7) And obviously, be sure to get to Fira (direct buses from Kamari take 20 minutes) to walk along the caldera path and enjoy the incredible views. If you’re looking for nightlife, it’s best to base yourself in Fira, as that’s where all most bars and all clubs are found on Santorini. When You Can Actually Swim in the Sea Water in Mykonos: the sea water is perfect in Mykonos between June-October (and including these 2 months), so if you are visiting anytime outside of these months you may get sunshine and 30C degrees temperature but the sea water won’t be warm enough. There is no doubt that Crete beaches and Mykonos beaches are a million times better but that’s Santorini…beaches are not her thing! We were thinking of going straight to Kamari beach from the aiport, before checking into our Fira Hotel in the afternoon. Located in the city of Akrotiri, 12Km from the capital Fira, Santorini Red Beach is one the best attractions on the island and must be on your list.. Be sure to get a tour that includes the sunset. Dining in Santorini, Cyclades: See 275,124 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of 748 Santorini restaurants and search by cuisine, price, location, and more. My girlfriend and I are going to Santorini next week, November 8. or one must go to Fira first and then change? It’s possible to have long stretches of beach to yourself the farther south you go. All the companies that offer it are pretty good so just pick the tour with the best times. Is there a swimming pool in Oia hotel that allows non-resident to pay to swim? However, it’s a very narrow beach and if you will be there in July or August expect it to be crowded. OUR PICK OF THE BEST BEACHES IN SANTORINI FOR FAMILIES AND FACILITIES – PERISSA BEACH Perissa beach is at the foot of an impressive cliff. There is a different bus stop to Perissa and a different one for Perivolos, but in reality you can even walk through the beach to each other. It’s really wonderful. Thanks! We are from Greece! 7) Ferry situation… with island hopping a big worry of mine is that if the boat ride is cancelled due to bad weather it could make the situation very difficult with us missing a hotel reservation and being stranded without a room. If you don’t have a car then you have to take the local bus from Fira to Oia and then basically walk all the stairs/path from Oia down to the bottom and then all the way back up (that’s the difficult part…especially if you had eaten…). The eastern part of the beach is wider and quieter than the western part near the port and taverna. Go up the Kamari side, down the Perissa side, and boat back to Kamari. A taxi from Fira to Koloumbos beach should not charge you more than 30 euros for such a trip. Albatross Beach Bar. Explore guest reviews and book the perfect beach hotel for your trip. Thanks dave, But in any case…be careful! Recommended Hotels in Oia near Ammoudi Bay: Charisma Suites (luxury, adults-only) • Esperas (luxury, adults-only) • Zoe Aegeas Traditional Houses (moderate). Truth is that once on the beach you will notice that the area of the beach which is close to the red rocks is actually barricated in order to protect people from any debris. This is also one of the most famous beach hotels of Santorini in Perissa. Perivolos Beach. Kamari has some really impressive new hotels and (mainly) beach private villas that you can rent. The busiest, most family-friendly of the beach towns is Kamari. 3. Most of the water sports is on Perivolos Beach (south of Perissa). Kamari beach is the best beach to visit with kids or seniors and it is the most family friendly location of Santorini. One of the more unusual beaches in Santorini, Vlychada is a long stretch of coarse black sand with white, moon-like, volcanic cliffs looming behind, shaped over millennia by the wind, sand, and sea. Free use of the pool when you order something. The beach is pebbly, so the water is extraordinarily clear. Or would you stay is the most pretty? If you really want to stay at Ammoudi Bay then these are the best hotels on that area: If you want to go from Oia to Ammoudi you will notice that the path/stairs that leads to the bay at sea level can actually be a bit tiring. The best luxury hotels for families on the Greek islands are the Nissaki Beach in Naxos, Ios Palace on Ios, the Astra and Aria Suites on Santorini, and the Petinos Beach Resort on Mykonos. They are good but not great – so don’t be expecting those idyllic stretches of sand you’ve seen in pictures of Greece. Try Wavesports which has an excellent jet ski tour to the volcano and caldera. Thank you for this great website!! We are 3 40+ ladies planning a 5 day trip to Santorini this summer. My favorite beaches in Santorini are Kamari, Perissa, and Perivolos. We are staying in Imerovigli and would like to take our kids to a beach for a half day (without going across the Island). 3. Plus from your previous post, you said Lindos Blu has an amazing restaurant which we would also really enjoy. Perissa is separated from Kamari by Mesa Vouno, as mentioned above but connected by water taxi and a hiking trail. It’s important to note that Santorini’s beaches are made up of volcanic sand and small rocks. 1. Kamari Beach. There is no right answer but I prefer to stay in the caldera towns and go to the beach through the day. We were hoping to go to a beach for a little bit of a day while in Santorini. I live in Australia and are planning to go to Greece at the end of August, I have never been before and this will probably be my only time. I reserved a hotel/appartment in Kamari next to the the beach. Since there will be a lot of walking around, we figured we’d do that first, then go to the other islands where it will be more about relaxation. Try Vourvoulos Beach for a spot to jump in the water (but it’s not really a beach). This is a mostly family-friendly beach but with a little more of a party vibe at the beach clubs here, though the parties typically don’t get too crazy and the bars close earlier than they do in Fira, so it’s quieter at night. While Rhodes Town has more to wander and explore. But it is also well worth leaving the sun lounger to explore these five best beaches on Santorini. It’s pretty obvious why it is called “The Red Beach”. Karterados has more buses going to Fira – and you could always walk in a pinch. The best restaurant on Santorini and about a 8 minute drive from Kamari. Here is a great video showing Vlychada Beach and its raw beauty: You can only go to Vlychaa beach if you own your own means of transportation or you get a taxi. 3. Which beach would be best for this, and have the prettiest views while doing this? Which beach would you suggest checking out ? It’s a beach with wild beauty and raw charm. A taxi from Fira to Katharos beach should not charge you more than 30 euros for such a trip. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the top 10 best beaches in Santorini, which you can’t miss when visiting the island once the #coronavirus is over. A taxi from Fira to Vlychada should not charge you more than 15 euros for such a trip. Best Wine Tours and Wineries of Santorini, Crete To Santorini (daytrips, tours, ferries and flights), Athens To Santorini (ferries and flights), Santorini To Mykonos (ferries and flights), Nightlife in Santorini: The Ultimate Guide. Best Santorini Beach Hotels on Tripadvisor: Find traveller reviews, candid photos, and prices for 141 waterfront hotels in Santorini, Greece. Though Theros Wave Bar is awesome and one of the most romantic places of the island, the place is not cheap. The Best Beaches in Santorini: Red Beach. We want good nightlife-bars/restaurants/dancing (love traditional Greece). If you are visiting Santorini in the winter you won’t be able to swim between November-May as the sea water will be pretty cold for most people’s standards but in June, July, August, September and October the sea water is perfect and swimming inthe sea is by far one of the best things to do in Santorini. You can also take the boat from Akrotiri which is a great way to get there for views of the spectacular rugged, red cliffs that provide the backdrop to this beautiful, albeit small and potentially crowded, beach on Santorini. I recently became a patron and was hoping you could answer a few more questions I had! Also, Rhodes is sort of far away from the other islands and that would help us consolidate the travel. Recommended Hotels near Red Beach: Cape 9 Exclusive Villas & Suites (luxury) • Santorini Princess Presidential Suites (luxury) • Kalestesia Suites (moderate). Bus stops is nearby, beach is quite long with many … We like boat trips. But when the sun sets, you will start feeling the romance in the air and it is probably the time for you and your other half to enjoy a movie under the stars at Kamari Open Air Cinema which is easily one of the best things to do in Santorini. Here, the sea shelves a lot more gently and (to the best of my recollection) there are no slippery stones. 2) In Santorini: Grace Santorini vs Katikies? Situated at the base of Mesa Vouno Mountain, it’s easy to get here via bus from the main town of Fira (13km away). We consider ourselves the tipsters of this magical place, called Greece. We are not just visitors. Home > Greece > Santorini > Kamari Hotels Updated: August 11, 2020 • Affiliate Disclosure: All hotel links on my site are affiliate links meaning I earn a small fee when you book a hotel. It is also the only nudist friendly beach in Santorini , where you can literally have a big part of the beach for yourself. But also not too long travelling time to get there. Buses from the airport are not common – it could be a 30 minute to 1 hour wait. My first instinct is go to Naxos because it is a shorter ferry ride from Santorini/Milos, and the island is also a lot smaller so we can simply get to all the places on the island quicker and thereby experience more things. I’m thinking Grace Santorini would be the best for us. This includes activities and restaurants nearby in addition to hotels on the beach or nearby. 