is the land mass that forms the east side of the bay at the southeastern extreme of the island. Gerakas Beach is a west-facing beach located in a cove at the tip of the peninsula, facing Laganas Bay. It is one of the island's most popular beaches. The main expanse of the beach is a broad stretch of golden sand that extends 400-500 meters, then there is a narrower beach that extends northward. Like most of the beaches of Laganas Bay, Gerakas is a turtle nesting beach, and the small wooden contraptions scattered along the beach are for protecting the turtle nests. Gerakas is mostly a textile beach, but nude bathing occurs at either end.
From the parking area, a long ramp with wooden handrails gently descends to Gerakas, landing toward the northern end of the main expanse of the beach, where sunchairs and umbrellas are set up. In either direction, the coastline curves outward, forming a cove. Looking south (to the left when facing the sea), in the distance you will see that the land rises into a cliff just beyond the curvature of the coastline. The sheer cliff face is chalky white on the bottom with a reddish band at the top, and the color change is abrupt and distinctive. From the ramp, walk about 300-400 meters toward the cliff and there is usually at scattering of nude bathers at the south end of the beach. There are typically just a dozen or so naturists. Beyond the end of the beach, there is a long scree of boulders along the coastline at the base of the cliff.
If you start at the access ramp and go north (to the right when facing the sea), in less than 100 meters the beach becomes much narrower. A few hundred meters farther, where the coastline begins to curve, a gorge opens up onto the beach. The gorge is a small badlands area full of craggy white sandstone formations. You can walk over 100 meters into the gorge to explore the otherworldly landscape. Continuing along the beach beyond the gorge, you will be on the far northern end of Gerakas. Nude bathers are sometimes present, but nudity occurs less regularly than at the south end of the beach. The north end of the beach is mostly rocky. If you keep walking north along the narrow coastline, you will round a bend, then you will be at the start of a stretch of coastline that is not visible from Gerakas. If you were to keep following the coastline, in about 2.5 kilometers you would reach Dafni Beach (described in a separate listing). The undulating and rocky stretch of coastline between Gerakas and Dafni is quite isolated, and there are no access points between the two beaches. It is a deserted stretch that lends itself to naked solitude.
Other than the sunchairs that can be rented along the textile part of the beach, Gerakas has no amenities, so come prepared with food and drink. The Gerakas parking area lies at the dead end of the main road through the Vasilikos Peninsula, and there are a few tavernas just before the road ends.
This placemark pertains to Gerakas Beach South and Gerakas Beach North.

Gerakas Beach South
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Gerakas Beach South and Gerakas Beach North.)
village, island, island group, country:  Vasilikos, Zakynthos, Ionian, Greece
There are 7 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Gerakas Beach South and Gerakas Beach North.

Gerakas Beach North
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Gerakas Beach South and Gerakas Beach North.)
village, island, island group, country:  Vasilikos, Zakynthos, Ionian, Greece
There are 7 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Gerakas Beach South and Gerakas Beach North.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2faq6wL
starting point  the ferry port in Zakynthos town
The main ferry port on the island of Zakynthos is located in its eponymous principal town. As you leave the ferry port, you will come to a stop sign at a four-way intersection next to the prominent bell tower of Agios Dionysios Church. Turn left, following the blue signs that point toward the airport, Kalamaki, Argasi, Vasilikos and several other locations. In about 200 meters you will reach a junction where there are large blue signs pointing in different directions. Keep to the left, following the sign for Argasi, Kalamaki and Vasilikos. You will then immediately cross a short bridge over a canal. Keep to the left just after the bridge to stay on the main road. Continue southeast 13.1 kilometers, passing through the large village of Argasi then the smaller village of Vasilikos, then take note when you pass the blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving Vasilikos.
After the sign, continue southeast another 1.2 kilometers to the dead end of the road at the Gerakas Beach parking area, at coordinates 37.7081N, 20.9869E. Straight ahead from the end of the road, a long ramp with wooden handrails provides a gentle descent to the beach. At the end of the ramp, you will be approximately at the midpoint of the overall beach, which is toward the northern end of the main sandy expanse of the beach. Walk roughly 400 meters in either direction to explore possibilities for nude bathing at the extreme ends of the beach. Nudists tends to prefer the south end (to the left when facing the sea).
This placemark pertains to Gerakas Beach South and Gerakas Beach North.

"leaving Vasilikos" sign
This placemark pertains to Gerakas Beach South and Gerakas Beach North.

badlands area of craggy white rock formations

route from "leaving Vasilikos" sign to parking

ramp to beach

Laparda Beach & Xigia Beaches

Alykes and Alikanas are neighboring beach communities on the east coast of Zakythhos toward the north end of the island, near the village of Katastari (which lies just a bit inland). Alykes are Alikanas have a good bit of small-scale resort development and are very much on the tourist radar. Just a few kilometers north of Alykes, Laparda Beach (less commonly spelled "Laperda") is quite off the radar. The name is not well known, and there do not seem to be any signs pointing the way. Needless to say, it is a completely wild beach with no amenities. Composed mostly of small white pebbles, Laparda is a rather long and narrow beach that extends roughly 800 meters at low tide. Few people find their way to the beach, and nude bathing is a popular option among those who do, but overall attendance is too sparse for nudity patterns to be predictable.
The only access to Laparda is toward its far south end, near a small cluster of large private residences. Nudity may potentially occur anywhere on the beach, but the north end offers the most seclusion. From the access point, assume you head north (to the left when facing the sea). You will see an enormous villa perched slightly uphill, just 50 or so meters inland from the beach. In a bit less than 200 meters, just past the grounds of the villa, the backdrop of the beach will become forested and hilly. About 300 meters farther on, the coastline curves slightly outward, and beyond the bend the beach continues about 150 meters, ending in an area of steep, exposed rock. The last bit of the beach contracts substantially at high tide, so mind the tides if you go all the way to the end. If you venture past the villa, there is a good chance you will have the beach to yourself.
Just a bit north of Laparda, the Xigia Beaches are a collection of several small sand-and-shingle beaches that are a quick and worthwhile side trip for their scenic beauty. The Xigia Beaches—at least some of them—at one time drew nude bathers, but their nudist potential has plummeted since the first decade of the new millennium, when access was improved and a snack stand opened above two of the beaches. There are five Xigia beaches altogether, and it helps to know little about the layout of the beaches, which is not at all apparent from signage. Along the main road, there are two signs pointing toward Xigia, and those signs are 600 meters apart. The more northern Xigia turnoff leads to a small beach that we will call the far north beach, and it is separate from the other four beaches, nestled against the north side of the headland. The far north beach has no known history of naturist use. The more southern Xigia turnoff leads to a parking area from which you can access the other four Xigia beaches, which are clustered together on the opposite side of the headland. We will refer to those beaches as north, middle, south and far south. The four clustered beaches are the ones that saw more nudist frequentation in years past.
Assume you turn at the southern Xigia sign, going downhill to an earthen parking area that is perched about 30 meters above sea level. From there, two short roads continue downhill toward the sea. Facing the sea, the road to the left continues toward the north and middle beaches, while the road to the right continues toward the south and far south beaches. Whichever path you take down to sea level, there is no need to return to the parking area to explore the other beaches. There are paths across the rocks connecting the middle beach to the north beach and to the south beach.
Assume you follow the road that goes downhill to the right from the parking area. Shortly you will reach the aforementioned snack stand, which is perched above and between the north beach and the middle beach. To the left of the snack stand, there is a footpath that winds down to the north beach, which is an expanse of about 90 meters. To the right of the snack stand, stairs descend to the middle beach, an expanse of roughly 60 meters with a distinctive triangular shape. From either end of the beach, the sand tapers seaward toward a cluster of boulders in the intertidal zone. Sun chairs are available along the middle beach during peak season.
Now, assume you follow the road that goes downhill to the right from the parking area. Shortly the road will morph into a footpath. In less than 150 meters, you will be a few meters above the sea atop a rocky outcrop. To your left, the south beach is a narrow ribbon extending roughly 30 meters. To your right, the far south beach is a tiny pocket beach that is just 20 meters long. It is easy to get to the south beach since the outcrop slopes all the way down on that side. It is possible but challenging to climb down the other side of the outcrop to the far south beach. If it seems too daunting, just go to the south beach and wade a short distance around the outcrop.
The middle Xigia beach, where the sun chairs are located, is certain to be all textile any time more than a few people are present. Sporadic nudity may occur during the off season, but not that often. The more isolated north beach offers a bit more nudist potential on days when the beach is uncrowded. Just use a bit of discretion if textiles are about. The south beach similarly has nudist potential on uncrowded days, but the beach is so narrow that it is not a big draw for sunbathers regardless of swimwear preference. Nudity seems to occur at the far south beach more than at any of the others. While there are usually at most a handful of bathers present, the far south beach is so small that you will always be in close quarters with whoever else is there, and the accepted protocol is likely determined by whoever is already there at any given time. If only textiles are present, nudity is likely inadvisable unless you ask your company first. If everyone else leaves, get naked and establish a precedent.
The far south beach of Xigia is just 250 meters away from the north end of Laparda Beach as the crow flies, but the beaches are inaccessible to one another at sea level since the coastline between them is quite steep and rugged. You will pass Xigia on the way to Laparda, so you may as well stop by and access its nudists potential. If Xigia is a bust, it is a short drive on to Laparda, where you will always find plenty of room to get naked.
This placemark pertains to Laparda Beach and Xigia Beaches.

Laparda Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Laparda Beach and Xigia Beaches.)
village, island, island group, country:  Katastari, Zakynthos, Ionian, Greece
There are 21 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Laparda Beach and Xigia Beaches.

Xigia Beaches
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Laparda Beach and Xigia Beaches.)
37.8628N, 20.7390E far south beach (sporadic nudity)
37.8632N, 20.7388E south beach (limited nudist potential)
37.8638N, 20.7386E middle beach (limited nudist potential)
37.8646N, 20.7372E north beach (limited nudist potential)
37.8678N, 20.7351E far north beach (textile)
village, island, island group, country:  Katastari, Zakynthos, Ionian, Greece
There are 21 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Laparda Beach and Xigia Beaches.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/3OnTcuh
starting point:  ferry port in Zakynthos town
The main ferry port on the island of Zakynthos is located in its eponymous principal town. As you leave the ferry port, you will come to a stop sign at a four-way intersection next to the prominent bell tower of Agios Dionysios Church. Turn left, following the blue signs that point toward the airport, Kalamaki, Argasi, Vasilikos and several other locations. In about 200 meters you will reach a junction where there are large blue signs pointing in different directions. Keep to the right, following the sign for Volimes, Keri, Alykes and Laganas. You should then be on a road that parallels a canal, with the canal on your left-hand side. Continue about 500 meters to a stop sign at a four-way intersection, which is just after the road angles away from the canal. Keep straight ahead (toward Volimes). Continue 400 meters to a red light at a three-way junction. Turn left (toward Volimes), then almost immediately keep straight ahead through another red light at a four-way intersection.
Continue west about 4.2 kilometers and watch for a Volkswagen car dealer on the right. About 100 meters farther on, veer right at a fork. There is a sign pointing toward Volimes, Katastari and Alykes, but the names appear only in Greek as Βολιμες, Κατασταρι and Αλυκες. From the fork, continue northwest 8.8 kilometers and take note when you pass the blue-and-white Katastari village sign.
After the Katastari village sign, continue north 4.2 kilometers (passing all the way through the sprawling village) and take note when you reach a scenic overlook at a sharp leftward bend in the road. It is the first overlook you will reach after passing through Katastari, and there is a small snack stand.
After the overlook, the road will become very twisty. 1.5 kilometers farther on, you will pass another overlook, where there is a steel lattice power line transmission tower. 600 meters farther on, keep to the right at a fork, following the sign for Xigia, Makris Gialos, St. Nickolas Port, Korithi Askos and Light House. Continue another 1.8 kilometers and watch for Pelagaki Taverna on the right. (The name in Greek, Πελαγακι or ΠΕΛΑΓΑΚΙ, is more prominent on signage.) The main road curves leftward at the taverna, and in the curve of the road there are three right-hand turnoffs that are one after the other, so close together that they basically blend into one another. The first road is unsigned, the second road is signed as a dead end and the third road has a blue sign pointing toward Xigia Beach. (If you pass Xigia Taverna, you have missed the three clustered turnoffs by about 250 meters. The name of the taverna is in upper-case Greek letters, appearing as ΤΑΒΕΡΝΑ ΞΥΓΚΙΑ.)
To continue to Laparda Beach:
Turn right at the first road after Pelagaki Taverna, which directly abuts the taverna. The road is gravel at its very start but almost immediately becomes paved. (The road was asphalted circa 2016.) The asphalt continues about 1.3 kilometers, then the road turns to gravel. Along the asphalted stretch, there are just two side roads going off to the left. Both are unpaved and unsigned access roads to a handful of large residences, and the side roads are one after the other, roughly 25 meters apart. Follow the asphalted road just over one kilometer, then turn left onto the second of the side roads. (If you reach the end of the asphalt, you have gone about 250 meters too far.)
The side road is 400 meters long, and it goes steeply downhill. There are two large residences along the road. The first is on the left about 150 meters from the start of the road, considerably uphill from the beach. The other is at the dead end of the road next to the sea. Follow the road past the first house, then continue downhill about 75 meters and watch for a smaller road that branches off to the left (37.8557N, 20.7452E). The smaller road is a rough track down to the beach, and unless you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle you should probably park nearby and continue on foot. Follow the track downhill a little over 100 meters. You will land on the south end of Laparda Beach. If only textiles are about, head north (to the left when facing the sea) and you can always find ample seclusion.
To continue to Xigia Beach:
Turn right at the third road after Pelagaki Taverna—the one signed Xigia Beach.★ In just over 200 meters you will reach a small earthen parking area where the road forks (37.8635N, 20.7377E). On busy days, cars are likely to be parked all along the road as well. Refer to the description above for more about the layout of the various parts of the beach.
★ The turnoff is the more southern of two Xigia turnoffs that are 600 meters apart, as described above.
MAP from starting point to parking (Laparda)
MAP from starting point to parking (Xigia)
This placemark pertains to Laparda Beach and Xigia Beaches.

first scenic overlook north of Katastari
This placemark pertains to Laparda Beach and Xigia Beaches.

scenic overlook next to steel lattice power line transmission tower

Pelagaki Taverna

southern of two turnoffs signed "Xigia"

Xigia Taverna

northern of two turnoffs signed "Xigia"

large villa overlooking Laparda Beach

snack stand

Xigia Beaches, far south beach (sporadic nudity)

Xigia Beaches, south beach (limited nudist potential)

Xigia Beaches, middle beach (limited nudist potential)

Xigia Beaches, north beach (limited nudist potential)

