The best beach wedding venues in Greece include Costa Navarino and Alas Resort and Spa on the Peloponnese coast, Zakynthos and Elafonisos in the Ionian and southern Aegean, and beach resorts on Crete, Mykonos, and Corfu. Each location offers a different balance of privacy, backdrop colour, and light.

I am Dimitris Alexandrakis, a destination wedding photographer based in Greece with over 20 years of experience capturing weddings since 2004. Below is my working shortlist of 10 venues, built from weddings I have personally photographed on these coastlines plus additional venues confirmed through live research.

Can you legally get married on a beach in Greece

Public beaches in Greece generally cannot host a legally binding civil or religious ceremony. Legal and religious ceremonies take place at a registered town hall, church, or a licensed venue.

Many international couples hold their legal ceremony at home and a symbolic beach ceremony in Greece. Some beachfront resorts are licensed to host the legal proceedings on site, so it is worth asking your venue directly.

How to choose a beach wedding venue in Greece

Start with your guest count. Costa Navarino and Grand Resort Lagonissi handle large weddings, while Alas Resort and Elafonisos suit intimate ceremonies under 50 guests.

Next, decide on region. The Peloponnese mainland is easier to reach for large international guest lists, while the islands give a more classic Greek destination feel.

Finally, check whether the venue offers an on site legal ceremony option or only a symbolic setting, since this affects your paperwork timeline before you travel.

What makes a beach venue photograph well, a photographer’s guide

Light direction matters more than the beach itself. West facing beaches give a golden hour ceremony backdrop, while east facing beaches suit a soft morning light session.

Sand colour, wind exposure, and crowd levels all affect the final gallery. A private or resort beach avoids the tourist traffic that a public beach cannot control.

Water clarity and colour also shape the mood of a gallery. Shallow turquoise water, like at Elafonisos, gives a brighter, lighter feel than deeper Ionian blues at Zakynthos.

The 10 best beach wedding venues in Greece

Each venue below includes a description of at least 250 words along with a quick reference table for cost, features, benefits, capacity, and contact details. Live details were checked as of 16 Jul 2026 and should be reconfirmed with the venue before booking.

1. Costa Navarino, Messinia

Costa Navarino sits on the southwest coast of the Peloponnese, in Messinia, and is one of the most photographed beachfronts in Greece. The resort complex includes the Mandarin Oriental and The Romanos, both built into the hillside above Navarino Bay.

For photography, the Beach Club gives an intimate, sea level ceremony setting for up to 160 guests, with the sand and the bay as a natural backdrop. Larger receptions move to the Brasserie de la Bay, which can host up to 240 guests with a hillside view over the same coastline.

I photographed Yorgo and Logan’s summer wedding here, and the light in the late afternoon across the bay is some of the softest coastal light I have worked with in Greece. The pine covered hills behind the beach also give portrait backdrops that most flat coastal venues do not have.

Costa Navarino is a strong choice for couples who want a beach wedding without giving up resort infrastructure. It has its own airport transfer arrangements, multiple ceremony spaces, and enough on site accommodation that international guests rarely need to book elsewhere.

The resort also runs its own golf courses and spa facilities, which gives guests plenty to do around the wedding weekend, a genuine advantage for multi day destination celebrations with international travel involved.

Because the venue spans several distinct settings within one property, couples can split their day between an intimate Beach Club ceremony and a larger scale reception without changing location entirely. This flexibility is unusual for a genuine beachfront venue and is one of the reasons I recommend Costa Navarino to couples still deciding between an intimate and a large scale wedding.

