The island of Andros has many beaches that are spread around the island. Personally I think that the beaches on this island were much prettier than on many of the other Cycladic islands. As you drive the few kilometers from the ferry port Gavrio to the seasideresort of Batsi this immediately becomes clear because around ever corner there is a new beautiful beach, and so you pass many before you arrive in Batsi. The water also is very clear and the beaches are good and clean compared to other islands in this islandgroup. You will not find large amounts of parasols and sunbeds. On Andros there are plenty of remote beaches which are a bit more difficult to get to, so there are plenty of opportunites for tourists that are looking for a naturist beach.
Most of the beaches lie on the northeast coast of the island, around Gavrio and Batsi, and allthough I have tried to put them on a map, there are so many I cannot fit them all in. For the people that like tranquility it is not bad here, because most visitors to the island of Andros stay at the beach where their accommodation is (Batsi, Chrissi Ammos) and you will therefore be able to find quiet or even empty beaches if you just go out an explore. Even in Andros Chora we noticed the beach was as good as empty.
The most famous beach of the island is off course Batsi Beach, which also has a lot of facilities for the tourists. There are shops and there is a good choice of restaurants and accommodations. In Batsi you can find an ATM and a bakery. The beach is situated on the west side of the island a few kilometers below the port of Gavrio. It is a long and wide sandy beach that is protected from the Meltemi wind, and it is easy to walk into the sea, because the seabed slopes gently and the water is shallow. Because of this it is also suitable for families with small children. Along the edges of the beach blossoms the protected white sand lily. You can rent beach beds and umbrellas on the beach of Batsi but on the north side there are also tamarisk trees for the people that are looking for shade.
South of Batsi and within walking distance are two more beaches, Stivari Beach (a small textile beach without sunbeds and umbrellas) and the partly naturist beach of Delavoyas. Walk south from Batsi Beach, past Villa Erotiki and then towards the coast along the Anerousa Beach Hotel. The last stretch to the unofficial naturist beach of Delavoyas is over a path that is surrounded by bamboo. Delavoyas Beach is not large but there is a beach bar where you can get something to drink. There will also be people walking around in swimsuits, but at the edges (especially on the right - north side) you will find the nudists. The distance to Batsi is about 1 kilometer. If this appeals to you, you can off course book the Aneroessa Beach Hotel.
Still further south you will find several other beaches, including the beach at the ancient port city Paleopolis, accessible by 1039 steps down from the present village Paleopolis. There is a pebble beach and you can swim in the ancient port. Chalkolimionas or Halkolimionas Beach is located further to the south near the copper mines that were exploited here in the ancient times. The beach is well protected from the wind and consists of pieces with pebbles and other pieces with sand. There are no facilities at these two beaches.
Between the port of Gavrio and the tourist resort of Batsi you can find three more beautiful beaches, namely Agios Petros Beach, Chrissis Ammos and Kypri or Kipri.
Agios Petros is the first beach you come across. It is named after the nearby Agios Petros Tower.
You recognize the beach by the beautiful church on the rock at the beach, a kind of white square box with a light blue upside down "U" on it and then a white cross on top. Agios Petros Beach is a sandy beach that is suitable for families, with a shallow sea and clear water. There are umbrellas and beach beds for rent and there are tavernas and accommodations at the beach.
The next beach you encounter is Chrissie Ammos ("golden sand"), which is also a nice sandy beach with tavernas and hotels, and where you can also rent beach beds and umbrellas. The beach next in line is the sandy beach of Kypri. Actually amazing, all those beautiful beaches in a row. I hope I have put it all down correctly, because it is a bit confusing with all the beaches and names. Actually around every corner you turn you see another beach if you drive from Gavrio to Batsi.
Also north of Gavrio there is a whole row of beaches including Fellos, Kourtali, Pisolimionas, Agios Sostis, Kaminaki and Pyrgos beach. In the first bay north of Gavrio, 4 km away from the port, you find Fellos Beach, which is easily accessible. There are some houses and there are a few tavernas in the area, but you can not rent umbrellas and beach beds. There are trees though at the beach, so you can lie in the shade if you want to. Fellos is sandy beach and it is easy to go to into the sea. It is a lot quieter than Gavrio or Batsi. South of Fellos you find Selki Beach. This is a small beach which is easy to reach. The last part to Selki Beach goes over a dirt track.
Above Fellos Beach you can find Kourtali Beach. Also this beach can be reached by car, but the path to it is very narrow. It is sandy but there are few facilities and there is not much shelter from the sun on Kourtali Beach. Pisolimionas Beach is a long, wide sandy / pebbly beach north of Fellos and Kourtali Beach. It is accessible from a junction of the road that goes to Fellos. There is not much shelter from the sun at Pisolimionas Beach. The beaches in this area are all accessible via so-called "dirt tracks", ie there are no more asphalt roads.
