Last updated 16 March 2008

An island memorably described by one of my contributors as a haunt for a lot of young people, many of whom belong to the "Sand, Sea and Sex Brigade", who seem to equate nudity with a form of advertising ... !

Koumbara
A correspondent notes a small, unremarkable beach on the other side of the port from Milopotas beach. To get there from the town, face the water and head to the right, heading away from the mob. Head up the hill, over the headland and its the first beach you come to. It is a reasonable walk of about 15 minutes. My contributor was there in May 1997 and it was pretty quiet. The beach itself is very average but it is an alternative and requires little effort to get to. Of those on the beach, some were nude and some were not. The water was very clear if a little cold (although that presumably depends on the time of year) and the beach itself seemed to alternate between sand and pebbles. The surrounds are not particularly attractive so it doesn't rate highly but it is within walking distance of the town. In May 2001 there were 9 nudists at the far end but it did not have a good nudist beach atmosphere.

An Australian contributor who visited Ios in June 2001 described this as the island's "official" nude beach. It's not bad but there are two minor problems; firstly, get in early. The first day he went there it was populated by textiles.  A visitor during August 2002 also reports no nudists.

Secondly, the tourists.  The second day my contributor was there, there were about half a dozen on the beach, all nude. A group of the young S, S and S brigade described above walked past fully clad and seemed to find a high level of amusement in what they were doing. Despite all that, the beach was clean and wide and the water was fantastic. Koubara is recommended as a good beach for going nude and rated about 75%. It's generally pretty quiet and very pleasant.

A report from August 2007 says Koumbara has become a developed beach, 100% textile. Maybe better in low season, but in August it's not recommended for naturism. However, the water is fine and the beach is very clean.

Kolitsani
Probably the best bet for a real nudist beach, though reports vary and there seems to be significantly less naturism here in high season.  Those who have visited it out of season seem to love it, however.

It is in a small cove on the headland between the port and Mylopotas. Along the way to Mylopothas from the village, before the Mojo club, you have to turn right and park your scooter or car in the parking lot. Outside it, on the right, follow the white arrows down the hill. You'll find a nice little beach divided in two parts by a cliff. On the right hand side, again facing the sea, there's the place where you can sunbathe nude. Early reports talked of mostly singles (male and also female), some couples, some groups of friends. Not very crowded either by nude people nor textile ones. Nice sea: clear and easy to get into.

However ... a report from August 2002 says there were few people there and no naturists.

But a more promising one from 2005 describes it as one of the best beaches on Ios: hidden away but can be busy.  Great for being nude, and the water is very safe to swim in.  My contributor says the beach can be "very nude", with a great mix of ages.

And one from May 2006.  Barefooters found nobody on the beach. Although some houses were rather close, two big inscriptions "nude beach " reassured them. So they spent a very pleasant afternoon bare, peaceful, quiet and sheltered from the wind.  They rated the beach a rare 100%.  But one from August 2006 gives a quite different impression.  The walk there indeed only requires about 15-20 minutes but, though picturesque, it is far from easy. The beach on the day of my contributor's visit was dreadful. There was a handwritten sign describing it as 'nudist beach', but there was no naturist in sight and loads of textiles. In addition, it was extremely dirty on that particular day, both on the beach itself and in the sea (the latter, to be fair, was due to the southern wind, and was probably true for every Cycladic island on that day).  

In August 2007, Barefoot reporters thought Kolitsani one of the most beautiful beaches around, with very nice water and fine sand.  My reporters were nude until 3pm when the beach got very crowded and 95% textile; other people were not completely polite so thy decided to leave. Recommended for the morning sun.
 

Manganari
This is a report from another Australian correspondent who visited Ios in June 1994.

Ios port is a small town with a fully enclosed & narrow bay. A (steep hill separates the port from Milopotamos which is a nice sandy beach but only 200? metres long. sunbed & taverna are on the northern end closest to the port & very crowded. it's generally topless. nothing special for a european beach. The southern end far less crowded & a few naked bodies but not overtly a nudist beach. Other travellers had reported widespread nudity at this particular beach extending to the taverna itself but not in evidence the day I passed through on a stopover from Thira to Paros. young crowd. pretty noisy & generally drunk. Unusually high proportion of Aussies which is why I had gone there as I had been told it was "the" place to go.

