Greek Beach Clubs
What do you think when you think of Beach Clubs? Do you think Nammos? Do you think Mykonos?
Even though Mykonos is renowned for its beach club culture, you will find beach clubs everywhere on most islands and mainland Greece. They are sections of the beach with sunbeds, beach umbrellas, cabanas and day beds. You pay for your spot and enjoy the day.
We were lucky enough this trip to go to a number of beach clubs, enjoy our club sandwiches and laze the day away!
The famous turquoise and white striped umbrellas at Nammos, Mykonos
Nammos in Psarou beach is the queen of them all! Food, alcohol, beautiful service staff, famous clientele and pumping music have attracted party goers for a number of years. This is THE place to see and be seen… Sun, crystal clear beach, champagne, cigars, Dior beach bags, designer bikinis and Camilla kaftans are everywhere.
Some shopping at Nammos village, Mykonos
And when you get tired of all the above, you can stroll through the manicured gardens of the exquisite Nammos village for some exclusive and amazing shopping. Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Burberry are all here along with jewellery stores, beauty treatment rooms, cafes.
Two sunbed and an umbrella will set you back (from) €150.
The cool design of Ftelia Beach Club, Mykonos
Further to the north of Mykonos is the picturesque Ftelia beach and there you will find Ftelia beach club. Being an interior designer, I love checking the design of different places and Ftelia has a unique feel and colour palette from most beach clubs I have visited, a retro/mid-century aesthetic which I love! Design and aesthetic aside, it is a lot more quieter than most beach clubs with a relaxed chilled vibe, great music and scenery.
The shopping here consists of a vintage Kombi van selling handmade jewellery! Goes so well with the mood of this place
Two sunbeds and an umbrella will set you back €50.
Shopping Ftelia beach style, Mykonos
Halkidiki is in north of mainland Greece, a very popular destination for locals and tourists a like. In one of the towns called Pefkohori, we visited Elephant beach club. A boho/jungle themed beach club right on this most pretty coast line full of pine trees (Pefko - pines hori- village). We got there early so we had prime position right on the beach. Cool music, a lot more locals were enjoying this beach club and again a very chilled vibe. We could go around the many areas of this beach club and have a drink or food, there were many cool places to sit. The beach here was amazing.
Two sunbeds and an umbrella were €40 redeemable on food and drink.
The crystal clear waters at Tortuga, Naxos
Tortuga Beach Bar and Restaurant in Naxos was a pleasant surprise. It has a bit of a boho-meets-Mexico vibe what with some amazing cactus and weathered timber structures. The music was great and the beach was spectacular. Great aesthetic and service makes for good times.
The cabanas for two started at €30 for back row going up to €50 for the front row.
The restaurant at Tortuga, Naxos. A perfect spot to get out of the sun!
Pool or Beach, you can do both at Santanna, Mykonos
Another very popular beach club in Mykonos is SantAnna in Paraga. It has a big saltwater pool, shops, restaurant and bar. It has day beds, cabana sunbeds, pool pillows, it has everything! Catering to a young, hip crowd, this place has a great atmosphere. The staff were very friendly, explained the facilities and showed us around.
The prices vary here based on where and how you want to spend your day. There is sunbed/cabana hire prices and a day here can cost you up to €150 for cabanas. We were there high season and there was also a minimum spend. Strongly recommend you prebook online.
It is a requirement that every beach in Greece has a section for the general public which is free. So if you just want to grab a towel, some sunblock and a bottle of water, you can enjoy some of the most amazing beach in the world, for free!
Thessaloniki Travel Diary
Beautiful details in some of the buildings in Thessaloniki
The Kastro of Thessaloniki
The city of Thessaloniki from above
The famous umbrellas of Thessaloniki in Paralia
Morning strolls seeing the White Tower (Lefkos Pyrgos)
Piping hot koulourgia and pites
Alexander the Great, the loving Hero of Thessaloniki
Agia Sofia’s Byzantine architecture
The candles of Agios Demetrios
The unique architecture of Agios Demetrios
The old and new in Thessaloniki
Plateia Aristolous
Smack in the heart of Thessaloniki is the Electra Palace Hotel
MamaLuca is a cool restaurant that modernises traditional Greek cuisine
The ladadika district was originally full of Oil merchants, now a thriving food district
Historical visit of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki from above
We had four full days in Thessaloniki and we wanted to do a lot of things and in the midst of all that we wanted to spend quality time with family.
