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Santorini Beaches – The Ultimate Guide

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Santorini Beaches – The Ultimate Guide

 

Santorini is without any doubt one of the greatest and most romantic islands in the world!

Millions of people every year, either instagrammers or food lovers or even honeymooners, visit this top-listed holiday destination for its stunning beauty and its picturesque landscapes.

Another thing that makes Santorini so special is its beaches. Unlike the beaches of other popular Greek islands like Crete, Mykonos and Rhodes, Santorini’s beaches are pretty exceptional. The reason behind this is the island’s volcano which created these beaches through its eruptions many years ago. 

Whether you’re looking for a refreshing swim, a premium resort or water sports activities, the top beaches on Santorini will definitely satisfy your vacation demands.

Kamari Beach

The most crowded and family-friendly beach. Kamari is undoubtedly a beach that you should visit.

Kamari is rocky and so its waters are exceptionally clear. There, you will find a lot of affordable beach bars which offer lounge chairs and umbrellas. The way along the beach is a relaxing place to walk around in the evening with plenty of urban places to enjoy your meal or get a drink or even do your shopping.

Right next to the beach, you will find a cinema and a mini-golf area. Kamari is close to the airport and it’s the closest beach to Fira, the capital city of Santorini. Caldera is pretty near as well. There is a regular bus service that will drive you from Fira to Kamari in 15 minutes.

Kamari is disembodied from the well-known Perissa Beach by a cliff called Mesa Vouno. You can visit both places easily with a water taxi or a small boat. It’s also a good idea to explore the scenery from one beach to the other, surpassing the hill. You can also see some ancient ruins on top of Mesa Vouno or witness an unforgettable sunrise.

Perissa Beach

Perissa and Perivolos beaches are basically one very long beach, with Perissa located at the north side and Perivolos at the south. Mesa Vouno hill separates Perissa from Kamari but as stated above, they are joined by a water taxi or by a hiking path.

The route from Fira to Perissa is about a 20 minutes ride and you can find regular buses every day. The beach at Perissa is a rocky & sandy mix, which gets more sandy and tranquil the more you go south. Perissa is an extraordinary beach with black sand and stones, deep blue waters and a beautiful line of trees onshore. It is considered as a Blue Flag beach, and it’s one of the most well-organized beaches in Santorini with excellent facilities. 

There, you can find comfortable sunbath chairs to rent, wooden walkways, watersport activities, and even a public playground, which makes this beach ideal for families with kids. Besides the family-friendly atmosphere, the place also features a few beach bars, though the parties typically do not last long and close earlier than they do in Fira, so it’s more peaceful at night.

There is a wide range of accommodations and restaurants as well, especially toward the north point, where you will find the main village, the bus station, and water taxis.

Red Beach

Lying on the southwest part of Santorini, about 12 km away from Fira, this popular beach is eye candy. The sight of red, huge volcanic rocks is stunning and the rocks are also very practical, as they offer shelter from the breezy winds.

Here, you will have the chance to snorkel on clear waters, and take a look at the underwater volcanic formation. After that, you can relax on one of the lounge chairs provided by the tavernas and bars of the beach.

As you progressively go down to the beach, you will be overwhelmed by the diverse colourings of the hills and the dark sand. There is a car park very close to the beach, so it is rather convenient to go in your own car. Moreover, you can visit Red Beach by bus from Fira or else, book a water taxi from the ancient village of Akrotiri.

You have to make sure to wear suitable shoes, as the beach is only accessible through a rough downhill trail. Last but not least, you can provide yourself with all the essential staff from the two canteens you can find at the beginning of the track. Should you search for accommodation like Santorini luxury villas in the area, you can find plenty of choices to choose from.

Santorini Beaches – The Ultimate Guide, ELITE ESTATES

 

Perivolos Beach

The wonderful beach of Perivolos, which is the longest black beach of Santorini, is positioned just 3km away from Perissa. The beach lies on the southern edge of the island, approximately 10 km south of the capital city. Perivolos beach is well-known for its bright deep blue waters and serene atmosphere.

On the front side, there are numerous restaurants serving fresh fish and local specialties and also vibrant bars. Perivolos is certainly a well-organized beach providing plenty of magnificent water sports facilities like scuba diving and water skiing.

The infrastructure is indeed top class, with wooden pathways, sunbeds and umbrellas, showers, beach volleyball courts and nice spots to eat. And, in case you like to party, then Perivolos is your kind of place! There are many beach clubs all along the beach, playing dancing music and hosting famous DJs from all around the world to perform.

In case you don’t have your own car, you can easily take the local bus to drive you there. And, for those who like to hike in nature, they can follow the trail which goes through the countryside.

Vlychada Beach

Vlychada beach is an unusual scenery with huge white rocks and a peaceful ambience. It is located on the south shore of Santorini, 13km away from Fira. The beach features volcanic black sand and the most breathtaking rock landscape on the island. Its shape is like a moon sculpted by the wind, and creates the feeling of a sci-fi movie!

Vlychada is so long that you can never find it too crowded, as there is plenty of space for everybody. The beach is highly recommended for families and kids as well. There are no vibrant beach bars or water sports activities here, only umbrellas and sun loungers for your relaxation. During the summer season, there is a small port full of fishing boats and yachts, where you can find some restaurants that serve you fresh fish.

Near the beach, there’s also a non-working old factory which has two tall chimneys. The extraordinary beach combined with the industrial structure makes for a picturesque scenery and an ideal spot for instagrammers.

In case you want to stay near Vlychada beach during your holidays, there are some amazing villas, as beautiful as Chalkidiki luxury villas, to book and make you feel really special.

Santorini Beaches – The Ultimate Guide, ELITE ESTATES

 

Monolithos Beach

Monolithos beach is close to Kamari, 9 km away from Fira and near the airport of Santorini. It is pretty popular to the locals and especially families. It is a large beach with dark sand and shallow crystalline waters, and well-organized in certain areas with loungers and umbrellas. 

This beach unveils an amazing atmosphere, which is only one of the reasons why it‘s often crowded. Monolithos has a lot of isolated parts though, where you can enjoy privacy, serenity and relaxation.

One can find a football pitch, volleyball & basketball courts, a surfing club/ rental shop and a nice playground for children. There are also many trees at the backside for those who prefer sitting in the shade instead. The area is full of superb hotels and villas, taverns and bars.

Ammoudi Bay

As the name suggests, Ammoudi bay is not a beach but a bay. Regardless, Ammoudi bay is possibly the best swimming place in Santorini. It is a small fishing village near the famous Oia, with astonishing fish tavernas and restaurants. You can also jump from its red and black rocks to the sea!

It goes without saying that there are no sunbeds or even sand around the bay and that makes Ammoudi inappropriate for young children or elder people. The blue waters are really gorgeous and there is also a small island very close that you can reach by swimming that offers brilliant views of the caldera. For this reason, most island’s cruises either begin or end at this fabulous bay.

Caldera Beach

Caldera Beach is just nearby the village of Akrotiri, on the southern edge of the island’s coastline. It’s located on the northern side of the Akrotiri peninsula, so as you move down from Fira, it will be on your right side.

Caldera beach is one out of the two beaches in Santorini, located in the caldera (the other one being Gialos Beach). It is one of the island’s best-kept secrets, offering spectacular views, delightful swimming scenery, and a small picturesque port.

The beach is a mix of rocks and sand, and as it is right of the caldera, it gets really deep even close to the shore. The eastern part of the beach is more spacious and tranquil than the western part near the port.

It’s also a pretty calm beach. You won’t find beach bars or lounges there – only people who visit the place for scuba diving and sailing.

Vourvoulos Beach

Vourvoulos beach is without any doubt one of the quietest and lesser-known beaches of Santorini. It is quite similar to Monolithos beach. The beach is located 4.5 km from Fira, on the northeastern side of  Santorini

The rocks that surround Vourvoulos Beach create a stunning scenery. The beach is so long that you never find it too busy, and it’s accompanied by sunbeds and umbrellas. There are also no beach clubs or open-air activities.

Except for a few restaurants near the beach, which are a common theme on Greek islands, don’t miss the chance to visit the beautiful fishing port nearby, where taverns are known to serve some of the tastiest food on Santorini.

From there,  you can also visit the village of Karterados, a charming place with scenic white houses.

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