Santorini is an iconic destination in Greece. Its unique caldera shape, whitewashed buildings with blue-domed roofs, and killer sunsets make it a great stop on a longer trip throughout Greece. We visited for three days and nights in October and here we share our recipe for having a great time.
Santorini Map
Below is a map of our trip including points of interest, activities, and restaurants. Toggle the sidebar for details.
Santorini Tips
Getting To/From Santorini
Santorini is served by both an airport and a port where the ferry docks.
For arrival, we flew from Athens to Santorini on a SkyExpress flight. Even on a high speed ferry it can take over 4 hours to get to Santorini from Athens and cancellations due to rough weather are not uncommon. We chose the 35-minute flight instead and were very happy with our choice. Our accommodation had a driver meet us at the airport to make the 20-minute drive to Imerovigli.
For departure, we took a Seajets ferry from Santorini to Naxos. Once again, our accommodation arranged a transfer to the port. We had a very good experience with the ferry trip taking just over one hour. The ride was smooth and the interior cabin with its assigned seats and free wifi were great. During peak seasons, tickets can sell out far in advance. We booked our tickets nearly 6 months in advance via Ferryhopper.
Getting Around Santorini
Santorini has a strong network of public buses and so we elected to not rent a car while on the island. Our airport and port departures were arranged through our hotel and for anywhere else, we took the bus. Buses depart key locations around the island frequently and cost around €2/per person per trip, cash only. When planning our trip, we found Santorini Dave’s bus guide invaluable!
Where We Stayed
We stayed at Kasimatis by La Perla in Imerovigli and had a great experience. Imerovigli is located in the central part of the island’s caldera, perched high above a clifftop, making the views incredible. We really liked this location which was easily connected to Fira on foot, but had plenty of restaurant choices just a few steps away. Our room was small but adequate. Our private balcony with caldera view was the real highlight. Having a private place to watch the sunset each night and enjoy the included breakfast spread in the morning was divine.
Day 1 | Arrival & Fira to Oia Hike
Arrive in Santorini and drop your bags off at your accommodation. We arrived around midday, with plenty of time to grab a sandwich from a local market and then set off on trail which passed right by our door.
Hike Fira to Oia
Walking the trail between Fira and Oia on your first day is a great orientation to Santorini. Much of the trail is very high on a ridge and cliffs, making for fantastic views of the caldera and blue water below. Along the way you’ll pass small chapels and stunning viewpoints. For us, the trail itself was the highlight and we were happy to get out and stretch our legs.
We found Oia and Fira proper too crowded for our tastes. It was hours before sunset and people were already staking our their spots! Just know that most days cruise ships will be docked in Santorini, swelling the population of these towns. Outside of these areas, however, Santorini was not crowded at all.
Need to Know
- Fees: No fee for trail use, but if you’d like to take the bus back to the starting point, make sure to bring cash (~€2-3/per person).
- Our Stats: We did this hike as a bit of a flip-flop based on where we were staying. We walked this trail from our accommodation in Imerovigli to Oia, took the bus to Fira, and walked to Imerovigli. Our total stats were 6.75 miles and 1,120 feet of elevation gain in just under 3 hours.
Dinner at Aroma Gefsis
If you don’t have a rental car, dinner will likely be at a place you can easily walk to. Luckily there are plenty of choices in Santorini and Imerovigli was no exception. Our meal on the first night at Aroma Gefsis was our favorite of our entire time on the island! We shared a salad to start and had the vegetable pasta and lamb fricassee for mains. We were gifted a delicious dessert of Greek yogurt with candied olives.
Day 2 | Akrotiri, Wine Tasting & Brewery
Akrotiri Archeological Site
The Akrotiri excavation site is located on the southwestern edge of Santorini. The Akrotiri settlement was destroyed by the 16th century BCE volcanic eruption of Thera. Consequently, much like Pompeii, the settlement was buried in ash, preserving many of its structures, pottery, and even frescoes.
Today you can visit the site of the modern excavation which began in 1967. It is covered, helping to keep the heat at bay, and traversed by a set of walkways. There are signs pointing out and explaining key elements of the site. We spent about an hour walking through the site and are glad we visited.
Need to Know
- Hours: Hours change seasonally, so it’s best to check the official website before visiting.