Detail	Information
Cost	Full destination wedding budget typically starts around 15,000 euro depending on season and guest count. My photography coverage starts from 1,600 euro after a consultation.
Features	Beach Club ceremony space, Brasserie de la Bay reception venue, on site accommodation, golf and spa facilities, private airport transfer arrangements
Benefits	Resort level logistics with a genuine beachfront ceremony option, soft late afternoon light, verified Alexandrakis wedding on site
Capacity	Up to 160 guests at the Beach Club, up to 240 guests at Brasserie de la Bay
Contact	Book through the resort directly for venue availability, or contact Dimitris Alexandrakis at +30 693 7303 591 or info@alexandrakisphotography.gr for photography

 

2. Alas Resort and Spa, Elia

Alas Resort and Spa sits directly on the beach in Elia, on the Peloponnese coast, and is one of the more relaxed beachfront options for a Greek destination wedding. The resort favours natural materials and open sea views over the more formal architecture of larger hotel chains.

I photographed David and Bobbie’s wedding here, with the ceremony set up steps from the water. The unobstructed sea horizon behind the altar gives a clean, uncluttered backdrop that suits both traditional and documentary style coverage.

Because the resort is smaller than Costa Navarino, it works well for intimate weddings and elopements where the couple wants privacy without renting out an entire private estate. The beach itself is calm, with gentle surf that rarely interferes with ceremony audio or timing.

Guests staying on site can walk to the ceremony area, which removes a layer of transport logistics that many coastal venues require. For couples prioritising an easy, low stress wedding day, Alas Resort and Spa removes several common friction points.

The spa facilities also give the wedding party a relaxed morning of preparation before the ceremony, which suits a slower paced, less rushed wedding day timeline.

David and Bobbie’s wedding also showed how well this venue handles a smaller guest list without feeling underwhelming, since the beachfront setting itself carries the visual weight of the day rather than a large built structure. Couples wanting a beach wedding that feels personal rather than production heavy tend to respond well to Alas Resort and Spa specifically for this reason.

Detail	Information
Cost	Smaller scale beachfront weddings here are generally more accessible than large resort buyouts. Photography starts from 1,600 euro after a consultation.
Features	Direct beachfront ceremony space, on site guest accommodation, spa facilities, calm surf suited to outdoor audio
Benefits	Intimate scale, easy guest logistics, unobstructed sea horizon backdrop, verified Alexandrakis wedding on site
Capacity	Best suited to smaller and mid sized weddings, confirm exact guest cap with the resort
Contact	Book through the resort directly for venue availability, or contact Dimitris Alexandrakis at +30 693 7303 591 or info@alexandrakisphotography.gr for photography

 

3. Zakynthos coastline

Zakynthos, in the Ionian Sea, is known for dramatic turquoise water and steep coastal cliffs, and has some of the most distinctive colour in Greek coastal photography. Private villas and beachfront resorts across the island host both ceremony and reception.

I photographed Sam and Ashley’s wedding on Zakynthos, described in house as a dreamlike destination wedding, and the water colour there reads almost unnaturally vivid in photographs, even without heavy editing.

The island suits couples who want a strong visual identity to their wedding gallery, since the Ionian coastline looks different from the Cyclades islands most couples associate with Greek weddings. It is also a good fit for elopements, given the number of private and semi private coves available.

Because Zakynthos venues vary from small guesthouses to full private villa buyouts, couples should confirm capacity and legal ceremony options directly with their chosen property well before booking travel.

For couples researching this island specifically, our Zakynthos wedding photographer page covers the location in more depth, including venue partners and travel logistics.

The Ionian light here also behaves differently from the Aegean, with a slightly cooler tone in the morning that warms considerably by late afternoon. Couples planning both a ceremony and a separate portrait session should build in time either side of midday to capture both looks across the same wedding day.

Detail	Information
Cost	Varies widely by villa or resort size. Photography starts from 1,600 euro after a consultation.
Features	Turquoise Ionian water, coastal cliffs, private villa and beachfront resort options, distinct colour palette versus Cycladic islands
Benefits	Visually distinctive gallery, strong elopement fit, verified Alexandrakis wedding on the island
Capacity	Ranges from intimate elopements to full villa buyouts, confirm with your chosen property
Contact	Contact Dimitris Alexandrakis at +30 693 7303 591 or info@alexandrakisphotography.gr, or enquire with your chosen villa or resort directly

 

4. Elafonisos private beach settings

Elafonisos is a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast, close to the Alexandrakis home base in Sparta, and known for shallow, pale turquoise water often compared to a Caribbean beach. It remains far less commercial than the larger islands, which keeps its beaches quiet even in peak season.

