Beaches near Preveza, Greece

For a first swim on arrival day, Kalamitsi — three kilometres, five to eight minutes, and you do not have to cross town to get there. For space in the first half of August, Monolithi, where walking five minutes north of the organised section empties it out completely. For a full day with children, Kastrosikia, because the tavernas, the bakery and the shade are on the beach rather than a drive away.

For a quiet day, Alonaki — a small sheltered cove up past Kastrosikia that takes a deliberate drive, which is exactly why it stays empty when the closer beaches do not. And for an early swim before anyone else is up, the Chroneika shoreline at the bottom of the village: no service, no shade, no crowd.

Two things apply to all of them. Beach car parks fill by late morning in the first half of August, so arriving before eleven is worth more than any other piece of planning. And the seasonal bars close from September, which changes several of these beaches from organised to bring-everything — an improvement, if quiet is what you are after.

L’Incanto sits on the coast at Chroneika, which puts Kalamitsi three kilometres away, Monolithi twelve and Kastrosikia twenty-one. Every apartment has a full kitchen, a washing machine and free parking on site, so a beach day does not have to run on restaurant hours and the sand does not have to come home with you.