Andros rings its 176 kilometres of coast with over eighty beaches, from broad organised sands to wild emerald coves reached only by dirt track, on foot or by boat. Being the greenest of the Cyclades, its beaches often come backed by rivers, plane trees and dramatic mountains rather than bare rock. The long. Indented shoreline means there is a beach to suit every mood and every wind. Plan the whole trip with Greece Tours.
This guide runs through the beaches worth planning a day around: the family sands of the sheltered west coast. The iconic rock of Tis Grias to Pidima, the emerald wilds of Achla and Zorkos in the north. The town beaches of Chora. It sets out how to reach each, which have facilities, which suit families or windsurfers, and how the meltemi wind shapes the choice. Read it beside the guide to things to do in Andros to fit beach days into a wider stay.
What are the best beaches in Andros?
Agios Petros and Golden Beach lead the sheltered west coast, Achla and Zorkos are the wild emerald jewels of the north, and Tis Grias to Pidima near Korthi is the most iconic.
The west coast around Batsi and Gavrio holds the most accessible and organised beaches, including the long yellow sand of Agios Petros. The largest on the island. The shallow, family-friendly Golden Beach, both sheltered from the summer meltemi. These are the easiest beaches for a straightforward day, with sunbeds, tavernas and calm water.
The north and east coasts hold the wilder scenery. Achla, backed by a river and plane trees, is counted among the finest beaches in Greece. Zorkos is a long golden strand at the end of a rough road. The iconic Tis Grias to Pidima frames a tall rock pinnacle in turquoise water near the bay of Korthi. Apothikes, Vitali and Syneti add further clear, uncrowded swimming for those willing to seek them out.
Closer to the capital, the town beaches of Chora offer an easy swim within walking distance, while the range from organised sands to remote coves means Andros suits every kind of beach day. The sections below take the best beaches in turn, with access, facilities and which to choose when the wind is up.
What is Agios Petros beach in Andros?
Agios Petros is the largest and most popular beach on Andros, a stretch of nearly a kilometre of yellow sand with clear, shallow water on the sheltered west coast near Batsi. It is well organised, with beach bars and facilities.
Set on the west coast a short drive north of Batsi, Agios Petros is the island’s flagship beach. A broad sweep of fine yellow sand running for close to a kilometre along a shallow, gently shelving bay. Its calm, clear water and generous space make it the most popular beach on Andros, able to absorb summer crowds without feeling packed.
The beach is well organised along much of its length. With sunbeds and umbrellas for hire. Some of the island’s liveliest beach bars set behind the sand, giving it an easy, sociable atmosphere. Its sheltered position on the west coast keeps it calm even when the meltemi churns the exposed north and east, making it a reliable choice on windy days.
The combination of size, soft sand, shallow water and facilities makes Agios Petros a natural choice for families and for anyone wanting an easy. Organised beach day near the main resort. Its closeness to Batsi and the west-coast accommodation adds to its appeal as the default beach for a first visit.
What is Tis Grias to Pidima beach?
Tis Grias to Pidima, meaning the Old Lady’s Leap, is the most iconic beach on Andros, named for the tall rock pinnacle that rises from the turquoise sea just off its shore.
The beach takes its evocative name from a local legend. Its defining feature is the slender rock stack standing in the clear turquoise water a short distance from the sand. One of the most striking natural sights on the island. The contrast of the pale rock, the blue sea and the sandy cove makes it the single most photographed beach on Andros.
Set on the south-eastern coast near Korthi. The beach is reached by a short walk down from the road. It rewards visitors with clear water for swimming and snorkelling around the rock. It has little in the way of facilities, so shade and supplies are worth bringing, and its relative seclusion keeps it quieter than the organised west-coast sands.
Tis Grias to Pidima is best visited in the calm of the morning, before the afternoon wind and the day’s visitors, when the turquoise water around the rock is at its clearest. Its dramatic setting makes it a highlight of any tour of the island’s coast, and it pairs naturally with a stay or a day around the quiet bay of Korthi.
What is Achla beach in Andros?
Achla is one of the most beautiful beaches on Andros and in Greece, an emerald cove of fine sand and white pebbles backed by a river estuary and plane trees on the north-east coast.
Achla sits in a secluded bay on the north-east coast, where a small river reaches the sea through a valley of plane trees. Giving the beach a lush, green backdrop rare in the Aegean. Its fine sand and white pebbles slope into water of a deep emerald and turquoise. The combination of the river. The greenery and the clear emerald sea has earned it a place among the finest and most photographed beaches in the whole of Greece.