Agios Sostis Beach is a secluded beach. It is named after the small church that is standing on top of the hill near the beach. The last stretch to the beach is over a path, and you'll have to walk. The beach can lie a bit in the wind, like most other beaches on the north side of the island. The beaches of Kaminaki, Pyrgos and Vlychada are secluded and quiet. It goes without saying that there is room for naturists. None of these beaches have facilities. Also at Pyrgos Beach there is a nice small white church, but the beach is named after the Venetian Makrotantalos tower which stands on a hill near the beach (Pyrgos means tower).
The capital Andros Chora is also blessed with beautiful beaches, which are both north and south of the city. The main beach of Andros Chora is called Niborio, and is situated on the north side of town. It is a beach where in high season you can rent beach beds and umbrellas. Niborio is actually pretty quiet and you can easily go into the sea, because it slopes gently. That is also the case at the beach on the south side of town which is called Paraporti. This beach is perhaps less long, but it is wider than Niborio Beach. You can find shade under one of the many trees that surround the beach. I understand the bottom in the sea at Paraporti is not very stable and it is not recommended to go into the water unless you are an experienced swimmer.
In the vicinity of Andros Chora are several other beaches that can be reached on foot or by boat, as for example Sineti Beach: a picturesque white beach with azure water in a beautiful bay just south of Chora. It can be reached on foot via a path from Andros Chora. Between Paraporti and Sineti Beach is Lydi Beach, where there is room for naturism. You climb over the hill (with two churches on it) after Paraporti Beach. On the southern side of the beach is a kind of path where with some difficulty you can climb down.
Within walking distance of Chora Andros and north of it are in the next village the beaches of Ebros Gialia and Piso Gialia. Ebros Gialia Beach is a pebble beach with a taverna on it and Piso Gialia is a sandy beach. You can reach these beaches by taking the road to Stenies from Niborio. On both beaches it can be quite busy in the summer because they are popular. You can rent umbrellas and beach beds on the beaches.
South of the capital in the Bay of Korthiou lies next to the village Korthiou the beach of Mylos, which is named after the mill in the middle of the beach (Mylos means mill). It is a long sandy beach where no beach beds and umbrellas are for rent (at least we have not seen them, but it could be that in high season there are some for rent). There are tavernas and accommodation in the nearby village. The waves can be a little bit high and will often there will be some wind at the beach. Mylos Beach is also a popular place for windsurfers. Yet it is not really crowded on this beach.
A particularly picturesque beach you will find just north of Mylos Beach. It's called Tis Grias To Pidima Beach (The Old Woman Jumps) and there is a special kind of stone pillar standing in the sea. This characteristic rock has given the name to the beach. According to legend, an old woman committed suicide by jumping off the cliff here and she is now standing petrified in the sea. During the Turkish rule she would have accidentally opened the gate of a castle, which was then occupied by the Turks. The woman was so ashamed that she jumped of the cliff. The rock Tis Grias To Pidimi Beach is a sandy beach which is accessible via a path. Because it is so beautiful, it is also popular with locals.
North of the capital is the beautiful beach of Achla, which is a little difficult to reach (you'll need a good car - preferably a Jeep - for the last 8 kilometers because it is a dirt track) and where there is room for naturists. It's never really too busy on the the beach of Achla, although nowadays there is a boat excursion going to the beach. Achla Beach has white sand an pebbles and beautiful greenblue waters. At the beach there is the small Agios Nikolaos church and a lighthouse. There are a number of trees to lie in the shadow. Also a river flows into the sea here. There are no facilities at Achla Beach (no taverns, no beach beds and no umbrellas).
Unique is a complex of 9 cottages and villas at 350 meters distance from the beach called Onar, which comes with a restaurant. This destination is maybe something for people that are really looking for the ultimate peace and tranquility. The villas and bungalows do have a TV and DVD player, but there is no wifi and there is no village near the complex with some action. It is really quite remote. The villas grabbed te attention from (amongst other media) Harper's Bazaar, National Geograpic and the Times and according to the guests the food is fabulous. A little more down at this page there is more info about the villas of Onar on Achla Beach.
In the northeast of the island of Andros are a number of other beaches including Zorkos (sometimes called Zorgos), Artemidi, Gides, Vori, Ateni and Vitali. The northernmost of these three is called Zorkos Beach. This secluded and quiet beach is at the end of a paved road. The last part should be done over a walking path. At the beach there is a taverna which is open seasonally, but there are no beach beds and umbrellas for hire on Zorkos Beach. If you seek shade you can find it under the rocks or under the trees that stand at the beach. Zorkos is a large sandy beach where it can sometimes be a little bit windy. The water is clear.
At this beach there is a luxury accommodation renting out villas and suites. It is called Aegea Blue Villas & Suites (see pictures below).
Update 2014: The beach is easily accessible, the last 4 miles the road gets less good, but doable. There are no trees on the beach and there are umbrellas and sun beds.
In a bay just south of Zorkos you can find the beach of Artemidi which is accessible via a path (a so called a dirt track). Gides and Vitali Beach are named after the villages which are located higher inland. Vitali is the most popular of the two. It is a large pebble beach where some umbrellas and beach beds are for rent, but there are also large rocks that provide some shade. At the edge of Vitali Beach is a small church. The route to the beach is partly over a narrow dirt road. In the summer months there is a taverna at the beach. More south you will find the beaches of Ateni and Lefka. Both are unorganized beaches without facilities, both are sandy with some rocks in the sea. Lefka beach is the more isolated of the two. As I understand there is quite a bit of rubble on Ateni Beach. There is also a small village at the beach and there is a church, so not much privacy for naturists.
