Best Beaches in Folegandros, Greece – a Secret Paradise

Folegandros and its beaches are one of Greece’s hidden gems.  Incredibly, a trip to Folegandros island offers multiple gorgeous secluded beaches just a boat ride away from busy Santorini. 

This guide will let you in on the secret and help you discover all the best beaches in Folegandros.  The idyllic Cycladic island left a special imprint on me.  It’s a place to slow down, rejuvenate and maybe just accept life as it currently is.  Go where the mood takes you, which will most likely be to one of the many beaches in Folegandros. 

Let me help you discover the best Folegandros beaches, alongside other things to do on Folegandros (should you really want to do anything other than enjoy lazy days hiking to the cool blue water and back).

Some posts on this site contain affiliate links to products or services I’ve found useful. If you make a purchase through these links I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). This helps keep the travel blog running, so thank you.

How to Get to Folegandros

Folegandros doesn’t have an airport so arrival by ferry is your only option.  Located in the Aegean Sea, it’s easy to reach from surrounding Cycladic islands, like Santorini, Milos and Naxos.  You can also combine it with a trip to the further away destination of Athens, by direct ferry (approx. 6 hours) or one of the other quiet Greek islands.

The Santorini to Folegandros ferry is a quick 50 minutes on a catamaran at a cost of around €50. Alternatively, you can take the 3-hour small ferry boat at a much cheaper ticket price of €9 (usually runs a few times a week, although timetables for all companies may not be available until nearer the start of the summer).

Many hotels will arrange to meet you off the ferry and take you to your accommodation.  If that’s not an option, there’s also a local bus which runs frequently from the port to the main town of Chora.

Book tickets and check timetables for ferries to Folegandros at ferryhopper.com.

Tip for Ferry Ticket Collection

Although I received an email confirmation of my ferry booking, check-in in advance was required (online) as well as a printed ticket for boarding.  This proved to be a little tricky at Folegandros, where there isn’t an obvious ferry company office to collect your ticket from. However, the lovely people of Diaplous Tours will print it out for you (up a couple of steps in a side alley behind the Dal Capo café/restaurant – if unsure, ask at the car rental agency and they will point you in the right direction).  Don’t be alarmed if the office is closed, if the ferry is delayed they don’t open until it gets to within half an hour of Folegandros. 

The Best Beaches in Folegandros

A main road cuts down the middle of the island, like a spine, and from here you can head off to explore many of Folegandros’ beaches.  Although most don’t have any facilities and can only be reached on foot, the difficult access is all part of the adventure – take water and lots of it. 

Tip

In the blistering midday heat (walking in the hottest, stupidest part of the day is what I do best – I am English after all) I was saved by having a cooling towel with me – an amazing invention, lightweight and perfect for dipping in the sea and keeping you cool as you hike.

For more gorgeous Greek beaches, consider a trip to Paxos. It’s easy to reach Paxos by ferry from Corfu.

Fira Beach (50 Minute Walk from Chora)

A small spit of stoney natural beach that can be reached by an enjoyable hike across rugged terrain, departing from the main road (look out for the blue signpost).  You could take in Christos church on the way.  The path becomes less obvious towards the coast and requires a bit of a scramble down. 

There are plenty of rocks to enjoy jumping into the sea from on the walk from here to Agali. Due to its proximity to Agali beach, it has a flow of hikers passing by but most don’t stop for long.

Agali Beach

One of the larger beaches on Folegandros, and therefore more popular, Agali has a range of services  – bars, shops, restaurants and accommodation are all available.  Plus it has a bus stop, which makes it a perfect spot to take in a refreshing sundowner at the end of the day before getting a ride back to town. 

Agios Nikolaos Beach (10-minute walk from Agali, folegandros)

Agios Nikolaos beach has a certain laid-back vibe to it and calm waters to cool off in.  The backdrop of green trees combined with the shape of the beach and the shimmering sea adds up to one of the best beaches in Folegandros. It makes for a perfect late-afternoon destination after you’ve been to Fira and Agali (it can be busier if you visit earlier in the day). 

Agios Nikolaos has a tavern right on the sand and is easy to get to, head up the steps from Agali and follow the coastal path.

