Vlyhada Beach is situated at the south part of the island, 15 km from Fira town. The beach is beautiful, composed of volcanic grey sand surrounded by high cliffs, and is the ideal spot for privacy since it is not as crowded as other beaches in Santorini. Part of the beach is organized with sun beds and umbrellas and part is left more rugged and natural. The beach itself is a long grey sandy beach with interesting rock formations and white cliffs. There are a few Tavernas and snack bars close by too. If you’re looking for a quiet and secluded beach experience then Vlychada beach is for you.

Kamari is a famous beach resort of Santorini situated 10 km southeast of Fira, the island's capital. 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 beach of Kamari is fully organised offering a wide range of facilities like sunbeds, umbrellas and various types of water sports.

Visitors can take a nice walk along the waterfront with fish restaurants, traditional Taverna and café bars lies just behind the black sandy beach..With clear blue waters turning quickly deep, the long grey sand Kamari Beach offers an amazing landscape and impressive views of the Mesa Vouno huge rock rising from the sea. Attracting hordes of tourists, the long beach is very organized and offers a multitude of restaurants, beach bars and shops. Due to the modern amenities including hotels, restaurants, snacks, cafes, bars and night clubs the village becomes quite popular with tourists during the peak season. From Kamari, a road takes you up the mountain to Ancient Thira, and a caique can bring you to the wild isle of Anafi

Near the village of Akrotiri, lies one of the most famous and spectacular beaches of Santorini with rare red color pebbles and rocks and clean waters. Despite the fact that the Red Beach is isolated, it attracts many visitors wishing to experience the unique scenery of its red lava cliffs cascading down to the sea.The red beach is arguably one of the most famous and beautiful beaches of Santorini. It is located only some steps away from the ancient site of Akrotiri. The small size of the beach creates a much crowded atmosphere and there are many days where most of the visitors choose not to make it all the way down to the beach and instead admire this unique landscape of red and black volcanic rocks from the headland.

The access is relatively easy. You can leave your car at the parking space and continue all the way down that takes about two minutes. As you gradually get down to the beach you will be impressed by the different colorings of the cliffs. Snorkeling is highly recommended due to the interesting rocks. You can also access the beach by boat that departs from Akrotiri port.

The impressive combination of black lava sand and crystal blue waters makes the long Beach of Perissa one of the most popular beaches in Santorini. Including several beach bars, taverns and sport facilities, the beach located in Perissa village is fully organized and the place to be for fun and party in the sun.Perissa is a beautiful beach situated 15 km southeast of Fira extending for 7 km on the southeastern side of Santorini. The beach features unique charateristics, black sand, crystalline waters and various beach facilities. However, the enormous rock called Mesa Vouno that rises from the sea is the main attraction of the beach and the entire area. Visitors are left spellbound by the stunning view of the rock especially when it shines in the dark.

Perissa is a nice tourist resort witnessing a huge tourist movement that starts from in the middle of the summer season. The village offers a great variety of hotels for all tastes and budgets, restaurants, taverns, cafes and bars. The area is extremely developed with modern amenities and quite inviting while retaining its strong traditional character. From Perissa, a small path crosses the mountain and leads to the ruins of Ancient Thera. The excursions can be made by foot or riding donkeys.

The impressive combination of black lava sand and crystal blue waters makes the long Beach of Perissa one of the most popular beaches in Santorini. Including several beach bars, taverns and sport facilities, the beach located in Perissa village is fully organized and the place to be for fun and party in the sun.Perissa is a beautiful beach situated 15 km southeast of Fira extending for 7 km on the southeastern side of Santorini. The beach features unique charateristics, black sand, crystalline waters and various beach facilities. However, the enormous rock called Mesa Vouno that rises from the sea is the main attraction of the beach and the entire area. Visitors are left spellbound by the stunning view of the rock especially when it shines in the dark.

Perissa is a nice tourist resort witnessing a huge tourist movement that starts from in the middle of the summer season. The village offers a great variety of hotels for all tastes and budgets, restaurants, taverns, cafes and bars. The area is extremely developed with modern amenities and quite inviting while retaining its strong traditional character. From Perissa, a small path crosses the mountain and leads to the ruins of Ancient Thera. The excursions can be made by foot or riding donkeys.

Cape Columbo or Kolumbo Beach located near Oia, represents for many, the most beautiful beach of Santorini Island. It is a unique and unspoiled long back sandy beach with pebbles, surrounded by cliffs and beautiful natural environment. Offering great views and relaxing moments since it is quite isolated, the beach is not organized and attracts many nudists.

Armeni is a small beach very close to Oia, accessible by foot, descending 300 steps, or by boat from Ammoudi bay. Not as crowded as other beaches in Santorini due to the it’s access, Armeni Beach offers clear blue deep waters and a nice local tavern where you can peacefully enjoy fresh fish or octopus.

Katharos is a virgin beach,. It is perfect for those seeking for tranquility and relaxation away from the crowds. A café/restaurant is operated at this beach.

Ammoudi lies at the foot of Oia village. Some of the best fish restaurants in Santorini are found at Ammoudi. Walk a bit further and you can swim at St. Nicolas rocky island.

