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!
Greece 2019 - Our accommodation
This year like other years, I like to do my annual pilgrimage to Greece.
There are three certains every Greek holiday – Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos. These three are not negotiable.
Athens, not as a stopover to other places. Athens because of its vibrancy, its colour, its history, its vibe. Thessaloniki, because of I was born there, I have family there and because I feel like I go home. So rich in culture and history. Mykonos, because its Mykonos! My happy place, my Disneyland, my fun spot. I love Mykonos…
In Athens we love staying in Kolonaki. It’s within walking distance to all the main attractions and you get the chance feel like a local. Our accommodation here is Coco-Mat. Great location, flawless interiors and a roof top to enjoy the most beautiful view of Athens.
Our accommodation in Thessaloniki is the Electra Palace, it’s right in Aristotelous Square in the heart of city. Apart from the great location, the staff are wonderful and so accomodating.
We have stayed at a number of amazing places in Mykonos in the past and this year we decided to mix it up a bit. We start our stay at the Rocabella Mykonos. This hotel is located at Agios Stephanos, about 7km from Mykonos town. Going out of my comfort zone of Platys Gialos checking out a different part of the island (for 3 nights anyway!)
For the rest of the stay in Mykonos, we go back to Platys Gialos. I really loved our stay at Thalassa Boutique Hotel last year and look forward to ending my trip with a stay there, right on my favourite beach.
image via 18grapes Naxos
And now for the places we haven’t been before, places we are going for the first time.
This year the “new” spots are Halkidiki, Naxos & Folegandros.
Halkidiki will only be a quick stop, and technically not a “new” spot for me, because when I was young and lived in Greece, Halkidiki was where we spent our summers. You see my mum and dads village (Efkarpia & Mavrothalassa, Serres) is less than 40kms away.
Naxos was really my husbands choice. I was happy to go back to Paros. But we have been to Paros (love Paros!) a number of times and thought lets see Naxos which is so close anyway.
We chose to stay at 18 Grapes which is an all-suite boutique hotel very close to Agios Prokopios beach, which is a beautiful stretch of beach.
image via bluesands Folegandros
Folegandros is one of those islands we have recently started hearing a little about. A couple of friends who have been there and they have come back with glowing feedback. Its landscape looks so unique almost untouched. I am really looking forward to our stay here!
Our accommodation here is Blue Sands Luxury Hotel with the beautiful Agali beach right in front of our hotel. I am looking forward to exploring this beautiful island.
image via bluesands Folegandros
Join our trip both here and on Instagram in the coming days.
Thessaloniki – Electra Palace
Athens – Cocomat Athens
Naxos – 18 Grapes
Folegandros – Blue Sands Luxury Hotel
Mykonos – Rocabella Mykonos
Mykonos – Thalassa Boutique Hotel
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