Egremni Beach, Greece

Egremni (Greek: Εγκρεμνή or Εγκρεμνοί) is a remote beach located on the south-western coast of the Ionian island of Lefkada, north-western Greece. Since the creation of a sealed road during the mid-1990s, this remote beach has become one of the premier tourist destinations on the island, and in Europe as a whole. The beach is accessed from the car park via 347 steep steps that hug a rugged cliff face some 150m high. The waters of Egremni are strikingly clear and the sunsets are frequently dramatic. The beach is composed of fine to medium-sized pebbles that are very comfortable to lie on, in the white color typical of the Ionian Islands. The sea deepens quite fast, especially on the southern end, where the cruise ships can take the tourists directly on the shore. It also frequently experiences intense waves, so take care if you're with small children. This beach is ideal for nature-lovers seeking tranquility and paradise beauty thanks to its remoteness and the relatively difficult access by the steep stairs. It's one of the longest beaches on the island, stretching for more than 2.5 km. Thanks to its length and to its 20 to 50m width, it's practically impossible to get crowded, even if cruise ships from Nidri often take here hundreds of tourists for a swim. It has a bar and sunbeds for rent, but offers no housing, except wild camping which is quite frequent. The two ends are more crowded, the central part being a haven for topless or even nudist swimmers. As the road leading there is narrow, arrival before 10:00 is highly recommended to avoid congestion. As it's very close to the better known Porto Katsiki beach, follow the road leading to the latter along the west coast of the island and you'll notice the way leading to Egremni which is visibly signaled after the nearest settlement of Athani.