The village of Akrotiri and the surrounding area occupy the southern tip of Santorini — quieter and less developed than the caldera rim or the east-coast resorts, and home to some of the island's most distinctive scenery. For the excavated Bronze-Age town itself, see our dedicated Akrotiri archaeological site guide; this page covers the wider area.
Red Beach and White Beach
A short walk from the village, Red Beach sits beneath towering red-and-black volcanic cliffs — one of the most photographed beaches on the island, best visited early or late to avoid midday crowds. White Beach, around the next headland and reachable by boat or a rougher path, is quieter still, framed by pale volcanic rock.
The lighthouse and the southern coast
Further along the coast, the Faros (lighthouse) at the island's southernmost point is a quiet, little-visited spot popular for sunset among locals precisely because it isn't Oia — no crowds, just open sea views.
Getting around
Bus links out here are thinner than to the caldera villages or Kamari, so a rental car or ATV is genuinely useful if you want to string together the excavation site, both beaches and the lighthouse in one day. See our getting around guide.
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