With a day spent visiting family in the villages, a day spent visiting more family in Thessaloniki, a day sneaking a beach visit to Pefkohori in Chalkidiki, it left us one day to do a few touristy things in town.
After breakfast, we headed off for a short stroll to the White Tower. A tower so full of tragedy and triumph, the beacon of Thessaloniki. There, they have an interactive exhibit of the history and culture of this beautiful city.
The White Tower of Thessaloniki
Further down along the paralia you will see statue of Alexander the Great. Thessaloniki, was named after the half-sister of Alexander the Great, the hero of the city.
From there, you have to go to see the beautiful art installation of the umbrellas… simply gorgeous and if you go during sunset even better!
The umbrellas have become such a popular site for Thessaloniki
Our touristy day took us next to Agia Sofia. One of the oldest churches in Greece, built in its current structure in the 8th century and is based on the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Spiritually, artistically and culturally, an amazing church to visit with historical icons, frescos and mosaics adorning its walls.
The simplicity of the outside belies the beautiful icons, mosaics and frescos inside Agia Sofia, Thessaloniki
We continued our walk to another great church (we did more than visit churches I promise!), the church of Agios Demetrios, patron saint of Thessaloniki. Agios Demetrios was a Christian martyr who died at the hands of the Romans. He is revered as a military saint on horseback, credited with many miraculous interventions protecting Thessaloniki. The first church believed to have been built on this site in the 4th century AD, replacing Roman Bath where Agio Demetrios’ body is said to have been dropped, after his execution. The church has gone through many transformations since originally constructed.
The unique architecture of Agios Demetrios, Thessaloniki
Okay enough with the churches for now!!!
We wanted to see the whole city from above, at which point we caught a taxi and went to the Kastra (castle). These Byzantine Walls were built in the late 4th century to protect the town, its churches and timber-framed houses from sieges. The walls stood there until the 19th century when the Ottomans demolished large sections. From here you can enjoy the most panoramic views over the city.
Thessaloniki from above, at the Kastro
As it was still lunch time (3pm is lunch time in the Mediterranean countries), we couldn’t find a cab for the trip back and we decided to walk down, in the heat – not a good idea!
Pit stop to the arch of Galerius (or Kamara) and the Rotunda. Two very impressive neighbouring structures commissioned by Roman Emperor Galerius in the 4th century. The Rotunda has been a Roman monument, Christian church, Mosque and now a historical building, UNESCO heritage site, it is the oldest church in Thessaloniki and there are claims it is the oldest Christian church in the world.
The old and the new, the Arch of Galerius (Kamara) next to the ‘70 apartments
Almost to our hotel, we stopped for a much-needed frappe and bougatsa!
Although we spent a full day walking (24,000 steps!), we literally just skimmed the surface of this culturally rich & complex city.
The narrow streets of Thessaloniki
Where we stayed
Where we ate
Ladadika disctrict – Loved the food Necroponte, traditional Greek cuisine) and Mamalouka for more modern Greek cuisine.
Important tip
Wear comfortable shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking. And you must try the bougatsa, flaky filled filo pastry, whether sweet or savoury, it is amazing!
Five things to do in Athens
Athens is more than a stop-over, I repeat, Athens is more than a stop-over to the Greek islands!
If you haven’t gathered already, I love Athens! I try to combine time in Athens as well as time at other destinations in Greece.
Hop-on/Hop-off Bus Tours
I wanted to take my hubby on one of these as I did it with my daughter last year, and really enjoyed the view from above. You get the chance to hop off at about 14 stops within Athens, all the main attractions like the Parthenon, the Syntagma, Monastiraki as well as other lesser know but just as important like the Cyclades Museum, Benaki museum all the while listening to a guide on your headphones. It is all day everyday and you can start yours at any of the key attractions around the city.
Starting our bus tour here at Syntagma
Dinner at Psyri
Just off Monastiraki there is a little suburb called Psyri. It has a real hipster vibe, a little grungy and very cool. There are many vintage shops, the odd barber shop, great street art on the buildings, heaps of beautifully fitted out bars and many, many restaurants serving food not just Greek but from many different cultures. We ate at Lithos and would gladly go back just to have their moussaka!
