Due to the facts that Santorini is a Volcanic island its beaches are
unique in Greece having the characteristics of the black volcanic sand
and pebbles. Of course do not expect to find in Santorini golden sand
beaches like those of other Greek islands like Naxos, Mykonos,Ios or the
white sand beaches like in Lefkada.
The most famous beaches of Santorini, Perisa and Kamari, located at the
east part of the island. There are some smaller ones at the north east
like Koloumbos beach and a bit further the Vourvoulos beach. To the
South east of the island are red beach (Kokini paralia) and the white
beach (accesible by boat) near to the famous
archaeological site of Akrotiri. From Emporios village there is access
to the beach and the marina of Glyfada which is the main marina of
Santorini.
In Oia you will find the Amoudi beach ideal for those
that like snorkelling,. In the area you will find some nice fish taverns.
At the Armeni beach you can enjoy grilled octopus in the local
tavern and dive into the deep blue waters.. Due to the slightly
difficult access these beaches and the narrow rocky shoreline they are not as
crowded as the beaches on the east coast. Ammouda is a tiny harbour
below the cliffs of Oia with fishing boats, one tiny hotel, restaurants
and fish tavernas right on the water’s edge. There is also a path which
leads around the base of the mountain where you can dive, swim and
sunbathe on the rocks. There is also a large rock a few metres out from
the shore with a little church on top of it. Until Oia was destroyed by
the earthquake in 1956, Ammouda was the main port for Santorini and for
centuries the pumice and wines of the Island were exported from here.
The sea here is clean and crystal clear and very refreshing if you have
decided to arrive here by walking down the steps. Ammouda port can be
reached either by walking down the 200 plus steps, by taking a donkey
ride from the top to the bottom, or by car or boat. If you decide to
drive down, however, be warned that the cliff road from Oia at the top
is very narrow and winding with a lot of traffic going both ways –
taking a donkey is much more fun. You can also take a boat ride from
Ammouda either to the opposite island of Thirassia or to the little
harbour of Armeni further to the west of the foot of Oia.
Armenaki: is another little harbour situated between Armeni and
Ammouda. It does not have any shops or restaurants but because of this
it is much quieter and the landscape is completely untouched. The
perfect place for a quiet swim. It is less easy to reach and the climb
down can be a bit tricky. The pathway down can be located close to the
EOT Information centre in Oia.
A few kilometres east of Oia
is the beach of Mavropetra on the north east part of Santorini. Further
south from Mavropetra are the beaches of Baxedes, Koloubo and Pori
beach, all accesible by car. After Pori if you want to get to the long
stretch of beaches as they continue to the south east you must drive to
Vourvoulos and from there to Vourvoulos beach.
The beach of Pigadia,Karterados and Monolithos are close to Fyra and located
north of Santorini Airport. Monolithos
beach is well organised with umbrellas, beach beds and water sport
facilities as well as the beaches to the north and south like the beach
of Agia Paraskevi the last one before the popular beach of Kamari.
Kamari beach is the most upmarket beach of Santorini and it stretches
between restaurants, cafes, pensions and hotels on one side the road and the beach at the other side. It has all the aspects of a
package holiday resort. There are many water sport activities including
wind surfing.
The beach of Perissa has a lower profile then Kamari and is more popular
amongst young people and backpackers due to the fact that near the beach
you will find cheaper accommodation in rooms, pensions and in the local
campsite. The prices also in the local bars and restaurants are cheaper
here. The beach of Perivolos in fact is an extension of Perissa, it is
more quite nad has as well bars and restaurants.
In fact the kilometres long stretch of beaches on the East cost
of Santorini from Mavropetra to Perivolos and Vlihada have the common elements of
crystal blue water, grey sand and pumice, and the innumerable thatched
umbrellas. If you take the east coast road that leads to Oia you will
find many small remote beaches ideal for wind surfing and diving.
Monolithos Beach:
The beach of Monolithos is next to Kamari beach. It is much quieter and
less touristy than Kamari beach and is ideal for families with young
children as the water is shallower than many other beaches in Santorini
and there is also a children’s playground and a basketball court on the
beach. The black pebble beach has sun beds and umbrellas as well as the
natural shade offered by tamarisk trees. It is easily reached by bus and
is also very close to Santorini’s airport. However, unlike Parissa and
Kamari, it does not have the shelter from strong winds.
Kokinni Ammos or Red Beach:
Kokinni means red in Greek. Red Beach lies on the south west of the
island, close to the ancient Minoan town of Akrotiri and about 12km
south west of Fira. It is possible to reach this fascinating beach by
road although it involves a 10 minute walk, a small part of it down a
gravely slope. Alternatively, it can be reached by caiques (small
fishing boats) which depart several times a day during the summer from
the ports of Fira and also the port of Akrotiri.
The name ‘red beach’ comes from the unique red lava cliffs which drop
down to the beach which is comprised of red and black pebbles and coarse
sand. The colours of the cliffs and the beach contrast splendidly with
the sparkling blue sea, making Red Beach an amazingly beautiful place in
a dramatic setting. In 1968, Red Beach was the chosen location for
European hippies who lived in the ancient Roman catacombs. Many of these
caves are now used as café/canteens.
