Chiliadou Beach; A weekend getaway

Chiliadou is a beautiful beach located in Euboea (Evia). Although Euboea is technically an island, it’s connected to the mainland by a bridge so you can just drive there. Chiliadou is only a 2-3-hour drive away from Athens, which makes it a great destination for a weekend getaway.

The road trip there is an experience on its own. When you reach Euboea, you pass the lovely town of Chalcis (Chalkida) and then continue northeast. Chiliadou is exactly on the other side of the island so you have to drive up and then down the mountainous area around Dirfi, the highest mountain of Euboea.

You might find the route a bit challenging (I wouldn’t advise driving there in the dark). The road is very narrow at places with many twists and turns, and several steep cliffs as well. However, the scenery is phenomenal and it makes it all worth it! It combines mountain and sea views, with stunning nature.

Driving through the lush green forest with pine, oak, chestnut and plane trees, you also encounter picturesque villages, such as Steni.

The route is pretty easy to follow, but using GPS would be wise nonetheless. There are several signs to the beach, though they are in Greek.

After your adventure in the mountains, you finally reach the beach! I’m sure it won’t disappoint you. Chiliadou, known as Paralia Chiliadou is a sandy beach with pebbles. The water is quite deep and there are large waves on a windy day. The beach is quite popular with the locals so it might be crowded, especially in August. However, it’s so big that you’ll always find a quiet spot to sit. There is also a small nudist beach separated from the main one; you can find it by following the path at the far end north of the beach.

The few coffee shops, restaurants and beach bars offer the perfect combination of comfort while being away from civilization at the same time.