The resorts of Greece on the Aegean Sea will satisfy the needs of even the most discerning tourists. Here you will find everything you need for a quality vacation. Travelers can enjoy extensive excursion programs, bask in the sun on sandy shores, and swim to their heart’s content in the sea. The main task for vacationers is to choose the right resort.
Consider your own preferences. This way, the vacation will exceed all expectations. Get acquainted with the list of popular tourist spots. Each has unique features, and the presented information will help you navigate and choose the best Greek resort on the Aegean Sea.
Chania
The city is suitable for entertainment and beach vacations. Iconic landmarks are somewhat distant. However, significant natural and historical monuments can still be seen here. Take a walk around the city and get to know the old harbor, see the world’s oldest lighthouse, and admire the masterpiece of Muslim architecture – the Küçük Hasan Mosque.
Chania’s coastline is known as the kingdom of golden sand and the purest sea. Local beaches regularly receive the prestigious Blue Flag award.
If you are vacationing with children, pay attention to Agii Apostoli Beach. It is characterized by shallow waters. Kids love splashing in the gentle water and building sandcastles. Adults will also find things to do. The beach is equipped with sports grounds. Vacationers play volleyball, basketball, and tennis.
Nearby is Iguana Beach, which is more popular with adult vacationers. There are more waves here. Gourmets will love Chrissi Akti. There are many authentic restaurants around where you can try the most exquisite dishes.
Chania offers many entertainment options. Historical monuments are concentrated in the city. You can take walks and get to know the landmarks. Tourists often go beyond the resort. Neighboring villages impress with their colorful beauty and uniqueness. Street markets are special places. Agora, for example, is famous throughout the country. Here you can buy anything your heart desires while getting to know local traditions.
Tourists looking for entertainment are attracted to the promenade. Cozy restaurants and bars are located here. But the main fun starts in the evening when animators come out. Chania is more suitable for family vacations. The resort is famous for its calm atmosphere. If you are looking for noisy entertainment, consider other places in the country.
Heraklion
It is considered the main resort of Crete. The best time to visit is from June to September, when the weather is comfortable. The beaches are some distance from the city, requiring a bus or taxi ride. Nevertheless, Heraklion is famous as a beach resort.
The best areas are:
- Ammoudara: The closest beach, always crowded, equipped with everything needed.
- Karteros: Equipped for relaxation, with a gentle shore but waves in windy weather.
- Arina: High waves, not suitable for young children but great for youth, with the shore lined with bars and cafes.
Nature lovers head to wild beaches. Take time to explore the landmarks, such as Knossos Palace, the Venetian Fortress, and local museums.
Heraklion is a gourmet’s delight, with a cuisine distinct from other Greek cities.
Popular establishments include:
- Kastella
- Peskesi
- Erganos
Entertainment options depend on the visitor’s age. Children will enjoy the water park, attractions, and amusement park. There is also an aquarium that will interest both adults and children. Heraklion is a shopper’s paradise, with the best boutiques and affordable prices.
Nighttime is for noisy entertainment lovers, with bars, clubs, and discos opening up. Numerous festivals and events take place during the season, offering impressive shows.
Faliraki
Located on Rhodes, this small town is ideal for those who prefer a quiet vacation. But entertainment lovers won’t be bored either. Recently, night bars, clubs, restaurants, and cafes have been opening up here.
Faliraki is a young resort, developed according to modern standards. It has one of the best shopping centers in the country, a water park, and luxurious restaurants open around the clock. Lovers of unique landmarks will be thrilled by the astronomical café, the only observatory in Greece offering cosmic observations and delicious national cuisine.
The local water park is impressive, covering a vast area with numerous water attractions, shops, and children’s playgrounds. Don’t miss the thermal springs on the outskirts of the village, whose waters are considered healing.
Tourists will love the main beach, with its calm sea, lack of waves, lifeguards, and the administration’s thorough cleaning. For seclusion, head to Traounou, 7 km from the town, popular with divers for its beautiful algae and fish, perfect for memorable photos.