9. Perissa Beach. Found in the region of Akitiri lies Red Beach, an especially unique destination with volcanic red lava cliffs that define the color of the sand and surrounding massive hill. I go to Greece every year and this year I am planning to try Santorini (first part of July). In Perissa, you can also do all the water sports you can imagine (jet ski, sea-ski, sea-bananas etc). I do not have driving licence). Hi Dave GREAT website. Would it make sense to stay in Lindos and take a bus up to Rhodes Town, or would it be a huge hassle and would we be better off staying somewhere in Rhodes Town like Spirit of the Knight? Updated: October 2, 2020. Try Booking.com.). The crystal clear turquoise water will be one of the most impressive things you will notice if you swim (ideally between June-October as this is when the waters will be warm enough) and this by itself can be one of your highlights of your trip to Greece. So, these are best Santorini beaches: Perissa, Perivolos, Kamari, Red Beach, Ammoudi, Katharos, Vourvoulos, Vlychada, Eros beach, Koloumbos and Monolithos. Any thoughts on that? It is ideal for kids as they can literally spend a whole day on the beach and be super happy! The rich, rare colors make this one of the most popular among the best beaches in Santorini… Perivolos has some really amazing luxury hotels but obviously without the famous Santorini caldera views, as they are basically on the beach. Found on the south coast, it’s the only beach on the whole island with this distinctive colour, which is enough to bring sun-worshippers and Instagrammers by … Santorini beaches are mostly composed of volcanic sand and small pebbles. The good news is that the water around Santorini is crystal clear. Kamari is close to the airport, but far away enough that it’s not noisy. Not worth it. Is it better to do it differently and stay in Fira instead and go by bus to kamari beach? Thanks so much. It is far away from everything , though it is close to Oia (but quite far away from Fira). There’s not a lot here besides the unique scenery (though ancient Akrotiri is 5 minutes away and definitely worth a visit in its own right). Perissa is the best beach with a relaxing beach scene. There are ... 2. Which islands have good snorkeling? Fira has many places to rent a car but the airport is easier for pickup if you pre-book. Is there a public bus that goes from the JTR airport to Kamari? We’ve narrowed it down to the following islands: -4 days in Rhodes I can’t say whether that will apply to you. is still undiscovered by most tourist and therefore is lovely quiet with the most beautiful view of The Caldera. We thought to visit Rhodes first, and then take a flight into Santorini, and then island-hop to the others by ferry. Perivolos Beach. It’s not that there is anything wrong with Koloumbos beach, but bear in mind that it is a nudist-friendly beach which might not make it an attractive location for families and kids (unless you are totally fine with it)! 4. I always recommend staying on islands rather than doing day trips and Milos-Sifnos is no exception. It’s also possible to hike from one beach over Mesa Vouno to the other. 1) Hike up to Ancient Thera. 5. My fiancée and I are both lovers of excellent food, and we have read a lot about the amazing food scene on Sifnos. Best Kamari Beach Hotels on Tripadvisor: Find 8,580 traveller reviews, 10,098 candid photos, and prices for 46 waterfront hotels in Kamari, Greece. Red Beach. There are some small, ancient ruins on top of the hill and a spectacular, sunrise view. The beach at Perissa is a pebbly, sandy mix, which gets sandier farther south. Hi Dave, Vourvoulos beach is one of the most quiet beaches of the island and it is similar to Kolumbos and Monolithos beaches on the western side of the island. It is a very kids and family-friendly beach with sunbeds and umbrellas, with a few tavernas and restaurants mainly with fresh fish. There is a wide range of accommodations and restaurants here, especially toward the north end, where the main village, bus stop, and water taxi stop are found. Recommended Hotels near Caldera Beach: Ambassador Aegean Luxury Hotel & Suites (luxury) • Astarte Suites (luxury) • Santorini Princess Presidential Suites (luxury). It’s certainly not freezing, so if you’re used to going for a cool swim in the Atlantic in late September – then I’m sure you’ll be able to brave it. It is very well organised and some might consider it very touristic, but it is a great beach after all with awesome diving opportunities from the rock that overlooks the beach on your right hand side as you look the sea. Perivolos beach is a recommendation. Best Santorini Beach Hotels on Tripadvisor: Find traveller reviews, candid photos, and prices for 141 waterfront hotels in Santorini, Greece. While some of them organize parties with famous DJ’s from all over the world, they are mostly very chilled out and relaxing places. If you have a car, (best website to book a car for Santorini is Rentalcars.com), just take the road to Emporio village from Fira and follow the signs. My dream is to go to one of the islands that have the most to offer for us, we love swimming in clear water, nice beaches, small fishing villages, and some nice shopping. “Eros” means “love” in ancient greek…so you can totally understand why this is a also a screte wedding venue and a totally romantic place to be. It’s about 10km from Fira and the local bus service that runs every 30mins during the summer months will take you there with 1.80 euros (check the Santorini Local Bus Schedules). Hotel phone: +30 22860 81957 Easily the most luxurious beachfront hotel in Santorini, Istoria boasts an infinity pool with an attached jacuzzi, a holistic spa, and friendly, attentive service. Istoria Hotel on Perivolos Beach is the best beach hotel in Santorini. The Caramel Grecotel is wonderful but there’s not as much of interest close to the resort. There’s often another ferry that you can jump on if your original one is canceled. Hello, Vlychada Beach. On this page, you’ll find some cheaper hotels with caldera views. But as always you can also take a taxi from Fira. A taxi from Fira to Monolithos beach should not charge you more than 15 euros for such a trip. It is a small narrow beach with black and white pebbles under some massive white volcanic rocks. 