Catamaran Cruises in SantoriniWhite Beach Santorini: The Complete Guide to Aspri Paralia
White Beach Santorini, known in Greek as Aspri Paralia, is a small cove on the south coast of the island, shut in by tall pale cliffs of pumice and volcanic ash. It has no road and no safe footpath, so the only way in is by boat, either a water taxi from Akrotiri harbor or a Santorini catamaran cruise that stops off the shore. This guide covers what the beach is like, the rockfall risk from the cliffs, the water taxi fares and crossing times, and the catamarans that include White Beach on their route. It also looks at Mesa Pigadia, the next beach along the coast, and explains why the neighboring Red Beach is closed to land access. Prices are the US dollar card prices on this site.
The pale cliff formation between White Beach and Red Beach. Photo: seligmanwaite, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Quick answer White Beach at a glance
White Beach (Aspri Paralia) in Santorini has no road and no safe footpath, so it is reached only by boat, with water taxis from Akrotiri harbor taking 10 to 15 minutes. The cove sits under tall pale cliffs of pumice and volcanic ash, above black pebbles and grey volcanic sand. Those weakly cemented cliffs shed rock, especially after rain or in strong wind, so keep clear of the cliff base. Many visitors arrive on a catamaran, since boats cannot moor directly on the beach and stop as close as possible.
Key takeaways
- The water taxi from Akrotiri takes 10 to 15 minutes and the fare is paid on board. See getting to White Beach.
- Catamarans stop off the shore because they cannot moor on the beach. Compare six cruises that include White Beach in the cruise table.
- The Vista Gold Catamaran from Vlychada Marina costs $96 per person and lists White Beach, Red Beach, Mesa Pigadia and the hot springs on its route.
- The clear water and underwater caves make this a good snorkel stop. More on Santorini snorkeling.
What White Beach Is Like
A small cove on the south coast, about 13 to 14 km from Fira, framed by white volcanic cliffs.
The Cliffs and the Shore
White Beach, or Aspri Paralia, sits about 13.4 km from Fira, 15 km from the airport and 12.5 km from the port by one count, and 14 km from Fira by another. The shoreline is black pebbles and grey volcanic sand rather than soft sand, and the seabed is rocky. What gives the beach its name is the wall of rock behind it: tall pale cliffs of pumice and volcanic ash rise straight up from the cove. Greeka describes it as black pebbles enclosed by white cliffs, with natural shade from the surrounding rocks for part of the day.
The water near the shore is clear, and Snorkel Around the World lists the spot for its dark volcanic sand, clear water and underwater caves. Snorkelers come for the rock formations under the surface rather than for fish, since Santorini has less rich marine life than Crete or Corfu. Sea temperatures run from 16 C in February to about 24 C in August, so swimming is warmest in high summer.
The Cave and the Water
The underwater caves along this stretch of coast are the main draw for anyone with a mask. Visibility in Santorini waters often exceeds 30 to 40 meters, which makes the pale rock walls and cave mouths easy to see from the surface. Snorkel gear is named on several cruises that list White Beach, including the Vista Gold Catamaran.
If you come by water taxi, bring your own gear, because the beach has no shops.
Rockfall Risk: Keep Clear of the Cliff Base
The pumice and ash that form the cliffs are weakly cemented, which means the rock is soft and crumbly rather than solid stone. The cliffs shed rock, especially after rain or in strong wind. That is the same geological weakness that closed Red Beach to land access, and it applies here too.
Set your towel well out from the base of the cliff, and listen to crew instructions if you arrive on a boat. Southern winds make the swell uncomfortable for anchoring, so boats can anchor off White Beach in settled weather.
A Very Small Beach With No Facilities
Wikivoyage describes White Beach as very small, with few beach chairs and no pier. Visitors wade in waist-deep water to come ashore from the taxi boats. There are no shops, cafes or shade structures on the beach, so bring your own water, food and sun protection.
The beach is quieter than Red Beach but it can still get busy in summer, and sources advise arriving early.
Getting to White Beach
Two ways in: a short water taxi from Akrotiri harbor, or a catamaran that stops off the shore.
Water Taxi From Akrotiri
The standard route is by water taxi from Akrotiri harbor, near Akrotiri village, which is 15 km south of Fira. The crossing takes 10 to 15 minutes and the fare is paid on board. The taxi runs in summer.
There is no pier at White Beach, so you wade in waist-deep water to get off, which means sandals and a dry bag for your things are worth packing. Confirm the return time with the boatman before you go ashore, because the beach has no facilities.
By Catamaran on a Cruise
Many visitors reach White Beach on a catamaran cruise from Ammoudi Bay below Oia or from Vlychada Marina on the south coast. Catamarans cannot moor directly on the beaches, so they anchor as close as possible and guests swim the short distance to the shore, which the operators describe as a safe swim. A cruise usually pairs the White Beach stop with Red Beach, seen from the water, Mesa Pigadia and the Palea Kameni hot springs, on sailings of about 5 hours. If you are deciding between departure points, the Ammoudi Bay and Vlychada Marina guides cover both harbors.
White Beach has no road and no safe footpath. Most sources, Wikivoyage among them, say it is reached by boat only, so plan on arriving that way. The pale cliffs along this coast are soft rock, which makes rockfall a standing risk.
White Beach - Santorini 4K
A 4K look at White Beach on Santorini. Third-party video by Jacek Zarzycki v. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Catamarans That Stop at White Beach
Most of the tours on this site list White Beach among their stops. Six are compared below.
