The most beautiful beaches on Thassos: from white marble beaches to golden Golden Beach and hidden coves below the monastery. Choose a beach according to what you want from a day by the sea.
Thassos is the green jewel of the Aegean Sea, and its beaches are among the most beautiful in Greece. Whether you long for golden sand, turquoise water, water sports or quiet coves hidden among the pines, the island has it all – you just have to choose.
I have ordered the beaches around the coast clockwise from Limenas. For each one you will find how to get there, what to expect and where you can stay nearby. If you are choosing a resort first, take a look at the overview of resorts on Thassos.
You can also reach the beaches by bus; you will find the timetables on the island’s official website (in Greek).
Unique beaches of white marble shingle that gives the water an almost Caribbean shade. Saliara (Marble Beach 1) is busier – in high season there is music, and around you, you can see the marble quarries. A little further on, in the next cove, lies Porto Vathy (Marble Beach 2) – a little quieter, because most tourists stop at the first beach.
The marble beaches are not part of a resort. They are very close to the capital, Limenas, and you get there through the Makryammos area.
Marble shingle, dazzling turquoise water. Sunbeds for a fee or with an order.
Watch out on the way: the only way to the beaches is a long dirt road, which only vehicles with an off-road permit may use – a 4×4 or a quad bike from a hire company that expressly allows driving on dirt roads. An ordinary road car is not allowed here – you risk a fine and losing your insurance. On foot, the road is too long in the summer heat. Drive slowly – you will often meet a herd of goats.
a smaller hotel by the port in Limenas, from where it is only a short drive to the marble beaches.
a design hotel with a pool in the capital, a good base for trips to the marble beaches.
The island’s most popular beach, with fine golden sand, a gradual entry into the sea and a wonderful view of the mountains and the highest peak, Ipsarion. Ideal for families with children. You will find sunbeds, water sports and restaurants.
The beach is lined by the resort of Skala Potamia with a wide choice of accommodation – I write more about it in the article on resorts on Thassos.
A long sandy beach, a gradual entry into the sea, facilities all along it. Sunbeds for a fee or with a drink. Accessible by ordinary car.
a family resort right on Golden Beach with two pools and an ultra all-inclusive programme.
quiet studios and apartments with a kitchenette; you can walk to the beach in a few minutes.
modern suites for lovers of comfort in Skala Potamia.
a stylish complex with several pools and a spa in Skala Potamia.
A picturesque cove with white sand and turquoise water, often with gentle waves. It is not part of any resort – it is a beach in the middle of the forest, closest to the small, quiet resort of Kinira. From the beach there is a beautiful view of the islet of the same name, and for me it is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
There is a beach bar and snacks. One side of the beach is unorganised, so you can spread out your own blanket or beach tent here. The beach is partly nudist.
White sand, often gentle waves. Sunbeds for a fee or with a drink.
Watch out on the way: with an ordinary car, park by the main road and walk a short way down the hill to the beach. Only vehicles with an off-road permit may use the dusty track all the way down to the beach.
smaller hotels, studios and apartments in quiet Kinira, a short distance from Paradise Beach.
The beach lies right by the quiet resort of Kinira, ideal for those looking for an authentic atmosphere, rest and privacy. It is partly sandy, partly pebbly, with a view of the islet of Kinira. The sea here is calm and clean, ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
Nearby you will find several family guesthouses, apartments and traditional tavernas with home cooking.
Sand and pebbles, a calm sea. The beach is unorganised – bring a blanket or a beach tent. Accessible by ordinary car.
smaller hotels, studios and apartments in quiet Kinira, a short distance from Paradise Beach.
Aliki is not just a beautiful cove with white sand but a perfect harmony of nature and history in one place. Before you head to the beach or a taverna, you can look round the ruins of temples, Christian basilicas and an ancient marble quarry.
Aliki is not part of a resort – it is a paradise of its own. I highly recommend a visit, just expect higher prices. Tip: the excellent taverna Beautiful Alice is right in the cove and also serves on the beach.
White sand, a sheltered cove. Sunbeds for a fee or with an order of a certain value. Accessible by ordinary car, parking by the main road.
a hotel complex on a hill with views of the cliffs and the Monastery of the Archangel Michael, a short drive from Aliki.
Aeolis’s sister hotel in the same complex on the hill.
Hidden, quiet coves below the Monastery of the Archangel Michael on the south-east coast. They are among the least visited beaches on the island – ideal for those looking for complete peace, privacy and contact with wild nature. Some of the beaches are pebbly, some sandy.