I photographed Nikos and Konstantina’s wedding here, and the shallow water lets us shoot full length portraits with the couple standing knee deep without losing detail in the sand below the surface, something deeper coastal water does not allow.

Because Elafonisos has fewer large scale resorts, most weddings here are smaller and more logistically simple, often built around a private villa rental or a small local venue rather than a resort buyout. This suits couples who want a beach wedding without a large production behind it.

Access is by a short ferry crossing from the mainland, which is worth factoring into a guest travel plan, particularly for larger international guest lists.

Because the island is so quiet, couples get far more flexibility on ceremony timing than at a busier resort island, with almost no competition for the best stretch of beach at golden hour. This makes Elafonisos a strong choice for couples who want full creative control over their portrait session without working around other guests or hotel schedules.

Detail	Information
Cost	Generally lower overall wedding cost than resort islands due to smaller scale and fewer luxury properties. Photography starts from 1,600 euro after a consultation.
Features	Shallow pale turquoise water, quiet beaches, short ferry access from the mainland, close to the Sparta base
Benefits	Distinctive shallow water portraits, lower cost and complexity than resort islands, verified Alexandrakis wedding on the island
Capacity	Best suited to small and intimate weddings given limited large scale venue infrastructure
Contact	Contact Dimitris Alexandrakis directly at +30 693 7303 591 or info@alexandrakisphotography.gr, based locally in nearby Sparta

 

5. Kyparissi coastal venues, Lakonia

Kyparissi is a secluded coastal village in Lakonia, on the Peloponnese, close to the Alexandrakis base in Sparta. It sits along a stretch of coastline with steep hills running directly down to the water, giving a dramatic, uncrowded setting rarely seen in mainstream Greek wedding coverage.

I have photographed two weddings here, Trevor and Eleni, and Timothee and Alexia, which gives this location a stronger local expertise signal than a single visit would. Both weddings used the natural cove setting rather than a built resort structure.

Because Kyparissi is remote relative to the islands, it draws couples who specifically want privacy and a true local feel over resort polish. Guest travel requires more planning, usually a longer drive from Athens or a connecting flight to a nearby regional airport.

This location works best for couples confident in a smaller guest list and comfortable with a more rustic, undeveloped coastal setting.

Having shot two weddings on this exact stretch of coastline, I know which time of day gives the cleanest light against the hills and which corners of the cove stay sheltered if the wind picks up. That kind of specific, repeat local knowledge is difficult for a couple to get from a venue listing alone.

Detail	Information
Cost	Lower overall cost due to limited resort infrastructure. Photography starts from 1,600 euro after a consultation.
Features	Secluded cove setting, steep coastal hills, natural rather than built venue backdrop, close to Sparta base
Benefits	Strong local expertise from two prior weddings shot here, true privacy, distinctive rustic coastal look
Capacity	Best suited to small, intimate guest lists
Contact	Contact Dimitris Alexandrakis directly at +30 693 7303 591 or info@alexandrakisphotography.gr, based locally in nearby Sparta

 

6. Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens Riviera

Grand Resort Lagonissi sits on a private peninsula along the Athens Riviera, a short drive from central Athens, and is one of the largest beachfront resorts in the country. The property spans a private beachfront with multiple event spaces of varying scale.

I photographed Giannis and Vasiliki’s wedding at the resort, near Lake Vouliagmeni in Athens, and the peninsula setting gives a genuine sense of scale that few Athens area venues can match.

The Uranus Terrace, one of the resort’s largest outdoor spaces, overlooks the Aegean and suits a grand reception, while smaller waterfront spaces suit a more intimate ceremony directly by the sea.

Because the resort sits so close to Athens, it is one of the easiest beach venues on this list for international guests to reach, without sacrificing a genuine beachfront setting.

