Tucked into a steep valley overlooking dazzling Agali Beach, this pretty little 15-room hotel tumbles down the craggy hillside straight into gin-clear waters. With a white and hushed-grey palette, Blue Sand is the epitome of Cycladic chic. Cosy rooms have killer views, there are wicker “bowl” chairs, and designer parasols dance in the breeze. If you want to simply chill out, bronze up and sink into alluring azure seas, this is the spot; a salty-hair-and-sand-between-your-toes kind of place. Lazy days are spent flopping beachside on the terrace's comfy bean bags, then sampling Greek salad and stuffed vine leaves at local tavernas before watching the sun set from your balcony.
Take a short walk (or shorter boat taxi) along the coast and you’ll find a string of other stunning coves to explore (clothes optional). We particularly liked Agios Nikolaos, where a blissfully low-key taverna provides chilled wine and fresh seafood, served by grizzly locals living life in the slow lane. It all retains that elusive laid-back island vibe. Chuck in mellow afternoons pottering around pretty Chora, the island's capital, and you've got yourself the Greek ideal.
Highs
- Killer sea views from all bedrooms and the restaurant - you won’t want to bat an eyelid
- We loved the décor: stylish, but relaxed and informal. A step above your average Greek cube
- The best beaches on the island are just a short walk along the coast (only accessible on foot or by boat, creating a wonderful bohemian feel)
- Staff are genuinely friendly and charming
- Relaxed evening meals under the stars - pizzas, pastas and fresh salads
Lows
- Service can be a bit haphazard, but once you mellow out and get into island time, you won't mind
- Buses to Chora (a 10-minute drive away) don’t run in the evening and taxis are rare; most guests hire a quad or moped
- No pool but you're just a hop, skip and jump from the beach and sea for swimming
- Some room terraces are compact and lack privacy; no twin rooms
- Families are welcome, but there aren't any kids' facilities - we think their hideaway villa is more family-friendly
Best time to go
May, June and September are pleasantly warm and delightfully uncrowded - an island this size fills up quickly. In July and August, the temperatures rise and there’s a friendly buzz in the tavernas and bars.
Our top tips
You can easily combine a stay on Folegandros with a couple of nights on Santorini - although we found the crowds there slightly overwhelming, and hankered for lazy quiet afternoons on Folegandros.
If you know someone who claims, “seen one sunset, seen them all”, take them to Panagia church. With giddy views overlooking Chora and dramatic cliffs, sunsets don’t get much better.
If you know someone who claims, “seen one sunset, seen them all”, take them to Panagia church. With giddy views overlooking Chora and dramatic cliffs, sunsets don’t get much better.
- Boutique Hotel
- 15 rooms
- Restaurant and bar open daily
- All ages welcome
- Closed: 16 October - 30 April
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
The 15 double rooms and suites are decked out all in white, some with driftwood sculptures, and all with doors opening onto sea-view balconies or terraces (no twin rooms).
We stayed in a top-floor Superior Seaview Room and it was worth paying a little extra for the space, privacy and beach views (smaller ground-floor rooms open straight onto the restaurant terrace). Our terrace was the perfect spot to relax and take in the golden glow of the hills at sunset.
Beds are super comfy and it’s blissfully quiet at night, with only the waves lapping on the shore. Bathrooms feature showers only, but you get lovely Apivita toiletries. Nespresso machines and beach towels are a nice touch, too.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Bathrobes
- Beach towels
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Safe box
- Toiletries
- TV
- WiFi
Eating
Breakfast is a feast: baskets of local breads and pastries, homemade jams and cakes, yoghurts, fruit and cereals, coffee, juice and eggs as you like them, as well as more substantial offerings a la carte. It’s all served up on the restaurant terrace - did we mention the views?
Lazy lunches of pizza and Greek salads are taken on pillow-strewn alcoves shaded by billowing cotton. On our latest visit we had a delicious bowl of seafood matsata (spaghetti), which quickly became the standout meal of the trip. As the daytrippers shuffle off the beach down below, you get the smug satisfaction of enjoying the last glows of sunset all by yourself.
Evenings meals are as relaxed as the setting - dining under the stars is impossibly romantic. Expect pizzas, pasta dishes and fresh salads. Prices are higher than the local tavernas, but worth it for a treat. Down in the bay, you’ll find a few rustic characterful family-run tavernas, plus there are plenty of eateries in Chora (a 10-minute drive away). We ate at Chic one night - it was cute as a button, with little wooden tables outside under fairy lights. The hearty Greek food included lots of mezze dipping plates, plus a really good lamb and prune slow-cooked dish.
Features include:
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
- Room service
Activities
- Snorkel just below the hotel on beautiful Agali Beach, where the clear blue waters look good enough to drink
- Take your pick of the beaches dotted along the coast - our favourite was Agios Nikolaos Beach (a 15-minute walk or 5-minute boat taxi). It’s an absolute stunner, with olive trees for shade, a pretty white church and a laid-back taverna for lazy lunches
- Discover hidden coves accessible only by boat - you can set sail from the cove beside the hotel
- Hire a moped or quad bike to explore the island. Traffic is almost non-existent
- Historic Chora is one of the prettiest towns in Greece, with a pedestrianised centre, bougainvillea-filled squares and welcoming restaurants
- At the hotel, browse the onsite boutique for a designer bikini or a new beach bag
- Walking trails cover the island, but it’s quite barren and there’s limited shade, so watch the heat and take plenty of water
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Boat trips
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Snorkelling
- Swimming
Kids
Children are welcome but there are no specific kids facilities or pool at the hotel. Best for older kids who will love snorkelling, and can walk 10-15 mins to more sandy beaches.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
A baby cots or extra bed can be added to most rooms. There's a Family Suite which sleeps 4 (a double bed and 2 single sofabeds).
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Blue Sand overlooks Agali Beach, on the small island of Folegandros. Chora, the little island capital, is a 10-minute drive away.
By Air & Ferry:
There is no airport on Folegandros. Instead, fly into Santorini (30km) then take a ferry / hydrofoil / catamaran to Folegandros (1-3 hours). Alternatively, fly to Athens and take a ferry / hydrofoil from Piraeus (4-8 hours). Ferries are daily during summer; 3 times a week for the rest of the year.
From Folegandros Harbour
The hotel provides complimentary transfers to and from the harbour (a 15-minute drive).
Getting Around
The most popular way to explore the island is by hiring a scooter or quad bike.Public transport is limited. Buses to/from Chora run during the day; an evening out in town requires a taxi (the hotel can arrange).
By Car:
You might want to hire a car to explore the island. There's a car park a 2-minute walk away.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Greece and getting around
Airports:
- Santorini 30.0 km JTR
- Athens 252.0 km ATH
Other:
- Beach 0.3 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.2 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 8 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape