Platis Gialos (or Platis Yalos) is the largest sandy beach on Sifnos and also one of the busiest. It is located in the south of the island. It may not be the most beautiful beach on Sifnos, but it’s certainly one of the most pleasant. Both family-friendly and trendy, lined with bars and restaurants, it’s lively and lively. You can settle here and stay for several days for a relaxing vacation. A large number of regulars (notably French) take up residence here in the summer and return year after year.
In addition to azure blue seas and golden sands, Platis Gialos has it all. Here’s a quick overview.
Platis Gialos beach: swimming and relaxing on warm sand
The beach at Platis Gialos is great for swimming: the sea is clear and very clean, the access slopes gently and the sand is fine. The beach has also been awarded the European Blue Flag eco-label.
You can spread your towel on the sand and plant your parasol.
There are also a number of developed beaches:
- at the eastern end of the beach, just past the little port: around 50 orange parasols with shower and changing facilities
- in the middle of the beach, next to the NUS restaurant: a large supervised swimming area with shower, toilet and changing facilities. Next door, Bloo Marine (+30 698 4857273) rents out pedal-boats, some with slides, and canoes, and offers sea outings.
To rinse off after a swim, there are several showers on Platis Gialos beach:
- in front of the Palmira bar
- next to the Yalos bar
- in front of Café Notos
- in front of Mostra Café
- on developed beaches
Our favourite restaurants on Platis Gialos beach
Here are our three favorites (in order of preference):
- Omega 3 which offers refined cuisine based exclusively on fish
- Maiolica cosmopolitan, creative and refreshing cuisine. Enjoy mezzés from the four corners of the world and healthy dishes. A little (too) expensive, but the flavors are really out of the ordinary.
- NUS NUS: Greek slow food, with organic ingredients straight from the farm, prepared in the pure Sifniote tradition.
Other highlights include:
- Mamma Mia an Italian restaurant where you can eat in or order pizzas to take away and enjoy on the beach.
- To Steki: a well-located tavern serving traditional Greek cuisine.
Cafés and bars for refreshment
First of all, we recommend Palmira a lively, trendy bar with a refined decor, a shady terrace and a few deckchairs and seats on the beach.
The bar Yalos is equally pleasant: a refined blue-and-white decor, lounge music, shady tables and a dozen deckchairs on the beach. We would also like to mention Notos a café with deckchairs set back from the beach, in the shade.
Hotels in Platis Gialos
Hotels here are not particularly inexpensive, and if you want to stay in July or August, it’s best to plan ahead.
Here are a few addresses:
Treat yourself
- Alexandros Hotel : 150m from the beach, a beautiful Cycladic-style hotel with gardens and swimming pool
- Hotel Niridies : a family-run hotel with magnificent views and quality service
- Verina Suites: a superb hotel, slightly set back from the beach (you have to cross the road), quiet, with swimming pool and lovely terrace.
- Platys Gialos : Platys Gialos: a beachfront hotel with direct access to the sea
Intermediate prices
- Edem Hotel : An excellent value for money for this family-run hotel, 150 meters from the beach. A pretty terrace with bougainvillea, a peaceful atmosphere, a warm welcome and a hearty breakfast where everything is homemade.
- Antigonis Rooms (+30 210-9523697 in winter, +30 22840-71260 in summer)
Guesthouses with direct access to the beach
- Pension Ageliki (+30 693 737 0222 )
- Studios Margarita (+30 228 407 11 00)
- Studios Nikoletta (+30 228 407 14 36)
- Hotel Efrosini (+30 2284 071353 )
Airbnb
You’ll also find plenty of accommodation in Sifnos on the Airbnb website.
Stores in Platis Gialos
Finally, if you’re a shopaholic, you won’t find what you’re looking for in Platis Gialos. Instead, we recommend you go shopping at Apollonia (see our article on this subject).
However, the presence of :
- two stores in the middle of the beach, selling ceramics ceramics colorful ceramics: F. Lemonis and Alexandros Lemonis
- a mini-market next to the Omega 3 restaurant: really small but practical. It sells beachwear, ice cream and food products.
How to get to Sifnos
Book your ferry tickets with Ferry Hopper! This practical site allows you to buy tickets online, with no commissions or hidden charges. What’s more, the interface is easy to use and includes all the major ferry companies. The real plus is that Ferryhopper not only offers direct routes, but also all the indirect crossings, which will connect all the islands in the blink of an eye.
Laure M.