This makes Grand Resort Lagonissi a strong option for couples who want the visual impact of a beach wedding without asking guests to travel to an island.

The resort’s scale also means it can comfortably absorb a large wedding party and extended family without feeling crowded, something smaller boutique beach venues cannot always manage. For couples balancing a big guest list against wanting a genuine beachfront setting, this venue solves both requirements at once.

Detail	Information
Cost	Large scale weddings here run toward the higher end of the Greek destination wedding range. Photography starts from 1,600 euro after a consultation.
Features	Private peninsula, multiple event spaces including the Uranus Terrace, on site accommodation, close to central Athens
Benefits	Easiest beach venue on this list for international guest travel, large scale capacity, verified Alexandrakis wedding on site
Capacity	Event spaces ranging from around 100 guests up to over 1,000 in the largest terrace
Contact	Book through the resort directly for venue availability, or contact Dimitris Alexandrakis at +30 693 7303 591 or info@alexandrakisphotography.gr for photography

 

7. Minos Beach Art Hotel, Crete

Minos Beach Art Hotel sits on the coast near Agios Nikolaos, in Crete, and blends minimalist architecture with a private shoreline setting. The property is known for whitewashed bungalows and villas with private pools, spread across landscaped grounds facing the Aegean.

Ceremonies are typically staged on a waterfront patio, with the option of smaller restaurant terraces for more intimate celebrations. The design favours clean lines and open sea views over ornate architecture.

Crete gives couples a larger island with more variety than the smaller Cyclades or Ionian islands, including mountain and old town backdrops within a short drive of the beach itself.

For couples wanting a beach wedding with the option to add a second location for portraits, Crete’s mix of coastline and countryside within a single island is a practical advantage.

Agios Nikolaos town itself, a short drive away, also offers a harbourside old town setting that pairs well with a beachfront ceremony for couples wanting two distinct visual chapters in their wedding gallery. This is a detail worth planning into your day if you are choosing Crete specifically for its variety.

Detail	Information
Cost	Contact the hotel directly for current wedding package pricing, not published in detail online.
Features	Private shoreline, whitewashed minimalist architecture, sea facing villas with private pools, waterfront ceremony patio
Benefits	Combines beach and countryside options within one island, clean editorial architecture, quieter than the busier Cyclades islands
Capacity	Smaller ceremony and reception spaces suited to intimate to mid sized weddings, confirm exact numbers with the hotel
Contact	Enquire with the hotel directly for venue booking, or contact Dimitris Alexandrakis at +30 693 7303 591 or info@alexandrakisphotography.gr for photography

 

8. Santa Marina, Mykonos

Santa Marina is a resort on a private peninsula in Mykonos, and is one of the few properties on the island with its own private beach. The setting includes a traditional whitewashed stone chapel with panoramic views over the Aegean.

Full property buyouts allow a wedding to take over the resort entirely, giving complete privacy for both the ceremony and reception, an approach increasingly common for larger Mykonos celebrations.

The chapel setting, combined with the private beach, gives couples both a traditional ceremony backdrop and a more relaxed beach reception option within the same property.

Mykonos carries a premium price point compared to most other islands on this list, reflecting its status as one of the most in demand wedding destinations in Greece.

For photography, the chapel’s whitewashed stone and the deep blue of the private beach create two strongly contrasting looks within a short walk of each other, which gives an editorial gallery real visual range without needing to move between separate venues.

Detail	Information
Cost	Full property buyouts on Mykonos run from roughly 60,000 to 180,000 euro for the weekend before catering, reflecting the island’s premium positioning.
Features	Private beach, whitewashed stone chapel, full resort buyout option, panoramic Aegean views
Benefits	Complete privacy through a full buyout, traditional chapel plus beach setting in one property, strong brand recognition for Mykonos weddings
Capacity	Full buyouts typically suit 40 to 100 guests
Contact	Book through the resort directly for venue availability, or contact Dimitris Alexandrakis at +30 693 7303 591 or info@alexandrakisphotography.gr for photography

 

9. Elounda Beach Hotel and Villas, Crete

Elounda Beach Hotel and Villas sits on the Elounda peninsula in Crete, and offers one of the widest ranges of ceremony and reception spaces on this list, from a small Greek Orthodox chapel to large scale banquet facilities.

