When it comes to beaches, crystalline water, turquoise bays and fine sand, our southern neighbour definitely has something to offer. Yet far from every beach on Greece’s thousands of miles of coastline is worthy of setting your phone on fire with Instagram likes. That’s not the case with the island of Diaporos, however. Hidden off the peninsula of Sithonia, Halkidiki, this uninhabited island could easily fool you into thinking you’re in the Caribbean. As words are not enough to describe this colourful fairy in the blue-green range, we have prepared a wealth of photos from Diaporos for you to see for yourself. We apologize in advance that even our photographic abilities are not enough to capture these exotic colors. But in person, the views of the beaches of Diaporos are breathtaking and eye-catching.
Brief history of Diaporos
Diaporos is distinguished from the other famous Greek islands by the fact that although it is ethereally beautiful and located very close to the mainland of Greece, it has never been inhabited. There is no historical evidence that anything ever happened there, no remains of a fortress or settlement, and no other historical artifacts have been found. All in all, the small island has been severely neglected since antiquity, right up until the 20th century. Then comes the glorious time of Diaporos. In the 1950s, when the world began to recover from the war and people started to travel more and look for places to rest, Diaporos came into the sight of a group of wealthy people. The small island became home to several villas and annually attracts holidaymakers seeking peace, beauty and solitude. Fortunately, despite the increased interest in Diaporos, there are very few buildings, no restaurants or shops at all, and the only roads that cross the island are dirt roads.
The beaches of Diaporos
But let’s get to the point. The strength of Diaporos is in the beaches. The most famous Diaporos beach is Myrsini. Because of its deep blue clear water and white sand, the beach attracts tourists staying not only around the island, but also in more distant places around Sithonia. It is Mirsini that has the main merit of Diaporos being compared to a Caribbean island. The Blue Lagoon is no less famous a beach. Although there are at least 20 “blue lagoons” around the Mediterranean, this paradise has quite deservedly earned its fame as one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. The other numerous small coves of Diaporos are also incredibly beautiful and wherever you position yourself, the crystal expanse of the sea and the incredible memories are guaranteed.
However, the secret of this small island is not only in their beauty. Diaporos is situated in a bay between two large peninsulas and the waters around it are extremely calm and relatively shallow. Unlike many other Greek beaches where, along with everything wonderful, your constant companions are the wind and the waves, there you can really relax and feel safe even with small children. The abundant coniferous vegetation provides natural shade on most beaches.
How to get to Diaporos
Like any island, the main way to reach it is by water. People rent motor boats, water taxis or kayaks. For us, the best way to get to Diaporos is, of course, with a healthy dose of self-paddling. Useful, environmentally friendly and a lot of fun. The distance from Vervourou, the nearest settlement, to the island is quite short, making the trip suitable for people with no kayaking experience. Besides, the beach (and the food 😉 ) is much more enjoyable when we earn our own way to be there. And kayaks give us the freedom to choose our beach from afar and change the cove with a few paddles until we find the perfect one for us. Kayaking is always extremely pleasant fun, even on the murky waters of our dams, what’s left to pass over the turquoise sea surface and enjoy the little sea dwellers hidden for the lazier tourists. It’s an experience everyone wants to repeat!
If you haven’t visited Diaporos yet and you’re a fan of Mediterranean charms, it might be time to correct that mistake. The island is about 400 km from Sofia, and even closer from southern Bulgaria. If you want to feel the magic of Diaporos, under whose captivity you will remain forever, we highly recommend you to participate in one of our kayaking adventures to Diaporos. 100% guaranteed wild fun!