Red Beach

The beach of the red cliffs beneath the volcano — Santorini's Red Beach is a startling, Mars-like cove of rust-red rock and dark sand, the vivid face of the island's volcanic past.

About Red Beach

Red Beach - Kokkini Paralia - is the most dramatic of Santorini's famous beaches: a small cove of dark red and black volcanic pebbles set beneath towering rust-red cliffs on the south coast of the island. The colour is the whole story - the cliffs are made of the island's volcanic rock, iron-rich and weathered to a deep, burnt red, and the beach itself is a kaleidoscope of red, black, and ochre stones against water that is a deep, clear blue. The beach is small and exposed, reached by a short but rough walk along the cliff from the car park above the archaeological site of Akrotiri, and its setting - red rock, dark sand, and the blue of the Aegean - makes it one of the most photographed corners of the island. There is a small bar-restaurant at the far end of the cove and sunbeds to hire, but the beach's charms are simple: sun, shade from the red cliffs, and swimming in water that is clearer and often calmer than the more crowded black-sand beaches of the east coast. Because the cove faces the open sea, the water can be lively on windy days, and the coarse pebbles mean water shoes are a good idea. Combined with the prehistoric ruins of Akrotiri a short walk away, Red Beach makes a memorable half-day on the island's quieter south coast, and it is the perfect contrast to the whitewashed towns of the caldera rim.

Things to book in Red Beach

Rent a Car and Go Pick up at the airport, drop off when you leave. Find Your Hotel Hotels and stays on Kiwi, alongside flights and cars. Book Your Ride Before You Land Pre-book the airport transfer and it is waiting when you step out. Skip-the-Line Tickets Attractions and events booked ahead, so the queue is not your queue. Tours Small Enough to Remember Sightseeing with a local guide, booked before you arrive. Data Working Before You Land A travel eSIM that is live the moment you clear customs.

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Questions people ask about Red Beach

Why visit Red Beach?

The beach of the red cliffs beneath the volcano — Santorini's Red Beach is a startling, Mars-like cove of rust-red rock and dark sand, the vivid face of the island's volcanic past.