Santorini beaches

KAMARI
Kamari was completely rebuilt after the 1956 earthquake and was the most important strategic point on the island after the decline of Acrotiri in ancient times. Kamari, is a tourist hotspot situated on the southeast side of Santorini. The area is famous for its beautiful beach extends all the way to Monolithos and for its green landscape. On the beachfront you can find hotels, restaurants, bars and many shops that can please all tastes and budgets. In Kamari also, every year, the Jazz Festival takes place, in the lovely atmosphere of its outdoor cinema. The official name of the village is "Episkopi Gonia" and took its name from the interesting church of Panaghia Episkopi which was built in 1100. The best time to visit the church is on August 15th during the feast of the Virgin Mary when the church celebrates with a large festival. Also, on September 24th the church Panagia Myrtidiotissa, celebrates with festival where the food and the wine is plentiful.


  PERISSA
Perissa is one of Santorini best beaches. Next to Emporio village a long dark sand endless beach.
A feature that makes Perissa unique (besides the crystal water and the smooth sand) is the fact that is the best protected beach from the summer Aegean winds (called "Meltemia" in Greek). Perissa lies right next to Profitis Ilias mountain, totally protected from the North.



  PERIVOLOS
Perivolos lies between Vlihada and Perissa. Wonderfull endless beach, ideal when north winds are blowing with a litle lighter sand than Perissa (dark grey). Perivolos is the place to have a great time in the well organized beach bars and restaurants. Beach bars are lots of fun, they combine a "day club scene" with swimsuits, beach volley and happenings.



  RED BEACH
Red beach in the Akrotiri area. Beautiful beach, well known for the unique colour of the sand and the hill behind it. Soaring red lava cliffs which drop right to the sandy shore and into the clear blue sea, make for a majestic setting and one to enjoy. The beach can be reached either by boat (there are several connecting Red Beach with Perissa and Akrotiri or by foot (10 minutes walk from Akrotiri, you have to reach Agios Nikolaos church in Akrotiri next to the excavations area). We suggest to include Red beach into your itenerary

.KOULOUMBO BEACH
From the beaches at the North East part of Santorini Kouloumbo (or Columbo) is the greatest. It is a long sandy beach of unique beauty nestled next to a cliff and the last one in Santorini that is not organised at all. East of the beach at a distance of 3 miles and underwater at a depth of 18,5 meters is located the omonymous crater of the volcano that gave the 1650 eruption and caused several disasters on the island.

  MONOLITHOS
A beautiful golden sandy beach next to Kamari at a distance of about 9 km from Fira. In Monolithos area is located the Santorini airport. Monolithos is a quiet beach but well organized, with all the comforts (even sea sports). Hotels, beach bar, umbrellas and taverns are available. The village was named (monolithos in Greek stands for one rock) after the solitary rocky outcrop and the soaring smokestack of the tomato paste plant. With its broad beach of fine black sand and seemingly endless shallows, Monolithos has inevitably developed into a family resort.

  VLIHADA BEACH
Vlihada is the last beach in the row of Perissa and Perivolos before Akrotiri. The pumice stone hills just behind the beach keep it calm and quite. Chances are (except maby from August) that Vlihada will be quiet and so crowded like Perivolos and Perissa. Before you reach the beach, you pass the small harbour, which is full with small traditional boats. Do not stay surprised if you come across as you are walking to the beach to one of the many ducks or the swams that leave there under the wing of the fishermans. It is a perfect spot for those wishing to avoid the big crows. Meals and snacks can be found at a nearby cafeteria on a boat.

 AGIOS GEORGIOS
Another beach in the row of Perissa and Perivolos before Vlihada with small tavernas and rooms to let opposite the beach. It is located on the southern tip of the island. Water sports and beach bars are available here. Also a few taverns can be found here and this beach offers a perfect spot for those preferring a solitary swim and avoid the massive crowds. The beach is accessible from Emporio and Perissa (3 and 3,5 klm respectively), by rented or private car and motorbike. Walking is also an alternative.



