Nanou Beach
Symi, Dodecanese, Greece
Nanou Beach sits on the south coast of Symi, Greece, a long stretch of white pebbles reachable only by boat and hidden behind a ring of high hills that keeps it out of view from the rest of the island. A small canteen serves lunch right on the beach, and the water here runs clear enough for good snorkeling and diving just off the shore.
A real escape from Symi Town with clear water and an actual place to eat lunch, which is more than most boat-only beaches on the island can offer, though the boat dependency means it's never a spontaneous stop.
Book a spot on one of the small taxi boats that run from Symi Town rather than trying to arrange anything last minute in peak summer, since seats fill up by midmorning.
There's no road access anywhere near Nanou. Taxi boats depart from the harbor in Symi Town, with the ride taking roughly 20 to 30 minutes depending on the boat.
Boats generally beach directly on the pebbles, and the shoreline is flat once you're there, though the pebble surface itself isn't ideal for bare feet or limited mobility.
June through September brings the calmest seas for the boat ride over and the warmest water for swimming and diving, while the shoulder months of May and October see a much thinner boat schedule.
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