Tzanaki Beach near Livadia
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Sad to say that you can miss the big house with the swimming pool - we did miss it in June 2018 and walked a long way past Tzanaki Beach. There are lots of new buildings - studios and boutique hotels that are complete but empty, and others that are actively being built - so maybe that's why we did not see the house and pool. Basically, walk out of Livadi as instructed, and when you pass the sign for Livadi behind you, you can already see the sign for Tzanaki beach. It now has a nice stone arch, a sign saying (I think) Tzanaki monopati, and the first 10 metres are nice stone steps. After that, its a steep scramble down the hillside to the threshing floor, then on to the beaches. We got there in the end, found 2 naturists on the first pebbly beach, scrambled over to the second beach, where we were alone for a while, then 2 more couples joined us. Could not see how to get to the next beach along, unless we swam there. We stayed in the corner of the second pebbly beach where there was some shade, and had some great swimming.
19°C
Tzanaki Beach (blue arrow), threshing floor (green arrow), path start (yellow arrow), house with pool (orange arrow) and Livadi (red arrow)
The beach itself is azure and large scale shingle and about 75m long. The beach has a great location but it is only comfortable on the less rough pebbles by the water's edge and it is often not possible to sit there.
There is a second bay over some rocks to the south which is maybe 20m long but the sun vanishes about 3.30pm there. The beach is pretty much 100% naturist but an occasional textile may wander in (no problems). One local seemed to turn up for a swim and a look at about 3.00pm (probably end of work) but was no problem. Snorkelling quite good and water clarity brilliant. A really nice crowd on a very small beach. Bring all you require as no facilities here. It is such a small, nice, reasonably frequented beach.
2007: Barefooters confirm the above but found it something of a hike to reach.
2011: The beach had a consistent covering of smooth large pebbles and it was equally comfortable to sit anywhere on the beach. During mid-August there was a small number of friendly nude and clad people until around midday when a large number of Italian (2 days) then Spanish (1 day) well and truly clad young people (25 to 35 years old?) filled the beach spoiling the atmosphere to some degree. Great beach otherwise. Also, after walking through Livadia and up the hill and the left turn, you will see a dirt track running along the shoreline, it is a much easier walk along this track to get to the beach. Stock up on supplies at the small friendly supermarket at Livadia Beach. Beyond the second beach there is also a smaller third beach you can swim to.
2012: After my short time on Astypalea (2011 entry) I returned and stayed for the month of June. Spent some time on Tzanaki almost every day. Most pleasant in the later afternoon. Not busy throughout June. The beach and water is very well protected when strong northerly winds are blowing so don't be put off going. There are actually nine little beaches to the right that you either walk or swim between. No-one ever seems to go beyond the second and third so you could have one to yourself. Some are very small I admit!
2013: My wife and I visited in September. There is a sign to Tzanakia beach on the road as you head south out of Livadhia past Vasilios beach and the road starts to climb. There is now a small parking area next to the sign and the path is obvious and fairly easy. It took us 5 minutes from the road. It is a quiet, safe and friendly environment to strip off. We were there for four hours in the afternoon and there were five of us spread out across both bays, at least one of which seemed to be a regular. The beach is pebbly, the water is deep blue and there are great views to Hora and the Quirini Castle.
2018: Reported by Kavafis on the old forum: Visited beautiful Astypalea late September. Nice weather but quite windy in the last days. I confirm that Tzanakia is in full use as a naturist beach - during my days there, almost 100% nudist, only 1 Greek textile couple showed up briefly. Easy to find following current indications. I would add another reference: after you pass Livadi and the small bay that follows (an unattractive, non-organized beach), continue driving until you find at your right a place called ARCHITEKTONIKI STUDIOS. The entrance to the beach is maybe 200 m after that, clearly indicated by a white sign at your left. Contrary to what a previous reviewer has said, there is no parking there, you need to park down the road.
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LinleyH
2024- August – I went to this beach on a couple of occasions at the very end of August. On the first occasion there were 4 others naked on the main beach, but come midday a good number of young people turned up and none of them went naked, which made it uncomfortable. However, I noticed on the small beach pass some rocks a few people were still naked. On the next occasion I went to the far beach and everyone was naked (7 people). I also noticed there were considerably less people on the main beach, so I assumed a lot of the young people might had gone back to school or university. As always, peak summer can be an issue.
As previously stated, the water was lovely and clear and great for swimming and snorkelling.
Editor
“officially” naturist beach. Easy access by walking on 10 minute path. Few people, generally naked. Environment polluted by some textile couples (mostly Italian) who, even though surrounded by naturists, insist on keeping their swimsuits (but why don’t they go to another beach?). Crystal clear water, probably the best on the island. There is a project to build a hotel, so probably the beach of Tzanaki will disappear in a short time
Post by Jogeur