mlr932

I’ve been to Greece many times, always to the Dodecanese. I usually look further south wanting warmer waters : Karpathos, symi etc. it’s mostly been ok, but I’ve encountered some wind I did not like. I always go to lesser traveled islands. The Ionians lie farther north but the more i research Greek sea temps the more i realize it is dependent on the presence of sheltering mountains, depth of water and currents from the north. I’m considering Ithaca for this reason. I’d like to go to kythira as it seems wilder and less touristic. But it looks comparatively barren and I fear high winds as it is so exposed on three sides. Are there any southerly islands that offer the delicious looking, calm sheltered coves of the northern Ionians? I’d love to hear from someone who has been to Ithaca. It looks absolutely gorgeous.

Heimdall

Why not try the mainland for a change? The southern Peloponnese coastline of Messinia and Laconia has glorious beaches, and there is less wind than on the islands.

neckervd

It may be rather difficult to find places in the Greek Islands which are less windy than the Northern part of the East coast of Rhodos (Tsambika, Stegna, Kokkino Ammos, Agathi, Haraki) or the coves of Karpathos like Kyra Panagia.
May be you check
Loutra or Paleochora in Southern Crete
Gavdos Island
Kapsali and Asklipios in Kythira
Simos Beach at Elafonissos Lakonia Island (to reach by ferry from Pounda/Neapolis)
the South-Western beaches of Skiathos Island.
Chalkidiki and Samos Island have nice calm beaches too, but the seawater there is definitely colder.
In the Central Ionion Islands, Meganissi (ferry from Lefkas) may be calmer than Ithaka

mlr932

yes! I was actually thinking of driving to Mani from Athens. Which area has the most sheltered beaches without wind? Or are the other peninsulas better. I want to find THE perfect cove and just park myself there. Alipa looks lovely and is where the Tempest was filmed!

Heimdall

I haven’t been to Elafonisos (mentioned in post #3 and not to be confused by the one in Crete) but that is said to be stunning, and would work well with a drive to the Mani. My experience has been in Messenia, which is easy to reach from Athens via the motorway to Kalamata. The peninsula with the seaside villages of Pilos, Methoni, and Koroni is picturesque with many fine sandy beaches. Wind wasn’t a problem at all when I was there.

Frankly I’ve always gone to the islands myself, mostly the Cyclades which are often windy. When invited by a friend to visit her village near Kalamata I was amazed at the beautiful sandy beaches in the area. Voidokilia Beach often gets a mention as one of the best.