The beach and the water here are beautifully warm. It can get quite busy
during high season however because Red Beach is quite small, so if you
are visiting during this time, it is better to get to the beach early in
the morning. The beach is sheltered from the winds and can get quite
hot, so ensure you have plenty of sun cream and a hat. Although the
northern summer winds can create some good waves, Red Beach tends to be
calmer when the sea is rough at Kamari. Getting into the sea can be
quite tricky in some places as the rocky, uneven surface can be quite
slippery. Look for the corridor of large pebbles that have been laid out
for easier access into the water. Once in the sea, due to the
interesting rock formations and plentiful marine life, you will find
plenty to occupy yourself if you have brought your snorkelling or scuba
diving equipment with you. Although very popular, it is not an organised
beach as such because of its slightly out of the way location and, as
such, its facilities are quite basic. It does, however, offer sun beds
and umbrella shade for a charge of 8 euros and there are makeshift
canteens on the beach, some set up in the ancient Roman catacombs, for
refreshments. Many of these refreshment places get their supplies by
fishing boats drawing up in the bay. It is also possible to visit the
nearby ‘White Beach’ by boat from the Red Beach. The only toilet
facilities at present are a number of Portaloos, which during the
busiest summer period can be rather unsanitary. Red Beach, nevertheless,
is still worth adding to your itinerary, even if you just take a walk
down the path to admire the stunning dramatic red cliffs and beach. Getting to Red Beach: Buses leave regularly from Fira and the
journey takes approximately 20 minutes. The bus can also be caught from
Oia which is right up in the northern part of Santorini. Red Beach is
near the ancient Minoan town of Akrotiri and is only a short ten minute
walk from this archaeological site. The bus will stop at Akrotiri and
Red Beach will be signposted down a road to the right. Continue down
this road for a short distance, passing a taverna and ending at a white
church, Agios Nikolaos, at the edge of the cliff. You then need to
follow a trail over the rocks and down to the beach. This is the part
where you should take care because it can be a bit slippery and
unstable. Here, if you intend to stay on the beach, you can see a
smaller beach area that is not crowded with sun beds and umbrellas.
Alternatively, you may decide to give the beach a miss and just enjoy
the stunning views and the amazing red cliffs soaring behind you – an
experience rarely encountered on a Greek island.
Aspri Ammos or White Beach.
Aspri means white in Greek. The name White Beach derives from the
spectacular white cliffs that surround the beach. It is located at the
southern tip of the island, some 14km from Fira, and is exactly adjacent
to Red Beach. If you stand on the cliffs leading down from Red Beach you
can see the rocks gradually turning to white and this culminates in this
stunning little cove. The general environment is fairly similar to Red
Beach but instead of a spectacular backdrop of soaring red cliffs, White
Beach is surrounded by soaring white rocky cliffs. The beach itself is
comprised of black sand and white and grey large pebbles. Like Red
Beach, it too is quite small but it is less busy because, unless you are
an experienced rock climber, the only way to get there is by a 20 minute
boat ride from Akrotiri or Red Beach itself. Having reached the bay, the
only way to access the shore is by wading through the waist deep waters,
so it isn’t the kind of beach to visit if you are loaded down with beach
bags, buggies, cool boxes, umbrellas and other beach paraphernalia. The
facilities on the beach are few, consisting of a few sun beds and
umbrellas and a refreshment canteen. Prices are rather expensive because
there is no competition. For example, renting the sun bed and umbrella
for the day will set you back around 8 euros, so it is a good idea to
take a picnic with you that can be easily transported. Ensure you have
plenty of water and don’t forget the sun cream and hat. The white
environment means that the sun is reflected a lot and it is easy to get
quite sunburnt if you are not careful. The bay is fantastic for
snorkelling as there are many underwater caves, nooks and crannies to
explore. However, the sea shelves quite deeply and getting into it from
the shore is a bit tricky because it can be quite rocky. Because of this
and the lack of facilities it is not the best place for families with
young children. However, the boat trip from Akrotiri itself is great
fun, offering amazing views of both the Red and White Beaches and their
remarkable cliffs.
In between Red Beach and White Beach is Kampia beach. It can be reached
by taking a dirt path from the Red Beach. It is less busy than the other
two beaches and the refreshingly cold sea is at its clearest here.
The most famous beaches of Santorini, Perisa and Kamari, located at the
east part of the island. There are some smaller ones at the north east
like Koloumbos beach and a bit further the Vourvoulos beach. To the
South east of the island are red beach (Kokini paralia) and the white
beach (accesible by boat) near to the famous
archaeological site of Akrotiri. From Emporios village there is access
to the beach and the marina of Glyfada which is the main marina of
Santorini.
A few kilometres east of Oia
is the beach of Mavropetra on the north east part of Santorini. Further
south from Mavropetra are the beaches of Baxedes, Koloubo and Pori
beach, all accesible by car. After Pori if you want to get to the long
stretch of beaches as they continue to the south east you must drive to
Vourvoulos and from there to Vourvoulos beach.
The beach of Perissa has a lower profile then Kamari and is more popular
amongst young people and backpackers due to the fact that near the beach
you will find cheaper accommodation in rooms, pensions and in the local
campsite. The prices also in the local bars and restaurants are cheaper
here. The beach of Perivolos in fact is an extension of Perissa, it is
more quite nad has as well bars and restaurants.
In fact the kilometres long stretch of beaches on the East cost
of Santorini from Mavropetra to Perivolos and Vlihada have the common elements of
crystal blue water, grey sand and pumice, and the innumerable thatched
umbrellas. If you take the east coast road that leads to Oia you will
find many small remote beaches ideal for wind surfing and diving.