Red Beach
Red Beach is one of the most famous and spectacular beaches on Santorini. Named after the colour of its sand, it is located near Akrotiri.
The sunsets and the breathtaking views of the ancient crater are the wonders that guarantee more than a million visitors to Santorini each year, but its beaches should not be underestimated.
True, you should not expect Caribbean beaches of white sand and turquoise sea: Santorini’s volcanic origin has also left its mark on the island’s beaches, which are characterised by dark sand, blue water and imposing cliffs overlooking the sea.
What you can expect, however, is a good variety: on the island you will find the atmospheric Red Beach, party beaches such as Perissa, the family-friendly Monolithos, the wild and naturist Kolombous and other beaches that cater for all types of holidaymakers.
Ready for a beach holiday in Santorini? To help you choose, we have selected for you the beaches you should not miss in Santorini.
The small, picturesque Red Beach (Kokkini Paralia in Greek) is the most famous beach on Santorini and a must-see on every holiday on the island. Located near the archaeological site of Akrotiri in the south-western part of the island, this cove owes its name to the spectacular red cliffs that surround it and the rust-red sand.
This particular colouration is due to the rich presence of iron in the volcanic rocks that make up the cliffs. The contrast between the deep red of the rocks, the black of the sand and the deep blue of the sea creates a truly breathtaking scenery that attracts visitors from all over the world.
To reach the beach, it is necessary to walk a rather challenging path that starts from the Akrotiri car park. The path requires about 5-10 minutes of walking on uneven ground and is not suitable for people with reduced mobility or small children. Due to frequent landslides in the rock face, access to the beach is sometimes restricted or prohibited for safety reasons, so it is advisable to inquire before visiting.
The beach is relatively small and can become very crowded during the high season. Facilities are limited, with only a few sunbeds and umbrellas available for hire. Alternatively, many visitors choose to view it from one of the boats that offer tours of Santorini’s beaches, or from the viewing platform above the beach.
Nearby is White Beach, accessible only by sea, with its characteristic white rock formations.
Adjacent to Red Beach is another pretty beach, White Beach (Aspri Paralia in Greek), less crowded than its more famous sister: as the name suggests, the cliffs surrounding it are not red but white.
The main characteristic of this beach is its inaccessibility by land: the only way to reach it is by sea, with one of the frequent taxi boats that depart from Red Beach, Kamari, Perissa or Akrotiri. This makes it significantly less crowded than other beaches on the island, offering a more intimate and peaceful experience.
The beach is small, consisting of dark pebbles and volcanic sand, with a limited area where a few sunbeds and umbrellas are available for hire. The waters here are particularly clear and an incredible deep blue colour, ideal for snorkelling thanks to the rich marine life that populates the surrounding rocks.
The boat trip to reach it is part of the experience, offering spectacular views of Santorini’s southern coastline and its unique geological formations. Many boat tours exploring the island’s beaches include a stop at White Beach, often combining it with visits to Red Beach, Black Beach and the hot springs on the island of Nea Kameni.
Perissa Beach is one of the most popular and well-equipped beaches on Santorini, located on the south-eastern coast of the island. It is characterised by a very long stretch of black sand that stretches for over 7 km and connects to Perivolos beach. What makes this coastline truly scenic is the imposing Mesa Vouno, the mountain that separates Perissa from Kamari and dominates the horizon at 369 metres high.
The crystal-clear waters of Perissa have regularly been awarded the Blue Flag for their cleanliness and quality. The seabed slopes gently, making it suitable for families with children, although the black sand can get extremely hot in the middle of the day (it is advisable to wear beach shoes).
The promenade is lined with numerous bars, taverns and restaurants where you can enjoy typical Greek and international dishes. You will also find various facilities such as showers, changing rooms and the possibility of renting sunbeds and parasols.
For water sports enthusiasts, Perissa offers numerous activities such as windsurfing, jet skiing and parasailing. The beach is easily accessible by public transport from Fira, and has ample parking for those travelling in rented vehicles.
Located on the eastern side of the island, Kamari beach is one of the most developed and organised beaches on Santorini. It stretches for about 5 km with its characteristic black volcanic sand and pebbles, and is separated from neighbouring Perissa by the promontory of Mesa Vouno.
Kamari boasts crystal-clear waters that have received Blue Flag certification, indicating excellent standards of cleanliness and quality. The sea here is generally calm, with a gradually sloping seabed, making it ideal for families, although it can quickly become deep in places.
The Kamari promenade is one of the liveliest on the island, with a pedestrian promenade lined with a rich selection of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. The beach is well equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas for hire, showers and changing rooms.
