Red sand Beaches Santorini Greece
My favorite beach on Santorini is Kamari. It’s a great place to swim, many places to rent beach chairs, and lots of places to eat. It’s a great place to hang out and relax.
Santorini is not known for its beaches. They are good but not great – so don’t be expecting those idyllic stretches of sand you’ve seen in pictures of Greece. (That said, many people love the beaches of Santorini and find their unique sand and natural setting to be more memorable than “just another sandy beach”.)
Most of Santorini’s beaches are composed of dark volcanic sand that gets searingly hot in the mid-day sun. Beach sandals or water shoes are recommended for getting around on the sand.
But what the beaches lack in typical sandy splendor they make up for with breathtaking views and scenery. The cliffs that loom around some of the beaches and the nature of the sand itself make a surreal setting for swimming and sunning.
Perhaps it’s just in my head but I find the sea water around Santorini the most clear and refreshing I’ve ever swam in. It’s really wonderful.
The caldera is found on the west coast of Santorini. The beaches are on the east and southeast side of the island. So when deciding where to stay it’s either along the caldera with incredible views of the volcano or at one of the beaches.
It’s an easy drive or bus ride from Fira (the main town on Santorini) to get to the beaches so as much as I love the beaches I still recommend staying in Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, or Oia as these towns have the stunning caldera (volcano) views that make Santorini so unique.
(It does take an extra bus journey to go from Firostefani, Imerovigli, or Oia to the beaches as it requires changing buses in Fira. Renting a car is the best way to explore the island and this is especially so if you’re not staying in Fira.)
If you’re looking for nightlife you’re best to base yourself in Fira as that’s where all the clubs are found on Santorini.
Kamari Beach
The most upscale and touristy of the beach towns. The path along the beach is a fun and relaxing place to stroll in the evening. Lots of places to eat and drink. Kamari has a very fun vibe and one of the most family-friendly towns on Santorini. Close to the airport (but not so close as to worry about noise). If I were to stay at a beach town it would be Kamari.
Recommended Hotels: Santorini Kastelli Resort (luxury) • Tamarix Del Mar Suites (luxury) • Aegean Plaza Hotel (moderate)
Perissa Beach
Perissa and Perivolos Beaches are essentially one very long beach that caters to the backpacker crowd and party scene but still has a wide range of accommodations and restaurants. The beach becomes progressively quieter as you move south towards a third beach, Agios Georgios. (It’s much farther from Perissa or Perivolos to Fira than it is from Kamari to Fira.)
Recommended Hotels: Anastasia Princess (moderate) • Meltemi Village Hotel (moderate) • Samson’s Village (budget)
Perivolos Beach
The same stretch of beach as Perivolos but quieter and fewer beach restaurants. It’s still a wonderful place to swim.
Recommended Hotels: Sea Sound White Katikies (moderate) • Hotel Sea View (moderate)
Red Beach
The pebbly sand here is red and the backdrop is stunning. 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). Red Beach is 20 minute drive south of Fira The walk down to the beach can be steep for some. Update: The summer and fall of 2014 had some falling rock on the path down to the beach so … uhm, watch for falling rock as you walk down to the beach.
Recommended Hotels: Astarte Suites (luxury)
Monolithos
Monolithos Beach (a few km north of Kamari) has the nicest sand and most family-friendly beach on Santorini (unlike other beaches you can make sandcastles here). Very quiet with a small collection of hotels and restaurants. The shallow slope of the seafloor make it better for kids than the steep drop-offs at Perissa and Kamari. There’s a small play area for the kids on the sand. It’s quiet here (but I wouldn’t recommend staying here), so don’t be expecting a lot of action. If you have a rental car and a few kids it might be worth an afternoon.
Amoudi Bay
The best swimming spot on Santorini – but not a beach. Take the path down from Oia to the port (where the restaurants are) then turn left and walk along the water’s edge for 5 to 10 minutes. Then jump from the rocks into beautiful blue water. There’s a small island that you can swim out to that has glorious views of the caldera. The best swimming is at the end of a seawall that begins at the wharf. The walk along the sea edge can be tricky in spots and there have been reports of falling rock.
Recommended Hotels in Oia: Esperas (luxury) • Fanari Villas (luxury) • Art Maisons Oia Castle Hotel (luxury)
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Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Red beach, Akrotiri, island of Santorini (Thira), Cyclades Islands, Aegean Home (robertharding)
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Why is the sand red in daytona beach florida?
Hurricanes and nor'easters eroded away the old sand and the coarser-grained red shell material moves back onto the beach faster.
What is the red tint on the sand in Daytona Beach.
Not seeing reports on red tint on Daytona Beach except from the night sky. Some Florida Beaches do suffer from algae bloom.
Santorini (Greek: Σαντορίνη, pronounced [sadoˈrini]), classically Thera ( /ˈθɪrə/), and officially Thira (Greek: Θήρα [ˈθira]), is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast from Greece's mainland. It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago which bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic...