Beach Life & Winter Sunshine to Slow Us Down, Greece

Visit some of Greece’s quieter or slightly more remote shores and beach life will urge you to slow right down. Just what we need after our jaunt around Turkey and in preparation for our winter wonderland…home. We join locals as they contemplate life from the coffee houses and unwind on sandy stretches of deserted and isolated beach.

In late autumn the beaches and fishing villages are deserted from tourist. Everything is sleepy and the majority of beach bars and cafes have shut for the year. Local cafes and stores are still open and stray dogs linger for bits of scraps. Finding a place to park and a beach to stroll is easy. You can catch the sunset without the crowds from almost anywhere along the coast. And if you miss it, you can always face east at first light for some fairly stunning sunrises too (click to enlarge photos).

Try Nea Iraklitsa for its pristine beaches or Nea Peramos with headland castle and secluded cove. Further down the coast, meander through coastal vines and small olive plantations. Left turn at the allotment plots for a wonderful surprise on the far flung beach of Ammolofoi. Drive 30 kilometres west along the coast, if you want a long spotless beach Vrysi. Just avoid the stray dog rescue centre, it can be a howling night.

From Vrysi to Paralia Ofryniou the coastline is dotted with numerous wild camping spots. Mostly surrounded by pine trees and grassland with the odd small resort and cafe bar. It is a case of take your pick. And when you’ve had just about enough of beaches a handful of roadside ruins join the journey.

I think its fair to say Mac n Tosh enjoyed their beach balls…tad cold for surfing tho’.

The Lion of Amphipolis is a 4th-century BC tomb sculpture. The finding of the monument were found initially by Greek soldiers during the Second Balkan War. The British tried to steal the pieces, but a Bulgarian attack prevented their plans.

Time seems to stand still in these places – or at least moves very, very slowly perfect for winding down and preparing for winter. So what next? Well the forecast looks reasonably good for the next week, so we are going to bumble around the peninsula of Sithonia and enjoy a bit of R&R before heading across mainland Europe.