Our main beaches guide covers the island's best-known black, red and white sand options. A few smaller, less-visited spots are worth knowing about too, mostly reached by a longer walk or a boat rather than a direct road.
Katharos Beach
A small, secluded cove near Akrotiri, reachable primarily by boat or a rough dirt track rather than a proper road — the effort required is exactly what keeps it quieter than Red Beach nearby, despite similar volcanic scenery.
Baxedes and Pori
On the island's north coast near Oia, these lesser-visited beaches see a fraction of the traffic that piles into Oia village itself, with a more local, low-key beach-bar scene rather than organised resort-style facilities.
Columbo Beach
On the northeast coast, backed by dramatic cliffs and notably less developed than Kamari or Perissa further south — a good option if you want black volcanic sand without the resort-town infrastructure.
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