All the beaches of Koufonisia

The beaches of Naxos had already convinced me that this corner of the Cyclades has some excellent sandy beaches on offer. Naturally, I was curious to see what Koufonisia had going for it. It turns out that fewer tourists also have an impact on the level of service along the sea. That makes a lot of sense now, but it was not something I had thought about before.

The beaches of Koufonisia are all sandy and, with one exception, have no loungers or umbrellas for rent. People come here to enjoy nature and leave overtourism behind. So if you need a sunbed with an umbrella above it, this is not your island.

Most beaches can be accessed on foot, while the ones further away can be reached by boat. During my stay on Koufonisia I decided to skip the boat beaches and explore only those that are reachable on foot. It takes between ten and fifteen minutes to get to the different beaches, with lots of small sandy spots in between. So if you want to be by yourself, there is always that option. In any case, it was a very meditative daily walk, which I immensely enjoyed. Yours, Pollybert

Ammos Beach: Although it is just around the corner from the port, the sea here is crystal clear with turquoise water. It is essentially the village beach, which I passed daily when walking from my room to dinner. The small bay offers a sandy beach with some natural shade on one side and easy access into the water. There are plenty of restaurants and bars within walking distance.

Ammos beach early in the morning @Koufonisia

Finikas Beach: A small stretch of sandy beach with turquoise water. There is a restaurant on site, and its washrooms can be used. Some natural shade is available, but there are no sun loungers anywhere in sight. Access into the water is easy, although it goes on forever if you want to swim. I really enjoyed coming here, especially because the restaurant served delicious food. It is about a ten minute walk from the village.

the beach shuttle boat @Koufonisia

If you want a place in the shade, you need to come early. Otherwise, make sure to bring an umbrella or a sun shelter.

Finnikas beach @Koufonisia

Finnikas beach in the evening @Koufonisia

The restaurant at Finikas Beach was always full around noon. I never quite knew where all these people were coming from, as the beach itself did not appear that crowded during the day.

Finnikas beach restaurant @Koufonisia

Fanos Beach: A longer sandy beach than Finikas, also with a restaurant that even has a couple of sunbeds for 25 euros per set. There were no shower or toilet apart from the restaurant facilities. Some natural shade exists, although you should arrive early or bring your own. Fanos Beach is a little bit further from the village than Finnikas, I assume about a fifteen minutes walk.