Coralli Camping

If you find Livadakia beach a tad too crowded (it’s rightly popular, especially with families), stroll along to neighbouring Livadi 10 minutes’ walk away – it too is a serviced tourist beach, but there’s plenty of room to stretch out. A quieter vibe can be had at Megalo Livadi beach, half an hour’s drive away on the west of the island, and a quieter one still at secluded Ganema (15 minutes): this one is nudist friendly for those who like to sunbathe in the buff. Both Livadakia and Livadi are main hotspots of the island for setting out on adventures and watersports, with plenty of tourist providers in both. (Ask the amiable team at Camping Coralli for details of excursions too; the site has its own minibus.) Or sort your own active days with a hike around part of the island’s 81 kilometres of coastline, or a trip to other Cyclades islands like Sifnos and Milos. Urban sightseeing should be had at the island capital Chora, home to narrow streets, old churches and a folklore museum with small theatre. A must-do is a climb to the ruins of Chora’s 15th-century Venetian castle, for first-rate views over the Aegean and the islands of Sifnos, Kythnos, Milos and Kimolos. Moving on from the island (if you must), Athens is a two-hour ferry ride away.