Kamari Beach
About
This gorgeous black-sand beach is located on the southeast of Santorini, right at the foot of Mesa Vuono Mountain. It's a great place to sunbathe and swim—it's been awarded the Blue Flag for its clean and clear waters after all. There are lots more to do too—there are sun loungers and umbrellas for rent, Greek taverns and bars nearby, and water sports like jetskiing. Just be sure to wear protective footwear as the pebbly terrain can be sharp and hot. It's best to arrive early, especially during the summer, for fewer crowds. This beach is a common stop on a tour of Santorini, where you can explore more of the island with the help of an experienced guide. – Tripadvisor
Duration: More than 3 hours
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  • barney513
    Jersey, United Kingdom39 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice beach
    Lovely black beach. Water very clear, but beware it shelves steeply. I enjoyed swimming in it & very glad I had my swimming shoes on as it is impossible to walk on. I saw a few people really struggle barefooted or in flip flops! Not too crowed at all in May, especially if you are at the end where the huge rock is. Definitely worth a visit.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 21, 2023
  • Travis0015
    Sittingbourne, United Kingdom23 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful and relaxing holiday 🥰
    Beautiful black beach with restaurants and shops nearby. We were there towards the end of May and the weather was just right and beach wasn’t crowded. I will recommend Kamari when visiting Santorini as it’s not as crowded and not as expensive compared to oia.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 1, 2023
  • Sunshine755038
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A beach for everyone
    After spending $25 per lounge chair in Mykonos it was great to go to Kamari and use 4 chairs and 2 umbrellas for FREE! That’s right, free! The only caveat is the restaurants ask you buy a drink or food while you are there. The scenery there is lovely and the water temperature perfect. It is a pebbly beach though so bring good waterproof sandals. This was a relaxing, magnificent way to spend a couple of hours while in Santorini.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written June 24, 2023
  • Alex G
    22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great beach. Ideal for open water swimming
    One of the highlights of a European holiday is going to one of the local beaches and hiring a lounge for the day. Multitude options at Kamari most with food and drink options. For both our visits we used the lounges at Prince which were 10 euros for the day. Prompt and extremely friendly service for cold beers and food As an ocean swimmer back in Australia took the opportunity to swim along the beach and no ski jets or like which can be a hassle. Able to do a 2.5km swim in beautiful clear water. Can be difficult to enter beach but just take your time. Good local shops especially the bakery near the bus stop with fabulous cakes and chocolates ( on your left heading down to beach). Local bus service ideal for transport and interesting passengers and driving attitudes by locals.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 3, 2023
  • Mia_Letitia
    Portsmouth, United Kingdom161 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely beach
    Lovely beach! Yes it’s pebbles and yes definitely wear some beach/swimming shoes, so much easier going into the sea with these on. Saw far too many people struggle getting in and out. Our hotel had a private piece of this beach and we never struggled getting a sunbed, the rest of the beach pretty much looked the same. You can hear the planes coming in but not to the point they are too loud, they actually became a bit of a game for us guessing what company plane they would be. Was actually quite fun seeing them coming in and they aren’t that often really
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 8, 2023
  • Resort829893
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We loved Kamari
    We loved Kamari. So many lovely shops, bars and restaurants. The beach was shingle and the sea a bit rough so it looked quite hard to get out of! The locals were really friendly. We would absolutely recommend it and would go back.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written July 16, 2023
  • Kevin K
    10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Typical Santorini beach.
    Lovely beach of black volcanic sand and pebbles. The sun lounges range from free to around 10 euros. The free ones are ok as long as you are buying drinks. Try to avoid the sun loungers a bit further down as you are beckoned to use them but they are very tightly packed like a train and you will be mostly in the shade. Be reminded that the sun will move behind you in the afternoon so you need space to move sunbeds around. By the rocks as you come off the high street is best.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 28, 2023
  • bernadette948
    Manchester, United Kingdom156 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    lovely views
    stoney beach which dips going into the sea. strong currant at the front of the sea so be careful with children as it pushed adults over. lovely views and good sunbeds with parasols. tai women constantly asking if you want a massage if you dont want one just shake your head and look away or they will stand there being persistant which is annoying when its every few minutes.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 4, 2023
  • MrsDD
    Telford, United Kingdom285 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Water taxi bit pricey
    We got the water taxi from Perissa. €8 each way. Thought that was a lot for 15 mins on boat. Had to wade into water as there is no jetty either end. On way there it was rough and we got soaked getting off! It didn’t matter but be aware if you are not water confident. Beach was fine for swim. Seemed busier than Perissa but basically similar.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written August 8, 2023
  • Susan P
    Portsmouth, United Kingdom7 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Loved my first visit to Santorini will definitely be returning
    Beach is of Volcanic sand yes pebbled that’s why advice beach shoes sun bed really a must single one cost me €7 for the whole day. If you do head into the sea beware of strong currents but it’s quite lovely, also if you do have a sun bed and wish to go for some food safe to leave a towel on your bed. Looking forward to my next visit either next year (2024) or definitely (2025)
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written August 8, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles7,049 reviews
Excellent
2,744
Very good
2,842
Average
1,136
Poor
235
Terrible
92