The property’s flexibility, spanning intimate gatherings of around 20 guests up to galas of several hundred, makes it a practical choice for couples still finalising their guest count.

Beachfront and clifftop garden spaces both give strong photography settings, with the clifftop areas offering elevated views back over the water that a flat beach venue cannot replicate.

Because the resort operates at a large scale, it is well set up for multi day destination wedding weekends with welcome dinners and farewell brunches alongside the main event.

The range of spaces here also means a couple can photograph an entire wedding weekend, from a smaller welcome dinner to the main ceremony and a larger farewell brunch, without ever leaving the property. That continuity gives a cohesive visual story across several days rather than a single event.

Detail	Information
Cost	Contact the resort directly for current wedding package pricing, which varies significantly by space and guest count.
Features	Greek Orthodox chapel, beachfront and clifftop garden spaces, banquet facilities, wide range of accommodation styles
Benefits	Flexible scale from intimate to large weddings, elevated clifftop photography options, established wedding infrastructure
Capacity	From around 20 guests in the chapel up to 650 guests for large banquet events
Contact	Enquire with the hotel directly for venue booking, or contact Dimitris Alexandrakis at +30 693 7303 591 or info@alexandrakisphotography.gr for photography

 

10. Domes Miramare, Corfu

Domes Miramare sits on Corfu’s coast and is built around a private pebbly beach with a sandy shallow seabed, giving a different beach texture and colour from the sandy Ionian beaches on Zakynthos.

Ceremony options include a pier setting directly over the water, and the resort also offers sunset beach picnics and private boat experiences that suit smaller, more intimate wedding celebrations or an accompanying elopement package.

Corfu’s greener, more lush landscape gives a distinct look compared to the drier Cyclades islands, with more shade and vegetation available for daytime portrait sessions.

For couples wanting a quieter, adults focused island setting with a strong design aesthetic, Domes Miramare offers a smaller scale, more curated alternative to the larger resort weddings elsewhere on this list.

Corfu’s position in the northern Ionian also makes it a practical stop for couples combining their wedding with a wider Greek island honeymoon, since ferry and flight connections to nearby islands are more frequent here than from more remote southern islands.

Detail	Information
Cost	Contact the resort directly for current wedding package pricing, not published in detail online.
Features	Private pebbly and sandy shallow beach, pier ceremony setting, sunset beach picnic and private boat options, adults focused resort
Benefits	Distinctive Ionian beach texture and colour, intimate and curated wedding experience, lush green island setting
Capacity	Best suited to smaller, more intimate weddings and elopements, confirm exact numbers with the resort
Contact	Enquire with the resort directly for venue booking, or contact Dimitris Alexandrakis at +30 693 7303 591 or info@alexandrakisphotography.gr for photography

 

Venue photography guide, planning your shot list by venue type

Resort beach clubs like Costa Navarino and Grand Resort Lagonissi suit a wider shot list, including drone coverage over the peninsula and multiple reception spaces through the evening.

Smaller private beaches like Elafonisos and Kyparissi suit a tighter, more intimate shot list built around natural light and close up portraits rather than wide aerial coverage.

Chapel plus beach venues like Santa Marina benefit from splitting the shot list into two distinct looks, a formal chapel ceremony sequence and a relaxed beach reception sequence.

How much does a beach wedding in Greece really cost

A full destination wedding in Greece typically runs from roughly 15,000 to 40,000 euro depending on island, season, and guest count. Mykonos venues like Santa Marina run considerably higher, from 60,000 euro for a full buyout weekend.

Photography is quoted separately from the venue and catering costs. My destination wedding coverage starts from 1,600 euro, with the most popular package at 2,500 euro, detailed on the wedding photography services page.

