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Here’s a short video I filmed of the seafront at Arcaia Epidaurus, a coastal area within a short drive of the world-famous Epidaurus archaeological site. The seaside restaurant seen in the video is Mouria Taverna, which we visited for lunch after touring Epidaurus. The taverna, and its seafront, would be ideal places to cool off during Greece’s heat wave.

 

 

The seafront at Arcaia Epidaurus

 

Part of the long beachfront at Arcaia Epidaurus, which is situated just a short drive from Palea Epidaurus. The strand is a mix of pebbles, stones and sand, while the turquoise water is shallow and refreshingly cool.

 

Sea view from the beach at Arcaia Epidaurus

 

 Looking down the right side of the beach from Mouria Taverna

 

 Looking toward the left side of the bay, from the seaside terrace at Mouria taverna

 

 Sea and island views from the dock

 

Children playing on the beach

 

 

 I chilled out with an ice-cold bottle of Zeos Beer, a local brew from Argos, while enjoying the great views from our table at Mouria taverna. 

 

 

 

 

 

Beaches and swimming spots at Hydra

 

The popular swimming spot at Spilia (directly below the Spilia Beach Club and Cafe) is just a short stroll from the Hydra Town harbourfront 

 

Swimmers enjoying the sea at Spilia beach

 

Sunbathers and swimmers at Spilia beach

 

Another view of Spilia beach

 

Hydronetta is another popular spot for swimming and sunbathing. It’s located just a bit farther along the coast from Spilia.

 

A woman swims in the deep blue water off Hydronetta beach

 

Avlaki beach is less than a 10-minute walk from Spilia

 

Avlaki has several concrete platforms on which people can sunbathe

 

There’s a small strand of pebbles, stones and sand in the cove

 

Avlaki beach viewed from a different vantage point

 

Kamini beach is a short walk past Kamini village and harbour

 

Luxurious loungers at Castello beach bar and restaurant at Kamini beach

 

Another view of Kamini beach and the Castello beach club, which occupies a fort-like building from the 18th Century

 

Vlychos beach is situated more than a 20-minute walk along the coast from Hydra Town

 

Another pebble and sand strip, Vlychos beach is organized with sunbeds, cafes and tavernas 

 

Sea view of Vlychos beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swimming spots at Monemvasia

 

It may not look like a “beach,” but there is good swimming off the rocky sliver of coastline below the southern wall of the Monemvasia castle. A passageway leads from the castle to the seafront.

 

The swimming spot is called Portelo Beach, and part of it is seen here in a photo from the website for the Municipality of Monemvasia

 

Handrails and steps make it easy to enter the sea from the platform outside the castle wall

 

The water is shallow for several meters off the coast, but the seabed consists of rocks and boulders, many of which are covered with slippery marine vegetation

 

Snorkelers in the water below the castle wall

 

One of two swimming spots located outside the castle, just a short walk from the entrance gate to the fortress town

 

The beach strip at Gefira, seen in a photo I shot from the causeway that links the town to the Monemvasia castle

 

The strand consists of grey and white stones and pebbles

 

Views across the bay from Gefira beach

 

Cafe del Sol has tables right beside the beach. We stopped here to have a drink and cool off in the shade after walking around Gefira.

 

Cafe del Sol has excellent views of Monemvasia

 

 

 

 

 Beaches at and near Tolo

   

This is a short clip of the long beach at Tolo. The first three scenes were shot on and near the Psili Ammos beach section of the seafront, while the last segment shows part of the beach near the opposite end of the resort area.

 

 

The northern end of Psili Ammos beach at Tolo

 

Looking down on the wide swath of golden sand at Psili Ammos beach

 

Psili Ammos is the wide, northernmost section of beach along the Tolo seafront

 

 

Swimmers playing in the waves on a windy afternoon at Psili Ammos

 

The beach starts to narrow near the main resort section of the Tolo seafront

 

The water at Tolo beach is shallow and clear — ideal for children

 

Beachfront hotels and tavernas offer lounge chairs for their guests

 

Some of the loungers let you cool your heels in the sea while you soak up the sunshine

 

Looking to the north down the long stretch of light brown sand

 

Gorilla’s Bar is one of numerous cafes and bars along the beachfront. It’s also the noisiest when the DJ cranks up the music.

 

There are many tavernas along the beach, including one that sets up tables under umbrellas on one of the piers

 

We had a lunch at Taverna To Steki, where we sat at a table right on the sand. I cooled off with a frosty bottle of FIX beer.

 

Ancient Asini is a small beach in a scenic cove a 10-minute walk from Tolo beach. It’s named after the Ancient Asini archaeological site on the rocky peninsula next to the beach.

