So, let’s explore the Top things to do in Santorini. The remarkable Santorini lies on the eastern chunk of a collapsed caldera. Furthermore, its villages have whitewashed cave houses with blue doors carved in tiers at the top of menacing dark cliffs.
So, let’s explore some significant Santorini Attractions together.
1. Explore the most significant Santorini Attractions
Watch the sunset in Oia.
Oia is undoubtedly one of the most significant Santorini Attractions. Perched over the northern rim of the caldera is the village of Oia, the most enchanting on Santorini and the best place to watch the sunsets.
Furthermore, it has Santorini’s signature cave houses, bored from the rock and arranged in vertical rows. In the 19th century, Oia flourished thanks to a fleet of merchant ships that sailed as far as St. Petersburg. The captains of these ships built some of the village’s finest houses, boasting Venetian-inspired architecture and exceptional views of the caldera.
As well as its ring of restaurant terraces with dreamy vistas, Oia has art galleries, a maritime museum, and the ruins of a Byzantine castle at its highest point. So, you can believe us when we say watching sunsets here is one of the Top Things in Santorini.
Fira (Thera)
The capital of Santorini is also a wonderful place to get lovely views of Santorini’s traditional houses above the caldera’s cliffs.
Furthermore, it is the best place to admire a view of the Aegean. And the town provides all kinds of facilities, including cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy your meal or drink with great ideas and nightclubs that remain full of life until the early morning hours.
While strolling around the village, visit the neighboring Firostefani, a few steps north. Homeric Poem Hotel is located there along with its famous caique (traditional fishing boat) installation on the top of a terrace creating one of the most photographed spots on the island. The excellent Instagram Galini Cafe is also nearby.
2. Go wine tasting
Santorini is famous for its wines. They are all so sweet, and their production is unique, so we included wine tasting as one of the Top activities in Santorini.
The Santo Winery
A highly modernized winery where technological advancement is in total harmony with traditional methods, the Santo Winery is built on five different levels in keeping with the environment, and the layout of the vineyards at varying ground levels is called the “pezoules.” More importantly, it enjoys spectacular caldera and Mediterranean sea views. It opened in 1992 in Pyrgos.
Note: Find out more about the winery by clicking here.
Santorini Artspace winery
At first, the building worked as a winery till 1952, when its owner Nikolaos Argyros closed it to open another winery on the island, the famous SantoWines.
In 1999, his son, Antonis Argyros, restored the old chambers and reopened this old winery, naming it Art Space this time. This new winery is in an adjacent underground cave, whose entrance is 8m below the earth’s surface. The dominant material in this cave is a dense layer of pumice, 6m thick, creating the perfect insulating environment for wine maturation. Modern technology is used to help the wine age. But the emphasis is on quality rather than quantity. That’s why the wine comes from organic vineyards.
Note: Find out more about the winery by clicking here.
3. Visit the Active Volcano and other Sites
Visit Nea Kameni – The Vulcano, which destroyed Atlantis.
A sleeping giant creates, destroys, and reshapes Santorini and numerous other islands throughout the Aegean.
So, you know, it wiped out an entire civilization in the past only to give birth to a new one. The volcanic background of Santorini has shaped many other aspects of local life, including Cycladic architecture and numerous other things.
The volcano’s crater is on Nea Kameni” an islet that faces the Caldera. And you can reach it by boat. Walking tours on the volcano are among the most popular things to do. They offer the unique opportunity to explore an ashen land, naturally decorated with almost exclusively black and red lava stones. Once you reach the volcano, you can admire a tranquil view of the world’s most enormous Caldera and the whitewashed villages built on its top.
Visit the real Atlantis.
Over 3,000 years ago, a catastrophic volcanic eruption consumed Santorini, causing the middle of the island to disappear into the ocean below. More impressively, the Volcanic eruption was one of the most significant eruptions the world has ever seen and happened around 1,600 BC.
Not only did it cause most of the island of Thera (the big island that once was Santorini) to sink beneath the ocean, it left a huge crater that formed the vast cliffs on Santorini – leading to many assumptions about this being the home of Atlantis.
The archaeological site of Akrotiri is one of the main attractions of Santorini. Located on the southern side of the island, between the village of Akrotiri and the famous Red Beach, this site is visited by thousands of visitors every year. The French Archaeological School of Athens started excavations on Akrotiri in the 1870s. More importantly, the ruins are in excellent shape. That’s why the people call it the Greek Pompei.
4. Swim on Santorini lava-sand Beaches
Red Beach
Firstly, it is the most popular beach in Santorini, one of the significant Santorini Attractions. Rocky red cliffs enclose the beach. But beware, for the most part, the beach is not organized.
Alert: Is Red Beach Santorini safe?
Officially, Red Beach, Greece, is classed as unsafe. Hotels have been asked to discourage visitors from going down onto the beach.
The pathway from the archaeological site of Akrotiri also says that Red Beach is unsafe. This is because it is prone to landslides and falling rocks. So, follow the tour guide’s advice when going on the tour.
Kamari Beach
Like Perivolos, Kamari Beach is widely known for its unique volcanic setting. It is covered with dark grey sand and about 5 km long. Beach bars, hotels, restaurants, and other facilities along the coastline offer sun loungers and sun umbrellas.
5. Take a boat trip around Santorini.
One of the best things to do in Santorini is a boat trip around the island of Santorini that will take you to the volcano, the hot springs, and Thirasia island. These boat trips are trendy since they allow you to see Santorini Caldera from another unique perspective.
Furthermore, there are several tours organized daily and at different hours. The best ones are those in the afternoon, as you can admire the golden-pink-red colorings in the sky during sunset.
The most popular ones will take you to Nea Kameni, where you can walk on the active volcano and even reach the crater’s summit.
6. Hike from Fira to Oia
One of Greece’s most spectacular island hiking routes is the 10km path connecting Fira to Oia.
We strongly recommend adding this 3-4 hour scenic course to Santorini’s to-do list, even if you are not an experienced hiker. However, do it early in the morning to avoid the summertime heat.
The trail goes through half of the volcanic caldera and connects Fira to Oia via Firostefani and Imerovigli.
So, grab your walking shoes and discover one of the Top things to do in Santorini.
7. Stay at a Cave House
Carved into the island’s steep volcanic cliff sides, the cave houses of Santorini are the highlight of the local architecture!
The cozy cave houses have a minimal style, and although in the past they were built and used to house villagers, these days they represent luxurious accommodation. Many of them have been renovated, modernized, and equipped to allow guests to experience a unique Cycladic luxury.
Note: You can check out these Cave houses by clicking here.
8. Explore the Gastronomy
Santorini’s continuously growing gastronomic scene has turned the island into one of the most important culinary destinations. The well-known restaurants involve fine dining, gourmet delicacies, and superb sea views. But beware, several underrated taverns are ready to offer an authentic experience for a much lower price!
The essence of traditional Greek cuisine lies in these small family-owned restaurants, where you can enjoy delicious homemade meals at affordable prices.
However, if you’re looking for something more upscale for a fine dining experience like no other, consider having dinner at Selene. This restaurant has undertaken a 35 years old ongoing project of embracing Greek, Cycladic, and Santorini products and creating a culinary scene that can be compared to the best European restaurants.
Ultimately, check out Greeka’s list of the best places to eat in Santorini.
How to get to Santorini?
If you want to visit Santorini, you have two possibilities to get there:
By plane: Santorini has an international airport. The airport is only 10 minutes away from Fira and 25 minutes from Oia. Many companies offer direct flights or connecting flights via Athens. If you want to book a flight, we recommend Skyscanner.
By boat: You can take the ferry from the Port of Piraeus (close to Athens) to Santorini. The journey times vary depending on the size and speed of the ship. It takes five to eight hours, and the prices start from 60€ per person.
There are also daily ferry connections between Santorini and other Greek Islands. So, you can quickly get there from Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, or Amorgos.
Hint: In our opinion, Ferryscanner is the best app to book ferry tickets online.
Most importantly, if you want to plan a ferry trip to Greece, especially to Santorini, you should book your tickets in advance.
Frequently asked questions about Santorini
Is Santorini cheap or expensive?
It is the 2nd most expansive island in Greece, right after Mykonos. Travelers to Santorini will find the island more expensive than many places in Greece. However, these prices will vary depending on how you spread your costs on accommodation, food, transport, activities, and entertainment.
For example, if you decide to stay in Kamari or Perissa, you will spend less on accommodation and umbrellas at the beach. Secondly, if you eat traditional Greek food, you will save yourself a lot of money.
How many days should I spend in Santorini?
The answer is four days or more.
In brief, we recommend staying at least four days to visit as many places as possible. Santorini is an island rich in attractions; besides Oia, the volcano, and the spectacular views, there are many things to explore.
Do you need cash in Santorini?
The currency in Santorini is the Euro.
You’ll also find some small businesses only take cash, so having some money with you is always helpful. However, debit and credit cards are accepted in most locations, even though it’s still a good idea to contact your bank before you use them.
Do you need a car in Santorini, Greece?
Can you get around Santorini without a car? It is possible to get around Santorini without a vehicle. The cheapest way is by taking a bus. The connections are good there. Usually, the buses go to Thera every 15-30 minutes, especially in the peak season. And they drive till midnight. There are also a few taxis on the island. However, they are pretty expensive.
Top things to do in Santorini – final thoughts
Well, we could go on and on to describe the wonderful Santorini Attractions. However, we are not going to do that. Instead, we’d like to hear you out. What attractions have we left out, and what did you like the most about Santorini? Please write this and more in the comments below.
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Featured picture: @ChrisHepburn
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