Xigia Beaches, far north beach (textile)

segment of main road through Katastari

paved road above Laparda Beach

road signed as dead end

Xigia access road

Laparda access road (gravel)

rough track down to beach

path to southern end of Xigia

path to snack stand

stairs

downhill footpath

footpath along rocks near sea level

extent of Laparda Beach

North & East Aegean

Chios

Mavra Volia Beach

Mavra Volia Beach
Mavra Volia is a uniquely beautiful beach covered in smooth black pebbles which are believed to have been deposited by an ancient volcano. The beach is situated in the village of Emporios near the far southern end of Chios (a.k.a. Hios), about 30 kilometers south of Chios town. Mavra Volia actually consists of three adjacent beaches. Access to the beaches is at the northeasternmost of the three, which is the main beach. That beach, which is about 250 meters long, is textile. On first inspection, the main beach appears to be all there is to Mavra Volia. However, look to your right as you face the sea and you will see a walkway over a large outcropping of rock. The broad, cobbled walkway provides quick and easy access to the middle beach of Mavra Volia, which is 400 to 500 meters long and backed by sheer, dark cliffs.
When you land on the middle beach, you will be at its far northeast end, and the first 100 or so meters of the middle beach is likely to be all textile. However, as you walk southwest (to the right when facing the sea), the beach will quickly become much narrower. Nudists gather on the narrower part of the middle beach, which is a series of adjacent niches that become more distinct when the tide is in. On uncrowded days, there is some intermingling of nudists and textiles along the first part of the middle beach. On more crowded days, nudists tend to migrate a bit farther southwest. The area shaded lightly in red is the segment of the beach where most nude bathing occurs. The far end of the middle beach tends to have a small gay presence, and the end of the middle beach is delineated by a scree of boulders. If you scramble over the boulders, you will reach the last (i.e., southwesternmost) beach of Mavra Volia, where the steep cliffs of the middle beach give way to a more gently sloping hillside. The last beach also has nudist potential, but it is very often deserted.
At times there have been "no nudity" signs put up on the beach, which are routinely ignored. The beach does not get crowded enough for there to be conflicts over space between nudists and textiles. Mavra Volia is widely regarded as the nude beach of Chios even if some locals would prefer otherwise. There are no amenities at the beach, but from the main beach it is a walk of just a few hundred meters to several tavernas in Emporios. Many visitors bring an umbrella for shade, and you may wish to bring water shoes considering the pebbly surface of the sea floor.
The island of Chios is located very close to the central coast of Turkey, and the shortest ferry to Chios town is from Cesme, Turkey. Chios is one of the larger Greek islands in land area, but, compared to other islands, Chios has more limited airline and ferry service and has been far less affected by mass tourism. This extremely beautiful island is largely an undiscovered paradise and is an excellent place to go to get away from crowds.
village, island, island group, country:  Emporios, Chios, Northeast Aegean, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2gkTZe2
starting point  the seafront road of the seaport in Chios town
Chios, also known as Chios town or Chora, is located approximately at the midpoint of the east coast of the island of the same name. The seaport of Chios is the island's primary port of entry, and it is edged by a seafront road. The island's small airport is located a bit south of the seaport. To make your way from the seaport to the southern areas of Chios, the easiest way is to follow a route that takes you by the airport. Head south along the seafront road of the seaport, away from the area where the ferries dock, such that the water is on your left-hand side. At the far south end of the seaport, you will reach "do not enter" panels that force you to veer slightly to the right, away from the seaport. From that point, continue about 150 meters and turn right at the sign that points toward the airport, Karfas and Mesta and indicates respective distances of 3, 7 and 39 kilometers.
Once you turn, keep straight ahead and you will merge into a road that follows the coastline. You will be going south, with the sea on your left-hand side. In about 1.7 kilometers, you will reach the start of the airport runway, which is on the right (inland) side of the road, surrounded by a chain-link fence. Just keep straight ahead, continuing past the airport entrance. About 2 kilometers from the start of the runway, you will reach its opposite end. Watch for signs for Mesta, Lithi and Pyrgi. Following those signs, you will loop around the southern end of the runway fence and then turn left away from the runway. At that point, you will be going west (inland) on a road that has stone fence walls on both sides. In 300-400 meters you will reach a "T" junction where you have to turn. Turn left. You will see more signs pointing toward Mesta, Pyrgi and several other locations.
Once you turn, you will have connected to the main road that goes into southern Chios, and you will follow that road almost all the way to Pyrgi before turning again. Proceed south for 20.4 kilometers, then turn left at the sign for Emporios and Komi. (There is a short left-turn lane at the turnoff. You have gone 200 meters too far if you reach the left-hand turnoff that goes into Pyrgi.)
Upon turning, proceed in a generally southward direction 4.6 kilometers to a fork. The left fork, which is the larger road, is signed for Emporios. The right fork is signed for Vroylidia.
Keep to the left at the fork. About a kilometer farther on you will reach the small seaside settlement of Emporios. Keep straight ahead to Emporios Bay then keep to the right, following the sign for Mavra Volia. The road will begin to run next to the small bay, with the water on your left-hand side. Continue about 300 meters to parking at the end of the driveable part of the road, at coordinates 38.1854N, 26.0282E. Straight ahead, a broad cobbled road continues beyond barriers that prevent automobile access.
The cobbled road runs behind the main part of Mavra Volia Beach, and as you walk along the road you will be going southwest. Toward the end of the main beach, the road narrows into a sidewalk, goes over a rocky outcropping, then descends to a hidden beach. The first part of the hidden beach is textile. Facing the sea, look to your right and you will see very clearly where the beach suddenly narrows. Head onto the narrow part of the beach and shortly you should begin to encounter nude bathers. It is a walk of roughly 400 meters from parking to the approximate start of the nude area.
This placemark pertains to Mavra Volia Beach.

Emporios / Vroylidia fork
This placemark pertains to Mavra Volia Beach.

Emporios Bay
This placemark pertains to Mavra Volia Beach.

main beach area (textile)

1st part of middle beach (textile)

scree of boulders
This scree of boulders is effectively the end of the nude area most of the time, but it is possible to scramble over the boulders to reach the last Mavra Volia beach, which is usually deserted.

route from Emporios / Vroylidia fork to parking

path to hidden part of beach

Ikaria

Nas Beach

Nas Beach
The village of Nas, which is also known by the name Kato Raches, is located along the northern coast of Ikaria, a little closer to the west end of the long island than to the east end. Nas is about 15 kilometers west of Evdilos, which is the principal town of the north coast and the location of one of the island's two ferry ports. Nas has just one beach, and it is simply called Nas Beach. Just 60 or so meters long, the beach is a mix of sand and rocks. Rocky masses on either end of the beach extend seaward and create a small bay which is a nice swimming area when the surf is calm, but be strongly cautioned that there is a forceful undertow when the surf is rough, so it is best to avoid the water then the sea is not tranquil. Nas Beach is the only beach in Ikaria that has a well-established custom of nude bathing. However, nudists are typically in the minority. In fact, if you visit on a day in August when the beach is especially crowded, there will likely be few nudists among the textiles, or there may be no nudists at all. The smaller the crowd, the higher the proportion of nudists tends to be. Unfortunately, a "no nudity" sign apparently went up in 2013, and that sign (if it is still there) probably inhibits some would-be nudists, but more die-hard nudists ignore it and nudity continues to occur at the beach. You also may encounter a sign indicating that camping is forbidden, but that prohibition is usually flaunted as well, and there are often tents along the beach.
You will have to go down quite a few steps to get to Nas Beach, but there are handrails along the steeper parts of the path. As you begin the descent, the first thing you are likely to notice is a shallow river called the Halari. The river flows through a gorge, and its mouth is at Nas Beach. In early spring, the river may inundate the entire beach, but by late spring the river usually does not even break through to the sea, with the beach becoming a natural dam that backs up the water. If you hike up through the rocky river gorge, you will discover an enchanting area of small pools and waterfalls. In Nas village, the main road across the north coast of Ikaria turns to gravel. If you follow the gravel road out of Nas, in 600-700 meters the road will make a hairpin curve as it crosses the Halari gorge. The biggest pool and waterfall of the river are just below that curve. From the beach, it is a hike of about 700 meters upstream along the river to the point where the gravel road crosses the gorge, and you can keep exploring the gorge farther upstream beyond the gravel road. Nude bathing in the pools of the gorge is common when it is not too crowded.
The ruins of the Temple of Artemis are just steps above Nas Beach next to the river, but very little of the temple remains. Just uphill from the beach, there are several tavernas and small-scale accommodations, such as apartments for rent.
village, island, island group, country:  Nas (Kato Raches), Ikaria, Northeast Aegean, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fcKAJ2
starting location  the village of Evdilos
Evdilos is located on the central part of the north coast of Ikaria, closer to the east end of the island than to the west end. It is the location on the smaller of the island's two ferry ports. (Evdilos is about 33 kilometers by car from Agios Kirykos, the largest town on the island and the location of the principal ferry port. Agios Kirykos is toward the far east end of the island's south coast.) Getting to Nas Beach from Evdilos is pretty straightforward. Head west on the main road through the village (such that the sea is on your right-hand side). In about 12 kilometers, you will reach the seaside village of Armenistis.
After passing through Armenistis, continue west about 3 kilometers to the tiny village of Nas, which is also known by the name Kato Raches. Once you reach Nas, the paved road will turn to gravel. When you get to that point, park alongside the road, around coordinates 37.6228N, 26.0618E. Just before the road surfacing changes, there is a very short paved spur road on the right next to a cluster of tavernas and rental apartments. Follow that road and keep straight ahead past the end, where you will find the path down to Nas Beach. It is easy to find, and it is the only beach in the village. It is a walk of just a few hundred meters, mostly down a long set of steps with handrails that is built into a huge rocky mass.
This placemark pertains to Nas Beach.

seaside village of Armenistis
This placemark pertains to Nas Beach.

This placemark pertains to Nas Beach.

road crosses Halari River gorge
This is the point where the gravel road out of Nas village crosses the gorge of the river Halari.

route from Armenistis to parking

Lesbos

Psiriara Beach & Eftalou Beach

Molyvos is a picturesque village that is located toward the east end of the northern coast of Lesbos, and it is the most popular tourist destination on the island. The site of the village is a seaside hill. The hill is crowned with a fortress-like medieval castle that is particularly enchanting at night when it is lit up. The houses and other buildings of the village cascade downhill from the castle. A very important bit of information regarding Molyvos has to do with its name. It has an alias, which is Mithimna (also commonly spelled Mithymna). In a nutshell, the ancient name is Mithimna, but the village became known as Molyvos in the Middle Ages. In modern times, the name Mithimna has been officially readopted, but the de facto name is still Molyvos. On road signs, the name Mithimna is typically used, and it is also the name you will encounter on most online maps. However, Molyvos remains the more common name is local parlance and in tourist literature. Just remember that Molyvos and Mithimna are one in the same.
There are two nude beaches close at hand to Molyvos. First, there is Psiriara Beach, which is a west-facing beach that extends southward from Molyvos. Technically, the narrow and rocky beach adjacent to the village is called Molyvos Beach, while the broader, nicer, sandy beach that extends south from Molyvos Beach is Psiriara Beach. However, Psiriara is not a particularly well-known proper name, so Psiriara Beach is commonly just regarded as the southern extension of Molyvos Beach. Psiriara Beach is about a kilometer long, and the northern half of the beach is lined with a few small hotels. The beach is relatively uncrowded considering its proximity to Molyvos, and there are a couple of probable reasons. First, signs pointing to the beach are either very inconspicuous or perhaps entirely non-existent, so the beach is attended mostly by hotel guests, while most tourists are probably not even aware of its presence Second, beachgoers in the area tend to gravitate to Petra a few kilometers to the southwest. Petra is much more known as a beach resort village than is Molyvos. To access Psiriara Beach, you can park at Hotel Delfinia, which is located at the southern edge of Molyvos going toward Petra. (The entrance to the hotel is next to the village limits sign.) There is a parking area available to the public at the hotel. When you access the beach at Definia, you will be approximately at the midpoint of Psiriara. Facing the sea, walk to the left and you will encounter nudists on the southernmost few hundred meters of the beach. Nude bathing is very well established, so the south end of the beach tends to be mostly nude even during peak season. Hotel Delfinia sets up sunchairs and umbrellas along the beach, and sometimes the chairs extend into the nude area, with the southernmost chairs being occupied by nudists. However, the hotel does not seem to consistently stretch the chairs that far south, so don't count on having access to a sunchair. From the nude area of Psiriara (or from any part of it, for that matter), you will have fantastic views of Molyvos and it hilltop castle.
The other nude beach near Molyvos is called Eftalou Beach, and it is a north-facing beach that is several kilometers east of the village. Unlike at Psiriara, there is no sand at Eftalou. The beach is composed entirely of pebbles. Going east toward Eftalou from Molyvos, as you near the beach the road will begin to run next to the sea, with the water on your left-hand side. At that point, you will actually be driving along Eftalou Beach, but the nudist part of the beach is farther along. When you reach the point where the pavement turns to gravel, you will see a signed spur road that goes down to the Hot Springs of Eftalou, where thermal water comes out of the rocks. There is a small bathhouse at the springs where you can pay to soak. (You can soak nude only if you rent a private tub. The communal tubs are textile.) The part of Eftalou Beach of interests to nudists begins a bit beyond (i.e., east of) the bathhouse. To get there, stay on the main road just a short distance after it turns to gravel, then park and access the beach at Golden Beach Restaurant. (The gravel road continues to wind through the hills, passing above the nudist section of the beach before winding back to the sea and continuing east along the coastline.) The Golden Beach cove of Eftalou Beach is just east of the hot springs bathhouse, and it is textile. Facing the sea, turn right and walk east just 100 or so meters to a rocky outcropping that projects partway or all the way to the water, depending on the tide. Beyond the outcropping, you will be at the first of the nudist coves, which is a bit over 100 meters long. However, on crowded days, the first nudist cove may be mostly textile, so if there are too many textiles about for your liking, just keeping walking a bit. Father along, there is a chain of small coves and then two larger coves, and at high tide you will have to clamber over rocky outcroppings to get from one cove to the next. The more distant coves tend to have a mostly gay presence. If you walk far enough, you will reach a rocky projection that is a bit more of a headland than an outcropping. At that point, you will be 800 meters east of Golden Beach Restaurant. The headland is effectively the end of the nude beach. If you clamber around the headland, there is a considerably narrower expanse of beach that will very likely be deserted. It is plenty remote enough for nudity, but hardly anyone ventures that far because the beach beyond the headland is strewn with debris and not very attractive.
There are no sunchairs available at Etfalou, and the pebbly surface is uncomfortable even for bare feet, so be sure to bring sufficient padding for sunbathing. There are outdoor showers along the textile cove next to Golden Beach Restaurant. As you look across the sea at Eftalou Beach, the mountains on the horizon are in Turkey, which is less than 10 kilometers away.
This placemark pertains to Psiriara Beach and Eftalou Beach.

Psiriara Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Psiriara Beach and Eftalou Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Molyvos, Lesbos, Northeast Aegean, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Psiriara Beach and Eftalou Beach.