The resort also offers a good choice of accommodation, from boutique hotels to flats, making it an ideal base for exploring the island. Kamari has regular bus connections with the capital Fira and is only a 10-minute drive from Santorini Airport.
Vlychada Beach is located on the southern tip of the island of Santorini 14 kilometres from Fira and not far from the beach of Agios Georgios, just opposite the small harbour town of the same name. It is over 800 metres long and is quite sheltered from the wind.
Vlychada is a beautiful beach of grey sand mixed with light pumice stone, surrounded by high white cliffs, sculpted into peculiar shapes by the wind and the sea, but strangely, it is little frequented. Thanks to the composition of the sand and the panorama that can be admired, Vlychada has a lunar charm that has earned it the nickname ‘Moon beach‘.
The sea soon becomes deep, making this picturesque beach unsuitable for families with small children. You can rent sunbeds and umbrellas, although there are not many and only on the first part of the shoreline, the eastern side, and refresh yourself in the tavern or café built of local natural stone and wood right on the beach, ideal for a drink at sunset.
Eros Beach is one of Santorini’s hidden gems, located on the south-western coast of the island, not far from Vlychada. Named after the Greek god of love, it’s not hard to see why: its secluded location and romantic atmosphere make it ideal for couples seeking tranquillity.
This medium-sized beach is characterised by sand mixed with dark-coloured pebbles and impressive multi-coloured cliffs surrounding it, created by the erosion of volcanic rocks. The layers of minerals in the cliffs create a unique visual effect, with bands of colours ranging from white to red to black.
Eros Beach is relatively undeveloped and maintains a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere. In the centre of the beach is an elegant beach club offering sunbeds, umbrellas and a bar/restaurant service with an excellent selection of cocktails and Mediterranean dishes (prices are in the mid-to-high range).
To reach Eros Beach it is necessary to drive along a dirt road about 2 km away from the main road, so it is advisable to use a four-wheel drive vehicle or a quad bike. Alternatively, you can get there by taxi or by joining an organised tour of the island’s lesser-known beaches.
Katharos Beach is one of Santorini’s lesser-known beaches, located a short distance from Oia in the north-western part of the island. The name ‘Katharos’ means ‘clean’ in Greek, and indeed this small cove is distinguished by its crystal-clear waters and pristine environment.
Unlike the island’s more famous black sand beaches, Katharos is a predominantly rocky and pebbly beach, surrounded by high volcanic cliffs that create a wild and picturesque setting. The lack of sand makes it less frequented by tourists, which helps to maintain a quiet and authentic atmosphere.
The beach is not particularly well equipped: there are no sunbeds or umbrellas for hire, making it ideal for those seeking a more natural and less commercial bathing experience. In the immediate vicinity, however, there is an excellent taverna serving traditional Greek dishes and fresh fish with a splendid view of the sea.
The waters of Katharos are exceptionally clear and deep blue, perfect for snorkelling thanks to the rich marine life that populates the underwater rocks. The seabed slopes rapidly, so it is mainly suitable for experienced swimmers.
To reach Katharos Beach, you have to follow a paved but narrow road that descends from Oia for about 1 km. You can get there by car (there is a small car park), by scooter or on foot for the more sporty. The location on the west coast allows one to enjoy spectacular sunsets, less crowded than the famous ones in Oia.
Perivolos is the natural southern extension of Perissa beach, so much so that it is often difficult to distinguish where one ends and the other begins. This long stretch of black volcanic sand is considered one of the most beautiful and well-equipped beaches on Santorini.
Compared to neighbouring Perissa, Perivolos has a slightly quieter and more relaxed atmosphere, while still offering all the necessary amenities for a day at the beach. The waters here are particularly clear and have earned the Blue Flag for their excellent quality. The seabed slopes gently, making it suitable for swimmers of all levels.
Along the beach you will find numerous beach clubs and bathing establishments that offer superior sunbeds and umbrellas, often with a sunbed service (prices vary from 15 to 30€, depending on the type of establishment). Perivolos is also known for its trendy beach bars where you can sip cocktails and listen to lounge music during the day, while at night some clubs organise beach parties.
Perivolos is well connected to the main resorts of the island by public bus service and is located about 15 km from Fira, the capital of Santorini.
Along the east coast of Santorini, not far from Kamari beach and in the area of the airport, is the beach of Monolithos, which is less crowded than the others but still has a decent offer of good hotels and flats for rent, restaurants and nightclubs.
This expanse of fine, dark-coloured sand is a quiet, well-equipped beach that also offers water sports. The shallow waters of Monolithos beach make it an ideal destination for everyone and especially for families with children, as there is a playground as well as a beach volleyball court.
