Is Akrotiri Red Beach Worth Visiting?
Located in the southernmost part of Santorini — roughly 12 kilometres southwest of its capital Fira — is the famed Akrotiri Red Beach (a.k.a. Kokkini Beach). It boasts the mesmerizing views of dark blue water meeting red-hued sand, surrounded by high cliffs that are just as red.
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Why is the Akrotiri Red Beach Red?
Santorini is blessed with many geological wonders. The Akrotiri Red Beach’s sand gets its unique color from the black-and-red pulverized volcanic rock from the nearby Santorini caldera.
Best Time to Go to Akrotiri
The best time to visit Akrotiri is between May and October, when you will have pleasant temperatures and limited rainfall.
Sun worshipers may prefer going in the height of summer, but I personally felt like the time of my visit (mid-May) was the perfect time to go. The tourist season had not yet begun and the weather wasn’t too hot, so I had a relaxing morning stroll on Akrotiri Red Beach with very few people around.
How to Get to the Akrotiri Red Beach
The Akrotiri Red Beach can be reached in a number of different ways.
By Car
There are plenty of car rental shops in Santorini. If you drive to Akrotiri, you can leave it at the parking space near the cliff, before making your way down to the beach.
By Bus
Take the bus from Fira for only about 2 euros. Akrotiri is its last stop. From the bus stop, you can also go to the Akrotiri archaeological site. Note that the bus is not very frequent, so make sure you check the timetable and plan carefully.
There are also bus tours that include excursions to the Red Beach and the excavation sites:
By Boat
What to Expect at the Akrotiri Red Beach
I of course chose the cheapest option, and took the first bus from Fira at 8.45 a.m. The journey took approximately 20 minutes.
The morning was cloudy. On the bus ride, there was one stretch of the road where it felt as though we were driving in the clouds.
The bus dropped us near the Akrotiri excavation site, where some of the older ladies from our bus headed to. As for me, I didn’t want to see any more ruins after Acropolis.
So, I joined the few others walking to the beach. There was a signboard pointing to the Red Beach, and we only had to walk straight from there.
Lining the street were some shops and taverns. Before we knew it, we had reached the beach parking lot, where there were a couple of fruit stalls.
If you come in the low season and plan to picnic here, you better bring your own food and drinks, or buy at one of those fruit stalls on the cliff. There are no more sellers beyond that point.
After that, you’ll have to walk a little bit more through a somewhat narrow ledge on the hillside and climb down some rocks to get to the beach. In total, the walk from where the bus dropped us took about 15 minutes.
I personally think it was not a challenging feat, or at least not as challenging as reported on some other blogs. It can be attempted by any able-bodied person; you don’t have to be a really fit or experienced hiker.
Wearing sturdy shoes definitely made it easier for me, but it shouldn’t be entirely impossible to do it in flip-flops, as long as you go more slowly and take extra care on the rocks.
There are no water sports facilities available on the beach, so if you wish to partake in any, make sure you bring your own equipment. Apparently, it is home to some interesting underwater rock formations and a rich marine life.
Is the Akrotiri Red Beach Safe to Visit?
Officially, the Akrotiri Red Beach is considered unsafe. Even hotels and tour operators have been instructed to discourage visitors from trekking down to the beach.
And that’s because people have actually died there from landslides and rockfall, causing the beach to be closed down for some time in the recent past. Some parts of it are still inaccessible due to the slides. But visitors still flock there by the hundreds every day during summer. They do so at their own risk.
Just as I was leaving, a stone of about half the size of my fist fell down from the cliff, followed by a steady trickle of smaller pebbles. It was right in front of me. Granted, the stone probably wasn’t big enough to cause any serious damage, but I imagine it would still piss me off a great deal if it had landed on my head.
Where to Stay in Akrotiri
If you’d like to stay longer in Akrotiri, here are a few options:
Budget
White Curves Santorini – Located less than 1 km from Caldera Beach, this hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with a balcony, a flat-screen TV, fridge, minibar, and hot tub. From USD 75 per night for a Junior Suite, with breakfast.
Mid-Range
Summer Lovers Villa – Boasting an outdoor pool with stunning views of the volcano and the sea, the air-conditioned villa also comes with 3 outdoor hot tubs and a hammam. From USD 195 per night for a Gold Suite Private Hot Tub and Panoramic Caldera View (with breakfast).
Luxury
Alba Caldera Villa – Featuring an outdoor pool and a sun terrace overlooking the caldera, the split-level villa consists of 3 bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen with dining area, 2 big bathrooms, and a living room with fireplace. From USD 381 per night.
