Located in the southern part of Thassos, Giola is a beautiful natural pool carved in rock. There are many awesome places to see in Thassos and visiting Giola is one of them.
As soon as I arrived, I took a few minutes to stand on the edge of Giola in awe. It was very early in the morning and I had the entire place to myself.
It’s hard to describe the beauty of this place in words. The sound of waves hitting the shore, the rocky formation, the beautiful pool – everything is simply perfect.
In this blog post I’m going to share with you everything you need to know if you’re planning to visit Giola in Thassos.
1. Giola Lagoon legend
Also known as the “Tear of Venus”, according to the legend, Giola is a pool created by Zeus for Venus to swim in.
Thassos is also known as the island of Sirens, the beautiful women with fishtails. It is said that their voice was so beautiful that every man who listened to them fell under their spell.
Seeing the beauty of Giola, I have to say that if Sirens exist, they must be living here.
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2. What to expect
This natural pool is not particularly big. Giola is about 20 meters long and 15 meters wide. One of the beauties of this place is that the pool connects through a small passage with the sea.
Don’t expect to find a sandy beach at Giola. The pool is surrounded by rocks so getting a tan won’t be very comfortable unless you’ll bring an inflatable mattress.
Also, there are no sunbeds or shades near the pool. This is one of the reasons why I recommend visiting this place either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The sun can be very harsh mid-day.
If you want to have the place to yourself, I recommend waking up early in the morning. Aim to be there at 8 am. After 9 am the place gets pretty crowded and swimming in Giola might be difficult when you’re surrounded by tons of tourists.
Keep in mind that getting out of the pool is a bit difficult because there are no stairs. If you’re visiting Giola with children, you might want to keep an eye on them at all times.
Also, I recommend bringing some aqua shoes to protect your feet from the sea urchins. There are plenty of them on the bottom of Giola and we all know how nasty their sting can be.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even try cliff jumping. People usually jump from the surrounding tall cliffs (up to 8 meters) straight into the pool. However, this can be dangerous so be extra-cautious.
Good to know – there are no toilets or changing rooms at Giola. If you need to go to the bathroom, I recommend going to the nearby tavern.
Giola entrance fee and opening hours – there is no entrance fee to Giola and the place is opened 24/7.
3. Restaurants near Giola
There’s only one small tavern near Giola. You’ll have to walk 3 minutes from Giola to reach it.
Their menu includes Greek salad, fries, grilled shrimps, hamburger, chicken soup, and a few other dishes. The prices are reasonable so if you get hungry while at Giola, I recommend this tavern.
4. The best time to visit Giola
Giola is a must-see for any tourist visiting Thassos. It’s most crowded during the summer, from July to August.
However, if you really want to have the place to yourself, visit Giola at the beginning of June or September. The temperatures will be great and you’ll have the entire place to yourself.
5. How to get to Giola
Giola is located in Astris, 9 km away from Limenaria. You can either reach Giola by car or by boat. I’ll talk about each of these options below.
By car
When driving from Limenaria to Astris, you’ll pass by Aeria Hotel on the right side of the road. After about 100 meters, you’ll see a dirt road at your right (there should be a small blue sign with “Giola” written on it).
Take that road and drive for another 2 to 3 kilometers. You’ll reach a parking lot where you’ll have to park your car.
After that, start descending towards the sea. There are painted rocks indicating the way. You’ll pass by the Giola Tavern and then, after a few minutes, you’ll finally reach the natural pool of Thassos.
By boat
Most boat trips from Potos or Limenaria include stops at Giola. You’ll have 10-20 minutes to enjoy this natural pool and swim in it. Click here or here to book a boat tour.
However, if you want to enjoy this place for more than a few minutes, I recommend reaching it by car.
6. Where to stay in Thassos
I’ve been searching for the best accommodation on Thassos Island. Here are the best hotels, for every budget.
- Budget – Apartment Vana Limenaria – good location, clean rooms, private bathroom, friendly staff
- Mid-budget – La Pierre – good location, spacious and modern rooms, good amenities, beautiful terrace
- Luxury – Ilio Mare Hotel – excellent location, beautiful pool, luxurious rooms, excellent service, breakfast included
7. Final thoughts
Separated from the sea by a few rocks, Giola lagoon is one of the most beautiful natural pools in the world. Its crystal-clear water and the surrounding natural beauty are just some of the reasons why you should visit this place.
Plan at least a few hours to visit this natural pool in Thassos. It’s worth it! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section below.
May the travel bug bite you!
Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.
She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here.
To follow her adventures, check out her Instagram and Facebook pages!