Parikia's Sunset Beaches: Marcello, Krios, Livadia and Parasporos

If you base yourself in Parikia, you do not even need to ride a bus across the island for a acclaimed swim: curving around the northern and southern arms of Parikia Bay within 5 to 10 minutes of the ferry windmill are four golden-sand beaches that stay calm on windy days and face directly into the western sunset.

1. Marcello & Krios Beaches (8 Minutes by Water-Taxi Boat from Parikia Windmill)

Look directly across the water to the northern shore of Parikia Bay and you see a long, continuous ribbon of pale golden sand divided into Krios Beach (on the right) and Marcello Beach (on the left):

• Why They Are So Calm on Windy Days: because the high rocky ridge of CapeAgios Fokas rises directly behind Marcello and Krios on the north, it acts as a natural windbreak against the summer Meltemi, keeping the shallow, turquoise water over the fine sand completely flat while north-facing beaches have waves.
• How to Get There (Boat vs Walk/Road): walk to the jetty right beside the Parikia Harbour Windmill and hop onto the wooden water-taxi boat (departing every 30 minutes throughout the day . standard fare), which drops you right on the Krios/Marcello pier in 8 minutes. (You can also walk or drive 2.5 km around the bay via Livadia Beach, Parikia's convenient, tamarisk-shaded town beach just 600 metres north of the port).

2. Parasporos, Delfini (Souvlia) & Agia Irini ("Palm Beach", 3 to 5 km South of Parikia)

Heading 5 to 8 minutes south of Parikia along the western coastal road toward Pounda (served by the Pounda/Aliki KTEL bus) brings you to three west-facing sunset coves:

1. Delfini (Souvlia) & Parasporos: a wide, lively bay of golden sand and pebbles popular for beach volleyball and late-afternoon sunset cocktails.
2. Agia Irini ("Palm Beach", 5 km south of Parikia): a tiny, exotic-looking sheltered cove where a row of tall palm and olive trees grows right on the water's edge beside a whitewashed seaside chapel and two relaxed fish tavernas.