The geography of this island is actually quite interesting. It’s very mountainous, but still quite lush. You will find plenty of greenspace, along with citrus and olive trees. Waterfalls and mountain streams dominate the landscape, along with plenty of high quality water springs. You aren’t going to have to worry about not being able to see nature at its finest here. There isn’t so much development that everything has been ruined.

If you’re island hopping, then you’ll be pleased to know that Mykonos is only 2 and a half hours away by ferry, Paros is 4 hours away, and Tinos is an hour and a half away. That means that once you’re ready to move on to new adventures, there are plenty of other islands waiting for you.

Andros is also very close to Athens so if you want to go to the mainland of Greece, you can definitely do that too!

There’s a lot of culture to be found in Andros, including several festivals. There are a few cultural societies that put on festivals where guests and meet the local populace and get to know each other. There are some sweets, some fruits, and even some local cuisine dishes.

This is an island where religion still matters, and you will see people observing different religious holidays. If you’re going to be a tourist here, you will need to be respectful of the local observances. There’s nothing that says you have to join in, but you do need to be respectful at all times.

This means that there is no nudism on the island — there are other places for that, so don’t worry about it.

Many of the beaches of the island are untouched, meaning that you really do get to see the beauty of nature at its finest, untouched by man’s hands.

There are still a few beach parties to be had, so don’t think that you have to give up on that!

What do we mean by that? Well, you’re just going to have to read on, aren’t you?

One of the things that makes Naxos interesting is that it doesn’t rely on just tourism. This is because the soil is very fertile and a lot of different crops can actually be grown here. That’s a lot different than say, Santorini or Zante.

If you want to get around the island, you’re going to make sure that you just walk. Yes, there are rental agencies but many travelers have found that these outfits do a lot more harm than good. They tend to be aware of every scratch and dent that could possible happen, which tends to cause a lot of hassles in the future. Within the towns that you visit, walking around is actually a lot easier than trying to maneuver a scooter or a motorbike or even a full sized car around. There are some bus services available, but time moves a bit slower here and things tend to be a bit more unreliable than you might expect.

So, what can you honestly do here? Quite a bit — you can always sunbathe, since that’s a pretty popular activity. But if you want to do more than that, there’s always taking in all of the sights around you. There are numerous photographic moments to be had on the island, and you will be sure to find plenty of adventure waiting for you on the island. It’s a matter of making sure that you know exactly what you want to do. For example, there’s active sports offered around the island for people want to hike, play a few sports, and otherwise stay active. If you’re on foot, you’ll find that there are plenty of trails to visit, and even some ancient ruins to explore.

When it comes to food, you will get spoiled when you see all of the options for food. Fresh feta, fresh tomatoes, amazing olive oils…whatever you want, you can definitely find it here.

There’s an interesting organic shop on the island that sells a lot of organic food and exclusively biological products. Check it out while you’re on the island — you won’t be disappointed.

If you’re trying to keep your costs down on your Greek Island adventure, you will find it easier to rent a house or stay at a place that includes a kitchenette in all of the rooms.

There are plenty of local supermarkets that will let you shop around and get fresh foods so that you aren’t having to go out to eat all of the time.

If you’re planning on going to any of the Greek Islands, we think the island of Naxos definitely offers something for everyone.

And yes, to answer the question — you can sunbathe in the nude here. The beaches that form the southern half of the island are perfect for this, since there are little peaks that block access from the road. So it means that you’re semi covered up. Still, you’ll find nude or semi-nude sunbathing almost all over the island. Make sure that you know what you want to do before you get here, because you just might be in for a few surprises!

For example, you might assume that one beach is equal to another, so why bother really looking around? That’s actually not really a good thought to have at all. You will be a lot better off making sure that you focus on getting the right mix of components together for a great holiday that you will remember for a very long time.

So, can you really compare a Mediterranean beach to a Caribbean one or a Southeast Asian one? Not really.

You’ll find that when it comes to the Med style beaches, you’re going to find some obvious differences. The water is going to be a bit cooler, and the sand tends to be coarser and not as fine as some of the Caribbean beaches. There are pebbles on the beach in greater numbers than you might be used to seeing. You’re not going to get all of the palm trees, but you will still get plenty of sunshine. Isn’t the whole point of going out to the beach?

