8 Best Things to Do in Donousa 2026: Hidden Beaches & Lesser Cyclades Bliss.

Last updated: May 2026 · The wildest of the Lesser Cyclades

Donousa is the most remote of the Small Cyclades, a speck of an island northeast of Naxos with a single tiny port, a handful of hamlets and some of the clearest water in Greece. It's a place to swim, walk and switch off completely.

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🏖️ Beaches

1. Kedros

Donousa's famous beach: a curve of pale sand and astonishing turquoise water just south of the port, backed by tamarisks. One of the prettiest swims in the Cyclades.

2. Livadi

A quieter sandy bay near Kedros, often almost empty, with shade from tamarisk trees.

3. Kalotaritissa

At the island's northern tip, a pair of sheltered coves with shallow, glassy water and a single seasonal taverna.

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🏘️ Village Life

4. Stavros (the Port)

The main settlement, a cluster of white houses around the harbour with a sandy beach, a few rooms, a bakery and tavernas. The whole island revolves around it.

5. Mersini, Kalotaritissa & Mesaria Hamlets

The interior holds tiny farming hamlets linked by footpaths; Mersini has a spring and shady plane trees, a rarity in the Cyclades.

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🥾 Nature & Adventure

6. Hike the Coastal Trails

Waymarked paths circle the island, linking the villages and beaches with sweeping sea views, the best are Stavros–Kedros–Livadi and the route up to Mersini.

7. The Fokospilia Sea Cave

A dramatic sea cave on the north coast that you can swim or boat into when the sea is calm, its mouth glows blue, a magical experience.

8. Stargazing & Doing Nothing

With no light pollution and almost no nightlife, Donousa is for slow days: long swims, taverna dinners of fresh fish and local patatato, and brilliant night skies.

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Practical Info 2026

→ Complete Donousa guide → → Ferry tickets →