Otp’s Guide to the Top 10 Greek Islands and Beaches
Photo by: Peace Correspondent
With hundreds of islands to choose from, a trip to Greece can jamble your brain a bit. We pumped the brakes and singled out the unique and unmissable spots of any perfect Greek island-hopping adventure. You already know how to tear up Athens, now hit OTP’s 10 Best Greek Islands and Beaches to seal the deal.
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People flock from all over to come face to face with this island’s famed sunset. Watch the big orange ball work its way down from your room at Oia Youth Hostel then catch a bus into the island’s main town of Fira to progress to more important matters. The nightlife in Fira’s Town Square moves faster than a ‘90s music video on coke. Get up to speed by heading to Enigma or Koo Club to pound shots like a true Greek, or move over to Murphy’s for something more familiar. When the night winds down around 6 AM, call Kamari Beach your bed and enjoy a day’s worth of lazy lounging.
Photo by: j.moss
It’s probably the wallpaper on your computer, but there’s no substituting a snapshot for a story. Also known as Shipwreck Beach, this stretch of sand on the Ionian island of Zakynthos is famous for its blunt centerpiece. It’s believed that the ship’s last voyage was in 1983, when it wrecked itself before it checked itself while smuggling cigarettes, wine and loads of other useful items. The cargo contents may be long gone, but the ship still sits among the white cliffs and clear waters of this cove. Boat there from Porto Vromi, and don’t forget your mask and snorkel–the cliffs along the beach make for excellent underwater fish sightings.
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Beautiful beaches, open terrain and a bustling nightlife scene explain why Crete, Greece’s largest island, has long been a backpacker’s favorite. The village of Rethymno combines all these offerings eliminating the need to waste time or money seeking them individually elsewhere. Stay in the Rethymno Youth Hostel and spend your days at the golden sand beach just steps away or explore the old Venetian town and port. The beach stretches over 12 miles and offers enough watersport activities to give your body and budget a workout. Enjoy the night in the town’s Rock Cafe, or bring your beers back to the beach and party at the Cactus Beach Bar until the sun rises.
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Crete’s best beach requires a bit of a hike to access (there’s lots of nudity so suck it up and trek on). Start by either busing to the town of Matala or renting a room in the affordable Dimitris Villas. Signs will point you toward the beach from anywhere in Matala, eventually leading you to a goat’s path that you’ll hike downhill for a solid 15 minutes. Once you’ve made it to the beach, leave your clothes and inhibitions behind and embrace one of Greece’s greatest nude beaches. Awesomely convenient caves that were called home by hippies in the ‘70s line the ocean and provide perfect seclusion for your own body inspection station.
Photo by: Siyad Ma
Mykonos is the wonderful result of combining Greece’s natural beauty with nonstop partying. Forget about partying like a rock star, come here to party like a boulder supernova. The big action takes place on Paradise Beach, so shack up in a cabin with Paradise Beach Resort for a front-row seat (don’t expect to sit or sleep much). Bring the action to Mykonos’ main town to take a break from the comfortable chaos of the beach. Catch the sunset at Caprice then walk a few happy, drunken stumbles over to Astra before continuing the craze back at your home base.
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Like the music, the drinking on Paradise Beach never stops. Join the masses from all over the world as they unite to celebrate life. You’ve heard of “letting loose”–a trip to Paradise Beach and you might turn to liquid. While the party scene often takes all the credit for the beauty of this beach, don’t miss out on its other offerings: golden sand, scuba diving and enough jet-skiing to put Kenny Powers in his place.
Photo by: Philippe_RA
There comes a time when we don’t want a DJ on the beach or a Girls Gone Wild camera crew in the club. Milos is a great low-profile escape. Stay in the Aeolis Hotel in the heart of Adamas and enjoy the luxuries of having the main town and hidden beaches within walking distance. Famous for its rock formations and caves, take a sea-taxi tour to uncover some of the most remote spots that Greece has to offer. Check out Papafragas Cave, but be warned: your other swimming spots will pale in comparison and may be forever spoiled.
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Mavra Volia (“Black Stones”) is one of Chios’ main attractions. Divided into three separate spots, this beach stretches wide past the town of Emporio. Dive into a simpler time and unleash your inner Neanderthal by dropping your pants and jumping off of Mavra Volia’s many cliffs. There are plenty of restaurants and food trucks lining the walk before the beaches and if you’re in the mood for fresh fish, head to Porto Emporios right on the water.
Photo by: gilia80
Skip the more popular Skiathos and uncover perfection in nearby Skopelos. Here you’ll find serenity and scenery that’s (surprisingly) yet to be spoiled. If you come by ferry, you’ll be invited by some hospitable old folks to stay in their homes. You can make away with a good deal and even a home-cooked breakfast. Not happy shacking up with yia-yia? Stay at Stella’s Studios in town. The rooms put you steps away from the lovely maze of a town and offer bus service to some of the better beaches like Panormos and Milia (which may look familiar if you’ve seen 2008′s chick-flick rendition of Mamma Mia).
Photo by: Soupmeister
In the northwest corner of Kefalonia lies Myrtos Beach, often regarded as THE best beach in Greece. At first glance, it may seem like nothing special, but its sea of shimmery water surrounded by green mountains and swallowed by a beating sun are the winning ingredients for the perfect beach. As with most beaches in Greece, feel free to even out your tan lines and let your eyes wander.
Greece offers pleasure in all of its many forms. All that’s left to do is link up these islands in a logical way to make a Greece trip for the record books.
A mind and body traveller who thrives on recollection and anticipation, all the while decorating the crossroads.
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Mykonos features some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece but true, Super Paradise is one of the drunkest and loudest ones
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One of the best beaches in the mainland of Greece is Lichnos Beach near Parga harbour. Phhotos of Lichnos beach