  MESA PIGADIA
A quiet wonderful rocky beach. One of the many hidden spots for swimming near the extreme nature of the island in the area of Akrotiri. The beach is not very large and it consists of sand with pebbles and also with larger stones on it. It is just 800m from the main Akrotiri road and there is a restaurant on the beach among the several cave houses called varkadies (used to host fishing boats during the winter). On Mesa Pigadia it is a little bit more quiet than on some of the other beaches because it is more out of the route.

 VOURVOULOS BEACH
Vourvoulos beach (Paralia Vourvoulou in Greek) is located on the North East part of Santorini for several kilometers. Several points offer a sandy part and there is also a small fishing boats harbour the last years with a fish tavern.

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Top ten Santorini

The top attraction here is the island itself; don't feel compelled to race from attraction to attraction. It's far better to make haste slowly, linger on the black beach at Kamares, and stroll Thira in the early morning when the town belongs to its inhabitants, who are buying loaves sprinkled with sesame seeds at the bakery, and sweeping and washing the pavement outside all those jewelry shops. Most importantly, wherever you are, enjoy the view. There's nowhere else in the world, let alone in the Cyclades, with that caldera view. A great way to see the caldera is to take one of the sunset cruises offered by replica 18th-century sailing ships the. Some cruises do and others do not include a light dinner. Most travel agents sell tickets from around 45€.
Tip: If you plan to visit the ancient sites and their associated museums, get the economical 10€ ticket that's good for the Archaeological Museum, ancient Akrotiri (if open), prehistoric Thira, and ancient Thira. Even if the ticket price goes up, as it almost certainly will, and even if Akrotiri is closed, as it may be, this will be a good buy.

Winery Museum --
The museum, which occupies subterranean caves and tunnels, has an audio tour and reconstructions of the wine making process; 6€. Volcan's once-a-week Greek Night, featuring dinner and belly dancers, is popular with large tour groups. Check the website of the individual wineries for their varied hours.
utari.gr) is the island's largest winery, and Greece's best-known wine exporter. A variety of tours are offered at their winery in Megalochiri on the road to Akrotiri, from a simple tasting of three wines (6€) to the "Libation to Santorini," with four wines, serious nibblies, and a multimedia show. This is a pleasant way to spend an hour or so (but never on Sunday, when the winery, like most on Santorini, is closed). If you want to sample other local wines, stop by the underground




 A Different Santorini -- A different way to explore Santorini is the 1-hour submarine tour beneath the caldera's surface. It sinks 25 to 30m (82-98 ft.) below the surface and offers you a glimpse into the submerged volcanic crater. The trip costs 65€ .

Fira
Location, location, location: To put it mildly, Fira has a spectacular location on the edge of the caldera. Just when you think you've grown accustomed to the view down and out to sea and the offshore islands, you'll catch a glimpse of the caldera from a slightly different angle -- and be awed yet again. If you're staying overnight on Santorini, take advantage of the fact that almost all the day-trippers from cruise ships leave in the late afternoon. Try to explore Santorini's capital, Fira, in the early evening, between the departure of the day-trippers and the onslaught of the evening revelers. As you stroll, you may be surprised to discover that, in addition to the predictable Greek Orthodox cathedral, Fira has a Roman Catholic cathedral and convent, legacies from the days when the Venetians controlled much of the Aegean. The name Santorini is, in fact, a Latinate corruption of the Greek for St. Irene.

Megaron Gyzi Museum (tel. 22860/22-244) in a stately old house by the cathedral has church and local memorabilia, an icon workshop, and before-and-after photographs of the island at the time of the devastating earthquake of 1956. It is open Monday to Saturday 10:30am to 1pm and 5 to 8pm, and Sunday 10:30am to 4:30pm. Admission is 4€.
Not surprisingly, Fira is Santorini's busiest and most commercial town. The abundance of jewelry stores is matched in the Cyclades only by Mykonos -- as are the crowds in July and August. At the north end of Ipapantis (also known as "Gold Street" for all those jewelry stores), you'll find the cable-car station. The Austrian-built system, the gift of wealthy ship owner Evangelos Nomikos, can zip you down to the port of Skala in 2 minutes. The cable car makes the trip every 15 minutes from 7:30am to 9pm for 5€, and it's worth every euro, especially on the way up.

