Wind from the north
- PyrgosShelter score 96 of 100
- TripitiShelter score 96 of 100
- TrypitiShelter score 96 of 100
- Pyrgos nudist beachShelter score 95 of 100
- PotamosShelter score 92 of 100
- Potamos nudist beachShelter score 90 of 100
Sheltered beaches in Gavdos today
Which side of Gavdos is sheltered from today's wind? 17 beaches ranked live, updated every 2 hours.
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At a glance
Gavdos beaches at a glance
- 17
- Mapped beaches
- 8
- Sandy beaches
- 3
- Pebble beaches
- 3
- With a bar or taverna close by
- 12
- Secluded beaches
Most beaches face north (5). Wind from that side reaches them first; wind from the opposite side leaves them sheltered.
Shelter by wind direction
Which beaches are sheltered in each wind?
Wind direction decides everything. These are the Gavdos beaches that stay most sheltered, and the ones that get roughest, in a strong wind (6 Bft) from each direction. It is computed from how much open sea lies upwind of each beach.
Wind from the east
- PyrgosShelter score 96 of 100
- Pyrgos nudist beachShelter score 96 of 100
- PotamosShelter score 96 of 100
- Potamos nudist beachShelter score 95 of 100
- TripitiShelter score 93 of 100
- TrypitiShelter score 93 of 100
Roughest
Wind from the south
- SarakinikoShelter score 96 of 100
- Agios Ioannis Naturist BeachShelter score 96 of 100
- Agios Ioannis nudist beachShelter score 96 of 100
- Lavrakas nudist beachShelter score 96 of 100
- Potamos nudist beachShelter score 96 of 100
- Pyrgos nudist beachShelter score 96 of 100
Wind from the west
- KorfosShelter score 96 of 100
- LivasShelter score 96 of 100
- LakkoudiShelter score 96 of 100
- LakkoudiiShelter score 96 of 100
- TripitiShelter score 95 of 100
- TrypitiShelter score 95 of 100
Roughest
Beach guides
More guides for Gavdos
A guide for every kind of beach, each one re-ranked live for today's wind.
Sea temperature
Sea temperature in Gavdos, month by month
The average temperature of the sea near the beaches of Gavdos, from 30 years of satellite measurements (NOAA, 1991–2020).
Warm-water seasonJun – Oct≥ 22 °C
Warmest month26 °CAugust
Coldest month16 °CFebruary
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17° | 16° | 16° | 17° | 19° | 22° | 24° | 26° | 25° | 24° | 21° | 18° |
The sea is 22 °C or warmer from June to October, and warmest in August, at about 26 °C.
Sea temperature: NOAA OISST v2.1, average of 1991–2020 (public domain). Close to the shore the water can be a degree or two warmer or cooler.
Best time to go
When to go to Gavdos
Gavdos is busiest in August. In May and October there are about half as many visitors, or fewer. For a flat sea and fewer people, the best months are June and October.
In the swimming season (May to October) the least windy month on Gavdos is June, with an average wind of 17 km/h. The windiest is August, at 20 km/h. The wind is usually lighter in the morning and builds up in the afternoon, so go early on windy days.
- Visitors
- Sea temperature
- Best
Gavdos: wind and weather month by month
Average conditions for every month near Gavdos, from 25 years of satellite-based weather data (2001–2025). Wind is the average at 10 m height; the sea close to the shore can differ.
| Month | Wind | Temp | Sea | Rain (mm/day) | Visitors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25 km/h NW | 15° | 17 °C | 2.7 | Quiet |
| February | 25 km/h NW | 14° | 16 °C | 2.4 | Quiet |
| March | 23 km/h NW | 15° | 16 °C | 1.3 | Quiet |
| April | 20 km/h NW | 17° | 17 °C | 0.8 | Quiet |
| May | 18 km/h NW | 20° | 19 °C | 0.6 | Moderate |
| June | 17 km/h NW | 23° | 22 °C | 0.1 | Busy |
| July | 19 km/h NW | 26° | 24 °C | 0.1 | Peak |
| August | 20 km/h NW | 27° | 26 °C | 0.2 | Peak |
| September | 19 km/h NW | 25° | 25 °C | 0.7 | Busy |
| October | 19 km/h N | 22° | 24 °C | 1.5 | Moderate |
| November | 20 km/h NW | 20° | 21 °C | 2.2 | Quiet |
| December | 24 km/h NW | 17° | 18 °C | 2.8 | Quiet |
Historical data: NASA POWER, CC BY 4.0. Visitor levels are nights spent in tourist accommodation in the Crete region (Eurostat, average of 2023–2025), compared with its busiest month. They show when the area is busy, not how many people are on a given beach.