8) Tipping customs? You can also take the bus to the airport and then walk from the airport. Can also combine this with the hike to Thera. How To Get Around in Santorini (buses, taxis and quads). It’s the closest of any of the beach towns to Fira and the caldera with great bus service; buses take about 15 minutes between Fira and Kamari. Most of Santorini’s beaches are composed of dark volcanic sand that gets searingly hot in the mid-day sun. Good beach resorts are plentiful, though there are very few hotels located directly on the beach – most resorts are across a small road from the sea. If you research on the internet you will probably find many reports saying that Red Beach is dangerous and you shouldn’t visit it because there have been cases of falling rocks etc. Red Beach is one of the most popular beaches on Santorini thanks to its towering cliffs of rust-red rocks, lapped by clear waters of a deep turquoise. This is also the beach where you will find the most locals, greek tourists and even celebrities hanging out. If you’re happy staying away from the caldera, Perissa is also one of the best places in Santorini … Katharos Beach is another very quiet and totally not touristic beach of Santorini. Warning: There have been reports of some falling rock on the path down to the beach so … uhm, watch for falling rock as you walk down to the beach … or just take pictures from a distance and skip actually walking to the beach. We will be arriving in Santorini airport (JTR) on a Friday morning (8am) in late May. Monolithos beach is a quiet area with a few hotels and rooms to rent around. #29 Best Value of 141 Santorini Beach Hotels “ The beautiful beach is 10-15 minutes walk on a trail (for most ages and walking abilities) or 5 minutes in a car, with great cabanas and upscale restaurant to … Also, how much should a taxi charge from the airport to Kamari beach? You’d need special permission and have to reserve a car space on the ferry. Quite similar to the landscape of Perissa, the beach is covered by black sand while on the left side of the beach is an enormous rock called Mesa Vouno that rises from the sea.The area is extremely attractive, especially at night when the rock shines in the dark. The beaches are on one side of the island (the east) and the … If you only have time for one beach, then visit Perissa beach as it is the beach that has everything and it is overall perfect for almost every situation: couples, solo travellers, honeymooners, families, kids and seniors (no steps at all). Short answer: no. Spectacular beaches and dramatic scenery characterise Santorini’s coastline: the … The walk along the sea edge can be tricky in spots, and there have been reports of falling rock. Can we get a water taxi from Fira to Kamari. (Yes, their website probably has not opened up those dates yet. There are very limited options to stay around Koloumbos beach and to be totaly honest with you Koloumbos might not be the place to stay if you want to visit Santorini. Also, Imerovigli is a more central location and seems like it would be easier to explore the island. It is a pretty long beach with black sand and pebbles with lots of sunbeds and umbrellas. Since the beaches have coarse sand, there’s little dust to cloud the water. I’m solo and just hang out on the beach, love food, and a few drinks. Red Santorini Beach is 12 km south west of Fira in the Akrotiri area, and one of the most beautiful and famous beaches of Santorini. Perissa is also well-connected to Fira by bus, albeit with fewer buses running here per day and a longer bus ride (about 20 minutes). Red Beach. Many people who travel to Santorini in July or August prefer to stay at Perivolos instead of Perissa, as it can be slightly more quiet and relaxing since it is a bit further away from the crowds of beach bars and restaurants of Perissa. Home > Greece > Santorini > Beaches When reaching the archaeological site of Akrotiri, turn on the right, park in front of the chapel of Agios Nikolaos and continue on foot (no flip flops!). Perivolos has many new hotels and as with every other beach hotel in Santorini you will be getting more for what you pay becasue you are basicaly be missing the famous and very touristic viewx of Imerovigli, Fira and Oia. But Santorini’s beaches have their own charm with their unique geological formations and the cute black or white pebbles (which can become super hot in the summer so be careful…). Will any of those islands require a car rental or are the bus/taxi situations good enough on the islands that I won’t need to? #27 Best Value of 141 Santorini Beach Hotels “ The hotel is located in the quieter part of Oia and is literally across from the Aegean sea (you just need to walk down the steps and the beach awaits you). Thank you