Greg P
10 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020 • Couples
The girlfriend and I visited here yesterday after previously going to Perissa beach a couple of days before.

The beach it’s self is described as a black sand beach but it’s more of a pebble beach Based on the section we sat on. There’s just a small segment of black sand a few meters in length before you actually reach the sea then it turns into slippery rocks when you get into the shallows. Much unlike Perissa which was course black sand the whole way along.

You can easily get a free sun bed to sit on for the day if you go into one of the beach front restaurants and buy a drink. If looking for value for money though I would avoid the central area where prices seem to be nearly double what you would pay compared to walking down the beach front for a few minutes. The staff in the place we visited though, sorry I can’t remember the name, were very friendly and bought refreshments down to your sun bed very quickly. Beers, cocktails and soft drinks all available. We paid around 4 euros for a beer and 7 euros for cocktails.

One annoying thing I found about this beach was the amount of persistent massage ladies walking up and down trying to sell you a massage. It felt like we were being asked every few minutes and it became quite irritating after a few hours.

To get there we got the bus from Thira bus station which run about every 30 minutes and costed 1.60 euros each way with a journey time of around 15 minutes. Our bus left a few minutes early so I’d try to make sure you’re there with time to spare just to be safe.

Overall if I had the choice I would choose to go to Perissa beach every time over this one, especially if visiting with Children. It has a better beach, no rocks for you to potentially slip on when in the sea and I found it better value for money when purchasing refreshments. However still worth a visit if you having a longer stay in Santorini.

If you’re looking for somewhere nice to eat and don’t want to try the Greek style beach front restaurants. I’d highly recommend juicy burger around 100 meters from the main bus stop. Suitable for vegetarians to and great value!
Written September 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Linda
6 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021 • Couples
I would not recommend Kamari to young families, unless they have the use of a swimming pool. The beach is obviously black and volcanic, but it is very stony, especially opposite the (very nice) Zorba restaurant area. We could not walk into the sea without falling over large rocks. So I didn’t even attempt it. There is a much better beach at the far end of Kamari, near the big rock. It’s easy to get into the sea here , although the water’s edge shelves very steeply, very quickly. The beach here is also finer - more like sand - but it still not great for sand castle making! And I would still recommend wearing sea shoes. However, it was a quieter end of Kamari and we noticed more families. There is a regular water taxi to Perissa that departs opposite the Hook Restaurant, and you pay on board. Or you can walk up the zig zag road and over the (rather huge)rock to Perissa. We walked up this road to visit the archeological site of Ancient Thira at the top, only to find it closed - despite checking its openIng hours online in advance. So always double check,! However, the 50 minute gradual climb was worth it just for the spectacular views. In my opinion, the main attraction of Kamari is the huge number of restaurants along the main strip. We were spoilt for choice, but as couple in their early 60’s, if we had to recommend, we would choose Navy’s to eat, and The Albatross, and also the
Prince bar for a drink. Excellent music at all three venues!
Written September 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

