Pili

Pili feels like a place the modern world simply overlooked. This small village on Evia's northeastern coast, about 56 km from Chalkida, is wrapped so tightly in pine, fir, and plane trees that driving there feels like descending through a tunnel of green before emerging at the sea. The beach is a gentle crescent of dark sand and fine pebbles. A long breakwater covers nearly half the bay, creating one of the most sheltered swimming coves on Evia's eastern coast. Even when meltemi winds howl across the Aegean, Pili's bay remains almost lake-calm — making it one of the safest, most family-friendly beaches on the island.

Pili Beach (mixed) - ★ 0.0

June-September. Sheltered bay means swimmable even on windy days. Spring excellent for forest hiking.

From Chalkida: 56 km north via Prokopi (~1 hour). From Athens: ~135 km (~2-2.5 hours). Turn right before Prokopi, scenic forest road descends to coast.

One of the very few Aegean-side beaches swimmable during meltemi — keep it as backup when other east-coast beaches are rough. Drive 5 km to Atalantos Bay for a wilder, emptier beach with just a chapel for company. Stop in Prokopi (9 km away) to visit the Church of Saint John the Russian — one of Greece's most important pilgrimage sites.