The volcanic beaches of Santorini are flooded with people many months of the year. They don’t look like those of the other Cycladic islands, but they certainly impress. See the 9 beaches of Santorini worth swimming in the summer of 2024.
1. Red Beach
The fiery red of the beach is balanced by the white umbrellas and the colorful figures of the people who fill the photogenic beach with fine reddish pebbles. You can rent canoes or sea bikes and there are sunbeds-umbrellas. It is accessible on foot and from the sea.
2. Vlychada
A large beach-sightseeing, with fine dark sand and majestic volcanic rocks reminiscent of giant sculptures. It is characterized by the chimney of the old Nomikos tomato factory, which functions as a tomato museum and a multi-purpose hall. The little port of Vlychada is preferred by those with a boat because it is sheltered from the wind and has a marina. There are taverns and hotels. A well-known beach bar club has been operating in the Eros location for years (there is a sign on the road leading to Vlychada).
You will park in the settlement and wander on foot to the beach to choose where to swim. Be careful because there are places where the bottom has big rocks.
3. White Beach
It is an impressive and famous volcanic beach, with towering white cliffs, dark sand, and black pebbles. It has crystal clear waters and an underground canteen.
4. Mesa Pigadia
It is a very nice beach, with fine white pebbles and wonderful pumice rocks. It looks like Vlychada, has umbrellas-loungers, a beach bar, and a restaurant. A colorful touch is the doors from the “wires” (the small buildings for the fishermen’s boats) that you will see around. You will go by a short path, but you can also come by boat. From Mesa Pigadia, passing through a cave, you can go to Aspri Beach.
5. Perivolos
Perivolos is the most secular and well-organized beach on the island of Santorini, with a settlement. Famous guests also frequent here – although now fewer and they decide to leave the hotel pools and their suite with the jacuzzi and the view of the caldera. The beach is very long, it has fine dark gray sand, pebbles, and wonderfully cool waters.
You will find everything such as luxury hotels, fish taverns, and restaurants. Beach bars of all styles, side by side, with beds, pillows, and mats on the sand, cocktails, food on your sunbed, and loud music. Happenings and parties take place, all water sports are offered, there are beach volleyball courts, etc.
In Perivolos and Perissa, there are many hotels of all categories. They are preferred by families with children, as the units in the caldera do not usually accept families with small children (for safety reasons, as there are steep steps everywhere, but also to not disturb their customers).
6. Perissa
The impressive beach is located below Mesa Vouno which separates it from Kamari and is the continuation of Perivolos. It is large, and organized, with beach bars, ethnic bars, restaurants, hotels, tourist shops, and all other tourist infrastructure – including a diving center and a water park. Trekking enthusiasts will climb the path to Mesa Vounos early in the morning, where the ancient Thera was built. Then you will go to the small church of Prophet Ilias from where you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the Aegean and the coastline!
7. Kamari
The gray-black sand burns the feet and the view of the mountain of ancient Thera captivates the eye when swimming. The beach is very long and touristic, fully organized along its entire length, and very popular with foreign tourists since the 70s. In the large settlement of Kamari, there are all the infrastructures – shops, hotels, restaurants, coffee bars, supermarkets, and much more. Many hotels have been built which are also preferred by families with small children, both near the sea and higher up. At night, the beach road becomes an endless maze. There are parking lots because access to the beach is prohibited for vehicles. See our private tours for summer 2024 and enjoy your stay in Santorini.
8. Columbus
It is an impressive bay, with fine black pebbles and impressive rocks that provide shade during the day. It is quiet, one of the few on the island that does not have umbrellas-loungers. Traditionally it was and is preferred by nudists. For information, a short distance to the east hides the underwater volcano of Columbus. It is 4 km from Oia. You will park on the main road and walk to the beach
9. Ammoudi – Armeni
The port with the fish taverns is just below Oia (boats leave for Thirasia from here). It has white houses, a pier, and a Lilliputian beach, with colorful fine pebbles, for those who want to take a dip before eating. To dive you can also go to the rocks behind the lighthouse, or rent a boat to reach the neighboring – also small – Armeni beach where there is also a diving center, or the islet of Agios Nikolaos which has very clear waters.