The famous umbrellas outside Little Kook
One of the hip bars at Psyri
O Kostas
It doesn’t get more simple than this. Slightly cooked pita bread, barbequed pork souvlaki with just paprika and salt, strained Greek yoghurt, onion, tomato and parsley. No more no less. A tradition that has been going for 65 years all out of a hole in the wall souvlaki joint, and it is amazing! You will happy wait with the queue of people for your turn and sit on the side street and enjoy every mouthful! You can thank me later!
the picture of Kostas looking on as people wait for their souvlaki
Rooftop Bar – Anglais Athens
Imagine enjoying a Mojito, on a balmy summers evening, on a roof-top, watching the sunset, overlooking one of the oldest and most famous monuments in the world, the Parthenon! That’s what you will get right here, at Anglais Athens, a bit Palm-Springy in décor with a great cocktail list, makes for a really great start to the evening!
Anglais rooftop looking away from the Acropolis
The Archeological Excavation beneath the Acropolis
An ancient Athenian neighbourhood has been excavated and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Acropolis Museum, it is now open to the public. A whole village preserved in time, it houses life and human activity from the 4th century BC. Streets, houses, courtyards, baths, workshops, plumbing even toilets comprise the finds.
Your entry ticket (10 Euros) for the Acropolis Museum (one of my favourites in the world!) allows you the entry to the excavations.
Highlights
All of the above - can’t choose.
Worth watching the behind-the-scenes of the excavation video at the Acropolis museums. Won’t spoil the ending but what they did to get it to this stage is amazing. Take the time to view it!
Important Tip
The Hop On/Hop Off bus has other extended tours like the Athens Riviera that take to Piraeus and Vouliagmeni, well worth going on. For the city only session its 20 euros for 24 hours in peak season.
My happy place - Platys Gialos
Platys Gialos
Do you have a favourite place on earth? A place that warms your heart at mere mention? A place where you feel happiest and truly relaxed? For me, that place is Platys Gialos. No trip to Greece is complete for me without a stay at my ‘happy place.’
How clear is the beach
Located just four kilometres from Mykonos Town, Platys Gialos feels like another world from the hustle and bustle of one of Greece’s most popular islands. It’s definitely a lot more serene and quiet – with a clean shore, pristine beach and plenty of time for sunbaking, swimming, eating and relaxing. Don’t get me wrong, I love Mykonos Town, it sometimes can get a bit too much even for me! Platys Gialos is the perfect balance.
Beautiful cactus grown everywhere
Situated on the south side of the island, the half-moon shaped bay is easily accessible by bus, taxi and boats. It’s walking distance to the cosmopolitan Psarou beach with its famous Nammos beach club on the right and the hip Paraga (pronounced Pa-ra-nga) beach, home to San Giorgio hotel on the left. Both walks are beautiful along the coastline. It has the longest stretch of beach on the island. Beautiful golden sand and the most inviting warm waters make it a joy to spend the day doing nothing but sunbaking and swimming. The beach is well organised with sunbeds – there is a charge for them unless you are staying at the hotel which they belong to.
This is as hectic as Platys Gialos gets
Fabulous restaurants line the foreshore, with food for all tastes and budgets.
A favourite of ours is Yialo-Yialo. Their menu is a great blend of Greek and modern Mediterranean cuisines, they are open all day and you are treated like a long lost friend!
There is a mini-mart that sells just about everything you need, and a couple of little shops in Platys Gialos but for your proper shopping, I would keep it for Mykonos town. Of course there are also the friendly beach vendors selling knock-off designer bags and kaftans on the beach if that is what you like.
Where we stay
There are some amazing hotels along the beach. Our favourite is Thalassa Boutique Hotel and Suites. The fact that this hotel is literally right on the beach is a winner for me. The staff are also very accommodating, the rooms beautifully styled and the views are second to none.
Enjoying the view of Platys Gialos
We stay in the junior suite with sea views. The room is huge and stylishly designed reflecting the minimal Greek Island interiors. It also has a gorgeous day bed for extra seating and a balcony opening to spectacular views of Platys Gialos - the ideal spot to enjoy a bottle of wine and watch the yachts sail by. The bathroom is large with all the mod cons and a separate shower and toilet.
The fabulous pool with the most awesome view
The hotel has a great breakfast that has all the traditional dishes like pita, bougatsa, yoghurt and honey, even dolmades, along with more common choices of fruit, eggs and bacon.
