As popular as Santorini is a travel destination, its beaches aren’t as world-renowned as those from some Greek island neighbours, such as Crete, Corfu and Mykonos. That being said, several of its beaches are quite unique due to the volcanic rock providing an impressive amount of diversity in colour and composition. Most beaches (or “paralia”, which is the Greek word for beach) on Santorini are a volcanic mix of coarse sand and pebbles. The east and south coasts (opposite the caldera) have the sandiest beaches and sheltered waters that are good for swimming. Below we present our Guide on some of Santorini’s best beaches (Kamari, Perissa and Red Beach) to help you prioritize which ones you want to visit during your time in Santorini.
Disclosure: This page (Ultimate Guide for Kamari, Perissa and Red Beach) may contain product affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. More details can be found on our disclosure and policies page.
You might also be interested in these pages:
Best Things to See and Do in Santorini
Santorini Itinerary Ideas (1 to 5 days)
Santorini Travel Guide: Things to Know Before You Go
Where to Stay on Santorini
How to Get Around Santorini
Some Facts about Santorini’s Beaches
– As highlighted above, Santorini is not necessarily known for its beaches, so don’t expect long stretches of golden or white sand. Here most beaches are composed of dark volcanic sand, which are very beautiful in their own right, but that can get very hot mid-day, so be sure to bring sandals or shoes to walk on the sand.
– Santorini’s caldera and volcano views are along the island’s western coast, whereas the majority of the beaches are along the eastern and southern coasts. All three beaches highlighted below are along those coasts.
If you haven’t booked your rental vehicle yet, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Santorini.
– If you are still trying to figure out where to stay in Santorini, your interest in beaches could help you decide. If you plan on spending every day at the beach, staying close to one of them along the East Coast would make a lot of sense, particularly close to Kamari or Perissa Beach where there are lots of accommodation and restaurant options.
– Alternatively, if you prefer staying on the western side for those beautiful caldera views and sunsets and day-tripping to the beaches, there are a few other things to consider. If you plan on doing multiple day trips to the beach, know that while Fira has direct buses to Perissa and Kamari beaches, staying elsewhere on the island will require at least a second bus after a transfer in Fira. So if staying in Fira isn’t your first choice and you would still like to spend some time at the beach, a rental vehicle is probably the way to go for ease of exploration around Santorini.
Without further ado, here are our three favourite Santorini beaches.
Red Beach
Red Beach, also known as Kokkini Paralia, is the most unique and visually stunning beach in Santorini. Here, the stark contrast between the dramatic iron-rich volcanic cliffs that sharply rise from the sea and the deep blue-turquoise Aegean waters creates such a unique and beautiful coastal setting. It’s a true photographer’s paradise and it’s easy to get hypnotized by the view.
The beach itself is a relatively small and intimate crescent-shaped cove, and offers a small area with sun loungers and umbrellas – however, they fill up quickly during the peak season. So it’s best to arrive early. And unlike the other beaches on this list, there isn’t much around, aside from a small snack bar, so you might want to bring your own snacks and drinks.
There’s a short trail to access the beach from the parking lot but beware of the risk of landslides. There was a major landslide in 2013 and a smaller one in 2018 – so if you decide to venture to the beach, please do so with great care. You can make out from the pictures above where the trail continues through the piled-up rocks.
Beach amenities: Sunbeds & umbrellas, small snack bar, water sports equipment rentals.
What’s close by: There isn’t a lot in the area, aside from the fascinating Akrotiri archeological site, a short 10-minute walk away from the Red Beach parking lot (or a 2-minute drive).
How to get here: The beach is a 20-minute drive from Fira and there is a large free parking lot near the beach. Alternatively, you can get to the beach via a 20-minute bus ride* from Fira to the Akrotiri archeological site, from which you’ll have to walk about 10 minutes.
*Note that the timetables listed are the current timetables, which change throughout the year with increased service during the summer high season
Perissa Beach
Both for swimming and the views from the beach, Perissa Beach was our favorite. It’s Santorini’s longest beach, at just over 3km long. Though technically, the beach name changes twice the further you go south: the northern portion, closest to the towering Mesa Vouno (Santorini’s tallest mountain), is known as Perissa Beach, the central portion is known as Perivolos Beach, and the southern portion is known as Agios Georgios beach. This naming change is simply the result of different small towns being closest to each section of the beach, and each section being named after that town. Also, the further south you go, the more upscale the beach clubs and hotels become. However, despite these differences, most locals and tourists often refer to the entire stretch of beach as Perissa Beach.
