Location
Greece
Status
Informal / Traditional
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Mixed
Best season
June to September
About Vatses Beach
Vatses is a beach on the remote south-west coast of Astypalaia in the Dodecanese, just before Kaminakia, enclosed by steep, bare rocky hills. It is a bay of golden sand mixed with fine pebbles, roughly 170-250 m long, with clear water and a few trees for shade. The right-hand side is partly organised, with a small beach bar renting sunbeds and umbrellas, while the left side is wilder, with larger stones; beyond it, about a 200 m swim away, lies the small pebbly cove of Mikres Vatses. Greeka's island beach guide tags Vatses as nudism-friendly, and a visitor review there mentions nudists on the left side near the pebbles, which is where nude bathers usually settle, away from the bar. Nearby is the Cave of Negros, with stalactites and stalagmites. The bay is exposed to the meltemi, so it can be windy in July and August. Because the access road is rough, it is quiet compared with the beaches near Chora and Livadi; Astypalaia's best-known nude beach remains Tzanaki.
Getting there
From Chora, take the road towards Livadi and then the dirt road south-west towards Kaminakia; Vatses comes first. The dirt section is rough but shorter and easier than the road on to Kaminakia, and a normal car can manage it with care; there is ample free parking above the beach. In summer, excursion boats from Pera Gialos (Chora's port) also call at Vatses and Kaminakia. There is no bus. The last stretch to the sand is a short walk, not suitable for wheelchairs.
Amenities
Legal context
Astypalaia has no officially designated nude beach; nude bathing at the quieter left side of Vatses is informally tolerated (2026). No local ban or enforcement reports were found; keep clothed near the beach bar.
Naturism at Vatses Beach sits under Greece's rules for traditional tolerance — custom more than statute.
Full country law: Greece public nudity guide.
Researched 25 October 2026. No official source confirms naturist status, so treat it as unverified.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 36.5138, 26.3166
Visitor tips
- 1 Informal / tolerated site — be discreet and leave no drama.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
More in Greece
Frequently asked questions
Where do nudists go at Vatses?
The left-hand side, near the pebbles and towards the small cove of Mikres Vatses, away from the beach bar on the right.
Is the road difficult?
It is a dirt road, rough in places but shorter and easier than the road to Kaminakia. There is free parking at the top.
Are there facilities?
A small beach bar with sunbeds and umbrellas on the right side; nothing on the left.
Is it windy?
It can be, as the bay is exposed to the summer meltemi.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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