Kandia beach - vilavivari.com

Passing the Vivari and Kondili, one arrives into the Kandia. Kandia is a small village with a huge beach that attracts many tourists especially close to the settlemets. However not many visitors know that the beach is 3,5 kilometers (3 miles) long and that the western and eastern part are vacant all the time. Seemingly endless coastline attracts all kind of visitors from couples, singles and families with kids through explorers and people searching solitude during summer rush to nudists.

Dirt road leading to the eastern part of Kandia beach

The beginning (and the end) of the beach is always empty. Even on the busiest days of the summer, there are only few people. Those searching for a solitude will find it here. To get there, drive from Kondili down and turn right at the first occasion. The road is unpaved mix of dirt and gravel so drive slowly for about five minutes to arrive.

If You would like to get a nice sun tan literally everywhere, the outmost part of the beach is for you. This eastern part is unofficially reserved for nudist :)

The beach is covered with a mixture of pebble and sand and the sea bed is mostly stones with a little bit of sand. However few meters from the beach are sand dunes that look like from another world. They are not. Few decades ago the whole Kandia beach has been sandy. When the Nauplio was constructing the Karathona beach, all the sand from Kandia has been raised, mined and moved to create an artificial sand beach of Karathona that You can see today.

The water is usually quiet, shallow and therefore fun for kids. The sea is clean without any dispute. However, the sea can bring waste and from time to time you will find it at the outer parts where the beach is not cleaned. That being said, the beach is not organised except from parts close to the civilisation (village and bars further down), where You can find water, shower and refreshments.

Those of us searching for a little bit comfort, sea beds, umbrellas, showers, toilets, cold Freddo coffee, tavernas etc., should continue into the village and follow the road to the beach. The village is small, with less than 150 official inhabitants and parking here can be an issue. Maybe you will have to walk a little to the beach bar or taverna you selected. Also remember that the beach close to the village and bars is visited in huge numbers during the summer weekends, just like Kondili. However, people tend to stay only within hundred meters from bars. Further away the beach gets spacious again.

Passing the village, you will find various signs showing directions to beach bars. The beach bar "Baraki" is one of the oldest and extremely popular among the visitors. During weekends it is impossible to find an empty umbrella. It gets also noisy and the sea is full of people as well.

However, I love it at night. When the sun goes down and parents with kids leave, this place turns into a romance for couples and peaceful harbor for friends wishing to chat. This feeling is strengthened by a music playing in the background, good service and fizzle of the cold drinks. There are also other bars, and the choice is entirely up to Your preference.

More pictures of Kandia beach are in our gallery.

Notice at the end, please do not throw cigarettes, plastic cups and other waste into the sea nor on the beach. With the exception of bars and villalge, Kandia beach is not organised. If You do not see a trash bin, take the waste with you. We are proud of our nature and Vila Vivari participates in the program of a sustainable tourism.

Protect the beauty around you, so that Your children may one day see it as well.

written by Michal Kohlmann