il0vemarrakech
Warrington, UK170 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Kamari is the most popular beach on Santorini which is in my opinion a little over organised with lines of sunloungers belonging to the corresponding cafes and restaurants along the seafront.
Most are currently offering “free” use of the beds with purchase from the cafes and bars although they do levy a minimum spend.
The sand is black volcanic and very very hot underfoot, that and the stoney entrance to the water which depends quickly make water shoes essential. You can buy them everywhere for about €9
The downside to its popularity is that it is plagued by massage touts who are frankly a nuisance and need to be completely ignored as a firm “no” is still seen as an invite.
Other sellers of bracelets etc continually disturb the peace.
Also the sun disappears behind the mountain quiet early - around 2 hours before the sun sets.
Written August 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Riva-Yvonne
Harrogate, UK65 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021 • Friends
The beach at Kamari is black volcanic shingle rather than sand so a good beach shoe is essential.
Sunbeds are free at most places as long as you buy a drink so choose the ones with the plumper cushions.
Most if the bar owners are welcoming and have a good waiter service on the beach.
Beware the scam Vitenamese masseuses that tout for work in the beach. Agree a price, get the money ready and be prepared to get assertive. These women show a card, agree a price for a specific massage then as you relax they continue to massage other parts of the body then demand the extra money. They can't speak any English up to the point they realise you are not going to pay. Saw plenty of people being scammed by these ladies who work in teams and are communicating their next move with each other.
Written September 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Zia B
London, UK167 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020 • Couples
We visited the beach it had a nice low platform but be mindful after that it takes a steep drop down. Some waves when we visited, so good for swimmers but not too treacherous for less key swimmers. Parking available close-by. Sunbeds were free when we visited, die likely to the current climate COVID and all , but there were still people and even beach massage therapists. For €20 a back massage although they’ll quote you €50 which it probably would be in normal times.
Written September 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

iaink2001
Southend-on-Sea, UK473 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
Kamari has one of the longest beaches on the island and is very popular, it's mainly black sand or pebbles in some areas. Lots of shops and restaurants close by, many of the sun beds are owned by different bars and hotels along the beach, but you can find some you can hire for the days, €5 for a bed and €2 for the umbrella, you can of course just put a towel down and sunbathe for free.
There's some good swimmg to be had, the beach is split from Perissa by a large rock at one end called Mesa Vouno.
Written September 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Travis0015
Sittingbourne, UK23 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
Beautiful black beach with restaurants and shops nearby. We were there towards the end of May and the weather was just right and beach wasn’t crowded. I will recommend Kamari when visiting Santorini as it’s not as crowded and not as expensive compared to oia.
Written June 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

The_Chiappone
Nottingham, UK204 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Good beach for families, a bit touristic but nice. Kamari is a out of the crowds of Thira and Oia and has a nice long beach that is surprisingly not windy (most of the places in Santorini are). Shops are also significantly cheaper than in Oia or Thira. It is not infrequent to find similar items for half price in Kamari.
Restaurants are also abundant, but as usual, sitting on the beachfront comes at a premium.
Definitely a place for families.
Written September 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Adam R
4 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Couples
The beach itself is nice and the sun loungers are clean and comfortable.

By far the worst thing about the beach are the Thai/Chinese masseurs that constantly harass you. They don’t just ask you if you want a massage, they sit on the end of your bed and touch you trying to persuade you to have one! I had to hit one with my book repeatedly to make her leave.

My partner did succumb to a massage, but made the mistake of not agreeing a price upfront and was stung €140.

Make sure you are firm and have a book handy if you don’t want a massage!
Written October 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DFWTravels
Texas56 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
Plenty of activity available. Water was cold and clear. The black sand it pretty, but a little hot and tough on the feet. Water socks would have made it more comfortable. I wore Keens with openings in the side and it was uncomfortable with the sand getting in my shoes. Lounge chairs and umbrellas are available if you buy $10 from one of the restaurants. Servers from the restaurants deliver food and drinks to the beach.
Written July 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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