Paradisos beach sounds idyllic but unfortunately the beach doesn’t quite live up to its name. The sand is greyish black and there are some high waves depending on the summer winds. This makes Paradisos Beach less popular than say Perissa, Perivolos, Kamari or other Santorini beaches. It does have some sun loungers and parasols and offers the visitor a peaceful beach experience.

Monolithos Beach, situated close to the airport on the East of Santorini, next to Kamari Beach, is a peaceful fine black sandy beach, popular with locals and perfect for families with children as it organized with many facilities, such as children play areas, sun beds, umbrellas for rent, water sports.

Baxedes Beach, located at the north side of Santorini, is perfect for those seeking for tranquility and relaxation away from the crowds. One of the few sandy beaches in Oia, Baxedes is a quiet black sandy beach with shade and suitable for families, friends or couples who should though be aware of the strong summer northern winds called meltemia due to the beach northern location. The beach is just 6 km away from Oia village and access is quite easy by car or motorbike.

The famous Perivolos Beach, is an extension of Perissa beach, and consists of a very long black sandy and pebbles beach that offers all sorts of facilities for fun, sport, eat and drink, with a plethora of restaurants, tavernas, beach bars inviting travelers to enjoy a true party atmosphere under the sun. Perivolos beach is an extension of Perissa Beach and leads onto Agios Georgios Beach. The sand itself is greyer than black and is course to touch. There is plenty of choice for eating and drinking too with lots of bars, cafés and fish restaurants.

The village of Vothonas is located 3 km away from the town of Fira. It is among the most picturesque settlements of Santorini, offering a peaceful and beautiful setting for your holidays. Vothonas village is built on a picturesque ravine with traditional houses which are literally carved out of rocks. A stroll around the paved streets leaves any visitor spellbound by the creativity of the craftsmen who knew how to protect their houses from violent storms. Vothonas is characterized by this unique layout and stylish details that match perfectly with the white domed churches and the traditional houses.

The trip to Vothonas village would be incomplete without visiting the magnificent church of Agia Anna,the oldest church of the village that dates back to 1827. The most beautiful part of the church is actually the carved wooden panel, which artistically portrays scenes from the Old Testament. If you have enough energy left, you may as well visit the pretty chapel of Panagia Trypa located on the edge of the cliff. The walking trail is about 20 minutes

Fira is the capital of Santorini, Greece, and the most important of all villages. It is located at the west side of the island and 10 km away from the main port, Athinios. Fira has 1,600 permanent inhabitants. It is perched on the edge of an impressive cliff, at a height of 260 meters offering a great panoramic view over the submerged volcano.

In 1956, the island of Santorini was hit by an earthquake that destroyed a large part of the island but luckily, some of the 18th century buildings were saved. The town of Fira is a typical Cycladic village made of charming white houses with blue windows and doors, separated from each other by small paved streets.

Many of its beautiful buildings were constructed back in the times of the Venetian invasion, including some blue domed churches and sun-bathed verandas that offer an incredible view of the volcano and the sunset. In our days, Fira is a busy town.

During summer and in its high season, the central streets are overcrowded with tourists and filled with all kind of shops, jewelleries, restaurants, cafes, bars and night clubs. The caldera is considered the highlight of Santorini but there are some interesting churches that attract attention as well as the sheer beauty of the town's architecture. Despite all the tourist traffic concentrated in town, there are some areas that remain quiet.

Thus one will definitely find places to relax and enjoy a great view of the island and the surrounding area. For those in search of a knowing better the culture of the island, an Archaeological Museum hosting many items from several excavations conducted in the ancient Minoan settlement of Akrotiri can be visited in the town of Fira. The town displays also numerous churches and monasteries such as Agios Minas, the cathedral of Ipapanti, the cathedral of Christ, the monastery of Panagia ton Dominikanidon, Panagia tou Rodariou and the Catholic Cathedral.

A nice proposal is also the Megaron Gyzi Museum with its fascinating collection of photos of Fira before and after the earthquake of 1956. Fira also has a port that was, for many years, the main port of Santorini. Today, this port is only used for cruise boats. From there, boats can take visitors for a tour to the volcano of Nea and Palia Kameni.

Oia, pronounced Ia, is the most famous of all villages of Santorini. It is known throughout the world for its quiet life and fantastic sunset, and is certainly the most beautiful and picturesque village of Santorini. The village is also situated on top of an impressive cliff and offers a spectacular view over the volcano of Palia and Nea Kameni and the island of Thirassia. Oia is situated on the north of the island, 11 km away from Fira.

It is a traditional village with charming houses in narrow streets, blue domed churches, and sun-bathed verandas. Its streets have plenty of tourist shops, taverns, cafes, and other shops. Oia is much more quiet that Fira and the busiest area is the main pedestrian that runs along its length. At the entrance of the village is a car park where visitors can leave their vehicle and enjoy long walks in the picturesque paths. The volcano from here is much less imposing but you can still get some gorgeous views. Oia has several cultural attractions like the Maritime Museum which houses a small library, items from the maritime life of the area, and the vestiges of a Venetian fortress. Many artists fell in love with the area and settled there. For that reason, the village of Oia has many art galleries. Oia also has a small port, Ammoudi, which can be reached by a set of 300 steps leading down. There, small boats can take you opposite, to the island of Thirassia. The beach of Armenis is also located there. Taverns in Oia offer visitors tasty meals of fresh fish.