As a more budget-conscious option, I highly recommend Mina Studios. Mina and her family are your wonderful hosts and their hospitality is so warming. Mina’s is about 100 metres from the foreshore, right next to the bus stop and so close to everything. The rooms are spacious and recently elegantly renovated. We stayed a night there and were so pleasantly surprised with what we got considering how affordable it is. Apart from the wonderful rooms, Mina’s husband met us at the port to take us to our rooms and we also enjoyed a freshly cooked homely breakfast. After travelling for a number of weeks, Mina and her family made us feel so welcomed.
Highlights:
At Platys Gialos you get the best of both worlds. It’s a quick 10 minute bus trip to Mykonos Town where all the shops, bars and cafes are if you want the be where the action is, and if you want a more relaxed location you can stay close by and still enjoy good bars and restaurants.
I also have to say the kayki trip around the surrounding beaches is a highlight. One of my favourite things to do is “beach hop” one these beautiful restored boats.
Important Tip:
Use the bus to get into town. It’s cheap, reliable and you don’t have to worry about parking in town - because there is none! There is a bus every half hour to Fabrika (Mykonos town bus depot) and back, and the buses run into the early hours of the morning. Also the bus trip is an adventure in itself!
From our balcony at Thalassa boutique hotel
Three Days in Milos
Everytime we come to Greece we like to visit at least one island we haven’t been to before. This trip, we both wanted to see Milos.
Milos, the quintessential Greek island, with its white-washed houses, bluest of blue waters, unique beaches, quaint fishing towns, hospitable people, great food. Everything you want and more from an Aegean Island. We had three full days and so much to see and do!
Just of the ferry in Adamas
Day one
We chose to base ourselves in Pollonia, a small fishing town on the northeast tip of Milos. (Plaka is the capital of Milos and Adamas is the main port). We were pleasantly surprised with what awaited us when we arrived in Pollonia. Everything was so close - the tavernas, the family-friendly beach with its golden sand, the small boats taking you to Kimolos and beyond. Good choice for a quiet few days
Sarakinikos beach has to be seen to be believed
First stop, Sarakiniko beach. You feel like you have landed on the moon when you arrive at this unique beach. The waves and winds over the centuries have created this stunning white rock formation. Set against the bluest skies, this beach has to be seen to be believed. Truly a spectacular sight! Explore this beach by walking around and make sure you have your camera ready for heaps of great photo
More from the amazing Sarakinikos beach
After a swim and some sunbaking at Sarakiniko beach, it’s back to our beautiful suite at Delmar in Pollonia to freshen up and go watch the sunset at Plaka. Plaka is so pretty - little shops and tavernas adorning the tiny streets. We had a great meal at a little tavern called Diporti (which in Greek translates to two doors). The baked feta cheese, the gigantes (giant baked beans) and zucchini chips were our favourites - so simple yet so delicious. And the sunset was spectacular!
a beautiful sunsets in Milos
Day one went by so quickly!
Day two
On our second day in Milos we decided to explore the unique fishing villages of Klima and Mandrakia. It is so worth making the time to see these charming villages, for their authenticity and peacefulness. The fishermen’s houses that store the fishing boats are carved into the rocks and are mere centimetres from the crystal-clear waters. Colourful doors distinguish these boat garages, each distinct and equally charming. These classic cottages are known as ‘syrmata’ and the ‘boat garage’ is typically located on the ground floor and the fisherman’s family living upstairs.
How close is the water to the houses at Mandrakia
Mandrakia is located on the Northern side of Milos, Klima on the Gulf of Milos not too far from Tripiti. I recently noticed that a few of these houses are now available to book as alternative accommodation options!
the peaceful, yet colourful Klima
We managed a swim at Firopotamos, close to Mandrakia and lunch at Plaka, close to Klima.
For dinner we stayed in Pollonia and enjoyed the beautiful seafood at Gialos, a seafood tavern right on the beach.
Day three
As we were limited with time in Milos, we opted to do a yachting tour around island. It was truly one of the most beautiful trips I have ever done. We left Pollonia mid morning. The yachts or catamarans take small groups of around 15-20 people and you have many stops along the way, where can enjoy so much of Milos’s unspoilt beauty.
First stop was the mineral-rich island Kimolos, a mere kilometre away from Milos. A refreshing swim and back on the boat for more exploring. Next stop was Thiorichia, emerald green waters and rich turmeric pebbles coloured by sulfur from the mines right on the beach. You feel like you stepped back in time with old offices, machinery and tools left there from the 1960s, when the mine ceased operating.
the idle offices and machine at Thiorichia beach, Milos
Our primary destination was Kleftiko, the impressive rock formation that can only be reached by sea. These amazing coves set in limestone rocks have a rich nautical history - pirates used to hide their treasures there.
the captivating beauty of Kleftiko
Kleftiko is truly breathtaking. Our yacht stopped there for a while, we swam, ate and explored the area. We even hopped in a smaller boat, which took us in and around the caves. I would highly recommend this for anyone visiting Milos.
