Ideas for getaways to islands and seaside destinations for the first three-day weekend of summer.
Is there a better way to celebrate the start of summer than a getaway filled with sea breeze? The Holy Spirit long weekend (in 2026 it falls on May 30–June 1) is approaching and, for many, it’s the ideal chance for a short escape that offers a first taste of summer holidays. From Epirus to the Peloponnese and the Cyclades, we’ve put together a list of eleven wonderful destinations to make the most of the first long weekend of summer.
Parga
At a distance of 60 km from Preveza, Parga is a beautiful, colorful town that has nothing to envy from an island. Its stunning beaches with the Ionian Sea’s turquoise-green waters and the amphitheatrically built settlement with lovely houses and narrow lanes have made this seaside town of Epirus one of the most beloved destinations for summer getaways. Stroll the cobbled lanes of the old town and enjoy the best views of the Ionian as you climb up to the imposing Venetian castle. You can even swim to the verdant islet of Panagia, opposite Parga’s harbor, which owes its name to the church of Panagia located there.
Parga’s trump card is its striking beaches. Within the town lies Kryoneri, facing the islet of Panagia. Right next to it, to the east, is Piso Kryoneri, a small beach ringed by tall rocks. To Parga’s west stretches perhaps the area’s best-known beach, Valtos. To the east, 3 km outside the town, is lush Lichnos. About 6 km east of Parga, after the Kalodiki wetland, is Ai Giannakis, while near the village of Agia you’ll encounter the enchanting bay of Sarakiniko.
Lefkada
It’s an island, yet you arrive by car (in about 4 hours from Athens). And that’s one of Lefkada’s big advantages. The «mainland» island of the Ionian is blessed with impressive landscapes and some of Greece’s loveliest beaches. The town of Lefkada has a distinctive character and the lanes of its historic center hide surprises. The island’s eastern side, with calm, shallow seas, is ideal for family holidays, while the western is filled with dramatic, wild beaches with steep cliffs, white sand and turquoise waters.
The island’s most famous beaches are Porto Katsiki and Egremni, magnets for many millions of visitors from all over the world. Also famed are cosmopolitan Kathisma, Pefkoulia, Mylos, the beaches below Kalamitsi (Kavalikefta, Avali, Megali Petra), as well as Vasiliki, Ai Giannis and Mills, favored mainly by windsurfers and kitesurfers. For nature lovers, there are the Dimosari Waterfalls, just outside Nydri, as well as Melissa Gorge. For a break from the beaches, seek mountain coolness in the squares of the mountain villages Karya and Englouvi, and in Exanthia, Lefkada’s beautiful chief village gazing over the Ionian from an altitude of 600 meters.
Galaxidi
At a distance of three hours from Athens, after a wonderful drive among the mountain masses of Phocis, stately and romanticGalaxidiwelcomes you with scenes of aristocratic beauty, an island atmosphere and the scent of another era. An ideal destination for short and longer escapes, easily combined with nearby excursions and routes either to the mountains or the sea. The traditional settlement, designated as such in 1978, with its stone-paved alleys, elegant neoclassicals and captains’ houses that attest to the area’s glorious maritime past, is gorgeous. Colorful facades, flower-filled pebble courtyards and balconies adorned with ships’ figureheads create a picturesque island setting on the mainland.
For those who love the sea, there are small beaches near Galaxidi, ideal for a quick dip. A nice idea is to combine the trip with a visit to Delphi, antiquity’s most important religious center, 30 km from Galaxidi. You can also hop over to Amfissa, the capital of Phocis, the seaside Itea and Arachova.
Skyros
Beautiful landscapes, authentic hospitality and good food await you on the southernmost and largest island of the Northern Sporades, east of Evia. Half lush and fertile and half wild and arid, Skyros is a surprising island that steals hearts. The beautiful Chora is built amphitheatrically around the Byzantine castle that ‘oversees’ the area. Narrow lanes and whitewashed houses climbing the slope compose a scene that strongly evokes the Cyclades. Below the Chora, theMolosand theMagazia- the two best-known resorts of Skyros- meet on a long, sandy, horseshoe-shaped beach that’s perfect for glorious swims.
Another lovely beach that’s quite large and attracts people isGyrismata. It’s also worth visiting the pine-fringed northwestern beaches: Agios Fokas, Pefkos, sheltered Kyra-Panagia and Agios Petros with its wide sandy shore. Skyros’ traditional cuisine will impress you with its quality and simplicity. The leading star of most local dishes is wild goat, as well as lobster — the famous lobster spaghetti is served almost everywhere and is well worth trying.
Karystos
Ideal for a short break as well as for holidays, Karystos is a charming seaside town at Evia’s southernmost tip, offering an irresistible combination of mountain and sea. You can get here from Rafina via Marmari by ferry. In one hour you’re in Marmari and from there Karystos is a ten-minute drive (alternatively, you can come by road from Chalkida in about 2 hours). Monuments that attest to the area’s rich history, wonderful nature perfect for exciting activities and an ample coastline create the ideal setting for unforgettable holidays.
The area’s many beautiful beaches cater to every taste. In Karystos itself you’ll swim at Gallida and at Psili Ammos, which is organized. Very close by you’ll find Livadaki with its exotic waters, Katsouli, which is shallower and ideal for children, and a little further, Agia Paraskevi. For a stunning sunset drive to Loutraki Bourou. In nearby Marmari you’ll encounter impressive Megali Ammos, a surfers’ favorite, and when the wind drops the scenery is truly exotic.