Anthony Quinn Bay, where “Zorba the Greek” was filmed, is always crowded and popular with divers. Nudists head to Mandomata, but beware of the rocky bottom and bring appropriate footwear.
For nightlife, Bar Street and Club Street offer music and fun all night long.
Ixia
An ideal location for active vacationers, with the sea perfect for water sports. Tourists come here for diving, surfing, fishing, and boating.
A constant breeze from the sea means you won’t find many families with children here.
The infrastructure is well-developed with numerous restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and discos. Besides the beach, vacationers enjoy horseback riding, golf clubs, and local landmarks. Ixia is known for its public beaches, equipped with all necessities and free to visit.
The sea warms up to +22 degrees, and the pebbly shore is best enjoyed from a sun lounger. Landmark enthusiasts visit the Palace of the Grand Masters, stroll the promenade, or explore the ancient stadium with its three Hellenistic temples.
Ialysos
From May to October, trade winds blow here, attracting divers, surfers, and windsurfers. Competitions are often held, and schools for water sports beginners are open. Horseback riding is a favorite activity, with many volleyball and sports courts available.
Adventurous visitors explore the mountains or hike the surroundings. Ialysos is popular with those combining leisure and business, offering facilities for meetings and negotiations.
The city boasts many ancient landmarks, including ancient temples, bas-reliefs, and rock art. Don’t miss a visit to Kamiros and Lindos, home to the Acropolis.
Women seeking motherhood visit Tsambika Hill, believed to grant fertility to visitors. The beaches range from sandy to pebbly, with a steep drop-off unsuitable for inexperienced swimmers and children.
Kiotari
Located on the southeast of Rhodes, Kiotari has gained popularity recently. In the 1990s, it was almost unknown to tourists. The beach is clean and well-maintained, with sand and some pebbles. All amenities for relaxation are available, including loungers, umbrellas, showers, and toilets. There are many small taverns and cafes for snacks.
The main attraction is Asklipio Fortress. Nearby Lindos offers excursion opportunities. Couples and newlyweds prefer this romantic, quiet, and peaceful place, also appealing to families with children.
Kos
Known for its greenery, Kos is ideal for nature lovers. The resort season starts in May, when the island is especially beautiful with lush greenery and flowers.
Administrative buildings and historical landmarks are in the northern part of Kos. Youthful revelers and those dancing until dawn will love Lambi, with its lively nightlife. Wind surfers stay in Psalidi, while those seeking peace head to Tigaki.
The southern part of the island also has many ancient landmarks, popularizing Kardamena for excursions. Agios Fokas attracts with its thermal springs.
The southern beaches are wild, offering seclusion and peace without amenities. Kos is also known for its cafes, pastry shops, bars, and restaurants, with gourmets claiming it serves the best coffee and pastries.
Kassandra
The peninsula boasts numerous resorts and is popular with all types of tourists. From here, you can see the legendary Mount Athos. Many ancient monuments are preserved on the peninsula, with fascinating legends best heard from guides.
Kassandra offers various activities:
- Water sports schools
- Karting, yachting, horseback riding, aqua aerobics
- Clubs and night discos
You can dive with an aqualung, visit thermal springs, shop for furs, or organize a day of children’s entertainment. Kassandra is considered a universal resort, appealing to everyone. Nightlife enthusiasts will love Kalithea, while history buffs should stay in Afitos. Pefkochori is known for its picturesque nature, attracting those seeking a special atmosphere. Nea Moudania is for business travelers and hosts the annual Sea Festival. Agia Paraskevi invites health enthusiasts, while Sani attracts luxury lovers, often hosting celebrities.
Sithonia
Perfect for budget vacations, with lower prices than other Greek resorts. It’s less crowded, beautiful, and interesting. The peninsula is steeped in myths, shared by local guides. An excursion is a must to complete your vacation.
Sithonia is part of Halkidiki, its “second finger.” Nikiti deserves special attention, called the gem of the resort for its picturesque location. Sithonia is a treasure for nature lovers, with many natural wonders.
The peninsula offers various activities, including water sports, exploring ancient ruins off the coast of Toroni, and jeep safaris to remote mountain villages.
