Kamari beach is one of Santorini’s most popular black-sand resorts, a long Blue Flag shore below the great rock of Mesa Vouno, with a vibrant seafront promenade of restaurants and bars, an open-air cinema and watersports. This guide covers the beach, the promenade, what to do and how to visit.
Kamari blends a striking black beach with a lively resort, a favourite in the wider Santorini travel guide. It lies on the south-east coast near the airport. The sections below cover the resort.
What is Kamari beach like?
Kamari beach is a long Blue Flag stretch of black volcanic sand and pebbles on the south-east coast, below the towering Mesa Vouno rock, opposite Perissa. More polished and compact than Perissa, it has a lively beachfront promenade, clear water and a vibrant yet easy-going atmosphere.
Kamari is the more polished of Santorini’s two main beach resorts. Sharing the dramatic rock of Mesa Vouno with Perissa on the far side, its long black-sand and dark-pebble beach holds a Blue Flag for clean water and good facilities, edged by a smart pedestrian promenade rather than a single road. The atmosphere is vibrant but relaxed, suiting families, couples and solo travellers alike, and the village behind offers a full range of hotels, shops and amenities. Backed by the great cliff and a long, gently curving shore, it makes one of the island’s most enjoyable beach bases, set within the wider Santorini beaches. The promenade is its heart.
What is the promenade like?
Kamari’s seafront promenade is the resort’s social heart, a long pedestrian walkway lined with the widest choice of sit-down restaurants, cafés and bars on any Santorini beach. Lovely at night under strings of lights in a lively yet relaxed mood, it is one of the island’s best evening scenes.
The promenade sets Kamari apart from the island’s other beaches. Running the length of the shore, this pedestrian walkway is lined end to end with restaurants, tavernas, cafés and bars, giving Kamari the widest and best selection of seafront dining on Santorini. By day it is relaxed and beach-focused; by night it comes alive, strung with lights and filled with strolling diners and drinkers in a cheerful, unhurried atmosphere that makes it one of the loveliest places on the island for an evening out. The mix of good food, sea views and gentle buzz is a big part of Kamari’s appeal, set out alongside the guide to Santorini food. There is more to do than the beach.
What is there to do in Kamari?
Beyond the beach, Kamari has watersports such as jet skiing, an open-air cinema showing films in English, and walks up Mesa Vouno to Ancient Thera, the ruined hilltop city. Sunbeds, bars and tavernas line the sand, and the village offers shopping and easy access to the rest of the island.
Kamari keeps visitors busy day and night. On the water, operators offer jet skiing and other watersports, while the beach itself has loungers, umbrellas and beach bars. A real highlight is CineKamari, an open-air cinema at the edge of the resort showing recent films in English under the stars, a magical evening, especially for first-timers to open-air cinema. Above the beach, a path climbs the great rock of Mesa Vouno to the atmospheric ruins of Ancient Thera, the island’s hilltop classical city, rewarding the effort with history and views. The village’s shops and amenities round out a comfortable stay, set out alongside the guide to Santorini villages. The black sand needs care.
What should you know about visiting?
You should bring water shoes, as the black sand and pebbles get very hot and can be sharp underfoot. Arrive early in summer for fewer crowds and a good spot, and visit from May to October. Kamari is about 8 kilometres from Fira and only 10 from the airport, so plane noise is occasional.
A little planning makes Kamari a pleasure. As with all the island’s volcanic beaches, the black sand and pebbles absorb heat and can be sharp as well as scorching underfoot, so water shoes or sandals are well worth packing. Arriving early in the day, especially in summer, secures a good spot before the crowds and the worst of the heat, with the months from May to October ideal. Note that Kamari sits close to Santorini airport, about 10 kilometres away, so the occasional aircraft passes overhead, while Fira is only around 8 kilometres distant, set out alongside the guide to the best time to visit Santorini. Getting there is straightforward.
How do you get to Kamari?
You reach Kamari in about 20 minutes by KTEL bus from Fira for around 2.50 euros, with frequent services, or by hire car, ATV or taxi. The resort lies about 8 kilometres south-east of the capital and just 10 from the airport, with parking in the village.
Kamari is one of the easiest beaches to reach. Frequent KTEL buses run from the main station in Fira to Kamari in around 20 minutes for about 2.50 euros, so it is simple to visit without a car. A hire car, quad or ATV adds flexibility for combining the beach with Ancient Thera, Perissa, Akrotiri or a winery, with parking available in the village. Its position about 8 kilometres from Fira and only 10 from the airport makes it both convenient for day trips and a practical base for a beach-focused stay, set out alongside the guides to how to get to Santorini and a Santorini itinerary. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kamari beach known for?
Kamari is known for its long Blue Flag black-sand beach below the great rock of Mesa Vouno, and above all for its lively seafront promenade, which has the widest choice of restaurants and bars of any Santorini beach. It also has an open-air cinema and watersports.
Which is better, Kamari or Perissa?
Kamari and Perissa share the same black sand and the Mesa Vouno rock, but Kamari is more polished, with a pedestrian promenade and the best beachfront dining, while Perissa is more relaxed and a touch cheaper with a younger beach-bar scene. Both are excellent beach days.
How do you get from Fira to Kamari?
You get from Fira to Kamari in about 20 minutes by frequent KTEL bus for around 2.50 euros, or by hire car, ATV or taxi. The resort lies about 8 kilometres south-east of Fira and only 10 from the airport, with parking in the village.