Immerovigli is a picturesque village situated at the north of Santorini, only 2 km away from the capital of Fira. It is a continuation of Fira and one of the most beautiful balconies of the island. The name of Imerovigli comes from the word vigla which means view spot. The position of the village provides a clear view of the caldera, and during the old times it allowed villagers to see the pirate ships approaching. Today, Immerovigli is one of the recognized traditional settlements. There are also many taverns and cafes with stunning views to the caldera. In front of Immerovigli lies an enormous rock called Scaros.On top of it is a castle that was built during the 13th century but it was abandoned in the early 1800s. The castle housed all the administrative offices of the island. This part of the island collapsed after an earthquake, and only the huge hill of Scaros is left today. Immerovigli has numerous chapels and churches built on the rocks overlooking the blue sea. The village is known as the ultimate romantic destination.

Firostefani lies to the north of Fira and there is little difference that separates it from its considerable larger neighbour. Without a doubt, the views from this part of Santorini are spectacular, offering another perspective of Santorini volcano. One can enjoy the magnificent sight of Fira itself and the breathtaking sunset in the evening.The village has plenty of restaurants and cafes located on the most fabulous locations. Between the village of Firostefani and Imerovigli lies the Agios Nikolas Monastery.

Pyrgos is situated 8 km southeast of Fira. The village is located on a fabulous spot on top of a hill and displays incredible panoramic views of the island. At the bottom are some nice taverns, a shop that stocks international press and the usual tourist shops.

Pyrgos used to be the capital of the island until the early 1800s. Today, the village of Santorini counts more than 500 inhabitants and it is well-known for its major tourist movement. The village consists of traditional houses built all around the Venetian castle, and the small streets that follow the natural flow of the surrounding landscape. The houses are the perfect example of Cycladic design and in superb condition.

The Venetian castle is one of the five on the island of Santorini and dates back to the 13th century. The fortfied settlement is amphitheatrically built on the hill and offers superb views of both sides of the island. The village has many churches: the church of Theotokaki with its beautiful frescoes and old icons, Agia Triada, the church of Agia Theodosia, the Archangel Michael and many others. The most famous church of Santorini is also found just 4 km from Pyrgos, the Monastery of Prophet Elias which is built at the highest spot of the homonymous mountain. It hosts a small collection of ethnographic material and old icons.

Akrotiri is located next to the famous Red Beach. It is ampitheatrically built at the southeastern side of the island. Akrotiri was originally a Minoan settlement and today is one of the major tourist attractions and the most important archeological site of Santorini. The prehistoric town was destroyed due to a massive volcanic erruption around 1600 BC. Nowadays, the picturesque streets, the two-storey buildings, the lovely frescoes and plenty of tools witness the way of life in the prehistoric times. Today, the beautiful frescoes of the ancient city of Akrotiri can only be seen in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Some splendid houses are dotted around the village as well as a traditional windmill. Many tour boats arrive in Akrotiri and tourists are scattered to the nearby beaches of the area. Another place of interest is the Venetian castle that dominates the settlement of Akrotiri. The town has many local taverns with a splendid view to the sea. Akrotiri has plenty of churches to visit and one of the most beautiful is the church of Agios Nikolaos built right above the impressive redish rocks, on the way to the Red Beach.

One of the most traditional Villages of Santorini, Megalohori lies on a hill creating a labyrinth of steep alleys and streets. The uncountable vineyards which extend beyond the countryside offer a magnificent setting and the top quality wine in Santorini. Megalochori is definitely a place to experience the rich wine tradition. The famous Boutari winery is found on the village's outskirts. Megalochori offers a nice mix of white Cycladic houses, several churches and narrow alleys witnessing the strong Aegean tradition. Follow the road to the main square that hosts a couple of nice taverns serving delicious food.

Messaria is a small quaint village situated 3km southeast of Fira, around a vast area of vineyards at the centre of Santorini. Most of the inhabitants are occupied with wine making and there is a local winery to see and taste a wide range of wine flavors. A stroll around the village reveals magnificent neoclassical buildings and restored mansions. Between them are numerous taverns and nice accommodation. The roads are very busy during the day as it is on the main thoroughfare for getting around much of the island. You can sit at the main square for a nice Greek coffee under the trees. In Messaria you can find a few yet beautiful churches with impressive bell towers that dominate the area. Visit Argyros mansion, one of the best examples of neoclassical architecture in Santorini built in 1888.

Emporio is the largest settlement of Santorini located 12 km from Fira on the foothills of Mount aProphet Elias. The village itself has a strong medieval character and most of the houses have been well-preserved. At the entrance of the village stand two lovely, blue domed Cycladic churches with impressive bell tower that dominate Emporio. Half way up the village is a 15th century fortress which looks as though it will slide down the hill at any moment.