Up and to the right of the cable-car station is the small Archaeological Museum  which contains early Cycladic figurines, finds from ancient Thira, and erotic (or obscene, depending on the eye of the beholder) Dionysiac figures. It's open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:30am to 3pm. Admission is 4€. You can easily spend a day or more enjoying Fira, but don't count on getting much sleep: Fira has a wild all-night-every-night bar scene, with every bar seemingly competing for the award for the highest decibel level attainable with amplified music.

Oia
Oia gets most visitors' votes as the most beautiful village on the island. The village made an amazing comeback from the 1956 earthquake which left it a virtual ghost town for decades. Several fine 19th-century mansions survived the earthquake and have been restored, including the elegant Restaurant-Bar 1800 and the Naval Museum . Much of the reconstruction continues the ancient Santorini tradition of excavating dwellings from the cliff's face, and the island's most beautiful cliff dwellings can be found here. The village has basically two streets: one with traffic, and the much more pleasant inland pedestrian lane, paved with marble and lined with an increasing number of jewelry shops, tavernas, and bars.

The Naval Museum is a great introduction to this town where, until the advent of tourism, most young men found themselves working at sea and sending money home to their families. The museum, housed in a restored neoclassical mansion, was almost completely destroyed during the 1956 earthquake. Workers meticulously rebuilt the mansion using photographs of the original structure. The museum's collection includes ship models, figureheads, naval equipment, and fascinating old photographs. Its official hours are Wednesday through Monday from 12:30 to 4pm and 5 to 8:30pm, although this varies considerably. Admission is 3€.
The battlements of the ruined kastro (fortress) at the western end of town are the best place to catch the famous Oia sunset. Keep in mind that many cruise ships disgorge busloads of passengers who come here just to catch the sunset; unless you are here on a rainy February day, you may prefer to find a more secluded spot where the click of camera shutters is less deafening.

Out on the Island: Some Villages
It's easy to spend all your time in Fira and Oia, with excursions to the ancient sites and beaches, and to neglect other villages. Easy, but a shame, as there are some very charming villages on the island. As you travel, keep an eye out for the troglodytic cave houses hollowed into solidified volcanic ash. Another thing to look for: In many fields, you'll see what look like large brown circles of intertwined sticks neatly placed on the ground. What you're looking at is a vineyard. Santorinians twist the grape vines into wreaths that encircle the grapes and protect them from the island's fierce winds.

At the south end of the island, on the road to Perissa, is the handsome old village of Emborio. The town was fortified in the 17th century, and you can see its towers, a graceful marble statue of the muse Polyhymnia in the cemetery, and modern-day homes built into the ruins of the citadel.




Pirgos, a village on a steep hill just above the island's port at Athinios, is a maze of narrow pathways, steps, chapels, and squares. Until the mid-19th century, this quiet hamlet hidden away behind the port was the island's capital. Near the summit of the village is the crumbling Venetian kastro, with sweeping views over the island. There is less tourism in Pirgos than in many island villages, and the central square, just off the main road, has just about all the shops and cafes.

In the hamlet of Gonias Episkopi, the Church of the Panagia is an astonishingly well-preserved 11th- to 12th-century Byzantine church. As is often the case, the builders pillaged classical buildings. You will see the many fragments they appropriated incorporated into the walls -- and two ancient marble altars supporting columns. Among the frescoes, keep an eye out for the figure of a dancing Salome.


The Caldera Islets

These tantalizing islands in the caldera are part of the glory of Santorini's seascape, reminders of the larger island that existed before the volcano left today's crescent in the sea. Fortunately, you can visit the islands and get a view of Santorini from there.