The beach’s remoteness is part of its magic. Reaching it means a drive down a rough, unpaved road that demands care. Or an approach by boat from Batsi or Gavrio. There are facilities beyond a seasonal taverna, so visitors come prepared with water and shade. That effort keeps Achla quiet and unspoiled even in high summer.
For travellers willing to make the journey, Achla is the jewel of the island’s north coast, an idyllic, green-fringed cove that feels a world away from the organised resorts. It rewards a full day of swimming, snorkelling and relaxing in one of the most beautiful natural settings in the Cyclades.
What is Zorkos beach in Andros?
Zorkos is one of the largest and most beautiful beaches on Andros, a long strand of golden sand and crystal-clear water on the wild northern coast. Remote and uncrowded, it is reached by a rough road down to the bay.
On the exposed northern coast, Zorkos is a long, wide beach of golden sand backed by low hills and open to the clear blue Aegean. Its size and its wild, natural setting make it one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Its remoteness keeps it quiet and uncrowded even when the west-coast sands are busy.
Reaching Zorkos involves a drive down a rough, unpaved road to the bay. It suits those with a suitable vehicle and a sense of adventure. And facilities are minimal, so bringing water, food and shade is essential. Because it faces north, the beach can catch the meltemi wind, so calm days are the best time to enjoy its clear water.
For visitors seeking space, natural beauty and solitude, Zorkos is among the finest beaches on Andros, a long golden strand far from any development. It rewards the effort of the drive with a wild, open setting and clear water, and it is a highlight of the island’s untamed north coast.
What is Batsi beach in Andros?
Batsi beach is the main resort beach of Andros, a sheltered curve of sand in the heart of the lively west-coast village of Batsi. Backed by tavernas and shops and calm for swimming, it is convenient and family-friendly.
Set right in the island’s main resort, Batsi beach is a sheltered arc of sand at the head of a bay on the west coast. Backed by the village’s waterfront of tavernas, cafes and shops. Its calm, shallow water and its position within walking distance of accommodation and dining make it one of the most convenient beaches on the island for a relaxed day by the sea.
The beach has all the facilities and the easy atmosphere of the resort close at hand, from sunbeds and beach bars to watersports. It suits families who want everything within reach. Its sheltered west-coast position keeps it calm when the meltemi blows on the far side of the island.
Batsi beach is the natural choice for visitors based in the resort who want a beach on their doorstep. It makes an easy base for exploring the other west-coast beaches such as Agios Petros and Golden Beach nearby. Convenient rather than wild, it is the everyday beach of the island’s liveliest village.
What is Golden Beach (Chrissi Ammos) in Andros?
Golden Beach, or Chrissi Ammos, is a family favourite near Batsi on the west coast, with soft golden sand and shallow, calm water ideal for young children. It is organised, with sunbeds and tavernas close to the sand.
Just north of Batsi, Golden Beach, known in Greek as Chrissi Ammos. Lives up to its name with a stretch of soft golden sand and shallow, gently shelving water that is calm and safe for swimming. Its sheltered west-coast position and its easy, family-friendly character make it one of the most popular beaches for families with young children on the island.
The beach is organised, with sunbeds and umbrellas for hire and tavernas set close behind the sand. Shade. Food and facilities are always within reach, and the shallow water lets children paddle and play in safety. Its closeness to Batsi and the west-coast accommodation adds to its convenience.
For a relaxed family day by the sea, Golden Beach is among the best choices on Andros, combining safe, shallow water with facilities and an easy atmosphere. It pairs naturally with the neighbouring beaches of Agios Petros and Batsi for those based on the sheltered western side of the island.
Which Andros beaches are best for families?
The sheltered west-coast beaches are best for families: Golden Beach and Batsi for shallow, calm water and facilities, and the large, organised Agios Petros. All have soft sand, gentle shelving and tavernas close to the sand.
Families on Andros are best served by the beaches of the sheltered west coast, where the water is calm and the sand soft. Golden Beach, near Batsi, is the standout, with shallow, gently shelving water safe for young children and facilities close at hand, while the beach in Batsi itself offers the same calm swimming with the whole resort within walking distance.
The large beach of Agios Petros, with its nearly kilometre of sand and shallow bay. Gives families plenty of space alongside sunbeds and beach bars. Its sheltered position keeps it calm on windy days. These west-coast beaches all avoid the exposure to the meltemi that can make the north and east coasts rough and unsuitable for small children.
Beyond the swimming, the calm, organised beaches near Batsi keep logistics simple, with shade, food and rooms within reach, which matters with children. For a family beach holiday on Andros, basing yourself on the sheltered west coast and using its trio of family beaches is the easiest and most rewarding approach.
Which Andros beaches are best for windsurfing and watersports?
