50m²
Honeymoon Suite
Cave suite with caldera-facing veranda — designed for couples and milestone trips.
View roomWhite Beach Santorini: How to Get There (It's Not Easy)
Most first-timers have never heard of White Beach Santorini. Small, hard to reach, zero facilities. No sunbed rental. No beach bar. No paved path. You can only get there by boat.
That's exactly why you should go.
Tucked around the headland from Red Beach near the village of Akrotiri, Santorini White Beach gets its name from pale volcanic cliffs that tower over a narrow strip of dark pebbles and clear water. It's one of Santorini's quietest beaches, and a top pick among the island's best beaches for couples. On a good day in May or early June, you might share it with fewer than 20 people.
Getting there, though, that takes some planning.
What is White Beach?
White Beach (Aspri Paralia in Greek) sits on Santorini's southwestern coast, about 14 kilometers from Fira. A small cove. Maybe 100 meters of shoreline. White and grey pumice cliffs on every side, dark volcanic sand and pebbles at the water.
The cliffs are why you come. Erosion has carved them into layered formations of white, cream, and light grey volcanic rock. Combined with the deep blue-green water, it's a completely different picture from what you see at Red Beach just a few hundred meters away.
South-facing beach, so full sun for most of the day. The cliff overhang gives you some shade in the morning hours. By midday? Everything is exposed.
And the geology tells a story most people don't know. While Santorini's famous caldera was formed by the massive eruption around 1600 BC, the white pumice cliffs here come from an even older eruption cycle. That's why the rock looks so different from the red iron-oxide formations next door.
No taverna. No changing rooms. No lifeguard. Raw. Undeveloped. If you want a quiet morning on the water, that's the draw. But you need to bring everything.
How to get to White Beach Santorini
This is the part that trips people up. There is no easy way in. The old footpath from Red Beach was permanently closed after rockfall incidents. The cliffs are too unstable for walking. Your options are all water-based.
Option 1: boat taxi from Red Beach (most common)
Simplest route. White Beach Akrotiri shares a starting point with Red Beach. Drive or bus to Akrotiri village, walk down to Red Beach, and grab one of the small boat taxis that shuttle between the two.
What to expect:
- 5-minute boat ride
- Boats run roughly May through October, weather permitting
- All-day pass: EUR 15 per person, unlimited hop-on, hop-off rides between Red, White, and Black beaches
- Boats leave Akrotiri port roughly every 30 minutes, stopping at each beach to pick you up or carry you to the next
- Pay at the dock, cash or card (a small card surcharge may apply, so bring cash to be safe)
- Last boat back is around 17:00, and prices can shift slightly by season, so confirm at the dock
- Peak season (July-August) is the most reliable. In May or October you may wait a little longer between boats
One thing you can't afford to miss: Confirm the last return time with the boat operator. Getting stranded at White Beach, no facilities, no path back, no guaranteed phone signal, is not the kind of adventure that makes a good story.
Option 2: boat tour from Kamari, Perissa, or Akrotiri port
Several boat excursion companies loop White Beach into their coastal tours. Usually Red Beach, White Beach, and sometimes the caldera. 3-5 hours with snorkeling stops.
Good if you don't want to organize the boat taxi yourself. But you won't get much time at the beach, most tours stop for 20-30 minutes.
EUR 30-60 per person depending on operator and duration.
Option 3: rent a small boat or kayak
Comfortable on the water? A small boat from Akrotiri port or a kayak from Red Beach gives you the most control. Set your own schedule, explore the coast between the two beaches at whatever pace you want.
Kayak rentals: about EUR 20-40 for a half day. Small motorboat rentals (no license needed for under 30HP in Greece): EUR 80-120 per day.
What about walking?
No. The old path from Red Beach to White Beach is closed. Has been for years. Unstable cliff face. Rockfall is a real hazard. Signs are posted. Locals will tell you not to try it. People have been injured ignoring the warnings.
If you find older blog posts or forum threads saying you can walk, that information is dead. Take the boat.
Is White Beach Santorini worth it?
Honest answer: depends on you.