- Fees: We paid €20/per person to visit, payable by card or cash.
- Directions: We took the bus from Fira to Akrotiri using the Fira to Akrotiri route. At the bus depot in Fira, just look for the bus labeled “Akrotiri” and it’s the last stop. We paid €2.20/person.
- Pro tip!: Be sure to look at the bus schedule printed at the bus stop before entering the site, so you know when to try and catch the bus back to Fira after you’re done exploring.
Wine Tasting at Canava Roussos
Canava Roussos is the oldest vineyard on Santorini, dating back to 1836. When we visited, we were offered a tour of the cellar and learned about the unique vine structure on the island, in which vines grow almost nest-like and close to the ground. We sat on their terrace and did a tasting of 5 different wines, nibbling on snacks. Our hosts, the laidback and charming ambiance, and the whole experience were absolutely amazing. We loved the wine so much we took a bottle with us to enjoy later on our trip.
Need to Know
- Hours: Typically open May-October for tastings, but you may want to check their social media sites for more information before visiting.
- Directions: We took the bus from Fira to the Episkopi Gonias stop using the Fira to Kamari route. At the bus depot in Fira, look for the bus labeled “Kamari”. When we boarded, we told the driver where we wanted to get off, since it’s not the most popular stop and we weren’t sure exactly where it was along the route. We paid €2.20/person.
Enjoy a Beer at Santorini Brewing Company
Santorini Brewing Company is the first microbrewery in the Cycladic region. They’ve been brewing since 2011 and have a delightful location you can visit in Mesa Gonia. We grabbed an IPA and Amber Ale, sipping them on their tasting patio with gorgeous views of the village. We even saw a rainbow! If you are a beer lover, don’t miss this stop.
Need to Know
- Hours: Hours change seasonally, so it’s best to check their website for current information.
- Directions: Santorini Brewing is less than a 2-minute walk from Canava Roussos Winery. To get to the general area, we took the bus from Fira to the Episkopi Gonias stop using the Fira to Kamari route. At the bus depot in Fira, look for the bus labeled “Kamari”. When we boarded, we told the driver where we wanted to get off, since it’s not the most popular stop and we weren’t sure exactly where it was along the route. We paid €2.20/person.
Dinner at Mama Lena
We ate at Mama Lena on our second evening and had a very nice, lowkey meal. We shared fava spread with warm pita as a starter and had meatballs with orzo and swordfish souvlaki as mains. We were gifted mini-dessert pops to finish off our meal.
Day 3: Boat Cruise in the Caldera
Catamaran Cruise
Seeing the caldera from high above along the hike from Fira to Oia is great, but we don’t think you can leave Santorini without taking a cruise inside the caldera. It’s a quintessential Santorini experience!
We booked a catamaran cruise with Vista Yachting and had a great day out on the water. We were picked up at our hotel and driven to the Port of Vlychada Marina on the southern tip of Santorini. With only a dozen people on our trip, we had plenty of room to spread out onboard.
Throughout the day there were three swimming stops, including one at volcanic hot springs. We also cruised past the Red Beach and White Beach, cliffs, mountains and a lighthouse. At our third swimming stop, near Thirassia Island, a delicious lunch was served with a view.
This cruise was a great way to see Santorini from a new perspective and we were so glad we joined.
Need to Know
- Tours: We booked our tour directly with Visa Yachting on their website. Our tour lasted around 5 hours (we were picked up near our hotel at 9am).
- Fees: We paid €100 per person when we booked the cruise.
Relax & Enjoy the Sunset
Santorini sunsets are infamous and in our opinion, live up to the hype. We were so happy to have a private balcony outside our room in which to relax and sip wine while watching the magic. Catch as many of these sunsets as you can while on the island!
Dinner at White Lounge Restaurant
Our final meal was just steps from our hotel at the neighboring White Lounge Restaurant. The views from the glass-walled dining room were spectacular and the ambiance inside was lovely. We had stuffed squid and sea bass fricassee as our mains, followed by a chocolate tart covered in crumbled waffle pieces, ice cream, and fluffy whipped cream.
In addition to visiting Santorini, we spent time on the island of Naxos and in Athens while in Greece. Read more about our trip here!