Cruises Compared
The table compares six cruises whose stops include White Beach, with the card price per person, the group size and the departure port. All are shared sailings of 5 to 6 hours, and all include food and drinks on board. Prices are the US dollar card prices on this site.
| Cruise | Price | Guests | Port |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset Oia Ocean Voyager | $67 | Up to 50 to 55 | Ammoudi Port, Oia |
| Comfort Max Catamaran | $67 | Capped at 50 | Ammoudi Bay, Oia |
| Renieris Classic Catamaran | $98 | None stated | Vlychada Marina |
| Vista Gold Catamaran | $96 | None stated | Vlychada Marina |
| Spiridakos Sailing Catamaran | $85 | None stated | Vlychada Port, Ammoudi on morning cruises |
| Sunset Oia Luxury Open Bar | $124 | Maximum 20 | None stated |
Which One Suits You
For the lowest price, the Sunset Oia Ocean Voyager and the Comfort Max Catamaran both cost $67 per person for a 5-hour sailing with a barbecue meal and drinks, though both carry around 50 guests. The Comfort Max spends about 60 minutes on swim and snorkel time across Mesa Pigadia, White Beach and Red Beach. If you want fewer people on board, the Sunset Oia Luxury Open Bar caps at 20 guests for $124 per person over 5 to 6 hours, with an open bar that includes a cocktail.
The full list of boats and what each one includes is on the Santorini catamaran cruises page, and the stops on the route are explained in the route section of the homepage.
Sources: Santorini Secrets, Greeka
Aspronisi is the white islet at the south-west edge of the caldera. Photo: Olaf Tausch, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mesa Pigadia and Red Beach
What lies on either side of White Beach on the southern coast.
Mesa Pigadia
Mesa Pigadia sits near White Beach on the same southwestern coast. It is an isolated beach surrounded by cliffs, with black pebbles instead of sand. You reach it by boat or by a dirt road, and unlike White Beach it has a traditional restaurant on the shore plus sunbeds and umbrellas.
The seabed has rocks and sea urchins, so water shoes are recommended. Several cruises in the table above, including the Comfort Max Catamaran and the Renieris Classic Catamaran, pair the two beaches as swim stops on the same sailing.
Red Beach: Seen From the Water Only
Red Beach, with its rust-colored cliffs above dark pebbles, is the next famous stop along the coast, and every cruise that calls at White Beach passes it. Land access is closed. The municipality bans approaching Red Beach because of rockfall danger, and the safe way to see it is from the water on a boat.
The closure, the cliffs and the geology are covered on the Red Beach page.
Dos and Don'ts at White Beach
Do
- Do bring your own water, food and sun protection, because White Beach has no shops, cafes or shade structures and nothing is sold on the beach.
- Do wear sandals and pack a dry bag, because there is no pier and you wade in waist-deep water to come ashore from the taxi boat.
- Do bring your own snorkel gear unless your cruise names it, because the clear water and underwater caves are the main draw, with visibility often exceeding 30 to 40 meters.
- Do arrive early in summer, because the beach is very small with few beach chairs and gets busy despite being quieter than Red Beach.
- Do confirm your return water taxi time with the boatman before going ashore, because the beach has no facilities.
Don't
- Don't set up at the base of the pale cliffs, because the weakly cemented pumice sheds rock, especially after rain or in strong wind.
- Don't try to walk to White Beach from Red Beach or from the road, because there is no road, no safe footpath and the coastal terrain is impassable on most accounts.
- Don't plan a visit outside the summer season and expect the taxi, because the water taxi from the Akrotiri pier runs in summer only.
- Don't attempt to walk into Red Beach next door, because the municipality bans approaching it over rockfall danger, and it can only be seen from the water.
White Beach FAQ
How do you get to White Beach in Santorini?
By boat only. The beach has no road and no safe footpath, so you either take the water taxi from Akrotiri harbor, a 10 to 15 minute crossing, or arrive on a catamaran cruise that stops off the shore.
How much does the water taxi to White Beach cost?
The fare is paid on board for the 10 to 15 minute crossing from Akrotiri harbor. Confirm the return time, since the beach has no facilities. If you would rather have the crossing, swims and a meal bundled together, a cruise such as the Renieris Classic Catamaran costs $98 per person for 5 hours with a BBQ and drinks included.
Can you swim at White Beach Santorini?
Yes. The water near the shore is clear and boats anchor a short distance out, with guests swimming safely in to the beach because catamarans cannot moor directly on it. Sea temperatures peak at about 24 C in August. More swim stops around the island are covered on the Santorini snorkeling page.
Is White Beach worth visiting?
It is worth it if you want the pale pumice cliffs, clear water and underwater caves, and you accept that the beach is very small with no shops, cafes or shade structures. It is quieter than Red Beach but can get busy, so arrive early. The easiest and most comfortable way in is one of the catamarans that include it on the route.
What is the difference between White Beach and Red Beach?
They sit close together on the same southern coast, but White Beach has pale pumice cliffs and a pebble shore you can land on, while Red Beach has rust-colored cliffs and is closed to land access, because the municipality bans approaching it over rockfall danger. Red Beach is seen from the water, as explained on the Red Beach guide page.
Which catamaran cruises stop at White Beach?
Most south-coast sailings do, since the beach sits between Red Beach and Mesa Pigadia on the route. Options run from the $67 Sunset Oia Ocean Voyager from Ammoudi Bay to small-group boats capped at 18 to 20 guests, and a full comparison with group sizes and departure ports is in the cruise table.