Fellos Beach (Paralia Fellos), Andros: The 4km Tamarisk-Shaded Bay Where Regulars Come Every Year for 20+ Years, and Park Away From the Trees

Greece | Gavrio | Andros, Cyclades

In our 20+ years of going to Andros this has become one of our favourite beaches — we go every year. It’s easy to find and always quiet. The swimming is lovely because it’s always sheltered from the wind.

The 20-year repeat visitor is the specific character reference that Fellos Beach earns from those who know it. The beach is on the northwest coast of Andros, 4 kilometres from the port of Gavrio, on an asphalt road that goes all the way to the sea. It is unorganised — no sunbeds, no umbrellas, no beach bar. There is a taverna 300 metres from the sand. The tamarisk trees along the beach provide the shade that the absence of umbrella infrastructure would otherwise leave unaddressed.

Two practical warnings that the repeat-visitor accounts include: be careful if parking your car under the tamarisk trees — the twigs can badly scratch the paintwork. And the area directly under trees is pretty dirty to put your towel — goat excitements.

Andros is the second-largest island in the Cyclades, after Naxos, and the closest to Athens — accessible by ferry from the port of Rafina in approximately 2 hours. Gavrio is the island’s main port, where ferries arrive from Rafina and from Tinos and Mykonos. Fellos Beach is 4 kilometres northwest of Gavrio, 13 kilometres from Batsi (the main tourist hub), and 38 kilometres from Chora (the island capital).

Getting There: 4km from Gavrio Port on Fully Paved Road, 10 Minutes by Car, No Public Bus, Taxi from the Port

From Gavrio port, take the road northwest — not the road toward Batsi and Chora, but the opposite direction, ascending toward the sparsely populated northern part of the island. After the village of Fellos, signs lead to the beach. The asphalt road continues all the way to the sea.

The drive takes approximately 10 minutes from Gavrio. From Batsi, approximately 20 minutes (13 kilometres). From Chora, approximately 45 minutes (38 kilometres).

No public bus serves Fellos Beach directly. Local taxis are available from Gavrio port — arriving on the ferry and taking a taxi to the beach is the standard programme for ferry-day arrivals. A rental car or scooter from Gavrio or Batsi is the most flexible option for exploring the northwest beaches.

Parking is available in the open areas and along the road behind the beach. Arriving before 11am is the consistent advice for the tamarisk-shaded positions. Park away from the trees to avoid scratched paintwork.

The Beach: Large, Sandy, Unorganised, Tamarisk Shade, Underwater Stones at the Entry

The beach is one of the largest and most renowned beaches of Andros island, with golden sand and emerald-coloured waters. The seabed drops gently for the first few meters, therefore perfect for families with children. The tamarisk trees that line the back of the beach and the sides of the bay provide the natural shade that is a rare luxury in the Cycladic landscape, where most islands have sparse coastal vegetation.

One specific honest note from multiple accounts: the beach is sandy but there are underwater stones at the waterfront which might be difficult for children entering water. This is the specific caution that distinguishes Fellos from a fully sandy-entry beach — the stones are at the waterline entry zone, not throughout the swimming area. Water shoes for children at the entry is the practical preparation.

The beach is not organised — no sunbeds, no umbrellas, no beach bar directly on the sand. Very quiet beach with tamarisk trees that allow you to take advantage of the shade. There are no establishments or bars but a small tavern 300 metres away excellent. Bring your own umbrella, towels, food, and water. The taverna covers the lunch programme.

Steki tou Andrea (Andreas’ Place): The Traditional Taverna 300m from the Sand

The Steki tou Andrea (Το Στέκι του Ανδρέα — Andreas’ Place, or The Hang of Andreas) is the traditional taverna a short stroll from the beach. It is one of the most highly-regarded tavernas on the island, specialising in local Andriote meat dishes, fresh seafood, and organic vegetables. Great baklava and nice house wine.

The specific dishes for which the taverna is known: the grilled meat in the local tradition and the fresh-caught seafood from the waters around Fellos and the adjacent fishing spots. The Selki and Kourtali beaches nearby attract local fishermen, who sell their catch to the restaurants in the area.

The taverna is the specific social anchor of the beach — visitors who want nothing but the natural beach and the taverna lunch have everything the day requires. The walk from the beach to the taverna and back is 300 metres each way, enough to justify the effort without being inconvenient.

Meltemi Shelter: The Bay’s Protection and Its Limits

This small bay is sometimes affected by summer winds, the so-called meltemia, but is generally good for swimming.

The Meltemi is the northerly summer wind that blows across the Aegean from late June through September, sometimes reaching 7 to 8 Beaufort on the scale. Andros — as the northernmost of the Cyclades — is one of the most exposed islands. The northwest coast, where Fellos sits, is the lee side of the island for northerly winds, which gives the bay its relative protection. Generally protected but occasionally affected is the accurate characterisation — checking wind conditions before the drive from Gavrio is the practical approach on days when the Meltemi is running at full strength.

Selki and Kourtali: The Two Small Beaches Accessible Mainly by Boat

Near Fellos Beach, there are two other small pearls — Selki Beach and Kourtalis Beach — surrounded by cliff and where fishermen usually stop to sell their catch, both with magnificent waters. Both are challenging to access from the mainland. Snorkellers favour Fellos and these two other small beaches nearby.

The practical access: by small boat from Fellos Beach (fishermen sometimes provide informal transport) or by the coastal path that requires navigating over rocky terrain. The beaches are the specific destination for visitors who want the most isolated swimming in the area and are willing to work for it.

Andros: The Unspoiled Cycladic Island

Andros is the second-largest island in the Cyclades, with dense vegetation, running waters, and endless rural areas. The island has an established tradition of maritime wealth — the shipping families of Andros are among the most significant in Greek history — and a cultural heritage that the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chora (one of the finest in Greece) reflects.

The island has a deliberate low-key tourism identity compared to Mykonos and Santorini. Batsi is the main resort town. Chora is the historic capital. The northwest — the Fellos area — is the least visited and most unspoiled coastal section.

Fellos Beach on Andros is the large unorganised sandy bay 4 kilometres from Gavrio port — tamarisk shade (but goat droppings under the canopy, don’t park under the branches), underwater stones at the entry zone (water shoes for children), sheltered from the Meltemi generally, the Steki tou Andrea taverna 300 metres from the sand, no beach bar or sunbeds, bring everything you need, and the 20-year repeat visitor the specific character reference.

Drive northwest from Gavrio. Follow the signs after the village. Park away from the trees.