Thira on Santorini - Information about the capital of the island

Thira, the capital of the island Santorini, is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Greece. There is no other place that the Greeks are more proud of. Above all, the breathtaking view from the city is stunning. Some say the view from the city built on the crater rim of the volcano is the most beautiful in the world.

The centre of Thira is located at the top of the crater rim. This is where the expensive shops, exclusive restaurants and luxury hotels are. The price level is probably the highest in Greece. You can easily spend €50 per person on lunch, stay in a classy room with a view of the sea for €500 or buy a ring for €5000 from one of the many jewellers. From the top, a footpath along the crater rim leads down to the small harbour about 200 metres further down. If this is too strenuous, you can take the cable car (fare about €4 one way) or ride down on a mule. This has become so popular that more than 100 mules are used during the season. The crater rim footpath that leads from Thira to the suburbs in the north is also beautiful.

Excursions Santorini

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 links, all of which are 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

Our articles about Santorini
Santorini Overview	Thira Santorini
Persissa Santorini	Kamari Santorini
Oia Santorini	Akrotiri Satorini

The narrow and romantic streets of the old town of Thira are dominated by tourism. The further you get away from the crater, the cheaper it gets. After about 200 m you leave the car-free old town area and come to the main street with the main square of Thira. Here you will find snack bars, small supermarkets, travel agencies, internet cafes and the bus station. Behind them are the simple guesthouses and shops for the mass of middle-class holidaymakers.

No hotel on Santorini yet?

There are several hundred hotels on Santorini. In our opinion, the best overview is available on Booking.com. Here you can sort the accommodations by price or only display accommodations in a specific part of the island. Hotels can be booked quickly and easily on Booking.com, and there are also many great holiday apartments.

Accommodation in Thira: There is probably no other place in Greece where location determines the price so much. Hotels with a view of the crater in Thira usually cost several hundred euros. The cheapest accommodation can be found about a kilometer behind the crater wall. My recommendation is the Hotel Flora, just 100 – 200 meters from the bus station and the crater. Good rooms cost around 60 euros in high season, and significantly less outside of this time. The staff at reception are very helpful and know their way around Santorini well. Here you can find more information about the Flora Hotel. Here you can find an overview of other hotels in Thira on Santorini.

Thira is a must-see. The city on the volcano is probably the most interesting in the Cyclades. Since staying in Thira is not cheap in high season, a day trip from another place on Santorini is sufficient. Many holidaymakers stay in Perissa or Kamari.

Tip: Our favorite guesthouse on Santorini: Onar Perissa

Great Day Tours Santorini

Many tourists take day trips to 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

Books about Santorini

Buses Thira

The bus station in Thira is the central bus station on the island. In high season, 1-3 buses per hour run to all the larger towns on Santorini, such as Perissa, Oia or Kamari. There is a bus about 90 minutes before almost every ferry departure. A current daily timetable is posted. The bus station is very conveniently located, and all the important sights in the small town can be reached on foot in just a few minutes.