Swimming in Greece

No matter what you are going to Greece for, you should make a point of visiting the beach every day. The Greek coast is filled with spectacular beaches that are some of the cleanest in Europe. In fact, the sea and the sun are one of the major reasons so many visitors choose Greece over other destinations. The sand varies in its quality and quantity from place to place as is the organization of the beaches.

There are many organized beaches that usually cost anywhere from €3 to €12 per person. Prices may be different for weekends. Many organized beaches, for the entry price offer fresh water showers, changing cabins, umbrellas, toilets, bars restaurants and life guards.

Some organized beaches do not include much with the entry fee, and charge extra for sun beds, parasols, etc. Some beaches don't allow visitors to bring their own food and drinks, so before you head out, make sure you know what you will be paying for, and what's included.

Most beaches are of the "swim at your own risk" variety, and if you ask the locals at your location they would be happy to point you towards the best waters. Some of the organized beaches have lifeguards posted for certain hours of the day during the high season. My experience has been that they are not very vigilant watching for distressed swimmers, nor do they man their post continuously and without interruption, so don't let your guard down.

The organized beaches that require an entry fee are usually located around major cities, and especially around Athens. The rest of Greece however is filled with wonderful beaches and coves that are free of charge for everyone. The most popular beaches have parasols and sun beds already set for bathers. A typical set-up includes one large parasol with two sun beds that can be rented together for anywhere between 4 and 7 euro. Bathers just choose their spot, and simply sit under one umbrella. Sooner or later the caretaker comes for payment.

Many bathers bring their own parasols to the beach (you can buy one for about 15 euro), especially to more isolated beaches where there is no protection from the sun.

The sun can be relentless between 12 noon and 4 in the afternoon, so the best time to swim anywhere in Greece is between 9-11 AM and 4-8 PM. The sea is usually very calm in the morning hours, and as a rule the afternoon breeze brings some waves of varying sizes and intensity.

You should use sunscreen because there is nothing worse than getting a nasty sunburn on the first day of you vacation, rendering yourself out of any seaside activities until you leave. Sunscreen is in demand and therefore expensive during the summer months (more about prices in Greece) so it would be wise to budget for it, or bring some with you if you live in a not-so-sunny area.

Topless swimming and sunbathing is a wide spread activity and is the norm on the beaches of Greece. Most beaches in Greece are "topless" with the exception of beaches near or inside villages and small towns. Swimming in the nude is officially not allowed in Greece except on few designated beaches. Unofficially, nude swimming is a common activity in Greece. One has only to settle on a secluded beach away from populated areas something which is not very hard to find in Greece.

Overall, swimming in the Greek waters is an experience not to be missed, and most vacationers make a point of visiting the beach for at least a few hours each day. The beaches are less crowded in the morning before 11:00 AM, and then right before sunset. Surprisingly enough, in our experience the beaches become very busy when the sun is the strongest between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

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Also see:

Best Beaches in Greece

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Greece

Beaches of Greece: A comprehensive guide includes Greek beach reports, rating, and pictures.