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Santorini Greece Travel Guide & Best things to do

The little island of Santorini in Greece is famous for its photogenic old blue-and-white buildings, beautiful high end hotels with infinity pools, and sweeping views of the ocean.

Santorini is almost synonymous with luxury nowadays, but it’s also possible to travel the island on a budget, and many of the best things to do in Santorini are free, such as strolling the historic towns, taking pictures, relaxing on the beach, and seeing the sunset.

No trip to the Greek islands is complete without spending a few days in Santorini, and it's now easier than ever to reach from Athens and other major European cities.

This Santorini travel guide will cover how to get there, where to stay, the best transport options and tour packages, as well as some of the top things to do on the island!

Where to stay in Santorini

Absolute Bliss

Athina Suites

Kalya Suites

Hyperion Suites

Best Santorini Tours

First of all, if you only have a short stay in Santorini, then a day tour can be a great way to see the island.

We recommend "GetYourGuide" for Santorini tours! They have high rated private tours or shred tours that go to a bunch of the best sights like Oia, Pyrgos, and Perissa.

You can also hire a private photographer to take pictures of you in a flowing dress, with the Santorini buildings and seascape in the background, like you always see on Instagram.

Where is Santorini Island

Santorini is an island in the Aegean Sea, southeast of mainland Greece. It's about 230 kilometers (140 miles) from Athens by air. While it's one of around 30 islands in the Cyclades group, Santorini is by far the most famous. It’s probably the most well-known island in Greece!

Santorini was formed by volcanic activity, and you can still see natural hot springs and other volcanic features around the caldera, which are interesting to explore.

How to Get to Santorini, Greece

You can reach Santorini Island by either by flight or taking a ferry.

Flight is the quickest, easiest, and most expensive option (but highly recommended). Santorini’s airport (JTR) has daily nonstop flights from Athens, as well as some international cities like Frankfurt, London, and Rome.

The flight from Athens to Santorini takes about 45 minutes and costs between 50 to 100 Euros one way with Aegean/Olympic Air or Sky Express.

Aegean (or its subsidiary Olympic Air) is generally the best choice over Sky Express, but any of these airlines will work. Most tickets include free checked baggage.

Transport

How to Get Around Santorini

The towns in Santorini, like Oia and Fira, are small and easy to explore on foot, so you can walk to restaurants and most attractions. However, if you want to explore beyond the towns, you'll need some form of transportation.

Taking the bus is a budget-friendly option for getting around Santorini. There are bus stations in all major areas, with the main hub in Fira. Buses are inexpensive and especially convenient during the busy summer months. However, in the off-season, bus connections are less frequent and might not be as reliable.

For short distance trips near town, there’s no Uber but you can hire a taxi. Use Welcome Pickups for our airport transfers in Santorini. They have clean cars and safe drivers who will bring you from the airport to your hotel, and vice versa.

Another good way to get around on Santorini Island is by renting a car or ATV (4 wheeler). There are many companies offering car rentals on the island, but Discover Cars is recommended!

Best things to do in Santorini

Oia Village

Oia village (pronounced ‘ee-yuh’) has some of the most beautiful views and accommodation in Santorini, with historic churches, colourful flowers, and epic ocean views.

This is the place you always see in the famous postcard photos of Santorini. There are a lot of things to see and do in Oia, and it probably has more photo spots than any other area of Santorini.

The main photo spot you can’t miss is the iconic view at Oia Castle, where you can see pretty much the whole town of Oia, with its whitewashed windmills and tightly packed buildings. This is a very popular sunset spot.

Another good photo spot in Oia is the view overlooking the iconic three blue domes of Santorini.

You can take some amazing pictures of these churches from either side, although you’ll have to wait in line a bit since it’s so popular. Remember to give photographers priority since their clients are paying to get special pictures.

When you get done exploring Oia town, walk down to Ammoudi Bay to see the fish tavernas and the Mediterranean Sea up close.

Fira Village

Fira is the capital of Santorini, and it’s also one of the main tourist areas on the island. Like Oia, it has stunning views of the caldera, and lots of luxury accommodation and scenic restaurants to go with it. One of the main photo spots in Fira is the view overlooking the iconic three bells of Fira.

