The Greek Island that Banned Swimming Pools

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Table of Contents

Have you heard of the island of Lipsi? It’s one of the smallest islands in the Dodecanese and it is known as one of the most sustainable Greek islands. In Lipsi, both the municipality and local residents have agreed to discourage the building of swimming pools in order to stop water waste. 

Sailboats in Lipsi

Sustainability in Lipsi

The island of Lipsi wants to become a model to other islands in Greece for water autonomy with zero waste, an idea that could be adopted by Greece’s dozens of inhabited, car-free islands. Beyond just discouraging pools, Lipsi wants to start a program of planting seabed gardens, and also has removed many of its beach sunbeds.

 

The mayor of Lipsi notes that the island is constantly being visited by more tourists. 30,000 arrive by ferry annually and 20,000 come by sailboat. As the mayor says, “The number of rooms in Lipsi is increasing, but the beaches are not growing. So, if we allowed the sunbeds, this would mean a reduction in living space. In addition, we are not in favor of separation on the beach – some on sunbeds and others who can not afford them.”

Harbor of Lipsi

What to Do in Lipsi

To promote their plans, the local authorities made a short (and quite entertaining) video that follows a young couple, Konstantinos and Dimitra, as they do everything possible on the island besides swim in a pool and lounge on a sunbed. They enjoy hiking, diving, horseback riding, local restaurants, and more. You can watch the full advertisement here.

 

Also in Lipsi, there is a collaboration between the company Finish (you might know them for their soaps) and the Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean (GWP-Med) to update the island to be more eco-friendly. They equipped every house with special water filters, showing the locals how to save water. You can see a video of the GWP-Med campaign in Lipsi here.

 

Top-down aerial of Red Sand Beach, Rhodes, Greece [Photograph] by Falco Ermert (dronepicr) - https://dronepicr.piwigo.com/picture?/6972/search/psk-20241127-zbJTMpQT3y - Licensed under Creative Commons 2.0
Top-down aerial of Red Sand Beach, Rhodes, Greece [Photograph] by Falco Ermert (dronepicr) - https://dronepicr.piwigo.com/picture?/6972/search/psk-20241127-zbJTMpQT3y - Licensed under Creative Commons 2.0

Where is Lipsi?

Lipsi is not just one island, but is rather a group of islands in the southern area of the Aegean. The largest isle in the group is Lipsi, which has low hills and valleys and several natural bays. There are not many cars and roads on the island, so most of the island’s life happens in the seafront walkway next to the port. There are a few small tavernas and cafes there. 

 

Beaches in Lipsi

Most of the beaches of Lipsi island are near the port. Kambos beach and Lientou are the most popular beaches close to town. Remember that you won’t find any sunbeds there. If you want a more secluded beach, you can easily reach them by motorbike or by one of the island’s few taxis. The most well-known secluded beaches on Lipsi are Katsadia beach, Tourkomnima beach, and Platis Gialos beach.

Elsewhere in Greece

Lipsi isn’t the only Greek island to remove its “pay to sit” beach chairs. Paros recently started a campaign on its local beaches, where privately-run loungers and umbrellas made it impossible for locals to visit the beach without paying. They protested by demanding space to put down their towels. The so-called “beach towel protest” is also happening on the islands of Naxos and Serifos. On Paros, the protest was a success.

Getting to Lipsi

A ferry connects Lipsi and Athens, and it leaves 3 times per week. However, this journey lasts about 9 hours. The most convenient way to get to Lipsi is to take a plane to Leros and then to travel to Lipsi with the ferry. The island of Lipsi is also connected with Rhodes, Kos, and Kalymnos.

Looking for something in particular?
Greek ferries, ferry tickets in Greece
BlogRegional Guides

Ferries in Greece: Connecting Buyers to Their Holiday Homes

Owning a home on a Greek island is a dream for many, but accessibility is a key factor. Ferries in Greece are not only one ...
Villa
BlogPress Releases

Greek Holiday Home Prices Rising at a 10% Rate This Year

Sale prices for newly built holiday homes in Greece have recorded an increase of over 10% so far this year, compared to 2024. According to ...
Green Roofs, Villa V
Architecture in GreeceBlog

7 Benefits of Green Roofs in Greece

Why would I want to put a garden on my roof? Living roof, vegetative roof, eco-roof… green roofs go by many names. Imagine Greek herbs ...
campervan
BlogIn The News

Campervan Holidays in Greece: What You Need to Know

Campervan holidays offer a unique sense of freedom and closeness to nature. However, following recent legal updates in Greece, it’s important to know exactly where ...
BlogPurchase Tips

Horizontal vs. Vertical Property: What’s the Difference When Buying in Greece?

If you are thinking about  buying a home in Greece, you might come across two legal terms that sound simple but play an important role ...
August 15
BlogLifestyle

Where to Celebrate August Festivals on the Greek Islands

Every year on the 15th of August is one of the biggest fests of the year in Greece. Thousands of pilgrims make the trip to ...
Your search results

Compare Listings

Featured in

Receive the latest news

Join over 20.000 subscribers and stay informed on the latest market insights, updates, tips and more

We’ll send you our best articles, expert insights and newest listings.​

Personalized Greek Real Estate Guidance

Tell us more and our team of real estate specialists will get in touch! 

This quick form takes less than a minute to complete. We only need minimal information to get started.

Step 1 of 3

Your inquiry will be reviewed within 24 hours on business days.