Thirassia is a small, inhabited island west across the caldera from Santorini; a cliff-top village of the same name faces the caldera, and is a relatively quiet retreat from Santorini's summer crowds. You can reach the village from the caldera side only by a long flight of steep steps. (Travelers once had to get to Fira and Oia the same way.) Full-day boat excursions departing daily from the port of Fira (accessible by cable car, donkey, or on foot) make brief stops at Thirassia, just long enough for you to have a quick lunch in the village; the cost of the excursion -- which includes Nea Kameni, Palea Kameni, and Ia -- is about 50€ per person. Another option is local caiques, which make the trip in summer from Armeni, the port of Oia; ask for information at one of the Fira travel agents.

The two smoldering dark islands in the middle of the caldera are Palea Kameni (Old Burnt), the smaller and more distant one, which appeared in A.D. 157; and Nea Kameni (New Burnt), which began to appear sometime in the early 18th century. The day excursion to Thirassia (a far more enjoyable destination) often includes these two (unfortunately often litter-strewn) volcanic isles.

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Mykonos eat and drink

 Restaurants
Dine in luxury or in earthly simplicity, select among numerous cuisines and locations. FYI: reservations are highly recommended and dinner is served quite late in Greece.

 Beach restaurants
 Grab yourself a front row seat and enjoy the view of the Aegean Sea's most stunning beaches. Offering you the option to lounge while drinking a cocktail, or dance between your starter and main.

 Fast food places
 If you're after a quick bite, the town and outskirts offer a wide range of fast food and self-service restaurants. Take your pick from gyros, souvlaki, crepes, pizza and sandwich.



Taverns
For a more traditional experience, opt for a tavern serving Greek homemade dishes. By the sea try fresh grilled seafood, while when on the mainland order local grilled meat.

 Cafes
 Coffee is a Greek ritual and is served no matter the time - day or night. Some cafes are tucked away inside the graphic Mykonian passages, while others offer stunning views of the Aegean Sea.

 Internet cafes
 Surf the internet, play games, check your emails or just send a fax in the company of your favourite coffee or beverage. Nothing beats a refreshing ice cream on a warm summer day; or a sumptuous pastry on any day for that matter! With the choice to eat in or take away, all you need is to satisfy your craving.

 Bakeries
 Fresh bread, pastries and baked goods available every morning. Open from the break of dawn, bakeries cater to the early risers and the starving allnighter survivors!

Patisseries and ice cream
 Nothing beats a refreshing ice cream on a warm summer day; or a sumptuous pastry on any day for that matter! With the choice to eat in or take away, all you need is to satisfy your craving.

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Mykonos beaches

Agios Sostis Beach
Taking the road beyond Panormos beach and facing east onto the bay, Agios Sostis is one of the more remote beaches on the island. Void of accommodation and crowds this beautiful beach offers not only peace and quiet but a very good small restaurant. Access is limited to private vehicle and t


Agios Stefanos Beach
Two kilometers north of town and facing to the west is the well developed beach of Agios Stefanos. Many hotels in this area supply a wide range of accomodation with the beach itself offering a good selection of restaurants and cafes. This family oriented beach can be reached via taxi, private vehicle or regular bus service from town.



Agios Yannis Beach
On the west side of the island and facing Delos, the relatively small and picturesque beach of Agios Yannis offers white sands and a collection of small coves catering to the general public. Famous as the location for the award winning motion picture "Shirley Valentine", many appreciate this setting for its calm and relaxed atmosphere. Regular bus service from town provides easy access throughout the day.



Agrari Beach
One of the quietest beaches of the southern chain. Medium in size this beach has a single restaurant and beach bar that caters to all who enjoy seclusion from the crowds. There is no local bus service but Agrari can be reached by private transport, taxi and boat shuttles from Plati Yialos. Due to its close proximity to Elia this beach can also be reached easily by foot from the Elia bus terminus.


Elia Beach
Easily accessible by bus from town and a regular boat service from Plati Yialos, Elia beach is the largest of the south chain of beaches. Good restaurants, hotels and bungalows provide beach-side refreshment and accommodation with the added attraction of the islands only water park situated just back from the beach and only minutes away. In designated sections nude bathing is allowed.



