Posted by Santorini is one of the most impressive natural wonders in Europe. The island is a volcanic cone that is partially below the water surface. Some scientists believe that Santorini was the legendary prehistoric site of Atlantis. If you arrive by ferry, you drive into the volcanic cone that is below the water surface and reach the small harbor.
Our opinion: Santorini is breathtakingly beautiful with its dramatic cliffs and romantic sunsets that create a magical atmosphere. However, the island can seem a bit overcrowded and commercial due to the heavy tourism. Nevertheless, Santorini remains a place that deeply impresses with its unique scenery. One of the most beautiful islands in the world.
Our articles about Santorini |
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| Santorini Overview | Thira Santorini |
| Persissa Santorini | Kamari Santorini |
| Oia Santorini | Akrotiri Satorini |
There are many sights on the small island. The excavations of the Minoan settlement of Aktotiri and the ancient capital of Thera are worth a visit. Today’s capital Thira, with its small streets in the old town and the breathtaking view of the sea and the volcanic cone, is a must-see. Despite all the extreme commercialization and excessive tourism, it is one of the most beautiful places in Greece. The smaller islands in the volcano off Santorini should not be missed either. Palia Kameni in particular, with its famous hot volcanic springs, is almost a must-see. The most beautiful village on Santorini is the picturesque Oia in the north.
View of the underwater volcanic cone and the neighboring islands
Great day tours SantoriniMany tourists go on day trips in Santorini. There is a lot to see in and around the volcanic island. We have selected some very good offers for you with a link to the booking website with further information. The following offers have been rated positively by previous participants of the tour. 1. The Santorini classic: tour by boat to hot springs and the neighboring island of Therassia, pick-up from the hotel: >>> More information and booking 2. Big sailing tour with a catamaran with barbecue and much more: >>> More information and booking 3. Big tour of Santorini (10 hours) with sunset in Oia: >>> More information and booking 4. Big luxury boat tour with smaller island, hot springs and dinner etc. (6 hours): >>> More information and booking |
How to get to Santorini?
To get to Santorini (Thira), there are two main ways:
1. Flight to Santorini
Direct flights:
There are direct flights to Santorini Airport (JTR) from many European cities (especially in summer).
Domestic flights from Athens (about 45 minutes flight time) and other Greek islands.
2. Ferry to Santorini
From Athens (Piraeus or Rafina):
Fast ferry: 4-5 hours.
Normal ferry: 7-8 hours.
From other islands:
Ferries run regularly between Santorini and islands such as Mykonos, Naxos, Paros or Crete.
Summary:
Flight: Direct flights or domestic flights (e.g. from Athens).
Ferry: From Athens (Piraeus/Rafina), Crete or other Cyclades islands.
➔ To book ferries within Greece, we recommend the reputable website Ferryscanner.com
Accommodation
There are hundreds of hotels and guesthouses in all price ranges on Santorini. You can book many hotels cheaply on Booking.com
We usually choose our accommodation in the seaside resort of Perissa. The hotels here are much cheaper than in the main town of Thira.
Tip: Our favorite guesthouse on Santorini: Onar Perissa
At the new port of Santorini, many people wait for all the large ferries, loudly offering their rooms. Tip: Among them is almost always an employee of the youth hostel in Perissa. The trip in his minibus to the good Anna Hostel is free if you want to stay in the youth hostel (booking in advance is recommended). The hostel is quite good and still costs less than 10 euros a night. You can also rent cheap double rooms in the Anna Hostel there. They are in another building not far away.
From the tourist beach resort of Perissa there are good bus connections to Thira and other places on Santorini. Unfortunately, the youth hostel in the capital Thira has not existed for several years. However, in the north, in the picturesque town of Oia, there is a newer youth hostel. This is said to be good. There are several campsites on Santorini. Bookable at Booking.com
Ferries Santorini
Santorini is an island with a busy ferry service. There are daily ferry connections to Piraeus (the port of Athens), Naxos, Ios, Paros, Mykonos and many other islands in the area. Ferries travel several times a week to the Dodecanese (Rhodes) and many other islands in the Cyclades such as the island of Sikinos, the island of Anafi, the island of Folegandros, the island of Sifnos, the island of Serifos and the island of Milos. The trip to Athens takes about 8 – 10 hours and costs from 35 euros. However, there are also more expensive hovercrafts in the summer timetable that cover the distance in half the time.
A modern and lightning-fast catamaran ferry
➔ To book ferries within Greece, we recommend the reputable website Ferryscanner.com
The island can be reached by ferry 1 to 2 times a week all year round from Heraklion, the capital of Crete. This ferry continues to Sitia (Crete), in the far east of the largest and southernmost island of Greece. In summer there are also one or two speedboats to and from Heraklion every day (at least once a day), which cost well over 50 euros one way but are more than twice as fast (journey time around two hours). These are mainly used by day tourists from Crete.