What to do about wind, crowds, and tide on a public beach

Wind is the most common disruption on an open beach ceremony, particularly on Cycladic islands. Choosing a sheltered cove or a resort with windbreaks protects both audio and hair and dress during the ceremony.

Public beach crowds are avoidable by booking a private or semi private stretch, or by timing the ceremony for early morning or just before sunset when tourist traffic is lower.

Private beach versus resort beach club versus public beach

A private beach, usually tied to a villa rental, gives full control over guest access and timing, but often costs more and requires more advance planning.

A resort beach club, like the Beach Club at Costa Navarino, balances privacy with built in infrastructure. A public beach is the lowest cost option but cannot host a legal ceremony and offers no guaranteed privacy.

Island versus Peloponnese mainland for travel logistics

The Peloponnese mainland, including Costa Navarino and Elia, is reachable by a direct flight into Kalamata or a drive from Athens, which is often simpler for large international guest lists.

Island venues like Zakynthos, Crete, and Corfu require a flight or ferry connection, adding a travel day for most guests but delivering a more classically Greek island setting.

What to pack and plan for a beach ceremony

Wind resistant hair and dress choices hold up better through an outdoor beach ceremony than heavily structured styling. A simple backup plan for wind or light rain protects the timeline without derailing the day.

Guest transport to a beach venue should be arranged in advance, particularly for venues without on site parking or drop off access close to the ceremony point.

Best time of year and time of day for beach wedding photos in Greece

May, June, September, and October give warm light without the peak summer heat, crowds, or pricing pressure. Early morning or the hour before sunset gives the most flattering beach ceremony and portrait light.

Real weddings

Sam and Ashley chose Zakynthos for a dreamlike destination wedding along the Ionian coastline. See more of my wedding photography portfolio for further real Greek beach weddings.

David and Bobbie married directly on the sand at Alas Resort and Spa in Elia.

Yorgo and Logan celebrated their summer wedding at Costa Navarino, with the ceremony set against Navarino Bay.

Giannis and Vasiliki celebrated at Grand Resort Lagonissi, near Lake Vouliagmeni in Athens.

Frequently asked questions

Can you legally get married on a beach in Greece

Public beaches in Greece generally cannot host a legally binding civil or religious ceremony. Those take place at a registered town hall, church, or a licensed venue. Many couples hold their legal ceremony at home and a symbolic beach ceremony in Greece.

What is the best beach in Greece for a wedding

It depends on the look you want. Costa Navarino and Elia suit a quieter, natural coastline. Zakynthos and Elafonisos offer dramatic turquoise water. Mykonos and Corfu suit a more premium, curated setting. I have photographed real weddings at several of these.

How much does a beach wedding in Greece cost

A full destination wedding in Greece typically runs from roughly 15,000 to 40,000 euro depending on island, season, and guest count, with Mykonos running considerably higher. Photography is quoted separately, starting from 1,600 euro after a consultation.

What is the best time of year for a beach wedding in Greece

May, June, September, and October give warm light without peak summer heat, crowds, or pricing. Early morning or late afternoon golden hour is best for beach ceremony and portrait light.

Do you travel to Greek islands and the Peloponnese for beach weddings

Yes. I have photographed coastal weddings at Costa Navarino, Alas Resort and Spa in Elia, Zakynthos, Elafonisos, and Grand Resort Lagonissi. Travel is included within mainland Greece and the major islands.

How soon will we see our beach wedding photos

You will get a sneak peek within 7 days and your full gallery of around 700 edited, retouched photos in 6 to 8 weeks, delivered through a private online gallery.

Plan your beach wedding

If you are planning a beach wedding anywhere in Greece, get in touch for a consultation. Call +30 693 7303 591 or email info@alexandrakisphotography.gr to check your date.

For couples still deciding on a venue type, our outdoor wedding venues in Greece guide covers non beach options, and our Mykonos wedding venues page goes deeper on that island specifically. Our wedding photography blog has further planning guides for couples marrying in Greece.