However, our favorite spot in town was above the Church of St.John the Theologian. It’s a wonderful old building with an equally amazing background.

If you enjoy museums, Fira has two of them to check out — the Archaelogical Museum of Thera and the Museum of Orehistoric Thera.

Imerovigli Village

Imerovigli is a picturesque and underrated village in Santorini, often regarded as equally beautiful as Oia and Fira but less crowded with tourists.

The village offers a short hike to Skaros Rock, which provides stunning views of Imerovigli and the ruins of a Venetian Castle built in 1207 by Marco Sanudo. Continuing further leads to Theoskepasti Church.

Imerovigli is conveniently located within a 30-minute walk or hike to Fira, making it easy for visitors to access the main bus station and enjoy the attractions of the capital.

Perissa Beach

Perissa Beach is a stunning black sand beach located on the southeast coast of Santorini, approximately 12 kilometers from the island's capital, Fira. Here are some key highlights:

The beach offers a laid-back vibe, attracting a younger crowd looking for an affordable getaway. It features calm waters that are ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

Perissa is well-equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas available for rent, and many beachfront cafés and bars offer free loungers with a purchase. The beach has received the “Blue Flag” award for cleanliness and water quality.

Visitors can enjoy various water sports, including scuba diving, jet skiing, parasailing, windsurfing, and canoeing. The beach is also family-friendly, with a gentle entry into the water.

A beachfront promenade lined with restaurants and bars provides plenty of options for dining and refreshments. There are also diving centers and a small water park nearby.

Perissa Beach is easily accessible and offers a range of accommodations, from hotels to apartments, catering to different budgets.

Megalchori

Megalochori is a charming and traditional village located in the heart of Santorini, Greece. Megalochori is situated on a hill facing east, offering a tranquil atmosphere away from the bustling tourist spots. It features narrow, winding streets and a central square with a couple of tavernas, creating a quaint village vibe.

The village is at the center of Santorini's wine industry, surrounded by lush vineyards. Visitors can enjoy wine tasting at local wineries, sampling the famous Vinsanto wine, which has a rich history tied to the region.

Visitors can explore the village's hidden alleys, enjoy local cuisine at tavernas, and visit nearby attractions such as the Lost Atlantis Experience and the scenic Plaka and Thermi beaches, which are accessible on foot.

Megalochori is easily reachable by bus or rental vehicle from Fira, the capital of Santorini, making it a convenient spot for day trips to experience the authentic side of the island.

Pyrgos

The village of Pyrgos is the former capital of Santorini, and it’s still well worth a visit today. It sits on a foothill of Prophet Elias Mountain, so it’s great to visit on your way up to the mountain!

The main thing people come to see in Pyrgos is the medieval castle, but the cafes and restaurants are also worthwhile, and it’s fun to walk through the charming narrow streets and shop for Greek souvenirs. It’s easy to reach from Fira by bus, car, or ATV.

Prophet Elias Mountain

Prophet Elias Mountain, known as Profitis Ilias, is the highest peak in Santorini, standing at 567 meters above sea level. Prophet Elias Mountain is situated in the southeastern part of Santorini, between the villages of Pyrgos and Kamari.

The mountain offers breathtaking panoramic views of the entire island and the Aegean Sea. Visitors can reach the monastery via a winding road or hiking trails from Pyrgos, Kamari, or Perissa.

The area is ideal for trekking and enjoying the natural beauty of Santorini. There are also opportunities to purchase local products, including wines and olive oil made by the monks.

The monastery is open year-round, with daily evening prayers. While the monastery itself is not open to visitors, the surrounding areas and chapels can be explored.

Akrotiri Lighthouse

This is a 19th century lighthouse on the southwest tip of Santorini island. Even though it’s slightly off the beaten path compared to other attractions in Santorini, you can still get there easily with a rental car, and there’s plenty of parking.

The Akrotiri Lighthouse was built by a French company in 1892, so it’s actually one of the oldest lighthouses in Greece! Normally you can’t go inside the building, but the views outside are nice and it’s a fun place to watch the boats go by.

