A short walk or drive north of Stoupa’s main beach, Kalogria is the village’s quieter, golden-sand sister, and the beach with the best story attached to it.
Where Stoupa beach is long and lined with tavernas right up to the water, Kalogria is smaller and calmer, backed by tamarisk trees and reed beds instead of a promenade. The sand is a soft, pale gold rather than Stoupa’s darker shade, and the water shelves gently, which makes it one of the best spots in the area for young children to paddle and build sandcastles without anyone worrying too much. Underwater freshwater springs bubble up close to shore in places, so don’t be surprised by the odd cooler patch as you swim.
Why it’s also called “Zorba’s Beach”
Kalogria’s other name comes from one of the more unlikely footnotes in Greek literature. In 1917, the writer Nikos Kazantzakis came to Stoupa from Crete to try his hand at a lignite mining business in the hills above the village. The engineer he hired to design the cable system that carried the lignite down the cliffside was a local man named Georgios Zorbas.
The mine failed, but the friendship didn’t go to waste. Nearly thirty years later, in 1946, Kazantzakis turned his memories of Zorbas into the novel ‘Zorba the Greek’ — later the 1964 film that made the name famous well beyond Greece. The book and film are set in Crete, but the real Zorba and the real Kazantzakis met, worked, and by most accounts spent time on this beach in Stoupa, which is how Kalogria picked up its nickname.
It’s a nice piece of history to have on your doorstep, and one more reason Kalogria feels like slightly more than “just another beach.”
What to expect
–Length: A modest stretch, easily walkable end to end, so it never feels overwhelming even in peak season.
– Sand and water: Fine, light-coloured sand and shallow, calm water — good for families, weaker swimmers, and anyone who prefers wading in gradually over a sharp drop-off.
– Shade: Tamarisk trees along the back of the beach offer natural shade if you don’t want to pay for a sunbed all day.
– Facilities: A handful of tavernas sit right behind the beach, so you’re never far from a cold drink, a plate of food, or a toilet.
Where to eat at Kalogria
Three tavernas serve the beach directly – Kalogria, Pritzipas, and Almyriki – all doing the classic Greek beach-taverna lineup of grilled fish, salads, and cold Mythos. They tend to close earlier than the bars and restaurants back in Stoupa village, so it’s more of a lunch-and-early-evening spot than a late-night one.
Getting there
Kalogria is close enough to Stoupa to walk if you don’t mind a bit of a stroll along the coast road, or a very short drive or taxi ride if you’re carrying beach gear or travelling with kids. There’s informal parking near the beach in season, though it fills up by mid-morning in July and August, so an early start helps.
Good to know before you go
– It gets busy in July and August, particularly around midday — arrive earlier or later in the day if you want more space.
– Facilities are more limited than Stoupa’s main beach, so bring water and sun cream if you’re staying for a full day.
– Combine it with a walk along the coast path towards [Agios Nikolaos](https://simplystoupa.com/agios-nikolaos/) for a longer half-day out.