Monemvasia
A destination that feels plucked from a fairytale, Monemvasia is Laconia’s jewel of a castle-town. One of Greece’s most popular castles and unlike any other, the small town never ceases to surprise visitors. Monemvasia’s castle feels as if time has stood still, perched on the rock on a small sliver of land. It’s worth choosing accommodation inside the castle-town, so you have immediate access to both the sights and the shops.
Stone-built houses, little shops and restaurants along the picturesque alleys sit among Byzantine churches and guesthouses. At the top towers the Acropolis of the Upper Town, with breathtaking views. If you’re up for a hike, head to the Monemvasia Lighthouse at the tip of the rocky islet. Using Monemvasia as your base, you can discover wonderful sights and picturesque spots such as Kyparissi, Geraki, the Petrified Forest, Mystras and the Diros Caves.
Koroni
You’ll need about three and a half hours from Athens and one hour from Kalamata to reach Koroni. You won’t board a boat, yet you’ll feel as if you’re on an island. The settlement is very picturesque, built amphitheatrically with houses above the sea and the imposing castle crowning it. Narrow, uphill, whitewashed lanes, houses with flower-filled courtyards, well-preserved mansions with red-tiled roofs and the quaint harbor, full of fishing boats and sailboats, compose a unique image of island beauty.
After you wander its narrow streets, head down to the seafront promenade with the pedestrian street in front of the harbor to watch the comings and goings and sample fresh fish at one of the traditional tavernas. Take a stroll through Koroni’s renowned castle, which is still inhabited today, to savor the enchanting view over Koroni and the Messenian Gulf. The area’s beaches suit every taste. Very popular is Zaga beach, located right below the castle. Its western extension is called Memi and is equally lovely, with golden sand and crystal-clear waters. Other beaches worth visiting include organized Peroulia and the unorganized Ammoudi, Kalamaki, Agia Triada, Agios Nikolaos and Kryoneri.
Aegina
Aegina is one of the closest islands to Athens and offers some of the widest and most budget-friendly options for accommodation and food compared to other Argosaronic destinations and the nearest Cyclades. In addition, tickets from the port of Piraeus start at low prices, depending on the time and duration of the trip, which is about one to one and a half hours.
With a romantic atmosphere that transports you to another era, picturesque fishing villages, important sights, archaeological monuments and a pine-covered interior ideal for hiking and strolls, Aegina offers plenty of variety. Stroll along the harbor promenade with stops for ouzo meze and pistachio ice cream, make forays into the piney interior, swim at the islet of Moni, at the beaches of Marathonas, Aeginitissa and Agia Marina, at Klima, and take leisurely walks in Perdika and Palaiochora, the island’s medieval capital.
Poros
If you’re thinking of a short escape with romantic strolls and dips in blue-green beaches and coves where pines reach the sea, then Poros is one of the best choices. This small Argosaronic island carries the charm of bygone times. Poros essentially consists of two small islands, Sfairia and Kalaureia, divided by a very narrow channel just after the Naval Base. It lies very close to the mainland, just ten minutes by boat from Galatas and about an hour from the port of Piraeus.
The town of Poros looks like a postcard, built amphitheatrically above the harbor. The picturesque alleys with handsome mansions, small balconies and flowers create an ideal backdrop for endless walks. The harbor buzzes with life from morning till night, with cafes, little tavernas and shops lined up in a row. The island’s relaxed rhythms invite you to sit for local meze and ouzo, and for a drink with views of the fishing boats. Climb up to the historic Clock Tower for views of the channel that separates the island from the opposite coast of the Peloponnese. Then enjoy your swims at Askeli, Monastiri, the Russian Naval Base or Love Bay.
Serifos
So close to Athens, yet at the same time so remote, Serifos hides priceless treasures worth discovering. Its 70+ wonderful beaches, a Chora with authentic Cycladic character and the still-visible traces of the island’s rich mining past give Serifos a unique allure. Walks in the Chora usually begin at the chapel of Agios Konstantinos in the Venetian castle with its enchanting views, and end in bustling Pano Piatsa. The picturesque central square with the neoclassical Town Hall and the imposing church of Agios Athanasios looks like a movie set. Everyone will pass through here for coffee, meze and a nighttime drink.
Serifos’ strong suit is its gorgeous beaches with crystal-blue waters. The closest to the Chora and the port are the sandy Avlomonas and Livadakia. Further east you’ll find Psili Ammos, a beach the Sunday Times once called the “best beach in Europe”, Platy Gialos and the double beach of Agios Sostis with thechapel of the same name.Among the island’s most popular beaches is Ganema with its long sandy shore, which borders the equally noteworthy Vagia. If you’re seeking a beautiful and secluded beach, dive intoKalo Ampeli,in Serifos’ southern part.
Tinos
Beyond the Chora, the church of Panagia and the throngs of pilgrims, the beautiful, well-preserved villages of Tinos await the visitor who wants to discover the island’s authentic side. Pyrgos, Tinos’ largest village, is an open-air exhibition of folk art. Walking its picturesque cobbled lanes you’ll admire the village’s architecture and the superb marble creations that adorn every corner. Kardiani is a surprising village.Clinging to the slopes of Mount Pateles, unexpectedly green, with distinctive architecture and generous sea views. In the village of Volakas (or Volax) you’ll encounter a striking scene with scattered round granite boulders of large dimensions (probably remnants of a volcanic eruption) that impress and fire the imagination.
The amphitheatrically built Ysternia (like a balcony over the Aegean), Steni (the island’s second-largest village after Pyrgos), Dyo Choria, Falatados, Tripotamos and the fishing village of Panormos complete the palette of the island’s must-see villages.In Tinos you’ll come across a wealth of wonderful beaches: Kolymbithra, Pachia Ammos and Santa Margarita are just some of the shores awaiting your first swims of summer.
