Folegandros island has some excellent beaches. Most are hard to reach, so they have a refreshing, isolated feel to them. Boats from Karavostasi bring enough day-trippers to each, hikers ensure you will not be alone. But you will be secluded coves among sparse crowds, and among naturists in certain spots.
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Photo Overview
Agios Nikolaos beach panorama. Folegandros, Greece.
Katergo beach, Folegandros island, Greece.
On the way to Agios Nikolaos beach you will pass Galifos beach. Folegandros, Greece.
Agios Nikolaos Beach
- Name: Agios Nikolaos beach (Άγιος Νικόλαος)
- Location: Folegandros island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 4/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 5/5
- Beach Berm: Sand
- Seafloor: Sand and rock
- Access: You can only access Agios Nikolaos beach by boat from Angali or Karavostasi. The last boat for the return trip leaves at 7 pm. You may also hike to it. The footpath is easy, and it takes about 20 minutes to get there. You pick up the path from Angali.
- Read more about hiking to Agios Nikolaos beach
- Amenities: Despite its isolation, Agios Nikolaos features a beach restaurant with cold water and beverages. Nearby, an old building advertises rooms with no electricity.
Notes: Agios Nikolaos is the best known and highly rated beach of Folegandros.
It is indeed a beautiful beach with crystal waters and soft sand. Its purported seclusion makes it a favorite with naturists. In reality, it’s a busy beach with a mixed textile/naturist crowd.
The little whitewashed chapel of Ag. Nikolaos overlooking the beach adds another Greek touch to the scenery.
The only reason we did not rate Agios Nikolaos beach with our highest rating (5/5) is because the beach restaurant is too close to the beach, and its electrical generator fills the atmosphere with it’s annoying noise.
Angkali Beach
- Name: Angali beach (Αγκάλι)
- Also transliterated as: Agali
- Location: Folegandros island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 3/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 4/5
- Beach Berm: Sand
- Seafloor: Large boulders and rocks
- Access: A cement road will bring you right to the tiny settlement that hugs the beach. The bus from Chora does not go all the way down to the beach, so expect a bit of walking down (and later uphill) quite a distance to it. If you drive, you will be able to get close to the beach, but parking and turning around can be tight on busy days.
- Amenities: You will find a couple of hotels and decent restaurants right on the beach. All are within walking distance from the sand.
- Notes: Angali is a nice little beach, but most visitors use it as a starting point to get to the nearby Galifos and Agios Nikolaos beaches, which are both superior.
Ambeli Beach
- Name: Ambeli beach (Αμπέλι)
- Location: Folegandros island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Notes: Ambeli beach is a tiny patch of sand in a tiny cove at the northwest coast. It’s a nice place to dip after the hike there.
Agios Georgios Beach
- Name: Agios Georgios beach (Άγιος Γεώργιος)
- Location: Folegandros island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Notes: Agios Georgios beach is on the north coast of Folegandros. As such, it’s susceptible to the frequent northern winds in the summer. That makes it not a comfortable place to swim during windy days. Access to it is through a very difficult, steep, and long dirt road.
Chochilidia Beach
- Name: Chochlidia beach (Χοχλίδια)
- Also transliterated as: Fyra
- Location: Folegandros island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 2/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 2/5
- Beach Berm: Sand and shingle
- Seafloor: shingle and rocks
- Access: The beach is right in the Karavostasi harbor, so it’s lined with plenty of tavernas and shops.
- Notes: Chochlidia beach is a short walk from the peer where the ferries dock. So, it’s an excellent place to sit for some food, a beverage, or a swim as you are watching the peer for the ferry to arrive.
Fira Beach
- Name: Fira beach (Φυρά)
- Also transliterated as: Fyra
- Location: Folegandros island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Beach Berm: Shingle and large rocks and pebbles
- Seafloor: Rocks
- Access: You can reach Fira beach by boat, or on foot through a goat path you can pick up from Stavros (40 min), or Kafkares (35 min), or from Angali (10 min).
- Notes: Fira beach is another isolated little cove to the southeast of Angali. It does take a bit of hiking to get there but most visitors opt to do the walking toward the superior beaches to the northwest: Galifos and Agios Nikolaos.
Galifos Beach
- Name: Galifos beach (Γαλίφος)
- Location: Folegandros island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 4/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 5/5
- Beach Berm: Sand and shingle
- Seafloor: shingle and rocks
- Access: You can get to Galifos beach by boat, or you may opt to hike 10 minutes there from Angali. The hike is fairly easy, and it’s the same one that leads to Agios Nikolaos beach a bit farther up the coast.
- Amenities: There is a small hotel there that does not have electricity. But you will be wise to bring your own water for the day. The small settlement of Angali is only 10 minutes away by foot. There are several restaurants and hotels there.