It’s also an especially popular spot to watch the sunset, but remember to hold onto your hat because it can get very windy here sometimes! It also has an amazing museum “Akrotiri Museum”

Map of Santorini Island

Best Sunrise / Sunset Spots In Santorini Greece

The main place to see the sunset in Santorini is at Oia, where hundreds of tourists gather at the Castle of Oia every evening to watch the sunset. It’s hard to move in the crowds, so you’ll want to get there very early if you plan to do sunset photography. For a less crowded sunset spot in Oia, you can also go to the iconic three blue domes.

Another great sunset spot in Santorini is Prophet Elias Mountain. It is very peaceful. It only takes about 10 minutes to drive to the top of this mountain from the nearby town of Pyrgos. From the top, you can see the entire island of Santorini!

For sunrise, the options in Santorini are a bit more limited, but you can see the sunrise at Perissa or Kamari Beach, the hillside of Ancient Thera, or Prophet Elias Mountain.

Last, but not least, there are lots of different sunset tour packages in Santorini that include free hotel pickup and drop-off. You can do a sunset cruise on a catamaran, go kayaking or horseback riding in the sunset, or see the iconic Oia castle sunset.

Other Santorini Tips

Credit Cards: You can pay by credit card for most hotels, restaurants, and other things in Santorini, but it’s still a good idea to carry a bit of cash (in Euros). Some smaller restaurants only take cash, or the card machines may go down.

ATM: There are ATMs within reach of every corner of the island. One thing to note is that the ATMs will offer you their own conversion rate (which is a really bad rate), or you can continue in Euros. Make sure you choose Euros without their silly conversion rate. This is a well known scam at ATMs in Greece, but it’s easily avoided if you know what you’re doing.

Cell Service: Phone reception is strong across all of Santorini island, so you won’t have any issues staying in touch.

WiFi: Internet quality in Santorini is better than the other Greek islands, in our experience. Don’t always expect WiFi speeds on par with Athens (or other European countries), but it’s generally good enough for emails, browsing, and streaming.

Language: The local language in Santorini is Greek, of course, but almost everyone speaks and understands enough English for conversation. Lots of American and British tourists visit the Aegian islands, so the locals are accustomed to speaking English with travelers.

Is Santorini Safe?

Yes, Santorini is a very safe place to visit, even outside of the resort areas.

Greece has one of the lowest homicide rates in the world. Just take normal precautions and you shouldn’t have any issues with crime. You don’t need to feel worried at all.

 Santorini On A Budget — Is It Possible?

Believe it or not, Santorini isn’t only for the super rich — even though many Americans have that image of it! It’s certainly possible to do Santorini on a budget, although you won’t be staying in a luxury hotel with an infinity pool or ocean views.

 Sample Itinerary For Santorini

Day 1

Oia- Stroll the streets of Oia town and soak up the views of the historic whitewashed buildings and Santorini windmills. Pay a visit to the Castle of Oia for an iconic view of the town, and then walk down to Ammoudi Bay to see the fish tavernas. Have a nice meal at one of the many scenic restaurants overlooking Santorini, and then finish the day with sunset watching at Oia Castle.

Day 2

Fira & Imerovigli- Walk around Fira town and see the iconic three bells of Fira and the Church of St.John the Theologian. Next, hike or take the bus to Imerovigli town and see the photogenic churches, flowers, and ocean views. Hike out to Skaros Rock and Theoskepasti Church.

Day 3

Perissa. Visit the Perissa area, relax at the black sand beach, shop for souvenirs, and enjoy some cheap and amazing food at one of the many Greek restaurants. See the Church of the Holy Cross and take some pictures. If you’re interested in hiking, climb up to the monastery on the side of the mountain Chapel of Panagia Katefiani. End the day by driving up Prophet Elias mountain for sunset.

Best Time To Visit Santorini Greece

The best time to visit Santorini depends on what you’re looking for.

The nicest weather in Santorini is generally from late April to early November. All of these months are mostly warm and sunny, with less rain than winter. The shoulder months in spring and autumn can be ideal if you’re wanting nice weather without the crowds.