Eftalou Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Psiriara Beach and Eftalou Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Molyvos, Lesbos, Northeast Aegean, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Psiriara Beach and Eftalou Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fWzkA2
starting point  the three-way junction at the south end of Molyvos (a.k.a. Mithimna)
Molyvos is a village located toward the east end of the north coast of Lesbos, about 60 kilometers by car from Mytilene (also spelled Mytilini), which is the principal town of the island and the location of the island's airport and only major ferry port. Molyvos is also known as Mithimna, and the name Mithimna is actually more likely to appear on road signs even through Molyvos is used more in common parlance. Just be sure to remember that Molyvos and Mithimna are nothing more than variant names of the same village.
Molyvos is a distinctive village built on a hill that is topped by a fortress-like castle, and the buildings of the village cascade down the hillside. You will very likely be going north as you approach the village, and its particular situation makes it possible to glimpse the village a few kilometers in advance. As you enter Molyvos, you will reach a three-way junction opposite the Arion Open-Air Cinema. The junction is located at the point where the village buildings begin to go up the hillside toward the castle, which will be prominently in view. At the three-way junction, the road that goes north is signed for the shopping center and the port, and the road that goes east is signed for the castle and Eftalou.
To go to Psiriara Beach:
Head south, away from Molyvos (i.e., in the opposite direction from the port and shopping center). In about 300 meters you will see a business called Panatella Holidays Rent-A-Car in a prominent fork of the road. Keep to the right at the fork, toward Petra. Continue 600-700 meters, then turn right through the stone gateway of Hotel Delfinia, which is immediately before a blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving Mithimna. Immediately upon turning through the gateway, turn left into a paved parking area where you can leave your car, at coordinates 39.3576N, 26.1772E. If your back is to the hotel gateway and the road, then the beach will be straight ahead in front of you. You will have to wander just a bit through the hotel grounds to get to the beach. Assume you access the beach next to the tennis courts. Look to your left as you face the sea. The southern end of the beach is a little over 500 meters away. Walk about half that distance and you will begin to encounter nude bathers toward the southern end.
To go to Eftalou Beach:
Turn east toward the castle and Eftalou. (It will be a right turn if you were heading north into Molyvos.) Proceed 400 meters to a fork. Keep to the right, following a sign for Etaflou. (The other fork goes toward the castle.) Continue east about 1.3 kilometers to a "T" and turn right, following another Eftalou sign. Less than 100 meters farther on, veer left at a fork, following another Eftalou sign. 800-900 meters farther on, the road will begin to run along the coastline, with the sea on your left-hand side. Continue east about 1.4 kilometers and watch for Eftalou Restaurant (on the right) as a landmark to let you know you are getting close. Not quite 200 meters past Eftalou Restaurant, take note as you pass a brown sign that points left toward the Hot Springs of Eftalou, but do not turn there. Keep straight ahead and the road will turn to gravel and begin to go uphill. About 250 meters farther on, turn left at the sign for Golden Beach Restaurant. You will then be on short road that leads to the restaurant, and there is parking along that road, around coordinates 39.3797N, 26.2174E. Walk straight ahead from the end of the road, where steps descend to the beach through the cluster of Golden Beach buildings (which includes the restaurant as well as rooms for rent). Facing the sea, turn right and walk east about 100 meters to the first rocky outcropping that extends toward the sea. Depending on how crowded the beach is, you may encounter nudists in the cove that is just beyond the first outcropping, or you may need to walk just a bit farther to the coves that are just beyond the next few outcroppings.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Psiriara, next to Hotel Delfinia).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Eftalou, next to Golden Beach Restaurant).
This placemark pertains to Psiriara Beach and Eftalou Beach.

3-way junction opposite Arion Open-Air Cinema
This placemark pertains to Psiriara Beach and Eftalou Beach.

Panatella Holidays Rent-A-Car
This placemark pertains to Psiriara Beach.

Hotel Delfinia
This placemark pertains to Psiriara Beach.

parking at Hotel Delfinia
This placemark pertains to Psiriara Beach.

Eftalou Restaurant
This placemark pertains to Eftalou Beach.

Hot Springs of Eftalou bathhouse
This placemark pertains to Eftalou Beach.

This placemark pertains to Eftalou Beach.

Golden Beach Restaurant

3-way junction opposite Arion Open-Air Cinema to parking (Psiriara Beach)

3-way junction opposite Arion Open-Air Cinema to parking (Eftalou Beach)

stairs to beach

Skala Eresou Beach

Skala Eresou Beach
Skala Eresou is a beach resort village that is toward the west end of Lesbos. It is a few kilometers from Eresos, a village located slightly inland. The two villages comprise the epicenter of lesbian tourism in Lesbos since Eresos is the birthplace of the lyric poet Sappho. However, Skala Eresou is not just a lesbian destination any more than Mykonos is just a gay (male) destination. It is also visited by lots of straight couples, families of all stripes and even some gay men.
The long, sandy beach of Skala Eresou is widely regarded as the best beach on the island. The beach is about 1.5 kilometers long, and the mouth of the Psaropotamos River is roughly halfway along the beach—sort of. Most of the year, the Psaropotamos does not quite make it to the sea. A buildup of beach sand is a natural dam that creates a backwater that is teeming with turtles. The heart of the village of Skala Eresou lies on the east side of Psaropotamos, and there you will find a plethora of bars, restaurants, shops and small hotels along the quaint cobbled streets of the village. On the west side of the Psaropotamos, the only major development is a resort called Aeolian Village, which is situated about 100 meters back from the beach. Nude bathing is well established and freely tolerated on most of the western half of the beach. Most nude bathers cluster just west of the backwater. A bit farther west, there is a beach bar and a short line of beach chairs and umbrellas along the part of the beach that corresponds to Aeolian Village. That area is textile. Continuing west beyond the beach chairs, the beach becomes thinly populated, and nudity is acceptable continuing to the end of the beach. In a nutshell, it is a nudist zone of about 800 meters with a textile enclave in the middle. Besides the beach bar next to Aeolian Village, there is a small snack stand just east of the backwater and numerous eateries not far away in the village. Since Skala Eresou is a lesbian mecca, there are far more nude women here than is typical at most nude beaches, which tend to be male dominated.
GPS: 39.1374N, 25.9230E (near Psaropotamos River), 39.1388N, 25.9172E (far west end of beach)
village, island, island group, country:  Skala Eresou, Lesbos, Northeast Aegean, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fcCZuk
starting point  the turnoff to Skala Eresou from the more southern of the two Kalloni-to-Eresos routes
Kalloni is the most centrally located town in Lesbos, and it is situated just north of the Gulf of Kalloni, which is the very prominent body of water that cuts deeply into the southwestern side of the island. Eresos is a highly touristed village that is located toward the far west end of the island. There are two routes between Kalloni and Eresos, and the distance between the two towns is roughly the same (about 47 kilometers) regardless of which route you take. Those two routes form a big loop through the western side of Lesbos that is a bit under 100 kilometers long. The turnoff to Skala Eresou is located along the more southern of the two Kalloni-to-Eresos routes. The southern route passes through (or close to) the villages of Parakoila, Agra and Mesotopos. In Kalloni, you should follow the signs that point toward Parakoila if you want to take the southern route to Eresos since signs that point toward Eresos take you along the northern route.
Assume you take the southern route. About 35 kilometers from Kalloni, the road will skirt the edge of Mesotopos. As you leave Mesotopos, you will pass a sign indicating that it is 12 kilometers to Eresos. From that sign, continue another 10.8 kilometers until you reach a stop sign at a three-way junction. The stop sign is affixed to a tree that is in the middle of the junction. Turn left at the stop sign and you will be at the start of the road to Skala Eresou. Alternatively, if you start in Eresos and head south, you will reach the junction with the tree in the middle in roughly one kilometer, but there is no stop sign since southbound traffic has the right of way. Keep straight ahead and you will be on the road to Skala Eresou.
Once you are on the road to Skala Eresou, proceed south 1.5 kilometers and you will cross a narrow bridge over a small river. (The river is the Psaropotamos, but it is not signed.) After the bridge, continue about 600 meters and you will pass the blue-and-white Skala Eresou village sign.
About 500 meters past the village sign, the road surfacing will change from asphalt to cobblestone as you enter the heart of the village, and the rest of the drive through the village is along cobbled streets. Just after the road surfacing changes, you will reach an intersection where "do-not-enter" panels prohibit traffic from continuing straight ahead. Turn right, but then almost immediately turn back to the left at the corner of a small supermarket, following a blue "P" panel that points toward parking. Continue about 100 meters to the second four-way intersection and turn right. At that point, you will begin going west, parallel to the beach, but at first buildings block your view of the beach. In a little over 100 meters, the beach will come into view, then not quite 100 meters farther on, you will reach the start of a gravel road on your left. The gravel road runs parallel to the cobbled street, and it serves as a long parking lane for the beach. The cobbled street and the gravel road are separated by a tree-lined median, and there are a few turnoffs across the median that connect the street and the parking lane. Stay on the cobbled street about 250 meters until it starts to curve rightward (inland), then turn left into the gravel parking lane at its far end and park there, at coordinates 39.1371N, 25.9259E. The beach is just steps away.
Facing the sea, turn right and very shortly you will come to the mouth of the Psaropotamos River, which usually does not break all the way through to the sea, so expect to see a lagoon-like body of water backed up behind a natural dam of sand. Just after the river mouth, you will reach the start of the nude area. About 300 meters after the river mouth, you will reach a short line of beach chairs and umbrellas set up by Aeolian Village resort. That part of the beach is textile. Beyond the beach chairs, the beach becomes nudist again, extending several hundred meters to the far west end of the beach.
Alternate approach, to access the beach closer to its far west end:
Follow the directions above, but continue along the cobbled street as it curves inland away from the gravel parking lane. In about 200 meters, turn left onto a bridge that crosses the Psaropotamos. You will reach a "T" at the end of the bridge. Turn left, heading back toward the sea. (By that point, you will be on a regular asphalt road again.) Shortly the road will curve rightward as it begins to parallel the beach. In about 200 meters, you will pass the first of two grand stone entry gateways into Aeolian Village resort, which is on the right (inland) side of the road. About 100 meters farther on, you will pass the other gateway. (The part of the beach corresponding to those gateways is the textile area described in the previous paragraph.) By the time you pass the second Aeolian Village gateway, the road will have turned to gravel, and in about 300 meters the road will end. Once you are past the second Aeolian Village gateway, you can park anywhere along the gravel road (around coordinates 39.1397N, 25.9180E) and access the beach near its far west end.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (near the Psaropotamos).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (past Aeolian Village).
This placemark pertains to Skala Eresou Beach.

bridge over Psaropotamos River
This placemark pertains to Skala Eresou Beach.

Skala Eresou village sign
This placemark pertains to Skala Eresou Beach.

start of gravel parking lane

mouth of Psaropotamos River, usually backed up by sandbank

Aeolian Village resort

beach in front of Aeolian Village resort (textile)

far west end of beach (nudist)

route from Skala Eresou village sign to parking areas

Limena Beach

Limena Beach
Limena Beach is a secluded, off-the-beaten-path beach that is located near the westernmost tip of Lesbos, just a bit south of the village of Sigri. It is a beautiful sandy crescent a bit more than 500 meters long, situated in a small bay and backed by gently rolling hills that are virtually treeless. Limena is a wild beach that is accessed from a gravel road, and there are no signs pointing the way, so even during peak season the beach is attended by just a small number of visitors in the know. Although textiles are sometimes present, bare bathing is more the norm. There are a couple of houses near the northern end of the beach, so nudists tend to gather along the southern half (to the left when facing the sea). Be sure to bring water, and you may also consider bringing some type of umbrella or tent for shade.
village, island, island group, country:  Sigri, Lesbos, Northeast Aegean, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2ftcUSR
starting point  the turnoff to Sigri from the more northern of the two Kalloni-to-Eresos routes
Kalloni is the most centrally located town in Lesbos, and it is situated just north of the Gulf of Kalloni, which is the very prominent body of water that cuts deeply into the southwestern side of the island. Eresos is a highly touristed village that is located toward the far west end of the island. There are two routes between Kalloni and Eresos, and the distance between the two towns is roughly the same (about 47 kilometers) regardless of which route you take. Those two routes form a big loop through the western side of Lesbos that is a bit under 100 kilometers long. The turnoff to Sigri is located along the more northern of the two Kalloni-to-Eresos routes. The northern route passes through (or close to) the villages of Dafia, Filia, Skalochori, Vatoussa and Antissa. If you start in Kalloni and head toward Eresos along the northern route, it is roughly 37 kilometers to the turnoff to Sigri (which is a few kilometers past Antissa), and it will be a right-hand turn. If you start in Eresos and head toward Kalloni along the northern route, it is 9 to 10 kilometers to the turnoff to Sigri, and it will be a left-hand turn.
Once you turn toward Sigri, follow the road in a generally westerly direction for 13 kilometers to a prominent fork that is just a bit before Sigri. By that point, the sea will be in view. Both roads go into Sigri, but the route through the village is a little shorter and easier to follow if you veer left at the fork, following the brown sign that points toward the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest. The road will begin to climb uphill, and in about 600 meters you will pass a windmill on your right as you enter the village of Sigri. It is a traditional Greek windmill with a silo-like cylindrical base, and it is across the street from the petrified forest museum.
After the windmill, keep straight ahead on the main road, which will make several sharp curves as it winds downhill through the village. In about 400 meters, at approximately the point where the sea comes back into view, turn left onto a very short cobbled street. (There aren't any signs, but there also aren't any other streets matching that description.) The cobbled street slopes downhill, and very quickly you will reach a "T." Turn left. At that point, you should begin heading south away from Sigri along a tree-lined waterfront road, with the sea just steps away on your right-hand side. In about 350 meters the road will turn to gravel. (Shortly after the road surfacing changes, the road will climb slightly uphill and veer just slightly inland, still generally following the coastline but not directly along the waterfront.) Continue south along the gravel road about 1.5 kilometers until the road crosses a small creek bed. Just after the creek, you will see two neighboring houses on the right that are set back a good piece from the road. Those houses are the first two significant structures you will encounter that are on the right (sea) side of the gravel road. Not quite 100 meters after the creek, just after you pass the two houses, the gravel road will bend rightward at the rounded corner of the fence that surrounds the two houses. Immediately after the road bends, you should see a fence gate on your right. That is the start of your walk to the beach. Park alongside the gravel road near the gate, around coordinates 39.1946N, 25.8586E.
Unless the gate has been upgraded, it is a ramshackle, makeshift type of contraption. Go through the gate and be sure to close it behind you. It is a straightforward walk of a little over 300 meters to Limena Beach. As you start toward the sea, at first you will be walking along the perimeter fence of the two previously described houses. The fence, which consists of a low stone wall topped with wire mesh fencing, will be on your right-hand side, and you will pass next very close to one of the houses as you head toward the sea. When you arrive at the beach, you will be along its central expanse but closer to the north end than to the south end. Nudity is more apt to occur toward the south end (to the left when facing the sea).
This placemark pertains to Limena Beach.

windmill at edge of Sigri
This placemark pertains to Limena Beach.

very short cobbled street that slopes downhill
This placemark pertains to Limena Beach.

short bridge over creek bed

route from windmill at edge of Sigri to parking

Samos

Tsamadou & Tsabou Beaches

Toward the eastern end of the north coast of Samos, the seaside village of Kokkari is located about 10 kilometers northwest of Vathy, which is the principal town of Samos and the location of the island's busiest ferry port. (Vathy is also known as Samos town, and it is labelled simply as Samos on many maps.) Just a bit northwest of Kokkari, Tsamadou Beach is an exceptionally beautiful 350-meter-long beach backed by a tree-covered hillside. The beach faces northeast, and if you are standing on the beach and looking across the sea, you can vaguely detect a ridge of mountains on the horizon. That's the coast of Turkey, roughly 30 kilometers away.
Tsamadou is composed entirely of pebbles, but despite the lack of sand, it is a very popular beach that gets quite crowded in July and August. Most of the length of the beach is textile, except for the southeast end. A broad, paved path leads downhill to to central part of the beach. Facing the sea at the end of the path, to your left there is a grassy, gently sloping lawn-like area behind the beach where there are several tavernas. Look to your right and the southeast end of the beach is a bit less than 200 meters away, and you will see a steeply sloping area of exposed rock at the far end. Head in that direction. About halfway to the end of the beach, you will begin to encounter nude bathers. Even though the nude zone of the beach is less than 100 meters long, this is where you will find the biggest concentration of bare bathers on Samos. There are sunbeds along the entire beach, including in the nude area, and you will almost certainly want to rent one. The stony surface of the beach does not make for comfortable sunbathing with just a towel.
At many popular beaches where space is limited, textiles often overtake the nudist zone in July and August. Fortunately, that is not the case at Tsamadou. Nudity is a deeply embedded part of the culture of the beach, and nudists seem to comprise at least half the crowd at the far southeast end of the beach even during peak season. At less crowded times, the percentage of nudists is higher.
A few kilometers northwest of Tsamadou in the tiny village of Avlakia, there is a beach with the frustratingly similar name of Tsabou. Like Tsamadou, Tsabou Beach is a mostly textile beach with a small nudist area, but it draws just a fraction of the visitors of Tsamadou, irrespective of swimwear preference. Tsabou is also completely covered in pebbles, and the main expanse of the beach is about 250 meters long. There is a taverna, and there and sunbeds available to rent. In decades past, nude bathing was fairly common at the east end of the main expanse of the beach, but is seems that nudity on the main beach has become far less common in more recent years. However, there is a completely separate cove just east of the main beach that is just 25 or so meters long, and that cove is considered the domain of nude bathers. There are no sunbeds at the nudist cove, so be sure to bring sufficient padding. The nudist cove never seems to get crowded. Expect to see just a few other visitors, or perhaps no one at all.
The nudist cove of Tsabou can be accessed by a short but steep path that leaves from the coastal road, and the given driving directions lead to that path. However, you can also get to the nudist cove from the main beach, but you will very likely have to get your feet wet. Facing the sea at the main beach, head to your right. As you near the end of the beach, it becomes narrower as you reach the start of a rocky cliff face. If there are any nudists along the main beach, this is where they will be. At the end of the beach, you will reach a distinctive rock column (like a really tall boulder) that is at the water's edge. Pass though the narrow opening between the cliff face and the rock column, then it is just 20 or so meters to the nudist cove. Except perhaps at low tide, you can expect to have to wade once you are past the rock column, but that is easily accomplished if the surf is calm. Considering the rocky surface, you probably will not want to wade in bare feet.
This placemark pertains to Tsamadou Beach and Tsabou Beach.

Tsamadou Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Tsamadou Beach and Tsabou Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Kokkari, Samos, Northeast Aegean, Greece
There are 13 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Tsamadou Beach and Tsabou Beach.

Tsabou Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Tsamadou Beach and Tsabou Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Avlakia, Samos, Northeast Aegean, Greece
There are 13 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Tsamadou Beach and Tsabou Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fKzAPw
starting point  the harborfront road in Vathy (a.k.a. Samos town)
There are three ferry ports in Samos. The principal ferry port is in Vathy (a.k.a. Samos town), which is toward the eastern end of the island's northern coast. The ferry port in Karlovasi is an important secondary port that is located toward the western end of the island's northern coast. Many ferries stop at both northern ports. (The third port, at Pythagoreio, is a comparatively minor port that is toward the eastern end of the island's southern coast.) The two northern ports are 33 kilometers apart.
Vathy is situated along a natural harbor that cuts a deep indentation toward the east end of the island's northern coast. The ferry port is on the east side of the harbor, and there is an industrial port on the west side. Head west along the harborfront road in Vathy, such that the harbor is on your right-hand side. Continue until you reach a roundabout that is next to the industrial port. Watch for signs for Kokkari and Karlovasi to negotiate your way through the roundabout and an adjacent junction, then you will begin heading northwest on the main road of the northern coast of the island, with the sea on your right-hand side. Continue about 6.5 kilometers and take note when you pass a seaside power plant. It is an easily identifiable landmark since there are four smokestacks that resemble candy canes, with broad red and white stripes. The power plant is on the east side of the seaside village of Kokkari.
After the power plant, the main road will veer slightly inland and bypass the main part of Kokkari, which is accessed by a loop road that intersects the main road in two places. A few hundred meters past the power plant, stay on the main road past the east end of the Kokkari loop road (which veers off to the right). Continue northwest 1.4 kilometers and take note when you pass the west end of the Kokkari loop road. At that point, the sea will come back into view (still on your right-hand side). Continue northwest another 1.2 kilometers, then turn right into the large parking pullout above Tsamadou Beach, at coordinates 37.7847N, 26.8744E. It is prominently signed. Just past the parking area, watch for the big sign with "welcome" written in English, German and Greek. From there, a broad, stepped path with handrails descends to the beach. Facing the sea, turn right and walk just a few minutes to the far southeast end of the beach.
To continue to Tsabou Beach:
Follow the directions above, but continue driving northwest. About 2.4 kilometers past Tsamadou Beach, you will enter the small seaside village of Avlakia. Most of the buildings of the village are on the right (sea) side of the road. In about 300 meters, watch for a small church, which is the last of the buildings on the right. (The church is actually situated below the level of the road, but you can see the roof and the bell tower.) About 150 meters past the church, the road will make a leftward hairpin curve. There is a path that goes directly to the nudist cove of Tsabou Beach, and it leaves from the right side of the road at the hairpin curve. Just before the curve, there is an asphalted shoulder on the left where you can park, at coordinates 37.8017N, 26.8572E. The path down to the beach is short but steep.
In following the directions above, you will reach the tiny nudist cove of Tsabou without ever getting to the main area of the beach. If you kept going about 300 meters beyond the hairpin curve, the next turnoff on the right leads to the main (textile) area of the beach.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Tsamadou).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (Tsabou).
This placemark pertains to Tsamadou Beach and Tsabou Beach.

power plant on east side of Kokkari
This placemark pertains to Tsamadou Beach and Tsabou Beach.

eastern turnoff onto loop road through Kokkari

western turnoff onto loop road through Kokkari

This placemark pertains to Tsamadou Beach.

small church in Avlakia
This placemark pertains to Tsabou Beach.

parking shoulder
This placemark pertains to Tsabou Beach.

turnoff to main area of Tsabou Beach
This placemark pertains to Tsabou Beach.

main expanse of Tsabou Beach (usually all textile)
The main expanse of Tsabou Beach tends to be all textile, with occasional nudity at the far east end.

rock column (like a tall boulder)

coastal road segment (from power plant to Tsamadou Beach)

coastal road segment (from Tsamadou Beach to Tsabou Beach)

steps to beach

Micro Seitani & Megalo Seitani Beaches

Toward the western end of the northern coast of Samos, Karlovasi is the second largest town on the island, and it is the location of one of the island's three ferry ports. Several kilometers west of Karlovasi, Micro Seitani Beach and Megalo Seitani Beach are beaches that can only be reached on foot or by boat. The two beaches are at the base of Mt. Kerkis, the large mountain that dominates the western end of Samos. The names of the beaches literally mean "Little Satan" and "Big Satan," which is perhaps a reference to the frequent strong winds. Otherwise, these beautiful beaches are hardly demonic.
The beaches are accessed by hiking along a path that basically parallels the coastline. It is a beautiful trek through a forest with lots of olive trees. It isn't terribly strenuous for those in reasonably good shape, and all ascents and descents along the path are gradual. However, parts of the path are very rocky, so avoid wearing open-toed footwear. From the closest parking, it is a little over a kilometer to Micro Seitani, which is the smaller of the two beaches. Micro Seitani is a shingle beach that is about 50 meters long, nestled in a cove that is surrounded by rugged and rocky terrain on three sides. Nudity is well established at Micro Seitani, but nudity patterns can vary widely from day to day. It is possible you could show to find only textiles at the beach, especially on weekends during peak season. However, as long as you are bold enough to start a trend by getting naked, no one is likely to object. Overall, attendance seems to be about evenly split between nudists and textiles.
You will have to hike another 1.6 kilometers beyond (i.e., west of) Micro Seitani to reach Megalo Seitani. A crescent of coarse sand that extends just under 500 meters, Megalo Seitani is by far the larger of the two beaches, and the mountainous backdrop of the beach is quite stunning. When you reach Megalo Seitani, you will land at the far eastern end of the beach, and it may seem surprising that there are several houses on the opposite (i.e., western) end of the beach. There is not a road leading to those houses (which are presumably vacation properties); they are accessed by boat. Due to the presence of the houses at the west end of the beach, nudity at Megalo Seitani typically occurs only toward the east end. If you are not up for the hike all the way to Megalo Seitani, you may want to take a boat instead. A boat called Alexander the Great provides water taxi service from the port in Karlovasi to the beach. The schedule is not well publicized, and the boat does not run when the sea is too rough, so you will need to inquire at the port. The boat generally drops passengers off in the morning and picks them up in the afternoon. The small boat dock is located on the western side of the beach near the houses. If you hike to Megalo Seitani on a day when the boat does not run, you are likely to find the beach virtually deserted, providing ample opportunities for nudity. When the boat does run, there may be several dozen visitors on the beach, mostly textiles. However, nudity with some discretion is usually still possible at the eastern end of the beach.
The water taxi that goes to Megalo Seitani does not stop at Micro Seitani, which is perhaps why nudity seems a little better established at the smaller beach than at the larger one. There are no amenities at all at either beach, so be absolutely sure to bring water as well as snacks and anything else you might need.
This placemark pertains to Micro Seitani Beach and Megalo Seitani Beach.

Micro Seitani Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Micro Seitani Beach and Megalo Seitani Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Potami, Samos, Northeast Aegean, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Micro Seitani Beach and Megalo Seitani Beach.

Megalo Seitani Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Micro Seitani Beach and Megalo Seitani Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Potami, Samos, Northeast Aegean, Greece
There are 12 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Micro Seitani Beach and Megalo Seitani Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fWZt1s
starting point  the seafront road next to ferry port in Karlovasi
There are three ferry ports in Samos. The principal ferry port is in Vathy (a.k.a. Samos town), which is toward the eastern end of the island's northern coast. The ferry port in Karlovasi is an important secondary port that is located toward the western end of the island's northern coast. Many ferries stop at both northern ports. (The third port, at Pythagoreio, is a comparatively minor port that is toward the eastern end of the island's southern coast.) The two northern ports are 33 kilometers apart. In Karlovasi, there is a seafront road that extends about 3 kilometers, and the ferry port is at the western end of the seafront road.
From the vicinity of the Karlovasi ferry port, follow the seafront road west (such that the sea in on your right-hand side). Shortly you will leave the developed area of Karlovasi and the road will follow the sea at the base of a mountain. In a little over a kilometer you will pass Agios Nikolas Church, which is on the right, overlooking the sea. (The church is a modernist take on traditional Greek architecture.) After the church, the road will begin to make a long "U," curving inland and then back toward the sea as it passes through the village of Potami. About one kilometer past the church, the road will begin to run along the sea again, passing atop a seawall-type embankment above the far west end of Potami Beach. (Parking for Potami Beach is atop the embankment.) Once you are past the end of the embankment and the end of Potami Beach, the road will begin to wind uphill. In several hundred meters, you will pass a sharp left-hand turnoff toward the hamlet of Tsourlei (a.k.a. Agios Panteleimon). Keep straight ahead. The road will turn to gravel.
Once the road turns to gravel, you need to be very alert for landmarks since the start of the path to the Seitani Beaches is easy to miss. Watch for side tracks on your right-hand side. In about 250 meters, you will pass a track on the right that goes slightly downhill into a dirt parking area. You can park there if the road is becoming too rough, but otherwise keep straight ahead. About 250 meters farther on, you will reach a fork where the left fork continues slightly uphill while the right fork begins to go downhill. Keep to the left. (The right fork is signed as a dead-end road, and it goes downhill to several houses that overlook the sea.) Not quite 100 meters farther on, there are two tracks on the right that are one after the other, leaving the main road from approximately the same point. The first track is the wider of the two, and it can accommodate vehicles. The second track is a walking path, and it is the trail to the Seitani Beaches. Park alongside the road (at coordinates 37.7825N, 26.6549E) and start along the path.
If you are unsure you are in the right place, here are several ways to ensure you find the correct path. First, the pinpointed parking placemark is at the start of the path, so you can use the given parking coordinates if you have a GPS device. Second, there are often markings of some sort that identify the path, but they seem to be of a temporary nature. Near the start of the path, watch for bright paint markings on a large rock, and also watch for "Seitani" written on or carved into a wooden pole . Third, if you start along the correct path, the other track that leaves from approximately the same point should at first be slightly downhill from you on your right-hand side, but the two tracks will quickly diverge. Finally, not quite 200 meters from the start of the path, you should pass a small white structure on your right (some sort of outbuilding).
From the start of the footpath, it is 1.1 kilometers to Micro Seitani Beach. Allow about 30 minutes to get there. The path descends to the east end of Micro Seitani. Across the small beach, you will see a path that ascends from the west end of the beach. Continue along that path if you want to keep going to Megalo Seitani Beach, which is 1.6 kilometers farther on. Allow about 45 minutes from the time you depart Micro Seitani. The path descends to the far east end of Megalo Seitani. For the entire walk, you are basically just following the coastline. Any side paths you encounter on your left go uphill.
This placemark pertains to Micro Seitani Beach and Megalo Seitani Beach.

Karlovasi ferry port
This placemark pertains to Micro Seitani Beach and Megalo Seitani Beach.

Agios Nikolas Church

road turns to gravel just past turnoff toward Tsourlei
The hamlet of Tsourlei is marked on some maps as Agios Panteleimon.

turnoff into small dirt parking area

road fork (left goes uphill; right goes downhill & dead ends)

small white structure (some sort of outbuilding)

small boat dock

segment of coastal road going west out of Karlovasi

hiking trail that follows coastline

Fournaki & Psili Ammos Beaches

Marathokampos is a picturesque hillside village located in the foothills of Mt. Kerkis, the large mountain that dominates the western end of Samos. Located about 250 meters above sea level, Marathokampos overlooks the south coast of the island. Below the village, there are two neighboring seaside villages. The village that is farther east is Ormos Marathokampos, which is usually truncated to just Ormos. The village that is farther west is Kampos Marathokampos, usually truncated to just Kampos and alternately spelled Kambos. As if all that weren't confusing enough, Kampos is also familiarly known as Votsalakia.
Kampos (a.k.a. Votsalakia) is not a proper village with a center but rather a sprawling line of tourist development that stretches about 3 kilometers. For most of the length of Kampos, there is a long, sandy beach that is just steps away from a seafront road. However, at the far west end of Kampos, the coastal geography changes, with cliffs rising up behind the beach. The part of the beach that is below the cliffs is called Fournaki Beach, but the proper name is not well known, so you may not encounter a single sign with that name on it. Fournaki is very lightly visited compared to the main beach of Kampos, and nude bathing is well established.
The area shaded lightly in red is the entire length of Fournaki. The beach is about 800 meters long, and there isn't a lot of sand. It is mostly a shingle beach, but there are significant stretches covered in larger stones and boulders. The beach can be accessed at either end. Depending on when you visit, nudity may be possible along the entire beach, but during peak season there may be only textiles at either end of the beach. However, there is always plenty of room on the beach for nudists to find a place, even during July and August. Assume you enter the beach at its eastern end, next to a beach bar called Mocombo. The beach bar is along a rocky stretch of the coastline. Facing the sea, turn right and walk west. In less than 100 meters, the larger rocks will give way to shingle, and you will be at the start of Fournaki Beach. During peak season, there may be a small number of beach chairs and umbrellas set up at the start of the beach. If that is the case, those chairs will likely be occupied by textiles, so keep going just a bit beyond the chairs. For the first 200 or so meters, the beach is shingle interspersed with larger rocks. As you round a slight bend of the coastline, there are longer stretches covered entirely with large rocks, interspersed with several small shingle patches. If you want to explore the entire length of the beach, wear good shoes since the terrain is quite rugged in places. If you keep going as far as you can, you will reach a small patch of sand about 50 meters long at the far west end of the beach. There is a path from the road above the cliffs that goes down to the far west end of the beach, and due to that relative ease of access, it is possible there will only be textiles there, especially during peak season.
After the far west end of Fournaki Beach, the coastline becomes rocky, but the next beach is less than a kilometer farther west. That beach is Psili Ammos Beach. Psili Ammos means "golden sands," and it is a popular name for a beach. (In fact, there is another Psili Ammos on Samos that is located east of Pythagoreio, so don't be thrown off by that.) The Psili Ammos that is west of Kampos is a little over 500 meters long, and it is a mostly textile beach. When you enter the beach, you will be approximately at its mid-point, below a restaurant. During summer, there are beach chairs and umbrellas along most of the beach. Facing the sea, turn right and go all the way to the far west end, where nudists are often present. In fact, it is not out of the question to find nude bathers occupying the last several beach chairs. However, large crowds inhibit nudity, so you may not encounter any nudists on peak days when textiles are dispersed along the entire beach. Just keep your expectations in check if you visit during peak season.
This placemark pertains to Fournaki Beach and Psili Ammos Beach.

Fournaki Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Fournaki Beach and Psili Ammos Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Kampos (Votsalakia), Samos, Northeast Aegean, Greece
There are 13 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Fournaki Beach and Psili Ammos Beach.

(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Fournaki Beach and Psili Ammos Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Kampos (Votsalakia), Samos, Northeast Aegean, Greece
There are 13 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Fournaki Beach and Psili Ammos Beach.

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fdaBIw
starting location  the town of Karlovasi
There are three ferry ports in Samos. The principal ferry port is in Vathy (a.k.a. Samos town), which is toward the eastern end of the island's northern coast. The ferry port in Karlovasi is an important secondary port that is located toward the western end of the island's northern coast. The third port, at Pythagoreio, is a comparatively minor port that is toward the eastern end of the island's southern coast. In Karlovasi, watch for signs that point toward Pythagoreio and follow them. You will begin heading south on a road that cuts through the interior of the island. In roughly 7 kilometers, turn right toward the village of Marathokampos. (The turnoff is at a four-way junction, opposite the turnoff toward Agioi Theodoroi.)
Once you turn, follow the road southwest for 2.5 kilometers to a small roundabout. At the roundabout, there are two roads that essentially continue straight ahead. Take the road that is farther to the left. (The other road continues toward Marathokampos*.) You will then be on a road that bypasses the hillside village of Marathokampos, and the road will wind downhill in a generally southwesterly directions. Continue 3.5 kilometers to the next small roundabout. Turn to your left. The road will continue to wind downhill toward the sea, but in a generally southeasterly direction. Continue 2.6 kilometers to the next four-way intersection. By that point, you will be near sea level, and the seaside village of Ormos will be straight ahead.
Turn right at the four-way intersection. At first the road will make several sharp curves. In about 1.4 kilometers, the road will straighten out as is begins to runs next to the beach, which will be on your left-hand side. When the road straightens out, you will have just entered the village of Kampos, which is a sprawling collection of tourist development. Continue west through Kampos. In about 2 kilometers, take note of the right-hand turnoff toward Kampos Village Resort just as a landmark, but do not turn.
About 500 meters after you pass Kampos Village Resort, the road will curve rightward, away from the beach. About 100 meters past the curve, you will cross a short bridge over a dry river bed.
To park at the east end of Fournaki Beach:
Just after the short bridge over the dry river bed, take the next possible left. (There may be a sign for Mocambo Beach Bar.) Shortly after you turn, the road will merge into the dry river bed, which is pretty much just a broad gravel road. Continue about 100 meters to the end of the road next to the beach and park, at coordinates 37.7056N, 26.6626E. At that point, you should be next to Mocambo Beach Bar, which is along a rocky stretch of the coastline. Facing the sea, turn to your right and walk west. Within 100 meters you will reach the start of a mostly shingle stretch of beach that is backed by cliffs, and at that point you will be at the beginning of Fournaki Beach (i.e., the far east end of the beach). Depending on when you visit, nudity may be possible right away, or you may need to continue west a few minutes before stripping down.
To park at the west end of Fournaki Beach:
Keep straight ahead after the short bridge over the dry river bed. The road will make two successive curves: first a hairpin leftward curve, then a sharp rightward curve. After the second curve, the road will straighten out a bit. At that point you will be driving above Fournaki Beach, but the beach will not be in view due to trees and cliffs. In about 500 meters, the road will make a sharp rightward curve as it turns inland. (The curve is just past a bar called Mystic Ocean, which is on the right side of the road, but the bar seems to have closed circa 2013.) The path down to the beach is on the left-hand side of the road at the curve. Park wherever you can alongside the road, around coordinates 37.7054N, 26.6553E. Follow the path downhill through the woods and in just over 100 meters you will reach the small sandy cove at the far west end of Fournaki Beach.
To go to Psili Ammos Beach:
Follow the directions in the preceding paragraph, but continue past the curve where the road turns inland. About 1.2 kilometers farther on, watch for Blue Horizon, a small hotel that is on the right (inland) side of the road. By that point, the road will be just above the coastline again. After you pass Blue Horizon, continue just 100 or so meters and take the next possible left into the parking area for Psili Ammos Beach, at coordinates 37.7042N, 26.6453E. Facing the sea, follow the road that goes downhill to your right from the parking area. The road will pass next to a restaurant before leading to the beach. The walk is less than 200 meters. Once you are on the beach, turn right and go about 250 meters to the far south end.
* Following the directions outlined above, you can take take a quick and easy detour through the scenic hillside village of Marathokampos that adds an extra kilometer to the trip. Two small roundabouts are referenced in the second paragraph. At the first of those roundabouts, take the road that is farther to the right in order to continue toward Marathokampos. In about 2.5 kilometers, you will enter the dense cluster of village development. About one kilometer farther on, you will be past the heart of the village and the road will begin to wind downhill. Continue a little over a kilometer farther and you will reach the second of the two roundabouts. Keep straight ahead and continue as directed above.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting location to parking (east end of Fournaki).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting location to parking (west end of Fournaki).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting location to parking (Psili Ammos).
This placemark pertains to Fournaki Beach and Psili Ammos Beach.

turnoff toward Kampos Village Resort
This placemark pertains to Fournaki Beach and Psili Ammos Beach.

Kampos Village Resort

short bridge over dry river bed

parking area next to Mocambo Beach Bar
This placemark pertains to Fournaki Beach.

Mocambo Beach Bar
This placemark pertains to Fournaki Beach.

Mystic Ocean Bar (possibly no longer in business)
This placemark pertains to Fournaki Beach.

Blue Horizon Hotel

segment of coastal road west of Kampos

side road to Mocambo Beach Bar

path to far west end of Fournaki Beach

path to Psili Ammos Beach

Thasos

Kinira is a resort village on the eastern side of Thasos, situated in a small coastal plain with a dramatic mountain backdrop. Paradise Beach is a beautiful beach at the southern periphery of Kinira. It is a 300-meter-long expanse of white sand backed by a steeply sloping, densely forested hillside. The beach has great views of Kinira Island, a small island just offshore to the northeast of the beach. Paradise is quite popular during the summer, when it is lined with sunchairs and umbrellas. When the beach is crowded, it is strictly textile on the main beach. On uncrowded pre-July and post-August days, nudity occurs sporadically toward the far northern end of the sandy area, on the opposite end of the beach from the taverna that is at its southern end. However, nudity is always acceptable in the rocky area north of the sandy beach. The rocky area is not a stony beach but rather a ledge of smooth, undulating rock with plenty of flat areas for sunbathing, and swimming in the shallow turquoise water is especially nice. Even if you visit at an off time when nudity can be practiced on the sandy beach, the rocky part of the beach is still very much worth a visit. The ledge is quite beautiful, with rocks in multiple hues of light brown tinged with orange.
On crowded days, nudists tend to leave a buffer zone at the start of the rocky area. About 200 meters past the start of the rocky area, there is a small peninsular projection of rock that seems to be the main gathering place for nudists.
village, island, island group, country:  Kinira, Thasos, Northeast Aegean, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2grbdax
starting location  Thasos town (a.k.a. Limenas)
Thasos is the principal town of the island of the same name, and it is located toward the eastern side of the north coast of the island. It is often called Thasos town to distinguish it from the island, and it is also commonly known as Limenas Thasos (i.e., Port of Thasos), which usually gets truncated to just Limenas. Thasos town is the location of one of the island's two ferry ports. (The other port is 15 kilometers to the west in Skala Prinos.) In Thasos town, watch for signs pointing toward Panagia and Potamia and follow them. You will begin heading south, going in a clockwise direction along the island's loop road. It is a fairly straightforward drive to Paradise Beach since you basically just keep straight ahead on the loop road until the beach turnoff.
About 6 to 7 kilometer from Thasos town, the road passes through the village of Panagia. About 2 kilometers farther on, the road skirts the edge of the village of Potamia. Both villages are a bit inland from the coast. Keep straight ahead past Potamia as the road descends into a small coastal plain and angles southeast toward the coast for a few kilometers, skirting the inland periphery of the coastal resort village of Skala Potamias. (As long as you keep straight ahead, you will bypass the heart of Skala Potamias, which is accessed via several left-hand turnoffs.) As you leave behind Skala Potamias, the road climbs out of the valley and begins to run along a mountainside above the coastline. Follow the twisty road about 6 kilometers to Kinira, which is the next coastal resort village. Kinira is situated in a small coastal plain, and as you enter the village, the road will wind downhill and make several curves before suddenly straightening out near sea level. Just after the road straightens out, take note of two hotels to orient yourself. Maranton Hotel is on the left (coast) side of the road. Immediately past Maranton, House Elena is on the right (inland) side of the road, closer to the road. It is a three-story structure with a bright yellow facade.
Set your car's trip meter at House Elena. Continue exactly 3 kilometers, passing all the way through Kinira, to a dirt track on your left. It is not likely to be signed. That track winds downhill about 400 meters to an earthen parking area next to the northern end of the sandy expanse of Paradise Beach, at coordinates 40.6474N, 24.7667E. Or, keep driving south along the main road another 600 meters and turn left at the main turnoff to Paradise Beach, which is signed. The main turnoff is next to Agatha Studios & Apartments. Follow the dirt track downhill 400-500 meters to an earthen parking area that abuts the beach at its south end, next to a taverna, at coordinates 40.6442N, 24.7669E. Facing the sea, walk left a few hundred meters to the northern end of the sandy part of the beach, then continue just a bit onto the rocky area beyond the end of the sand.
If parking next to the beach is full, or if you decide the dirt tracks down to the beach area too rough, you can park in a large pullout at the start of the main turnoff to the beach (i.e., the southern of the two turnoffs).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting location to parking (next to the taverna).

House Elena (hotel)

parking area at north end of beach

Agatha Studios & Apartments

main parking area

main expanse of Paradise Beach (usally all textile)
The sandy part of Paradise Beach is textile. On uncrowded days when visitors have plenty of room to spread out, there may be some nudity at the far northern end of the sand.

segment of island perimeter road

side road to northern parking area

side road to main parking area

Tripiti Beach
Limenaria is the second largest town in Thasos, and it is located toward the western end of the south side of the island. Just a bit west of Limenaria, Tripiti Beach is a sandy beach that is not quite 400 meters long. It is an overwhelmingly textile beach that has a custom of nude bathing at its east end. In 2009, a large hotel called the Blue Dream Palace was built next to the west end of the beach. Surprisingly, the new hotel has not wiped out the nude end of the beach, as one might expect. However, the space occupied by nudists is quite small during peak season, when the sunchairs and umbrellas extend almost all the way to the headland at the east end of the beach (i.e., to the left when facing the sea). Nudists gather in the small area between the last sunchair and the headland, and the last few sunchairs are sometimes occupied by nudists as well. However, keep in mind that you will have to be comfortable being in a small minority if you strip off the way during peak season, when the textile crowd basically fills up the entire beach. There is a beach bar toward the east end of the beach not far from the nude area, and there are tavernas at the west end next to the hotel.
Just beyond the headland at the nudist end of Tripiti, the next beach to the east does not seem to have a name. Unlike Tripiti, it is an undeveloped beach with no amenities, and it draws few visitors, which is surprising since it next to a beach that is popular and often crowded. It is quite easy to access, with a short track leading directly to it from the coastal road. The unnamed beach is a sandy expanse of about 200 meters, and it gets cut into two distinct areas by a long, low rock formation that extends into the sea. The rock formation is easy to climb over. The unnamed beach usually has fewer than a dozen visitors, and nude bathing is common. Although the beach is just below the coastal road, trees obscure the view. If the textile crowd at Tripiti is just too large, the unnamed beach is an alternative worth exploring.
GPS: 40.6236N, 24.5449E (far east end of Tripiti), 40.6239N, 24.5470E (unnamed beach just east of Tripiti)
village, island, island group, country:  Limenaria, Thasos, Northeast Aegean, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2gFuSqh
starting location  the town of Limenaria
Limenaria is a small town that is the second largest town in Thasos, and it is located toward the western end of the south coast of the island. Limenaria is diametrically opposite Thasos town (a.k.a. Limenas Thasos or just Limenas), which is the island's principal town and the location of one of the island's two ferry ports. Most of the villages and towns of Thasos are located along the ring road that circles the entire island. To get from Thasos town to Limenaria, you can follow the ring road in either direction. If you go in a counterclockwise directions from Thasos town, it is a bit less than 40 kilometers to Limenaria. If you go in a clockwise direction from Thasos town, it is about 54 kilometers to Limenaria.
From the center of Limenaria, head west along the ring road (i.e., clockwise, such that the sea is on your left-hand side). As the buildings begin to become less clustered, watch for the blue-and-white sign that indicates you are leaving Limenaria. (It is next to a sign that points toward Hotel Discovery.)
Once you pass the "leaving Limenaria" sign, watch for landmarks to help you along. In 700 meters, you will pass an Elin (ελιν) gas station on the right (inland) side of the road. About 200 meters farther on, there are three landmarks that are one after the other, all on the right (inland) side of the road: an Aegean gas station, a sign for Studios Kyriaki and a road that veers uphill toward Hotel Diamond and the Iris Gold jewelry factory. Once you pass those landmarks, continue 600-700 meters and watch for three dirt tracks on the left that are close together. The first track is next to a small parking pullout, and it leads a very short distance to the unnamed beach that is just east of Tripiti Beach. You can park in the pullout (at coordinates 40.6243N, 24.5460E) or along the track itself. Less than 50 meters farther along, the second track leads out to the headland that separates the unnamed beach from Tripiti Beach, and it is more of a walking path that is not especially suited to vehicles. About 70 meters farther on, the third track is easy to find since there is a billboard-type photo sign* that points to Tripiti Beach. If you turn left at that sign and follow the track downhill, in less than 100 meters you will reach an earthen parking area (at coordinates 40.6241N, 24.5433E) next to a small beach bar that is distinctive for its ivy-covered deck. Facing the sea at the beach bar, look to your left. The east end of the beach is less than 100 meters away at the headland. Nudity is generally confined to a small area at the eastern extreme of the beach next to the headland.
* There are two parking areas at Tripiti Beach. The sign described above points toward the more eastern of the two, which is closer to the nude area of the beach. The turnoff to the other parking area is about 300 kilometers farther west next to Blue Dream Palace hotel, and that turnoff is marked by a more conventional sign pointing toward Tripiti Beach.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting location to parking (at Tripiti).
This placemark pertains to Tripiti Beach.

Hotel Discovery
This placemark pertains to Tripiti Beach.

"leaving Limenaria" sign
This placemark pertains to Tripiti Beach.

