Santorini’s reputation precedes any trip to this famous island: panoramic views, romantic sunsets and volcanic-sand beaches. When I visited Santorini for 3 days on a family trip, I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by this world-famous island. I noted that this island oversold as a romantic, honeymoon destination has many activities to offer. Here are the best things to do in Santorini Greece.
There are few places that live up to Insta-frenzied hype. And although Santorini is touristy and pricey, the blue domes, the jaw-dropping caldera views, the surreal sunsets are all true. Our 3 day trip to Santorini was good to experience many activities that the island offers. The beauty of the island and its pretty villages went beyond my expectations.
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What to do in Santorini
Enjoy the caldera views
Santorini has unique geology. The caldera and the minor islands were formed through volcanic eruptions hundreds of thousands of years ago, submerging parts of the land in the azure sea.
The result? The island has stunning views especially on the west side.
We stayed at at Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, in Oia. And my favourite thing to do was to take in stunning views from the pool area, from the patio outside the room, from the outdoor breakfast lounge at the hotel. Even after seeing so many photos of this famous island, I couldn’t get enough of the caldera views.
Hike the Fira to Oia path
For an active traveller, one of the best things to do in Santorini is to hike the Fira to Oia path (you can go the other way around as well from Oia to Fira). This is one of the easy but amazing hiking trails in Greece. And trust me, this 10-km hiking path does offer the best views of the scenic villages, the caldera, and the indigo blue waters around the island.
I started this hike from Three Bells of Thira at Fira village although the ‘Atlantis Hotel’ in Fira is considered as the official start. The initial part of the hiking route takes you through the villages of Fira, Firostefani, and Imerovigli. Enjoy the stunning harbour views of Fira. Staying on the left path (as close as the caldera as possible) through Imerovigli gives you stellar views of Skaros Rock. Later, you can see the northern tip of the island stretch out in front of you. There are some cute churches to be viewed before you descend to the village of Oia.
Experience the beauty of Oia sunset
Everything they say about the famous sunsets in Santorini is true. Nowhere else have I had such a clear image of the sun turning into a golden ball and the ocean gobbling it up! On my first evening in Santorini, when we squeezed on a narrow lane in Oia village to watch the sunset, it was a memorable experience. The sky remained scarlet and purple even after the golden ball dipped away from our sights. The sunset in Oia is surreal but everything they say about the crowds is also true. Think packed-like-sardines on one narrow street in Oia from early evening onwards.
One of the better ways of enjoying an Oia sunset is abroad a luxury catamaran for a sunset cruise. It is a less crowded experience, more personalized experience.
On a day trip to Akrotiri, we visited Akrotiri Lighthouse and saw another spectacular sunset. This time sans crowds. I have heard of beautiful sunsets from Fira and Imerovigli as well.
Explore the pretty villages in Santorini
Santorini boasts a collection of picturesque villages. If you are headed to Oia, you would have already heard of its blue-domes churches, stunning sunsets, and luxury cave houses. Oia village is located on the northernmost tip of the island’s caldera. And even if you are not staying here, a trip to Oia is a must on any Santorini itinerary. During our trip to Santorini, we had several opportunities to wander through its charming streets lined with art galleries, boutiques, and traditional cafes.
Fira is the capital of Santorini. I loved that being perched on the enormous cliffs of the caldera, Fira offers breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea and the volcanic islands. Those who visit Santorini via a cruise ship land at the Old Port in Fira and take the cable car up to the village. During the day, its streets, filled with boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants, are full of people, while at night the town comes alive with its vivid nightlife, and the many cliffside bars and clubs.
During the Fira to Oia hiking, I passed by another beautiful village, Imerovigli. This tiny village is more peaceful than Fira or Oia and again boasts of breathtaking views and unforgettable sunsets. We also visited Akrotiri, which lies at the southwestern edge of Santorini. Akrotiri emits a tranquil charm, houses an archaeological site of great importance and has a Lighthouse with great sunset views.
There are other lesser known villages of Santorini. Pyrgos is located in the highest part of Santorini, and its cobblestone streets lead to quaint churches and the remains of a Venetian castle. Kamari and Perissa villages are on the southeastern coast of Santorini and are ideal for those who wish to spend their holidays by its black sand beach. Megalochori in the southwestern part of the island, offers an authentic getaway away from the more touristy areas.
Visit the picturesque churches
Whether your are hiking the Fira to Oia path, or strolling through narrow lanes of Oia village, one of the best things to do in Santorini is to visit the many churches. These blue-domed churches of course make for striking photo stops, just incredible against the caldera. Agios Spiridonas and Anastasi Churches are the most photographed twin blue domes in Oia, often pictured together against the sea. I am not a big fan of flying dress photo shoot, but if you have to do one, Santorini is the right spot for it.
While walking along the main street in Oia, we passed by Panagia Platsani. It is located in the main square of Oia, this church is famous for its large dome and surrounding bell tower.
The Three Bells of Fira located in Firostefani is a must-visit. It offers the quintessential postcard view of a blue dome with three bells and the volcano in the background. There is also the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral in Fira, it has beautiful frescoes painted by a local artist.
Take a volcanic islands cruise
To enjoy Santorini’s natural beauty in a short time, consider taking a day-time cruise to view its volcano and hot springs. The first part of the tour takes you to Santorini Volcano, where you walk an ascending path to the crater of the still active volcano and enjoy incredible sights. The cruise then takes you to Neo Kameni and Paleo Kameni, 2 uninhabited islands of volcanic origin located within the flooded Santorini caldera. At Nea Kameni, you can take a guided walking tour through Volcanic Park to see active, smoking craters created over the last few centuries and the hot springs.
