Perissa beach

Welcome to Perissa beach (Περισσα παραλια)– the biggest shore on Santorini island! It’s a very popular place, and many of the locals may call it perhaps the best choice for the beach vacation.

It’s located on the opposite coast of the island from the famous white towns of Fira and Oia. It has got the name of the cognominal settlement, the population of which was engaged in fishing. This place was fully changed with the development of tourism. The settlement with a wide, flat beach has become a very popular area on the island for tourists, and the shore has turned into some kind of magnet for travelers and one of the main sightseeings.

The settlement continues its development, but only for tourists. Now in Perissa, it’s possible to find many small hotels and apartments, as well as a great variety of shops. Along the stretched promenade there are taverns, restaurants, cafeterias, and bars, where you may hide from the heat of the day or have dinner on a warm evening. In this area, you even may find a small water park (ticket for adults costs 8 euro, for children - 4 euro) and several diving centers. 

Features of Perissa beach

Located at Santorini, Perissa beach stretches for more than 2 miles from the northwest to the southeast of the island and represents a wide strip of gray and black sand. It owes the color to the volcanic origin of the entire island.

• Coverage: sand, small pebbles 
• Color: black
• Access: By car, by bus
• Arrangement: sun shades - yes, freshwater – yes
• Possibility to buy food-water: yes
• Natural shade: no 

Unlike most Santorini beaches in Greece, Perissa impresses with its size. It’s the largest shore on the island, it is well watched, well arranged, has showers with fresh water, and lifeguards work in high season there.

Every summer there appear 3-5 rows of sunshades and sun loungers in various parts of the beach. Anyway, there’s left much free space for those who’d like to sunbathe on the towel or just walk along the coastline. As a rule, sunshades and sun loungers belong to the cafes and taverns near which they are located. They even may turn out to be free in some sections if you order breakfast. In another place, it will be possible to take a coffee or a cocktail, but somewhere it is enough just to pay 5-7 euro and use a sunshade with a sun lounger throughout the day.

Besides, Perissa was awarded the Blue Flag of the UN several times which emphasizes and guarantees the good condition of the beach, the purity of the water, and the sea day. When the sea is calm, the water is very transparent so you may see flocks of small fish, notice small stingrays and even octopuses. In addition, various entertainment appears during the high season: water skis, sleds, canoes. It’s even possible to rent a windsurf board or dive.

The beach suits well for parents with small children. Nearly in all parts of the coast, entry into the water is rather smooth, and great depths begin only a few meters from the beach. The most gently-sloping entry in the sea is located in the northern part of the beach, closer to the cliffs and mountain Mesa Vouno, separating the beach Kamari. Pay attention to the fact that the bottom almost on the entire coast is lithic and it may be slippery somewhere (do not forget that it’s congealed lava!). But the water here is almost always clear, so it’s possible to dive anytime, and the sand and pebbles on the beach are so small that walking along them is a real pleasure!

Like the beach Perivolos with which Perissa merges in the south, it is also popular among young people. There are no definite divisions between them, so the walk along the coastline may take an hour! It’s highly recommended to be careful during the high season when the daytime temperatures rise to + 35 ° C in the shade.

On hot days black sand warms out so much that you can walk on it only in shoes!

At night, when it gets cool these places seem to be transformed, and the coastline may simply not be recognized!

The promenade becomes more crowded, Santorini nightlife is localized there.Discos start working in some places, and live music is played in some taverns. If you look for noise and fun, go to bars and taverns, if you need silence, go closer to the sea. 

It’s possible to go to the ruins of the ancient city of Thira from the beach, and not far from its northern part there is a large church with five blue domes. It’s the Church of the Holy Cross Timiou Stavrou (Τιμιου Σταυρου).

How to get to the Perissa beach?

The shore is located in the southeastern coastline of Santorini nearly 6 miles from the main island’s city Fira. It's possible to get to Perissa Beach by rental car or by shuttle bus from Fira (ticket costs 2,4 euro). If you rented a car or scooter in the main city of the island, then it's necessary to follow the main road to the south through the villages of Megalochori (Μεγαλοχωρι, Megalochori) and Emborio (Εμπορειο, Emporio). In the settlement itself and near the beach, there may be no problems with parking, and you will find a free place. 

If people speak of Santorini as one of the most beautiful Greek islands, then Perissa is undoubtedly one of the best beaches there. Desire to swim and sunbathe? Don't hesitate - come to the south of Santorini! This playa Santorini is worth your attention, anyway, you also may go to Paralia that also has got beautiful views.