Final Thoughts
Is the Akrotiri Red Beach worth visiting?
Well, if you have a lot of time on Santorini, then I would say this is a must-visit, if only for the fact that there are very few red-sand beaches in the world. The view from on top of the cliff was truly spectacular.
But you can pretty much end your visit there. I don’t think it’s the best beach for swimming or sunbathing. Then again, I’m not easily impressed by beaches, because I’m from Southeast Asia — I think we have some of the world’s best ones over here.
For some people, the Akrotiri Red Beach might be too secluded and uncommercialized (at least, during the low season). Plus, it needs some hiking to get to and there’s the risk of rockfall. But if you find thrill in seclusion and a hint of danger, then this would be perfect for you.
I’m not so much into beaches in the first place because I don’t like sand — it gets everywhere. I mean, it was fun when I was a kid and wasn’t the one doing the laundry. But if I do have to get sand all over my hair and bikini bottom, I’d rather have the fine white variety.
Have you visited any red-sand beach before? Where was it? Share your experience in the comments section below.
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Pingback:How to Travel in Santorini on A Budget (3d2n Itinerary for Less than $500) – Ummi Goes Where?
Ehhh jarang baca the other story about Santorini. Selalu tempat yang famous tu je akak tengok di social media. This is so good Ummi! I like it. Keep it up! Very useful info.
Thank you, Kak Ruby. Ye, Akrotiri ni memang tak banyak orang tau. Biasanya kalau bercakap tentang Santorini, mesti orang akan terbayang bangunan2 yang putih dan biru tu je. Sebenarnya Santorini ni agak besar juga dan banyak tempat menarik.
aaaa cantiknya gambar u yang paling last tu! I tahu pasal pantai ni sebab movie Hindi banyak shoot dekat sini tapi baru tahu nama tempat dia. Cantik!
Oh ye ke? I tak tau pulak banyak movie Hindi shoot kat sini. Rugi takde shooting masa I pergi haritu, kalau tak, boleh jadi ekstra. Hahaha. Thanks, Farhana!
loves all the pictures. i agreed our beaches lagi cantik ahhaha. tapi menarik gak kalau ke sini. sebab belum pernah sampai hehe
Thanks, Bae. Haah, kalau nak diikutkan, pantai-pantai di Asia Tenggara jauh lebih cantik, sebab pasir putih dan halus. Ni pasir merah (bukan pasir sangat pun, more like pebbles), nak mandi pun tak selera. Haha. Tapi worth it jugak pergi sebab tak banyak pantai pasir merah kat dunia ni.
Oia and Fira dah cukup best for us..hehe..We didn’t visit this beach because we think it’s just like any other beaches 😆 Nasib baik tak pegi but 20minutes bus ride from Fira taklah jauh ☺️
Ya, it wasn’t that far from the center. I just felt that I had to visit this beach because red beaches are a rare phenomenon. But you’re right, Oia and Fira are good enough if you don’t have much time on Santorini. If you’re looking for a nice sandy beach for swimming or sunbathing, you might wanna give this one a miss.
Senang kalau plan nak bercuti ke sini. Memang details you verita.. mmg sangat membantu
Thanks, Ayu. Semoga info ni bermanfaat jika Ayu nak ke sana nanti.
🙂 This is nice to know.. At least something else beside the blue and white building that everyone looking forward to visit when we mentioned about Santorini.. 🙂 Marked for future reference 🙂
Thanks, Kitkat. Ya, when you think of Santorini, usually only the white and blue buildings come to mind. But it’s actually a big island with so much more to offer. 🙂
Suka la dgn cover photo utk artikel travel ni. All pun lawa sgt menarik. 1st time tau ada red beach. Common pasir putih n hitam aje. Hehe. Sonok la dpt round the world.
Terima kasih, kak Bella. Di Santorini ni la kali pertama saya dapat tahu dan lihat pantai pasir merah. Memang kat dunia ni tak banyak tempat yang ada fenomena ni.
Uii menatiknyaaa…pantai merah yaaa? Kira semua pemandangan batu tu semua warna merah yaa Ummi? Tak dapat bayangkan betapa macam mana laut dan sekelilingnya dapat effect merah tu.. bestnyaaa…
Ya, sis. Semua batu dan pasir kat situ berwarna merah/coklat. Semuanya berpunca dari gunung2 berapi yang berada di sekitar pulau Santorini. Memang menakjubkan.
