Greece also participates in the annual "Clean up the Med" event, mustering thousands of volunteers to tidy up the shores just prior to the June influx of visitors.

Greek beaches are a pleasure, and with thousands to choose from, it's hard to go wrong.

For travelers accustomed to Pacific and Atlantic ocean coastal beaches, the increased buoyancy and gentle temperatures offered by the salt-rich Aegean is an extra perk.

While Greece has some grand sand beaches, most of them will be pebble beaches, rather than soft silica. What this means for the traveler is that good, water-friendly sandals or surf shoes are even more important. Got kids? Buy their beach footwear at home - smaller sizes can vanish from the shops as the season gets under way. As the pebbles continue underwater, most waders and even swimmers keep on their protective footwear. This has the added benefit of protecting against the nearly ever-present sea anemones, many of which appear in unexpected places. I've seen them apparently thriving on pure sand just where waders are likely to walk, attached to unseen rocks below.

Be Aware:

The Aegean is filled with jellyfish, which can deliver nasty stings.

Resort beaches and other beaches rent the chaises on the sand - don't be caught without money to claim one. A blanket or towel is not nearly as comfortable on top of pebbles as it is over sand.

Some beaches are nudity-friendly during the week, family-friendly on the weekends.

Generally, Greek beaches will not have lifeguards.

If you employ a boat captain to drop you on a remote beach, make sure you have plenty of water, drinks, snacks, towels, and clothing to cover up with if the temperatures start to fall or the wind kicks up. He will come back for you eventually - he'll want your business for the next day - but it may be later than you expect.

Plan Your Own Trip to Greece

Find & Compare Discount Flights to Athens

Find & Compare Discount Rental Cars in Athens

Find & Compare Rates on Hotels in Athens and throughout Greece and the Greek Islands

Book your Own Day Trips Around Athens

Book your Own Short Trips Around Greece

Some of The Best Greek Islands

Temple-crowned Aegina - Natural Alonissos - Traditional Carpathos - Chewy Chios - Cos, The Doctors' Island - Queenly Crete - Dignified Delos - Do it all on Donoussa - Hydra, Artist's Island - Odysseus' Ithaca - Kalokairi "Mamma Mia" Island - Spongy Kalymnos - Aphrodite's Kythira - Lesvos, More than Sappho - Lovely Leros - Mighty Mykonos - Paros Paradise - Pirate Islands - Pastoral Patmos - Volcanic Santorini - Sexy Skopelos - The Dreamy Small Cyclades - Easy Spetses - Symi Summers - Very Greek Syros - Honeyed Thassos - Tilos, Island of Elephants

Text Copyright 2001 by deTraci Regula and About.com. Photo by deTraci Regula, courtesy ACFP. All rights reserved.

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Greece Scores on Shores With thousands of beaches to enjoy, Greece offers more on the shore than anywhere else in Europe.

An official European Union report has declared Greece's beaches to be the cleanest in Europe, beating out sand-proud rivals in Italy and Spain. The water quality is suitable for swimming at nearly all of the 1862 beaches tested.

Related Resources

• Beaches in Greece • Nude/Naturist Beaches • How to Beat the Heat in Greece