It was my third time dropping anchor off Santorini, and I swore I’d never be lured back into the postcard-perfect mayhem of Oiaâs whitewashed streets elbow-to-elbow with tourists fresh off the same ship as me. Beautiful? Absolutely. Peaceful? About as zen as a Black Friday sale. So on this particular stop, I quietly slipped away.
I had a plan.
Armed with a day pack, my ever-trusty reef shoes, and a possibly too-generous application of SPF 50, I set off in search of Santoriniâs secret side. I wanted those hidden beaches you only hear about in whispers over ouzo in a back-alley taverna.
And oh, what I found.
Today, Iâm going to let you in on 11 hidden Santorini beaches that are not only stunning, but totally doable during your cruise stop. No multi-hour treks or helicopter rides requiredâjust a sense of adventure, a little planning, and perhaps a healthy disdain for tourist traps.
Letâs get sandy.
1. Koloumbos Beach â The Wild One
If Santorini’s beaches were a high school clique, Koloumbos would be the artsy kid reading poetry in the corner. Just a 15-minute taxi from Fira (where your tender boat drops you), Koloumbos is blissfully bare: no loungers, no cocktails with tiny umbrellasâjust soft, reddish-brown sand and a volcanic cliff at your back.
Insider Tip: Thereâs a section of Koloumbos unofficially embraced by naturists. If birthday suits arenât your thing, a polite wave and a towel moved 50 yards left usually does the trick.
2. Vlychada Beach â The Moonâs Backyard
This beach looks like Mars met Mykonos. Tall, wind-carved cliffs tower above warm, dark sand and aquamarine waves. Despite its otherworldly beauty, Vlychada remains under the radar.
How to Get There: Hire a local driver for the dayâit’s about 25â30 minutes from the port. Better yet, ask them to “show you the real Santorini.” You’ll be surprised where that can lead.
3. Eros Beach â For Lovers (and Lovers of Quiet)
Reached via a winding dusty road that feels equal parts thrilling and chaotic (is that a goat?!) lies Eros Beach. Thereâs a cheeky little beach bar called Theros Wave Bar with shaded beds available for rentâpractically a rarity among off-the-beaten-path spots.
Cruise Pro Tip: Agree on your taxi fare before the drive. Not all cabs have meters, and thereâs nothing romantic about arguing over euros with sand still in your ears.
4. Mesa Pigadia â The Fishermanâs Secret
Just around the corner from the more famous White Beach, Mesa Pigadia is where locals escape. The road is narrowâalmost surgically soâand ends in a gravel lot. Hike down a short trail and youâll find crystal-clear water and a traditional taverna selling grilled octopus that could make you weep with joy.
Little-Known Fact: Those brightly painted curved-doored boathouses lining the cliffs? Theyâre called “syrmata” and were traditionally used to pull boats into during storms. Now, some double as seasonal rentals.
5. Katharos Beach â The Sunset Whisperer
While everyone else is jostling for selfies in the famed Oia sunset crowds, youâll be sipping a chilled assyrtiko at a stone table by the sea on Katharos Beach. Bonus: zero elbows in the frame.
Accessibility Tip: Bring beach shoesâthis oneâs more pebbly than sandy, but oh, the serenity.
6. Armeni Bay â The Descent into Beauty
This oneâs special. Youâll descend a zigzagging staircase of about 300 steps from Oia (wear flat shoes unless you fancy a dramatic tumble), but the reward is intimate: fishing boats bobbing gently, tavernas serving just-caught seafood, and ocean so clear youâll rethink your definition of âblue.â
Cruise-Clock Warning: Donât lose track of time down hereâyouâll still have to hike back up unless you charm a fisherman into giving you a lift to Ammoudi Bay. And you canâwith the right smile.
7. Pori Beach â The Northern Gem
Up near the wind-kissed village of Imerovigli, Pori is a favorite of local winemakers and chefs whoâd rather swim than sign autographs. You wonât find shops or signs. Bring your own snacks, and donât tell anyone I told you.
Bonus Tip: Grab a bottle of wine from nearby Domaine Sigalas (open for tastings!), and sip it as the sun begins its slow descent.
8. White Beach â No, Not That Kind
Itâs not Tahiti-white, itâs more like powdered ashâweâre still on a volcano after allâbut itâs breathtaking. Accessible only by boat (water taxis from Red Beach or from Akrotiri), White Beach is hemmed in by towering chalk cliffs and lapis waves.
Cruise Insider Hack: Some local cruise excursions will try and sell you a three-beach package including Red, White, and Black Beach. Politely decline and grab a private boat instead so you arenât herded like continental cattle.
9. Pachia Ammos â The Rock Garden
This one takes some effortâa 30-minute jaunt from Akrotiri followed by a short trekâbut the volcanic rock formations make it feel like youâve landed on someone elseâs planet.
Off-the-Radar Detail: Youâll likely be completely alone here, save for a few feral cats whoâll accept fish scraps and praise in equal parts.
10. Agios Georgios â For the Umbrella Skeptics
While technically connected to the popular Perivolos, this southern end remains uncrowded. Itâs perfect for a quick dip before returning to port, and thereâs a line of low-key beach bars with surprisingly decent moussaka.
Practical Advice: The beach bars here rent beds by the hourâin case you fancy a nap without commitment.
11. Kampia Beach â Where the Path Less Traveled Ends
Tucked near Red Beach but completely devoid of its crowds, Kampia faces a small cove with incredible snorkeling. Itâs where locals go to escape the crush, and where I once watched an old Greek man wade into the sea in denim jeans like a mythological boss.
Comfort Note: No amenities here. Bring water, maybe some feta-stuffed olives, and a towel to sit on.
Bonus Tips from a Cruise Pro Whoâs Burned Her Feet (More Than Once)
- Time Is Tidal: Your ship might only be in port for 7â10 hours. Plan to be back aboard an hour early to avoid unceremonious shouting-from-a-speedboat situations. Iâve seen it. Itâs not pretty.
- Tendering Chaos: If your ship is tendered offshore (which is common in Santorini), allow extra time for those little shuttle boats. Early disembarkation tickets = more beach time.
- Pack Smart: Youâll want water shoes, reef-safe sunscreen, portable phone chargers, and correct plug adapters if you plan to post Instagram stories over lunch.
- Cash Rules: Many beach tavernas and watermelon-sellers operate off the grid. Having âŹ20 tucked in your swimsuit might just buy you the best grilled sardines of your life.
- Ask the Crew: Ship staff whoâve done multiple loops through the Med have the best local knowledge. Theyâll 100% steer you to beaches even Google hasnât heard ofâespecially if you bring cookies.
Final Thoughts: The Real Santorini Is Sun-Warmed and Salt-Kissed
Cruise stops donât need to be rinse-and-repeat souvenir hunts. They can be tiny adventures written in sand and salt, found down goat paths and remembered long after the tan fades.
Sure, youâll see the caldera views. Probably snag that iconic blue dome photo (youâll be boxed out by selfie sticks, but make do). But you donât really know Santorini until youâve wrapped yourself in a beach towel still damp from the Aegean and scraped volcanic sand from your toes while watching a fisherman mend his net.
So next time your ship docks in dreamy Santorini, skip the crowds.
Find yourself a hidden beach. A tucked-away taverna. A secret slice of paradise.
And if you see a sunburned woman in reef shoes chasing down a runaway beach hat, thatâs just me. Save me a glass of wine, would you?
See you on the shores.