My correspondent took a moped to Manganari beach on the southern end which the The Rough Guide (Europe) had described this a place to get a serious tans. The local literature described Managnari as one of the best beaches in the Greek islands. It took over an hour to travel the 18 km form the port to Manganari. The "road" is really a 4WD track.

The beach is sandy & expansive. At least one KM wide with sand dunes behind a low shallowing beach. The tide was out. He says: As I approached I could see the beach shimmering ... excitement mounted.. as a crested the last hill (of many) I could see that the shimmering was a large herd of goats, maybe 3000? I'm no goatherder so don't quote me but they covered the whole beach width. Not a body to be seen. I'm not surprised with goat sh.. covering the beach. It is also an exposed beach and would be roasting hot in mid-summer. I'd give it a 2/10 for the sand which is otherwise rare on Greek islands.

A correspondent from 2000 described Manganari as hard, very hard to get to: 18 km of really mountain road, unpaved. He cannot emphasize enough to not try to go there by scooter. The wind was blowing hard and you cannot drive easy with sand beating you everywhere strongly. If you can use the buses, for 1300Drs, departing from the port at 1030 and 1230. There are also boats.

There is a small beach on the northern side of the port. Although a bit exposed with some weed evident there were a several small groups having a swim here. Several couples were nude including a pair of young (20 something) Greek girls who appeared to be locals - a rare event.

A report from August 1999 describes sunbathing nude at Manganari. There are a few beaches at Manganari. The most westerly two were unspoilt with the smaller being the best and nudist. There is now a taverna here with building works creating tennis courts etc and parasols/sunbeds on both beaches. However, there were some nudists on the most westerly of these beaches.

Unfortunately, a report from August 2002 says the main beaches at Manganari are now textile, including the coves furthest from the taverna which now have sunbeds, brollies and their own taverna. A better bet is a beach thought to be called Three Trees beach. As you drive down the final stretch to Manganari there is a small church on the left hand side. Walk down another 100 metres, then go through a gate and carry on walking, you'll see track to a house on the right, you can follow the track or make your own way down a scrubby hill to the beach, it is generally deserted. You can also get off the bus at the Kalamos monastery and follow the coastline to Manganari, an 8-kilometre walk, there are some lovely sandy beaches, all deserted.

Another report from August 2007 says that Manganari is developed; lots of people visit by bus and the beach is 100% textile. 

Tris Klisies: Just before you reach Manganari by the dirt road, you see this lonely beach on the left side on the road. There is a little goat path leading to this beach. There is a small rocky island, very small. But it makes the water shining from deep-blue to green. When my contributor was there, there were few people, max. 8. There is 2 Olive trees for shade, no booth for drinks or snacks (thank goodness). If you want it even more lonely, pass this one beach along the coastline to the left if facing sea, walk about 10 mins. My contributor found this absolutely perfect!

Barefooters who were there is August 2007 thought the beach was wonderful, the water was just a bit too cold, but very very clear. There were 8 people excluding my reporters: a straight naturist couple and some Greek (and polite) textiles. Recommended: my reporters rated it 100%.

Aghios Theoditis

In July 2002 There were scattered nudists at the end furthest from the car parking area, including some local girls.

Mylopotas can no longer be recommended.  It is a fairly big beach just south of town. It has a few camping grounds and tavernas. I heard reports of this being a nude beach, apparently described as such on local maps. but that doesn't seem to be the case at all. A report from August 1999 describes seeing no nudists at all. But earlier reports say firmly that the middle part of the beach is naturist. Frewin Poffley's Independent Traveller's Greek Island Hopping says that the building of a new road has destroyed nudism there.

Two big camping sites, one of them with a bungee jumping structure, tavernas and restaurants. Lot of young people, lot of water sports resort: waterbikes, windsurf, and so on. Nice beach, but anyway not a nude one at all. A report from May 2001 confirms no nudists.  A damning report from August 2002 says it is a "boom-boom beach full of party-lions and -cats".  A report from August 2006 confirms all these impressions, unfortunately.

Despite the reports above, one Barefooter tells me that although this beach is wonderful for swimming but has never been nude, despite other reports. In the seventies people was even fined by civil police for sunbathing topless. Now it's topless and relaxed, and without sunbeds in the middle part, but not nude. To get privacy instead head for the rocks to the right of the beach behind the Mexican restaurant. Textiles are optional, depending on if you inhabit your spot early or not. Far out, in the eastern part of the beach is the young people's beach party area. I would say that if you don't like loud r'n'b and happy and playing teenagers, head for another spot or another beach.