Cine Kamari

Cine Kamari (also known as Open Air Cinema Kamari) is an open-air cinema located in Kamari on the Greek island of Santorini. According to its official website, it has been operating since 1987, offering visitors and locals evening film screenings in a garden-like setting that respects the traditional architecture of Santorini. The cinema shows first-run, A-class films in English with Greek subtitles; doors open at 20:30 and screenings begin at 21:30. It does not take reservations. The venue is a seasonal summer cinema, typical of the Greek open-air tradition that dates back to the early 20th century. Its programme mixes recent international releases with popular repertory titles — for example, its published 2026 schedule included films such as Mamma Mia!, Practical Magic 2 and Heart of the Beast. The cinema combines modern sound and projection with an atmospheric garden environment, discreet lighting and a bar for refreshments. Cine Kamari has received international recognition as a destination cinema. Its own history page states that it was named by the Travel Channel in 2012, The Guardian in 2014 and CNN in 2015 as one of the ten best open-air cinemas worldwide. This recognition, together with Santorini's status as a major holiday destination, has made the cinema a popular evening attraction for tourists and residents alike. The business is privately operated and is not part of a large cinema chain. It presents itself as aware of its role in the local community and seeks to cooperate with local society, though detailed ownership and corporate structure are not publicly documented in the available sources.

Cine Kamari is an open-air cinema in Kamari, on the Greek island of Santorini. Its official website states that the Open Air Cinema Kamari has continued since 1987 to offer visitors and locals unique evenings at the movies. The cinema belongs to a broader Greek tradition of open-air film exhibition: as its own history page explains, Greek theatres were open-roofed from ancient times, and after the arrival of cinema, films were shown in local kafeneions, central squares and theatres. In the 1920s films were still silent and accompanied by gramophones, pianos or orchestras; during the 1930s ticketed admission became compulsory, and open-air cinemas with their distinctive architecture — space for screen and audience, toilets, a bar and a projector room — spread across the country. Cine Kamari was established in this tradition on Santorini, an island that the cinema's own account describes as being within the first decade of the world's most popular holiday destinations. From its base in Kamari, the cinema has operated as a seasonal summer venue, showing films in English with Greek subtitles. Its garden-like setting, discreet lighting and respect for traditional Santorini architecture are presented as central to its identity, alongside modern sound and projection and a programme of A-class movies. International recognition followed in the 2010s. According to the cinema's history page, the Travel Channel in 2012, The Guardian in 2014 and CNN in 2015 each named the Open Air Cinema Kamari as one of the ten best open-air cinemas worldwide. This publicity helped cement its reputation as a destination cinema for Santorini's large tourist population as well as for local residents. The cinema continues to publish seasonal programmes; its website has listed screenings for 2026, including titles such as Mamma Mia!, Practical Magic 2, Heart of the Beast and Digger. It states that it does not take reservations, that doors open at 20:30 and that movies start at 21:30. The business describes itself as aware of its role in local society and as seeking to cooperate with the community. Detailed information about its ownership, founders or corporate structure is not provided in the available sources.

• 2026

  Published 2026 programme includes Mamma Mia!, Practical Magic 2, Heart of the Beast and Digger.

• 2015

  CNN names it one of the ten best open-air cinemas worldwide.

• 2014

  The Guardian names it one of the ten best open-air cinemas worldwide.

• 2012

  Travel Channel names it one of the ten best open-air cinemas worldwide.

• 1987

  Open Air Cinema Kamari begins operating in Kamari, Santorini.

Destination open-air cinema combining modern projection with traditional Santorini garden atmosphere; internationally ranked among the world's best outdoor cinemas.

• Open-air film screenings

  Seasonal summer screenings of first-run international films in English with Greek subtitles.

• Bar/refreshments

  On-site bar for refreshments, part of the traditional open-air cinema layout.

1. 1Santorini Cine Kamari | Santorini Open Air Cinema Kamarisantorinicinema.com
2. 2History of open Air Cinemas in Greece, Santorini Cine Kamari | Santorini Open Air Cinema Kamarisantorinicinema.com
3. 3Cine Kamariwikidata.org