Anchorage· Santorini (Thira)· Greece — Cyclades
Red Beach Anchorage (Akrotiri)
36° 20.8′ N · 25° 23.5′ E
Anchor off the rust-red cliffs of Red Beach on Akrotiri's south coast, a dramatic lunch stop in the lee of the Akrotiri peninsula, but the cliff above is actively collapsing.
Practical
Marker coordinates from sailingissues, about 200 m south of the beach. Sailingissues: open to the south; use a trip line. Medgulets (March 2026): boats anchor beyond the swimming zone; calm in northerlies but southerly winds raise a noticeable swell. Noonsite comment (2016): a safe anchorage but expect uncomfortable rolling. ROCKFALL: the cliffs are unstable volcanic rock, and parts of the beach and trail have been closed intermittently since 2013 (Wikipedia, Medgulets). Do not land under the cliff face or swim close to it, obey closure signs and municipal tape, and do not use the beach as a dinghy landing when closed; land at Ta Delfinia's dock in the Akrotiri bay instead. The 2025 seismic swarm raised the rockfall risk around Santorini's cliffs. Keep a lookout for water taxis shuttling between Akrotiri pier and Red and White beaches in summer. Small rocks lie off the headland to the west (OSM, about 36.3455 N 25.3830 E).
Best for
Daytime stop for the Red Beach view in N winds
Season
May-Oct in N winds; leave in S winds; rockfall risk year-round
Nearby
- Red Beach (Santorini)0.1 NM away
- Red Beach Snorkel (Akrotiri)0.1 NM away
- Kambia Beach Anchorage (Santorini)0.2 NM away
- Ta Delfinia Taverna (Akrotiri)0.3 NM away
- Melina's Tavern (Akrotiri Beach)0.4 NM away
- Taverna Glaros (Akrotiri)0.4 NM away
- Akrotiri Beach Anchorage & Buoys (Santorini)0.5 NM away
- White Beach Snorkel (Akrotiri)0.5 NM away