Elin (ελιν) gas station

Aegean gas station

Studios Kyriaki

Hotel Diamond

Iris Gold jewelry factory

unnamed beach east of Tripiti (sometimes nudist)

Blue Dream Palace hotel

side road to earthen parking area

Saronic

Agistri

Halikiada Beach

Halikiada Beach
The Saronic Gulf is the body of water between Athens and the Peloponense. While the islands of the gulf are quite convenient to the mainland of Greece, they offer very little in the way of established nude beaches. An exception is the island of Agistri, also commonly spelled Angistri or Agkistri. The small island covers just over 13 square kilometers, and, as the crow flies, it is at most 5 kilometers from one extreme of the island to the other. Most of the island is thickly forested, and the bulk of tourist activity takes place in Skala and Milos (a.k.a. Megalochori), two settlements on the northeast side of the island that are just 2 kilometers apart.
At a walking distance of a kilometer or so from Skala, Halikiada Beach (often spelled Chalikiada) has a nudist tradition that dates back at least to the early 1980's. Located beneath a sheer orange-colored cliff, Halikiada is about 125 meters long, composed entirely of pebbles and strewn with a number of boulders. Nudity is practiced along the entire length of this picturesque beach. During peak season, textiles usually outnumber nudists, but nude bathers are always well represented. Halikiada has a strong counterculture presence, and the beach is usually lined with small tents, lending it a bit of a shanty-town aura. A bit of clambering is required to get down the cliff to the beach, but it will not be a problem for those who are reasonably fit. Although the beach is not everyone's cup of tea, it is a rare island nude beach that is close enough to the mainland to be a reasonable day-trip destination. Halikiada has no amenities, so come prepared. The closest place to eat is Hook Club café, which is 500-600 meters away. You will pass it along the walk from Skala to the beach.
If you have a spare day in Athens and you want a little of the Greek Islands nude beach experience, you can visit Halikiada Beach as a day trip without having to spend a lot of money or rent your own transportation. The Athens Metro Line 1 (the green line) goes to the huge port of Pireaus, where there is high-speed ferry service to Skala. There is ferry service about six times a day. Allowing for a metro ride of 30 minutes, a ferry trip of an hour and a walk of 10 to 20 minutes, you could be potentially be naked on an island beach within two hours of departing the center of Athens, allowing about €35 for combined round-trip metro and ferry fares. If you take the ferry that departs the earliest returns the latest, you'll have about ten hours on the island.
village, island, island group, country:  Skala, Agistri, Saronic, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2gq1TWW
As the crow flies, the island of Agistri is located approximately 43 kilometers southwest of the center of Athens, just beyond a larger island called Aegina. While it is possible to bring a car to the island, a car is not at all necessary, particularly if your primary interesest is visiting the nude beach. There are two ferry ports on the island, which are a little over 2 kilometers apart. One port is in Skala and the other is in Milos (a.k.a. Megalochori). Those two settlements are connected by a bus service, and it is also possible to take a taxi. Ferries depart the Athens area at Piraeus (a huge port 10 kilometers southwest of the city center), and three ferry companies offer service to Agistri. For taking a car to the island, you will have to take the slow ferry (2 hours), operated by Saronic Ferries. Passenger-only high-speed ferries are far cheaper and take just an hour or so, with more frequent service. Your options are Hellenic Seaways for going to Skala or Aegean Flying Dophins for going to Milos. If you are day tripping to Agistri to visit the nude beach, it will probably be worth your while to choose Hellenic Seaways to go directly to Skala.
From the ferry port in Skala, head southeast through Skala on the road that runs closest to the coastline. (Facing the sea, go to your right, such that the sea is on your left-hand side.) As you walk away from the ferry port, you will be walking through an area called Skliri, where there are a number of hotels and small accommodations. (Here is an incomplete list of the establishments you will walk past: Abatis Hotel, Hotel Dionysos, Hotel Kekrifalia, Hook Club café, Rosy's Little Village and Agistri Club Hotel.)
600-700 meters from the ferry port, the road will end. Continue along the footpath through the forest, following the Halikiada sign, which is written is uppercase Greek letters as ΧΑΛΙΚΙΑΔΑ. You will still be following the coastline, with the sea on your left-hand side. About 300 meters beyond the end of the road, you will be above the north end of Halikiada Beach, and you will have to clamber down the rocks to get to the beach.
This placemark pertains to Halikiada Beach.

ferry port in Skala
This placemark pertains to Halikiada Beach.

Abatis Hotel
This placemark pertains to Halikiada Beach.

Hotel Dionysos

Hotel Kekrifalia

Hook Club café

Rosy’s Little Village

Agistri Club Hotel

road/path from ferry port to beach

Sporades

Alonissos

Vithisma Beach

Vithisma Beach
Vithisma Beach is a hidden beach located at the far southern end of Alonissos, just 2.5 kilometers from Patitiri, the island's capital and the location of the island's only ferry port. About 250 meters long, Vithisma is an undeveloped beach composed of sand and pebbles, backed by a steeply sloping and thickly forested hillside. While the hike down to the beach is short, it is steep and challenging, so you need to be reasonably fit for the descent (and even more so for the returning ascent). Due to its lack of amenities and difficult access, Vithisma draws few visitors, and nude bathing is common among those who make their way to the beach. Nudity can occur along the entire length of the beach, but nudists tend to gravitate to one end or the other when textiles are present.
The closest amenities to Vithisma are at Marpounta Village Hotel. Its location is referenced in the driving directions. Vithisma is the best established nude beach in Alonissos, with an atmosphere that is the most reliably conducive to naturism of all the beaches on the island.
village, island, island group, country:  Patitiri, Alonissos, Sporades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2g3TtnO
starting point  the seafront road next to the ferry port in Patitiri
Patitiri, the capital of Alonissos, is situated toward the far southern end of the eastern side of the island, and it is the location of the island's only ferry port. The village has a short segment of seafront road next to the ferry port. Follow the seafront road south, such that the sea is on your left-hand side. Shortly the road will curve inland. Less than 100 meters after the road curves away from the seafront, take the first possible left turn at a sign that points toward Marpounta (a former village that is now the site of a hotel).
Follow the winding road uphill 400-500 meters to a three-way junction. Turn left, following another Marpounta sign. (The other direction is signed for Paliohorafina.) Continue south one kilometer and watch for a gravel road on the right. There is usually some sort of signage pointing toward Vithisma Beach, but it tends to be of a makeshift, ephemeral nature, such as the name of the beach spray painted on a tree trunk. There are few other turnoffs with which to confuse it, and the paved road ends just 500 meters farther along at Marpunta Village Hotel.
The gravel road is rough, and it is not terribly far to the beach, so you may wish to park and continue on foot. Follow the gravel road for 800 meters and watch for the track down to Vathisma Beach on the left side of the road. Watch for makeshift signage at the start of the track, typically the name of the beach spray painted on a utility pole. (If you get to a side track on the left next to a fence wall of a house, you have missed the track by just 60 or so meters. There aren't any houses or other structures along the gravel road between its start and the track to the beach.)
The track to the beach begins to go downhill, and it is actually wide enough for vehicles at its start. However, you should not take a vehicle along the track since it is difficult to turn around. There is a small dirt parking area on the right (inland) side of the main gravel road opposite the start of the track to the beach, at coordinates 39.1382N, 23.8475E. The walk to the beach is just 100 or so meters, and partway down you will reach a fork. Both forks lead to the beach. Whichever fork you take, the last part of the descent is steep and challenging. If the first fork you try seems too daunting, try the other one.
This placemark pertains to Vathisma Beach.

Patitiri seafront
This placemark pertains to Vithisma Beach.

3-way junction referenced in driving directions
This placemark pertains to Vithisma Beach.

turnoff onto gravel road
This placemark pertains to Vithisma Beach.

Marpunta Village Hotel

route from Patitiri seafront to parking

Mikros Mourtias Beach

Mikros Mourtias Beach
At the southern end of the island of Alonissos, there is a beautiful hilltop village that has the same name as the island, and it is often called Alonissos town to distinguish it from the island. It is also commonly referred to as Chora, which is the general term for the main village of any small island. Chora used to be the island's capital, but, after the village was severely damaged in a 1965 earthquake, Chora was abandoned and the capital was relocated to Patitiri. In more recent decades, Chora has been restored and is now very popular with tourists. In its post-earthquake incarnation, the houses of Chora are largely vacation properties of British and German owners, while most Greek residents continue to reside in nearby Patitiri (the island's port). There are two beaches that are downhill from the south side of Chora: Megalos Mourtias and Mikros Mourtias. They are accessed via separate roads that come down from the village, and they are not directly accessible from one to the other. The larger beach, Megalos Mourtias, is a developed beach with amenities accessed via an asphalted road, and it is a textile beach. The smaller beach, Mikros Mourtias, is the farther west of the two. An undeveloped beach with no amenities, Mikros Mourtias is accessed via a gravel road, and it often has a nudist presence.
Not quite 100 meters long, Mikros Mourtias consists mostly of pebbles, and its backdrop of steep, forested hillsides is spectacular. The words "nude beach" are spray painted on a small, dilapidated outbuilding that is located along the beach. However, Mikros Mourtias does not seem to be a beach where nudity patterns are reliably consistent. Sometimes everyone is naked, sometimes no one is naked, sometimes the crowd is mixed and sometimes the beach is just empty. Just be aware that this is a beach where you may need to assess the crowd if no one else has established a nudity precedent when you arrive. In particular, if local families are present, nudity is likely to be frowned upon.
The rough gravel road to Mikros Mourtias starts next to the cemetery of Chora, and it is just under 2 kilometers long. If you don't want to do the drive, you can walk along the road, or you can take a shorter but steeper footpath that leaves from the village (see the green line). Parking in Chora is on the north side of the village before the cemetery. Make your way to the highest part of the village at the peak of the hill, them go downhill on the south side of the village until you emerge from the cluster of village buildings. You will be roughly 150 meters above sea level, and you should be looking directly south toward the sea. Facing the sea, you should see a narrow path that angles off to your right. If you see a dilapidated stone structure (perhaps once a small cabin or outbuilding) with a caved-in roof near the start of the path, then you have found the correct path. The path goes downhill all the way to the beach. It is a walk of 1.1 kilometers along the path, plus a walk of about 400 meters through the village to get to the start of the path. Be sure to bring plenty of water, especially if you intend to hike down to the beach rather than drive.
village, island, island group, country:  Chora (Alonnisos town), Alonissos, Sporades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2fwI4fi
starting point  the seafront road next to the ferry port in Patitiri
Patitiri, the capital of Alonissos, is situated toward the far southern end of the eastern side of the island, and it is the location of the island's only ferry port. The village has a short segment of seafront road next to the ferry port. Follow the seafront road north, such that the sea is on your right-hand side. Shortly the road will curve inland, and you will be on the main road of the island, heading north toward Gerakas. In about 500 meters, keep to the left at a three-way junction to stay on the main road. About 100 meters farther on, keep to the right at another three-way junction to stay on the main road. Just 100 meters farther on, turn left at the signed turnoff for Chora (written as Χωριο on some signs), which is also known as Alonissos or Alonissos town.
The road to Chora winds uphill in a generally northwesterly direction to the hilltop village. In 1.3 kilometers, keep to the left at an irregular four-way junction to continue toward Chora. About a kilometer farther on, you will be at the edge of Chora, which will be immediately uphill on your left. Keep straight ahead. In several hundred meters, after passing several turnoff roads that go into the heart of the village, you will reach the village cemetery, which is on the right immediately adjacent to the road.
At the far end of the small cemetery, the road will fork and turn to gravel. Keep to the left, staying on the wider road. Continue about 200 meters, passing three houses on your left-hand side, then keep to the left at a fork that is just past the third house. Continue a little over 100 meters to the next three-way junction and make a sharp left. Shortly after you turn, you should pass to the rear of the same three houses, which will be slightly uphill on your left-hand side. There are no more turns to make. The road winds downhill about 1.5 kilometers and ends above the beach, with parking near the end of the road around coordinates 39.1437N, 23.8386E. Just before the end of the road, there is a path on the right for the final descent to the beach. The walk is a little over 100 meters.
This placemark pertains to Mikros Mourtias Beach.

village cemetery in Chora
This placemark pertains to Mikros Mourtias Beach.

parking at end of road
This placemark pertains to Mikros Mourtias Beach.

dilapidated stone structure with caved-in roof

Megalos Mourtias Beach (textile)

route from village cemetery to beach

path from Chora to beach

Spartines Beaches

Located at the southern end of the east side of Alonissos, Patitiri is the capital of the island and the location of the island's only ferry port. The village of Votsi is immediately north of and contiguous with Patitiri. Just north of Votsi, there is a prominent bay that is just over a kilometer long, cutting about 500 meters into the land mass of the island. There are five small beaches in the bay. The four beaches that are clustered near Votsi are collectively known as the Spartines Beaches, while Milia Beach, the fifth beach, is a bit more distant from the others. Milia Beach is a developed textile beach, but the Spartines Beaches are wild beaches with no signs pointing the way. In fact, two of them can only be reached by boat. The Spartines Beaches are very lightly attended overall, and nudity is common among those who find their way.
Each of the Spartines Beaches is roughly 100 meters long, give or take a bit, and they are composed of white pebbles with very little sand. The four beaches are located along a curving part of the bay such that two of them face southeast and the other two face northeast. The two northeast-facing beaches are located below sheer cliffs and are not accessible by land, unless perhaps you have the gear and the wherewithal for a technical climb. The two southeast-facing beaches can be reached on foot. We'll refer to the two accessible beaches as the south beach (the one that is closer to Votsi) and the north beach (the one that is closer to Milia Beach).
Although they are just 100 meters apart, the south beach and the north beach are accessed from separate routes. The two beaches are separated by a cliff of orange-hued rock. It is possible to wade through the shallow water next to the cliff wall to get from one beach to the other, but you probably will not want to wade in bare feet since the seabed is very rocky. The south beach is accessed from Votsi, and it is the easier of the two to reach, with a shorter and more gradual descent. The north beach is accessed from near the turnoff to Milia Beach, and it involves a longer and steeper descent on a path that may be overgrown. Needless to say, there are no amenities at the Spartines Beaches.
This placemark pertains to Spartines Beaches.

Spartines Beaches (southern beach)
(This placemark pinpoints the southern of the two Spartines Beaches that are accessible on foot. See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of the Spartines Beaches.)
village, island, island group, country:  Votsi, Alonissos, Sporades, Greece

Spartines Beaches (northern beach)
(This placemark pinpoints the northern of the two Spartines Beaches that are accessible on foot. See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of the Spartines Beaches.)
village, island, island group, country:  Votsi, Alonissos, Sporades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2gpVGXy
starting point  the seafront road next to the ferry port in Patitiri
Patitiri, the capital of Alonissos, is situated toward the far southern end of the eastern side of the island, and it is the location of the island's only ferry port. The village has a short segment of seafront road next to the ferry port. Follow the seafront road north, such that the sea is on your right-hand side. Shortly the road will curve inland, and you will be on the main road of the island, heading north toward Gerakas. In about 500 meters, keep to the left at a three-way junction to stay on the main road. About 100 meters farther on, keep to the right at another three-way junction to stay on the main road. Just 100 meters farther on, watch for the signed left-hand turnoff for Chora (written as Χωριο on some signs), but don't turn. Keep straight ahead another 500 meters and watch carefully for an Elin gas station on the left side of the road, noting that the name is spelled in Greek letters as ελιν on the logo. When you reach the gas station, you will have just passed from Patitiri into the neighboring village of Votsi.
To go to the southern of the two Spartines Beaches that are accessible on foot:
After you pass the gas station, proceed just 100 meters or so and watch very carefully for the next two right-hand turnoffs, which are less than 50 meters apart. Go past the first turnoff and turn right at the second turnoff, which is located at the point where the main road curves sharply to the left. The turnoff is at coordinates 39.1536N, 23.8722E.
Once you turn away from the main road, you will have to make several turns through Votsi to find the road to the beach, with no signs to help you along. Proceed about 25 meters and take the next possible left. Proceed about 50 meters and take the next possible right. Proceed about 80 meters and take the next possible left. Proceed about 120 meters and take the next possible left onto a dirt road. The coordinates of the start of the dirt road are 39.1528N, 23.8747E.
Once you find the dirt road, you want to keep straight ahead on the widest road and ignore any minor side tracks. The road is a little over 300 meters long, and it makes two sharp curves—first to the right and then to the left—as it passes through a grove of trees. Shortly after the road emerges from the grove, it ends at the fence gate into a private residence. Park near the end of the road (around coordinates 39.1539N, 23.8768E) and find a footpath to your right. The footpath goes downhill, parallel to the white fence that surrounds the private residence. The fence should be on your left-hand side as you follow the path. It is just under 100 meters to the beach.
To go to the northern of the two Spartines Beaches that are accessible on foot:
Shortly after you pass the gas station, the road will make two sharp curves in quick succession—first to the left and then to the right. After those two curves, continue about 500 meters and watch carefully for the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy (the signage for which is in English) as a landmark to let you know you are getting close. The academy is situated on the left, a bit back from the road at the top of a hill. There is signage on the building itself, and there is also a small sign next to the road at the start of a cement staircase with iron handrails that goes up to the building. Once you pass the academy, continue 400 meters to a fork where the main road continues to the left, while a smaller road veers off to the right toward Milia Beach. You do not want either one of those forks. Instead, right turn onto a dirt road that is immediately before the road fork. The coordinates of the turnoff are 39.1601N, 23.8782E. At the start of the dirt road, you will briefly pass through a small open area (like a dirt parking lot) before the road goes into the trees. The road leads about 200 meters to a private house. Park a bit before the house (around coordinates 39.1591N, 23.8793E) and find the path that goes into the woods off to your right. The path angles steeply downhill to the beach. It is a walk of about 250 meters.
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to parking (for the southern beach).
Here is a map that draws the route described above from the starting point to the turnoff toward parking (for the northern beach). Google Maps does not show the dirt road.
This placemark pertains to Spartines Beaches.

