9 of the prettiest coastal towns in Greece

1. Oia, Santorini

It’s no secret that Oia is outrageously attractive – whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches tumbling down cliffside have long made it a Greek postcard icon. But its beauty runs deeper than aesthetics.

Within its maze of streets lie boutique shops, art galleries and bijoux restaurants serving grilled octopus and creamy Greek fava. Below, black-sand coves freckle the coastline.

Oia’s beauty peaks at golden hour, when Santorini’s caldera is bathed in honey light.

How to get to Oia: Oia is located just 20 minutes from Santorini Airport.

2. Nafplio, Peloponnese

Harbourside tavernas, bougainvillea-draped squares and Venetian fortresses make Nafplio easy to fall in love with – and even harder to leave.

As modern Greece’s first capital, Nafplio is full of historical treasures. Climb the 999 steps to reach hilltop Palamidi Castle, then wander the old town alleyways to spot Ottoman fountains and 15th-century churches.

Beyond the city walls, cliff-backed beaches and walking trails are an irresistible lure to the coast.

How to get to Nafplio: It takes two hours to drive from Athens to Nafplio in eastern Peloponnese.

3. Agios Nikolaos, Crete

Agios Nikolaos is one of the most enticing spots on Greece’s largest island. Its centrepiece is Lake Voulismeni, where legend says the goddesses Artemis and Athena once bathed.

Today, the resort is fringed by candy-coloured houses, shops and cafés, ideal for a sunset ouzo while you people watch.

Beyond the harbour, beaches unfurl in every direction, while the excellent Archaeological Museum sheds light on Minoan and Hellenistic treasures from Eastern Crete.

How to get to Agios Nikolaos: Agios Nikolaos is a 50-minute drive east of Heraklion Airport.

4. Naoussa, Paros

Paros has been turning heads as the Cycladic island to visit. One look at Naoussa and you’ll see why.

Like Mykonos in miniature, the picturesque fishing village has all the glamour the Cyclades are known for, minus the crowds. Think sugar-cube houses, waterfront tables laden with the freshest catch, wooden fishing boats bobbing in the harbour and sandy beaches dotting the coast.

When you’re not lunching on sun-dried mackerel, shop for handmade ceramics and jewellery in Naoussa’s stylish pedestrianised centre.

How to get to Naoussa: The drive from Paros Airport to Naoussa takes 30 minutes.

5. Parga, Epirus

Laidback and lived-in, Parga is the kind of place where farmers’ markets bring the buzz during the day and cheery cocktails bars keep it going after dark.

Go beyond the colourful houses stacked between lush hills and the Ionian Sea, and there’s plenty to discover.

Explore the crumbling ruins of the Venetian castle that once kept pirates at bay, book a tasting tour at Paragaea Old Olive Oil Factory, or follow winding trails to beaches like Lichnos.

How to get to Parga: Preveza is Parga’s closest airport. The drive time takes 1 hour and 20 minutes.

6. Symi Town, Symi

Those who venture beyond Dodecanese Island big hitters like Rhodes and Kos are in for a treat in little Symi.

Approaching by ferry is half the joy – you’ll be greeted by ochre mansions and neoclassical facades rising above a perfect horseshoe harbour.

The lower town of Gialos draws in day-trippers who come to shop and dine on generous helpings of Symi shrimp, while upper town Chorio is all about history. Climb the steps past shuttered houses and Byzantine churches to find windmills, panoramic views and a castle built by the Knights of St John.

How to get to Symi Town: There’s no airport on Symi, so you’ll need to take the hour-long ferry from Rhodes.

7. Galaxidi, Phocis

There’s a nostalgic air to slow-paced Galaxidi on the quiet shores of central Greece. Long a haven for ship captains, this harbour town has a proud maritime past, but today it’s a jack of all trades.

History buffs can get a lesson in local culture at the Folk Art Museum, architecture fans can admire the red-domed bell towers of the Church of Agios Nikolaos, and beach bums can take their pick of tiny pebble coves to hunker down with a book.

Its terracotta-roofs, painted shutters and harbourfront tavernas framed by rolling mountains complete Galaxidi’s pretty picture.

How to get to Galaxidi: Galaxidi is around a three-hour drive from Athens Airport.

8. Assos, Kefalonia

Sat on an isthmus that connects the mainland to a peninsula, Assos has two coastlines – and double the sea views.

The main pebble beach is the place to be, gently sloping into a sheltered horseshoe bay and backed by a handful of rustic tavernas and cafés. Enjoy a refreshing dip before supping on freshly caught sea bream.

Pastel houses paint the Assos’s cypress-covered hills with colour, and the remnants of a Venetian castle act like a signpost to the tiny village below.

How to get to Assos: It takes an hour to drive from Kefalonia Airport to Assos.

9. Klima, Milos

With just 20 permanent residents, Klima is one of the smallest fishing villages on Milos. It’s also one of the most photogenic.

Its row of whitewashed syrmata boathouses, brightened with boldly painted doors and shutters, lines the water’s edge. Once humble fishermen’s huts, they’re now mostly private homes – though a few have been lovingly converted into holiday stays.

There’s only one place to eat in Klima, but it’s a good one. Astakas is widely considered Milos’s best restaurant. Settle in for heaped seafood platters of marinated prawns, steamed clams and fried squid with front-row views of the Aegean.

How to get to Kilma: You can fly to Milos’s domestic airport from Athens, then drive 20 minutes to reach Klima. Alternatively, it’s a 13-minute drive from Milos’s main ferry port, Adamas.

*All drive times and distances are accurate according to Google Maps.