Last updated August 25, 2026

Kamari's black sand beach with sun loungers, straw umbrellas, and a beachfront taverna beneath a rocky cliff

Jan M / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Santorini

Where to Stay in Kamari, Santorini

Kamari sits on Santorini's east coast, a flat beach town with none of the caldera-village cliffs and stairs. Its long, pedestrian beachfront promenade is lined with tavernas, cafés, and shops behind a wide stretch of black volcanic sand and pebble. Ancient Thera, a ruined hilltop city with Hellenistic and Roman remains, sits on the mountain (Mesa Vouno) directly above the town and is reachable by a signed walking trail. Kamari's flat layout is a genuine change of pace from the caldera villages — easy for wheeled luggage, strollers, or anyone who doesn't want to manage stairs on holiday.

What it's actually like to stay here

Relaxed and holiday-paced, with a beachfront promenade of restaurants and bars that stays lively into the evening without the density or price level of Fira. It leans family-friendly and beach-focused rather than romantic-getaway — a genuinely different mood from the caldera side of the island.

Stay here if

Best for families and budget-conscious travelers who want direct beach access, flat and easy walking, and lower prices than the caldera villages, without giving up real restaurant choice.

Stay elsewhere if

Consider Fira, Oia, or Imerovigli instead if the caldera view is the reason you're visiting Santorini — Kamari faces the open Aegean, not the caldera, and it's a 20–30 minute drive from the cliffside villages.

Walkability
Very walkable — Kamari's streets are flat, unlike the stepped caldera villages, and its beachfront promenade runs the length of the town on foot.
Noise at night
Lively along the beachfront restaurants and bars into the evening in high season; quieter on residential side streets a block or two back from the water.

Best Hotels in Kamari, Santorini

Costa Grand Resort & Spa

★★★★★
  • 🏖️ Best for beach access

Our take A full-scale beach resort on Kamari's black sand, with multiple pools, a spa, and more on-site dining than the smaller hotels nearby.

Highlights

  • Directly on Kamari's black-sand beach, with its own stretch of private beachfront
  • A spa and several pools, including one for children
  • Family-friendly layout alongside its beach-resort features

What to know

  • Resort scale means a different atmosphere — expect more guests, more organized facilities
  • Confirm room category if a pool or beach view matters
Check availability on Booking.com

La Bellezza Eco Boutique Hotel

★★★★

Our take A well-executed boutique alternative to Kamari's larger resorts — solar-powered, small-scale, and close enough to the beach to walk there in under a minute.

Highlights

  • About 30 meters from Kamari beach, closer than most larger hotels
  • Solar power and other eco-conscious building choices
  • Private pools or jacuzzis in most of its suites

What to know

  • Opened in 2017, newer than most of Kamari's hotel stock
  • Small scale means fewer facilities (restaurant, spa) than larger resorts
Check availability on Booking.com

Sigalas Beach Hotel

★★★
  • 💰 Best value

Our take A small, family-run hotel right on Kamari's black sand, with kitchenettes in most units, at a fraction of caldera-view prices.

Highlights

  • Directly on Kamari's black-sand beach, with a private beach area
  • Kitchenettes in most units, useful for families or longer stays
  • Short walk from Kamari's beachfront restaurants and shops

What to know

  • Rooms are simple, not design-forward — the draw is beach location and price
  • Sits toward Kamari's outskirts, a short walk from the central square
Check availability on Booking.com

Transportation & practical information

Kamari has its own bus connection to Fira's central station, roughly a 20-minute ride; Santorini Airport is about 10 minutes away by taxi, making Kamari one of the more convenient bases for a late arrival or early flight.

Skip a rental car if you're staying in one caldera village and mostly walking, bus-hopping, or taxiing to a couple of others. Consider one if you want to reach Akrotiri, Ancient Thera, wineries, or multiple beaches on your own schedule — buses run the main routes but not always frequently, and taxis can be hard to flag down in peak season.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kamari worth staying in instead of the caldera villages?
If beach time, flat walking, and lower prices matter more than the caldera view, yes — Kamari trades the cliffside postcard setting for a real, easy beach-town stay. Many visitors split a trip between a caldera village and a beach town like Kamari rather than choosing only one.

Related areas

The Three Bells of Fira bell tower and a blue dome overlooking the caldera, with a boat passing below

Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Fira

Best for: First-time visitors, Couples, Nightlife

Skaros Rock, a rocky promontory jutting into the caldera below Imerovigli, with a stepped path leading to its ruined castle

Zde / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Imerovigli

Best for: Couples, Luxury travelers

A blue-domed church with a coral-pink bell tower overlooking the caldera in Oia, Santorini

George M. Groutas / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Oia

Best for: Couples, Luxury travelers, Architecture lovers

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