Agios Georgios Beach

Agios Georgios is what Perissa and Perivolos look like before the umbrellas thin out. It is the southern continuation of the same long black sand strip on the southeast coast, and most visitors never walk this far, which is exactly the appeal. The sand is the familiar dark volcanic grit, the water is clear and open, and the crowd is a fraction of what you find at the busier middle of the run.

Because it is part of an organised stretch, you still get the comforts. There are sunbeds and umbrellas for hire, a scattering of beach bars and tavernas, and a good spread of watersports operators offering jet skis, windsurfing and the usual towables. It manages to feel relaxed without feeling remote, which is a hard balance to strike on this coast.

The black sand here gets genuinely hot underfoot on a high summer afternoon, so sandals are not optional, and the dark grain holds the heat long after the sun has dipped. The seabed shelves away fairly quickly, so it suits confident swimmers more than toddlers, and like the rest of the southeast coast it can pick up chop when the wind swings around to the south.

Who it suits: sunbathers who want space, watersports fans, and anyone who likes the Perissa to Perivolos vibe but wants to escape the thickest part of the crowd without leaving the comforts behind.

Who should skip it: families with very small children who want shallow calm water will be happier at Monolithos near the airport, and anyone chasing a lively bar scene should stay up at the Perivolos end where the daybeds and music are concentrated.