Best beach holidays in Greece

Head bang at Paradise Beach, Mykonos

Pitching Mykonos into the same league as Ibiza is Paradise beach, Greece’s undisputed number one seaside clubbing venue. The once low-key nudist beach now hosts a writhing, sweaty, shouty party that lasts all summer, without stopping. To escape the brain-shredding crowds to some relative privacy, party at clifftop club Cavo Paradiso, which boasts some of the biggest DJ lineups in the world (we hear Axwell’s a regular).

Flip through the gallery for more 

Celeb-spot at the Athenian Riviera

A short drive from Glyfáda, also known as the Beverley Hills of Greece, almost 60 km of coastline dotted with lofty mountains, golden beaches and seaside resorts stretch out prettily. And you might just run into the Jolie-Pitt brood (try not to gawp). Check into the Grand Resort Lagonissi’s Royal Villa which comes with a heated outdoor pool and private masseurs. It costs about Rs 32,00,000 per night, but if that means you get to watch Leo DiCaprio emerge from a warm swim, isn't that true wealth?

Flip through the gallery for more 

Make turtle friends at Zante beach, Zakynthos

Every year in June, thousands of loggerhead turtles come ashore to bury their eggs and nest for the season. Volunteer with the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece which documents the endangered species. Or kick back on a Catamaran and observe them in their natural habitat in The Bay of Laganas. 

Flip through the gallery for more 

Go Insta-insane at Red Beach, Santorini

You won't be able to put your smartphone away at this tiny and oft-crowded beach whose crystal blue waters lap up against white sand and hulking red lava rocks. Hike to the top of the cliff for a sweeping view of the multicoloured scenery or take a boat to the nearby White beach for a little more privacy. Remember to bring a picnic basket; they have no food or water vendors.

Flip through the gallery for more 

Dive with seabirds in Drios, Paros

The small fishing village on the east coast of Paros is surrounded by beaches with some of the richest Aegean underwater terrain. Dive off the Golden beach coast for a peek at animals in their natural habitat (possible sightings include seabirds plunging in for fish or morays scouting for octopus); explore underwater caves (gigantic karstic formations that glow an eerie blue) or go on a day trip to snorkel over a sunken WWII German airplane. We recommend the Aegean Diving College for beginner dives and pro-lessons. 

Flip through the gallery for more 

Take a midnight swim at Sarakiniko beach, Milos

The most photographed landscape in the Aegean Sea, Sarakiniko’s bone-white volcanic rocks, shaped by strong winds and emerald waves, emulate the surface of the moon. The secluded location is the private beach you didn't pay for. Skinny dipping is an obligation.  

Flip through the gallery for more 

Get to know Poseidon at Ahata beach, Karpathos

Roam the Greek God of the Sea's stomping ground, from the cave of stalactites and stalagmites in Ahata and the Saint John Church in Vourgounta, to the Cave Of Poseidon in Pigadia. From here, take a boat to the charming village of Diafani and head up to Olymbos, a mountaintop hamlet that appears stuck in a time warp. The locals still wear embroidered robes and speak an ancient Greek dialect.

You may also want to read: France's best château stays