No facilities – bring everything with you; water shoes are handy on the pebbles.
Watch out on the way: a narrow, dusty and stony dirt road leads to the coves. Only vehicles with an off-road permit may use it – a 4×4 or a quad bike from a hire company that allows it. An ordinary road car is not allowed here – you risk a fine and losing your insurance.
A quiet, remote beach on the southern tip of the island, not far from the resort of Astris. It lies on a small headland surrounded by pines and clear sea. The atmosphere is very romantic and undisturbed – ideal for relaxing, snorkelling or reading a book far from the crowds.
The beach is not organised in the usual way, but in high season there may be a few sunbeds from the nearby accommodation.
No bars or restaurants – bring water and a snack.
Watch out on the way: the last kilometre or so is a dusty track through a pine grove, which only vehicles with an off-road permit may use. With an ordinary car, park by the main road and walk.
smaller hotels and apartments in quiet Astris in the south of the island.
A lively beach in the south of the island with music, cocktail bars and sports activities. Popular with young people and anyone looking for a sociable atmosphere. It is not part of a resort – it lies between Potos and Astris.
An organised beach with sunbeds and parasols for a fee or with an order at the bar. Accessible by ordinary car.
a smaller family hotel by Astris beach, about 1 km from Psili Ammos.
Notos is a smaller beach about 3 km east of Potos, hidden behind a rock right next to Roso Gremos beach. For me it is the ideal place for the sunset – in clear weather you can see the holy mountain of Athos across the sea.
Because you walk down to it from the hill, it tends to be quieter than the big beaches in Potos.
A sandy beach in a small cove. You walk down to the beach from the road on the hill above it.
a resort on a quieter part of the coast, just under 3 km from Potos.
An ideal beach for water sports right by the resort of Potos. It offers windsurfing, paddleboarding, jet skis and other adrenaline activities. It is sandy with a gradual entry into the sea and several beach bars and restaurants – suitable for an active holiday and for families with children.
Sand, a gradual entry into the sea. Sunbeds and parasols for a fee or with an order. Accessible by ordinary car.
a smaller, pleasant hotel right by San Antonio beach.
a modern hotel right by the sandy beach in Potos.
an upmarket hotel with a spa right in Potos.
A large organised beach just about 3 km from Limenaria. It offers a pleasant combination of fine sand and pebbles with a gradual entry into sparkling clear water – ideal for families with children and keen snorkellers. On the shore you will find the beach bar and restaurant of the Blue Dream hotel, which are also open to the public.
Tip: at the far right-hand end of the beach there is a tiny, picturesque cove with a cave. The Blue Dream hotel also has the only water park on the island, open to the public too.
Sand and pebbles, a gradual entry into the sea. Sunbeds for the public for a fee or with an order. Accessible by ordinary car.
an upmarket hotel right on Trypiti beach, with the only water park on the island.
Blue Dream’s sister hotel with access to Trypiti beach; all-inclusive, on the livelier side.
a simpler family hotel by Trypiti beach with a lovely garden.
A beach in the bay near Limenaria with a distinctive atmosphere created by the remains of old iron mines nearby. It tends to be quieter than the main town beach and offers fine sand, pebbles, clear sea, snorkelling and a stylish beach bar.
Right above the beach rises the marble zodiac – a beautiful and romantic place, especially at sunset, and yet relatively little visited by tourists.
Sand and pebbles, sunbeds for a fee or with an order at the bar.
Watch out on the way: a dusty dirt road leads to the beach, which only vehicles with an off-road permit may use. With an ordinary car, park at the top and walk down.
a quieter, stylish hotel right in Limenaria, a short distance from Metalia.
a smaller hotel near Limenaria.
Hire cars: ordinary road cars from hire companies are not allowed on dirt roads. You can therefore only get to Marble Beach and the coves of Livadi and Arsanas in a 4×4 or a quad bike that is permitted to go off-road. With an ordinary car you risk a fine and losing your insurance – and if the car is damaged on such a road, you pay for the damage yourself. At Paradise Beach, Salonikios and Metalia you can leave an ordinary car by the road and walk.
Sunbeds: on organised beaches you pay for sunbeds and parasols either with a fee or by ordering a drink or food. The conditions vary from bar to bar.
What to bring: for unorganised beaches, water, a snack and shade. On pebbly and marble beaches, water shoes and beach gear come in handy.
Trips I recommend as a tour rep. Local agencies list them on GetYourGuide mainly in season. On jeep trips, depending on the group, you may also get to drive yourself.