World’s Most Pristine Waters Found on Greece’s Kimolos Island

Kimolos beach

Kimolos resemblances to the rest of the Cycladic islands without the crowds. Credit: Discover Kimolos

The Greek island of Kimolos located north of Milos in the Aegean has been awarded with the unofficial title of having the clearest water in the world.

US travel agency Florida Panhandle released its list of beaches with the clearest water in the world recently. To come to its conclusion, it started by creating a seed list of 50 beaches across the globe that ranked the highest on traveler review websites.

It then calculated each beach’s score based on the percentage of reviews that mention “clear water.” In total, the team analyzed more than 2.4 million reviews to find its winners.

According to the data, Prassa Beach in Kimolos, Greece, has the clearest water in the world.

Joining Prassa Beach on the list of clearest waters in the world is another Greek beach, Gennadi Beach on the island of Rhodes in second, followed by Pileh Bay in Thailand, Agios Dimitrios Beach on the mainland in Greece, and Agia Anna Beach on the Greek Island of Naxos rounding out the top five.

“Stretching on for [8,497 miles], the Greek coastline is the longest in the Mediterranean Basin, a sea famous for its crystal-clear waters and rich blue hue,” the team shared in the findings.

“It’s no wonder, then, that the majority of the world’s top beaches for clear water are located in Greece, led by Prassa Beach on the island of Kimolos, for which 43.56 percent of publicly available traveler reviews mention the phrase ‘clear water.’”

Prassa Beach, located on the northeastern coast of Kimolos, is a mix of fine white sand and pebbles, with calm and shallow waters perfect for swimming and relaxing.

Kimolos boasts many beautiful beaches

Kimolos boasts many other beautiful beaches, each with its unique character. Here are a few to consider:

Aliki Beach: A long, sandy beach with shallow waters, ideal for families with young children.

Mavrospilia Beach: A scenic beach with black volcanic sand and dramatic rock formations, perfect for a secluded getaway.

Bonatsa Beach: A small, secluded cove with crystal-clear waters, popular for snorkeling and diving.

Agios Georgios Beach (also known as Psathi Beach): A scenic beach with golden sand and turquoise waters, offering stunning views.

Unlike its more touristy neighbors, Kimolos offers a relaxed and authentic Greek island experience. Expect the quintessential Cycladic elements – whitewashed houses, cobblestone streets, and a charming main village (Chorio).

The island’s volcanic soil has resulted in a unique landscape, and visitors can find interesting geological formations like the “Skiadi” (a giant rock mushroom).

Kimolos
Skiadi. Credit: Kimolos Municipality

History of Kimolos

Kimolos is an island with rich history records. According to tradition, it is named after Kimolos, the very first resident of the island.

Echinousa is also a recorded name of the island during ancient times, probably because of the snake Echidna (viper), being common even today on the island.

Since the ancient era, it has been a battlefield between Ancient Athens, the ruler of the island, and Sparta, the ruler of Milos.

In the Middle Ages it was known as Argentiera (Greek: Αρτζεντιέρα), because of the silver-colored rocky lands of its southern coast. Since those times, these rocky lands provided Kimolia Gi-Kimolian Earth, a valuable trade good, which made the island a major trade hub.

Related: All the Greek Island Groups Explained