Underneath Lefka Beach lies Vori Beach, which is not mentioned in most maps of the island. You can go there by boat or you can reach it via a path. Vori Beach is a very nice beach where you look out on a ship wreck. The boat is called the Semiramis and it is a large cargo boat which sits on the rocks and lies almost against the coast after it has been driven more to the coast during a storm in 1995. A large part of the boat is corroded and decayed. In the sea a little further is another ship wreck under the water.
Vori Beach is a pebble beach with white and colored stones. It is situated in a well protected bay. You can also reach the beach via a path. On the route to the village of Arni, drive 100 meters further after the junction and turn left into the narrow path. It is quite a long distance over a not too good dirt track. The beach is of course very nice for people who love snorkeling. There are no facilities, so you must bring your own water and food with you when you want to visit this beach. The beach is clean and there is quite a bit of privacy, so a place for naturists to walk around without textiles when it is not high season. Behind the beach is a wetland.
Our favorite beach was just below Batsi at about the middle of the island on the western side. I'm not quite sure, but I think it was Kalamaki Beach. You reach it via a junction of the main road and than follow a winding road that runs slowly towards the coast. There was a sweet white church and a dilapidated cottage. The beach was beautiful with fine sand and some loose pebbles on it. You could also easily get into the sea. Actually every time we drove to the beach it was completely empty and we were the only visitors. We could walk around without a swimsuit and had our private naturist beach. You look out over a small island and it's good for a nice swim because the sea is calm and there is little current.
Another beautiful beach that we visited was Megali Peza Beach in the north of Andros. It lies at the end of a road that's not so very good anymore at the end, but we could drive tho it with a normal car. The sand grains are a bit larger here and it is perhaps less remote than Kalamaki Beach, but the bay is very beautiful. On the beach at some distance are a few houses, so privacy might be somewhat less. There are no facilities on Megali Peza Beach. We were again the only people on the beach. In the sea is a beautiful rock. Here too it is easy to go into the sea. To the west of this beach in the next bay you can find the little sister of this beach called Mikro Peza Beach. It seems that both beaches sometimes lie in the Meltemi wind but we had no problems during our visit. The beach was clean (you would expect garbage and seaweed) but there was just a bit of straw or dry reed or something on it.
The beachfront Aneroussa Hotel looks over to 2 sandy beaches, just 800 metres from Batsi in Andros in an area of exceptional natural beauty. There is an internet terminal in the lobby with free Wi-Fi connection. Its cosy traditionally decorated rooms are air-conditioned and offer balconies with views of the sea. Each offers a TV and a refrigerator. The bar at Aneroussa is open from morning until late in the evening serving breakfast or salads and drinks. The beach bar serves ice creams and refreshing beverages.
Check availabilities and prices & book Aneroussa Beach hotel in Batsi on the island of Andros - click here.
Boasting a peaceful location 350 metres away from the pebbled Achla Beach, Onar is a complex of independent units built with respect to the Cycladic style. It includes a restaurant with a charming stone-paved courtyard shaded by lush plane trees. The air-conditioned cottages and villas are built with local stone and wood, and feature earthy tones and minimal furnishings. Each with a kitchen or kitchenette and a living area with fireplace, they come with a flat-screen TV and DVD player. In the bathroom, you will find Apivita toiletries. Onar Restaurant prepares traditional recipes from Andros made with seasonal organic products, fresh fish and local dairy, which you can enjoy in the large monastery table. The surrounding area is ideal for outdoor activities such as diving and hiking, while yoga sessions can also be arranged upon request. Gavrio Port is 35 km away and the main town of Andros is at 25 km. Free private parking is available on site.
Check availabilities and prices & book Onar cottages and villas in Achla Beach on the island of Andros - click here.
Nestled on a hillside in Zorgos overlooking the river, Aegea Blue is a complex of suites and villas combining elegant and traditional features. It includes a 21-metre pool, an a la carte Mediterranean restaurant and an all-day pool bar. Aegea Blue Villas & Suites feature relaxing interiors that blend in harmony with the natural surroundings. Featuring a kitchen, they are equipped with a stove, fridge and dining area, and they also include a 32� LCD TV. Each unit opens out to a stone-paved terrace with sun beds and umbrellas overlooking the sea or the well-kept gardens. The on-site restaurant serves traditional local dishes, as well as gourmet flavours made with fresh products from Andros. Guests can also choose among a wide range of cocktails, as well as locally produced drinks such as tsipouro. Gavrio, the port of Andros, is 17 km away. The lively Batsi with its many taverns and bars is at 25 km, while the main town of Andros can be reached at 50 km. Free Wi-Fi and free on-site parking are provided.
Check availabilities and prices & book Aegea Blue Villas & Suites in Zorkos Beach on the island of Andros - click here.