Greece has some of the world’s best beaches for a swim, with or without your bathing suit. The country is known for its clothing-optional bathing areas, although almost all of them are not official nude beaches. The natural beauty that usually surrounds the beaches of the Greek islands often encourages people who’ve never done it before to take it all off and feel closer to nature.
Mykonos, which was one of the first islands to be discovered by tourists, attracted hippies and naturists, and continues to be a favorite of those looking for a holiday in the sun au naturel. There are no official nude beaches, but a few do usually have a considerable number of nude sunbathers. They tend to concentrate on one side of the beach, away from the bars and sunbeds, and are usually fewer in number during the most crowded days of July and August, especially on weekends.
Although the island is no longer the nudist paradise it once was, you can be sure to find a spot for you. Below is a list of the most nudist-friendly beaches. Remember that if you happen to be unlucky to find them full of swimsuits on one of the crowded summer days, you can always keep walking towards the more secluded areas (usually by rocks), or you can simply head to another beach.
Nude Beaches in Mykonos
This is the beach with the most nudists, most of them gay men. It is currently the most popular beach for gay travelers, who tend to head towards the very little free space without sunbeds. As this is a long beach, the central area with all the parasols and sunbeds attracts all kinds of people, from straight couples to families, who keep their bathing suits on.
How to Get to Elia Beach - A bus departs every 2 hours from the Old Port terminal to Elia Beach. By car, you can get there in 25 minutes from Mykonos Town.
Staying in Elia Beach - If you want to stay at Elia Beach, choose the Elia Mykonos Resort, which is right on the beach and has spacious rooms. If you’re going with a special someone, stay at the romantic Royal Myconian or the Myconian Utopia. For those traveling in a group of friends, there are the large suites and villas with sea views of the Arte & Mare Hotel.
See the Elia Beach Guide.
Found next to Elia, this beach receives the nudists who can’t find a spot at Elia, or who simply want a quieter, more secluded beach.
How to Get to Agrari Beach - The best way to get to Agrari Beach is by car to Elia Beach and then walking to the right, over the rocks. There’s parking at Elia. Alternatively, take the bus that departs every two hours from the Old Port terminal to Elia.
Staying in Agrari Beach - There are just two places to stay in Agrari. The budget Sunrise Hotel & Suites is right on the beach, and then there are the Ethereal Apartments just steps away.
See the Agrari Beach Guide.
Found up the hill from the popular Paradise Beach (formerly nudist-friendly, now almost 100% textile), one end of this sandy beach is often 50% nudist, except in July and August when that number may be as low as 10-to-25%. Most of those are older straight couples and a few gay couples.
How to Get to Paraga Beach - A frequent bus goes from the Fabrika terminal in Mykonos Town to Paraga Beach. If you go by car, note that there’s very little parking space by this beach, so you’re better off going to Paradise Beach (by bus or car) and then walk up the hill to Paraga.
Staying in Paraga Beach - Paraga Beach has two hotels -- there’s the moderately-priced Zephyros right behind it, and the romantic and more luxurious Soho Roc House Mykonos a few feet away.
See the Paraga Beach Guide.
This formerly secret beach in the northern part of the island has been discovered. Half of it is filled with sunbeds and the other half keeps a more relaxing, wilder atmosphere. That wilder end is usually for nudists, usually young couples, both straight and gay.
How to Get to Panormos Beach - The best way to reach Panormos Beach is by car. From Mykonos Town, you’re there in 15 minutes. There’s a large parking lot behind it. The bus depends on demand. Sometimes there are about a handful of buses per day in the summer, but there are years when there are no buses at all.
Staying in Panormos Beach - Until recently, there was no accommodation in Panormos. Now you have the choice between the contemporary The Etesian Hotel above the beach, the studios and apartments with sea views of Panormos Village, and the good-value Albatros Club Mykonos overlooking the beach.
See the Panormos Beach Guide.
Not far from Panormos, this beach remains free of crowds, except in late July and August. On the days with the fewer crowds, it can be mostly nude, with people of all ages.
How to Get to Agios Sostis Beach - There are no buses to Agios Sostis. The journey by car from Mykonos Town is about 15 minutes. There’s parking on the road above the beach.
Staying in Agios Sostis Beach - Agios Sostis finally has a hotel. The Mykonos Star is a Cycladic-style hotel and offers a breathtaking sea view.
