About Santorini island

The gentle sea with the purest water and the magnificent sandy - pebbly beaches of Santorini island attract more and more tourists yearly. The crystal turquoise color of the seawater sets the level of your vacation somewhere between stunning and perfect. So if you are looking for the perfect sea, this is your place!

Santorini island Best beaches

view the highest rated beaches in area

Good for Relax
Very good
8.6
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Gray sand & pebble • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
7.8 Amenities index
Good for Relax

Perissa beach

Perivolos (Perissa) 0.5 km
Very good
8.6
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Gray sand & pebble • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
6.7 Amenities index
Good for Relax

Kamari beach

Kamari 0.5 km
Very good
8.5
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Gray fine pebble • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
7.8 Amenities index
Good for party

Paralia Vlichada

Exomytis 1.2 km
Good
7.8
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Gray sand & pebble • Turquoise pure water • Sand & Pebbles bottom
6.2 Amenities index

Theros beach

Exomytis 2 km
Good
7.8
Paid entrance only • Beach resort • Easy access • Gray sand & pebble • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
5.7 Amenities index
Good for Relax

Mesa Pigadia beach

Akrotiri 1.9 km
Good
7.8
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Gray pebble • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
5.1 Amenities index

Calm, measured rest and the sound of waves are perhaps the most common associations that arise with the word "beach". This is not surprising, as relaxation is exactly what many beach travelers are looking for. If you associate your vacation primarily with such activity, choose one of the 26 beaches in the island.

To make your choice easier, we have prepared a list of the best beaches for relaxation in Santorini island.

Attraction and Infrastructure

As for the main features of the beaches of Santorini island, they are as follows:

  • The island's beaches are mainly narrow, moderate length and have a medium level of cleanliness. The most common surface is a mix of sand and pebble of gray color.
  • Since many beaches are sandy - pebbly, we recommend taking special shoes with you to avoid discomfort during your vacation.
  • Usually, entry into the water is moderately gentle, such beaches are 23.
  • Some beach bays can be densely occupied by motor boats or yachts, which usually negatively affects water pollution. There are about 6 beaches in Santorini island, where a significant number of ships can be observed from time to time.
  • The average distance from the road to beach in Santorini island is less than 500 meters. 24 beaches are relatively easy to access, and 1 beach are only accessible from the water. The latter include both island beaches and beaches with no land routes due to the natural borders.

The vast majority of Santorini island beaches have the necessary amenities, such as sun loungers, umbrellas, beach cafes, showers and toilets.

Latest reviews on Santorini island's beaches

Paralia Gialos
5 Anita Stabilini

Spiaggia visitata in agosto 2023. La spiaggia era deserta, nessun bar, nessun lettino. Accesso veramente difficile con motorino e/o quad data la pendenza della strada simil sterrata Molto intima e carina, appunto perché non abbiamo trovato lo stabilimento balneare al nostro arrivo. Si presenta di una sabbia color nero tendente al marrone, l’entrata in acqua però è abbastanza difficoltosa visti i sassi. La definirei una spiaggia molto selvaggia! ATTENZIONE, ci sono momenti in cui le onde salgono fino a metà spiaggia e vi portano via tutto, probabilmente è dovuto al passaggio di navi in lontananza. Ve lo dico per esperienza!

Perivolos Beach
8 Sarina Valedova

This beach is truly delightful! The ambience is serene, with pristine sand and water that sparkle in the sunlight. The sunbeds are generously provided, and you can lounge comfortably while enjoying a refreshing drink. However, the black sand can be scorching, making it uncomfortable to walk barefoot. Additionally, the water can get abruptly deep, so it's important to exercise caution. Nonetheless, this beach is an excellent choice for a tranquil and rejuvenating day out.

Perissa beach
10 Haroon Ali Khan

This beach is absolutely beautiful and well-maintained, making it a great spot for snorkeling. The sunrise is particularly stunning and definitely worth waking up early for.

