Villages and Beaches of Santorini
Apart from Fira, the island's capital, and Imerovigli, the unique village built in the lip of the crater a few kilometers away from Fira, there are three other locations on the island that attract many visitors. First is Oia (also known as Apano Meria), the most northerly town, which is picturesque, majestic and wild. Secondly, are Kamari and Perissa, two coastal settlements with a marvellous beach of black sand and all the delights of the seaside. There are also all around the island a lot of traditional villages with unique atmosphere, like Vourvoulos, a cute village not far from Oia, with view to the valley and the sea.

Fira
    
 Fira is the capital of Santorini with a population of about 1650 people. The origin of the name "Fira" is from the adjective "pyrros" which means reddish, flame-colored, or even yellowish and which has come to modern Greek as "fyros" or "firos".
Fira stands on the edge of a sheer cliff, 260m above the sea. The combination of magnificent landscape and volcano with the famous Cycladic architecture makes Fira one of the worlds most beautiful places.

In Fira one should visit the old Catholic Dominican Convent and the Orthodox and Catholic cathedrals. One also should not miss a visit to the Archaelogical Museum of Fira that has on display mainly finds from the excavations at Mesa Vouno conducted by Friedrich Hiller von Goertringen between 1896 and 1900. There are also finds and private collections dating from the period previous to this dig and finds from the most recent investigation of the Akrotiri site by archaeologist Spyros Marinatos

Imerovigli
    
 Imerovigli is a quite picturesque village built in the lip of the crater in a distance of three kilometers from the centre of Fira. The name presumably comes from the days of piracy, and means the day- time lookout post. The site of the village more or less at the centre of the caldera and at it's highest point offers a magnificent view of the volcano and the whole area. 
s we pass through the village in the direction of the caldera, we will encouter the path to Skaros for one of the most exciting walks the island has to offer.
This dazzlingly white little building, apparently growing out of the rock, commands the abyss from on high. The walk takes at least an hour, there and back, and should not be attempted by those who suffer from vertigo. 

Oia
    

Oia is the second most important village of Santorini, and for many its more beautiful spot. Although Oia is often crowded it is not nearly a wordly place as Fira. There are two paths with steps, one running down to Armeni beach with its little chapel of St. Nicholas on the rock, and the other going to Ammoudi beach. There are a few fish-taverns in the little harbour next to Ammoudi beach where one can taste excellent sea food and local wine.
 In Oia the visitor will also admire the local traditional architecture. The old settlements ('skafta') have been restored in the traditional style and bring all the village's picturesqueness to life. The Marine Museum and the ochra-painted mansions at Ano Meria preserve memories of Oia's seafaring past. But one thing you should not miss in Oia is the sunset.

Kamari
    
 Kamari is a coastal settlement which has literally grown from nothing and has developed at an amazing rate. Now it is a large village of some 600 inhabitants, which grows larger and more developed every year. 
 Kamari owes this burst of development to its sea and its beach. It is a long east facing beach, with coarse black sand with its south end protected by the perpendicular mass of Mesa Vouno. The water is crystal-clear. More or less anything one could possibly want is to be found here: a large hotel with swimming pool, rooms for rent, hosts or restaurants, fish tavernas, a cinema, disqoteques, and space to put up tents. It is a pity, though, that the beach itself cannot be made any bigger.

Perissa
    
 Perissa is another coastal settlement that lies in a distance of 15 km from the capital Fira. Some of the best swimming on the island is to be had here, in the shelter of the enormous rock of Mesa Vouno.
the stony mass of Mesa Vouno rising almost perpendicular at the eastern end of the beach has nothing in common with the type of stone to which Santorini has so far accustomed us. This is one of the pics of ancient Aegeis which remained above the surface of the sea when the Aegean was formed and consequently was there before the volcano erupted and before Santorini came into being. The beach of Perissa along with Kamari are the most frequented on the island. 
Perissa has all the necessary facilities, restaurants, refreshment stands, beach bars, etc. The visitor should visit the main church dedicated to the Holy Cross , which is the largest on the island, and the chapel of St. Irene, dating from the late 16th century, and claimed by many to be the origin of the name of the island.

Vourvoulos
    
 This is a traditional village which is located at the northeastern side of the island, in the periphery of the capital town of Fira and at a distance of 2.5 km. The village of Vourvoulos is an ideal place to stay during your vacations since it is located between the picturesque village of Oia at the north end and Santorini's famous black sandy beaches and places of archaelogical interest in the south.
From the verantas of the houses in the village the visitor can enjoy the serene atmosphere of the island, having a view of both the valley and the sea, which is at a distance of about 1.5 km.  
This is where you will also find an picturesque organized beach.

Through the serene site of the village the visitor can enjoy the enchanting rising and the nightly voyage of the moon and of course the sunrise.
The village is connected with transportation to the beach and Oia, and through the capital with the rest of the island.

At the Vourvoulos village you will find taverns, fish taverns with local dishes, mini market and ice-cream-parlour.
Besides the fact that the village is located right next to the cosmopolitan capital of the island and it's organized beach, it also has the advantage to be in the northeastern side where lonely beaches are (not organized - not Touristic) on which the visitors have the chance to enjoy the Aegean Sea right next to the erotic and strange landscape which was created by the Volcano explosions.

Red Beach.   (Akrotiri beach)
    
Not far from the ancient sites at Akrotiri, is the red beach with the same name. You couldn't ask for a more breathtaking setting for a swim. Soaring red lava cliffs which drop right to the black sandy shore and into the clear blue sea make for a majestic setting and one to enjoy. Meals and snacks can be found at a nearby hotel and if you like excursions, boats leave from Akrotiri to other beaches further down the southwest coast. 

Monolithos Beach
    
 Just north of kamari and on the eastern coast is the beach of Monolithos. Here you will find more peace and quiet than other Santorini beaches, however with all the comforts of the other beaches as there are bungalows facilities for snacks and meals available.