For family vacations, Karidi is best with warm water, no waves, sandy shores, and a smooth bottom. Vourvourou is the most popular beach, crowded but well-equipped for comfort.
Fava is lush with greenery, ideal for those seeking seclusion. Sithonia has no shortage of beaches. Azapiko is crowded in August during the unique psychedelic music festival. Porto Koufo is best visited in early autumn, hosting the Tuna Festival in September, a must for gourmets.
Neo Marmaras attracts party-goers and shoppers, offering a good selection of furs at reasonable prices. Other resorts lack the same festive atmosphere.
Mykonos
A favorite of the bohemian crowd, Mykonos is crowded in peak season. If you seek tranquility, it’s not the place for you. It’s noisy and fun, with higher prices than other Greek resorts. Celebrities and the wealthy flock here.
Main landmarks include windmills and white buildings. Super Paradise Beach is the most popular, bustling with activity day and night. Stay here all day and night without getting bored.
For a quieter experience, head to Ftelia, a wild beach with breathtaking views but no amenities. Psarou is eco-friendly, often awarded the Blue Flag, with a diving school and calm waters, perfect for children.
Paranga is for those who want to sunbathe during the day and party in bars and discos at night. All tourists take photos with the local pelican, a symbol of Mykonos.
Thira (Santorini)
Thira is of historical significance, with landmarks worth seeing at least once. The island attracts visitors from other resorts, best explored with a tour group to see all the iconic sites.
Book a hotel room in advance, as Thira is crowded in peak season, often with no vacancies.
The eastern coast is quieter, ideal for families, with hotels and restaurants catering to young travelers. Many come here for weddings in white, old churches operating under Orthodox traditions. Diving enthusiasts will find suitable spots for their hobby.
Thira is dotted with vineyards, benefiting from volcanic soil, producing high-quality wine appreciated by connoisseurs. Party-goers should stay in the island’s capital, bustling with bars, clubs, and discos.
Thassos
Known as Greece’s greenest island, Thassos offers stunning views and clean beaches, perfect for nature lovers. Hippocrates claimed the island’s air is healing, attributed to its abundance of trees, with olive, pine, lime, and cedar groves creating an intoxicating atmosphere.
Landmarks are concentrated in the northern capital, including ancient temples, ruins, and rich museum collections.
Main resort areas include:
- Chrisi Akti
- Potamias
- Tripiti
- Glifada
- Limanaki
Chrisi Ammoudia and Chrisi Akti are ideal for families. Potamia offers camping spots, while Pefkari is surrounded by pines, perfect for health-focused vacations. Accommodation options suit all budgets, making Thassos accessible even with modest finances.
Skiathos
Perfect for beach vacations, Skiathos offers plenty of places to swim and sunbathe. It’s less crowded, ideal for those seeking quiet and peaceful relaxation.
Tourists can enjoy rich excursion programs and water activities. Standard amenities are available in every hotel, with well-equipped beaches.
Lalaria is the most famous beach, covered in white pebbles and looking very picturesque. Nearby natural attractions include the Dark and Azure Grottos and Kastro Rock. Local discos, bars, and restaurants offer entertainment. Shops have a rich assortment of goods. Skiathos is not for noisy party lovers but for those who prefer solitude or family time.
Euboea (Evia)
The resort area of Eretria is known for its healing water sources, rich in radon and hydrogen sulfide, used in spa treatments, making it especially popular among women who praise the cosmetic benefits.
Karystos in the southern part of the island is also popular, with bars and nightclubs for those who love to have fun. Edipsos is known for health treatments with its famous thermal springs, though prices are higher.
Chalkida is for comfort lovers, with elite hotels offering top-level service and a wealth of landmarks. Religious tourists visit the village of Prokopi, drawing thousands of pilgrims annually to the Church of St. John the Russian.
The rest of the island is mountainous, attracting hikers and climbers. Euboea is also known for vineyards, offering wine tours and tastings for tourists.
Greek resorts on the Aegean Sea offer a wide range of vacation options, catering to every traveler’s preferences. They are popular year-round, with something for everyone.