Great food is a staple in the Mediterranean, and there are plenty of friendly locals to serve it up to you for prices that are pretty inexpensive. After all, you’re not going to have to cook anything yourself.

When should you plan your ultimate Mediterranean beach holiday? Well, it just depends. In general, the beaches are going to be at their peak from May – October. Go after October, and it’s going to be really too cold to enjoy anything. However, if you try to catch the top of the season in May, you might have cooler temperatures than what you think.

Most travelers go during July and August, but these are really the most crowded points of the year for travel in general. The Med beaches aren’t going to be any different. If you go in September, you will still get plenty of warmth without having to deal with the long lines. This is because most people have to go back to work, and their children are going to be in school. So this might be exactly what you need to do in order to really have a good time.

We can give you plenty of reasons to really like Med beaches, but you have to check it out for yourself. Good thing we have a whole site filled with all things related to the Med, huh? Check it out today!

Ready to check it out with us? No problem!

To get around the island, you’re going to want to make sure that you check out the public transit system. This would be the public bus service, which is actually very inexpensive. You can also rent a car. If you rent a car you need to make sure that you have an international driving permit. Even though the local car rental agencies won’t require it of you, it can make it harder to get insurance coverage or have the insurance that you purchase “stick” in case of an accident.

The road conditions in Santorini are going to be hit or miss — tourists from all over the world come to Santorini, which means that they are bringing their driving customs with them. Keep that in mind.

Well, let’s talk about all of those lovely sights! As mentioned before, the island is gorgeous and a sight to behold no matter where you are from. You can take boat excursions to other islands around Santorini — such as Nea Kameni and Palia Kameni. These are a volcanic island as well as a hot springs respectively.

There are also the beaches to check out. For the black beach, you’re going to want to hit Kamari and Perissa, two towns where the beach is gorgeous black pebbles.

Akrotiri is where the red beach is, and it can get quite crowded. The sand gets its red color from the iron-rich cliff faces around the area.  You can also snorkel as well as swim in the water.

Topless sunbathing is the order of the day here as well — so be warned ahead of time!

There are museums as well as small art galleries to see if you really want a good sense of checking out the history and fine arts scene of the island. Fira and Oia are two villages that have plenty of architecture for you to see, if you’re into that type of thing.

Looking for cool stuff to eat during your stay in Santorini? Check out the white eggplant as well as a specialty of tomato keftedes — this is whole slices of tomatoes fried in batter. Dolmades are stuffed vine leaves.

If you’re on a budget, gyros — real gyros! — are available all over the island. Internet junkies can get their fix in Internet cafes in Kamari, Perissa, and Thira.

Overall, we think that the stunning scenery is more than enough to make you want to go to Santorini. It’s truly an experience that deserves to be enjoyed at least once!

When we say that it’s popular, trust us — it is definitely popular like you wouldn’t imagine! You’re going to find a wild mix of things to do. Loud nightlife, plenty of things to buy and other activities are what life in Mykonos tends to be about. This island is designed to be as pleasurable to tourists as it can possibly be. So if you’re trying to plan the best Med beach holiday you can, you definitely want to think about Mykonos.

So, when do you really need to book your trip? Aside from booking as early as possible, you want to make sure that you travel around mid-May to June. You can also go from September through mid-October. You’re still going to get some nice weather, but you’ll avoid the July and August times where the tourists just swarm the island and take over everything. When the demand is that high, the prices tend to follow suit.

If you’re looking for a gay-friendly destination, Mykonos is definitely where you want to be. Of course, even if you’re not part of the gay community Mykonos has something for you too — it really can get pretty wild!

If you want to check out the island in full, you have to check out the main communities. Chora and Ano Mera are the top two, followed by Ornos, Agios Ioannis, and Agios Stefanos. Each little community has plenty of places to stay as well as things to eat and drink.

This is not just an island of “things to do” — there’s plenty of amazing scenery that’s just hard to find anywhere else. So if you’re going to step into this part of the world, you really owe it to yourself to check out everything that you really can. A good digital camera is really a must, and we would even say a video camera is going to be essential as well. It’s just up to you.

While Greek is the official language of Mykonos and the other Greek Islands, you won’t have any trouble getting by on just English or any other foreign language. The local residents have gotten good at understanding all of the different languages of the tourists that flock to Mykonos year after year.

