Are you planning a getaway to Santorini, Greece this summer? Lucky for you, here is a Santorini travel guide which will make it super easy for you to plan your perfect trip to this magnificent Greek island. The guide is packed with ideas on the best things to do in Santorini Greece including some of the most useful tips. So take a look and ensure you’re one step closer to your big adventure.
Santorini, also known as Thira, is one of the Cyclades islands located in the Aegean Sea, southeast of the Greece mainland. It’s one of the most beautiful islands in Greece and a top bucket list destination for many worldwide.
Santorini’s unique and stunning landscape is thanks to a volcanic eruption 3, 500 years ago, this left a C-shaped caldera where the island’s famous picturesque villages such as Oia and Fira are situated.
Tourists flock in droves to Santorini to see these outstandingly beautiful villages. The villages are home to whitewashed cuboid-shaped houses with dashes of colour and blue domed churches, all stacked tightly onto the inside rims of the caldera, overlooking several islands including the volcanic islands of Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni which are partly in the azure waters of the Aegean Sea.
Remarkably, the sun dramatically sets right over these pretty villages of Santorini creating some of the most spectacular sunset views you’ll ever set your eyes on.
Apart from its magnificent villages and beautiful sunsets, there are many other great things to do in Santorini, from unique red and black sand beaches to ruins of a Prehistoric Minoan settlement which is often likened to Pompei in Rome and a wine culture dating back to ancient times.
Santorini is a perfect holiday destination to visit solo, as a couple or family with older children either for a week long break or a brief stop during an island hopping trip of the Greek islands. Full day Santorini trips by ferry from other nearby Greek islands such as Mykonos, Ios and Crete are quite popular and worthwhile.
First things first; our take on Santorini Island in Greece.
I visited Santorini with my son Tyrone and although we felt our visit was worthwhile, we also think that Santorini as a whole is quite overrated. We still recommend that you visit for the most part to see incredible Oia and experience Santorini’s spectacular sunset, but also prepare for astronomical prices and crowds especially if you’re visiting during the months of July and August.
Related: Things to Do in Athens
Without any further delay, here is our list of what to do in Santorini.
Things to Do in Santorini
1. Explore Fira
The first port of call for most visitors to Santorini is the island’s capital and the largest village known as Fira and sometimes referred to as Thira.
Fira is located in the western part of Santorini with most of its buildings situated along the cliffs of the caldera, directly across from the volcano islands of Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni as well as nearby Therasia Island which are all partly in the beautiful Aegean Sea.
Fira is a gorgeous town adorned with white-washed and colourful buildings which Santorini is best known for. It’s also the most bustling spot on the island where the bulk of the island’s shops (mostly tourist-orientated), restaurants of all kinds, bars and nightclubs can be found.
Start your tour of Fira by taking a stroll along the village’s main street which runs along the cliffs of the caldera and opens up to a series of jaw-dropping views, a picturesque network of narrow winding streets and squares.
The white-domed, Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, along the main street, is not to be missed. Its interior is tastefully decorated with colourful frescoes and chandeliers. The area around the cathedral is also a great spot to experience Santorini’s famous sunset.
If history is more your thing, be sure not to miss the Museum of Prehistoric Thera where the exhibits take you through Santorini’s fascinating past. What stands out at the museum are the findings from the excavations at Akrotiri, a former Bronze Age Minoan settlement which was destroyed by the volcano that brought rise to the caldera.
After a day spent exploring Fira, be sure to sit back and enjoy a drink or meal in one of the restaurants and bars along the caldera cliff offering awesome caldera views. Just be mindful that these are also some of the most ridiculously expensive places to dine on the island.
We splurged on a fancy sunset dinner at the modern and stylish Marin Era Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, located along the Caldera cliffs and overlooking the bay in Fira.
The menu at Marin Era is created by renowned Greek Chef Giannis Baxevanis whose focus is on incorporating simple local ingredients like humble greens and carob into creating delicious and uniquely flavoured contemporary Greek dishes.
Marin Era’s cocktails are equally impressive and popular in Fira, so don’t miss this place if cocktails are your thing. Marin Era is considered one of the best restaurants in Santorini, so book ahead if planning to visit during peak season.