The volcanic landscape surrounding the beach creates a striking backdrop as you soak up the sun and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere. The calm and clear waters of Perissa Beach are perfect for swimming, and the entire stretch of beach has received the Blue Flag award.
When hunger strikes or if you need a refreshing drink, the beach promenade teems with vibrant bars, cozy cafes, and inviting restaurants. In the evening, Perissa Beach has a vibrant beach bar scene and lively nightlife. There are also designated swimming areas and lifeguards on duty. A 60-minute hike from Perissa Beach will take you to the ancient ruins of Thera, an ancient city that dates back to the Hellenistic period.
Beach amenities: Sunbeds & umbrellas, beach bars, restaurants, tavernas, water sports equipment rentals, sea ramp.
What’s close by: Nothing of particular significance. Lots of restaurants, bars and beach shops.
How to get here: The beach is about a 20-minute drive from Fira, and we found it’s best to use this large and free parking lot. The beach is also about a 30-minute bus ride* from Fira. There’s also a water taxi that connects Perissa with Kamari Beach (see below).
*Note that the timetables listed are the current timetables, which change throughout the year with increased service during the summer high season.
Kamari Beach
Another black sand beach located on the eastern coast of Santorini, opposite Mesa Vouno from Perissa, is Kamari Beach, which is known for its relaxed atmosphere and family-friendly vibe. The long 2 km stretch of black sand is perfect for sunbathing and relaxation, with well-organized sunbeds and umbrellas available for rent. The crystal-clear waters are ideal for swimming and there are designated swimming areas with lifeguards on duty.
If you want a more active and busy beach, this is the one to go to. We found that Perissa Beach was much quieter and an easier place to find some space and solitude – Kamari Beach was a bit more lively.
Kamari Beach also has a lively promenade lined with restaurants, cafes and shops, perfect for a nice seaside stroll, shopping and dining.
Beach amenities: Sunbeds & umbrellas, restaurants, tavernas, water sports equipment rentals, sea ramp.
What’s close by: Archaeological site of Ancient Thera, Kamari Open Air Cinema, Estate Argyros Winery.
How to get here: The beach is about a 15-minute drive from Fira, and we found it best to park in this small and free parking lot, which is located a 5-minute walk from the beach. To reach the beach by bus takes about a 15-minute ride* from Fira. There’s also a water taxi stand that connects it with Perissa Beach.
*Note that the timetables listed are the current timetables, which change throughout the year with increased service during the summer high season.
Can you see All three beaches on the same day?
You definitely can if that’s something you would like to do. If staying in Fira, it would only take you 1h30 of driving in total to see all three beaches, including the departure and return to Fira. So it’s definitely feasible to create an awesome beach day and see all three in a single day. In fact, since we decided to have a rental car for just one day in Santorini, that’s exactly what we did, combined two vineyard visits and a visit to the Akrotiri Archeological Site. For more itinerary ideas, you can check out our 5-Day Santorini Guide.
Bonus Beach: White Beach
White Beach is a spectacular beach with towering white cliffs, located not far from the Red Beach. The main reason why we didn’t include it in our list is simply because reaching the White Beach is somewhat challenging. There are only two ways to get there: by water taxi from Red Beach or via one of several beach-hopping sailing cruises.
Preparing a trip to Santorini?
You might also be interested in these pages:
Best Things to See and Do in Santorini
Santorini Itinerary Ideas (1 to 5 days)
Santorini Travel Guide: Things to Know Before You Go
Where to Stay on Santorini
How to Get Around Santorini
Preparing a trip to Greece?
You might be interested in these Greece pages:
Top Things to See and Do in Greece
Two-Week Greece Itinerary (including Mykonos and Santorini)
Greece Travel Guide: Things to Know Before You Go
How to Travel Around Greece
We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Rick Steeves Greece
Lonely Planet Greece
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travellers. Includes Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance. Primarily geared towards long-term travellers, digital nomads, and expats.
e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
—–
Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Guide for Kamari, Perissa and Red Beach and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to Santorini.
—–
Preparing a trip to Greece?
We highly recommend these guidebooks:
—–
You might also be interested in these related pages:
1 Comment