Skala Beach

Skala, the beach that greets you off the boat

There is something special about town beaches on the Greek islands. You step off the ferry, drag your suitcase along, and twenty metres later your feet are already in the water. Skala is exactly like that.

Skala beach unfolds to the right of the port, sheltered by the rocky headland where the church of Agioi Anargyroi stands. It is a beach of fine golden sand, with water so calm it could be a swimming pool. The bottom drops away very slowly, so children can splash around safely.

The beach is split in two by the church’s promontory. The eastern side, the one closest to the port, gets natural shade from olive trees in the afternoon. The western side is wider and sunnier. Both have sunbeds and umbrellas for hire at around 8-10 euros a day. You can also just throw your towel down on the sand if you would rather not spend anything.

Behind the beach there is a promenade with tavernas and cafes. You can order an iced frappé and drink it with your feet in the sand. Or sit down to a plate of grilled octopus while you watch the sea. We loved one small taverna near the church, where they served the catch of the day at an unbelievable price.

Skala is not the prettiest beach on Agistri. Nor the wildest. Nor the most photogenic. But it is the most convenient. The one next to your hotel. The one you walk down to for the first swim of the morning and the last one at sunset.

For us, Skala was the everyday beach. The one before breakfast, when the water is flat as a mirror and there is only the odd early swimmer. The one after dinner, when the lights of the village reflect on the sea. Those simple moments are the ones that turn a trip into a memory.