Interested in learning to cook Greek food? Check out these highly-rated Greek Cooking Class.
Good to Know!
Restaurants in Fira Santorini are mostly geared towards tourists and it can be difficult to find a good, reasonably priced meal. The main street which is inland of Fira and the surrounding area has some of the most affordable restaurants and bars in the village, though the food offered tends to be fast food.
Our Top Picks for Best Restaurants in Santorini.
- Marin Era Restaurant and Cocktail Bar – is a modern traditional Greek restaurant which offers breathtaking views of the Caldera.
- Lucky’s Souvlakis – for souvlaki or gyros.
- FalafeLAND – for freshly made vegan falafels.
- Solo Gelato – for the best ice cream in Santorini!
- PK Cocktail Bar – cocktails and fabulous views.
- Coffee Island – for the best coffee in Santorini!
If you’re wondering where to stay in Santorini, Fira is a great choice especially if you’re relying on public transport to explore the island because it’s where the main bus station is located.
2. Take the Cable Car to the Old Port
Price: €6 each way
The Old Port in Santorini is located 220 meters below the steep volcanic cliffs of Fira town, so the cable car is the best choice to travel between these two points.
We suggest that you add the cable car to your list of things to do in Fira because the journey offers incredible views of the Caldera Santorini, the volcanic islands and the sea. Besides, this trip takes just 3 minutes each way, so it’s quite an easy trip to make even on a tight itinerary.
The Old Port itself is a bit shabby with just a few souvenir shops and tavernas which are not always open, even though it’s the main docking port for cruise liners in Santorini and one of the starting points for boat tours to the famous volcanic island of Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni.
You can also opt to get to the Old Port on foot, but the 600-stair journey each way requires time and a good fitness level. Donkeys are also widely used for this journey, but personally, it’s not an option I would choose.
Good to Know!
The path to the cable car station is marked from the main street in Fira which runs along the caldera.
3. Visit Oia
Oia pronounced “eea” is unquestionably the most stunning place in Santorini, if not the whole of Greece.
This world-famous village continues to attract droves of international visitors thanks to its picture-perfect, pristine, white-washed buildings, charming blue-domed churches, unique windmills, incredible views across the caldera and of course, dramatic sunsets.
Beyond all the buildings which are typical of Cycladic islands’ architecture, Oia offers polished pedestrian-only streets which are lined with upmarket shops, chic hotels, expensive restaurants and cafes with views to die for.
One of the most thrilling things to do in Oia is to take a stroll through its winding streets and discover some of its famous features, such as the two blue dome-churches of Agios Spyridonas and Anastasios, the Church of Panagia Platsani which is located on the village’s main square and the ruins of a former Byzantine Castle, Oia Castle, which overlooks the stunning red rocked Ammoudi Bay.
Due to its elevated position in Oia, Oia Castle is one of the best vantage points to watch the sunset. This is also one of the most popular things to do in Santorini for couples, so don’t miss it if you’re one, but prepare for crowds.
If you appreciate a good bookshop, a visit to Atlantis Books on the main street in Oia is not to be missed. This pretty bookshop which is highly rated worldwide is a real treasure trove for vintage and rare books as well as modern literature in various languages.
Good to Know!
If you’re feeling peckish and happen to enjoy seafood, the fish restaurants on Ammoudi Bay provide the perfect backdrop for a casual bite to eat. Ammoudi Bay is about 200 steps down from Oia village centre which you can either do on foot or by car.
Ammoudi Bay is also a popular sunset viewpoint in Oia and the last stop for many of the sunset boat tours, sailing or catamaran cruises in Santorini.
There is no beach in Oia per se, so if you’re looking for a spot to swim with fabulous sunset views, Lioyerma Lounge Cafe Pool Bar in the village is a great option though you have to make a purchase to be admitted.
- Want to fly over Santorini’s stunning villages and caldera? See this highly-rated Santorini Helicopter Experience and Photography Tour.
4. Hike from Fira to Oia
Taking the challenge to hike from Fira to Oia or vice versa is rewarded with some of the most spectacular scenery in Santorini.
The Fira to Oia hike trail starts at the Atlantis Hotel in the centre of Fira, close to the main bus and taxi station. This trail passes through the scenic traditional villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli, which are all located along the steep cliffs of the caldera, overlooking several islands which are partly in the wonderful Aegean Sea.
