What makes it special is its setting at the mouth of the Gjipe Canyon, a narrow gorge carved by a stream through towering limestone walls before it opens onto a sweep of pebbles and clear turquoise water. The bay and canyon are a protected landscape, and dolphins and loggerhead turtles have been recorded in the surrounding waters.
There is no road down to the beach, which helps keep it unspoilt. Most visitors follow the narrow lane signed for the Monastery of St Theodore, park above the bay and continue on foot along a downhill track, roughly half an hour each way, with a steep climb on the return. Gjipe can also be reached by boat from nearby beaches. Bring water, sturdy shoes and sun protection, and come early in summer, when the small car park fills quickly.
Walking a short way into the canyon is a highlight in itself. For many travellers, Gjipe is the Riviera at its wildest and most memorable.
