Perissa and its neighbour Perivolos form one continuous stretch of black volcanic sand along the south-east coast, generally considered the longest beach on the island. They sit on the opposite side of Mesa Vouno mountain from Kamari, and have a slightly more relaxed, less built-up feel, with a mix of beach bars, watersports outfits and quieter stretches of sand.
Ancient Thera, on the ridge above
The steep ridge separating Perissa from Kamari holds the ruins of Ancient Thera, a Greek and later Roman settlement with commanding views over both coastlines. It's reachable by a signed hike from Perissa or by road, and makes a good half-day combined with a beach afternoon below.
Choosing between Perissa and Kamari
Both offer a similar black-sand, facilities-included beach experience. Perissa and Perivolos tend to feel a touch quieter and more spread out; Kamari has a slightly busier promenade and marginally easier bus links to Fira. Neither is wrong — it largely comes down to which stretch of sand and which evening atmosphere you'd rather have.
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