Folegandros Cyclades Beaches

Folegandros Beaches: Agali, Agios Nikolaos and the Coves

Folegandros keeps its best sandy beach at Agali, under an hour's walk from the Chora, with quieter coves ringing the rest of the island. The beaches lie at the port of Karavostasis and Vardia, at Livadi and Katergo in the south, and at Agios Nikolaos, Agios Georgios, Ampeli and Livadaki in the north. Several coves double as naturist beaches, and many sit at the end of a footpath or a dirt track, so bring water, shade and good shoes. Hire a car to explore Folegandros at your own pace, covered in our Folegandros car hire guide.

Beaches on the island of Folegandros, Greece — A beach of Folegandros, Cyclades, Greece

Best sandy beach: Agali
Main naturist beach: Agios Nikolaos
Village beach: Karavostasis
Access: Path, ATV or car

Agali beach

Agali is the best sandy beach of Folegandros, a good bay under an hour's walk from the Chora that is also written Vathi, Agkali or Ankali. A high-season bus runs down to the beach, and a couple of tavernas on the sand also rent rooms. Kaiks from the port of Karavostasis run excursions to Agali and the neighbouring coves in summer. It is the busiest and easiest beach to reach, so it suits a first day on the island.

Agios Nikolaos beach

Agios Nikolaos is a sandy beach reached by a path from Agali, and it is the main naturist beach of Folegandros. The beach sometimes runs mixed, with naturists and textile bathers side by side, and it has a taverna and trees for shade. It can get busy depending on the season, and in high summer kaiks link it with other nearby coves. It lies next to Agali, which stays a textile beach, so the two make an easy pair to visit together.

Agios Georgios, Ampeli and Livadaki

The north of Folegandros holds three quieter beaches reached from the village of Ano Meria. Agios Georgios is a 45-minute walk from Ano Meria, at the far north of the island. Ampeli and Livadaki lie near the last bus stop on the Ano Meria road, about 30 minutes on foot, and Livadaki can also be reached by ATV or a sturdy car, or by boat from Agali. These beaches have no facilities and little shade, so carry water and sun cream; Hans walked to one and found it empty.

Karavostasis, Vardia and Livadi

Karavostasis keeps the island's village beaches, pebble coves in and around the port that suit small children. Vardia beach beside the village is sandy with some pebbles and looks out over rocks, islets and neighbouring islands. South of the port, Livadi beach sits about 10 minutes away on foot and has a camping site, with a shuttle bus from the ferry; smaller coves such as Vitsentzou lie on the path in between. These are the handiest beaches for anyone staying at the port.

Katergo beach

Katergo is a beach in the south of Folegandros, below Livadi beach. It is reached on foot along the coast or by boat, and it draws naturists as well as textile bathers. The beach lies away from the road, so it stays quiet compared with the village coves at Karavostasis. Bring your own water and shade, since there are no facilities on the sand.

Naturist beaches of Folegandros

Folegandros has several clothes-optional beaches, led by Agios Nikolaos next to Agali. Livadaki, a little further north, is reached by boat from Agali or by a path down from Ano Meria, and it runs mixed pebbles and sand with no facilities or shade. The coves of Vitsentzou and Pountaki near the port of Karavostasis are “who comes first” beaches, textile or naturist depending on the day, reached by walking about 1 km south of the port to the sign and then down. Livadi draws naturists outside high season, Katergo in the south is visited by them too, and Vorina on the north-east side is a naturist beach reached by a 20-minute path behind the church below the windmills.