Ammoudi Beach is easy to miss, because it’s tricky to reach. But whether you’re a thrill-seeker in search of the best cliff jumping spot in Santorini, or are simply after a swim and a sun-tan (I fall into the latter group, soz folks), this unique little corner of the island is gorgeous and downright wonderful.
*This site contains affiliate links, where I earn a small commission from purchases you make, at no cost to you.
My normal style when it comes to exploring is to give myself as much time as possible to wander aimlessly until I find something mind-blowing, and that was my exact tactic when I found my way to Ammoudi Beach. I walked from my lovely wine-cave accommodation to Fira, stumbled across a bus which was due to leave imminently, wandered aimlessly through the village of Oía and out the other side, continuing to aimlessly wander down a swelteringly hot pathway to Ammoudi Bay at the bottom of the rust-red cliffs.
(Greeting a few donkeys on the way, who did nothing much more back than flick a tail or bat an eyelid. It’s ok, I didn’t take it personally.)
Once I reached the little harbour front of Ammoudi and its tavernas heavy with the smell of grilling fish and octopus, I noticed a couple of people in the distance, picking their way along a crumbling pathway at the base of the cliff, directly underneath the Venetian Castle. They clearly knew something I didn’t, so I followed them.
What they knew, was that that pathway leads the way to Ammoudi Beach.
Staying in Fira? Here are the very best things to do in Santorini’s capital.
The walk to Ammoudi Beach
It didn’t take long to pick my way over the volcanic stones running around the base of the red cliff to the left of Ammoudi Bay, although it’s not the easiest pathway to follow. Santorini has its fair share of not-so-accessible beaches- like the Red Sand Beach at Akrotiri, which also lies at the bottom of a steep cliff- and Ammoudi Beach is definitely not easy to reach for the less mobile.
The pathway around the base of the cliff comes and goes, and there’s a lot of boulder-scrambling and amateur parkour to be done on the way around to the main beach and its famous cliff jumping spot.
One of Santorini’s best swimming spots
Around the last bend, and over some particularly large boulders, I could finally see what all the fuss was about. Ammoudi Beach is not a classic sandy beach- there are none of those to be found on this side of the island, just a steep drop into the ocean.
That’s what you get from an island formed out of a volcanic explosion.
Instead, there’s an old concrete platform jutting out from the rocks, where swimmers set up their towels like brightly coloured carpets on the stony floor; the Greek tourist board built this back in the early days of Santorini’s dabble into tourism. (The tourism thing clearly took off, but the path to Ammoudi Beach remains the same, plus a few crumbly bits.) There are no bathrooms or sun loungers or beach bars on this wild little outcrop, so if you’re after a more polished beach experience then you might need to head elsewhere.
Is Greece safe for solo female travellers?
But the water at Ammoudi Beach is warm, and there’s no denying its captivating beauty. This beach looks as if it belongs to another planet.
The rest of the island unravels southwards from Ammoudi Beach, and from the rocks here you can see all the way along the cliffs of the caldera to the other end of Santorini. Across the vivid blue water are the islands of Thirassia, and the volcanic Nea Kameni, two more arid rocky outcrops in the Cyclades’ most famous group of islands.
Cliff jumping at Ammoudi Beach
A short swim from the shore is Santorini’s best cliff-jumping spot- the rock of St Nicholas, a bulbous craggy form which rises out of the water as if from nowhere. In true Greek style, there’s a tiny church built on the eastern side of the rock. They love to put churches in surprising places, those Greeks do.
Pull yourself out of the water and clamber up to another concrete platform built about halfway up the height of the little islet; this is where the cliff jumping at Ammoudi Beach occurs. And if you don’t feel like throwing yourself into the Aegean Sea from all the way up there, it’s pretty entertaining to just sit and watch everyone else doing it.
Discover the Best Hikes in Santorini
Tips for visiting Ammoudi Beach
- To reach Ammoudi Beach by public transport, catch a bus from Thira to Oía and walk the rest of the way down the cliffs. Find the timetable here.
- Wearing sandals for the walk to Ammoudi Beach is possible, but not advisable. You have been warned.
- If you have sea shoes, it’s worth bringing them along. The rocks underwater are kind of painful to step on.
- There are plenty of places to eat at Ammoudi Bay. Find my list of favourites, yonder.
- In summer, Santorini can get ridiculously overcrowded. My favourite time to visit is in early Autumn, although the water is just starting to warm up in Spring; consider visiting during the off-season to make your experience an enjoyable one.