Kimolos is a small island, even by Cycladic standards. However, it has a beautiful coastline, including one of Greece’s finest beaches – undoubtedly among the most beautiful in the Cyclades.
Prassa is the most popular beach in Kimolos for several reasons. Access is easy; it is only a 10-minute drive from Horio (not Hora, as the main settlement is commonly called on other islands), the central village of Kimolos. However, convenience is not the main reason why all island vacationers and day-trippers from neighboring Milos come here. All swimmers adore the truly turquoise waters, and the white sand in and out of the water enhances their beauty. According to the locals, this color comes from the chalk mines near the beach. After all, chalk (kimolia in Greek) is the material that gave its name to the island of Cyclades.
The beach is about 200 meters long. It has a beach bar and plenty of space if you want to sunbathe on the thick, white sand. In Prassa there is one of the open air libraries of Kimolos. It is a boat equipped with shelves and books. So, if you like to read on the beach, but you forgot your book at home, you might be able to find something of interest.
In October 2023, the American travel agency Florida Panhandle wanted to discover the beach with “the cleanest waters in the world”. No scientific method was used to measure the composition of the water, nor was there any reference to previous research. Instead, they chose a method that was certainly not scientific, but extremely original: they trusted the judgment of beachgoers.
“We started by listing 50 beaches in 75 countries which were rated the highest in publicly available traveler reviews. More than 2.4 million reviews were examined and analyzed, focusing on reviews written in English and calculating which beaches, globally and nationally, had the highest percentage of reviews mentioning clear water,” the agency’s website says.
Prassa Beach took the first place, as 43.56% of those who chose to review it mentioned the phrase “clear waters”. The American agency characteristically points out: “A happy visitor briefly describes this paradise spot: ‘Turquoise clear water, golden sand, beautiful beach. Both locally and internationally, the chalk mines seem to be appreciated for their aesthetics.”
It’s worth noting that Greece had a notable presence on this list. Completing the top five are Gennadi Beach on the island of Rhodes, Pileh Bay in Thailand, Agios Dimitrios Beach on Alonissos and Agia Anna Beach on Amorgos. In 10th place is Mikros Gialos in Lefkada.
Tips for your trip to Kimolos
Kimolos is one of those islands where a car is unnecessary if you’re not staying more than 3-4 days. The island is small and during the high season the bus will take you to Chorio, the port and the popular beaches.
For those vacationing in Kimolos or Milos, a day trip by boat to Polyaigos is a must. Polyaigos is the largest uninhabited island in the Cyclades.
The island’s gastronomic trademark is ladenia, the Kimolian version of pizza, which has now conquered Athenian gastronomy. Read more about Kimolos’ culinary specialties here.
The night life in Kimolos is relatively relaxed, even during the high season, so if you’re looking for more lively evenings, you’d be better off considering a stay on another island.
Read also:
Kimolos: A paradise on earth in the Cyclades
The Greek, traditional pies taste different on the island of Kimolos
