Kamari - village in Thira, Greece

Kamari is a seaside village on the southeast side of Santorini, an island that is part of the Cyclades group of Greek islands. It has a long black sand and shingle beach. Though there are many taverns, bars and clubs Kamari has a far more relaxed atmosphere than Thira. There are all the usual water based activities plus a regular water taxi to take you round the headland to neighboring Perissa.

Get in

The airport is very close about 3 km. Most days the noise from landing planes is sporadic and kept to daylight hours. There are exceptions to this.

Get around

If staying in Kamari for a week a rental car, scooter or quad would be advised for about 3 days. Most companies offer discounts for rentals of this period. While scooters and quads are very popular, the vehicle best suited to exploring the island in full is a small 4x4 like the ever-popular convertible Suzuki Jimny. For the even more adventurous there are street-legal beach buggies that seat 2 and look like a lot of fun.

There is ample parking by the beach, with several larger car parks (so don't bother with street parking)

See

Ancient Thira is literally above Kamari. There are buses available to take you to the top but you can walk or drive. The walk takes about an hour and is quite steep. The drive is up a cobble-stone cliff-side twisty road and requires not only confidence behind the wheel but the ability to ignore your scared passengers who are actually looking down. The site is open from 10:00 -14:30 most days (closed on Mondays).

Do

There is an outdoor cinema about a 20-minute walk from the beach that has one showing everyday at 21:30. The film changes every few days and are published in a leaflet which can be found in most towns around the island (there is a poster board just south of the bus station in Thira). The films tend to be American blockbusters, but it also shows some Greek movies. Tickets are €8 and there is a bar on site. Smoking is acceptable and even dogs are left in to watch the movie with their owners.

Buy

Eat

The streets of Kamari are abundant with restaurants and especially so along the beach. Kamari is a great place to while away the afternoons sipping cocktails before heading to a great restaurant for a truly memorable meal. While some places in particular are mentioned below, most of the restaurants offer incredible food at good prices (budget €40 for a meal for 2 with drinks). If a restaurant is empty or has staff who are overly keen to get you in the door with offers of free wine or discounts, move on. To cater the tourists from around the world, Kamari also has restaurants that serve Chinese, Thai and British cuisines.

• Alexander's Restaurant about 50 m from the main bus terminal, offers fresh fish, steaks and Macedonian specialties. Very high quality of food and very very tasty.
• No Name tavern next to Alexander's Restaurant. Offers a large variety of delicious Greek food.
• El Greco on the beachfront. The seafood in general and calamari in particular are very good.
• Saliveros at Kamari Beach. Good food and special price. Great location in the promenade in Kamari

Drink

• Hook Bar on the beach promenade in the big rock end of the promenade. Good music.
• Prince Bar-Restaurant in the centre of Kamari (500 parking space) excellent place; the best choice
• Splash Bar - Restaurant on the beautiful beach of Kamari you can find an oasis of refreshment in the form of Splash Cafe-Bar-Restaurant.

Sleep

• Acqua Vatos Hotel, +30 22860 31660. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 12:00. Three-star hotel fully renovated in spring 2011. €50
• Tamarix Del Mar Hotel. The hotel Tamarix del Mar suites was built in 2003.
• Kafouros Hotel. Small, friendly, family-run with a great pool and bar that's open till late. Handy to the beach and space to park your rental car. Adonis and his family will become friends who you want to return to see.
• Makris Beach Hotel Large apartments 20 meters from the main beach of Kamari. Located at the center of Kamari.
• Hotel Sunshine A small and expensive hotel by the beach promenade. Has very basic standard. Staff not particularly friendly. Many of the "balconies" are so small that for all practical purposes they cannot be used.
• Aegean Plaza Resort. A four-star hotel with a traditional and unique Cycladic architecture, combined with modern facilities.
• Alesahne Beach Hotel.
• Irini's Rooms, +30 22860 31246. A family owned business.
• Bellonias Villas, +30 22860 31138. A sophisticated, Cycladic-style complex of hotel apartments, studios and suites
• Mediterranean Royal, Aghia Paraskevi, +30 22860-31167, reservations@medhotel.gr. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. €20 minimum price
• Imperial Med Hotel, Aghia Paraskevi, 36.394546°, 25.484295°, +30 22860 32532. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Traditional Cycladic architecture.
• Kalya Suites and Studios, +30 22860 30210, info@kalyasuites.gr. Suites and studios with pool.

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