Travel Guide: Santorini, Greece

When someone says Greece, you probably picture Santorini. From its breath taking caldera views, whitewashed cliff side villages, and stunning blue water, it’s easy to see why Santorini is one of Greece’s most popular (and Instagrammed) islands. Read on for my guide from our four days spent on one of the world’s most beautiful islands.

GETTING THERE

There are direct flights to Santorini from some major cities within Europe. If you’re travelling from Canada or the US you will want to fly into Athens and then make your way to Santorini from there.

From Athens:
The ferry from Athens is approximately 5-8 hours long, so your best option is to fly. The flights from Athens to Santorini are only about 45 minutes and deals can often be found on airlines such as Ryanair.

From another Greek island:
From other Greek Islands your best option is to take the ferry. While all of the main islands have airports, the flights between islands can be expensive and there may not be a direct flight available.

There are both high-speed ferry and conventional Blue Star ferry options. The conventional ferries are slow, but if you have the time they are a more easy and comfortable ride. We arrived from Mykonos by SEAJETS high-speed ferry. The high-speed ferry takes approximately 2.5 hours from Mykonos.

*Pro tips for booking ferries:

Along with SEAJETS, Hellenic Seaways is another popular ferry company. We booked our ferries on Ferry Hopper. This site makes it easy to search for ferry routes and times for multiple companies in one place. You should buy your tickets ahead of time. Once purchased online, tickets are then picked up at the port on the day of departure.
Although neither of us are prone to seasickness, we did find the high-speed ferry ride quite rough. If this a concern, I would suggest trying to book the Hellenic Seaways Highspeed 7 ferry (which I read is a smoother ride compared or other high speed ferries), or the conventional ferry if you have the time.

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel accommodations in Santorini are extremely expensive, but this is a place you’ll want to splurge if you can. Stay in one of the four main cliff side villages: Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli or Oia. Accommodations in the towns of Kamari, Perissa or Pygros on the other side of the island are cheaper if you’re on a budget, but they’re missing those amazing views that Santorini is all about.

Oia– the place to be. Located at the north most part of the island, this is the most beautiful of the four towns where you’ll find those picturesque traditional cave houses carved into the side of the cliff. Nightlife is limited (there are only a few low-key bars), but there are quite a few restaurants and shops all easily within walking distance. We also loved its close proximity to Ammoudi Bay.

Imerovigli – the perfect town to stay in if you’re looking for seclusion. There are a few shops and restaurants in Imerovigli, but there isn’t a lot going on here so you won’t find as many tourists. After Oia, this would be the town I would suggest staying in.

Fira—the capital of Santorini where you’ll find most of the action on the island. There are more restaurants, bars, and shops in this town than the others, and it is the best spot on the island for nightlife. Fira is the transportation hub for taxis and buses, and its central location makes it easy to get to most parts of the island from here. With that being said, it’s also the port where the cruise ships dock so you’ll find masses of tourists. We found it extremely crowded when we visited during the day.

Firostefani – more quiet and secluded but close enough to Fira that you’ll be able to get to restaurant and shops easily.

ACCOMMODATION SUGGESTIONS:

Budget $
San Giorgio Villa (Fira)
Ampelonas Apartments (Imerovigli)
Agnadi Villa (Oia)

Mid-Range $$
Oia Mare Villas - where we stayed (Oia)
On The Rocks (Imerovigli)
Airbnb is a great option no matter what your budget is—but check out this traditional cave house in Oia or this one in Imerovigli for great moderately priced options.

High-End $$$
The Grace Hotel (Imerovigli)
Kaitikies (Oia)
Canaves Oia Suites (Oia)
Cavo Tagoo (Imerovigli)
Chromata (Imerovigli)

WHERE TO EAT

Metaxi Mas (Pygros)
The best choice on the island for a delicious authentic Greek meal. There’s nothing fancy about this spot— just excellent food in a casual and inviting atmosphere. The staff was friendly and to start off our meal we were greeted at our table with complimentary ouzo, olives, bread, and cheese.

Athentian House (Imerovigli)
The definition of dinner with a view. While this restaurant is on the more expensive side, the amazing ambiance and views alone make it worth the price. Reservations are a must and can be made in advance online—be sure to secure a spot during sunset.

Ouzeri (Fira)
Delicious Greek food in a relaxed and casual setting.

Melitini (Oia)
A casual and inexpensive spot for traditional Greek served tapas style.

Roka (Oia)
Set in the back alleyways of Oia, this small and cozy restaurant serves tasty Greek dishes.

Ammoudi Fish Tavern (Ammoudi Bay)
For lunch or dinner right on the water, head down to Ammoudi bay and eat at one of the restaurants along the port. Ammoudi Fish Tavern has excellent sun dried octopus, fresh fish caught daily, and a great atmosphere. Taverna Katina is another great option.

