Author: 
If you are planning a trip to Greece, you are probably excited to check out the history. At the same time, Greece is also known for its beaches, and this means taking a trip to Santorini. Santorini is not that far away from Athens, and it will give you a beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea.
It will also provide you with plenty of sightseeing opportunities. There are so many beaches to explore, so what are the best Santorini beaches?
Take a look at this travel guide below, and get ready to take advantage of everything the crystal clear waters off the coast of Greece and Crete have to offer.
1. Perissa Beach
If you are interested in the best beaches of Santorini, then you definitely need to visit this black sand beach. Perissa Beach is one of the best beaches in the Greek Islands, and there are plenty of fun activities. You can take advantage of crystal clear waters, shady beach umbrellas, and countless watersports. For example, you can go out on a jet ski, go scuba diving, try snorkeling, and even give windsurfing a try.
It is a popular beach, so if you plan on hanging out in this area, try to show up early. Perissa Beach is definitely the busiest beach in Santorini, but it is also a family-friendly beach. You can relax on a beach chair, go sunbathing, and enjoy some delicious Greek food. There are plenty of cafes in the nearby area.
You can find this specific beach at the very end of Perivolos (in Agios Georgios). There is usually quite a bit of music playing, and you might want to try your hand at beach volleyball as well.
When the sun goes down, you can take advantage of one of the dinner cruises, or listen to some of the live music. It is easy to see why this black, sandy beach is so popular. It is very easy to get to. All you need to do is take a taxi or a bus from Fira, which is only 10 miles away.
2. Perivolos Beach
This beach is simply an extension of Perissa, but it is no less popular. It is home to a wide variety of luxury establishments, making it a popular place to stay. In particular, this area is famous for its views of the Santorini Caldera.
It is filled with a lot of blue water, there are plenty of places to relax, and you might hear some music playing in the background. It isn’t nearly as noisy as Perissa, so if you are looking for a place to take an afternoon nap, this might be the best place to do so.
This beach is also home to a wide variety of bars and restaurants that will share some Santorini delicacies with you. You might want to talk to the bartender to see if they have a drink of the day. It is only about six miles from Fira, so it is very easy to get to.
3. The Red Beach
This is arguably the most famous beach in all of Santorini. There are red rocks, red pebbles, and red sand. All of the red comes from the volcanic lava flow that has dominated the area throughout the years. It has created amazing scenery that you simply cannot find anywhere else.
Overall, it is not a very large beach. If you show up in the middle of the summer, it will be very crowded. If you don’t arrive in the morning, you may have a difficult time finding a spot to sit.
Keep in mind that because the terrain is unique, you do not want to wear flip-flops in the area. After you take a bus to the base of the region, you will have to follow a steep, narrow, and rough patch. If you wear flip-flops, you will have a difficult time getting all the way there. It will take some hiking, but it will definitely be worth it.
The bus will drop you off at Akrotiri, which is an archaeological site. You may pass by the chapel of Agios Nikolaos along the way, but make sure you have some sneakers. You can also take a private boat from Rahidi, another archaeological site, that will drop you off at the Red Beach. There is a boat available every 30 minutes.
4. Kamari Beach
If you are looking for a quieter beach, you may want to visit Kamari beach. It is known for its black sand and small pebbles. Some people even call this the pebble beach. There are lots of sun beds available, and there are plenty of umbrellas. It is very touristy, but it is also very well organized. This means that you should not have any trouble finding what you are looking for.
If you glance up at the rock formations, you will see plenty of opportunities to go cliff jumping as well. This is an area that is filled with cafes, restaurants, bars, and taverns. This is another beat that is very easy to get to. If you arrive in Fira, this beach is only six miles away.
Keep in mind that this beach can also get very busy. Therefore, if you want to take advantage of everything this area has to offer, you should try to arrive early. It is a beautiful beach resort with plenty of fun activities.
5. Koloumbos Beach
If a private beach is what you are looking for, then you will definitely want to check out Koloumbos beach. It is very long, incredibly secluded, and a bit challenging to find. There are lots of black tables around, the water is very clear, and you might find some people kayaking, surfing, paddleboarding, or swimming as well.
If you are looking for a way to escape the tourists, this is the place to go. It is very far from Fira, so it might be a bit of a challenge to get to, but it is relatively close to Oia, another nice village.
It is definitely not a place you want to go with children because it is a nudist beach. You should keep this in mind when you visit. You can take a taxi from Fira to get here, but it might be a bit expensive because it is far away. There are no local buses that run to this beach. You can sunbathe, relax, and read a book, but just remember the interesting “conditions” of this beach. Clothing is optional.
6. Vlychada Beach
If you are looking for some unique scenery, you may want to check out Vlychada. It is an incredibly unique atmosphere known for its massive white rock; however, it is not exactly a white beach. The sand is still relatively dark, similar to the other beaches in the nearby area.
It is one of the largest beaches in the region, so if you are looking for a place to spread out, this might be the best place to visit. No matter how many people are there, you will never have a difficult time finding a spot.
The beach itself has a lot of umbrellas and sunbeds, but you will need to pay a few additional Euros if you want to use them. There aren’t a lot of water sports in the area, and there aren’t any noisy beach bars. Therefore, it is a place to relax.
You may want to head to the end of the beach to take a look at the Tomato Museum. This is a great place for people who love photography. There is also a small fishing port in the area, so if you are looking for some fresh seafood, it is probably where you want to go.
It is one of the most beautiful beaches in the area, so consider adding it to your list. There is nothing quite like the unique rock formations that line the region.