Gavdos: November through the years
Average conditions for November near Gavdos, from 25 years of satellite-based weather data (2001–2025).
On average 20 km/h and 20° in November. Least windy year on record: 2003 · windiest: 2004.
Show all 25 years
| Year | Wind | Temp | Rain (mm/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 km/h SW | 21° | 1.1 |
| 2024 | 22 km/h N | 20° | 1.0 |
| 2023 | 22 km/h W | 22° | 0.5 |
| 2022 | 21 km/h NW | 20° | 2.0 |
| 2021 | 18 km/h E | 20° | 2.2 |
| 2020 | 22 km/h N | 19° | 3.3 |
| 2019 | 17 km/h S | 22° | 2.6 |
| 2018 | 22 km/h N | 20° | 2.9 |
| 2017 | 21 km/h W | 19° | 2.1 |
| 2016 | 18 km/h N | 20° | 1.8 |
| 2015 | 20 km/h NW | 20° | 0.9 |
| 2014 | 20 km/h N | 20° | 1.2 |
| 2013 | 20 km/h SW | 20° | 1.4 |
| 2012 | 22 km/h N | 20° | 3.2 |
| 2011 | 20 km/h NE | 17° | 1.9 |
| 2010 | 17 km/h S | 21° | 1.6 |
| 2009 | 23 km/h NW | 20° | 1.9 |
| 2008 | 19 km/h W | 20° | 1.2 |
| 2007 | 22 km/h W | 19° | 1.9 |
| 2006 | 19 km/h NW | 18° | 2.7 |
| 2005 | 22 km/h NW | 19° | 2.2 |
| 2004 | 24 km/h NW | 20° | 4.6 |
| 2003 | 17 km/h NE | 20° | 3.8 |
| 2002 | 19 km/h SW | 20° | 2.7 |
| 2001 | 22 km/h W | 19° | 5.0 |
Every beach
Beaches on Gavdos
17 beaches mapped. The most sheltered first, then every other beach with a name; each one opens its own page.
- Potamos nudist beachSheltered in 6 of 8 winds
- PyrgosSheltered in 6 of 8 winds
- Pyrgos nudist beachSheltered in 6 of 8 winds
- SarakinikoSheltered in 6 of 8 winds
- PotamosSheltered in 6 of 8 winds
- TripitiSheltered in 6 of 8 winds
- TrypitiSheltered in 6 of 8 winds
- KorfosSheltered in 5 of 8 winds
- Agios Ioannis Naturist BeachSheltered in 4 of 8 winds
- Agios Ioannis nudist beachSheltered in 4 of 8 winds
- Lavrakas nudist beachSheltered in 4 of 8 winds
- LakkoudiSheltered in 4 of 8 winds
- LakkoudiiSheltered in 4 of 8 winds
- LavrakasSheltered in 4 of 8 winds
- LivasSheltered in 4 of 8 winds
Which side of Gavdos is sheltered in a north wind?
In a strong north wind the beaches of Gavdos facing west and south-east stay most sheltered: Beach near Vatsiana, Pyrgos, and Tripiti. Beaches facing north are exposed to it.
How do you know which beaches are sheltered?
For every beach we measured how much open sea lies in each of 16 compass directions, using OpenStreetMap coastlines. Waves build over open water, so a beach with land close by in the direction the wind comes from is sheltered. Today's wind forecast from MET Norway is then applied, and the result is refreshed every 2 hours.
Are the forecasts reliable?
They are estimates. The model does not include swell from distant storms, and local gusts can be stronger than forecast. Always follow lifeguard flags and local warnings.
Which wind direction matters on Gavdos?
The direction more than the strength. A beach is rough when the wind blows from the open sea towards it and flat when land lies upwind, so on a windy day one side of Gavdos can be flat while the other has waves. That is why this page lists the most sheltered and the roughest beaches for each wind direction, and the live ranking above applies today's forecast.
When is the sea flattest on Gavdos?
In the swimming season (May to October) the least windy month on Gavdos is June, with an average wind of 17 km/h. The windiest is August, at 20 km/h. The wind is usually lighter in the morning and builds up in the afternoon, so go early on windy days.
When is Gavdos least crowded?
Gavdos is busiest in August. In May and October there are about half as many visitors, or fewer. For a flat sea and fewer people, the best months are June and October.
How warm is the sea in Gavdos?
The sea is 22 °C or warmer from June to October, and warmest in August, at about 26 °C.
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