Best Beaches in Greece in May

We rank the 36 beaches to visit in Greece in May. Balos Lagoon (Greece) comes first with 4.8 / 5, followed by Egremni Beach, Elafonissi Beach.

The sea reaches about 24 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from May to October. 20 of the 36 have easy access, and 14 are hidden gems.

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1Balos Lagoon

Crete, Greece · 4.8 / 5 · Moderate access · about 25 °C

A shallow lagoon of pale pink sand and impossible blues at the tip of the Gramvousa peninsula.

2Egremni Beach

Lefkada, Ionian Islands, Greece · 4.8 / 5 · Challenging access · about 23 °C

A long sweep of pale sand and vivid turquoise water below white limestone cliffs on the west coast of Lefkada.

3Elafonissi Beach

Crete, Greece · 4.8 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

A rare pink-sand lagoon at the southwestern tip of Crete, where shallow crystal-clear waters meet rose-tinted sands.

4Voidokilia Beach

Pylos, Messinia, Greece · 4.8 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A near perfect omega shaped bay of fine sand on the Messinian coast, with calm shallow water and the Gialova lagoon wildlife area just behind it.

5Falassarna Beach

Chania, Crete, Greece · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A long, wide beach of pale sand and clear shallow water on the far west coast of Crete, known for its sunsets.

6Porto Timoni

Afionas, Corfu · 4.7 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

Two back-to-back coves on the north-west coast of Corfu, separated by a narrow strip of land.

7Sarakiniko

Milos, Greece · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A lunar shoreline of smooth white volcanic rock sculpted by wind and sea, with deep clear water for swimming from the rocks.

8Kavourotrypes Beach

Sithonia, Halkidiki · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A string of small coves on the east coast of Sithonia, also known as Orange Beach.

9Mylos Beach

Agios Nikitas, Lefkada · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A wild, mostly pebbly beach south of Agios Nikitas, framed by steep green hills and bright blue water.

10Preveli Beach

Rethymno, Crete, Greece · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 23 °C

A cove of sand and pebbles where a river meets the sea, below steep cliffs on the south coast of Crete.

11Seitan Limani

Akrotiri, Chania, Crete, Greece · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 23 °C

A tiny sandy inlet squeezed between steep rock walls on the Akrotiri peninsula, with deep turquoise water.

12Agios Sostis Beach

Mykonos · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A quiet sandy beach on the north coast of Mykonos, far from the busy clubs of the south.

13Dafnoudi Beach

Fiskardo area, Kefalonia · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A small, sheltered pebble cove on the north tip of Kefalonia near Fiskardo, with calm turquoise water and a pine forest behind it.

14Gidaki Beach

Ithaca, Ionian Islands · 4.5 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

A remote pebble cove on the east coast of Ithaca, backed by pale cliffs and clear blue water.

15Kalamitsi Beach

Kalamitsi, Lefkada · 4.5 / 5 · Challenging access · about 23 °C

A string of pebble coves on the west coast of Lefkada below the village of Kalamitsi, with clear water under steep cliffs.

16Matala Beach

Matala, Heraklion, Crete · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A curved sandy bay on the south coast of Crete, overlooked by a sandstone cliff riddled with ancient caves that give the beach its unmistakable look.

17Mikri Vigla Beach

Mikri Vigla, Naxos · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

Long, pale beaches on the south-west coast of Naxos, split into two bays by a small rocky headland.

18Paleokastritsa Beach

Paleokastritsa, Corfu, Greece · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A cluster of small coves on the north-west coast of Corfu, backed by green hills and cliffs.

19Red Beach Santorini

Akrotiri, Santorini · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A pebble beach on the south coast of Santorini near Akrotiri, set below tall red volcanic cliffs with deep blue water.

20Vai Beach

Sitia, Crete, Greece · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A sandy bay backed by a large natural palm grove on the far east coast of Crete.

21Agiofili Beach

Vasiliki, Lefkada, Greece · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A beach about 2 km from Vasiliki on the south of Lefkada, with clear water and a sandy shore below dry hills.

22Anthony Quinn Bay

Rhodes, Dodecanese · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A small, sheltered bay of clear turquoise water enclosed by pine-covered rocks near Faliraki on Rhodes.

23Damnoni Beach

Crete · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A sandy bay on the south coast of Crete, with mountains behind and clear water in front.

24Kedrodasos Beach

Chania, Crete · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A quiet stretch of pale sand and clear water on the south-west coast of Crete, a short distance from Elafonisi.

25Lindos Beach

Rhodes · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A sheltered curved bay beside Lindos on Rhodes, with rows of sunbeds along the sand and calm turquoise water.

26Plakias Beach

Plakias, Rethymno, Crete, Greece · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A long sandy beach of about 1.

27Sougia Beach, Crete

Sougia, Chania, Crete · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

Sougia is a small village on the south-west coast of Crete with a long pebble beach in front of its tavernas.

28Triopetra Beach

Rethymno, South Crete · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A long, quiet beach of sand and fine pebbles on the south coast of Crete, named for the three rock formations standing in the water.

29Kalafatis Beach

Kalafatis, Mykonos · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A long golden bay on the east coast of Mykonos, with a more relaxed feel than the famous party beaches.

30Marathi Beach

Kato Marathi, Chania, Crete · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A sandy bay beach near Chania in western Crete with clear water, rows of umbrellas and sunbeds in season, and a tree-lined backdrop.

31Metalia Beach

Thassos island · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A sandy beach on the island of Thassos in northern Greece, with clear water and trees behind the sand.

32Paradise Beach

Mykonos, Cyclades · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A long sandy bay on the south coast of Mykonos, known for its beach clubs and lively atmosphere from morning to night.

33Super Paradise Beach

Plintri, Mykonos · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

A sandy cove on the south coast of Mykonos, known for its beach clubs and lively atmosphere.

34Kalamaki Beach

Laganas Bay, Zakynthos · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

A long stretch of golden sand on Laganas Bay and part of the protected loggerhead nesting area.

35Kamari Beach

Kamari, Santorini, Cyclades, Greece · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A long beach of dark volcanic sand and pebbles on the east coast of Santorini, backed by a seafront strip of hotels, cafes and tavernas.

36Tsilivi Beach

Zakynthos, Ionian Islands · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A long sandy beach north of Zakynthos Town with gently shelving, warm water and a lively strip of beach bars and tavernas.

Quick comparison

How we picked these beaches

Included when the beach usual swimming season covers the month, then ranked by editorial score. See how we rate beaches for the full method.

Frequently asked questions

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• Unspoiled Beaches Without Sunbeds in Greece
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• Best Pebble Beaches in Greece
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