7. Monolithos Beach
Monolithos Beach is arguably the easiest one to get to because it is so close to the airport. Even though you are close to the airport, there are not a lot of aircraft flying overhead, so you shouldn’t have to worry about being disrupted at all.
This is a beat that is perfect for families with children. There are lots of umbrellas available, there are plenty of places to get a sun tan, and kids will have a lot of fun building sand castles and looking at the fish jumping out of the water.
The sand is arguably the softest on the island. If you are looking for fine, soft, white sand, you have come to the right place. This is also one of the best locations to try watersports, so it is a great way to wear out the children if you want them to sleep easily at night.
You might even want to try a bit of kitesurfing. Regardless of whether you want to rent a jet ski, a kayak, or even go out on a sailboat, you should be able to find it at this beach. Consider adding it to your list.
You can get to the speech from Kamari, Pyrgos, or Fira either by ATV, car, or bike. There are plenty of taxis that will drop you off at this beach as well.
8. Ammoudi Bay
If you walk down from Oia, you will immediately arrive in Ammoudi Bay. This isn’t necessarily a place where you can go swimming, but it is absolutely beautiful. It is home to a small fishing village with crystal blue waters and plenty of red and black rocks. You can certainly go diving or cliff jumping, but you probably don’t want to be in the water for too long because there are a lot of boats that come in and out.
Because there are lots of people who fish in this area, you should be able to get some delicious seafood. If you are not interested in jumping off the rocks, it is probably not the best place for you; however, if you are looking for an adrenaline rush, this could be the best place to go.
When you have had your fill of jumping, you might want to check out some of the bars and restaurants in town. There is also a fair bit of nightlife in the area.
If you start in Oia, you can get to the bay in only five minutes by car. There are no buses that go to the area, but you can also walk to the bay as well. It is relatively easy to walk down, but keep in mind that you will have to walk back up.
9. Vourvoulos Beach
There are some people who are interested in a quiet beach, and Vourvoulos beach definitely fits the description. There are a few restaurants on the beach, along with a relatively small fishing port, but there is not much else in the area. The sky is gorgeous, the water is refreshing, and there are beautiful cliff formations in the area.
It is a bit off the beaten path, but if you are in the mood for something different, it could be a nice place to go. There aren’t a lot of water sports in the area. If you are looking to take a boat or a jet ski out on the water, you won’t find it here. It is the best place to go if you are looking for quiet, but if you are looking for other activities, it might not be the best location.
It is relatively easy to find, but it is approximately 20 minutes from Fira by car. You can rent a car or take a taxi. Some people who are in the mood for a bike ride decide to bike all the way here from Fira.
10. Katharos Beach
If you are looking for another great location where you can escape the tourists, then you may want to check out Katharos Beach. It is a relatively small bead filled with a wide variety of white and black pebbles.
The white volcanic rocks accent the white pebbles beautifully, and there are plenty of sand dunes, bushes, and trees in the area. The beach itself is relatively close to Oia and Ammoudi. While it is a nice place to relax and go swimming, the true charm of this area is the sunsets. If you are willing to stick around through the evening, he will be treated to quite a show.
The beach itself is relatively undisturbed by man, so it has a tremendous amount of natural beauty to enjoy. There are so many different colors that you might not know what to take a picture of!
There are a few ways to get to this beach. If you are starting at Oia or Ammoudi Bay, the beach itself is only a five-minute drive. If you walk, it will take you 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how fast you walk. If you are up for a bit of adventure, you might even want to rent an ATV! You will truly be treated to a unique experience at this beach.
11. Eros Beach
Eros Beach is one of the most secluded beaches in Santorini. Therefore, it is relatively difficult to get to. It is a popular wedding venue, it provides you with a lot of romantic views, and it is a nice place to go if you are looking for a bit of privacy.
After all, Eros means “love” in Greek. It is also home to one of the most popular beach lounge bars in the area. If you get a drink at the Theros Wave Bar, you will see why it is one of the best bars in the region. You can take a nap in one of the chairs, go for a swim in the water, or take some pictures of the scenery.
It is definitely a challenge to get to. You need to have your own mode of transportation if you want to get there. The road does not have any asphalt on it. You simply need to follow the signs. Even though you might be able to walk or take an ATV, the best way to get there is to take a taxi or rent a car. Because the beach is relatively secluded, you may have a difficult time getting a taxi to pick you up to take you back. It is absolutely worth the drive.
12. Baxedes Beach
Another unique beach you may want to check out is called Baxedes beach. You can find it a few miles northwest of Fira. It is relatively isolated, but the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. There are plenty of places to spread out and relax, and there are lots of unique rock formations in the region.
If you are looking for a bunch of beach volleyball courts, bars, and music DJs, you are going to be out of luck here; however, if you are looking for a place to relax, it could be the perfect option. Again, it is not necessarily the best option for families with children, because it is a place where clothing is optional.
There are a lot of nudists who frequent the area, so you should keep that in mind if you plan on visiting this beach. The easiest way to get to this area is to rent a car or take a taxi from Fira.
Explore the Cyclades Islands and Relax on the Top Santorini Greece Beaches
There are lots of amazing beaches to explore in this area. It is a loungers paradise, regardless of whether you are visiting Cape Columbo, Thera, or any of the other areas on this list. The volcanic sand creates a very unique scene, and there are lots of tavernas that serve delicious food in the area.
Because there are so many beaches available, it is easy to see why people rave about Santorini. Along with Mykonos, it is one of the most popular Cyclades islands, so if you plan on visiting this part of Greece, remember to bring a bathing suit so you can enjoy the waters of the Mediterranean!