Go if you:
- Want a quiet, uncrowded beach
- Like snorkeling (the water clarity near the cliff base is excellent, just keep a safe distance from the rock face)
- Love geology and dramatic landscapes
- Are already at Red Beach and want to extend the trip
- Prefer undeveloped over beach clubs and loungers
Skip it if you:
- Want a full day with food, drinks, and sunbeds
- Don't want to deal with boat-only access
- Are traveling with young children (no shade, no facilities, rocky shore)
- Have limited time and need to choose between beaches
Most visitors doing 3 days in Santorini combine White Beach with Red Beach. Boat taxi over, spend an hour or two, boat back to Red Beach for lunch. Both beaches in a half day.
If you can only do one beach on the south coast? Red Beach is the better pick. More accessible, more to see, equally dramatic. White Beach is the bonus for people who want something emptier and don't mind working a bit harder for it.
What to bring (everything you need)
Nothing at White Beach. So your packing list matters.
Must bring:
- Water (at least 1 liter per person, more in summer)
- Snacks or a packed lunch
- Sunscreen (reapply, almost no shade after 11:00)
- Hat and sunglasses
- Water shoes or sturdy sandals (shore is rocky pebbles, not sand)
- A towel or beach mat
- Cash for the boat taxi (no card machines)
- Waterproof bag or dry pouch for your phone
Nice to have:
- Snorkel and mask (underwater visibility is outstanding, volcanic rock formations continue below the surface near the cliff edges)
- Underwater camera or waterproof phone case (the white cliff face looks spectacular from the water)
- Small umbrella or pop-up shade if you burn easily
- Light cover-up for the boat ride back
Leave behind:
- Anything you can't carry down to the shoreline
- Valuables you don't want to babysit while swimming
Best time to visit White Beach
Best months: May and June. Warm enough for swimming, crowds haven't arrived, boat taxis are running.
July and August bring the most reliable boat service and the most visitors. White Beach never gets truly packed, it's too hard to reach, but peak summer you might find 50-70 people on a beach that comfortably fits 30.
September is solid. Water at its warmest (24-25C from accumulated summer heat), golden afternoon light, and the summer crush fading.
October is a gamble. Boat taxis may not run every day. Weather gets unpredictable. Check with operators before planning.
April is too early. Water around 17C. Most boat operators haven't started their season yet.
Time of day: Before 11:00 if you can manage it. Morning light on the white cliffs is the most dramatic, you'll have the best chance of near-solitude, and the cliff gives some shade in the early hours. That shade disappears by midday.
Safety at White Beach
Beautiful, yes. But the volcanic cliffs that make it special also make it potentially dangerous. A few things to keep in mind:
Rockfall risk. The cliffs above White Beach are soft pumice and volcanic ash. Small rockfalls happen regularly. Larger collapses, occasionally. Don't sit at the base of the cliffs. Don't climb the rock faces. Keep children away from the cliff edges.
No lifeguard. Swim within your ability. Watch for currents near the headland. Don't swim alone.
Sun exposure. No shade structures and limited natural cover. Heat exhaustion is a real concern in summer. Bring more water than you think you'll need.
Rocky entry. Volcanic pebbles and rocks, not sand. Water shoes make getting in and out much more comfortable and reduce the risk of cut feet.
Sea conditions. The cove is generally sheltered, but strong south winds (Notias) bring waves. Boat taxis may not run on bad days. If the sky looks hazy or the wind is strong at your hotel in the morning, call ahead before driving to Akrotiri.
Boat timing. Know when the last boat leaves. No walking path back. No guaranteed cell service for calling a water taxi.
Combining White Beach with Red Beach
The best way to experience White Beach is as part of a half-day with Red Beach. Here's a plan that works:
Morning Half-Day Plan:
- Drive or bus to Akrotiri village (30 minutes from Fira, parking near the trailhead)
- Walk down to Red Beach (10-15 minutes on the trail)
- Spend 30-45 minutes at Red Beach, photos from the viewpoint above
- Boat taxi to White Beach (5 minutes, covered by the EUR 15 all-day pass)
- Swim, snorkel, soak up White Beach for 1-2 hours
- Boat back to Red Beach (confirm return time before you leave)
- Lunch at a taverna near Red Beach or in Akrotiri village
- Optional: the Akrotiri archaeological site on your way back (Minoan ruins, 5-minute drive from the beach)
This half-day works perfectly as part of a south coast day. If you have a car, add Vlychada Beach and the marina too. The drive between Akrotiri and Vlychada is about 10 minutes, three volcanic beaches before lunch.
