Local Bus Ride From Oia To Perissa (Via Fira)
The beach paradise is situated 15 km southeast of
Fira, extending for 7 km on the south-eastern side of
Santorini. Visitors can easily get there by car, quad bikes or like us, by bus – taking the local bus ride from
Fira to
Perissa.
I mentioned in one of my earlier blog posts that
there is a well-organised public bus service on the island of Santorini, connecting the airport to
Fira (where the central bus station is located) and various destinations on the island. Read the info and get the
respective timetables plus bus fares for the busses
here.
That said, my sister and I made our journey from
Oia to
Perissa, happily changing busses at the
central bus station in Fira. The scenic journey from
Oia to
Fira, then to
Perissa took about an hour.
The bus ride from Oia to Fira costs €1.80 per person (one way), whereas the bus ride from Fira to Perissa costs €2.30 per person (one way).
In
Perissa, the local bus dropped its passengers at the bus stop located across the road of
The Blue Flag Restaurant. The establishment also happens to be a boat station offering boat rides to the
Red Beach and
Kamari. At the seafront of the restaurant lies the famous
Black Sand Beach.
The majestic cliffs in Santorini
The beautiful village of Perissa, Santorini
The beautiful village of Perissa, Santorini
The local bus stop in Perissa (Black Sand Beach)
The Blue Flag Restaurant on the Black Sand Beach of Perissa, Santorini. It is also a boat station that offers boat rides to the Red Beach and Kamari
The rocky mountain of Mesa Vouno at the Black Sand Beach of Perissa, Santorini
The unique Black Sand Beach of Perissa, Santorini
The Black Sand Beach – Of Fine Black Sand Grains & Smooth Colourful Pebbles
It was our first time being in Perissa, and standing on a black sand beach. So naturally, my sister and I were very excited to be at the Black Sand Beach and cannot wait to explore the area, soak our feet in the water and play in the sand! Like little girls, we hurried across the road towards the beach.
On the beach, we spent an entire minute standing in awe of the beautiful scenery before us; breathing in the fresh air, enjoying the cold sea breeze and basking in the peace and serenity surrounding us. We felt as if time stood still when we were there.
The sandy beach, like its name, is black in colour. The black sand grains are fine and smooth to the touch. However, we were in for a surprise! As we walked further down the beach, the fine sand grains are replaced by smooth pebbles of a variety of colours, shapes and sizes. It was a one-of-a-kind sight – uniquely Perissa.
Now, although those pebbles are fun to watch and play with, they are not fun to walk on barefoot at midday, especially during hot summer days where the pebbles are scorching hot to the touch. Do take note of that especially when one plans to visit the Black Sand Beach during summer months.
Walking on the fine, smooth sand on the Black Sand Beach of Perissa, Santorini
Warm, crystal clear waters at the Black Sand Beach of Perissa, Santorini
Smooth pebbles of a variety of colours, shapes and sizes at Black Sand Beach of Perissa, Santorini
Balancing rocks on the Black Sand Beach of Perissa, Santorini
The Black Sand Beach of Perissa, Santorini
Wooden deck chairs with straw umbrellas decorate the Black Sand Beach of Perissa, Santorini
Imagine yourself chilling on the Black Sand Beach, sipping a glass of cocktail or fruit juice - bliss!
The Little Mermaid Rock & The Warm Aegean Sea
My sister and I visited Santorini during the late autumn where it was cold but surprisingly, the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean Sea was relatively warm! We thought it would be cold, but a dip into the sea proved otherwise. Needless to say, we had a splashing time at the beach.
Unfortunately, no mermaids were spotted during our visit to the Black Sand Beach. The Little Mermaid Rock is actually a name I gave to a cluster of big rocks lying on the black sand beach. Since it looks like the spot where The Little Mermaid would sit and sing her heart out as she admires the beauty of the sea, I decided to gave it that name.
Whether there are mermaids or not, it is undeniable that the cluster of rocks make a wonderful spot for photography – featuring the Black Sand Beach on the foreground and a glimpse of Mesa Vouno rocky mountain and the beautiful Agean Sea in the background. The photos taken at the The Little Mermaid Rock serve as a wonderful memento of our amazing time at the Black Sand Beach, Perissa.
The Little Mermaid at the Black Sand Beach of Perissa, Santorini ♡
The Church of Holy Cross in Perissa, Santorini
The majestic bell tower or minaret of the Church of Holy Cross in Perissa, Santorini
Souvenir shops and restaurants around the Church of Holy Cross, Perissa
Beautiful Blue Domed Churches, Lavish Greek Restaurants / Taverns & Sunset By The Beach
There are many restaurants and taverns that serve good traditional Greek and international cuisine to visitors of the beach in Perissa. Sadly, I could not recommend any particular restaurants in the area for my sister and I did not patronise any of the establishments there.
We did however, explored the surrounding areas of the beach that lead us to the discovery of an interesting blue domed church located at the corner of the road / junction. It is the Church of Holy Cross, among the largest churches in Santorini. Unlike the churches that I have seen in Oia and Fira, this blue domed church in Perissa looks slightly different; it has an interesting-looking bell tower / minaret that captured my attention.
Since it was getting late, we did not stay long at the church and hurried back to the Black Sand Beach to watch the sunset. It was a priceless experience, one that we will remember for life. After that, we made our way towards the bus stop and took the second last bus back to Fira (5.30pm). At the central bus station in Fira, we took a bus back Oia (6.50pm) where we had a simple dinner and a good night’s rest.
The stretch of road teaming with Greek and international restaurants and taverns in front of the Black Sand Beach of Perissa, Santorini
Sightseeing in Perissa, Santorini
Watching the sunset on the Black Sand Beach of Perissa, Santorini is priceless!
The local bus stop in Perissa (Black Sand Beach), Santorini
Dusk at the Black Sand Beach of Perissa, Santorini
Mesa Vouno is said to shine in the dark - can anyone verify that? We did not stay long enough to witness the natural phenomenon
Up next: Sightseeing in Fira town and our delectable frozen Greek yoghurt experience
