The best beaches in Greece can be hard to narrow down—but we did it anyway. With a coastline of nearly 8,500 miles, the country is blessed with many stretches of sand that face the glimmering Mediterranean Sea. Most of the beaches on this list are found on one of Greece’s 6,000 islands and islets, and as a result, you may need a boat or two to get to your intended locale. But worry not. They’re all worth the trek.

If you want a vacation at the beach, late May to early October is the best time to visit Greece; just be mindful that July to September is when peak season is in full swing—the waters may be at their warmest, but you’ll be fighting for a place on the coast with plenty of other tourists. That said, you can always retreat to one of many gorgeous Greek island resorts that offer the best of the area; some can even arrange visits to the spots on this list, which you could call some of the best beaches in Europe too. Here are the best beaches in Greece, along with the best places to stay nearby.

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Katherine LaGrave.