Public transport is the order of the day when it comes to this island, but there’s nothing wrong with renting a car. You will need to make sure that you add this to your holiday budget, because it can get pricey depending on demand.

When it comes to the beaches of Mykonos, you will need to be aware that many tourists do sunbathe at least topless. Complete nudity is frowned upon, but it can indeed happen. So if you have never been to a Med beach before, you might want to watch out for this. Just don’t stare — the “European” style of sunbathing is considered completely natural!

Given that this is an island you’re going to find plenty of beach to choose from. But don’t just take our word for it — check it out for yourself!

We’ve given you Taormina, Selinunte, and even Patara, but you might bee looking for a little more excitement. That brings us right back to Spain, which has plenty of things to see and do as always.

Costa Brava refers to a lot of smaller cities that are waiting for you to explore. Begur, Blanes, Calella de Palafrugell, Lloret de Mar, Palamos, and even Tossa de Mar. We think that Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar are two great cities to start with, if you’re really interested in some nice luxury. Both are resort towns that will have a wide range of amenities to enjoy.

Let’s talk about the region in general.

Shopping is a way of life in this area, and you’ll find tons and tons of fashionable shops to check out. There are internet cafes everywhere so if you’re a real big Internet junkie you’ll be able to get your fix. There’s also a big casino in the area that will have most of the casino games that you might be used to right there.

There’s also a huge water park that attracts a lot of tourists from all over Europe. You can find free transit that’ll take you all around the water part.

One thing that you don’t want to do at this beach collection of towns is try to rent your own car. There’s no need for it, and parking is very expensive anyway. You’re a lot better off either walking form place to place or checking out public transit options.

This is a playground for people with money, but there are still some budget opportunities for you to check out. You should never feel shut out of such a wonderful place, especially when there are still deals to be had.

What you have to decide for yourself is whether or not you’re going to plunge in and enjoy yourself. There are a lot of flights into these areas, and there are plenty of package deals to be had if you’re really into that sort of thing. It’s really never too late to have a good time — on the contrary. This is an area where people have fun all year round. However, if you really want to enjoy it, you’re going to need to make sure that you book your holiday time as early as possible. The area gets flooded with tourists as we mentioned earlier, and it can be hard to pick out the top spots at the last minute if you’re not careful! Have a great time!

Patara is interesting because it’s actually the birthplace of St. Nicolas, the 4th century bishop that is better known as Santa Claus. This is not the only claim to fame that Patara possesses, of course. It’s got the temple of Apollo, even though there are only a few ruins of the grand old temple scattered around the area.

The beaches here are truly a site to belong. The sand is a nice bright white, and the beach is about 20km long — that’s a lot of beach!

However, this is another village where you won’t expect a lot of amenities or really many things to do other than sight see. You will need to make sure that you bring things to entertain yourself. This is a village that’s all about getting away and then recharging your batteries again, much like it was in Selinunte as well as Taormina.

The Turkish Mediterranean actually provides an interesting picture into a different side of life than what you might be used to from looking at the Italian and even the Greek side of things.

Even though there isn’t a whole lot to do, you will still find many symbols of traditional village life. So if you’re a big history fan, you’ll definitely appreciate being able to see just about everything that can be seen here in a rather short amount of time. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

What we really like most about the beaches of Patara is that development is frowned upon. There are plenty of people that really like the way Patara is right now, and they really don’t want to change anything about the village at all. So if you’re one of those people that always likes to check our barely touched areas of the world, Patara is definitely the way you want to go.

Getting into the country might be a bit tricky, as you will most likely have to fly into Istanbul and then take public transit (buses, mostly) to get to Patara. However, once you really step into the village and enjoy the peace and quiet it’ll be like you were meant to be there all along!

Now, it’s important to know that if you decide to go with Selinunte over other Mediterranean beaches, you’re not going to have a loud party atmosphere waiting for you. This is where people go to rest and recharge. So if you need a lot of nightlife, you might want to try to go with somewhere else. We think that Selinunte is great for people that not only want to rest, but they want a piece of ancient history. Remember that this entire region has been fought over by a wide variety of forces over the centuries, and their influence is definitely left behind.

The area isn’t completely ancient, though — there are modern touches. You will be able to check out all of the archeological parks with an electric bus, and there are even more temples around the area that are perfect for visiting.

