Panteli Bay

Panteli Bay sits on the eastern coast of Leros, one of the Dodecanese islands in the southern Aegean, just south of the island's main town, Agia Marina. The seaside village lining the bay is one of the most photographed spots on Leros, with fishing boats drawn up on a narrow beach of fine sand and small pebbles, and a row of tavernas and cafe-bars facing the water.

Rising above the village is the Byzantine castle of Panagia, a fortress built in stages over more than a thousand years on the summit of Pityos hill, roughly 600 meters above the bay. The castle's small church and museum are open to visitors, and the climb rewards them with views over Panteli, the island's windmills, and much of the surrounding Leros coastline.

The bay is sheltered from all but easterly and southerly winds, with a sandy bottom that gives boats good holding whether anchoring offshore or mooring along the town quay; the water stays shallow close to shore, making it comfortable for children as well as visiting crews. Panteli Bay is best reached during a gulet cruise along the Greece coast, drawing its largest crowds between May and September when the sea is warmest for swimming.