Cylades

The hard-edged, wind-whipped Cyclades have without a doubt the most dramatic beaches in Greece. The variety of the coastline is astounding—miles and miles of kid-friendly dunes rippling along Naxos’ south-west coast, the magnificent isolation of Vagia and Lia on Serifos, itsy-bitsy coves with milky water frothing against the rocky shores of Koufonissi. Some beaches, such as Mykonos’ party-loving Psarrou, Paraga, and Ftelia, are so well-worn by supermodels’ bare feet that you can barely see the sand. But for sheer variety, the island of Milos, with over 70 beaches ranging from chalk-white rock pools to blue lagoons, is unrivaled.