The Captain has not received updated reports for some time. Although the information below may be a little old there is no reason to think it is not accurate.
Nanoy beach.
Nanoy (or Nanu) beach is shingle, with a taverna nearer one end (superb food) and sunbeds & umbrellas. The farthest end of the beach from where you get off the taxi boat from Symi harbour is nudist. Although the taxi boat isn't cheap (3,000 GDR return per person) it's the nicest way of getting there. It can be walked, and my contributors met a couple who did it from Chorio in a couple of hours. Tip: the 5.30 boat back serves a glass of ouzo, which is a nice touch. The money for the sunbeds is collected at about midday and, although by contributors were quite happy to be nude all the time, they felt it was a courtesy to the local chap who collects to loosely drape a towel or sarong over themselves. You'll need waterproof shoes/flip-flops or sandals to enjoy getting into the water but once you're in it's superb. My contributors, who visited during July 2001, rated it 75%.
Reports from 2003 suggest discreet nudism possible but that this beach was mainly textile. It may be one of those places where the early arrivals set the tone.
Nos beach
Our correspondent didn't discover a specific beach around this headland, but rather an interesting and rocky scramble where quite a lot of people chose to be nude in and/or out of the water. He felt that some spots along here were too visible from the public footpath above that serves the headland and is one route to Emborio (Nimporios on local map), and should probably not be used nude in high season. The sun in the afternoon leaves early, and the snorkelling here was dull.
It seems that nudity here is tolerated by the locals who also visit the place.
You can climb the cliffs at the end of Nos Beach (Paradise Beach) and find some spots which can not been seen unless from waterside. If you dont care about being visible, take the road which leads up hill to the left of Nos Beach (its the road to Nimborios). After 5 min walk there are 2 nice steps leading down from the road to the water - the one farthest away leads down to a little sandy beach (you can see the steps on the picture).
Aiyos Vasilios
Two hour walk across island to side less frequented by boats, followed by steep climb down to wide beach, proved ideal for nude swimming and sunbathing, and only four others on beach that day. Mostly pebbles, a little sand, no shade. No taverna: take plenty of water. Enough room for different tastes, but you have to climb/walk back if you haven't organised a boat to come and fetch you or are not lucky to hitch on someone else's.
Marathunda.
Accessible by truck or boat. Habitation close to shore. No nudity, unless you count climbing over a headland and swimming/snorkelling nude until rejoining the boat.
++ Agios Giorgios.
Forget about walking there - take one of the many taxiboats from Symi harbour. No facilities, little shade, but sun leaves mid-afternoon because of the sheer cliffs surrounding the beach. Bring water and food!
3 visits there - one other couple there nude at the beach farthest away from where you get of the taxiboat.
One day a large family from one of the private boats in the bay chose to camp very nearby where we went nude. Nobody cared - guess the locals are used to nudity there.
Visit the place - it's a majestic setting with the cliff several hundred feet high at the back of beach! The beach was used in the key scenes of the 1961 film 'The Guns of Navarone'.
Tolí Bay
North-East cost. In bird view straight line West of Emborio.
You can go there by scooter or by car. Keep right when going up hill a few km after leaving Horió. Road is in good condition - keep your eyes open for a footpath leading down to the left of the road. My contributors found it, because some other scooters were parked there, but it should not be difficult to find. Walk downhill - takes about half an hour - save the power for the trip back up.
My correspondents discovered 4 beaches there - one is very small and can be seen from the main road. Tolí Beach is separated into 2 beaches (empty white house in the middle). They went nude all day on
one beach with some people (non-nude) on the other beach were were apparently unconcerned. No facilities - bring water and food!
There's a third beach between the small beach and the Tolí beach accessible by walking over the headland.
Agios Marina and Agios Nikólaos
NO nudity at all here! Very organized beaches with tavernas, sunbeds and umbrellas (and bikinis all over). Avoid!
More reports needed …
The word is you could find deserted spots on Nímos Island to the north of Yialos (Symi). You might give it a try - you rent the boat close to the Nireus Hotel (best restaurant in town) - just ask for the man who rents out boats (his camp is 10 m from the clocktower). Be aware that there can be a long list of people waiting for a boat, so go there in the beginning of the holiday and make a reservation in case you plan to discover on your own by boat. Price is 35 Euros plus fuel. Count on 42-44 Euros for one day. The Captain would welcome a report!
If you want to visit the beaches at the East cost take the taxi boat - it's a lot cheaper.
You wont find any private spots on the East cost and you risk ruining the boat's bottom (and possibly yours too) - only rocky coastline all the way.