You can enjoy swimming at Paleo Kameni. The last stop for this cruise is Thirassia island opposite Oia. Offering a glimpse into the past, this volcanic island features traditional villages like Manolas, over 20 churches, and tranquil, secluded beaches.
Go on a wine tasting tour
Believe it or not, Santorini has a well-known and flourishing local wine industry. The anhydrous climate, the volcanic soil, the cooling winds and the dense humid nights, all lead to vineyards that have been producing wine for the past 4000 years. Assyrtiko is the white grape variety that thrives in its birthplace, the volcanic land of Santorini.
So visiting a winery is one of the top things to do in Santorini. You can choose to visit a winery like Santo Wines (Pyrgos) or Gavalas winery (in Megalochori) or Domaine Signals (in Oia).
Or indulge in this wine tasting tour, where you get to visit 3 different wineries and taste 12 different wines.
See the dramatic Red Beach, White Beach and Black Beach
Unlike the golden sandy beaches of Crete, Santorini has black sand beaches which are mostly pebbles. But the red, white and black beaches on the south west side of the island sure look dramatic. We tried to visit the red beach near Akrotiri by ourselves. We rented a car and drove on gravel roads to reach the beach. This ended as a disaster with the small rental car stuck in gravel, and we having wasted a couple of hours waiting to be rescued! So I don’t recommend this for sure.
A better way to see these beaches is via a catamaran cruise. Red Beach is one of the most scenic beaches of Santorini, where vibrant red cliffs meet the deep blue waters. Its distinct red coloration is caused by the rich in minerals and iron soil. You also get to admire the bright limestone cliffs of White Beach and the volcanic coastline of Mesa Pigadia, visible only from the sea. Its shoreline is made up of black pebbles and grey volcanic sand, which beautifully contrasts with the bright white cliffs.
Enjoy a beach day
If you do wish to enjoy a relaxed beach day, the east side of the island is your best bet. Perissa Beach, located on Santorini’s southeast coast, is a famous 7 km-long beach known for its striking black volcanic sand and crystal-clear, calm waters. It is highly organized with sun beds, water sports (diving, snorkeling), and a lively atmosphere, making it an affordable destination.
You can also visit Perivolos Beach, located on the southeast coast of Santorini. Like Perissa, this black sand volcanic beach offers amenities and water sports. There is also Kamari beach on the southeast coast. It is well-known for its vast black sand beach and impressive backdrop of volcanic rocks.
Visit Akrotiri ruins
During our day trip to Akrotiri, we skipped visiting the massive archaeological site, due to the rental car mishap. But this prehistoric site in Akrotiri is considered a very important geological discovery and is worth visiting. Evidence of human habitation at the historic site of Akrotiri, dates back to the Neolithic Age (4500 BC). The Akrotiri village grew to be a prominent trading hub in the Aegean Sea.
Today, visitors can wander around the remarkably preserved Minoan city, buried under volcanic ash for centuries. It is best done with a licensed guide or the Akrotiri Audio Guide at your own pace. The Prehistoric site of Akrotiri is easily accessible by car or public transportation and it is a 20-minute drive from Fira. For those deeply interested in history can take a private guided tour with an archaeologist.
Taste the local cuisine
Santorini has several local dishes that are different from Greek cuisine. So do take time to savour local food dishes on the island. We tried tomatokeftedes (tomato fritters) and creamy fava (yellow split pea purée) at a local place in Akrotiri. I also tried the Santorini Salad, a variation of the Greek salad featuring local cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and capers.
If you want fresh seafood, no better place than Ammoudi Bay at the northern tip of the island. Ammoudi Bay sits below Oia, you can take a taxi or walk down the 300 steps to it. The bay is delightful, and quite famous for cliff-jumping. But we went one afternoon for a lovely lunch at Ammoudi Fish Restaurant. It was the best grilled fish I had in Greece!
Best time to visit Santorini
When you visit Santorini will decide whether the reality of this dreamy, stunning island will match your expectations or not. The peak summer season – July and August – is when cruise ships deposit thousands of day-trippers in the towns of Oia and Fira. So that you are jostling for space, sweating in the summer heat, and paying for high accommodation prices. The island may not feel exclusive then.
You should visit Santorini in the shoulder season – late April to early June or September / October. We visited Santorini Greece in end May after spending a day in Mykonos and finally 4 days in Crete. For ocean lovers, one thing to keep in mind is that the ocean water temperature is warmer in September / October than in April / May.
Planning a trip to Greece? Check out –
Itinerary Suggestions: Greece in 2 weeks, Greece 10-day Itinerary with kids
Greece Cities: 3 days in Athens, Athens 1 Day Itinerary
More on Greece: Complete Guide to Visiting Meteora, Best hikes in Greece
Greek Islands: Crete Itinerary, Beautiful Greek islands for a family holiday, Santorini Itinerary, Crete vs Santorini, One day in Mykonos, Santorini vs Mykonos
And finally, the Famous Greek Landmarks and a packing list for Greece
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Those sunset photos were stunning! I have never visited Greece and for a long time wondered if I would enjoy it, but this post gives me some inspiration. Less crowded than I anticipated, thanks for sharing.
Less crowded only if you skip June, July, August, September.
I visited once many years ago and loved it but am worried about too many people… your pictures look like crowds aren’t a huge problem, which gives me hope. Would love to revisit the Kyklades.
Crowds are a problem in peak summer season. We went in mid May.
As a lover of history, I’ve visited Santorini on a number of occasions, and there’s always something new to discover. Each visit reveals more of its rich past, charming villages, and impressive views.