 

There are about a dozen umbrellas and lounge chairs on the stone, pebble and sand beach

 

The left side of Ancient Asini beach

 

Beach view across Tolo bay

 

View of the beach from a hill on the Ancient Asini archaeological site

 

There is a taverna right next to the beach, behind the sunbeds, while steps lead uphill from the shore to the multi-level Red Rock Cafe-bar, where we stopped for a drink. The Red Rock terraces offer excellent views of the beach and bay.

 

A sunbather has a section of the beach all to herself

 

There are two beaches on the north side of the Ancient Asini peninsula. Kastraki is the section of beach directly in front of the car park area, while Plaka is the long strip that extends far into the distance

 

Sunbathers and swimmers at Kastraki beach

 

A concrete pier juts into the sea from the beach, while flat slabs of rock separate shallower swimming areas from the deeper sea beyond

 

A boat anchored between the beach and rock slabs in the sea

 

A view of Kastraki from the nearby car park area

 

The south side of the beach is nestled against the rocky peninsula on top of which sits the historic site of Ancient Asini

 

A man walks along the strand. It’s hard to tell exactly where Kastraki ends and Plaka beach begins — they appear to be just one very long beach.

 

Plaka is nearly 2 kilometers long, and is very wide in most parts 

 

Two pink towels on a vacant stretch of sand near the middle of Plaka beach. The beach is so big and so wide, it’s easy to find a quiet spot to relax.

 

The north end of the beach, closer to Drepano, is organized with umbrellas, lounge chairs and drink service from the nearby beach bars. Plaka is also called Drepano beach because of its proximity to the village.

 

View from the far northern end of Plaka beach

 

Plaka is popular with families, many of whom stay at the campground facilities behind the beach

 

Looking out to sea from Plaka beach

 

Plaka viewed from a hilltop vantage point at the Ancient Asini archaeological site

 

 

Beaches and swimming spots near Nafplio

 

This seaside swimming pool is a short walk from Kolokotronis Park on the Nafplio seafront. You’ll pass by the pool if you take a walk along the coastal promenade from Nafplio to Arvanitia beach.

 

Right beside the pool is a wide shallow area where some people like to swim. Handrails and steps provide easy access to the water from the seaside walkway.

 

We saw locals and a few tourists jumping into the sea from various points on the rocky shore below the Arvanitia Promenade

 

The rocky coast beside the walkway is also popular for sunbathing. Concrete steps have been built in several places to provide access to the seashore from the promenade.

 

The promenade leads to Arvanitia beach, where there is a small strand of pebbles and stones. The beach is organized with changing rooms, showers, sunbeds and at least two beach bars and restaurants.

 

Sea view from Arvanitia beach

 

Looking down on Arvanitia beach from the Acronauplia Castle

 

An overhead view of swimmers enjoying the turquoise water at Arvanitia

 

From Arvanitia beach you can follow a wide footpath that winds along the coast to additional swimming spots. The first one you will reach is Neraki beach (above), which actually is a pair of picturesque coves.

 

Evergreens provide some shade on parts of Neraki beach

 

Neraki appears to be most popular with locals — we rarely heard people here speaking languages other than Greek

 

A side view showing both of the coves at Neraki beach

 

There’s another quiet cove just a 5-minute walk past Neraki beach

 

This is a view of the cove from another vantage point along the pathway

 

The pathway eventually winds up at Karathona beach, a 2-kilometer-long arc of golden sand and pebbles 

 

The northern end of Karathona beach is the quietest and least busy part of the beach, a 5-minute walk from the nearest beach bar

 

The sand and water at the northern end of the beach aren’t as nice as farther along the shore, which likely explains why this area isn’t busier

 

Karathona is extremely wide in many places, providing plenty of room for people to set up their towels and umbrellas

 

 

Several sections of beach have been organized with lounge chairs and umbrellas. Food and beverages are available from tavernas and bars at each of the organized areas.

 

One of the organized sections of Karathona beach. The sand and water are nicest at the organized areas, so these get busy quickly.

 

View toward another organized area of the beach

 

Sea view from the northern end of Karathona beach

 

Karathona was generally quiet and almost empty when we visited on weekdays, but the place was completely different on weekends when hundreds of local residents and tourists arrived to enjoy a day of sun and sea

 

Most of the organized areas are popular with families, while one of the sunbed areas plays loud music and tends to draw a crowd of trendy and good-looking young adults 

 

If you need to escape the sun, you can easily find shade under the rows of trees that extend the full length of the beach

 

If you drive to Karathona, you can park either along the beach road or in one of the many parking lots next to the road

 

A view of the southern end of Karathona beach

 

This is a short clip showing the southernmost secton of Karathona

 

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