Ftelia Beach
Very often subjected to a good onshore wind, north-facing Fetelia beach, unpleasant to sun bathers, is a great pleasure to wind surfing enthusiasts. Located on the north and central part of the island this beach forms the base to Panormos Bay, the largest on Mykonos. There is a restaurant to serve the needs of those who visit and access to this beach can only be made by taxi or private vehicles.


Kalafatis Beach
One of the earliest established beaches, this beautiful bay and long sweeping Kalafatis beach has become famous to wind surfers who enjoy a good offshore breeze. Hotel accommodation is available together with various water sports including diving with access to the beach made easy from town through a regular bus service. Many small restaurants can be found in the area often specializing in local seafood dishes.


Kalo Livadi Beach
Situated at the lower end of a long open valley, Kalo Livadi is part of another group of southern beaches reachable only via the Ano Mera road. Regular bus service from town allows access to this medium sized quiet location where good food but a minimal amount of accommodation is available.



Lia Beach
Furthest from town and accessible only by private vehicle or taxi, Lia beach is a perfect place to escape the crowds. Its undeveloped state and single restaurant make it possible to enjoy the natural cycladic landscape surrounding this beautiful beach.



Ornos beach
Located on the southwest corner of the island and only two kilometers from town, this area has recently developed into a village. Due, for the most part to the sea's sandy bottom which drops off very gently from the shore, Ornos provides the perfect family beach. Access to and from town is made easy with a frequent local bus service. A daily boat service to other beaches as well as excursions to the island of Delos. Good yachts anchorage.



Panormos beach
On the north side of the island and facing east onto Panormos Bay is the long and beautiful Panormos Beach. Two restaurants and one hotel serve this otherwise remote area, reachable only by private vehicle or taxi. Nude bathing tolerant, this beach because of its location is best suited during periods of southerly wind.



Paradise beach
Probably the most popular beach on the island, Paradise developed its fame and contemporary name through its discovery by the "Hippies" and other world traveling backpackers of the 60's. Nude sunbathing tolerant, this beautiful large expance of beach caters primarily to the young set offering a well organised cafeteria, snack bars, beach bars, night clubs, professional diving center , camping facilities


Paraga beach
Set in a picturesque landscape the restaurants and music beach bars on Paraga beach help to create a holiday atmosphere for not only its daily visitors but for those who chose to stay in its hotels and well organized camping facilities. Public transportation to the beach is supplied by a regular bus service from town and a frequent boat service from Plati Yialos beach.


Plati Yialos beach
One of the oldest and most established of the southern beaches Plati Yialos, is another family oriented beach offering ample accommodation, restaurants, beach bars and water sports. As one of the most visited beaches connections by boat can be made throughout the day to the other southern beaches of Paraga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia. Bus service from town is very frequent.



Psarou beach
Situated within walking distance and just to the right of the Plati Gialos bus terminus, Psarou is one of the earliest established beaches. This medium size well-sheltered beach offers good accommodation, restaurants and various water sports which include a diving school.



Super Paradise beach
Virtually void of hotels and without local bus service, the exclusivity of Super Paradise beach has made it a favorite for gay visitors to the island for many years. Nude tolerant, this beautiful beach set in a small but deep bay has good restaurants and bar discos that echo throughout the day the energy of the town's nightlife. Access to the beach is reached by taxi, private vehicle and a regular boat service from the Plati Yialos dock.

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Petros the Pelican

- An old celebrity of the town's waterfront, "Petros" has been the official mascot of Mykonos for many years. Found after a storm in 1954 the pelican gave up its migrating to become a local resident. After more than thirty years of making the island his home, Petros eventually died. The loss of such a personality was so deeply felt by both Mykonian and tourist alike that a replacement was soon found and a tradition established. Through the care and protection of the islanders, the spirit of Petros lives on in his predecessor who continues to this day to make his home on the island's waterfront.