From the full Santorini map, the south coast beaches (Red, White, Vlychada) cluster together nicely. The east coast (Perissa and Kamari) is a separate trip entirely, about 20 minutes on the other side of Mesa Vouno.
If you don't want to take a boat
Fair enough. White Beach is one of those things to do in Santorini that sounds amazing but isn't for everyone. Some people aren't comfortable with the boat taxi setup. Totally valid. But if you want dramatic cliff scenery without getting on a boat:
Vlychada Beach has similarly dramatic volcanic formations, sculpted white and grey pumice cliffs, and you can drive right to it. Small beach bar, some sunbeds. The closest experience to White Beach without the boat.
Red Beach viewpoint. Even if you don't descend to Red Beach (the trail can be steep), the viewpoint above gives sweeping views of the red cliffs and the coastline toward White Beach. Clear days, you can see the white cliffs from up there.
Catamaran or sailing cruise. Most caldera tours pass by both Red Beach and White Beach from the water. You see the cliffs up close without the boat taxi system, and some tours include a swim stop.
Where to stay when exploring the south coast
White Beach sits on the opposite end of Santorini from the caldera towns. It's a day trip no matter where you base yourself. But staying in Fira puts you central, the drive to Akrotiri is about 25-30 minutes.
Our cave-style suites in Fira are walking distance from the bus station (KTEL runs to Akrotiri), and the caldera views waiting when you get back make a perfect end to a beach day. After a morning scrambling over volcanic pebbles, watching the sunset from the caldera with a glass of Assyrtiko hits in a way that's hard to describe.
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim at White Beach Santorini?
Yes. Clear, calm water on most days, good for swimming and snorkeling. Enter carefully over the pebbles (water shoes help), and stay at least 3-4 meters from the cliff base because of rockfall risk. No lifeguard. Swim within your comfort level.
How much does the boat to White Beach cost?
The water taxi runs as an all-day hop-on, hop-off pass covering Red, White, and Black beaches: EUR 15 per person, unlimited rides for the day. Boats leave Akrotiri port roughly every 30 minutes, with the last one back around 17:00. Pay at the dock by cash or card, and boats run approximately May through October.
Is there a walking path to White Beach?
No. The old footpath from Red Beach has been permanently closed due to rockfall danger. Cliffs are unstable. The only access is by boat.
Is White Beach Santorini worth visiting?
If you're already visiting Red Beach and like quiet, undeveloped beaches, the 5-minute boat ride is absolutely worth it. The white volcanic cliffs and clear water make it special. But if you want facilities, sunbeds, food, shade, you'll be happier at Perissa or Kamari.
What should I bring to White Beach?
Water, snacks, sunscreen, a hat, water shoes, a towel, cash for the boat, and a dry bag for your phone. There are no shops, no restaurants, and no shade structures at White Beach.
What is the best time to visit White Beach?
May and June for the best combination of warm weather, running boat taxis, and low crowds. July and August have reliable boats but more visitors. Morning arrivals (before 11:00) give you the best cliff lighting and the most shade.
Are there any white sandy beaches in Santorini?
Santorini's beaches are volcanic. No traditional white sand anywhere on the island. White Beach is named for its white pumice cliffs, not white sand. The shoreline is dark volcanic pebbles. For more on beach types and colors, check our full guide.
Can you visit White Beach and Red Beach in the same day?
Absolutely. Most visitors combine them into a half-day trip. Start at Red Beach, boat taxi to White Beach (5 minutes, covered by the EUR 15 all-day pass), spend 1-2 hours, boat back. Add lunch at a taverna near Red Beach or in Akrotiri village.
