4.8out of 5 on Google
Santorini· Περίσσα – Ακρωτήρι
Perissa, Akrotiri & the south
The black-sand strip from Perissa through Perivolos to Vlychada on one side, and the buried Bronze Age town of Akrotiri with the Red Beach on the other.
- 🏛️ 5 attractions
- 🏖️ 8 beaches
- 🍽️ 2 restaurants & tavernas
- 🛏️ 11 where to stay
- 🍸 3 beach clubs & nightlife
- Beaches
- Culture
- Budget
The southern end of the island is two coasts that share a road. East of Mesa Vouno, Perissa and Perivolos run into one continuous black beach with the island's beach-bar scene on it, ending at Vlychada, where the sand sits under eroded cliffs that look like something poured rather than built. It is the cheapest place on Santorini to drink with your feet in the sand.
West is Akrotiri: a Minoan town buried under volcanic ash and now sheltered under a roof, with streets, drains and two-storey walls still standing. It is the single best reason to come to Santorini for anything other than a view. Nearby, the Red Beach sits under crumbling iron-red cliffs — check the signs on the day, as the approach has been subject to rockfall warnings.
Few hotels, which is the honest drawback: this is a side of the island most people visit and leave. If you are staying, Perissa has the rooms and the bus to Fira (€2.70, 2026).
🏛️ Perissa, Akrotiri & the south
Attractions · Perissa, Akrotiri & the south
4.8out of 5 on Google
4.6out of 5 on Google
4.6out of 5 on Google
4.6out of 5 on Google
4.4out of 5 on Google🏖️ Perissa, Akrotiri & the south
Beaches · Perissa, Akrotiri & the south
🍽️ Perissa, Akrotiri & the south
Restaurants & tavernas · Perissa, Akrotiri & the south
🛏️ Perissa, Akrotiri & the south
Where to stay · Perissa, Akrotiri & the south
🍸 Perissa, Akrotiri & the south
Beach clubs & nightlife · Perissa, Akrotiri & the south
Hotels on the map · Perissa, Akrotiri & the south
Live prices and availability on a map centred on this exact spot — hotels, studios and villas — so you can judge the distance to the beach, the port or the village from here rather than guess from an address.
Bookings made through this map earn us a commission. Your price is unaffected.
Partner links · GetYourGuide
Tours and day trips from here
Boat trips, guided tours of the ancient sites and tickets bookable ahead — free cancellation on most.
- Caldera sunset catamaranUnder the caldera cliffs to the volcanic islets and swim stops, with the sunset seen from the water rather than from a packed wall in Oia.See boat trips →
- Volcano & hot springsWalk the crater on Nea Kameni, then swim to the warm, rust-coloured springs off Palea Kameni. Wear shoes you do not mind ruining.See guided tours →
- Santorini wine tourAssyrtiko from vines trained low into baskets against the wind. Two or three wineries with a driver — which is the whole point.See wine tastings →
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Where to stay
The other parts of Santorini
The caldera rimFira, Imerovigli and Oia strung along the cliff edge — the view everyone comes for, the hotels that charge for it, and the walk that links them.8 attractions · 3 beaches · 10 restaurants & tavernas · 11 where to stay · 3 beach clubs & nightlife- Kamari & the wine villagesA long black-pebble beach under the Mesa Vouno cliff, with Pyrgos and Megalochori inland — the practical half of Santorini, and far cheaper than the rim.3 attractions · 2 beaches · 3 restaurants & tavernas · 4 where to stay · 2 beach clubs & nightlife
Before you go
Car hire from local firmsIsland rental companies rather than the international desks — usually cheaper, often with full insurance and no card deposit. On Crete, Kefalonia or Naxos a car is what gets you to the beaches the buses do not reach.Compare local cars →Scooter, ATV & bike hireThe classic island runabout for coves and hilltop villages. Wear the helmet, check what the insurance excludes, and be honest about gravel roads — they are where most rental accidents happen.Find a scooter →Car hire, budgetAn aggregator that tends to surface the lowest headline prices. Read the fuel, insurance and ferry clauses — many contracts do not allow the car on a boat.Compare prices →
We may earn a commission from these. It never changes your price.