Livadaki Beach

The hike to get to Livadaki beach is epic.  My sense of time under the beating sun may have started to stretch but I’m sure it took double the google map estimate of 45 minutes (from the bus stop in Ano Meria).  The rocky second part of the hike required me to swap my trusted flip flops for trainers and the descent to the beach was steep. 

The sea here is sublime though so well worth the effort.  There are no facilities at Livadaki beach so bring lots of water and food with you.  There are some trees offering shade, set a little way back from the water’s edge. 

If you have the energy you can walk up to Aspropournta Lighthouse from here.  Boat trips arrive periodically so the number of fellow beach-goers was higher than I expected.

Check out my guide to how to get from Paxos to Antipaxos to experience more wonderful Greek island beaches.

Ampeli Beach

A contender for my favourite beach in Folegandros, Ampeli is… paradise.  This secluded beach is small and peaceful, the pure blue water laps at the natural rock formations all around.  Given that there’s a rough track that leads almost up to the beach it was surprisingly quiet at the time of visiting (early afternoon).  If hiking, start out from the last bus stop in Ano Meria and the walk to get here is a reasonably quick 40 minutes.  However, it does involve some light scrambling around a few rocks. 

Ligaria Beach

From Amepli, the hour walk cross-country to Ligaria beach is a good length to take in the countryside in the north of the island and most likely come across some of the local donkeys. Getting down to the beach is very steep, which you know means it’s going to be ‘interesting’ getting back up on the return.  The beach itself is a gorgeous corner of tranquillity, despite the main road passing by.  I also discovered a natural Jacuzzi-like pool in the rocks to the right-hand side of the bay.  Simply fabulous.

Agios Georgios Beach

Just around the corner from Ligaria, this stony and sandy beach is a wider expanse but still has a similar laid-back vibe.  The old fishing huts and church right on the beach make it a good photo stop. Get caption inspiration for your Folegandros photos with my article on Greece captions for Instagram. 

Other Beaches in Folegandros

Chochlidia Beach (Also Known as Karavostasi Beach or Port)

Chochlidia is the first beach you’ll glimpse as you arrive at the harbour in Folegandros. Restaurants, shops and a bus stop are within easy reach.  Other beaches nearby include Latinaki beach, Livadi beach, Pountaki beach, Vitsentzou beach and Vardia beach.

Galifos Beach

This small beach is even more compact than Fira.  It could make for a secluded stop on the way from Agali to Agios Nikolaos but there is quite a lot of through foot traffic making the walk. Unless you time it right, you might be best continuing onwards instead of stopping at Galifos beach.

Katergo Beach

The destination for regular boat trips from the harbour.  Beautiful Katergo beach is located at the very southern tip of the island. It’s also possible to hike here from Livadi beach by following the signs to Katergo and descending the steep path as the beach comes into view.

Livadi Beach

At the southern end of the island of Folegandros, Livadi beach is conveniently close to the amenities of Livadi campsite.

Serfiotiko

A remote beach in the northern part of Folegandros, accessible only by foot.

Vorina

Close to the town of Chora but accessible only via a steep path off the main road (follow the blue signpost just after Agia Paraskeui church).

Accommodation in Folegandros

For a small island, there are plenty of Folegandros hotels to choose from.  I recommend using Booking.com to book in advance as places get booked up early. I’ve used them countless times and they consistently offer great prices. The main areas for accommodation are in Chora and in Ano Meria.  There’s also a campsite at the southern end of the island, called Camping Livadi.

Chora Resort Hotel and Spa – a fabulous hotel located away from the noisy areas of the town and still only a few minutes walk from the main restaurants.  I loved the stunning pool and views of the Church of Panagia. 

Belvedere Apartments – located a 5-10 minute walk outside of the main town of Chora these self-catering apartments offer spectacular views. Studios are clean and spacious and the owner will pick you up from the ferry on arrival.

[booking_product_helper shortname=”folegandros”]

What Else is There to Do Apart From Go to the Beach in Folegandros

The beaches in Folegandros are gorgeous and exploring them offers plenty to keep you entertained. However, if you do want to do something else on your visit to this beautiful Greek isle, here are a few suggestions:

• Walk up the picturesque switch-back path to the Church of Panagia from Chora centre.  The church is lit up beautifully at night and it offers great views across the island from the top.
• Visit the pristine blue and white church of St. Georgios in Ano Meria.
• Stroll along the coast to Aspropounta Lighthouse, built in 1919.
• Enjoy a spending spree in Chora’s lovely boutiques.
• Go on a donkey spotting hike, it won’t take long.
• Visit the Eco museum in Ano Meria to find out what life used to be like (check opening times beforehand).
• Eat at one of the many delicious local restaurants.  Then eat some more.
• Watch the sunset across the island from the edge of Chora (head past Sousi’s Hair and Nails, to the end of the lane).

Where to Eat in Folegandros

If you’re spending your days hiking to reach the many beaches in Folegandros you’re going to want to find somewhere lovely to eat afterwards. When you’re considering where to eat in Folegandros, the good news is that there is loads of choice.  Chora has plenty of great restaurants based around gorgeous little squares.  Ano Meria offers some delicious local places, it’s the kind of place you can expect to see fresh octopus tentacles drying outside under the sun.

Tips

• Eva’s Garden – my favourite restaurant in Chora and not just because the romantically lit garden is full of gorgeous well looked after cats.  The food is delicious and the owner and all the staff are kind and welcoming.  It’s a joyous experience.
• Folegandros Bakery – a small artisanal bakery up a track off the main road in Ano Meria.  Behind the blue door all manner of homemade pastries await.
• Parasagas – get your ice cream fix from this wonderful café in Chora, you won’t be disappointed.
• Sinadisi – try the local pasta dish ‘matsata’ at this little place in Ano Meria but be warned, it’s very filling.
• The Baker – conveniently located around the corner from the Chora Resort Hotel and Spa.  They’ll supply you with the stickiest, sweetest baklava that you’ll ever need (they also do sandwiches, drinks and a whole range of tasty treats). 

How to Get Around Folegandros

Bus

The local Folegandros bus is fantastic.  It’s cheap at €3.50 for a return or €2 for a single ticket.  It runs on time and drivers are friendly and helpful.  Buy tickets from the driver. Destinations include:

• The port
• Livadi
• Ano Meria
• Agali Beach

Folegandros Buses website has the Folegandros bus timetable (times change with the seasons so will be more frequent in summer).  There are also boards up in Chora which show the latest bus timetable.

Hike

Folegandros is made for hiking, there are plenty of waymarked routes.  Just remember to stock up on water before you head out.

Quad bike

Whilst you can rent a quad bike on Folegandros, you’ll still have to park it and walk some distance across narrow paths to get to many of the beaches.  Rental offices are available in Chora if you do want to give it a go.

Bike

Similar to quad bikes, e-bikes will only get you so far on Folegandros, but that might be far enough. Kountouris in Chora offers rental options.

Boat

Several options for exploring Folegandros by boat are available.  Join a ferry to Katergo at the harbour, or rent your own boat from Island Spirit Cruises at Agali.  Diaplous Travel in Chora and at the harbour also offer day tours of the island for €40.

Summary of Beaches in Folegandros

If you’re planning a Greek island-hopping itinerary in the Cyclades, make sure Folegandros is part of your trip.  Like my experience of the island itself, it really is that simple.  This small but beautifully formed island is remote enough to allow you to feel like you’re getting away from it all whilst also having the amenities to make it feel like a luxurious retreat. 

Folegandros and its wild and stunning natural beaches are still one of the hidden gems in Greece. So book your trip as soon as possible, before everyone else has had a chance to catch the ferry to paradise. 

• For information on another wonderful Greek island location, read my article on Paleochora Crete.
• If you loved the Folegandros beaches and want to discover more Greek beaches, read this guide to beaches in Chania, Crete.
• For another European beach destination, check out my guide to Malta’s Blue Lagoon.
• How about a trip to the Italian island of Ischia or take the ferry over from Piombino to Elba Island, Italy, to discover hundreds more beaches.
• For more epic beaches, check out the Best Beaches in Havana.