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The Red Beach is superb for nudists. It was the only Greek location featured on "The World's Best Nude Beaches" on the Sky Travel TV channel.
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1996: However, another correspondent described the Red Beach as a clothing optional beach where he and his girlfriend didn't feel comfortable. There is an umbrella rental business. My correspondent thought there were too many umbrellas, one near another; so that if you want a quiet place, the Red Beach might not be the best place. Besides there are too many boats that carry people from and to Matala [that is an unfortunate development I agree], so the water is not so good. (his rating: 70%). His opinion (which I share): the people are destroying most of the places.
2000 September: The Captain revisited and increases his rating to 90% - it would be more if access was not so difficult.
2004 September: A contributor says “there is no easy way to the Red Beach (long may it be so!)”. Another comments on the great views and calm atmosphere. A correspondent found the path too difficult and turned back. You have to climb steep uphill over rocks. You should only do this wearing proper shoes and not slippers.
For some years a Belgian gentleman lived on this beach - an artist, doing carvings from local stone. He kept one end of the beach for the nudists so that it did not get taken over completely by textiles. When he saw people in the naturist area with clothes on he apparently asked them to leave or to strip. He was featured on The World's Best Nude Beaches. However, reports from 2004 say he is no longer there.
What you find at Red Beach depends on the time of year. In high summer there are often lots of textiles but this can change from day to day. It can often depend on who gets to the beach first. A lot of people will strip once they see others nude so the best advice is, if you consider yourself a true nudist, strip off and set the standard. The Red Beach is well known as a nudist beach and textiles can't be surprised (and one does wonder why they bother to make the climb when there are so many textile beaches in the area). There are plenty of good beaches for textiles, they do not need to take over ours. Don't huddle into a corner. Do your bit for nudism and strip!
In May 2004 it was reported to be 80% naturist, in September 65%; another contributor comments that it seems to become more nudist later in the day.
Some contributors say they think I have made the climb to the beach as being worse than it is. Others report that they found it pretty tiring in the heat of summer. And some German friends tell me that they think it is well worth it! So try it and make your own mind up!
2006 July: Barefooters who visited thought the beach was well worth the visit and there was a good mix of textile and non-textile sunbathers. Parasols were available along with some sunbeds at the northern end of the beach. The elderly Greek gentleman collecting the money was very civil and gave those departing from the beach a very cheery wave! Good sand and good access to swim and snorkel. This beach does feel miles from anywhere but in reality it is only 'round the corner' from Matala (Textile paradise!).
2007 July: Red Beach was about 50% nude and it seemed to become more nudist later in the day. Nude/not nude people were mixed - there was no definitely nude part of the beach. Refreshments can be found in a small building in the centre of the beach. There is an umbrella/sun beds rental business but enough room left free. The water was excellent.
A gentleman was making carvings from local stones. He was with a lady and did not live at the beach but took the way from Matala. About 25 figurines were placed on a large stone on the beach. Some of the figurines are left at the beach bar, others have disappeared.
2008/2009: there were hardly any nudists during the main tourist season, and it did not feel like a nude beach any more when nudists had to stay at the fringes.
2010: the situation was a little better, with many naturists at each end of the beach. A few brave took nude walks between the southern and northern ends, passing the largely textile central part. Signs pointing the way to the beach now clearly state "Nude beach", yet a quick count revealed that a large majority kept their bathing suits firmly on. Much sand accumulated during the winter 2009/2010, which means the beach was wider in 2010 than in 2008 and 2009, with more room for nudists at the right and at the left. A beach bar is working in the centre of the beach.
2011 August: it was very populated with only about 15% of the people nude. But nude and non-nude were completely mixed without any problem. So you can easily unclad, swim and walk from end to end, with nobody seeming to care. The path to the beach is absolutely worth to do, it is the best part, and it is nice to have a place to rest and refresh before going back. The beach itself loses a lot of its charm due to the umbrellas that cover a large part of it and the clothed and crowded attendance under it that gives it the appearance of a common commercial beach. But it is still a unique experience to go there and back.
2015 July: A visit tended to agree with the above view that it didn't feel like a nude beach at all. Initially in the morning the right hand side of the beach was totally nude and the beach as a whole probably 50/50, however by lunchtime the mix had changed and to probably 80% + textile.
2016 September: We were on Red beach for 3 days, different times of the day. Morning : on arrival 80% nude later more textiles ; all day about 90% nude all day long ; afternoon between 60 and 80% nude . Nude % is influencing itself, I saw people undress when being aware that the large majority was, or stick to textile when some textile groups were on the beach. Entering the beach is a sign "nude beach" and "only nudists and goats". The bar with Yannis has good atmosphere, and most textiles stay just in front of the bar. The other parts of the beach were mainly nude. Since Matala central beach is so much textile, some women come to Red Beach to be topless.
2020 August: Nude and non-nude go together very well at this beach. The left-hand side is mainly nude. It is a hot walk and there is no natural shade. In front of the taverna you can rent a sunbed and an umbrella, the man has collected all kinds of umbrellas which makes it less formal.
2023
- May: on a Sunday earlier arrivals from 10am were in some cases naturist, but increasingly textile as the day went on. By mid afternoon 90% textile. A mojito selling cafe at the entrance to the beach, and another more informal drinks and melon supplier also operated on the beach itself.
- July: Went on a Thursday in early July. There are signs along the way and on the beach reading "Nude beach - FKK". At the beach there were groups of nudists scattered all along, including using the sunbeds and umbrellas near the bar. Went for a nude walk along the beach, not very long but very nice. Water was calm and nice. Nice atmosphere overall, very welcoming to nudists, definitely recommend.
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