Kamari beach
6 Zarina

The beach offers strong waves that may pose a challenge for swimming enthusiasts. However, it is worth noting that complimentary sunbeds and umbrellas are available for those who enjoy a nice lunch.

Paralia Vlichada
6 Zarek Nol.

This beach is supposedly amazing with its so-called unique sand formations, black sand, and rocky shoreline. There are two overpriced beach bars, but if you're cheap like me, you can wander along almost 2km of free beach. Apparently, being a nudist is the norm here, so if you're into that sort of thing, have at it.

Mesa Pigadia beach
8 Azurin

This secluded black sand beach may be a bit of a challenge to locate, but the journey is well worth it. Accessible via a rugged dirt road or by boat, the journey to this hidden gem is an adventure in itself. A small fee of 10 euros will secure your spot on the beach, where you can bask in the sun and take in the stunning views of the Aegean Sea. When you're ready for refreshments, head over to the nearby Mesa Pigadia Taverna where you can enjoy a cool drink while taking in the serene surroundings.

Please note that lifeguards supervise 4 beaches in the island, but you should rely on more than just them, remember the elementary rules, as lifeguards are not on duty around the clock, even on equipped beaches!

Finding hotels in relative proximity to the beaches is usually fine. Many beaches have enough nearby accommodation, which gives good opportunities to choose the right place to stay.

The hottest month of the island is August - air temperature during this time warms up to 26.5°C and water up to 24.1°C. The coldest month is January - air temperature drops to 14.2°C and water to 16.5°C.

Do you know how many beaches there are in Santorini island? In total there are 26 beaches and the most popular is Perivolos Beach.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the main features of best beaches in Santorini island?

When it comes to finding the best beaches in Santorini island, the following aspects should be taken into account.

There are 26 beaches in total, of which about 3 can be called high-rated.

The best beaches in the majority:

They are also usually:

The best beaches in Santorini island:

View all beaches in Santorini island and create your selection by features

How to view only nearest to me beaches in Santorini island?

To find the beaches closest to your current geolocation, click the Nearby Beaches icon in the search box. You will see the nearest beaches sorted by distance from you.

Note, that if you only want to see the beaches closest to you in Santorini island, you must be in that area to get the correct results.

See also: View all beaches in Santorini island and create your selection by features.

How to view all beaches in Santorini island on map?

To view and filter by characteristics all beaches of Santorini island, use the link below:

See also:

View all beaches in Santorini island and combine selections by features

What are all easy accessible beaches in Santorini island?

Most of the beaches located in Santorini island are easily accessible, but there are also hard to reach beaches among them. Use the filter to sort the beaches by access details (parking, distance etc.).

Popular categories of beaches in Santorini island by access:

See also the categories:

Top 5 popular beaches with easy access in Santorini island:

View all beaches in Santorini island and select by features

How to view all sandy beaches or beaches with other natural features in Santorini island?

Use the "Main features" section of the filter in search results to see all the beaches with the feature you're interested in.

The most popular selections of beaches with natural features are listed below. Don't forget that you can create your own selection with any combination of features

Beach coverage and water

Natural scenery

View all beaches in Santorini island and select by features

How to find uncrowded beaches in Santorini island?

The presence of crowds of tourists on the beach these days is becoming a mass character, and sometimes you want silence and solitude. Use the filter in search results to view the beaches in Santorini island by occupancy.

Popular categories:

View all beaches in Santorini island and select by features

Which beaches in Santorini island are kid-friendly, good for relax, pet-friendly, naturist-friendly, camping-friendly?

How to view all beaches by amenities details in Santorini island?

Use filter in search results to select a beach according to your preference for amenities.

Popular beach infrastructure categories:

See also:

View all beaches in Santorini island and select by specific amenities

How to view all beaches by activity of interest in Santorini island?

Use the "Activity" section of the filter in search results to view the selections of beaches by one or multiple activities. Below are a few popular selections that you can change as you like using our filter.

View all beaches in Santorini island and select by activity