madferit73

Of Naxos, Paros, or Crete ….where is our best chance to find a nice beach (bonus points for sand but pebbles ok) within walking distance to a town with good quality food (artisanal options), cute squares, some nightlife (teens with us...dont need all night dance clubs, but some places they can hang out and hear music) and shopping (crafts/art not so much souvenirs). These 3 are ones I have read about some and may fit the bill....may be others too?

Santorini obviously lovely, but traveling with someone with some occasional mobility problems so worried about the hilliness there. Crowds an issue there too (I see up to 5 ships in port some days in Summer). I know it will be busy everywhere but Sant/Mykonos may be just too much

Likely late September - one week. Open to any type of accommodations (resort/hotel/rental)....just trying to nail which island has a beach that meets this description.

Thanks!

neckervd

Late September is no longer high season. So nightlife can get poor at some smaller places.
But the main places at Paros and Naxos have all you are looking for.
Crete is a rather big Island with different areas (and 3 airports), but Chersonissos, Mallia, Sissi, Kissamos, Paleochora and many others have sandy beaches and will still be busy end September.
Mykonos and Santorini may still be crowded.
Rhodos (Eastern coast) has the warmest and calmest seawater.

travelerjan

I just answered your request on Trip Advisor... and the answer is NAXOS. Perfect beaches ... stunning inland mountain landscapes enjoyablel on small-group daytour run by local bus company. I first went to Naxos in '99 on my own meant to stay 3 days, kept on, stayed 6.... and in my 12 additional trips to greece, Naxos is the one MUST on my itinerary. But do not Dither! It's been discovered... Look NOW at places on St. George (Ag. Giorgios) beach next to town, restaurants right on sands PLUS easy strroll to port town for activities museums, shops more more more. Outer beaches are minutes away by bus network and the water is divine & blue in Sept.

madferit73

Thank you Necker!

madferit73

I saw that! Thanks Jan! Like the sound of Naxos for sure. Maybe stay by Giorgio to have a “home beach” for days we don’t wanna drive to what may be nicer beaches (Plaka….Prokopios…AgiaAnna) and be right by the town to soak up some evening fun!

Debbielynn

My husband and I were in Naxos the first week of September in 2016. I thought the water was freezing! And it was quite windy and cold on one of the beaches. I just assumed the water would be warmer as I figured it had all summer to warm up. I found the warmest water was in a Nafplion.

travelerjan

Don't panic because of DebbieLynn's experience ... the weather differs from year to year ... that is the gamble of traveling ... All of the Cyclades are windy in Fall Wind comes fom the Northe East... But at least Naxos beaches are mainly to the Southwest and thus more sheltered. On Paros, the longest beaches are East, directly in path of winds, and therefore are used for wind-surfing, and wind-kiting contests.

SusanP

travelerjan is right. I followed her advice about Naxos and St. Georges Beach in 2017 and everything she said was right on. Also, I was there at the end of the first week in September and the water was warm. Very gentle, too, no big waves to knock you over (great for people like me who might have trouble getting back up!).
I also took a bus tour around the island that was great, a good way to see a lot of the island without having to rent a car.

OverIt

We go to Naxos the last week of August and the water is like a warm bah