In addition to attractive whitewashed and colourful cave houses, you can also expect to find other Santorini landmarks on this route which include Skaros Rock in Imerovigli (a huge outcrop offering amazing views of the caldera) and the cute Chapel of Panagia Theoskepasti which sits below it, as well as the 17th-century convent, Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas, located between Firostefani and Imerovigli, which is home to important Byzantine art.
The stunning village of Imerovigli sits at 300 meters above sea level, so it’s one place not to miss during your tour of Santorini to enjoy splendid views of the caldera, the volcano in the sea as well as the sunset.
Good to Know!
Sun protection and comfortable walking shoes are recommended for this hike because the trail is unshaded, steep and unpaved in some parts. You can opt to hike from Imerovigli to Oia (the most scenic part of this trail) if the 10.5km hiking distance is a bit much and get a bus or taxi back at the end of the route.
If you’re visiting during peak season, most shops, restaurants and bars along the trail will be open in case you wish to take a break for refreshments.
The Fira to Oia hike is a popular one, which is well-marked and easy to navigate, however, you can also opt to join the many available small group tours.
Fira to Oia hike trail starts here
5. Visit Red Beach
It’s fair to say that Santorini isn’t a beach destination, however, Red Beach is worth checking out even briefly if your itinerary is tight. Red Beach is located in the southern part of the island, about a 20-minute drive from Fira and very close to the ancient ruins in Akrotiri.
As the name suggests, Red Beach and all its surroundings are magnificently red, from gigantic red, steep cliffs to uniquely vivid, red gravel-like sand. The beach overlooks the deep blue Aegean Sea and the contrast between the two makes for a picturesque setting perfect for your awesome Santorini photos.
Red Beach was our favourite of all the beaches we visited in Santorini even though it’s more on the wild side and comes without facilities.
It’s a great spot to spend a few hours enjoying fabulous views. We hiked to the elevated parts of the beach and sat down for a while with some beers that we had bought after a fun beer-tasting session at Santorini Brewing Company.
Good to Know!
As you’ll find during your visit to Red Beach, there are several warnings of rockslides and landslides, so take extra caution. Swimming is also popular at Red Beach, but take caution as we didn’t notice any lifeguards in sight during our visit.
Red Beach is a popular stop for many boat cruises around the island, so if you won’t be driving, this might be a better choice to take as it’s difficult to get to without a car.
All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are very popular in Santorini and a good choice to consider if you have the appropriate license.
We drove to Red Beach, however, the drive is not for the faint of heart as it’s quite steep.
- Interested in exploring Santorini beaches on horseback? Check out these top-rated Santorini Horse Riding tour guide experiences.
6. Head to Kamari Beach
If you’re longing to spend a day at the beach swimming, sunbathing and experiencing a variety of fun water adventures, Kamari Beach will surely impress you.
Kamari Beach is one of the best and most popular beaches in Santorini. It’s a “Blue Flag Awarded” beach which stretches for about 5 km. Like many of the beaches in Santorini, it’s a black sand beach with crystal clear waters which is sheltered by a gigantic sea rock where ruins of Ancient Thera can be found, so it’s quite a lovely scenic spot on the island.
Kamari Beach has all the entertainment you can think of to have fun in the water, including beach bars and restaurants, sun beds, washing facilities as well as lifeguards. It’s also an ideal spot for various water sports such as skiing, snorkelling, surfing and more.
A multitude of sports clubs in Kamari offers equipment rentals without prior booking for items such as jet skis, surfing boards, private volcano boat tour and sunset cruises.
I’m told Kamari Beach is one of the most bustling places in Santorini during peak season. Unfortunately during our recent visit, we found it quiet with only a few beach bars and restaurants open. Nevertheless, we thought that the long walk we had on this long beach was quite delightful.
Kamari village hosts the famous Open Air Cinema each summer which is worth checking out. It’s one of the highly rated things to do in Santorini for families, so be sure not to miss it, especially if movies are your thing.
2024 Open Air Cinema Schedule
Good to Know!
Due to the nature of the gravel-like sand on Kamari Beach, water shoes are recommended for comfort and safety.
