Beaches
A tourist guide by SoapByEleni
Achla :
An 8klm dusty road leads to the most beautiful and popular beach of the island yet most decide to go there by boat. The valley that spreads behind the beach of Achla is, from an environmental point of view, the most important of the island.
The beach has fine white pebbles, emerald green waters and the chapel of St Nikolaos. In a small distance before you reach Achla’s beach, you will see Cape Veria on your left with the homonymous lighthouse which was operated in 1914 and its round tower reaches a height of 12 meters. The river Achla ends up on the beach, one of Andros’s biggest rivers and its waters run until the summer.
- St Peters Beach : About a kilometer away from Gavrio and above the main road to Batsi, one can find the long beach of St Peter with fine blonde sand, a beach bar and 2 taverns which is pretty organized in its largest part.
- Zorkos:The first picture you see as you approach the beach is truly magnificent.Sandy and secluded,with crystal clear waters and stunning rocks,it is considered to be one of the island’s most beautiful beaches–when the wind does not blow
- Apothikes : A beautiful closed bay with green waters. Its surroundings are rocky but the beach itself is sandy..
- Vitali : A beautiful beach in the northeast part of the island, with thick pebbles and clear blue waters.
Vlixada : A large and sandy beach in the northwest part of the island, with a rock in its middle.
To its north side, there is a smaller beach called the Tower which took its name from the ruined Venetian tower on the rock. The tower, which was built in the early 15th century, was used by the Venetians as an observatory due to the importance of its location in regards to navigation. The small churches of Panagia of Pyrgos and St Peter can be found close by.
- Ateni:A small closed bay with shallow waters,located on the northeast coast,following the road of Batsi towards the north.The sandy beach of Ateni stretches underneath the chapel of Panagia and on its back side,it has sand dunes and a small canyon
- Gialia : A small yet often crowed beach on the eastern coast of the island, pebbly with clear waters right next to the road. If you take a walk towards the north, you will find yourself at Piso Gialia. Pythara river ends up in Gialia beach.
- Lidi : A small and beautiful beach next to Paraportiani, suitable for nudists as well. You can reach Lidi either through a pathway that starts from the peninsula that the heliport is located or walking from the side of Paraportiani.
- Mylos :The beach of the Bay of Korthi is long, sandy and ideal for windsurfing during windy days.
After all it is no surprise that a World Windsurfing Championship has been held there.
- Nimborio:One of Chora’s two surrounding beaches overlooking Tourlitis and Chora’s castle.It is the locals main choice for swimming but also visitors swim here although quite prefer swimming at the Nautical Club.
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Τis Grias to Pidima : The small and sandy beach near the Bay of Korthi is everyone’s favorite and it is highly unlikely that you will not find it crowed during summertime. Access from the Bay can be given through a small unpaved road as well as through a small and short pathway.
Its main characteristic is the impressive monolith which is 15 meters high. According to tradition, it took its name from an old woman called Andriotissa who helped the Turks invade the monastery of Faneromeni. When she realized the consequences of her actions, she jumped off the hill only to become a fossil in the sea.
- Batsi : The settlement’s beach is always full of people. It has cabins and showers, while on its upper side, one can find tourist restaurants. It is mostly preferred by families.
- Fellos : Located in the northwest side of the island, one can find this closed cove with a sandy beach, green waters and a few trees. It is also quite easily reachable..
- Chalkolimionas : A beautiful, sandy and popular beach, when the summer wind called Meltemi doesn’t blow. It is located in a picturesque Cycladic landscape with terraces, pens.
Vori : This beach owes its popularity to the rusty shipwreck of a Turkish ship. The ship got stranded there after a great storm on its way from Turkey to Italy where it would have been recycled. But that is not the only shipwreck of the beach since there is another one that got stranded there as well in 1920. The beach also has a small biotope and a river that ends up in the sea.
- Paraportiani : Chora’s second beach (after Nimborio) is located south of the settlement. What makes it unique, apart from its waters, are the ducks that gather in Megalo Potamos. However caution is needed in regard to the reciprocating waves that are created when the wind blows.
- Golden Sand and Cipri:On the west side of Andros lies one of the famous beaches of the island, sheltered from the winds,with shallow waters and powder like sand,just underneath the main road that connects Gavrio to Batsi.The beaches are equipped with umbrellas,sun loungers and beach bars
