Greek Islands Beach Guide: Zakynthos, Mykonos & Santorini
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Fog & Foundry Travel Journal · Greek Islands
Three Greek islands, two seas and three very different moods. Zakynthos sits in the Ionian Sea off the west coast of the Peloponnese, all green hills and white cliffs; Mykonos and Santorini are Cycladic islands in the Aegean, whitewashed and wind-swept. Each one gave its name to one of our bikinis: Navagio Tile for the shipwreck cove on Zakynthos, Mykonos Tile for the island's quiet coves, and Santorini Daisy for the blue doors of Oia. Here is our honest guide to each one: what it's like, when to go and what we'd do again.
At a glance
- Where: Zakynthos (Ionian Sea), Mykonos and Santorini (Cyclades, Aegean Sea), Greece
- Population: about 40,500 on Zakynthos, 15,500 on Santorini and 10,700 on Mykonos (2021 census)
- Language: Greek; English is widely spoken wherever visitors go
- Currency: euro
- Best time to visit: late May to early October; June and September are warm and calmer, July and August are the busiest months
- Average temperature: summer highs of 27–32°C / 81–90°F, warmest on Zakynthos; sea about 22°C in June and 24–25°C in August and September
Navagio, Zakynthos — the shipwreck cove
A small cove on the north-west coast of Zakynthos, closed in by white limestone cliffs about 200 metres high. On the pale pebbles lies the rusted wreck of the Panagiotis, a smuggling ship that ran aground in 1980, and the water around it is a blue that looks lit from below.
Our take: the beach itself has been closed to visitors in recent seasons because of rockfall risk, and boats have to keep offshore. The classic view is from the clifftop platform above the bay, and it is worth the drive. Go early, before the tour coaches, and check the current rules before you book a boat trip.
Mykonos — the quiet coves
Look past the windmills and the nightlife and Mykonos is a dry, rocky granite island ringed with small sandy coves. The south coast is sheltered and busy; the north coast is wilder and takes the full force of the meltemi, the strong north wind that blows through July and August.
Our take: on windy days, stay on the sheltered south coast; on calm ones, drive north to quieter coves such as Agios Sostis. Either way, arrive in the morning and leave the town for the evening.
Oia, Santorini — the caldera village
Santorini is the rim of a volcano that erupted about 3,600 years ago; the sea flooded the collapsed centre and left the caldera, a deep bay ringed by cliffs. Oia sits on the northern tip, its white houses and blue-domed churches stacked along the edge. The beaches here are volcanic — dark sand and pebbles — and below Oia a long stairway leads down to the little harbour of Ammoudi.
Our take: the Oia sunset draws big crowds, so find your spot early or watch it from a quieter stretch of the caldera path. In the cool of the morning, walk the cliff path between Fira and Oia, about 10 km.
Where to eat
- Fava, a smooth yellow split-pea purée, and tomatokeftedes, fritters made with Santorini's small cherry tomatoes.
- Kopanisti, a soft, peppery cheese from Mykonos, and louza, the island's cured pork.
- On Zakynthos, ladotyri, a cheese kept in olive oil, and mandolato, the Ionian almond nougat.
- Fresh fish and grilled octopus at harbour tavernas everywhere; fish is priced by weight, so ask what came in that day.
Culture & local life
Each island carries its own history. Venice ruled Zakynthos for more than three centuries and called it the "Flower of the East", and the island's music still shows it: kantades, love songs sung by small choirs with guitar and mandolin, come from that time. On Mykonos, the row of windmills above Little Venice once milled the island's flour, and a pelican named Petros has been the island's mascot since the 1950s. Santorini lives with its volcano: houses are dug into the soft rock, and the Bronze Age town of Akrotiri, buried in the eruption, can be visited in the south of the island.
Good to know
- Laganas Bay on Zakynthos is a national marine park and the main loggerhead turtle nesting area in the Mediterranean; some beaches close at night in nesting season, so follow the signs.
- Mykonos and Santorini are linked by ferry in summer; Zakynthos is on the other side of Greece, reached by ferry from Kyllini or by plane.
- Book ferries and rooms early for July and August.
- The meltemi can cancel small-boat trips, so keep a spare day.
- Santorini's dark volcanic sand gets very hot by midday; bring sandals.
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