Kamari Village is a great cheap alternative to use as a base instead of the more expensive villages along the caldera such as Oia, Fira and Imerovigli.
Perissa Beach and Perivolos Beach are other great Santorini beaches worth exploring and also they’re good choices for basing yourself especially if your budget is tight.
7. Take a Wine Tasting Tour
Price: €115pp – Top Santorini Tours (Duration 4 Hours)
A wine tasting tour is another absolute must, especially if you enjoy wine or want to learn a thing or two about Santorini wines.
Santorini is one of the oldest and top wine-producing regions in Greece with several indigenous grape varieties that are popular with wine fanatics worldwide. Particularly outstanding is the white grape, Assyrtiko, which is used in the making of most white wines in Santorini.
Santorini wines are famed for their excellent quality and special characteristics thanks to the island’s unique volcanic soil which is considered among the best for growing wine grapes.
Take a wine tour to sample some of the best wines the island produces while also uncovering the many fascinating facts of this ancient tradition.
A group or private wine tour usually involves being collected from your chosen point, touring several wineries as part of a small group, followed by a wine sampling session with an opportunity to buy your favourites to bring home with you.
Good to Know!
Most wineries in Santorini offer a walk-in wine-tasting experience without prior booking which is a great budget-friendly option to consider. We did a walk-in wine tasting which we highly recommend at Art Space Winery (€20pp), located in Exo Gonia, just an 8-minute drive from Fira.
At Art Space, wine tasting rooms are housed in a unique cave which is also home to a colourful Art Gallery, so if you’re interested in local art, then, don’t miss it. We met a staff who is a real wine expert at Art Space. She was also super-friendly and the tasting session was perfectly paired with beautiful local cheeses.
Even though Art Space is one of the smallest wineries in Santorini, their vineyards are fully organic and all their wines are only sold directly from them, so this would be a great chance to sample some of the most exceptional wines on the island.
Popular Wine Tasting Tours
Good to Know
Santorini’s volcanic soil is not only ideal for growing grapes for wine production but also for a special cherry tomato variety. Unfortunately, tomato production on the island has declined over the past decades.
However, the Tomato Industrial Museum in Vlychada is keeping Santorini’s rich tomato-growing heritage alive by taking you through the journey of growing and past industrial processing of tomatoes on the island.
Don’t miss the Tomato Museum if you’re in search of unique things to do in Santorini and love to discover fascinating curiosities. Plan your visit here.
8. Go Beer Tasting
Price: Free
If you’re a beer lover, a beer-tasting session at Santorini Brewing Company in Episkopi Gonias is definitely one of the best activities in Santorini you shouldn’t miss.
The story of Santorini Brewing Company is quite unique and different from most typical breweries. It’s Santorini’s first and only brewery which was established in 2011 by a group of beer fanatics from different parts of the world with a focus on producing high-quality, unfiltered and unpasteurised beer.
Santorini Brewing Company’s beers whose cool names are donkey-inspired (donkeys are a huge part of life in Santorini) include “lagered ales” with names such as Yellow Donkey, Red Donkey and Lazy Ass, a blonde beer named Blue Donkey and an IPA (India Pale Ale) called Crazy Donkey. Crazy Donkey, the brewery’s only IPA, is the first IPA to ever be produced in Greece making a visit here even more super exciting.
The beer tasting at Santorini’s Brewing Company involves sampling several of their beers while also learning about the interesting processes involved in the production of each beer. Keep in mind that the tasting room at this brewery is small with no bar license, so if you’re interested in trying more of their beers which aren’t offered with the tasting, you’ll have to either have them on the brewery’s patio or take them home as souvenirs.
The beer tasting at Santorini’s Brewing Company was one of Tyrone’s favourite experiences, so this will be one of the great things to do in Santorini for young adults to add to your list if there is one among you.
As well as the awesome beer-tasting experience, we both loved the brewery’s small shop which offers good quality and decently priced “cult donkeys” merchandise and accessories.
Good to Know!
If you can’t make it out to Santorini Brewing Company, don’t panic as their beers are sold in most bars, restaurants and supermarkets on the island.