The trip with the normal ferry costs around 20 euros and takes around 5 hours. Two fast catamarans also travel to the city of Rethymno on Crete every week during the season.
Current note: For several years now, as far as we know, the large, slow ferry has only been running from Sitia, in the far east of Crete, to Santorini. Because of a stopover on the island Anafi (longer journey time), almost all tourists now take the fast catamarans.
Map of the island of Santorini (Thira)
The round volcanic cone is clearly visible on the map. Day trips to the islands of Thirasia and Kameni are popular.
The most important places on Santorini, besides the main town of Thira, are Oia in the north and the seaside resorts of Perissa and Kamari in the east of the island.
Information about Santorini
The price level on Santorini is generally very high for Greece when it comes to tavernas, restaurants and bars. Cheap tavernas are hard to find. This is especially true for Thira and much less so for the beach resorts on Santorini. In some bars you pay 5 euros or more for a beer. Right on the crater rim in the center of Thira you can also spend 100 euros or more for a dinner per person in one of the luxury restaurants. Santorini is also a popular travel destination for the rich and famous. A few streets behind the crater rim you can also get a simple and affordable gyros pita for under 5 euros or a moussaka for 10 to 12 euros in one of the many small tavernas on Santorini. This is especially true for Thira; prices are lower on the beaches of Santorini. It is worth looking for bargains here (happy hour, etc.).
Oia, the most beautiful village on the Cyclades island
Santorini is certainly the most beautiful part of Greece in terms of landscape, but excessive tourism has taken away much of its beauty. In summer, the island is almost bursting with tourists. If you come in winter, you can still enjoy the unique landscape of the volcanic island.
In my opinion, the most beautiful beach on the dream island of Santorini is Perissa. It is known for its black sand. Be careful if you are barefoot: the black sand is very hot in summer, and you can burn your feet after just a few steps.
The dark volcanic sand on Perissa Beach
Perissa is also suitable as an overnight base on the island. The island is not very big, and there are good bus connections during the day. The Red Beach near Akrotiri is also great.
Traveling on the island
From the airport to the hotel: Nowadays, many holidaymakers travel directly to Santorini by plane. There are a few scheduled buses between the airport and the main town. However, with heavy suitcases, these only make sense if the hotel is near the bus station in Thira. Of course, there are also taxis waiting at the airport.
You can also explore Santorini wonderfully by bike. There are not much more than 20 km between the small islands, but there are many climbs. For less sporty visitors to Santorini, there are countless mopeds and cars available. Thanks to the strong competition, the rental prices for the vehicles are not too high, especially outside of the absolute peak season.
Of course, there are also many organized day tours on Santorini that you can book at any local travel agency. If you are short on time, you can see the main sights on and around Santorini in 2-3 days. We recommend a day tour of Santorini by bus and a boat tour to the smaller islands opposite.
From the capital Thira, there is a cable car down to the old harbor. You can also walk down in just under half an hour. Many vacationers also ride the route on a donkey.
Top 10: Things to do and attractions
1. Watch the sunset in Oia
The sunsets in Oia are famous the world over. The sky turns bright orange, pink and purple. Get there early to secure a good spot as it can get quite busy.
2. Explore Fira
The island’s capital, Fira is a lively town with narrow streets full of shops, cafes and restaurants. The views of the caldera from Fira are spectacular and there are several museums including the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera.
3. Visit the beaches
Santorini’s beaches are unique due to the island’s volcanic nature. Red Beach near Akrotiri boasts red cliffs, while Kamari and Perissa boast black sand. White Beach is another impressive spot with dramatic white cliffs.
4. Tour the archaeological site of Akrotiri
Often referred to as the “Pompeii of the Aegean,” Akrotiri is an ancient Minoan city buried under volcanic ash in an eruption around 1600 BC. The site is remarkably well preserved and offers insight into life in the ancient world.
5. Hike from Fira to Oia
This scenic 10km hiking trail follows the edge of the caldera and offers stunning views of the sea, cliffs and villages. The hike takes around 2-4 hours, depending on your pace, and is one of the best ways to experience the island’s beauty.
6. Take a boat tour of the caldera
The volcanic origins of Santorini are best explored by boat. Tours often include visits to the islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, where you can hike on volcanic soil, swim in hot springs and enjoy panoramic views of the caldera.
7. Visit Pyrgos Village
Pyrgos is a charming traditional village that is a quieter alternative to Fira and Oia. It is built on a hill, with narrow streets, old churches and a Venetian castle at the top.
