20 Things You Must Do in Santorini (The Ultimate Bucket List)

Santorini is one of those rare places where the reality actually exceeds the photographs. But knowing what to do — and in what order — makes the difference between a good trip and an extraordinary one. This is our definitive Santorini bucket list, built from years of experience on the island.

1. Watch the Sunset from Oia

No list starts anywhere else. The Santorini sunset — the sun dropping into the Aegean directly west of the caldera, turning the white-washed cliffs gold, rose, and deep orange — is one of the world’s great natural spectacles. Arrive at Oia castle 60–90 minutes early to secure a spot. Stay for the afterglow, 10–20 minutes after sunset, when the sky turns deep rose and the village lights flicker on. This is when the real magic happens.

2. Sail a Catamaran on the Caldera

Watching the sunset from a catamaran is actually better than watching it from Oia — no crowds, 180° unobstructed view, a chilled glass of Assyrtiko in your hand. Full-day and sunset tours include hot springs, Red Beach, and mezze on board. Book at least 2 weeks ahead in summer.

3. Visit Akrotiri — Santorini’s Prehistoric City

A Bronze Age city preserved under volcanic ash since 1613 BC — multi-storey buildings, indoor plumbing, extraordinary frescoes. Comparable to Pompeii but older. Combine with the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira (where the original frescoes are kept) for the complete picture. Allow 2 hours minimum.

4. Walk the Caldera Path from Fira to Oia

Ten kilometres along the caldera rim, passing through Firostefani, Imerovigli, and Skaros Rock before reaching Oia. Allow 4–5 hours. Start before 8am in summer to avoid the heat. The views from Skaros Rock — a volcanic promontory almost always deserted — are among the finest on the island.

5. Taste Assyrtiko Wine at a Caldera Winery

Santorini’s volcanic soil produces wine unlike anything else in the world. Assyrtiko — dry, mineral, intensely saline — is the island’s signature white. Visit Santo Wines (caldera view terrace), Gaia Wines (Megalochori), or Domaine Sigalas (Baxedes). September is harvest season — some wineries let you participate in the grape picking.

6. Swim at the Red Beach

Dramatic red volcanic cliffs drop straight to clear water — accessible by a 20-minute walk from Akrotiri or by boat. Combine with your catamaran tour or visit early morning before the beach gets crowded. Bring water shoes — the pebbles are sharp.

7. Explore the Kasteli of Pyrgos

The highest village on the island, with labyrinthine lanes dating from the Venetian era (13th century). Enter through the original single gate — the Kasteloporta — above which defenders once poured boiling oil on attackers. Climb to the summit ruins for 360° island views. Have lunch at one of the small restaurants in the lanes. Almost no tourists come here compared to Oia and Fira.

8. Eat at Ammoudi Bay Fish Tavernas

Descend Oia’s 214 steps to the tiny port at Ammoudi Bay, where three competing tavernas sit directly on the waterline. Order the octopus (dried on the line, chargrilled), fresh fish, and lobster pasta. Arrive for lunch when the boats come in, or late afternoon before the Oia sunset crowds descend.

9. Explore Emporio — The Largest Kasteli

The best-preserved medieval village in Santorini, with a labyrinthine defensive layout designed to confuse pirates. Only kasteli on the island with an extra observation tower. Mornings you’ll still find elderly locals selling traditional produce and fish in the central square. Allow 2 hours to walk the full kasteli.

10. Visit the Megalochori Heart

In the caldera wall near Megalochori — the island’s smallest village despite its name — there’s a natural heart-shaped opening in the volcanic rock. From inside you can see directly to the volcano. One of the island’s most photogenic and least-visited spots.

11. Snorkel in the Hot Springs of Palea Kameni

Jump off the catamaran into sulphur-warm water (35°C) tinted orange by iron deposits. The hot springs at Palea Kameni are part of every catamaran tour and one of those experiences that sounds odd but feels extraordinary. Wear an old swimsuit — the sulphur stains.

