Red Beach, Volcanic beach in Akrotiri, Greece

Red Beach is a volcanic sand beach on Santorini, near Akrotiri. Its sand is made of black and red pulverized volcanic rock from the nearby Santorini caldera. The beach lies at the foot of steep, eroded red rock cliffs, with large reddish-brown boulders clustered on the right and extending into the shallows.

The red and black sand comes from pulverised volcanic rock of the nearby Santorini caldera. The area is prone to landslides, and since 2013 parts of the beach have been inaccessible because of them.

The beach takes its name from the oxidised iron that gives the sand its red hue, and it lies beside the excavated Minoan site of Akrotiri, reached from that village. Visitors today walk the remaining accessible stretch of pebbles and photograph the layered cliff behind it.

Access to the beach follows a marked trail from the parking area, and sturdy shoes are needed because of rocky ground. Arriving early is wise, as space is limited and the paths face full sun during hot weather.

The red and black sand comes from pulverised volcanic rock of the nearby Santorini caldera, with the red colour attributed to oxidised iron. Landslides have affected the site since 2013, and parts of the beach have been closed off because of them.