Argo (Fira)
Another great spot for dinner with caldera views.

Pitos Gyros (Oia)
The perfect quick lunch or late-night spot for Greek street food. Take it to go or sit on the patio. Pair your gyro with a donkey beer from Santorini Brewing Company.

WHAT TO DO

Hike from Fira to Oia (or vice versa)

This is one of the best ways to see the island, and one of the highlights of our trip. You’ll get amazing views, some of the best photo ops, and some time away from the crowds. The hike is approximately 10km and takes about 3-4 hours depending on your pace. The path is mostly paved and flat but there are some areas that are not paved and have a bit of an incline. It’s best to start early morning to beat the heat if you are there during summer months. There are only a few stops along the way so bring water with you. If you’re not up for hiking back you can hop on the local bus in either city to get you back to your starting point.

In addition to this main path, you can add Skaros Rock to your hike. Once a medieval fortress, Skaros rock is located in Imerovigli. The path for this begins near the Grace Santorini hotel. You’ll get great views if you make it all the way to the top.

Boat Cruise
The best way to see the island from a different point of view. Sunset Oia catamaran cruises offer both afternoon and sunset cruises. Food, wine, and beer are included, and you’ll have opportunities to swim. Book ahead, and pay a bit more for one of the semi-private cruises which hosts only about 15 people, we were very glad we did when we saw how crowded the other boats were.

Perissa or Red Beach
While Santorini may not have the best beaches in Greece, they are unique and worth checking out. Checkout Perissa or Kamari, the black sand beaches, or the Red Beach. There aren’t many bus routes to get to the beaches—your best bet is to rent a scooter or an ATV to get to here.

Visit A Winery
Santorini’s volcanic soil creates unique wines, and some of best in Greece. Book a guided tour or visit some on your own. Santowines Winery is one of the island’s most popular. It has amazing views, offers tours and tastings of their large selection of wines, and serves good Greek meze.

Shop
There are many one of a kind boutique shops in Fira and Oia where you can find unique clothing, jewelry, and artwork.

Ammoudi Bay
Located 300 steps below the town of Oia you will find Ammoudi Bay. As mentioned above, there are delicious seafood restaurants located here, but this is also where you’ll find one of the best swimming spots on the island. Facing the water, head left past all the restaurants and follow the unmarked path until you find the swimming area and Agios Nikolaos rock, a great spot for cliff jumping.

* Pro tips for Ammoudi Bay:

The steps down to Ammoudi Bay from Oia are steep, wear running shoes or sandals with some traction if walking down.
Don’t bring anything valuable with you if you want to swim—you’ll have to leave your things on the rocks with many people around or take turns going in the water.
It is a long trip back up the 300 stairs—you may want to bring water with you (please don’t ride the donkeys!).

GENERAL TIPS

The best time to visit Santorini is May through October. Try to void peak season of July and August when the crowds can get overwhelming. You will still get summer weather in June and September with somewhat less crowds.
You’ll want to spend 3-5 days in Santorini. We found that four days was the perfect amount of time to fit in all of the activities we wanted to do while still giving us time to relax.
Most hotels will provide shuttles services from the port or the airport but if not book one ahead. The port especially can be extremely crowded and trying to get a taxi is the last thing you’ll want to deal with.
Explore Oia early in the morning. Because this is the most beautiful town on the island it does get crowded with tourist masses at times. The cruise ships dock around 7:00-8:00 in the morning in Fira and many of the passengers make their way to Oia by late morning. The streets will become very crowded and not as enjoyable.
Don’t waste your time trying to catch the sunset in Oia unless you’re staying there. People start gathering for the sunset a few hours before, and it gets very crowded. With our hotel being in Oia we were lucky to be able to sit on our balcony every night and enjoy the sunset with a glass of wine while we watched others above us fighting for spots in the public areas. My suggestion: go to Imerovigli instead—the views are still amazing but without the hassle and crowds.
Reservations are necessary for most of the good restaurants. Some restaurants have online reservation options, but if not have your hotel make some for you the day you arrive.
There are A LOT of stairs in Santorini (especially Oia). Be prepared with proper footwear and be aware that between this and the cobblestone walkways it is very difficult to get your luggage to your hotel. The bonus of staying at a hotel vs. an Airbnb is that most hotels offer transfer services and will transport your luggage for you (these guys earn their tips!).
The roads in Santorini aren’t the easiest to drive on. They’re very narrow, sometimes steep, and you’ll find a lot of curved areas with only a small guardrail between the roads edge and the cliff. We relied to local buses (which costs 2-3 euro) and taxis to get around. If you’re looking for more flexibility and mobility I’d suggest renting an ATV instead of a car, as it can be difficult to find parking for cars.