This is the site for the ancient city of Selnius, and you can see the ruins everywhere. The complex is huge, and you have your pick of gorgeous views of the coastline around you.

Some of the temples have been rebuilt, and they’re perfect for navigating on your own. There are some small touring operations that have helped tourists check out the area a bit better, but it’s up to you if you want the guided tour. Some people like a little more adventure than just that.

There’s also the Acropolis to check out — the former city has huge walls that were designed to push back the forces of antiquity.

During the high tourist season, there are plenty of restaurants that are open with a lot of local Italian fare. However, if you want to travel off season, you need to make sure that you do some research ahead of time to make sure that there is going to be places to eat as well as sleep when times are a bit slower. Many hospitality workers actually take time off during this part of year to go out and enjoy life — not a bad idea. After all, everyone has to take a holiday sometime!

Are you trying to check out more than the beaches at Selinunte? There’s Palermo, Mazara del Vallo, Marsala and even Trapani. You’re in for a real treat if you come to this region.

Even though Selinunte doesn’t have as many amenities on the whole as say, Taormina, we had to include it on our tour for a few reasons. For starters, there’s nothing wrong with just resting. We all have moments in life where we really need to just sit back and let life continue to pass on around us. Remember these moments of rest and then consider where you want to go next!

Not every area will allow fully nude sunbathing, but many beaches do allow topless sunbathing just fine. It’s considered pretty natural, and if you’re comfortable with strangers seeing you without a swim top, then you’re welcome to join in. Men are naturally allowed to be shirtless no matter what, so it’s a moot point.

Going topless can be done just about everywhere on the Greek Isles. It’s the nudity part that gets a little tricky. You can do it on Little Banana beach on the island of Skiathos, on Super Paradise as well as Panormas beaches in Mykonos, and Plaka on the island of Naxos.

If you really want to add some fun to your island routine, you don’t even have to stay on just one island unless you really want to. There are a few different island chains in Greece, and it’s important to know them if you’re going to start island hopping.

You have the Ionian Islands, the Cyclades, and the Sporades. If you stay within your own island chain, you can get around a lot faster. It’s not required — many people hop from one island chain to the next, but it’s going to be much longer trip.

We think that if you’re going to plan a beach holiday and you want to shed your clothes, you need to at least do some checking. Don’t just take our word for it — there are plenty of travel forums online where people have actually gone to this area and shared their experiences. You always want to collect as much information before you make any decisions. You’re not going to be on your own home turf anymore, so the more you try to respect the local policies, the better off you will be.

A week filled with beach adventures, sunbathing and everything else in between is a great week in any language — why not book your own trip today? You’ll definitely be glad that you did!

Since we’re starting a whole series on beaches in the Med, let’s start with Italy of course. More specifically, we just have to go with Sicily and talk about the beaches of Taormina. If you really want to enjoy yourself for your next trip, this is a great place to start.

So, what really makes this beach so special? Plenty! There’s a lot more to do than lie on the beach. If you’re interested in water activities, you’ll find plenty of those as well. Even in the technical “winter months”, you can still find people wind-surfing, sailing, fishing, and even scuba diving! Canoeing, snorkeling, and jogging on the beach are also common.

If you want to step away from the beach, you also have golf. Believe it or not, many Sicilians are very much into golf, especially as tourists have begun demanding golf courses. This is one of the most beautiful place sin the world, and playing golf is a pleasant experience no matter how you look at it.

Taormina is so small that you don’t even need a car to explore it. This means that you don’t have to worry about being rushed around the way you might in other places. You will find plenty of great shopping portals to check out, at prices that are a lot more affordable than what you might expect from an Italian city. There are also a lot of handmade products to choose from, like antiques and ceramics.

Staying active is going to be really easy in a place like Taormina. Even though it doesn’t offer a lot of nightlife, it does offer a way to get away from the hustle and bustle of regular life. You just have to make sure that you start looking at the things that you actually want to do.

While we’re on the subject of things to do in Taormina, the truth is that you still need to get the basics out of the way. You need to make sure that you know where to stay as well.

You have a lot of choices here, from traditional hotels that are done in a small scale, all the way up to vacation rentals. You really need to try to check out a vacation rental if you really want to experience some high quality living while on holiday, but if you really want the traditional hotel structure, you can have that too.

Overall, this is definitely a great place to visit, so why not check it out for yourself?