Are you preparing your dream trip and eager to visit the most beautiful beaches in Santorini? Well, you should know right away that the beaches in Santorini are really nice but definitely not among those typical and crystal-clear ones that come to mind when thinking of Greece.
In other words, if you’re going to Santorini hoping for Caribbean beaches, you might want to consider other destinations. This is, in fact, one of the few volcanic islands in Greece (the island itself is an ancient crater), so the beaches of Santorini are all dark-colored with strong blue waters, not turquoise, due to the dark and deep seabeds. If you are a fan of volcanic islands, black sand, and dark stones, then the beaches of Santorini might suit you very much. Personally, even though I like this kind of environment, I wasn’t particularly impressed (probably because I had already visited other more “striking” volcanic islands in the Canary Islands).
Obviously, the island is not just about beaches: there is also much more to see in Santorini. Now, I don’t want to influence you any further and let’s begin! 🙂
Map of Santorini’s Beaches
Let’s start with the map of Santorini’s beaches that we will see, to better understand their location.
In some cases, you’ll find a pin with a parking spot, in case it is not adjacent to the beach. In all other cases, the parking is right in front of the beach or at the end of the road to reach it, so you can set the navigator to the beach itself.
Finally, almost all of Santorini’s beaches are located far from the main accommodation areas (particularly from Fira and Oia, the two most famous white villages you see in all the photos of the island). This is because most urban centers are located on the edge of the so-called caldera, the top of the ancient crater, where from about 300 meters in altitude, the land drops sharply into the sea, so no beaches on that side.
Also read: Where to stay in Santorini, best areas
Perissa Beach – Perivolos Beach
Overall rating: 8/10
Services: Yes, including bars/restaurants active also in the evening
Accessibility: Easy, also by bus
Beach type: Black, sandy or with small pebbles
Accommodations nearby: in the Perissa Beach area
Let’s start the list of Santorini’s beaches with Perissa beach: the most famous and well-equipped with services and accommodations, which could also be a good base for those wanting to spend a little less on a hotel or who are more interested in the sea than the island’s white villages.
Perissa beach is probably the largest beach on the island and, like many of the beaches facing south, it’s quiet in terms of waves and wind strength. In the Cyclades, the Meltemi wind blows almost constantly from the north, and while it doesn’t feel cold during the hot months, it is often strong and stirs the waters of the beaches facing north.
For these reasons, Perissa is probably one of the best beaches in Santorini for families with children, although here attention should always be high because the sea gets deep quickly.
Perissa beach alternates sections with umbrellas and loungers with completely free areas, even under the shade of a few sporadic trees. You won’t have trouble finding a spot for yourself.
The beach is bordered by a long road with small bars/restaurants and basic services, and where you can park for free.
This same road offers a decent nightlife in the evening, without excess, thanks to cocktail bars, restaurants, and colorful lights along the beach.
If you decide to enjoy some beach life or if you prefer to stay in a less expensive area compared to the average in Santorini, you might consider staying here. The area is also one of the few flat areas on this island, convenient for those who don’t like steep slopes.
Read also: Most convenient areas to stay in Santorini
Kamari Beach
Overall rating: 7/10
Services: Yes, including restaurants just a few steps away.
Accessibility: Easy
Beach type: Black pebbles
Accommodations nearby: right on site
Kamari Beach is very similar to Perissa, both in appearance and services.
This beach is a bit smaller and has less nightlife compared to Perissa, but it is neither overcrowded nor dull. The village behind the beach is well-equipped with all services and quite popular, so for parking, it’s best to head to the large free parking marked on the map on top (zoom in near Kamari Beach to see it).
Kamari Beach is located to the north of the mountain where the ancient Thera is located, so it might be a bit more windy than Perissa.
At Kamari Beach (but not only here), many restaurants/beach bars offer free loungers and umbrellas to customers who eat at their place: in other words, by dining with them, you can use the loungers. This might be an interesting option if you plan to spend one day here.
Finally, Kamari also has some short free areas where you can lay down, maybe less than Perissa.
This beach in Santorini is large and consists of small pebbles. However, in some areas, the water entry is made up of a curious rocky floor that may be slippery, so be careful and wear water shoes, useful throughout the entire island.
Red Beach
Overall rating: 8/10
Services: One bar only
Accessibility: Medium
Beach type: White/black/red pebbles with a red/bronze rocky wall behind
Accommodations nearby: None
Now let’s talk about a Santorini beach that is a real attraction and that you should definitely visit: Red Beach.
As you might guess, the name comes from the predominant color here: the rocky walls that tower over the beach tend to be red/bronze with the sun shining or brown on a cloudy day.
On this Santorini beach, you will find a handful of sunbeds, but also plenty of free space. Red Beach is also located on the southern side of the island, so it should not be too affected by the wind. However, be very careful when entering the water, where you will find some very large rocks and rapid descents into deeper waters.
How to reach Red Beach in Santorini
To get to Red Beach, you need to walk a short 5-minute trail (it’s a bit steep, nothing too bad, just be careful of unstable rocks and wear shoes, not flip-flops), but on the other hand, it gives you a chance to admire the entire beach from above, from its easternmost corner.