8. Taste Santorini wine
The island is known for its wine, particularly Assyrtiko, a white grape variety that thrives in the volcanic soil. Visit one of the local wineries, such as Santo Wines or Venetsanos Winery, for a wine tasting with a view.
9. Explore Imerovigli Village
Imerovigli, also known as the “Balcony of the Aegean,” is a quieter village with stunning views of the caldera. Skaros Rock, a large rock formation near the village, offers a scenic hike and is of historical importance as a former fortification.
10. Visit the ancient city of Thera
Located on Mesa Vouno, the ancient site dates back to the 9th century BC and contains ruins from Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods. The views from the site are also breathtaking.
Santorini bus schedule
In general, the number of buses on the Cycladic island is very seasonal. Buses start at around 7am and run until 10 or 11pm in the evening. Buses run very frequently (up to every 20 minutes or around 40 times a day) from the main town of Thira to Oia, Perissa and Kamari in summer. The airport is also served by scheduled buses from the capital around 10 times a day during the season. There are around 20 bus services to Akrotiri a day (every 30 minutes during peak times). As far as we know, buses run to all ferries from Thira, including at night. Smaller towns are served less frequently by bus (for example Monolithos seven times a day, Vlihada five times a day).
The bus station in the town of Thira is very central, about 200 meters behind the crater next to the main road. The journey times are not too long, in the main towns between 15 and 30 minutes. As far as we know, all buses leave from Thira. If you want to go from Oia to Perissa, for example, you have to change in Thira. The fares are affordable. All tickets cost between 1.80 and 2.50 euros for adults. The timetable and ticket prices are examples for the month of June and are a few years old. The information is a few years old.
Sharks and snakes Santorini
We know nothing about poisonous snakes on Santorini, but dangerous poisonous snakes live on other nearby islands such as Milos. We also receive questions about sharks on Santorini and other islands from time to time. Read more on our page about sharks in Greece.
Video about the highlights of Santorini
Good short film the 15 most beautiful things to do on Santorini (Thira, volcano, view, villages like Oia, Red Beach etc.) in English.
What to do on Santorini?
Explore villages
Oia: Famous for its white houses with blue domes and spectacular sunsets. Perfect for romantic walks and photos.
Thira: The lively capital with many shops, restaurants and a great view of the caldera.
Imerovigli: The “balcony of the Aegean” with impressive views and less hustle and bustle.
Pyrgos: A traditional village with winding streets and a fortress on the top.
Sunset
Oia: The classic for romantic sunsets. Come early to secure a good spot.
Imerovigli: Less crowded but just as impressive.
Akrotiri Lighthouse: A quiet alternative with views of the caldera.
Discover the beaches
Santorini has special beaches, characterized by volcanic landscapes:
Red Beach A spectacular beach with red cliffs and dark sand.
Black Beach (Perissa and Kamari): Perfect for relaxing, with restaurants and water sports.
White Beach: Only accessible by boat, quiet and particularly picturesque.
Boat tours to the caldera and volcanic islands
Visit the volcano of Nea Kameni, walk through the crater landscape and bathe in the hot springs of Palea Kameni. Many tours also offer a sunset sailing trip.
The Akrotiri archaeological site
Visit the well-preserved Minoan city that was buried under ash after a volcanic eruption. Often referred to as the “Pompeii of the Aegean”, it offers insight into life thousands of years ago.
Wine
Santorini is known for its volcanic wine, especially Assyrtiko wine. Visit wineries such as Santo Wines, Venetsanos Winery or Gaia Wines and enjoy wine overlooking the caldera.
Hiking the caldera trails
Thira to Oia hike: A stunning route along the caldera (approx. 10 km, 3-4 hours). Ideal for spectacular views and photos.
Skaros Rock (Imerovigli) hike: A short detour with impressive panoramic views.
Visit traditional villages
Megalochori: A quiet village with beautiful squares, churches and wineries.
Emporio: A charming village with narrow streets and the well-preserved Kastelli fortress.
Art and culture
Museum of Prehistoric Thera (Thira): Displays artifacts from the ancient city of Akrotiri.
Santorini Arts Factory: A cultural center with exhibitions and events.
Santorini excursions
There is a lot to see in Santorini. Organized tours by bus and boat are very popular among tourists. You can find an overview of such excursions on the following link, all of which can be booked online:
1. The Santorini classic: tour by boat to hot springs and the neighboring island of Therassia, pick-up from the hotel: >>> More information and booking
2. Big sailing tour with a catamaran with barbecue and much more: >>> More information and booking
3. Big tour of Santorini (10 hours) with sunset in Oia: >>> More information and booking
4. Big luxury boat tour with smaller island, hot springs and dinner etc. (6 hours): >>> More information and booking