The bay of Ormos Korthiou on the south-east coast is the best beach for windsurfing in Andros, catching the strong summer meltemi. Watersport centres at Ormos and Kipri, near Batsi, offer diving, paddleboarding and wakeboarding.
The strong summer wind that blows across Andros in the afternoons makes the exposed bay of Ormos Korthiou, on the south-east coast, the island’s prime windsurfing beach. Its open water and reliable breeze suit the sport. Windsurfing schools here rent kit and teach beginners. In a relaxed, uncrowded setting far from the busier wind spots of the Cyclades.
For a wider range of watersports, centres at Ormos and at Kipri near Batsi offer scuba diving in the clear water. Stand-up paddleboarding and wakeboarding, taking advantage of the sea’s clarity and the sheltered west-coast bays for calmer activities. The contrast between the breezy east and the calm west lets you match the beach to the sport.
For active beachgoers, the windsurfing at Korthi and the watersports around Batsi add another dimension to a stay, alongside the swimming and the wilder beaches. The same wind that draws surfers to the east is why families and swimmers favour the sheltered west, so knowing the island’s two moods helps you choose your beach.
Which are the wild and secluded beaches of Andros?
The wild beaches of Andros lie on the north and east coasts: Vitali in its mountain-ringed bay, Fellos near Gavrio, Syneti below its gorge, and Paleopolis beneath the ancient site.
Beyond the famous Achla and Zorkos, the north and east of Andros hold a scatter of wild, uncrowded beaches for those willing to seek them out. Vitali sits in a dramatic bay ringed by mountains on the north-east coast, its pebbles and clear water backed by wild scenery, while Fellos, near the port of Gavrio, offers a quieter sandy option in the north-west.
On the east coast, Syneti lies below a green gorge, a pebble beach reached by a short walk with clear. Deep water. On the west coast the beach of Paleopolis sits beneath the ancient capital, combining a swim with the ruins and the long stone stairway above. These beaches trade facilities for seclusion and natural beauty.
Reaching the wild beaches often means a drive down an unpaved track, a walk on a coastal trail. Or an approach by boat. Most have few or no facilities, so visitors come prepared. That effort is exactly what keeps them pristine and quiet, and for travellers these secluded coves are the highlight of the island’s long and varied coast.
How do you reach the beaches of Andros?
The organised west-coast beaches are reached by paved road, while many wild north and east beaches require a rough dirt track, a walk, or a boat.
Reaching Andros beaches depends on which coast you choose. The popular west-coast beaches around Batsi and Gavrio, such as Agios Petros and Golden Beach. Are reached easily by paved road with parking close by, which is part of why they suit families and casual beach days. A hire car is the practical way to reach them and to explore the wider coast.
Many of the wilder and more beautiful beaches, though, lie at the end of rough. Unpaved roads that demand careful driving or a suitable vehicle, or are reached only on foot along coastal paths or by boat. Achla, Zorkos and Vitali in the north are the classic examples, remote and unspoiled precisely because they are hard to reach.
For the most secluded coves, an excursion boat from Batsi or Gavrio is often the easiest and most enjoyable way in, turning the journey into a cruise along the coast. Whichever beach you choose, a hire car is close to essential on this large island. It is worth checking the access and the road before setting out for a remote beach.
Which beaches are near Chora, the capital of Andros?
Chora has its own town beaches on either side of its peninsula, including Nimborio and Paraporti, within walking distance of the centre. They offer an easy swim close to the capital’s museums and seafront.
The capital, Chora, sits on a narrow peninsula between two bays, and each side has its own beach within easy walking distance of the town centre. Nimborio, on the sheltered northern side, is the more organised, a sandy town beach with facilities close to the harbour, while Paraporti, on the southern side, is more open and exposed to the wind but longer and quieter.
These town beaches make an easy swim for visitors based in or exploring Chora. Letting you combine a morning among the mansions and museums with an afternoon by the sea without a drive. Nimborio in particular suits a relaxed swim close to the cafes and tavernas of the town.
The Chora beaches are convenient and pleasant. They mean a day in the capital need not be beach-free. For anyone staying in Chora, they are the everyday beaches, with the island’s more dramatic coves a drive away.
What is Apothikes beach in Andros?
Apothikes is one of the most beautiful beaches on Andros, a cove of golden sand and emerald water on the west coast near Batsi. Its clear, spectacular seabed makes it a favourite for swimming and snorkelling.
Set on the west coast within reach of Batsi, Apothikes is celebrated for its emerald and turquoise water and its golden sand. One of the loveliest beaches on the more accessible side of the island. The clarity of the sea and the colourful seabed make it a rewarding spot for swimming and snorkelling. Its west-coast position keeps it sheltered from the meltemi wind on all but the breeziest of days.
