Perissa Tourism (2025) - Greece > Top Places, Travel Guide

Perissa Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1 - 2 Days

Best Time: May - Sep Read More

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"Santorini beach village with black sand and nightlife"

Perissa Tourism

Perissa is a known coastal village on the south east coast of Santorini, about 12 km away from the capital Fira. It is known for its stunning long black sand beach with clear waters and an amazing nightlife.

Perissa offers a perfect spot for an amazing beach vacation with attractive white-washed houses and magnificent volcanic scenic views. It also has endless options for bars and restaurants and numerous affordable accommodations. Some highlights of Perissa include the ancient Thera town located on top of Mesa Vouno and the Museum of The Minerals and Fossils of Thera. The town is mainly visited for Perissa Beach, which is organized with sunbeds, beach bars, umbrellas, lifeguards, a playground, water sports facilities, and diving centers. Perissa has plenty of churches, chapels, and a museum that can be visited during the day.

1. Watersports At Perissa Black Sand Beach

Perissa black sand beach is the most popular beach in Santorini, which lies on the foot of the Mesa Vuono Mountain. It is famous for kayaking and other watersports like canoeing, windsurfing, waterski (Read More)ing, banana boats, and parasailing. It also has a separate kid's playground and a gorgeous water park with three water slides. The beach has been awarded the E.U Blue Flag.

Ancient Thera is the second most important site in Santorini which is a must-visit attraction to deepen knowledge of ancient history and culture and enjoy a panoramic view of the Aegean Sea. It is loc (Read More)ated on Mesa Vouno Mountain close to Kamari town. It houses ruins of elegant Hellenistic shops, sculptures, arts and crafts, and much more.

Perivolos Beach is one of the longest beaches in Santorini and lies on the island's southern end. It is the most cosmopolitan beach with the best nightclubs on the island. It is a well-organised beach (Read More) awarded with E.U. Blue Flag and is popular for scuba diving and jet skiing. Amenities like sun lounges, umbrellas, showers, lifeguards, and ball courts are available here. Perivolos Beach lies between Perissa Beach and Agios Georgios Beach. The three beaches are within walking distance and form a long stretch of beach considered one the most extensive beaches in the world.

The caldera tour from Santorini is a 5-hour long cruise tour, both day and evening, that takes the visitors to explore the landmarks and attractions of Caldera. With activities like swimming in hot sp (Read More)rings, snorkelling or diving to explore the water habitat, sailing across Caldera is one unique experience in Oia. Sailing across Caldera lets you explore the volcanic islands Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, which are also known for their hot springs.

Must Know Before You Travel to Perissa

Getting Around:
Renting a scooter or ATV to travel within the village is recommended as walking in Perissa is difficult due to several reasons.
Perissa serves as an easy base to explore the rest of the villages in Santorini. It is well connected with the other villages on the islands by bus or taxi.
There is a water taxi system that runs between Perissa Beach and Kamari Beach. These water taxis take about only 10 minutes to commute to the beaches and can be taken from the very end of the beach near the hill.
Operating Hours:
Restaurants and shops remain open till late at night and most bars on the beach side open till morning.
The beach is accessible throughout the night while water sport activities open at sunrise to close by sunset and the playground closes by 6:00 PM.

Top Hotels In Perissa

Explore Related Destinations

Santorini

Oia

Fira

Kamari

Imerovigli

More on Perissa Travel

Shopping in Perissa

There are several shops selling clothing, artificial jewellery, and souvenirs in Perissa but during summers, in the main market of the beach town opens a night market where there are numerous stalls that sell shoes, swimming accessories and souvenirs. It is a great place to buy something for cheap. Most of the shops in Perissa open till late in the night, so one can have some time to shop and look at the market after a long day at the beach.

History of Perissa

Location of Perissa is of utmost historical significance as not far from the village centre are the ruins of the ancient Basilica of Saint Irene which is one of the most important churches on the island of Santorini. The village is believed to have been located on the ruins of the ancient city of Elefsina, at the south east foot of the Mesa Vouno Mountain. The island has also experienced immense volcanic activity in the past including the Minoan eruption that destroyed the ancient Akrotiri.

Nightlife in Perissa

Perissa, located on the southeastern coast of Santorini, offers a vibrant and lively nightlife scene that is popular on Santorini. The beachfront promenade is dotted with a variety of beach bars, tavernas, and clubs, creating a dynamic atmosphere. From enjoying cocktails with toes in the sand to dancing under the starlit sky, Perissa's nightlife caters to diverse tastes.

Suggested Itinerary for Perissa

Day 1: Start early by visiting Perissa beach, and Kamari beach and soaking in the sun till the afternoon. Head to Akrotiri Archaeological site and explore beach clubs and taverns by night.

Day 2: Catch an early morning ferry to Fira and hike towards Oia. After wandering around the picturesque village, witness the sunset from Oia castle or the blue-domed churches. Head back to Fira port to explore backstreets before catching a ferry back to Perissa.

With extra time, one can explore the nearby islands of Mykonos, Naxos and Paros.