Best Beaches in Kythnos: 12 Beaches to Visit
Kythnos is an excellent Greek island for a beach-focused holiday. Its deeply indented coastline creates dozens of bays and coves, ranging from easily accessible sandy beaches to isolated stretches of coast reached by rough roads, walking trails or boat.
The most famous is Kolona Beach, where a narrow sandbar creates beaches on two sides. But Kythnos has plenty of alternatives, including organised beaches near Merichas, sheltered bays in the north and quieter beaches along the eastern and southern coasts.
Here are 12 of the best beaches in Kythnos.
1. Kolona Beach
Best for: Scenery and the classic Kythnos experience
Kolona is the beach most closely associated with Kythnos and one of the most distinctive beaches in the Cyclades.
A narrow strip of golden sand joins Kythnos to the rocky islet of Agios Loukas. Sea lies on both sides of the sandbar, effectively creating two beaches back-to-back.
The unusual geography also makes Kolona particularly impressive when viewed from the surrounding hills.
Getting there requires a little more effort than reaching the beaches near Merichas. Depending on how you’re travelling, you can approach by boat or overland, with the final road conditions potentially making the journey slower than the distance suggests.
Its fame also means Kolona can attract considerably more visitors and boats during peak summer.
If you only visit one beach on Kythnos, this is the obvious choice.
2. Apokrousi Beach
Best for: An easy full beach day
Apokrousi is one of the largest and most accessible beaches on Kythnos.
Located in a broad bay on the northwestern coast, it has a long sandy shoreline with tamarisk trees providing patches of natural shade.
Unlike some of Kythnos’s remote beaches, Apokrousi is straightforward to reach by road and has seasonal facilities nearby.
It’s an excellent compromise for travellers who want beautiful surroundings without the more difficult journey to some of the island’s secluded beaches.
Apokrousi is also relatively close to Kolona, making it possible to explore both areas on the same day.
3. Episkopi Beach
Best for: Families and easy access
Episkopi is one of the most convenient beaches on Kythnos.
It lies on the western coast north of Merichas and is easily accessible by road. The sandy beach and relatively shallow water make it particularly popular with families.
Episkopi is among the island’s better-serviced beaches during summer, so it’s a good choice if you prefer having refreshments and facilities nearby.
Its proximity to the port also makes it useful for a final swim before leaving Kythnos or an easy first beach after arriving.
4. Agios Sostis Beach
Best for: A quieter northern beach
Agios Sostis lies towards the northern end of Kythnos and feels much more remote than Episkopi or Apokrousi.
The beach occupies an attractive bay backed by the stark Cycladic landscape, with sand and small pebbles along the shore.
There is considerably less development here, which is precisely the attraction.
Bring what you need for your visit rather than assuming you’ll find the facilities available at the island’s busier beaches.
5. Potamia Beach
Best for: Sheltered swimming in northern Kythnos
Potamia is another attractive option on the northeastern side of Kythnos, not far from Agios Sostis.
It is a relatively small beach in a sheltered bay, with tamarisk trees adding some natural shade.
Combining Potamia and Agios Sostis works well if you’re spending a day exploring the northern end of the island.
Loutra can also be incorporated into the same trip, giving you a very different coastal experience from western Kythnos.
6. Loutra Beach
Best for: Thermal springs
Loutra isn’t Kythnos’s most spectacular beach, but it offers something none of the others can.
Natural thermal water reaches the sea beside the settlement, creating warm areas along the shoreline. These springs are the reason Kythnos was historically known as Thermia.
Loutra is therefore worth visiting for the experience rather than simply for the beach itself.
The village also has cafés and restaurants around its harbour, making this one of the easiest beaches to combine with lunch or dinner.
7. Agios Stefanos Beach
Best for: A relaxed east-coast beach
Agios Stefanos occupies a sheltered bay on the eastern coast of Kythnos.
The beach combines sand and pebbles, with tamarisk trees providing some natural shade. Its protected position can make it an appealing alternative when conditions are less comfortable on more exposed parts of the island.
There is a small coastal settlement here rather than a large resort, maintaining the quiet atmosphere found across much of Kythnos.
8. Megali Ammos – Kanala
Best for: Combining beach and sightseeing
Megali Ammos is one of several beaches around Kanala on the southeastern coast.
The area is particularly attractive because you can combine swimming with a visit to Panagia Kanala, one of the island’s most important churches.
Kanala also has an unusual amount of greenery for Kythnos, including pine trees around the settlement.
Nearby Antonides and Ammoudaki give you additional swimming choices without travelling far.
9. Flabouria Beach
Best for: Scenery and a quieter western coast
Flabouria is a large beach on the southwestern side of Kythnos.
The shoreline combines sand and pebbles, while the small church of Panagia Flabouriani overlooking the area adds to its distinctive setting.
It receives fewer visitors than beaches such as Episkopi and Apokrousi and is a good choice when exploring the less-developed southern half of the island.
10. Agios Dimitrios Beach
Best for: A peaceful southern beach
Near the southern end of Kythnos, Agios Dimitrios offers a long beach beside the small settlement of the same name.
Its distance from the port and the island’s busiest areas helps keep the atmosphere relatively relaxed.
Agios Dimitrios makes most sense as part of a day exploring southern Kythnos rather than as a quick detour from Chora.
It’s also a good example of why having your own transport is useful if beaches are a major part of your Kythnos itinerary.
11. Gaidouromantra Beach
Best for: Escaping the crowds
Gaidouromantra is one of the beaches to consider if the whole point of visiting Kythnos is finding somewhere quieter.
Located on the southeastern coast, it has a broad sandy shoreline and considerably less development than the beaches closer to Merichas.
The relative isolation is part of the attraction, but it also means you should arrive prepared with water, sun protection and anything else you need.
For visitors comfortable exploring beyond the island’s easiest roads, Gaidouromantra shows a very different side of Kythnos from Kolona and Episkopi.
12. Martinakia Beach
Best for: Convenience
Martinakia isn’t as dramatic as Kolona or as secluded as the beaches in southern Kythnos, but its location makes it extremely useful.
The beach is just outside Merichas, making it one of the easiest places to swim if you’re staying around the port.
It’s particularly handy on arrival or departure days when you don’t want to travel across the island.
For travellers without a car, Martinakia is also one of the simplest beach options on Kythnos.
Which Beach Should You Choose?
If you have limited time, start with Kolona for the scenery.
Choose Episkopi or Apokrousi if you want straightforward access and more facilities.
For something quieter, look towards Agios Sostis, Potamia, Gaidouromantra or Agios Dimitrios.
Choose Loutra for the thermal-spring experience rather than purely for the beach.
And if you’re visiting Kanala, combine Panagia Kanala with Megali Ammos and the neighbouring beaches.
Beaches and the Wind
Kythnos’s many bays are useful when the Aegean wind picks up.
Conditions can differ substantially from one side of the island to another, so don’t assume that a windy morning means abandoning your beach day altogether.
Ask locally about conditions and consider changing coast rather than sticking rigidly to your original plan.
This is also a good reason not to plan your entire Kythnos trip around Kolona alone.
What to Take to the Beaches
Some of Kythnos’s popular beaches have seasonal facilities, but many of its quieter beaches do not.
For more isolated beaches, take:
- Plenty of drinking water
- Sun protection
- Food or snacks
- Suitable footwear if access involves walking
- Anything you need for shade
Mobile coverage and road conditions can also vary in remote areas, so it’s worth planning ahead before exploring the quieter coastline.
More About Kythnos
Continue planning your trip with our guides to:
Things to Do in Kythnos
Best Places to Eat in Kythnos
Best Places to Stay in Kythnos