The beach combines the beauty of the wilder coves with easier access than the remote northern beaches. Which is a large part of its appeal, though it stays quieter and more natural than the big organised sands nearby. Facilities are limited, so bringing water and shade is wise for a full day.
For visitors based on the west coast who want emerald water and a scenic setting without the long rough drive to the north. Apothikes is among the best choices on Andros. Its clear sea and golden sand reward an unhurried day of swimming close to the island’s main resort.
What is Vitali beach in Andros?
Vitali is a wild beach in a dramatic bay ringed by mountains on the north-east coast of Andros. Its pebbles and clear water, backed by rugged scenery and a seasonal taverna, reward those who make the drive down.
Vitali occupies a striking bay on the north-east coast, enclosed by steep mountains that give it a wild, secluded feel far from any resort. The beach is a mix of sand and pebbles sloping into clear. Deep blue water. The dramatic mountain backdrop makes it one of the more scenic of the island’s untamed beaches.
Reaching Vitali means a drive down a rough road to the bay. It suits those with a suitable vehicle and a taste for the wild, though a seasonal taverna provides some food and drink in summer, unlike the most remote coves. Its north-facing position means it catches the meltemi, so calm days are best for enjoying its clear water.
For travellers seeking natural beauty and solitude on the north coast, Vitali is a rewarding destination, its mountain-ringed bay a memorable setting for a swim. It pairs with the nearby wilds of Zorkos and Achla for a day exploring the untamed northern shore of Andros. Best tackled with a suitable vehicle, an early start and everything you need for a day at a beach with no shops or shade nearby.
What are Kypri and Delavoyias beaches in Andros?
Kypri and Delavoyias are sandy west-coast beaches just north of Batsi, calm, shallow and family-friendly. Kypri is organised with a watersport centre, while Delavoyias is quieter, and both stay sheltered from the summer wind.
A short distance north of Batsi, the neighbouring beaches of Kypri and Delavoyias offer more of the sheltered, family-friendly swimming that defines the west coast. Kypri is a sandy, shallow beach with facilities and a watersport centre offering diving and paddleboarding, making it a lively but easy option close to the resort.
Delavoyias, nearby, is quieter and more natural, a sandy cove with calm. Clear water that stays uncrowded even in summer, suiting those who want a peaceful swim without a long drive. Both benefit from the sheltered west-coast position that keeps them calm when the meltemi churns the far side of the island.
Together with Agios Petros and Golden Beach, Kypri and Delavoyias give the west coast around Batsi a cluster of easy, sheltered beaches within a short drive of one another. For families and casual beachgoers based on this side of the island, they add welcome variety to a beach holiday.
What is Syneti beach in Andros?
Syneti is a quiet pebble beach on the east coast of Andros, set below a green gorge near the village of the same name. Reached by a short walk, it has clear, deep water and a wild, unspoiled character.
Tucked below the village of Syneti on the east coast, this beach sits at the mouth of a green gorge, giving it a lush backdrop unusual for a Cycladic beach. Its shore of grey pebbles drops into clear, deep water that is excellent for swimming, and the wild, natural setting keeps it quiet and uncommercial.
Reaching Syneti involves parking near the village and following a short walk down to the shore, and there are facilities, so visitors bring their own water and shade. The gorge behind the beach adds a green, sheltered feel. The area offers walking through the gorge as well as swimming for those who want to explore beyond the shore.
For travellers seeking a quiet, scenic beach on the east coast away from the resorts, Syneti rewards the short effort of reaching it. Its combination of clear water, a pebble shore and a green gorge makes it a peaceful spot. It pairs with the nearby bay of Korthi and the iconic Tis Grias to Pidima for a day on the island’s south-east.
What is the beach at Paleopolis in Andros?
The beach at Paleopolis lies on the west coast below the site of the ancient capital, reached by a long stone stairway. It is a quiet, almost private pebble beach that combines a swim with the island’s ancient ruins.
Beneath the modern village of Paleopolis and the ruins of the ancient capital. This west-coast beach is reached by the long flight of old stone steps that descends through the archaeological site toward the sea. That descent keeps it quiet and little visited, a peaceful pebble shore with clear, calm water and a strong sense of ancient history on the slopes above.
The beach itself is unspoiled and natural, without organised facilities, so it suits those seeking solitude and a swim away from the crowds rather than sunbeds and beach bars. The combination of the ancient site, the long stairway and the secluded shore makes it a distinctive spot, unlike any organised beach on the island.
