Santorini Beaches: A Guide to the Black-Sand Coast and Red Beach

Santorini's beaches are mostly small black volcanic pebbles and rarely large, but the widest, sandiest stretches lie in the southeast around Perissa, and there is a beach to suit everyone. Because the island is volcanic the sand is dark and heats up in the sun, so beach sandals help; when the wind blows on one coast you simply move to the other side of the island. This guide runs round the coast beach by beach, from Perissa and the famous Red Beach to the quiet beaches of the northeast. For towns, hotels and getting around, see the Santorini island guide.

Group

Cyclades

Widest sand

Perissa & Perivolos

Most famous

Red Beach

Sand

Mostly black volcanic

Perissa and Kamari Beach

Perissa and Kamari are the two widest and largest beaches on Santorini, both in the southeast, and both hold most of the island's accommodation. Perissa suits independent travellers, with hostels, pensions and rooms to rent; it sits next to the village of Emporio and is sheltered from the northern Meltemi wind by the Profitis Ilias mountain. Kamari leans towards more expensive hotels. Perissa beach is big, wide and sandy and runs along the coast into Perivolos and Agios Georgios, growing quieter as it goes, while Kamari beach is fine pebbles rather than sand. Perissa keeps a relaxed evening atmosphere with terraces, supermarkets, restaurants, souvenir shops and two diving schools; Kamari looks tidier, with the centre of its boulevard closed to traffic.

Red Beach and White Beach

Red Beach, or Kokkini Ammos, near the village of Akrotiri in the south, has reddish sand below a steep black-and-red lava cliff. It is small, so it fills quickly, and it is unorganized, with no parasols or sunbeds. Small boats reach it from Perissa and Akrotiri, or you walk about ten minutes from Akrotiri village (a few minutes from the church and parking), passing a small church set against the red rocks. Next to it, White Beach (Aspro Paralia) is smaller and reached mainly by boat, a pebble beach of large stones ringed by high white cliffs. Both lie near the ruins of the Minoan city; Red Beach has a few hotels nearby, White Beach none.

Akrotiri Beach and Bella Bay

Akrotiri Beach and Bella Bay are two beaches on the edge of Akrotiri village. Bella Bay, the better of the two, sits at the village entrance towards the Faros lighthouse, beside a small car park with views over the volcano crater, and is reached by steps. Akrotiri Beach lies further out near ancient Akrotiri, next to Red and White Beach; it is a long beach of large pebbles and rocks with a small cantina, one hotel and a bus connection, and it has some 'syrmata', small houses carved into the rock for storing boats.

Monolithos Beach

Monolithos Beach lies near the airport, just north of Kamari, a large beach of black sand with only a few small pebbles and quieter than nearby beaches. It is shallow and fine for families, organized with sunbeds and umbrellas, a taverna and watersports, though a strong wind often blows here. An old tomato factory stands behind the beach, framed by wind-smoothed cliffs, and a small village of tavernas and shops sits at the other end.

Agia Paraskevi and Avis Beach

Agia Paraskevi and Avis are two beaches between Monolithos and Kamari. Agia Paraskevi, the northern one, is more sandy with some pebbles and quieter, and had no facilities when visited. Avis is a pebble beach with some parasols and facilities. Both have trees for shade, and both sit under the flight path near the airport.

Kouloumbo Beach

Kouloumbo Beach, at Cape Columbo in the northeast, is one of the most isolated and quiet beaches on Santorini, a long strip of black sand where high waves break. It is unorganized, with no beach chairs or umbrellas, so bring water and sunscreen; many rate it the best and prettiest beach in this part of the island.

Paradise, Pori and Baxedes Beach

Paradise Beach, on the east coast north of Kouloumbo, forms one very large beach with Kouloumbo split into two named sections; it has more pebbles, making the water harder to enter, and stays long and quiet with few facilities and grey-to-black sand. North of it lies Baxedes Beach, and the Meltemi wind can raise high waves. Pori Beach, also in the northeast just south of Kouloumbo and north of Vourvoulos, is small and quiet, mostly sand ringed by red rocks, 10 km from Fira near the pretty village of Pori with its windmills; you descend fifty steps to reach it and there are no parasols for rent.

Perivolos Beach

Perivolos Beach continues from Perissa and stays fairly quiet. It is really an extension of Perissa and of Agios Georgios to its south, a long beach of dark grey sand and pebbles. It is organized, with beach chairs, umbrellas, tavernas, kafenions, accommodation and watersports, 3 km from Perissa and reachable by bus, taxi or on foot.

Agios Georgios Beach

Agios Georgios Beach lies in the south, half a kilometre from Perivolos, one long sandy beach with many small tavernas and varied accommodation. It is quieter than its neighbours, about 3.5 km from Perissa, organized with beach chairs, umbrellas and watersports, and it merges seamlessly into the next beach along the coast.

Vlihada Beach

Vlihada Beach (Vlychada), next to Agios Georgios and the last in the row, is a picturesque beach below high white-yellow cliffs beside a harbour of wooden kaiks and yachts. It stays quiet, with limited facilities, a few tavernas and a minimarket in the harbour; sunbeds and umbrellas are only at the start of the beach and only in high season.

Mesa Pigadia Beach

Mesa Pigadia Beach lies in the southwest off the main road to Akrotiri near the lighthouse, reached by a dirt track about 1 km from the main road on foot, by a good car or by quad, or by excursion boat from Akrotiri. It is small and quiet, sand with mostly pebbles and larger stones, ringed by high white cliffs, with cave-houses and 'syrmata' built into the rock, a taverna and a few sunbeds.

Amoudi and Armeni Beach

Amoudi and Armeni are two popular beaches below the village of Oia. Amoudi, one of the most charming beaches on the island, is reached by 214 wide steps, set below high red cliffs with a small harbour, fish tavernas and kafenions, and a view of a rock in the clear water; from Amoudi port a boat crosses to Thirassia. Armeni is a small beach, harder to reach, 286 steps down by donkey or on foot, with the climb back up to follow.

Katharos Beach

Katharos Beach, near Oia, is the best beach close to the village, a big beach of black coarse sand and pebbles among rocks and cliffs. You reach it by car or a fifteen-minute walk from Oia, with the last stretch on a good path on foot; there are no parasols or sunbeds, but a tavern sits just before the descent.

Vourvoulos Beach

Vourvoulos Beach lies in the east, 7 km from Fira, one of the least touristy beaches because few people know it is there. It has a small harbour with tavernas and, perhaps in high season, beach chairs and umbrellas. Around the village are more beaches: the small pebble Xiropigado to the north, narrow Kanaraki with small black pebbles, Exo Gialos with small caves, and Karterados, the best of them, a large beach of black sand with fish tavernas.

Kanakari and Karterados Beach

Kanakari Beach, on the east side between Vourvoulos and Exo Gialos, is reached from Fira towards the camping and then by zigzagging to the coast; it is two beaches around a small fishing harbour, a narrow pebble beach to the south and a larger, better sandy one to the north, with swans and ducks in the harbour and a church above. Karterados and Exo Gialos beaches sit between Vourvoulos and Monolithos, about 6 km from Fira and 4 km from Karterados village, quiet with black sand and small pebbles; Karterados is organized with umbrellas, sunbeds and a seasonal cantina, and Exo Gialos has square rock-cut stores for wooden fishing boats.