Agathi Beach: A Sheltered Cove of Golden Sand

Tucked away near the village of Haraki, Agathi is the kind of beach that feels like a secret even when you know exactly where it is. Fine, wet sand runs down to water so shallow and calm you can wade out a long way, making it a natural favourite for families and anyone who prefers their swimming gentle and warm.

Simple by design

There’s nothing polished or built-up here. A handful of canteens serve food, drinks and refreshments, and that’s the extent of civilisation — which is precisely the appeal. Agathi keeps its character because nothing has been added to spoil it. On the right-hand side of the bay, underwater rock formations trace the shoreline, turning the shallows into an easy and rewarding spot for snorkelling.

A chapel carved into the rock

At the far end of the beach stands a small cave chapel, its white-painted façade marking the entrance to something far older — the structure is reckoned to be seven or eight centuries old. To one side a cave sits behind protective grilles; to the other, small rooms have been hollowed straight into the stone. It’s a quiet, atmospheric detail that rewards a short wander beyond the sand.

Getting there, and a word on camping

Follow the signs from Haraki and you’ll reach Agathi in about five minutes along a passable dirt track. Halfway along, you pass the medieval castle of Feraklos, well worth a look in its own right. The beachside canteens rent sunbeds and umbrellas and have showers and lavatories. Despite a common assumption, camping is not permitted here — but with its warm, wind-protected shallows, Agathi is hard to beat for a late-evening swim before you head home.