Santorini

Spring and autumn are the best seasons. Days are warm and crowds are smaller. The sea is warmest from July to October. July and August are hot, dry and very busy, and prices are highest. Winter is mild but wetter and windy. Many hotels, restaurants and boat trips close for the season.

Orthodox Easter falls in April or May. Churches hold processions during Holy Week.

• The old Venetian castle ruins (Agios Nikolaos) stand at the tip of Oia. This is the most popular place on the island to watch the sunset, so arrive early to find a spot.
• Skaros Rock is a rock headland above Imerovigli with views over the whole caldera. A short path leads out to it.
• Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira shows finds from the Bronze Age town of Akrotiri. It is a good first stop before you visit the site.
• Ancient Akrotiri is a Bronze Age town buried by the volcano about 3,600 years ago. Streets and multi-storey houses are still standing under a modern roof.
• Red Beach has red volcanic cliffs and red and black sand, close to Akrotiri. Landslides have closed parts of the beach, so check before you go.
• Ancient Thera is a hilltop ruined city on Mesa Vouno, high above the sea. It was founded by the Dorians in the 9th century BC. The views are as good as the ruins.
• Kamari Beach is a long black volcanic beach at the foot of Mesa Vouno. It has many tavernas and sun beds.
• Amoudi Bay is a small harbour below Oia, reached by steps. It has fish tavernas and a swimming spot at the water's edge.

• Sunset in Oia: watch the sun go down from the old castle ruins or the cliff paths. Come at least an hour early.
• Volcano boat trip: see Day trips.
• Walk the caldera path: see Getting around. Start at sunrise or late afternoon and finish in Oia for sunset.
• Cable car to the old port: see Getting there.

Santorini is small, so most day trips go by boat. Ferry schedules decide whether a same-day return works.

• Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni: boat trips leave from Fira's old port. You walk on the volcanic crater of Nea Kameni, then swim in the warm water near Palea Kameni. Plan for half a day.
• Thirasia: a quiet island on the other side of the caldera. Boats usually combine it with the volcano, and it has small villages and fish tavernas.
• Other islands: Ios and Folegandros are reached by ferry. They are better as an overnight stop than a day trip. Check the timetable first.

Santorini is in the Cyclades. Many travelers add another island by ferry.

• Nearby: Ios is known for its beaches and nightlife. Folegandros is small and quiet, with cliff-top villages.
• Larger islands: Naxos has long sandy beaches and mountain villages. Paros has fishing harbours and sandy beaches. Mykonos is known for its beach clubs and nightlife.
• Further away: Amorgos is a remote island with a cliff monastery. Milos has volcanic beaches and sea caves.

• By air: Santorini Airport (JTR) is about 6 km southeast of Fira. Flights from Athens take about 50 minutes. Many European cities have seasonal direct flights. Buses run from the airport area to Fira, and taxis and pre-booked transfers are common.
• By ferry: Ferries from Piraeus (Athens) arrive at Athinios port, about 8 km from Fira. High-speed ferries take about 5 hours. Slower ferries take much longer. There are also connections from other Cyclades islands and from Crete.
• By cruise ship: Ships anchor in the caldera. Small boats take passengers to Fira's old port. From there, a cable car, a stair path or a donkey ride leads up the cliff to town.

Useful links: Greek National Tourism Organisation and Santorini tourism.

• Bus: the KTEL island buses run from the main station in Fira to Oia, Kamari, Perissa, Akrotiri, Vlychada, Imerovigli and the airport. Buses are crowded in summer. Check routes and times on the KTEL Santorini site.
• Taxi and transfers: taxis are limited around sunset and at ferry arrivals. Many visitors pre-book transfers.
• Rental car, scooter or quad: popular for beaches and villages. See the driving section for tips.
• On foot: the caldera path from Fira to Oia is just over 10 km and takes 3 to 5 hours. It passes Firostefani and Imerovigli. There is almost no shade, so start early.

• Is a car worth it?: useful for Akrotiri, Ancient Thera, wineries and quiet beaches. Not needed if you stay in Fira, Imerovigli or Oia and use buses and taxis.
• Roads: roads are narrow and winding, with many scooters and quads. Quads and scooters are risky, so wear a helmet.
• Parking: parking is hard in Oia and Fira in summer. Use the car parks at the edge of town and walk in.
• Restrictions: the centres of Oia and Fira have pedestrian-only lanes.

Look for local dishes made from island produce: fava (yellow split pea purée), tomato fritters, small sweet tomatoes and white aubergines. The volcanic soil gives the white wine from the Assyrtiko grape a dry, mineral taste. Vinsanto is a sweet dessert wine.

For wine, visit Wine Museum Koutsoyannopoulos - Winery. It has a wine museum. Fish tavernas cluster in Amoudi Bay below Oia and along the beach front in Kamari and Perissa. Restaurants on the caldera edge in Fira, Firostefani and Oia charge more for the view. The villages of Pyrgos and Megalochori have good tavernas away from the crowds.

Santorini is safe for visitors. Violent crime is rare. Pickpocketing can happen in crowded places in Fira and Oia, so keep valuables close.

• Earthquakes and volcano: the island lies in an active volcanic and earthquake zone. In early 2025 hundreds of small earthquakes shook the island. Follow instructions from the local authorities and call 112 in an emergency.
• Wildfires: the risk is high from April to October. Do not smoke or light fires outdoors.
• Sun and heat: summer sun is strong and shade is rare on paths and beaches. Carry water and sun protection.
• Water: the island has little fresh water. Most visitors drink bottled water.
• Steps and cliffs: paths to the sea and old port have many steps. Keep away from cliff edges, especially at night.

Around 3,600 years ago, one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history destroyed the centre of the island. The sea filled the crater and created the caldera. Ash buried the Minoan-era town at Ancient Akrotiri, which was only excavated from 1967. The town is still the best place to see how people lived here in the Bronze Age.

Later, the Dorians built a city on Mesa Vouno in the 9th century BC. Its ruins are at Ancient Thera. In the Middle Ages, Venetian rulers built fortified villages and castles. Today you can see this style in Pyrgos and in the old walls of Oia.

The volcano is still active. The newest island, Nea Kameni, formed in the crater over the last few centuries and last erupted in 1950.

Quick practical facts for Greece at a glance: