Patmos Beaches: From Skala and Grikos to Psili Ammos
Patmos has its easiest beaches around the ferry port of Skala and the resort of Grikos, quieter coves in the north at Vagia, Lampis and Livadi Geranou, and the remote sandy Psili Ammos in the south, the most beautiful beach on the island. Most beaches are sand or pebble, several have a taverna, and the harder-to-reach ones in the north and south are worth the walk or the boat trip. For the island as a whole, see the Patmos guide. Hire a car to explore Patmos at your own pace, covered in our Patmos car hire guide.
- Island
- Patmos
- Sea
- Aegean / Dodecanese
- Best beach
- Psili Ammos
- Main resort
- Grikos
Beaches around Skala and Grikos
Skala, the ferry harbour, has two beaches of its own, and more good beaches lie within walking distance. Grikos, about 5 kilometers from Skala, is a former fishing village grown into one of the island's tourist resorts, with hotels, apartments, studios and restaurants and a sandy beach backed by a couple of tavernas. It sits in the bay of Petra, where the remains of an ancient building stand on a rock at the entrance and the islet of Tragonisi in front shelters the bay. Between Skala and Grikos, a small beach lies in Sapsila Bay.
Meloi, Agrolivado and Kampos
Meloi Beach is a short walk north of Skala, a good sandy beach with the island campsite and a taverna. Beyond it lies Agrolivado, the next beach north, with a couple of tavernas for food and drink. Further north again, Kampos has grown into a small resort with a taverna, a mini-market and watersports facilities. From Kampos the road leads on to the beaches of Vagia, Lampis and Livadi Geranou.
Vagia and Livadi Geranou
Vagia sits in a small cove and suits people who want it quiet, a sand beach with some pebbles and no facilities on the beach itself, though a taverna stands a little behind it, so bring your own water and food. Livadi Geranou lies on the north-east coast, a pebble beach with some larger stones; the last stretch is an unpaved road through fenced fields where goats are kept, so close the gates behind you. It has no facilities and stays a quiet place.
Livadi Kalogiron, Lampis and Lefkon
Livadi Kalogiron, in the north-west, is a fairly large beach of pebbles and small stones reached over an unpaved path that winds down off a mountain. Lampis, also in the north, is a pebble beach of colourful stones with a taverna open in high season, reached over the road from Kampos; outside the season, bring water and food. Lefkon, the third beach on the north coast in the north-west, is a pebble beach often piled with seaweed because of its position, and the last part of the road to it is unpaved.
Psili Ammos and naturist beaches
Psili Ammos, in the south of Patmos, is the most beautiful beach on the island and also the hardest to reach. It has some tamarisk trees for shade and a small taverna. Although naturism is officially forbidden on the religious island of Patmos, naturists usually gather here because the beach is so remote. From Skala there are daily boat trips to Psili Ammos, or you can rent a motorbike and walk 20 to 30 minutes from Diakofti, the beach at the narrowest part of the island.
