Perissa Beach

Perissa is the Santorini beach for people who want the island without the caldera price tag. It runs for a long dark ribbon along the southeast coast, pinned at one end by the towering Mesa Vouno headland, and behind it sits a low key village of tavernas, dive shops and affordable rooms. This is where Santorini feels relaxed and good value rather than honeymoon glossy, and that is its honest charm.

The sand is the talking point. It is black volcanic grit, striking to look at and pleasant to lie on, but it drinks up the summer sun and can turn genuinely hot underfoot by midday, so flat sandals earn their place in your bag. The water off the beach is clear and clean, and it shelves quickly into deeper swimming, which suits confident swimmers and gives the bay a livelier feel when the afternoon wind gets up.

For atmosphere, Perissa keeps things easy. A long line of tavernas and beach bars fronts the sand with sunbeds, frappes and grilled fish, and the mood is friendly rather than exclusive. If you want the dressed up day bed and cocktail scene, you simply walk south along the same beach into Perivolos, where the polished clubs take over, which makes Perissa a smart base that puts both moods within reach.

Who it suits: value minded travellers, families who want food and sunbeds close to cheap rooms, and anyone who likes a long organised beach with a relaxed village behind it.

Who should skip it: couples set on caldera sunset glamour, and parents of toddlers who want shallow calm water should consider Monolithos, as Perissa drops into deep water quickly.