Elin gas station in Votsi
This placemark pertains to Spartines Beaches.

International Academy of Classical Homeopathy sign
small roadside sign for the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy, next to a cement staircase with iron handrails that goes up to the building

International Academy of Classical Homeopathy

start of road to Milia Beach

beach accessible only by boat

Milia Beach (textile)

short road segment going north from Elin gas station

route from Votsi to parking (southern beach)

route from Votsi to parking (northern beach)

Skiathos

Skiathos West Beaches

Skiathos is the only real town on the island of the same name, and it is generally called Skiathos town to distinguish it from the island. Just about all the other localities on the island are settlements comprised solely of tourist development. Skiathos town is located near the eastern extreme of the south coast of the island. On the other side of the small island, Koukounaries and Troulos are respectively the last and next-to-last settlements going west. Koukounaries is nestled in a pine and olive forest that is surrounded by the sea on three sides. A number of sandy beaches are close at hand to the village, and those beaches fan out from Koukounaries such that some face south, some face west and some face north. All are very scenic beaches with at least one taverna, and all are beaches with sun chairs and umbrellas. Some of those beaches are attended by nude bathers, and one of them is among the foremost nude beaches of Greece. For an overview of the beaches, let's start on the south end and go clockwise. Koukounaries Beach is 700 meters long, and it is the largest and most popular beach on the island. To the immediate west, Ambelakia Beach is about 150 meters long. Both south-facing beaches are textile.
Rounding a bend of the coastline, the next three beaches face west: Banana Beach, Little Banana Beach and Agia Eleni Beach. Agia Eleni, the longest and northernmost of the three, is a textile beach. Banana Beach, commonly known as Big Banana and occasionally as Megali Banana, is a very popular beach that spans about 300 meters. Prior to the turn of the millennium, nudists and textiles mingled freely at Banana Beach, but over the years the beach evolved (or perhaps devolved) into a textile-only party beach. While nudity is no longer a viable option at Banana, quite the opposite is true at Little Banana, which is just north of Banana on the other side of an easily traversable rocky outcrop. Little Banana is also known by the names Small Banana, Mikri Banana and Spartacus. Whatever name you call it, it is a bona fide nude beach. Little Banana is about 200 meters long, and it is the kind of nude beach that is quite a rarity in Greece. Nudists occupy the entire beach, not relegated to one end or the other as is the case with most nude beaches. Furthermore, Little Banana is a nude beach that is equipped with its own taverna, and there are sun chairs and umbrellas for rent. The beach is extremely popular and often crowded. Nudity is such an ingrained part of the culture of the beach that being naked, while not a requirement, is somewhat expected. Virtually everyone goes nude. Little Banana has achieved iconic nude beach status, and it is a place to which many nude beach enthusiasts return year after year. It is arguably the premier nude beach of Greece. It is at least among the top few.
Now the bad news… maybe. In 2018, a large luxury property called Hotel Elivi opened on a sizable parcel of land in Koukounaries that previously had limited development. The hotel property abuts three of the aforementioned beaches: Ambelakia, Banana and Little Banana. All three beaches are still public beaches accessible to anyone free of charge (except for parking fees), but there have been major changes. For one, it is no longer possible to drive all the way to Little Banana (although the road was quite rough even when it was possible to drive there). Furthermore, the hotel now manages the vending of food, drink and sun chairs at Little Banana (as well at Banana and Ambelakia), and a very common complaint is that the prices are way too high. Other complaints concern the club music blaring at Little Banana, which used to be much more peaceful. Many a visitor who has returned to Little Banana time and again over the years lament the change in the general ambience of the beach, suggesting that the organic and funky character of the past has been quashed by something self conscious and artificial. To be fair, some visitors laud the changes and the new upscale atmosphere, but those voices seem to be in the minority. Above all, there seems to be a pervasive, nagging concern among regulars that nudists may be gradually pushed out as more textiles visit the beach. So far, Little Banana remained predominantly nudist in 2018 and 2019, then the global pandemic of 2020 threw a monkey wrench into the normal progression of things. In light of all the recent changes, it is a good idea to read the latest opinions about Little Banana on sites like Google Maps and Trip Advisor before making plans to visit.
Continuing clockwise along the coast beyond Banana, Little Banana and Agia Eleni, there are a number of nearby beaches along the part of the coast that faces north. A few of those beaches provide opportunities for nude bathing, but none of them approach Little Banana's popularity, and all of them fit the standard pattern of nude bathers gathering along the periphery of an otherwise textile beach. Going east along the north coast, four beaches—Krifi Ammos, Mandraki, Elias and Agistros—are accessed via a gravel road. Krifi Ammos Beach, also known as Hidden Beach, is a picturesque beach in a small cove. Although frequented by nude bathers decades ago, Krifi Ammos is another location that, sadly, has been overtaken by textiles to the extent that it seems to have dropped off the naturist radar altogether. A bit east of Krifi Ammos, the next three north-facing beaches are close together: Mandraki Beach, Elias Beach and Agistros Beach. Mandraki and Elias are separated by a large headland, while a much smaller headland separates Elias and Agistros. There is a nudist presence at Mandraki and Elias, but there is not enough space for nudists and textiles to disperse at Agistros, so it is generally regarded as a textile-only beach.
Mandraki, almost 500 meters long altogether, is accessed from its west end. Low red cliffs rise up along the eastern end of the beach. Heading east past the end of the sun chairs, a few nudists are often present below the cliffs despite "no nudity" signs that are posted inconsistently. About 300 meters from the beach access, you will reach a small and easily traversable rocky outcrop that at first seems to be the end of the beach. Beyond the outcrop, there are two very narrow beach segments separated by a small scree of rocks, collectively spanning 100 or so meters. Those final beach segments may provide a refuge for nudists if only textiles are present leading up to the outcrop.
Stretching about 600 meters, Elias Beach is a bit longer than Mandraki Beach, and it is backed by vegetation-covered sand dunes. The main area of Elias is the western half of the beach, where sun chairs and umbrellas are set up. Nudists gather along the more thinly populated eastern half. Elias is large enough that there is always room for nudists and textiles to spread out, so there is a significant nudist presence along the eastern end of the beach even during peak season. Furthermore, the nude end of Elias is much broader than that of Mandraki and thus less affected by tides. Elias Beach is the second most popular nude beach in Skiathos, but it is a distant second to Little Banana.
Be advised of proper name peculiarities regarding Mandraki and Elias. Technically, the two beaches are named Mandraki Xerxes (also spelled "Xerxis" and "Xerxi") and Mandraki Elias, but in common parlance "Xerxes" typically gets dropped from the former beach while "Mandraki" typically gets dropped from the latter. The two beaches often get confused with one another.
Continuing east along the north coast, the next two beaches are Megalos Aselinos and Mikros Aselinos. Both beaches are accessed from Troulos rather than from Koukounaries. Megalos Aselinos spans almost 500 meters, and it is easy to access. The road to the beach is paved except for a short segment at the very end. Like Mandraki and Elias, Megalos Aselinos is a mostly textile beach, with most visitors congregating near the access point toward the west end. A small number of nudists are usually present at the far east end of the beach. On the other side of a forested headland, Mikros Aselinos is a much smaller and harder-to-reach beach accessed by a gravel road, but it is a textile beach despite its seclusion due to limited space.
In a nutshell, here is a summary of the nudist opportunities at the western end of Skiathos: Little Banana Beach is a popular and often crowded beach where historically almost everyone has opted to be naked, but the beach has been in a state of flux since Hotel Elivi opened in 2018. Elias Beach and Megalos Aselinos Beach are reliable alternatives for nudists seeking more space and smaller crowds. Nudists are sometimes but not always present at Mandraki Beach.
This placemark pertains to Little Banana Beach, Mandraki Beach, Elias Beach and Megalos Aselinos Beach.

Little Banana Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Little Banana Beach, Mandraki Beach, Elias Beach and Megalos Aselinos Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Koukounaries, Skiathos, Sporades, Greece
There are 36 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Little Banana Beach, Mandraki Beach, Elias Beach and Megalos Aselinos Beach.

Mandraki Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Little Banana Beach, Mandraki Beach, Elias Beach and Megalos Aselinos Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Koukounaries, Skiathos, Sporades, Greece
There are 36 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Little Banana Beach, Mandraki Beach, Elias Beach and Megalos Aselinos Beach.

Elias Beach
(See the "i" information placemark for a collective description of Little Banana Beach, Mandraki Beach, Elias Beach and Megalos Aselinos Beach.)
village, island, island group, country:  Koukounaries, Skiathos, Sporades, Greece
There are 36 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Little Banana Beach, Mandraki Beach, Elias Beach and Megalos Aselinos Beach.

Megalos Aselinos Beach
village, island, island group, country:  Troulos, Skiathos, Sporades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2ghFnNg
starting location:  Skiathos town
Skiathos town is the location of the island's ferry port and airport. The main road of Skiathos goes west from Skiathos town along the south coast of the island for 12 to 13 kilometers, coming to a dead end at Koukounaries Beach. There are three bus routes on the island, and the main bus goes back and forth along the main road. (The other two bus routes are comparatively minor.) The main bus line has frequent service during peak season, and there are 26 stops that are numbered sequentially going west. The numbers on the bus stops are fairly easy to spot, and they are good landmarks for finding your way to the various beaches. Going west on the main road, Troulos is between bus stops 17 and 21, while Koukounaries is between bus stops 22 and 26.
From Skiathos town, follow the main road west 7 to 8 kilometers to Troulos. Once you pass bus stop 17, watch on the right for Hotel Esperos. Immediately past the hotel, the road forks next to bus stop 18 and COOP Supermarket. The main road (with the bus stops) continues straight ahead toward Koukounaries, while the road that veers off to the right goes to the Skiathos Dog Shelter and Panagia Kounistria Monastery.
To go to Little Banana Beach:
From the fork in Troulos, keep straight ahead on the main road. In 4.4 kilometers, after passing through Koukounaries, you will reach bus stop 26 (39.1484N, 23.3980E). The main road ends just past the bus stop, with the entrance to Koukounaries Beach straight ahead from the end of the road. To your right, there is a pay parking lot at the start of a paved side road that winds through the Hotel Elivi complex. On foot, follow the Elivi road and watch for signs pointing toward Banana Beach and Little Banana Beach. (Little Banana may be referred to as "Small Banana" on signs.) You can go directly to Little Banana, or you can go to Banana then head north (to the right when facing the sea) across the rocky outcrop that separates the two beaches. Either way, the walk of roughly 800 meters takes about 10 minutes.
To go to Mandraki Beach or Elias Beach:
Important Note: The unsurfaced road described below is about six kilometers long, connecting Agia Eleni Beach and Megalos Aselinos Beach. The four beaches accessible from the road are Krifi Ammos Beach, Mandraki Beach, Elias Beach and Agistros Beach. The road is passable in any kind of vehicle as long as you watch carefully for ruts and potholes. Plan to take it very slow, allowing about 5 minutes to cover one kilometer. Be advised that some rental car companies do not permit driving conventional vehicles on the unpaved roads of Skiathos, so be sure you discuss your needs when you rent a car.
From the fork in Troulos, keep straight ahead on the main road. In 4 kilometers, after passing through Koukounaries, watch on the right for Golden Beach Hotel next to bus stop 25. Turn right onto the road that borders the hotel. Upon turning, you will be at the start of a 600-meter-long paved road that dead ends at Agia Eleni Beach. Toward the end of the paved road, there are two gravel roads that go off to the right, and those roads are less than 50 meters apart. Proceed 400-500 meters, then veer right onto the second gravel road, which is marked by a small sign pointing toward Mandraki, Elias, etc.
• km 0.0  start of gravel road near Agia Eleni Beach
• km 0.8  first path down to Krifi Ammos Beach
• km 1.2  second path down to Krifi Ammos Beach
There is not a designated parking area at Krifi Ammos. Visitors just leave their cars along the road.
• km 2.2  turnoff to Mandraki Beach at left
The turnoff leads about 300 meters to parking that is toward the west end of the beach (39.1652N, 23.3986E). Facing the sea, turn right and walk east a few minutes until you are well past the end of the umbrellas.
• km 2.6  main turnoff to Elias Beach at left
This turnoff leads about 300 meters to parking next to a taverna at the west end of the beach (39.1658N, 23.4023E). Facing the sea, turn right and walk a few hundred meters to the east end of the beach. Or, if you are fit enough for a bit of a climb, keep driving past the main turnoff to Elias Beach to park closer to the nude end of Elias Beach.
• km 3.0  sharp leftward bend of the road
• km 3.3  major fork of the road
Keep to the left at the fork, following the road that goes downhill. (The right fork continues uphill.) In about 250 meters the road ends at parking atop the small headland that separates Elias Beach and Agistros Beach (39.1671N, 23.4079E). Facing the sea, turn left and climb down the headland to the east end of Elias Beach. The elevation loss of about 20 meters is rather abrupt, so be advised that the climb back up will be a bit challenging.
To go to Mandraki Beach or Elias Beach from the nearest bus stops:
In Koukounaries, bus stops 23 and 24 are just 300 or so meters apart. From the vicinity of those bus stops, there are several parallel paths that go north through the forest toward Mandraki Beach and Elias Beach. Expect a walk of roughly 45 minutes.
To go to Elias Beach, the walk will be a bit shorter if you start from bus stop 23. The bus stop is next to Hotel Caravos, which consists of multiple structures. Follow the road that runs next to Hotel Caravos, such that all the hotel buildings are on your right-hand side. The road will morph into a broad dirt track and enter the woods. When you have walked about one kilometer from the bus stop, you will intersect the gravel road described in the previous section, at kilometer 2.6 of that road. Keep straight ahead across the road and you will be on the turnoff road to Elias Beach. That road takes you all the way to the main area of the beach, with the nude area to your right as you face the sea. The total walk from the bus stop to the nude end of the beach is about 2 kilometers.
To go to Mandraki Beach, the walk will be a bit shorter if you start from bus stop 24, which is less than 100 meters west of Koukounaries Supermarket. From the bus stop, go to the supermarket and follow the road that runs next to it. You will pass Villa Olimpica (a residential rental property) and a few other residential structures, then the road will morph into a broad dirt track and enter the woods. When you have walked about 1.2 kilometers from the bus stop, you will intersect the gravel road described in the previous section, at kilometer 2.2 of that road. Keep straight ahead across the road and you will be on the turnoff road to Mandraki Beach. That road takes you all the way to the main area of the beach, with the nude area to your right as you face the sea. The total walk from the bus stop to the nude end of the beach is about 1.8 kilometers.
To go to Megalos Aselinos Beach:
From the fork in Troulos, veer right onto the road toward the dog shelter and the monastery. Continue about 2.2 kilometers to a major fork in the road. Keep to the left, following the road that begins to go slightly downhill. (The other road begins to climb steeply as it winds uphill toward the dog shelter and the monastery.) Continue another 1.7 kilometers to the end of the road at parking next to the beach (39.1722N, 23.4227E). The road is paved except the last few hundred meters. Facing the sea, head to the right about 300 meters to the far east end of the beach.
It is also possible to get to Megalos Aselinos Beach from the gravel road described above—the one that begins near Agia Eleni Beach. However, it is a much slower route to Megalos Aselinos that only makes sense if you want to go there after visiting Mandraki and/or Elias Beaches. Follow the gravel road to the fork that is at kilometer 3.3. Instead of going left toward Agistros Beach, go right at the fork, following the road that continues uphill. 500 meters past the fork, you will reach a three-way junction where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn left. Continue uphill not quite one kilometer farther to the next three-way junction. Keep straight ahead. At that point the road will begin winding downhill for the next 1.2 kilometers, making several switchbacks before ending at a "T" where you have to turn one way or the other. Turn left and proceed about 300 meters to the end of the road at parking next to the beach.
MAP from Skiathos town to parking (Little Banana)
MAP from Skiathos town to parking (Mandraki)
MAP from Skiathos town to parking (Elias, main area)
MAP from Skiathos town to parking (between Elias and Agistros)
MAP from Skiathos town to parking (Megalos Aselinos)
This placemark pertains to Little Banana Beach, Mandraki Beach, Elias Beach and Megalos Aselinos Beach.