As we sailed back to Pollonia we watched the sun set and were even joined by a duo of dolphins that kept trying to race the boat. It was a truly magical day!
On the day we were leaving, we had to try a bakery that was so highly recommended to us the previous day called Kivotos tis Gepsesis (boat of taste) in Pollonia. It’s specialty is watermelon pita! Golden buttery flaky pastry and dried watermelon, I know it sounds a little strange but it was insanely tasty.
the beautiful bougainvillea at the entry of Delmar suites in Pollonia, Milos
Where we stayed:
Delmar Apartments & Suites, Pollonia. Right in the town, we had the most beautiful 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom suite. Beautiful appointed rooms with all the mod-cons, with a lovely balcony overlooking the town. Highly recommend it, along with the wonderful staff.
the balcony to our suite at Delmar suites, Pollonia, Milos
Highlights:
The whole stay was a highlight. From the yacht trip, to Sarakiniko, to Plaka and everything in between. Go and visit this beautiful island of Milos as soon as you can!
Important Tip:
If you go on a yacht tour, try to book in advance and if possible go on a day where it is quite still and not windy. The day we sailed we couldn’t go to the remote and amazing beach of Tsigardo, because of the wind. A good excuse for me to visit Milos soon!
Kefalonia
Kefalonia isn’t the first Ionian Island I have visited. In 2016, on the way to the seaside town of Parga, we stopped by Lefkada for the day. I was so amazed by the crystal clear, turquoise blue waters of its beaches and I knew I wanted to see more of these lesser known islands on the west side of Greece.
On this trip, we decided to spend a few days at Kefalonia. I didn’t know much about Kefalonia apart from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - the book and movie based there in World War Two.
We based ourselves in the capital of Argostoli, hired a car and spent the whole time driving to beautiful beaches and pretty towns. Kefalonia is one of Greece’s biggest islands, so I can’t recommend hiring a car enough.
While I have swum at many beaches, I have to say the THE most beautiful beach I have ever seen is Myrtos Beach. The whitest tiny pebbles make the water so blue, it is beyond words. It literally looked photoshopped. The drive to Myrtos was interesting to say the least - we drove through very windy, mountainous rounds and along the way we saw so many goats laying on the road. It was wonderful.
We were there late June, so the tourist season hadn’t really kicked in yet. It was a great time to be there as it was still very warm and the water was beautiful but we could enjoy the beach without fighting for a spot to sit.
Not far from Myrtos is a gorgeous fishing village called Assos. All pastel-coloured buildings and pretty boats on a little harbour - so picturesque. Assos has been dubbed an “Instagram famous” towns because of its charm and I can see why.
About 40km out from Argostoli is Xi Beach. With white cliffs and red sand, Xi beach is unique to say the least! A popular tourist destination, this is a well organised resort area with sun beds and umbrellas for hire along with many accommodation options. Although we drove here, we opted to return to Argostoli on the ferry for something a bit different!
Another highlight for me was visiting the Monastery of Saint Gerasimos, the patron saint of the island. I had the opportunity of going to a Sunday morning service which was quite a spiritual experience.
Kefalonia has many beaches and pretty towns. While we stayed for five days, we could have easily stayed for another five and still not have seen everything. Most beaches are well organised with food, sunbeds and umbrellas. There are various accommodations options to suit most budgets and tastes. The food was so tasty and fresh again with numerous tavernas and cafes. I can see why so many people recommended Kefalonia for us to visit!
WHERE WE STAYED:
Kefalonia Grand Hotel, Argostoli - Loved the interiors of this hotel, all soft linens, greys and white, as an interior designer its inspiring. It was very close to everything in town, but the best thing about the hotel was its amazing staff - they went out of their way to make sure we were happy. Oh and the breakfast was pretty amazing as well!
HIGHLIGHT:
Without a shadow of a doubt - Myrtos Beach. I could have gone back again and again and again. That water is beyond anything I have seen.
IMPORTANT TIP:
Make sure you book a car, Kefalonia is big and you really need to drive to be able to enjoy it!