- Notes: Galifos beach is a beautiful little cove. It’s small, so it feels cozy. Even though there is a sign that forbids nudism, the beach crowd is mixed between naturists and “textiles”. The water is crystal clear, and the only drawback is that its’ right under the footpath that brings a constant stream of hikers through, most heading for Agios Nikolaos beach.
Katergo Beach
Katergo beach, Folegandros island, Greece.
Katergo beach is one of the best in Folegandros island, Greece.
- Name: Katergo beach (Κάτεργο)
- Location: Folegandros island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 5/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 5/5
- Beach Berm: Shingle
- Seafloor: Shingle and rocks
- Access: You can get to the beach by boat from Karavostasi. There are several boats to Katergo each day, and the departure hours are listed at the harbor. There are two footpaths to reach Katergo beach. One starts at Livadi camping, and it’s the longest and most dificult one (45 min). The second footpath is easier. It starts in the small settlement of Livadi inland. From there it’s about 30 minutes brisk walk to Katergo.
- Read more about hiking to Katergo beach
- Amenities: There are no amenities in Katergo beach, so bring your own water and food when you visit.
- Notes: Katergo beach is our favorite one in Folegandros. It is nicely isolated, quiet, with crystal clear waters, and it’s large enough to accommodate large crowds. The landscape all around is rugged and the little islet in the little of the cove adds another playful element to the experience.
Latinaki Beach
- Name: Latinaki beach (Λατινάκι)
- Location: Folegandros island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 2/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 3/5
- Beach Berm: shingle
- Seafloor: Shingle and rocks
- Access: A rural road runs parallel to Latinaki.
- Amenities: there is not much within walking distance.
- Notes: Latinaki is a tiny sand cove halfway between Karavostasi and Livadi campground. It’s quiet, but does not offer much reason to travel from afar to swim there. If you are in the area though, it’s not a bad place to have a swim.
Livadaki Beach
- Name: Livadaki beach (Λιβαδάκι)
- Location: Folegandros island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 4/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 4/5
- Beach Berm: Shingle
- Seafloor: Shingle and rocks
- Access: There is no road to Livadaki beach. You can get there by boat from Angali or Karavostasi or on foot. Walking through the rugged mountains adds to the overall experience, so if you are in descent shape, you can hike 40-minutes on the goat path from Pano Meria. The hike is not easy (we’d say it’s a medium difficulty path) but not too hard either. The hike there is all downhill. Don’t forget to save some energy and water because the return is all uphill.
- Read more about hiking to Livadaki beach
- Amenities: Livadaki is an isolated cove, so there are no amenities in the vicinity. The nearest civilization is a 40-minute hike to Pano Meria, so when you go, bring along all the water and food you will need for the day.
Notes: Livadaki is a delightful little cove with a very deep shingle berm and clear waters.
Given its isolation don’t be surprised to find naturists enjoying the sun there. Some swimmers prefer to find a quieter spot on the rocks at the west flank.
The hiking path continues to the Aspropounta lighthouse and from there to either Ano Meria or Agios Nikolaos beach and Angali beyond that.
The hiking path to the lighthouse and beyond is a bit more challenging and longer than the one we recommend.
Livadi Beach
- Name: Livadi beach (Λιβάδι)
- Location: Folegandros island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 2/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 3/5
- Beach Berm: Sand and shingle
- Seafloor: Shingle and rocks
- Access: A nice rural, paved road will bring you close to the beach. There is plenty of parking.
- Amenities: Campground Livadi is within walking distance but there is not much else around the area. Despite the names sounding similar, Livadi and Livadaki beaches are not related. One is at the southeast end, and the latter is at the northwest coast of Folegandros.
Pountaki Beach
- Name: Pountaki beach (Πουντάκι)
- Location: Folegandros island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 1/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 3/5
- Beach Berm: Rocks, shingle, and sand in a few spots
- Seafloor: Shingle and rocks
- Access: The paved rural road that leads to Livadi campground runs parallel to the beach.
- Amenities: There is nothing within walking distance, so bring our own water, food, and shade for the swim.
- Notes: Pountaki is signposted from the main road. It’s a narrow strip of shingle, sand, and rocks that gets completely covered by the surf when the winds are strong.
Vardia Beach
- Name: Vardia beach (Βάρδια)
- Location: Folegandros island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 3/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 3/5
- Beach Berm: Sand, shingle, and rocks
- Seafloor: Sand, shingle, and rocks
- Access: The beach is right over the hill from Karavostasi, so it’s easy to get to it. The road will bring you to the top of the cliff, and from there you walk down a set of stairs will bring you to the beach.
- Amenities: Karavostasi town is attached to Vardia beach so you will find plenty of hotels, restaurants, shops, and cafes there. You do have to climb up the steps to get to town.
- Notes: Vardia is the second beach that’s attached to Karavostasi (Chochlidia is the other one). It’s a nice place to swim if you are a staying in town.