Anastasia Princess Apartments

More on Perissa, Santorini

Perissa’s lovely, long, black sand beach is lapped by crystal water, and sheltered from the summer winds – so it’s no wonder it fills up with sun bronzed bodies soaking up those rays. But with 7 kilometres of beach to choose from, you’ll find plenty of space to unroll your beach mat. Don’t forget your flip flops though, for the volcanic sand gets scorching hot in the summer sun. A good choice of watersports offers plenty of opportunities to cool down and test your skills. And at the northern end of the beach, the cliffs of Mesa Vouno rise spectacularly from the sands, and can be seen in their full glory when floodlit at night. The village itself was purpose built for holidays so you won’t find a traditional village, but you will find plenty of places to dance and dine under the stars. If you crave traditional Greek white buildings, the charming village of Emporio is only 1 kilometre away, where blue-domed churches and Cycladic architecture abound. In Perissa itself, there are a couple of churches to visit. The five domed church of the Holy Cross was rebuilt after the 1956 earthquake, whilst the Byzantine church of Agia Irini holds a traditional festival at the end of August. But with a beach as good as Perissa’s, sightseeing will be the last thing on your mind.