Grikos: Bay and Coastal Landscape

Grikos is a coastal settlement in the southeast of the island, whose character is closely tied to its bay. The combination of the gulf sheltered from the wind by Tragonisi, the distinctive rock, and the area’s development from a fishing village into a tourist-oriented settlement makes it a destination in its own right for your vacation.

From Fishing Village to Coastal Settlement

Grikos, also known as Groikos and formerly as Agrokia, began as a picturesque fishing village. From these beginnings, it developed into a modern coastal settlement with extensive tourist infrastructure. The former name Agrokia is part of the area’s history; Groikos is another form of the name. The transformation from a fishing village into a tourist-oriented coastal settlement shows two distinct periods in the same place. When choosing where to stay, you can therefore take both its history and its present-day coastal character into account.

The Bay’s Landscape

The Bay of Grikos was recognized by the international organization “Most Beautiful Bays in the World” as one of the most beautiful bays in the world. Its landscape includes reddish-pink cliffs shaped by the sea, vineyards, golden fields, and small houses. Rock formations, vineyards, fields, and houses come together in a coastal landscape that combines a variety of colors and shapes. If you are interested in natural formations and the transition between coast and fields, these features offer several distinct points of interest to shape your impression of Grikos.

Kalikatsou and the View of Petra

From the bay, the view takes in Kalikatsou Rock and Petra Beach. The rock is also called Petra; the name means “the rock.” Since both the rock and the beach are associated with the name Petra, it helps with orientation to distinguish between the two: Kalikatsou, or Petra, is the rock formation, while Petra Beach is a separate point in the view. Visitors can see the distinctive rock from various vantage points within the settlement. This brings together the view from the bay and other perspectives around the area. If you like to orient yourself by a striking natural feature, Kalikatsou is a clear landmark.

Beach and Gulf

Part of the beach at the Bay of Grikos is organized. This may be relevant when choosing where to stay if the beach is part of your travel plans. Tragonisi shelters the gulf from the wind, and it offers the possibility of anchoring in the roadstead; actual anchoring conditions vary. The organized stretch of beach and the possibility of anchoring are two different aspects of the bay: one concerns part of the beach, the other the gulf.

Connection to Skala Port

Grikos is connected to Skala Port by regular transport services along the paved coastal road. In addition to the landscape, this is another practical factor to consider when planning your vacation. You can weigh whether the connection to Skala or the bay and its viewpoints matter more to you when choosing where to stay. If you include transport connections in your travel plans, check the latest schedules before your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Panormos, Agia Marina, Alinda, Pserimos, Patmos, Skalia, Partheni and Lipsi.

Back to the main travel overview: Kalymnos.