Greece ranks twice on a list of the best “secret beaches” in Europe featured in the latest edition of Travel + Leisure, a top travel magazine.
As the country has become synonymous with majestic landscapes, sun-soaked stretches of sand, and deep-blue, pristine seas, it is no surprise that Greek beaches make up two of the ten beaches included in the list.
Psili Ammos Beach in Patmos
Following beaches in Italy, Portugal, and Spain, the beach of Psili Ammos on the Greek island of Patmos ranks fourth of all in the world.
Psili Ammos, or “Fine Sand,” Beach, known for its tree-lined, golden sands and clear, turquoise waters, is a difficult half-hour walk — or easy forty-minute boat ride — from the island’s main port of Skala.
Nestled between two mountains, the pristine beach is the perfect setting for a relaxed day by the water for those who search out secluded spots away from the crowds.
The island of Patmos itself is known for not only its stunning natural landscape, but also its rich historic and religious significance.
Patmos is known of course worldwide as the “Jerusalem of the Aegean” or the “Island of the Apocalypse,” since it is there that the Apostle John, who found refuge on the island after exile, wrote the Book of Revelation in the 1st century AD.
Due to its religious significance, the island is full of centuries-old monasteries, churches, and sacred sites.
Aretes Beach in Chalkidiki, northern Greece ranks ninth
The second Greek beach on the list of secret vacation spots is Aretes, found in Chalkidiki in northern Greece, which ranks ninth on the list.
With a thick, verdant forest situated behind the sandy beach and deep, blue-green waters, Aretes in Chalkidki makes for a dramatic scene.
Located in Chalkidiki, northern Greece’s beloved vacation spot full of stunning beaches and charming villages, Aretes is a favorite of those who want to get away from more popular, crowded beaches in the area.
Cyprus is also featured among Europe’s top secluded beaches, with the stunning Latsi beach sitting at the sixth spot.
The full list of the Top Ten “Secret” Beaches:
San Giovanni di Sinis, in Sardinia, Italy
Praia da Tavira Island, in the Algarve, Portugal
Sa Riera, in Costa Brava, Spain
Psili Ammos, in Patmos, Greece
Argèles-sur-Mer, in Languedoc, France
Latsi, in Polis, Cyprus
Cala Saladeta, in Ibiza, Spain
Sveti Jakov, in Dubrovnik, Croatia
Aretes, in Chalkidiki, Greece
Limeuil, in the Dordogne, France
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