No prior booking is required at Santorini Brewing Company, but calling ahead of your visit is recommended. Santorini Brewing Company
Good to Know
Santorini’s volcanic soil is not only ideal for growing grapes for wine production but also a special variety of a cherry tomato. Tomato production on the island has declined over the past decades. However, the Tomato Industrial Museum in Vlychada is keeping Santorini’s rich tomato growing heritage alive by taking you through the journey of growing and past industrial processing of tomatoes on the island. Don’t miss the Tomato Industrial Museum if you appreciate unique experiences.
9 Take a Boat Tour
Price: From €25
Another fabulous way to see Santorini’s Caldera is from the water, so make sure to take a boat tour and explore the island in its full glory. Additionally, Santorini gets overcrowded in summer which can make it uncomfortable to have fun. A small group boat tour or private tour is a great way to enjoy the sea undisturbed whilst also indulging in the great food and drink which most boat tour operators offer.
There are so many boat tours available in Santorini which provide varying experiences such as the Nea Kameni volcano tour, the Palea Kameni hot springs tour, the Thirassia day tour as well as sailings around the caldera at sunset.
To visit some of the most beautiful beaches in Santorini which are also not easily accessible such as Red Beach and White Beach, choose to join a catamaran cruise. Most of these cruises also include stops at the volcano and hot springs and sail along the caldera including the village of Oia, the island’s most stunning village.
Good to Know!
Boat tours in Santorini are highly popular during the summer, so book ahead, especially if you’re thinking of renting privately.
- Interested in scuba diving? Check out these top-rated Santorini Scuba Diving Tours.
10. Take a Day Trip
If you’re spending over three days in Santorini, why not take a day trip to explore other amazing attractions within Santorini’s vicinity?
Although Santorini is close to many other fabulous Cyclades islands such as Paros, Naxos and Mykonos, it’s not always feasible to visit them as day trips due to the ferry schedules. Furthermore, some of the slow ferries just take forever, so it’s not a good use of time.
Thirassia Island, located across from Santorini’s caldera and an extension of Oia municipality, is one of the perfect day trip destinations from Santorini.
This island which was once part of Santorini Island, but split by the volcano eruption which formed the caldera, has remained untouched over the centuries. Thirassia is a great spot to get away from it all since the island is home to only about 300 permanent inhabitants.
If you appreciate charming low-key villages, are keen on exploring authentic, traditional Greek food and enjoy the outdoors, then, choose a day trip to Thirassia.
Good to Know!
Most boat tours to Thirassia Island leave from Ammoudi Bay in Oia as well as the Old Port in Fira. The journey takes less than 20 minutes and costs around €5.
Also, most Santorini boat tours to the volcano and hot springs usually include a brief stop at Thirassia, so this will be a great option if your itinerary is tight.
11. Visit Pyrgos
There is no visit to Santorini complete without a trip to the village of Pyrgos, the one-time capital of the island. Pyrgos boasts some of the most awesome panoramic views of the island due to its elevated position which is high above the cliffs of Mount Profitis Ilias.
Like other villages on the island such as Oia and Fira, Pyrgos’ beauty also lies in its whitewashed cuboid-shaped cave homes, blue-domed churches as well as a maze of pretty narrow winding streets. Pyrgos is also the most preserved village on the island where you’ll find medieval castles and churches though some are shabby and inaccessible.
Pyrgos has a much quieter vibe compared to other villages on the island although personally, I think it’s one of the most charming villages in Santorini with a magical feel that you won’t find in many places in Santorini.
If you’re in search of the best spots to watch the sunset, definitely add Pyrgos to your list of things to do on Santorini Island.
Good to Know!
Pyrgos is located inland of Santorini, less than a 10-minute drive southeast of the capital Fira. There is no direct bus to Pyrgos, but buses to Perissa pass through Pyrgos.
I hope you enjoy your trip to Santorini. If you found our Things to Do Santorini Greece travel guide useful, please share!
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Nathan
Well written and detailed article. I can’t wait to visit Santorini in September .
adelaide
I’m glad you liked the post. Enjoy Santorini!
Sabrina Lima
lol I found here so many useful information… Thank you
I am very excited to go to the island this summer
adelaide
Thanks Sabrina I hope you’ll have a great time in Santorini. Let me know how you get on