This is your complete starting point for planning a trip to Santorini. Whether you have 3 days or 3 weeks, whether you want sunsets in Oia or hikes on a live volcano — everything you need is here, written by people who know this island deeply.
When to Visit Santorini
Santorini is a year-round destination, but the experience changes dramatically by season:
- April–May: Spring — mild weather (20–24°C), minimal crowds, wildflowers on the caldera paths. Best for hiking and photography. Hotels at lowest prices.
- June: Early summer — warm, swimmable, far fewer tourists than July/August. Our top recommendation for most visitors. Full June guide →
- July–August: Peak season — 33–37°C, maximum crowds, maximum energy. Book everything months in advance. July guide | August guide →
- September–October: Second-best season — summer warmth, calmer seas, crowds thinning after mid-September. Excellent value.
- November–March: Off-season — many businesses close, but the island is hauntingly beautiful and deeply peaceful. Ideal for writers, artists, and couples who want Santorini to themselves.
→ Read our full Best Time to Visit Santorini guide
Getting to Santorini
By Air: Santorini International Airport (JTR) receives direct flights from Athens (45 min), as well as direct seasonal flights from major European cities (London, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt). Book flights early — July/August fares from Northern Europe sell out fast.
By Ferry: Ferries run from Piraeus (Athens) — high-speed catamarans take 5–6 hours; slower conventional ferries take 8–9 hours but are cheaper and scenic. Inter-island ferries connect Santorini to Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Crete, and Rhodes.
Getting Around: Rent a car or ATV for maximum freedom. The island is small (18km long) but hilly — some areas require 4WD. Public buses (KTEL) connect Fira with Oia, Perissa, Kamari, and Akrotiri. Taxis are scarce in peak season; book in advance.
Where to Stay in Santorini
Where you stay defines your Santorini experience:
- Oia: Most famous, most expensive, most photographed. Blue domes, cave hotels, cliff-edge infinity pools. Book 3–6 months ahead for peak season.
- Fira: The capital — central, lively, full-service. More nightlife than Oia, more affordable, still has caldera views. Good base for day trips.
- Imerovigli: The highest village — quieter than Oia, incredible views, fewer tourists. A hidden gem for accommodation.
- Firostefani: Between Fira and Imerovigli — caldera views at 20–30% lower prices than Oia. Smart choice.
- Perissa / Kamari: Black-sand beach resorts on the east coast. Much cheaper, great for beach-focused trips. 20-minute bus to Fira.
- Pyrgos: Inland medieval village — the most authentic, the most peaceful, and significantly cheaper. Highest point on the island with 360° views.
Best Tours & Experiences
Santorini is best experienced with a guide for at least some activities. Here are the tours worth booking:
Santorini’s Villages
Santorini has 14 main settlements. Most visitors only see Oia and Fira — here’s what you’re missing:
- Oia — world-famous sunsets, captain’s mansions, blue domes. Go at 7am for photos without crowds.
- Fira — the buzzing capital. Cable car to the old port, museums, best nightlife.
- Pyrgos — medieval kasteli, best island views, no tourists. Our favourite village.
- Imerovigli — highest caldera point, Skaros Rock hike, peaceful and residential.
- Akrotiri — the “Minoan Pompeii” — Bronze Age city preserved under volcanic ash. Full Akrotiri guide →
- Emporio — fortified medieval village with a Venetian kasteli. Labyrinthine streets.
- Megalochori — traditional plateia, wineries, authentic Greek tavernas.
→ Read the Complete Village Guide
Food & Wine in Santorini
Santorini’s volcanic soil produces ingredients found nowhere else on earth:
- Assyrtiko wine — dry white with extraordinary mineral intensity, grown in basket-shaped vines that have survived here for 2,000 years. Don’t leave without trying it at a caldera winery.
- Fava — yellow split peas grown on the island since antiquity. Pureed with olive oil and lemon, it’s one of Greece’s great dishes.
- Tomatokeftedes — cherry tomato fritters, Santorini-specific, impossibly good.
- White eggplant — sweeter and creamier than standard aubergine, unique to the island.
- Fresh seafood — octopus drying on lines in Ammoudi Bay, grilled at the tables below. Non-negotiable.
→ The 15 Best Restaurants in Santorini
Hidden Gems
Beyond the blue domes:
- Skaros Rock — a dramatic volcanic peninsula jutting from the caldera near Imerovigli. 30-minute hike, zero crowds, extraordinary views.
- Ancient Thera — mountaintop ruins above Kamari. Free entry, open-air, panoramic views of three different seas. Almost no tourists.
- Vlychada — a beach on the south coast with lunar-white pumice cliffs. Very few visitors.
- Mesa Pigadia — a hidden cove near Akrotiri, accessible by boat only. Crystal water, no facilities, no crowds.
- Pyrgos at dusk — when day-trippers leave, this medieval village at the island’s summit becomes magical. Watch the sun drop into the caldera from the Venetian castle.
→ 7 Secret Spots Only Locals Know
Practical Tips for Santorini
- Book tours and restaurants before you arrive — especially July/August. This is not optional.
- Wear good shoes — the cobblestones are beautiful but treacherous, especially for heels. Santorini is not flat.
- Carry cash — smaller tavernas and beach bars often prefer cash. ATMs in Fira and Oia.
- Respect the sun — white walls reflect UV. SPF 50 is not overkill here.
- Don’t drive in Oia — parking is nearly impossible. Park at the south entrance and walk in.
- Sunrise vs sunset — everyone chases the sunset in Oia. Sunrise (5:30am in summer) gives you the island completely to yourself.
- Take the caldera path — the walk from Oia to Fira (10km) is the best free activity on the island. Start early, end with coffee in Fira.
Why Are the Houses White and Blue?
The iconic colour scheme has a fascinating history — part Ottoman occupation, part volcanic science, part military decree. Read the full story →
Santorini’s History
From a Minoan civilisation destroyed by the most violent eruption in recorded history to one of the world’s most visited islands — read the full history of Santorini →