What a wonderful and fun destination! It’s perfect for a yearly getaway and those views are to die for. thanks for sharing about it!
You’re welcome, Grace. I’m probably too broke to make this a yearly getaway though. Haha.
nice view here. but quite frightening with the land slide and rock falling incident here. it should be NO place for me…hehe
True, Huda. It is quite scary. This should be great for thrill seekers though.
Berani betul ummi . Kecut perut k.sal kalau datang sini agaknya . Mau jalan tutup mata..hahaha
Hahaha, bahaya jalan tutup mata tu, kak Sal 😛
This is so beautiful! I wish I am you, get to see beautiful scenery! Before I am 35 , I need to go to pulau2
Yay, I’m rooting for you, Jen! I hope you’ll get to reach your goal to visit these places before you turn 35. 🙂
Great post. It is truly a mesmerizing view. If we really have to pay attention, we can turn sites into insights. Thanks for sharing this very detailed travel guide. Adding it to my list, Red Beach Santorini.
Thank you, Rita. I hope you will get to visit the Red Beach Santorini in the future. 🙂
I kalau nak travel kat tempat yang tak pernah dengar dan juga tak pernah tahu kat sini lah rujukan yang terbaik keep it up and teruskan usaha you memang berguna lah..
Terima kasih, Maha. Bookmark ya, dan sebarkan la pada kawan2 yang minat travel. 🙂
Unsafe area better don’t go for safety purpose.
Thank you for your comment, Kathy. But I believe many travelers will beg to differ. 🙂
Wow the beach looks amazing! I admit I would have been a bit disappointed getting up close and seeing how black the beach actually looked, thanks for your honesty.
No problem, Venaugh. Yes, the view from up close wasn’t that impressive, but I still enjoyed the hike down and the sense of seclusion. So, I’m glad I went, even if it was just to satisfy my curiosity. 😀
I’m hoping to visit Santorini in September, didn’t know this existed. Definitely adding this to list of places to visit. Thanks x
You’re welcome, Amy! Akrotiri Red Beach may not be as popular as the other attractions on Santorini, but it’s definitely worth a visit. All the best for your September trip. 🙂
Such a great guide to visit Akotiri. I visit Greece and the Greek islands frequently and this was very informative. Thanks for sharing will be sharing this guide with my friends who will be visiting.
Thank you so much for sharing this with your friends, jetlaggedroamer. I really appreciate it. You’re so lucky to be able to visit the Greek Islands frequently!
I totally agree Ummi. I liked visitied this beach, but I think it was more beautiful from far away…once you are up close the sand is less beautiful. And oh my goodness, that black/red sand gets soooo hot in the summertime!
It is still really interesting to see the geology of the area. 🙂
Same here, Josy! I’m glad I went because it’s not every day that I get to see a red sand beach. But that’s all there is to it — I don’t think I’d want to swim or hang out for much longer. I can imagine how hot it can be in summer. I went to one of the black sand beaches and it burned my feet!
Loving Greece and hope to be able to visit that beach soon! Safety is overrated 😀 there should be some adrenaline rush!
I like that, Nora — safety is overrated! Haha. I hope you will get to visit this Red Beach soon for your adrenaline fix 😉
It does look like a pretty spot to visit, but it’s good to know it wasn’t your favourite spot, so I might not add it to my itinerary if I’m short on time.
Different people might have different opinions about it, Krista. I’m not a beach person, so that could have been one of the reasons why I wasn’t so excited about it. I did enjoy the view from above though. 🙂
This is so lovely, and so red. We have a Red Beach locally, but it sure doesn’t look like this one.
Oh, I still think you’re lucky to have a red beach locally, Rhonda, considering how rare they are. 😀
It would be cool to see a red beach someday- Good to know this one is not worth hiking all the way down to though!!!
Ya, Tiffany, I personally think it’s prettier when seen from above. But for those who simply love hiking or exploring new places, they might find it worthwhile to go all the way down to the beach.
This brings me back to Santorini! I always debate in my head favorite island, this or Mykonos. Will have to go back to both!
Ohh.. I haven’t been to Mykonos yet. Would love to check it out next and see which one I like better. And I think yes, you should definitely revisit both 😉
I had no clue there was a red sand beach in Santorini. I will need to go here next time. It looks like a gorgeous place to walk around.
It is, Francesca. Or you can also swim there if you like. 🙂
wahh..nice red sand.Tak penah tengok sebelum ni.Tq sharing this post.
You’re welcome! Kalau pegi Santorini, jangan lupa pergi Red Beach. 🙂