Visiting the Paleopolis beach naturally combines a swim with exploring the ruins of the ancient city and its famous long staircase. A rewarding half-day for those interested in the island’s past. The steep climb back up demands reasonable fitness, but the quiet and the history make the effort worthwhile.
What is Fellos beach in Andros?
Fellos is a sandy beach on the north-west coast near the port of Gavrio, quieter than the Batsi beaches but easy to reach. It offers calm, clear water and a relaxed setting close to the island’s gateway.
A short distance from the port of Gavrio on the north-west coast, Fellos is a sandy beach that makes an easy, uncrowded option near the island’s gateway. Its calm, clear water and relaxed atmosphere suit a quiet swim. Its closeness to Gavrio makes it convenient for arrivals. Departures or a relaxed stay based near the island’s main port.
The beach is partly natural and low-key, with limited facilities, so it stays quieter than the busier organised sands further south around Batsi. Its north-western position gives some shelter, though it can catch the wind on the breeziest days, so calm mornings are the best time for its clearest water.
For visitors passing through Gavrio or seeking a peaceful beach on the north-west coast without a long drive, Fellos is a handy and pleasant choice. It rounds out the spread of sheltered west-coast beaches that make the island’s more accessible western side so easy and rewarding for a relaxed beach holiday.
When is the best time for the beach in Andros?
The best beach months are June to September, when the sea is warm and the weather settled.
The beach season on Andros runs from June to September, when the sea is warm enough for comfortable swimming and the weather reliably hot and dry, with the water staying swimmable well into October. The shoulder weeks of June and September bring warm water, thinner crowds and calmer conditions, making them the sweet spot for a beach holiday.
The main thing to plan around is the meltemi, the strong northerly wind that blows hardest through July and August. It hits the exposed north and east beaches, such as Zorkos and Vitali, kicking up swell and making them uncomfortable on windy days, while the sheltered west coast around Batsi and Agios Petros stays calm. Reading the wind before choosing a beach saves a wasted trip.
There is almost always a sheltered beach to be found whatever the wind, which is one of its advantages. Mornings are generally calmer than afternoons. An early start rewards you with the clearest water and the calmest conditions. Especially at the exposed northern coves such as Zorkos and Vitali that feel the wind most.
What you know before visiting Andros beaches?
Many Andros beaches are wild and unorganised, so bring water, shade and supplies.
Only the west-coast beaches around Batsi and the town beaches of Chora are fully organised with sunbeds, umbrellas and tavernas. Many of the island’s most beautiful beaches, especially in the north and east, have few or no facilities. It is wise to bring water. Sun protection, shade and food if you plan to spend the day at a remote cove.
A hire car or scooter is close to essential for reaching the spread of beaches on this large island. It is worth checking the road access before heading to a remote beach, since some lie at the end of rough, unpaved tracks. For the hardest-to-reach coves, an excursion boat from Batsi or Gavrio is the easiest way in.
Let the wind guide the day: the meltemi favours the sheltered west, calm spells open up the wild north and east, and mornings are almost always calmer than afternoons. With that in mind, and a car to reach them, the beaches of Andros reward exploring, from the organised family sands to the emerald wilds. See the wider Andros travel guide for planning a stay around the coast, and the guide to things to do in Andros for combining the beaches with the island’s hiking, villages and culture on a longer visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most beautiful beach in Andros?
Achla, on the remote north-east coast, is widely rated the most beautiful beach on Andros and among the finest in Greece. An emerald cove of fine sand and white pebbles backed by a river and plane trees. Tis Grias to Pidima, with its iconic offshore rock, and the wild golden strand of Zorkos are close rivals.
Which Andros beach is best for families?
Golden Beach, or Chrissi Ammos, near Batsi on the sheltered west coast is the best family beach. With soft golden sand and shallow, calm water safe for young children, plus sunbeds and tavernas close to the sand. The beach at Batsi and the large Agios Petros nearby are also calm, organised and family-friendly.
Are Andros beaches easy to reach?
The organised west-coast beaches around Batsi, such as Agios Petros and Golden Beach, are reached easily by paved road with parking. Many of the wilder and most beautiful beaches in the north and east, like Achla and Zorkos, require a rough dirt track. A walk or a boat. A hire car is essential and coves are best reached by excursion boat.
How beaches does Andros have?
Andros has over eighty beaches along its 176 kilometres of coastline, ranging from large organised sands with beach bars to remote, unspoiled coves reached only on foot or by boat. This variety, combined with the island’s green, mountainous backdrop and its 176 kilometres of coast, means there is a beach to suit every taste. From organised family sands to remote emerald coves. A sheltered option whatever the wind is doing.