See the Agios Sostis Beach Guide.
This secluded beach is perfect for taking it all off. Those who discover it often do, although there are days in the summer when very few or no one does. Still, if you're looking for a more relaxing beach to go nude, always check this one out.
How to Get to Kapari Beach - Kapari Beach is just a 10-minute drive from Mykonos Town. You may park on the road above the beach. There’s no bus to Kapari, but there’s one to neighboring Agios Ioannis Beach. Just keep walking to the right when you arrive, down an unpaved road, past a white church, until you see the beach at the bottom of the cliff.
Staying in Kapari Beach - There are no hotels in Kapari Beach, there are a couple in Agios Ioannis that are within walking distance -- the romantic Bill & Coo Coast Suites and the DeLight Boutique Hotel.
See the Kapari Beach Guide.
The remote location and nearly-deserted setting surrounded by a natural landscape, makes those who drive here (it’s only accessible by car) take it all off when they reach the sand. It’s faced by a taverna, but there’s enough privacy, and the only noise you’ll likely hear is that of the wind and the sea.
How to Get to Fokos Beach - There are no buses to Fokos Beach. It’s 20 minutes by car from Mykonos Town. There’s parking by the taverna.
Staying in Fokos Beach - There are no hotels in Fokos Beach, but the highly-rated Aeolos Resort is by the road that takes you there. Nearby is also the Hermes Mykonos Hotel, which offers some of the best views of the island.
See the Fokos Beach Guide.
Nude Beaches in the Greek Islands
In the more conservative corners of Greece, many locals (especially those of the older generations) still see nude sunbathing as obscene and provocative, but once someone takes it all off, it encourages another to do the same and then another, and suddenly you have a popular clothing-optional beach. So that you don’t offend the more sensitive locals, look for a spot away from the tavernas and umbrellas. Also know that, in addition to Mykonos, there are other islands in the Cyclades known to be nudist-friendly:
The Caribbean-like waters by the camping site of the island of Antiparos is an official nude beach, or so says a sign that welcomes you there (pictured at the top of this page). It says it’s been so since the 1970s, so if you choose this beach, make sure you’re not going with someone who isn’t willing to take off their bathing suit. Long-time nudists who found this beach and kept it as one of their havens resent it being “invaded” by “textiles.”
How to Get to Antiparos' Nude Beach - From the port, keep walking to the right towards the Artemis and Kouros Village hotels (this is where you should stay if you want to spend some time at this beach). The beach is about 10 minutes from there, walking down the road towards the camping site.
See the Antiparos Guide.
The clear waters and peaceful natural landscape of the huge-but-hidden beach of Lageri make it one of the Greek islands’ best beaches, but don’t tell anyone. You’ll want to enjoy this paradise without the crowds, and, if you’re a naturist, before the textile crowds invade it. It still only attracts a few well-informed tourists, mostly gay men, but also an increasing number of young straight couples.
How to Get to Lageri Nude Beach, Paros - Lageri Beach is over a half hour by car from the port and Paros’ main town. From the town of Naoussa, it’s about 15 minutes. Naoussa is where most people choose to stay in Paros. A bus departs from there to the beach of Santa Maria and stops on the road close to Lageri (tell the driver you want to get off there). There is just one hotel within reasonable walking distance of this beach, the Surfing Beach Village Paros. Then there’s the Seven Santa Maria, but it’s located about 25 minutes up the road. In Naoussa, a good hotel just a short walk from the bus terminal (and with some wonderful views of the island) is Hotel Papadakis.
See the Paros Guide.
The island of Naxos has one of the longest beaches in the Greek islands, and a large part of it is mostly nude. That’s Plaka, a rather wild beach but within a very short walking distance of other more crowded beaches and beachfront hotels. This beach attracts people of all ages, including families, who like to sunbathe and swim nude.
A few kilometers south is the beach of Aliko, more secluded and with the shade of cedar trees. It’s often filled with nude couples.
How to Get to Plaka Nude Beach, Naxos - Plaka Beach is about 15 minutes by car from the port and Naxos’ main town. It’s strongly recommended that you stay at a hotel within walking distance instead, like the highly-rated Iria Beach Art Hotel, the Ampelos Resort Hotel, and the Medusa Beach Resort.
See the Naxos Guide.
