Greece · GR

Paralia Nies

On the quiet southwestern shore of the Pagasetic Gulf, the bay of Nies (Paralia Nies) tucks in at the foot of Mount Chlomos beside Sourpi, a short drive from the town of Almyros in Magnesia. Here a long, gently shelving beach of beige sand and pebbles curves through a landscape of olive groves and green hills, the water staying shallow and clear for some way out. It is a laid-back, family-friendly alternative to the busier Greek seaside resorts. Nies earns its appeal on three counts: a broad Blue Flag beach with calm, gradual-depth water ideal for children; a pretty little harbour framed by Cape Glaros; and a setting thick with legend, the spot tradition identifies as the place where Achilles is said to have set sail for Troy. The hamlet itself, with its old farm huts turned holiday homes and nearby Byzantine church remains, gives a swim a pleasing sense of place.