Unlike other beaches on the island, Monolithos has a much more local and authentic atmosphere, being less frequented by tourists than Kamari or Perissa. The sand here is slightly lighter and finer than on other volcanic beaches on the island and the shoreline is characterised by large rocks emerging from the sea (hence the name ‘Monolithos’).
Ammoudi Bay is not a beach in the traditional sense, but a picturesque cove located 200 steps below the village of Oia in the northern part of Santorini. This small fishing harbour, with its characteristic red-painted houses facing the crystal-clear water, is one of the most charming places on the island.
To swim at Ammoudi, you must walk to the tip of the bay, where you will find a rocky platform from which you can dive into the deep, crystal-clear waters of the caldera. About 15 metres from the shore there is also a large boulder emerging from the water, popular with the more adventurous for diving (but be careful, the height is considerable!).
The bay is also famous for its high quality fish restaurants, considered among the best on the island to enjoy fresh seafood with a sea view. Prices are higher than elsewhere on the island, but the quality and location justify the cost.
To get to Ammoudi Bay from Oia, you can walk the 200 steps (the climb is challenging, especially in the hottest hours), take a taxi or, for the more adventurous, use the traditional donkey transport (not recommended for animal welfare reasons, however).
Along the east coast of Santorini, 6 kilometres from the island’s capital Fira, is the beach of Vourvoulos. Sandy and secluded, few tourist facilities can be found in the vicinity, on this beach you can find tranquillity and calm even in the height of the summer season as it is among the least known black beaches on the island.
Vourvoulos is a small beach of grey sand and pebbles, poorly equipped but with a good fish tavern. Dark, imposing cliffs, topped by white windmills, and numerous beech trees adorn the beach and its azure waters.
To reach Vourvoulos beach, which is not served by buses, follow the secondary road that connects the main town with Oia.
Near the village of Vourvoulis are a series of hidden beaches: the northernmost is a small pebble beach of Xiropigado while further south is the narrow beach of Kanaraki with small black pebbles. Exo Gialos is a beach with a few small caves. The last and best beach is Karterados. It is a large expanse of black sand and is served by a couple of tavernas.
The beach of Agios Georgios is one of the most famous of Santorini, although it is not very popular. The beach is located along the east coast of the island, near the southern tip, just after the beach of Perivolos, 3 ½ kilometres from Perissa and 3 from the village of Emporio.
Agios Georgios is a wide black beach where you can find numerous umbrellas and sunbeds for rent, hotels of various price ranges, taverns and beach bars, as well as numerous water sports agencies including jet-skiing, diving, windsurfing, pedal boats and banana boats.
Not far away, and also easily accessible on foot, is the beach of Vlychada.
Kambia Beach is one of the lesser-known beaches on Santorini and is located along the south coast in the south-western part of the island in the Akrotiri area, 13 kilometres from Fira, next to the beautiful Red Beach and White Beach.
Kambia is a small, quiet, dark pebble beach with crystal-clear waters and little equipment. There are two small tavernas that serve drinks and food and offer a nice view of the lighthouse and nearby Red Beach.
Kambia can be reached either by car or by bicycle via a somewhat bumpy road from the village of Akrotiri to Faros.
The beach of Cape Colombo is one of the most isolated, and therefore less crowded, and is located on the north-eastern coast of the island, not far from the village of Oia, from which it is only 4 kilometres away.
Ideal for those in search of tranquillity, the beach is a long, narrow stretch of black sand and pebbles surrounded by cliffs and set in fantastic natural surroundings.
The beach at Cape Colombo is quite remote and not very organised except for a handful of sunbeds and a small taverna, but its beauty is worth a visit.
The water is not particularly deep but the currents can be strong, just bear in mind that the cliffs behind the beach have been sculpted by the winds into strange and fascinating shapes. On a fine day, the view sweeps all the way to the island of Ios.
To reach the beach of Cape Colombo you will need to rent a car or moped as it is not served by any bus lines.
With its reddish tones, the beach of Pori has a wild character. Located along the north-eastern coast of Santorini about 10 kilometres from the island’s capital Fira along the easternmost road leading to Oia, you have to walk 50 steps along the cliff ridge to reach this quiet, undisturbed beach frequented mainly by the island’s inhabitants.
The small, narrow beach of dark sand with red tones is characterised by large rocks emerging from the sea with beautiful colours and distinctive shapes.
The waters bathing the beach are clear, rather shallow and ideal for snorkelling. Pori has no umbrellas or sunbeds for rent but there is a small harbour for fishing boats and a traditional Greek taverna where you can eat excellent fish.
On the hill behind Pori beach are a series of traditional windmills from which to enjoy the splendid spectacle of nature.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
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