White Beach

White Beach (Aspri Paralia) is a small cove on Santorini’s south coast that you can reach only by boat. It sits a few hundred metres along the shore from Red Beach, below the Akrotiri headland. There is no road and no safe footpath, so most visitors arrive by water taxi from Akrotiri harbour for roughly €5 to €8 one way, or see it on a boat tour. The shore is dark sand and pebbles beneath tall, pale volcanic cliffs. The water is clear on calm days, and there are almost no services. It is one of the quietest coastal stops on Santorini.

Don’t confuse it with Vlychada, a separate beach on the south coast that you can drive to. Vlychada is also known for pale, wind-carved cliffs and is sometimes called a white beach too.

White Beach at a glance

Why visit White Beach

People come for the setting. Cliffs of pale pumice and volcanic ash wrap around a small cove, and the rain and sea have carved them into ribs and overhangs. Below, dark pebbles meet clear water. Because you can only arrive by boat, the cove rarely feels as packed as the island’s easy-access beaches. It suits a swim, some snorkelling along the rocks, photos of the cliffs, or a stop during a boat day.

It is not a beach for a full day with sunbeds and a bar. To see how it compares with busier, better-equipped shores such as Perissa and Kamari, read our Santorini beaches guide.

How to get to White Beach

By water taxi from Akrotiri harbour

Small open boats leave from the little harbour at Akrotiri, in front of the waterfront tavernas. They stop at Red Beach and continue to White Beach, and many carry on to Black Beach on the same route. In season, boats usually run about every 30 minutes. You can’t book in advance: buy your ticket at the dock, and bring cash. Before you board the first boat, ask what time the last one comes back. The beach has no road, so missing the last boat leaves you with no easy way out.

From Red Beach

If you are already at Red Beach, the same water taxis make the five-minute hop to White Beach. Plan to reach Red Beach by boat as well. The cliff path down to it has been officially closed since the February 2025 earthquakes, and our Red Beach access and safety guide explains the current rules.

On a catamaran or boat tour

Many south coast cruises pass the Red Beach and White Beach cliffs, and some anchor offshore so passengers can swim. These trips usually don’t drop you on the sand, but they are the most comfortable way to see the cliffs from the water. To compare routes, see our guides to the best Santorini boat tours and the best tours in Santorini.

Can you walk to White Beach?

No, not safely. Between Red Beach and White Beach the cliffs drop straight into the sea, and there is no maintained path. Older blog posts describe scrambling over loose boulders along the base of the cliffs. That route runs beneath soft, eroding rock with a real risk of rockfall, and local advice is to avoid it. Take the boat.

Getting to Akrotiri

The KTEL bus from Fira to Akrotiri takes about 20 to 25 minutes and costs €2.20 one way on the 2026 fare list. The last return from Akrotiri leaves at 20:20. If you drive, parking near the archaeological site is limited and in summer often fills by late morning.

What to expect on the beach

White Beach has no pier. The boat comes in close to shore, and you usually climb down a short ladder and wade the last few metres. Wear water shoes, and keep your phone and cash in a dry bag. Once ashore, the beach is compact and pebbly, with little natural shade. A few sunbeds are sometimes set up in high season, but don’t count on them.

The cliffs are the main hazard. Pumice is weakly cemented and sheds rock, especially after rain or in strong wind, so put your towel near the water rather than at the foot of the cliff. On windy days the sea gets choppy, landing becomes harder, and water taxis can stop running at short notice.

What to bring

• Plenty of drinking water, because nothing is sold on the beach
• Water shoes for the pebbles and the wade ashore
• Cash for the water taxi
• A dry bag for your phone, keys and wallet
• Sun protection, plus a small umbrella or hat for shade
• A mask and snorkel for the rocky edges of the cove
• Snacks, if you plan to stay longer than a quick swim

Best time to visit

Go on a calm, low-wind day between late spring and early autumn. The sea is warmest from June to October. Mornings are usually quieter, since catamarans on the south coast tend to arrive around midday. If a strong northerly wind is blowing, save White Beach for another day and choose a more sheltered, easier beach instead.

Plan an Akrotiri half-day

White Beach fits best into a wider Akrotiri outing. One easy order goes like this. Start at Akrotiri Prehistoric City when it opens, and allow 1.5 to 2 hours. Full admission is €20, and opening hours change by day and season. Next, head down to the harbour and take the boat circuit, getting off at Red Beach and White Beach. Finish with lunch at one of the waterfront tavernas by the harbour. If you would rather stay on land, nearby Kambia Beach is a quieter pebble cove that you can reach by car.

Local tip: White Beach suits travellers who care more about scenery and a quiet swim than about facilities. For an easier beach day with sunbeds, food and bus access, start with our wider Santorini beach guide. If you prefer exploring on foot, our best hikes in Santorini guide covers the island’s safe, marked trails.

Frequently asked questions