The trail starts at the location of the free parking indicated on the map at the beginning of this guide (zoom in to see it)… and be ready to take some photos!
Vlichada Beach
Overall rating: 7/10
Services: Yes, at the beginning of the beach
Accessibility: Easy
Beach type: Pebbles
Accommodation nearby: No
Vlichada Beach is another beach in Santorini, facing south and exposing lighter colors and a rocky cliff behind that is incredibly sculpted by nature.
This beach consists of a mix of dark sand and light pebbles from the rocky cliff. The waters at Vlichada beach can sometimes be quite rough.
There is only one beach bar at the entrance of the beach, which charges relatively high prices compared to the rest of the island. After the sunbed area, you will find a vast space where you can observe the variety of sculptures on the rocks.
Vourvoulos Beach
Overall rating: 7/10
Services: No
Accessibility: Easy
Beach type: Black stones/pebbles
Accommodation nearby: No
Now, let’s move to one of the beaches located on the northeast side of Santorini: Vourvoulos Beach.
Vourvoulos Beach is often semi-deserted, either because the waters are not ideal for swimming, or because it is far from the more popular areas. That’s why, on a less windy day, this beach might be perfect for lying down away from everyone (really away, if you’re willing to walk a bit).
Shoes are needed, as the beach is made of relatively large pebbles. On the rocky cliff behind the beach, you’ll find many “caves” turned into strange little rooms with doors or porticoes, almost like garages or the entrances of abandoned houses, as you can see in the picture above.
Monolithos Beach
Overall rating: 6/10
Services: Yes, including restaurants a few steps away.
Accessibility: Easy
Beach type: Black pebbles
Accommodation nearby: Right there
Monolithos Beach is one of the most known beaches in Santorini, but honestly I can’t say one of the most unforgettable.
It is still a black-sand beach, equipped with services but also with plenty of free space to lay down with your towel.
This beach is frequently hit by the wind compared to others, as it is on the eastern side of the island. This also makes the waters more turbulent and occasionally accumulates seaweed and other stuff on the beach.
Unfortunately, the view behind it is not great, as you can see some chimneys and factories. It’s not terrible, but I would only recommend stopping here if you have extra time; there are better beaches around.
Monolithos beach is also located near the airport. If you have several hours to spare, you could walk here in about 1 km from the airport exit.
Caldera Beach
Overall rating: 6/10
Services: No
Accessibility: Easy
Caldera Beach is a tiny beach in Santorini facing the inner side of the caldera, possibly the only one of this kind.
It might be worth a quick stop at Caldera Beach if you’re in the area to admire the caldera from “below”, rather than from the higher vantage points typical of the island’s most famous villages.
White Beach and Black Beach
Overall rating: 6/10
Services: No
Accessibility: Difficult
White Beach and Black Beach are two beaches in Santorini located on the southern side, not far from each other, and similar to Red Beach seen earlier, they are named after the predominant colors of the cliffs behind them.
However, these two beaches can only be reached by boat, and in my opinion, they are less “interesting” than the previous Red Beach, so I wouldn’t recommend visiting them: the time and costs might not be worth it.
Instead, if you have the time and energy for a boat excursion, you might consider one of the following, which are more interesting.
Boat Tours in Santorini
If the beaches of Santorini so far seem limited, you might want to consider some interesting boat tours:
- This catamaran tour with lunch included, which departs from Vlichada and takes you to see Red Beach and White Beach, eventually bringing you into the caldera where you can swim in a bay with sulfurous water heated by thermal springs (photos in the link);
- Kayaking and snorkeling along the south coast, near Red Beach;
- A tour to the islands that complete the Santorini caldera: a visit to the village of Thirasia, a walk on what was physically the center of the ancient volcano, and a swim in the sulfurous waters, at a very low price:
What Are the Beaches of Santorini Like?
I know, reading this guide you might not have noticed much enthusiasm in describing the beaches, but as anyone who follows the site knows, I always try to describe the places you’ll visit in a transparent way and post realistic photos without extreme photoshop magic.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, Santorini is an overhyped island and often a real tourist trap, with neighborhoods or villages that aren’t typical but built solely with white and blue accommodation to attract tourists. Even though it may be the most famous island in all of Greece, Santorini, in my opinion, is one of the least interesting among all the ones I’ve seen.
That said, the beaches of Santorini are still nice anyway but keep in mind that they are all dark due to its volcanic nature: if you’re not a fan of this type and were looking for the crystal-clear beaches typical of typical Greek pictures, you should choose other islands.
What Are the Best Beaches in Santorini?
- Perissa Beach: Spacious, good for staying or for spending some evenings;
- Kamari Beach;
- Red Beach: For a different view than usual;
- Vlichada Beach: With an interesting rocky wall behind it;
And Before Leaving for Santorini…
Also take a look at how to get around the island, what to visit in Santorini, and where to stay! Then find a cheap flight with the search box below to compare all possible flights to Santorini:
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