12. Walk the White Streets of Oia at Dawn

Oia’s narrow lanes — uniquely paved with marble rather than volcanic stone (brought here by the island’s wealthy 19th-century ship captains) — are shoulder-to-shoulder by 9am in summer. At 6am, before the cruise ship passengers arrive, they’re completely empty. Bring a camera and give yourself two hours to wander.

13. Visit the Skaros Rock Ruins

From Imerovigli, a 30-minute hike leads to this extraordinary volcanic promontory — ruins of a 13th-century Venetian fortress that was completely destroyed in the 1956 earthquake. The caldera view from the tip of Skaros, looking both north toward Oia and south toward Fira, is genuinely breathtaking and almost always deserted.

14. Try Tomatokeftedes at a Traditional Taverna

Santorini’s cherry tomatoes — grown without irrigation in volcanic soil — are intensely concentrated and unlike anything from the mainland. Tomatokeftedes (crispy tomato fritters) are the island’s most beloved snack. Quality varies enormously between tourist-area restaurants and genuine local spots. Best versions: Metaxy Mas (Exo Gonia) and the Ammoudi fish tavernas.

15. Watch the Sunrise from Imerovigli

While everyone watches the sunset in Oia, the sunrise from Imerovigli is an experience almost to yourself. The eastern sky turns brilliant shades of pink and gold as the caldera wakes up. Have a coffee at one of the small cafes on the caldera path as the light changes.

16. Take a Photography Tour at Golden Hour

A guided photography tour at golden hour (sunrise or pre-sunset) reveals Santorini through different eyes: a local guide takes you to the precise viewpoints that produce the iconic shots, helps you work around the crowds, and shows you angles that casual visitors never find. The three famous blue domes of Oia require a very specific position on a narrow terrace above the church — finding it alone takes 30+ minutes of searching.

17. Explore the Wine Museum at Koutsogiannopulos

The Koutsogiannopulos Wine Museum — carved into a natural tunnel in the volcanic earth — is one of the top 10 wine museums in the world and tells the complete story of Santorini’s 3,500-year wine history. It’s unusual, genuinely interesting, and far cheaper than most caldera-view experiences. Ends with a wine tasting.

18. Discover Finikia Village Near Oia

A 15-minute walk southeast of Oia, Finikia is an inland village that escaped serious earthquake damage and preserves its original Venetian-era architecture intact. Houses with large facades, outdoor ovens, and stone walls — very different from the cliff-hugging drama of Oia. Almost no tourists. One small church (Saint Matrona, pink, with a palm tree courtyard) celebrates its name day on October 20th with a traditional village feast.

19. Rent an ATV and Explore the South

The bus network covers Oia, Fira, Perissa, Kamari, and Akrotiri — but everything between is ATV territory. The volcanic landscapes of the southern peninsula, the Faros lighthouse with 360° sea views, the quiet harbour at Vlychada with its alien white pumice cliffs, the deserted Mavros Kavos headland — none of these are accessible without wheels. Rent from any shop in Fira or Perissa (from €25/day). Start early and carry water.

20. Attend a Village Panigyri (Feast)

Every village church celebrates its patron saint’s name day with a panigyri — a traditional outdoor feast with music, dancing, food, and wine, open to everyone. Oia’s largest: August 4th, feast of the 7 Children of Ephesus, with flag-decorated boats gathering at Ammoudi cave-church accessible only by sea. Pyrgos: spectacular Good Friday tradition with fires lit in tin lamps throughout the entire village. These are authentic local celebrations where foreigners are warmly welcomed.

Practical Notes for Your Santorini Bucket List

Order matters: Do Akrotiri early (opens 8am, less crowded). Oia sunset requires early arrival. Caldera hike must start before 8am in summer. Ammoudi lunch is best when boats arrive (midday).
Book ahead: Catamaran tours (2–3 weeks in July/August), caldera-view restaurant dinners (1 week minimum), photography tours (3–5 days).
Get off the main circuit: The standard tourist path covers Oia, Fira, and maybe Akrotiri. Everything else on this list is dramatically less crowded — often completely empty in the early morning.