pay parking lot
This placemark pertains to Little Banana Beach.

This placemark pertains to Mandraki Beach.

This placemark pertains to Elias Beach.

This placemark pertains to Megalos Aselinos Beach.

Koukounaries Beach (textile)
This placemark pertains to Little Banana Beach, Mandraki Beach, Elias Beach and Megalos Aselinos Beach.

Ambelakia Beach (textile)

Banana Beach (textile)

Krifi Ammos Beach (textile)

Agia Eleni Beach (textile)

Mikros Aselinos Beach (textile)

Agistros Beach (textile)

bus stop 17

bus stop 18

bus stop 19

bus stop 26 (end stop)

Hotel Esperos

COOP Supermarket

Hotel Caravos

Koukounaries Supermarket

Golden Beach Hotel

Hotel Elivi

Skiathos Dog Shelter

Panagia Kounistria Monastery

western segment of main road

paved road to dog shelter & monastery

road to Megalos Aselinos Beach (paved, except final segment)

paved road to Agia Eleni Beach

path to Little Banana Beach through Hotel Elivi property

gravel road connecting Agia Eleni & Megalos Aselinos

side road to Mandraki Beach

side road to Elias Beach

side road to Elias Beach & Agistros Beach

road next to Hotel Caravos → dirt track through woods

road next to Koukounaries Supermarket → dirt track through woods

Little Banana Beach

nude area of Mandraki Beach, roughly

nude area of Elias Beach, roughly

nude area of Megalos Aselinos Beach, roughly

extent of Hotel Elivi property, very roughly

Skopelos

Velanio Beach

Velanio Beach
Toward the eastern end of the south side of Skopelos, Velanio Beach is a picturesque beach that is publicized as the "official" nude beach of the island (whatever that means in Greece), and it is the only beach on Skopelos where nudity is really well established. Velanio is about 700 meters long, and it is a shingle beach with patches of sand. The backdrop of the beach is a rugged, steeply sloping hillside that is mostly forested, but intermittent areas of exposed rock add red-orange hues to the otherwise evergreen palette. The beach is accessed from neighboring Stafilos Beach, a textile venue that is the most popular beach on the island. In a nutshell, you will park above Stafilos, go down a long set of steps to the west end of Stafilos Beach, walk almost all the way across the beach and then cross the whaleback-shaped headland at the east end of Stafilos to get to Velanio Beach. The path across the headland is short and easy since it goes over a saddle point on the inland side of the headland, bypassing the steeper terrain. All in all it's a fairly easy walk as long as you can handle the climb down to Stafilos and the requisite climb back up. (There are handrails along the steps.) The distance from the closest parking to the point where you land at Velanio Beach is about 600 meters.
When you land at Velanio, you will be at its far west end, and you will see several prominent boulders about 100 meters away that stretch all the way across the beach to the water. It is very easy to get around the boulders. Nudity may potentially occur anywhere along the beach when attendance is light, but at more crowded times the first part of the beach (before the boulders) tends to be entirely textile. However, once you go around the boulders, you will be on the part of the beach where nudity is always acceptable, even during peak season. Most nudists gather within the first 100 or so meters of the boulders, and the beach never gets crowded, with perhaps a few dozen bare bathers at the busiest times. It is possible to walk considerably beyond the first nudists you will encounter, and before long the beach will become narrower and mostly deserted. At the end of the beach, the land curves seaward and the coastline becomes lined with boulders and piles of smaller rocks. It is possible to explore the coast for a few hundred meters beyond the end of the beach, and you can do it naked from the ankles up, but you will definitely want to wear sturdy shoes due to the very rugged terrain.
There used to be a ramshackle snack bar at the far west end of Velanio Beach, where the path from Stafilos Beach lands. For a period of several years, sunchairs and umbrellas were available to rent at Velanio, both in the textile and nude areas. However, the snack bar has been dismantled, and chairs and umbrellas have not been available since circa 2011. Perhaps the bad economic times in Greece have taken a toll on the creature comforts available at Velanio, and perhaps one day those amenities will be available again. There is a snack bar along Stafilos Beach, and there are tavernas next to the parking area at the top of the steps to Stafilos. There is a bus line from Skopelos town to Agnontas that stops at the turnoff to Stafilos Beach. If you take the bus, you will have to walk about 400 meters extra compared to driving. Be sure you know the bus schedule since service is rather infrequent, even during peak season.
village, island, island group, country:  Stafilos, Skopelos, Sporades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2gsFDbg
starting point  the seafront road next to the ferry port in Skopelos town
Skopelos is the capital and largest town of the island of the same name, and it is often called Skopelos town or Chora, which is the general term for the principal village of an island. Skopelos town is toward the southeast end of the north-facing coast of the island, and it is the location of the island's major ferry port. Head east along the seafront road, such that the harbor is on your left-hand side. You will pass a large parking lot that is on the sea side of the seafront road. The lot is built atop a platform that extends into the harbor. Toward the end of the parking lot, watch for two side-by-side metal gateways on the sea side of the road. The smaller gateway is signed "parking entrance" and the larger one is signed "port exit." Directly opposite those gateways, veer right onto a road heads away from the seafront. In 1.1 kilometers, you will reach a "T" junction where there is an Elin (ελιν) gas station at one corner. Turn left, following a sign for Panormos, Agnontas and Stafilos. You will then begin heading south on a road that cuts through a valley to the south coast of the island.
Follow the road for 3.6 kilometers, then turn left at the blue signs that point toward Stafilos and Stafilos Beach. You will reach the turnoff shortly after the speed limit slows down to 30 kilometers per hour.
Once you turn, the road goes downhill, and in about 500 meters you will reach a few tavernas that overlook the sea at the end of the road. There is parking next to the tavernas as well as along the road toward its end, around coordinates 39.0863N, 23.7471E. On foot, keep straight ahead from the end of the road and follow the long set of steps with handrails down to the far west end of Stafilos Beach, then walk about 350 meters toward the prominent headland at the east end of the beach. When you are almost at the end of Stafilos Beach, you will find a well-defined path that goes uphill over a saddle point of the headland. In other words, the path takes you over the headland with minimal climbing, and it takes just a minute to get to the other side. You will land at the far west end of Velanio Beach, and you will see a line of boulders across the beach a little over 100 meters away. The nude area begins just beyond the boulders. The total walk from the parking area to the boulders is about 700 meters.
This placemark pertains to Velanio Beach.

turnoff to Stafilos Beach
This placemark pertains to Velanio Beach.

This placemark pertains to Velanio Beach.

Stafilos Beach (textile)

headland separating Stafilos Beach & Velanio Beach

boulders that mark start of nude area

Stafilos Beach access road

path to Stafilos Beach

path from Stafilos Beach to Velanio Beach

Milia Beach

Milia Beach
Milia Beach is near the village of Panormos on the southern side of Skopelos, located along a segment of the undulating coastline that is mostly west facing. Milia Beach is a beautiful beach that is backed by an evergreen forest, and it is composed of sand mixed with lots of tiny pebbles. The beach consists of two distinct but contiguous segments, both of which are lined with sunchairs and umbrellas during peak season. Near the point where you enter the beach, you will see a small craggy rock islet that is just offshore. Facing the sea, the northern segment of Milia extends about 250 meters to the right of the rock islet, while the longer southern segment extends about 400 meters to the left. Milia Beach is an overwhelmingly textile beach, but a few nudists are often present at the far southern end. As you walk southward along the beach, in the distance you will see a prominent mass of rock that slopes down to the sea and forms the end of the beach. Nudists gather next to that rocky outcropping, with nudity occuring frequently but not necessarily consistently. If you visit on a peak summer weekend, you may find that textiles crowd the entire beach, leaving no space for nudists. The rocky outcropping at the southern end of Milia has a very gradual slope such that it is easy to walk across. If you were to follow the rocky outcropping and round a sharp bend of the coastline, in about 300 meters you would reach a de facto private beach that abuts Adrina Spa & Resort. Along that rocky part of the coastline, you may find some niches for nude bathing on days when there are just too many textiles on the main beach.
There is a restaurant just inland from the Mila Beach access, and there is also a snack bar next to the sunchairs along the southern segment of the beach, not far from the nude area. Although most nudity tends to take place at the southern extreme of the beach, occasional nudity is also known to occur at the northern extreme, so you may want to check out that area as well since it doesn't take long to explore the entire length of the beach. If you visit on a day when nudity just does not seem like a viable option at Milia Beach, your best best it to go to Velanio Beach, which is about 15 kilometers to the east. Velanio is far better established as a nude beach than is Milia.
The next beach north of Milia Beach is a small textile beach called Kastani Beach, and it has become a tourist hotspot in recent years because several scenes from the 2008 movie Mamma Mia! were filmed there, including the "Does You Mother Know" and "Lay All Your Love on Me" musical numbers. If you'd like to visit the beach, just follow the giving driving directions, but instead of turning toward Milia Beach, stay on the main road another 500 meters and you will find the signed turnoff to Kastani.
village, island, island group, country:  Panormos, Skopelos, Sporades, Greece

Follow this link for printable directions: http://bit.ly/2gsItNG
starting point  the seafront road next to the ferry port in Skopelos town
Skopelos is the capital and largest town of the island of the same name, and it is often called Skopelos town or Chora, which is the general term for the principal village of an island. Skopelos town is toward the southeast end of the north-facing coast of the island, and it is the location of the island's major ferry port. Head east along the seafront road, such that the harbor is on your left-hand side. You will pass a large parking lot that is on the sea side of the seafront road. The lot is built atop a platform that extends into the harbor. Toward the end of the parking lot, watch for two side-by-side metal gateways on the sea side of the road. The smaller gateway is signed "parking entrance" and the larger one is signed "port exit." Directly opposite those gateways, veer right onto a road heads away from the seafront. In 1.1 kilometers, you will reach a "T" junction where there is an Elin (ελιν) gas station at one corner. Turn left, following a sign for Panormos, Agnontas and Stafilos.
You will then begin heading toward Panormos, which is 16 to 17 kilometers away. At first, the road cuts southward through an interior valley for 3 to 4 kilometers to Stafilos on the south coast of the island. After Stafilos, the road bends westward and roughly parallels the south coast the next 3 to 4 kilometers to the seaside village of Agnontas, after which the road becomes very curvy as it continues in a generally westward direction, meandering a bit into the interior of the island. Not quite 9 kilometers after passing through Agnontas, you will pass the blue-and-white Panormos village sign.
After you enter the seaside village, it is just over 500 meters to the sign that indicates you are leaving Panormos, which is next to Blue Suites Hotel. 900 meters farther on, the road will make a very sharp rightward curve at the entrance to Adrina Resort & Spa (which is a bit past the similarly named Adrina Beach Hotel). After the sharp curve, continue another 600 meters and take the next possible left at a sign pointing toward Milia. (The turnoff is immediately past a large blue panel that indicates the distances to several nearby villages and attractions.)
Once you turn, follow the curvy asphalted road downhill. In about 500 meters, you will pass Milia Restaurant & Bar, which is on the right behind a white fence wall. Less than 100 meters past the restaurant, the road ends next to the beach. (There is limited parking at the end of the road, at coordinates 39.1170N, 23.6541E. If you can't find a place, you can backtrack and turn through the gateway to the restaurant, where there is much more parking in a large earthen lot that abuts the beach.) Facing the sea, turn left and walk about 400 meters to the far south end of the beach.
This placemark pertains to Milia Beach.

Panormos village sign
This placemark pertains to Milia Beach.

"leaving Panormos" sign
This placemark pertains to Milia Beach.

Blue Suites Hotel

Adrina Beach Hotel

Adrina Resort & Spa

Milia Restaurant & Bar

craggy rock islet

Kastani Beach (textile)
This beach has become a tourist hotspot in recent years because several scenes from the 2008 movie Mamma Mia! were filmed here.

route from Panormos village sign to parking

Naturist Retreats/Places to Stay

General

Vritomartis Hotel
73011 Chora Sfakion, Crete, Greece
WEBSITE
TYPE:  resort with hotel rooms and bungalows; restaurant and bar on premises
CLIENTELE:  general / family
RECREATIONAL AMENITIES:  pool, children's pool; short walk to nude beach
NUDITY:  This establishment is expressly advertised as naturist. At such establishments, nudity may be generally expected or required of guests in some areas (especially poolside), but clothing may be customary or required in other areas.

Aloni Villas
Ratzakli, Kefalonia, Greece
WEBSITE
TYPE  3 self-catering villas
CLIENTELE  general / family
RECREATIONAL AMENITIES  each villa has a private pool; 2 kilometers to nearest nude beach
NUDITY  This establishment advertises to naturists but is not a naturist resort. Each villa has its own private outdoor space where nudity is possible.

Fig Leaf Villas
Kalamaki, Messinia, Greece
WEBSITE
TYPE  3 self-catering villas
CLIENTELE  general / family
RECREATIONAL AMENITIES  pool
NUDITY  This establishment is expressly advertised as naturist. At such establishments, nudity may be generally expected or required of guests in some areas (especially poolside), but clothing may be customary or required in other areas.

Viva Tourismo Resort
Paradisi 85106, Rhodes, Greece
TYPE  small hotel
CLIENTELE  general / adults only
RECREATIONAL AMENITIES  pool
NUDITY  This establishment is expressly advertised as naturist. At such establishments, nudity may be generally expected or required of guests in some areas (especially poolside), but clothing may be customary or required in other areas.