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.
Staying here
Perissa is a sensible, budget-friendly base — see our budget hotels guide and where to stay guide — with easier parking and generally lower rates than the caldera rim, at the cost of the caldera view itself. It also works well combined with Exo Gonia (see our Exo Gonia guide) for one of the island's best-regarded, least touristy dinners at Metaxi Mas.
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