12 Best Sights in The Northern Aegean Islands, Greece

Famous throughout Greece, this glittering volcanic black-pebbled beach is just next to the attractive seaside village of Emborios, where the waterfront is lined with tavernas serving seafood. The cove comprises three beaches, which are backed by jutting volcanic cliffs and fronted by calm dark-blue water colored by the deeply tinted seabed. Here, perhaps, was an inspiration for the "wine-dark sea" that Homer wrote about. Bring an umbrella and water shoes as there is no shade and the black pebbles get very hot. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking.

The beach strip just east of Plomari is backed by low-key hotels and tavernas. Though the setting is hardly remote, the sea washing onto the long stretch of golden sand is crystal clear. A bonus for swimmers and snorkelers is the bountiful sea life that flourishes on the rocky shelf just below the surface of the sparkling waters. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

This remote spot, at the end of a well-marked road that leads southeast toward the coast from Mesta, is one of the nicer beaches on Chios. The clear waters lap against the sand and pebbles that make up this small stretch of coast in the wind-protected bay. A canteen looks down upon the unspoiled beach. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Just to the east of Molyvos is this empty stretch of coastline, blessed not just with a beach but with thermal mineral baths. You can soak in the enclosed tubs for a small fee or find a spot just below the old baths where the hot water bubbles into the sea. An easy walk east from there takes you past a pleasant beachside taverna, the Xrisi Akti (Golden Beach), to a long expanse of sand and pebbles, remote enough in parts to attract nudists, especially on the eastern side after the dividing headland. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: nudists; solitude; swimming; walking.

An end-of-the-world atmosphere prevails at this lovely stretch of sand at the far west of the island just north of Sigri, punctuated by a rocky outcropping and fronting a green river valley, where you're likely to see waterfowl and turtles. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: nudists; solitude; sunset; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

This popular beach fronts a large bay, and its golden sands and shallow, warm waters make it a good spot for young families. Many tavernas and hotels line the built-up shoreline, and there is a bus service to and from town. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunrise; swimming.

Calm, turquoise waters wash onto this beach of sand and pebbles that is shaded by pine trees. Kerveli provides a quiet escape from the beaches near the more populated centers, and getting here involves a pleasurable final stretch through some of the loveliest forested parts in eastern Samos. Just offshore there is an uninhabited island called Kasonisi easily swimmable from the mainland. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; sunrise; swimming; walking.

Some of the best beaches on the island are in the vicinity, including Limnos and Lefkathia, with calm, turquoise waters surrounded by steep cliffs. A small scene has grown here with beach bars, tavernas, and a marina. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming.

Lemonakia, Tsamadou, and Tsabou all are just a few minutes' drive from one another, forming a continuous string of sand and pebbles separated by pine-clad headlands. They are all delightful places to lounge and swim, and are well supplied with sun beds and concessions. The stretch is to be avoided when the summertime meltemi (northern winds) blow, unless you are a windsurfer. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking; windsurfing.

One of the island's more popular beaches is pristine and sandy, protected from the wind by cliffs. There are a handful of tavernas and a beach bar. Organized with umbrellas and sun beds, it can get extremely busy during high season. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; swimming.

The 4-km-long (2½-mile-long) town beach at Skala Eresou is a wide stretch of dark sand lined with tamarisk trees. A small island is within swimming distance, and northerly winds lure windsurfers along with the swimmers and sunbathers. There are many rooms to rent within walking distance of the beach, and in the section that skirts the town, many appealing bars and cafés front the sands. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; snorkeling; sunset; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

This long stretch of sand could in itself put Lesvos on the map for beach lovers, yet it is often easy to find a patch all to yourself—the farther east you drive or walk from the settlement of Vatera, the more remote the setting becomes. The curving, southern exposure is idyllic and wind-free, and swimming is good for water enthusiasts of all ages. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.