Damnoni Beach, Plakias

If you ask people in Plakias where to take the kids for a whole day at the beach, most of them will say Damnoni. It is the next bay east of town, a broad curve of sand with the hills rising behind it, and it is the most straightforward family beach in the area: sand underfoot, a gentle entry, and everything you need within a few steps.

It is also the busiest of the beaches just outside Plakias. There is a large hotel on the bay, and in summer the beach is organised with sunbeds and umbrellas. If you want a quiet cove, keep driving to Ammoudi or Schinaria. If you want an easy day where nobody has to think too hard, Damnoni is the one.

What the beach is like

Damnoni is a long sandy beach, wider and more open than the coves further east. The water is usually clear, and the seabed slopes gently from the sand, so you can walk in a long way before you need to swim. That is what makes it work for younger children and for adults who are less confident in the sea.

The middle of the bay is where the organised part is, with sunbeds, umbrellas and places to eat and drink in summer. The ends of the beach, near the rocks, tend to be quieter, and the rocks themselves are the best place for a first look with a mask.

In summer there are often water-sports rentals on the bay, though what runs and when changes from year to year. If that matters to your trip, ask when you arrive rather than planning around it.

Next to Damnoni, towards Ammoudi, is the tiny cove of Ammoudaki. It is a small scoop of sand between rocks, charming when empty and full very quickly.

Damnoni under the water

Damnoni is not only a beach for us. The old harbour of Damnoni is one of our dive sites: a gentle, shallow slope with no sudden drop-offs, which is why we use it for training and for people on their first dives. Further out there are deeper sections with steep declines, caves and underwater gorges for certified divers. Depending on conditions we reach it from the shore or by boat.

The same reef is one of our snorkelling spots. Seen from the surface, the shallow slope is easy to follow, and you can watch divers below you working through the same water.

How to get to Damnoni from Plakias

Damnoni is a short drive from Plakias. Leave town heading east towards Lefkogia and follow the signs down to Damnoni. The road down to the bay is narrow in places and busy in July and August, so go slowly and expect to meet cars on the bends. Parking fills up at the height of the day in peak season, which is another reason to arrive early.

It is also possible to walk from Plakias over the headland, on paths and tracks. It is a proper walk in the heat rather than a stroll, with little shade. If you do it, go early, carry water and wear shoes you can walk in.

When to go

The swimming season on this coast runs from May to October. The sea is typically 19–21 °C in May and 25–26 °C in August, with June to September usually the most settled months. Our Plakias weather guide has the month-by-month picture, and the water temperature page covers the sea in detail.

On the south coast, wind matters more than the date. The summer north wind can come down over the mountains in strong gusts, and on those days the sea can be choppy and the sand can blow. On calm days Damnoni is flat and inviting from morning to evening. If you have a choice, check the forecast and plan the beach day for a calmer one.

For families, mornings and late afternoons are the gentlest times: less crowded, less heat, and softer light. The middle of the day in July and August is for shade and lunch.

Swimming and snorkelling at Damnoni

Most people come to Damnoni to swim, float and play in the shallows, and it is very good at that. A few things keep it relaxed:

• Keep small children within arm's reach. A gentle slope still ends somewhere, and a small wave can knock a child over.
• Snorkel along the rocks at the ends of the bay. The open sand in the middle has less to see.
• Watch for rental craft and boats in summer, and stay inside any swimming area that is marked.
• Do not snorkel alone when the wind picks up. Chop near the rocks makes it tiring quickly.

Damnoni for a mixed group

Damnoni works well as the base for a group where not everyone wants the same day. Non-divers can have a full, comfortable beach day here while the divers in the group are in the water, and everyone meets back on the sand for lunch and the afternoon. If someone is curious about diving but has never tried it, a try dive needs no experience, and our page for people travelling with divers covers how the rest of the group can join in.

Staying near Damnoni

Some visitors choose to stay by Damnoni for the beach on the doorstep. Others prefer Plakias village, with its tavernas and shops within walking distance, and drive to Damnoni for the day. Our guide to where to stay in Plakias compares the areas.

Combining Damnoni with the rest of the coast

• Damnoni and Ammoudi. Ammoudi is the next beach along, smaller and usually calmer.
• A deeper swim at Schinaria. For confident swimmers and snorkellers, Schinaria is rockier with much deeper water.
• All the beaches side by side. Our guide to the beaches around Plakias compares them, and the main Plakias guide covers the rest of your trip.

Looking after the place

Damnoni is busy for a reason, and it only stays pleasant if everyone leaves it as they found it. Take your rubbish with you, including cigarette ends, and leave the sand, stones and shells where they are.