6 Best Beaches In Peloponnese For Ocean Lovers
When you think of picture-perfect Greek beaches, you’re probably thinking of the idyllic Greek Islands located off the coast of the mainland. But, azure waters and golden sands aren’t limited to the islands. The Peloponnese region is known for having some of the best beaches in the whole of the country and encompasses an entire peninsula at the southernmost point of Greece, which is why today we’ll be telling you about 6 of these best beaches in Peloponnese.
Although less popular for its spectacular beaches than many of the islands, including Corfu, Santorini, and Mykonos, this region is still the most visited in mainland Greece as it has a great mix of culture and nature, due to its close proximity to Athens. The area itself is over 21,000 km² and is connected to the mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth land bridge.
The beaches are incredibly scenic, with views of the surrounding mountains and crystal clear waters, and Peloponnese is one of the best destinations in Europe for a summer vacation. The Peloponnese peninsula is famous as the setting of many legends, including the spot where Hercules fought the Nemean lion, and also where the Gods walked the earth.
6 Best Beaches In Peloponnese
Peloponnese has countless sandy shores, but here are 6 of the best beaches to spend a lazy day at.
Foneas Beach, Kardamili
Foneas beach is an extremely popular cove in Kardamili. The beach is known for its large rock that sits in the middle of the sea, which feels as though it was designed by the Greek gods as the perfect place to jump into the cool water.
It can be extremely busy at the cove, so visiting outside peak times would allow you to enjoy the natural beauty better.
Bear in mind, this is a pebbly beach, so unless you want to feel like the princess and the pea, choose another beach if your main aim is sunbathing. There is a small taverna that sells souvlakis as well as drinks and snacks, but nowhere to rent sunbeds or umbrellas.
It may have a frightful name (Foneas means 'killer'), but this beach is anything but.
Kalogria Beach, Mani
Another of the best beaches in Peloponnese is Kalogria beach. In this case, that's not merely our opinion, but a fact as the beach is award-winning. At around 9km long, there's plenty of room for everyone on this sandy stretch in the northwestern part of Peloponnese.
If you're not a confident swimmer, or simply want to laze about in the tropical waters as opposed to fiercely paddling to keep yourself afloat, this is the beach for you as it has calm, shallow waters, which are known for being completely clear.
You can rent sunbeds and umbrellas at Kalogria beach, and there's a beach bar for when the heat gets too much and you need to cool off with a crisp, cool glass of wine…we mean water.
There is an island in front of the beach, which if you can muster the motivation to swim the 5-10 minutes across, will award you with beautiful views of the surrounding area.
With its soft sand and shallow waters, this is one of the best beaches for sunbathing. If, on the other hand, you are looking for extreme natural beauty surrounding the beach, you'd be better off visiting some of the other beaches on our list.
Simos beach, Elafonisos
Some of the best beaches in Peloponnese are found on the tiny island of Elafonisos, which can be found just south of Laconia. In order to access the island, you must board a ferry from the town of Vingliafa. The journey takes just 10 minutes, and ferries run continuously throughout the day.
Simos beach is found on the South of the island and is full of white sand dunes, but what makes this beach remarkable is the two bays splitting it. Because of this, Simos beach is a phenomenal setting for photographers and nature lovers alike.
The beach itself can get a little busy as it is the most loved beach on Elafonisos, but there is plenty of room for everyone, and with sun loungers for hire, and beach bars to grab a cocktail, Simos beach shouldn't be missed.
Voidokilia Beach, Petrochori
Voidokilia beach is one of the most famous beaches in mainland Greece. The reason it's so popular is due to its unusual shape, which is semicircular, and some compare it to the Greek symbol Omega. The beach has been named as a 'place of particular beauty'' and is a Natura 2000 protected area.
On the other side of the beach is the Gialova lagoon which is known as being a haven for migrating birds, with over 270 species dropping by throughout the year on their way from Africa to Europe, including Ospreys, Imperial Eagles, and Ibises.
This is not the best bay to swim in, as the sea bed is full of pebbles, however, it is a beautiful and worthy addition to our list.
Panagia Beach, Elafonisos
Panagia beach has the full package. Smooth golden sand? Tick. Large trees for natural shade? Tick. Excellent swimming? Tick. Tranquility? Tick. Authentic, Greek food? Tick, tick, tick.
Panagia beach attracts fewer crowds than some of the other beaches on Elafonisos, such as the famous Simos beach, but that's not to say this beach is less picturesque than any others. On the contrary, the lack of crowds works in its favor to make it one of the most delightful beaches in the area to enjoy a peaceful swim followed by a steaming hot gyros. You can even see fish in the shallow waters.
If the shady spots under the trees are taken, there are sunbeds and umbrellas available to hire at the beach.
Fokiano Bay, Kyparissi
If you're looking for a remote beach, you can't get much more remote than Fokiano bay which is 25km from the nearest village. The drive to this pebble beach is breathtaking, with mountain views along a winding road. But don't let the lack of sand put you off from visiting Fokiano bay. Nestled in the surrounding hills, this is a spot of great beauty and the turquoise waters are the perfect place to cool off on a hot, summer day.
There are a few tavernas here, which will entice you in with the smell of local Greek cuisine. If you are looking for a truly out-of-the-way break, there are even a couple of rooms to rent on the beach.
You can hire sunbeds as well as umbrellas which we recommend as there are no shady spots along the beach.
Final Thoughts
Peloponnese has endless stunning beaches that are worth visiting, and some we haven't spoken about include Valtaki beach, Limeni beach, Golden beach, and Marmari beach. However, these 6 beaches we've mentioned are close to perfection, which is why we've named them the best beaches in Peloponnese.
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