Cyclades Beach Beauties

Scattered amid the Aegean Sea on the Cycladic Islands of Santorini, Tinos, Syros, Sérifos and Koufonisia are some of Greece’s most dramatically scenic beaches, coves and sandy inlets to discover. 

The topography of each island offers a diverse canvas; from the volcanic isle of Santorini with its red beaches to the large boulders that look like giant eggs on Tinos, the landscapes wrapping the bays are stunningly beautiful. Whilst the Chora beaches offer a fast dip, we traverse the Cycladic coastlines to highlight our favourites - from organised posh to wild untouched and of course, we include those off-grid naturist pitstops.

Santorini

The result of a violent explosion hundreds of years ago, the Cycladic island of Santorini is known for its dramatic caldera views and the bleached white villages that tumble like sugar cubes down to the coast. Home to many a romantic cliffside hotel with soul-stirring views, the island also has beautiful beaches to explore.

Tinos

Koufonisia

Made up of two miniature islands, experience double the love for Koufonisia – Pano (upper) and Kato (lower) – separated by a narrow 200-metre channel, and both offering Cycladic beaches of beauty, either accessed by foot (the island of Pano can be circumnavigated in two hours) or by boat, the unspoiled charm of Koufonisia is very much in evidence. Part of the Small Cyclades, also known as the Minor Cyclades, you can stay at Éros Kéros to complete the blissful picture. Read on for the loveliest of sandy shores in Koufonisia. 

Syros

Greek Island Syros, part of the Cyclades, is one of the smallest in this chain of islands, although it’s certainly not short on charm. With a rich maritime history and a neoclassical port town, Syros has a cosmopolitan style of its own. You’ll also find secluded, sandy beaches, mostly on the west coast, to complete the Greek idyll picture.

Serifos

Sleepy Sérifos feels like the island modern life forgot- such is its slow pace, very few ‘tick box’ sights and a lost-in-time feel. The fact that a Greek myth headlines the island’s history shows you how little has really happened on Sérifos. However, that there in itself is its appeal and one thing Sérifos can shout about (although of course it would never be so self-aggrandising), is its sun-baked beaches, an astonishing 50 of them, some sweetly secluded, others dotted with a low-key taverna and all met by the warm, turquoise waters of the Aegean. Here are the best spots.

Our favourite route is to hop through Athens and either ferry on down to the islands or hop onto a smaller jet and fly direct to Santorini or Naxos; alternatively, you can fly into Mykonos and take the fastcat 20 minutes to unspoilt Tinos, 40 minutes to Syros and about 90 minutes to Koufonisia. Travel between the Cyclades has recently been made, at last, much easier to plan with many ferry services now fully online – yeah. 

Check out Hellenic Seaways for the fastcats services and Greek Ferries for the softer pace.