The Best Beaches in the Cyclades

The Cyclades region of Greece comprises of aroundhedonism. And yet, while there are certainly
200 islands, which range from the large andtourists-aplenty here, it's still surprisingly easy to find a
established (Mykonos and Ios, for example) to the tinydeserted stretch of sand.
and uninhabited. As a result, travel here offers aKalamos is one such stretch of sand. To be found on
multitude of options, although this part of Greece isthe eastern coast of the island, it's a pristine bit of
surely known for two highlights above all else: thecoastline that scandalously few tourists visit. Bring a
parties and the beaches.towel, a book and your swimsuit and simply soak up
While partying is invariably restricted to the larger, morethis magnificent and undiscovered gem of a beach.
tourist-ready islands, beach-going can be experiencedParadise Beach, Mykonos
wherever you are in the Cyclades. Head on down toWhen listing party-happy parts of the Cyclades,
one of the following, and a happy day spent loungingMykonos is always going to be in the mix. This is
among glorious coastline scenery is all but guaranteed.package-holiday central, and alongside authentic Greek
Red Beach, Santoriniculture the traveler visiting Mykonos will inevitably find a
Of all elegant Santorini's desirable beach spots, Redslew of made-for-tourist hotels and
Beach may well be the most memorable. Nestled intoforeigner-frequented dance clubs.
a slab of reddish volcanic rock, the beach is small andThe beaches here reflect the island's party
hot, with the sun beating down on it for much of theatmosphere: they are young and vibrant places,
day. Snorkeling here is particularly popular given thegenerally filled with music and the chatter of youth.
interesting underwater formations of the surroundingParadise Beach and its cousin, Super Paradise Beach,
rock.are probably the quintessential examples. They may
For budget travelers, Santorini is an appealing summernot be the most instant attractive places, but they
destination that mixes village life with a lively traveler'scertainly are fun.
scene. Life here is not particularly cheap; Villa Manos isChrysi Atki, Paros
an excellent hostel in Santorini that will help cut downParos is considered one of the most beautiful of all the
on your day to day expenses. Clean and family run, itsisland's in the Cyclades, with its many whitewashed
swimming pool is a great place in which to spend lazyvillages and miles upon miles of picture-perfect
days watching the sun rise and fall.coastline providing an attractive combination. While it's
Kalamos, Iosthe second largest of all the islands in this region of
Ios has a reputation for being a tourist and nightlife hubGreece, Paros is known for being more laid-back than
in this part of Greece, with the town of Hora leadingMykonos and Ios.
the way in terms of daytime sightseeing and nighttime