Windmills 

- From as early as the 16th century, one of the most recognized landmarks of Mykonos have been its windmills. Due to its geographic position, Mykonos was situated on major sea trade-route which at one time joined Venice, the gateway of Europe, to Asia. The need to refine grain and compact it for transport combined with an ample year round supply of wind made Mykonos the perfect location. Easy access to the harbor was necessary so most of the island's mills were positioned in or around the main port with the highest concentration covering the entire western portion of town. With the coming of industrialization the windmills importance began to decline as well as their numbers. Today only a fraction remains of what was once an active era in Mykonian history.

Little Venice

 - Where the most western part of the town meets the sea is the area known as "Little Venice". Here the buildings have been constructed right on the sea's edge with their balconies overhanging the water. During the 16th and 17th century pirating was common and it is believed this area was used for the necessary quick loading and unloading of goods.

Paraportiani 

Paraportiani - One of the most famous architectural structures in Greece is the church, Paraportiani. Positioned near the main harbor entrance, this church is the central feature of the "Kastro" or castle area, the oldest section of town. It's name means inner or secondary door which it was to the Medieval stone walls which encircled the area. First begun in 1475, Paraportiani in reality is a group of five smaller churches which were constructed over a period of time and not completed until well into the 17th century. The two story structure was molded together utilizing four of it's churches to form a base for the fifth church which when placed on top formed a central domed roof.

Delos 

Delos - One of Greece's most famous archaeologic sites is the small island of Delos. Under the jurisdiction of Mykonos and situated just 2 kilometers to the west the entire island has been declared a national museum. Access to the island has been made readily available through excursions which leave daily from the main harbor of Mykonos and some of the more popular beaches.

The Armenistis Lighthouse

 The Armenistis Lighthouse - Built in 1891, the Armenistis Lighthouse is situated on the north-western tip of Mykonos, overlooking the strait that separates the island of Tinos from Mykonos. Due to its high elevation the view from this location is a particularly memorable scenic attraction. Specifically the lighthouse design is an octagonal cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery at an overall height of 19 meters (62 ft). Its focal plane is 184 meters (604ft) with a white beacon flash every 10 seconds. The original Fresnel lens when replaced was put into a replica lantern house which is now on display in the garden of the Aegean Maritime Museum in Mykonos Town. At a distance of approximately 6 km from town, the lighthouse can be reached by taking the north coastal road that passes through both San Stephanos and the Houlakia Bay area.

The Monastery of Panagia Tourliani 

The Monastery of Panagia Tourliani southeast of town dates from the 18th century and has a marble bell tower with intricate folk carvings. Inside the church are a huge Italian baroque iconostasis (altar screen) with icons of the Cretan school; an 18th-century marble baptismal font; and a small museum containing liturgical vestments, needlework, and woodcarvings.

Monastery of Paleokastro

 

One kilometer (1/2 mile) southeast is the 12th-century Monastery of Paleokastro, in one of the island's greenest spots. Ano Mera also has the island's most traditional atmosphere; a fresh-produce market on the main square sells excellent local cheeses. This is the island's place of choice for Sunday brunch.

Greek maritime Museum

 The museum aims to undertake the preservation, promotion and study of Greek maritime history and tradition and specializes in the merchant-ship history of the Aegean Sea. The Aegean Maritime Museum was the first ever Greek museum to restore living historical exhibits as they were originally designed and built. Exhibits that are living restorations include the "Armenistis" lighthouse (built in 1890), which stands in the museum garden, and the ships Thalis o Milesios (built in 1909) and Evangelistria (built in 1940), which are located on the museum wharf at the Paleo Phaliro marina.The garden of the Aegean Maritime Museum, aside from displaying the lighthouse, has a number of ancient sailors' marble gravestones collected from the islands of Mykonos and Delos.

 Lena's House

Lena's House is an authentic and traditional house of Chora, Mykonos Greece. The house was donated by Lena and the interiors exhibits items and furniture from a century ago

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