The Beautiful Beaches of Santorini
Among the many tourist draws to Santorini are the gorgeous Santorini beaches. Surrounded by the Aegean Sea and built against historic ports and volcano-forged land formations, these beaches are as vibrant and colorful as they are refreshing and relaxing. Tourists come from all over the world to watch the sun go down over the water, enjoy a day of diving and kayaking, or simply basking on the shore. Whatever your preference when it comes to beaches, one of these Santorini beaches is sure to be the perfect vacation stop for you.
Kamari Beach
If you’re looking for the quintessential Santorini beach, you need to visit Kamari Beach. This beach is within easy distance to Fira, the airport, and plenty of food, nightlife, and other attractions, and it’s easily the most family friendly. It rests under the imposing shadow of Mesa Vouno, the mountain that houses the ancient city of Thira. The black sand is the result of the volcano eruptions that so drastically revolutionized the landscape of Santorini. This beach and the surrounding beach resort is one of the most popular beaches on the island.
Perissa Beach
On the other side of Mesa Vouno is Perissa Beach, 7km long, with something for everything. If you’re on an adventurous trek, looking for a place to swim or simply meet new people, Perissa Beach is popular for backpackers and crystal blue water. It’s also a popular spot for beach parties, with plenty of great cocktail restaurants nearby. If you need to get away from the crowds for a bit, Agios Georgios towards the southern end of Perissa Beach provides a nice, quieter spot.
Red Beach
Red beach is the 4th most colorful beach in the world. It’s set against a deep red cliff which stands in stark, but pleasing contrast to the deep blue water. This is undoubtedly the most famous beach in Santorini, and the one that people tend to picture when planning their visit. It can, however, be a little crowded at times, so many tourists settle for enjoying it at a distance. If you’d like to visit, ask someone at your hotel or with tourist information about the best time to visit the beach.
Vlychada Beach
Vlychada Beach, sometimes known as the “moon beach” or the “moon-shaped beach,” is known for its lunar shape and scenery. It rests below tall, pale cliffs that seem to shoot up from the sand almost seamlessly. In actuality, these cliffs were formed by the volcano, and like most things, the devastation of the eruptions led to a beautiful landscape now. This is one of the most accessible beaches in Santorini, and it’s perfect for sunbathing.
Amoudi Bay
Amoudi Bay is not strictly a beach, but ends up on the list for many beachgoers anyway. Why? This bay, with its smaller cliffs and crystal waters, is the perfect place for swimming, cliff diving, and scuba diving. Amoudi beach is positioned very close to Oia, the main port city, where you can find some of the best hotels. But the bay itself seems like another world. There might not be as many places to sunbathe here, but if you like to keep moving and experience new things, you have to check out Amoudi Bay.
While you’re planning your trip to all these Santorini beaches, you’ll also need to find hotel accomodations. Oia is the most popular city when it comes to where to stay in Santorini. It’s the main port city, and it’s close to not just Amoudi Bay but many of the main tourist attractions, like the caldera and castle Oia. Strogili Traditional Houses offers luxurious apartments and studios for rent overlooking the famous volcano and the beautiful Aegean Sea. Once you see the view from your room, you won’t be able to wait to hit the beach.
