Thessaloniki Beaches Coastline, Wind Surfing and Water Sports

(Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece)

A historical city known for its archaeological sites and rich Greek culture, Thessaloniki is also home to some wonderful sandy beaches, which seem to be rather overshadowed many of its tourist attractions during the summer months. The Thessaloniki beaches have good facilities, which range from shops and cafes, to volley ball pitches, changing cabins and even playground areas for children.

Many of the best beaches in Thessaloniki also offer a variety of water sports, which include water skiing, jet skiing, windsurfing, snorkelling and scuba diving - perfect ways to cool down of the hottest of days. The calm and relatively shallow waters around the beaches also lend themselves to swimming, with some of the most popular sandy stretches including Agia Triada, Aretsou, Asprovalta, Nei Epivates Palirria and Nea Michaniona.


Beaches in Thessaloniki are managed by the Greek National Tourist Organisation and a number have even been awarded the prestigious EU Blue Flag, for overall cleanliness (both sand and water) and good general facilities.

List of the City's Main Beaches and Resorts

• Agia Triada Beach - located in the neighbouring municipality of Thermaikos and just over 25 km / 16 miles from Thessaloniki itself. This is one of the most appealing beaches near to the city and during the summer months, attracts large crowds of tourists, who come here to sunbathe, swim and enjoy the beautiful sunsets. Agia Triada Beach has been recently awarded an EU Blue Flag and is very easy to reach by car, being just a 15-minute drive from Macedonia Airport
• Angelochori Beach - just a relatively short distance from Thessaloniki (30 km / 19 miles) and perfect for visitors looking to enjoy some more unusual water sports. Kite surfing is especially popular here when the breezes are strong enough, lifting surfing high into the air and above the waves
• Aretsou Beach - a highly recommended stretch of sand close to Thessaloniki and edged with cafes, bars and good facilities. A marina is close by, so there are often boats to watch sailing by whilst you enjoy the Greek sun rays
• Asprovalta Beach - a very long and beautiful beach in Agios Georgios, around an hour from Thessaloniki, with wide expanses of sand running for over 2 km / 1.5 miles. Asprovalta Beach is a lively spot with a youthful vibe and several good night spots are conveniently just a stroll away from the sand. You can expect to find a good choice of sports on offer, ranging from sailing and water skiing, to fishing and beach volleyball, the latter of which is always very popular with beach-goers
• Galaxias Beach - another one of the popular 'Blue Flag' beaches in nearby Thermaikos and therefore close to Thessaloniki. Galaxias Beach ranks are a four-star resort and is situated alongside the villages of Agia Triada and Nei Epivates. Macedonia Airport is also is relative close proximity
• Milies Beach - located in the Rentinas area and alongside Strymonicos Bay. Milies Beach stretches for around 1,000 metres / 3,280 feet in length and is just over 20 metres / 65 feet deep, being located just 1 km / 0.5 miles from the centre of Stavros and on the westerly outskirts of Thessaloniki. This 'Blue Flag' beach is really very pretty, being surrounded by large plane and acacia trees
• Nea Michaniona Beach - known as the 'Small Town' beach and standing around 32 km / 20 miles from central Thessaloniki, within the municipality of Michaniona
• Nei Epivates Palirria Beach - situated around 23 km / 14 miles from Thessaloniki and next to Thermaikos. This beach resort is around 200 metres / 655 feet in length and just over 30 metres / 100 feet deep. Nei Epivates Palirria Beach offers extremely natural beautiful, with many large trees growing nearby. Visitors come to this 'Blue Flag' beach not only to sunbathe, but to surf, swim safely (lifeguards are always watching) and even watch a film at the outdoor summer cinema
• Paralia Epanomis Beach - some 33 km / 21 miles from Thessaloniki and easy to find. Nudism is permitted on Paralia Epanomis and therefore this beach has become very popular with naturists holiday in this part of Greece
• Perea Beach - around 22 km / 13.5 miles to the north of Thessaloniki, within the Thermaikos Gulf. The views around Perea Beach seem to be endless, with distant mountains appearing on the horizon and providing a pleasing
• Richios Beach - sitting in nearby Stavros, to the west of Thessaloniki. The 'Blue Flag' Richios Beach fronts Strymonicos Bay and offers plenty of sand and space. Milies Beach is also close by if you fancy a change of scenery
• Stavros / Platania Beach - one of the most appealing beaches worth searching out in Stavros, Platania Beach lies close to the city of Thessaloniki and bay car, can be reached in less than 30 minutes. Accommodation is just a short walk away from the beachfront, along with numerous dining opportunities