Santorini doesn’t need much of an introduction; this world-famous island with its breathtaking caldera views and picture-postcard blue-domed buildings has been photographed a million times over, and for good reason.

Santorini is a spectacular island in Greece, with out-of-this-world views, renowned sunsets, and the perfect amount of Greek charm. If you’re looking for the best things to do in Santorini, you’ve arrived at the perfect post. In this guide, we will explore some of the best places in Santorini, so your bucket list is full, and you are ready to book your trip!

The island often gets a bad rep among seasoned travellers due to the summer crowds, cruise tourists, and an inauthentic feel, but don’t be put off by the press. Santorini is a truly spectacular place, and if you choose the right time to visit and keep an open mind, you’ll discover the many wonders this island has to offer. 

This dramatic volcanic island (once known as Thira) is part of the Greek Cyclades Islands, located in the Aegean Sea. A volcanic eruption in the 16th century created the iconic caldera you see today, and it truly is incredible to gaze at. The sunsets here are some of the best in the world – there’s nothing quite like watching a Santorini sunset with a drink in hand!

Santorini is a couples’ paradise at heart. With an array of boutique stays and luxury hotels featuring panoramic cliffside views, you can’t help but swoon at the sheer romance of the island, but you’d be forgiven for thinking that’s all there is to offer. If you delve deeper into the island, there’s so much to experience. From unique black-sand beaches and delicious Greek food to breathtaking photo opportunities and incredible coastal hikes, Santorini is a must-visit destination that deserves its place among the world’s greatest!

How To Get To Santorini

If you’re travelling from the UK, a wide range of airlines – British Airways, Jet2, Ryanair, and EasyJet offer direct routes from airports such as London, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh, with a flight time of around 4 hours. Santorini is also just a short 50-minute flight from Athens – for anyone combining a slice of island life with the ancient capital. 

Many visitors choose to island-hop and explore multiple destinations, and travelling to Santorini by ferry is a fantastic way to do this. The island has a fantastic ferry port with multiple daily departures from Athens and nearby islands such as Crete, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and Ios. Companies such as SeaJets, Blue Star Ferries and Cyclades Fast Ferries have varied departure times and prices. 

The Best Time To Visit Santorini

Everyone dreams of that idyllic Greek summer, but Santorini is best visited in the shoulder season, especially to avoid the busy cruise tourists and scorching Mediterranean sun. April to May and September to October are the best times of the year to visit and enjoy warm weather, fewer crowds and lower prices. 

Be mindful of the Meltemi winds, which peak during July and August. These north-northwesterly winds can make things a little uncomfortable and often result in cancelled ferries and boat trips. 

Where To Stay in Santorini

Fira (Thira) is the capital of Santorini and the bustling heart of the island. With easy access to the port and the island’s main nightlife and restaurant scene, this area is best for first-timers and travellers wanting to experience those incredible caldera views. Oía is a small town situated in the north of the island, known for its famed blue-domed buildings and iconic sunset views. Jam-packed with luxury hotels and boutique stays, this is where the honeymooners come to sip drinks in front of orange-washed skies, and the hotel prices definitely reflect this. 

Travellers looking for beach stays should choose Kamari and Perissa. These bustling beach resorts are situated on unique black sands and offer beachfront amenities and watersports for outdoor enthusiasts. 

Imerovigli and Firostefani are quieter villages situated between Fira and Oía, offering incredible caldera views (with Imerovigli being the highest point on the caldera) at a lower price, as they are farther from the hustle and bustle of the main town. Firostefani is a great option for travellers looking for a slice of luxury without the price tag. We bagged a caldera view hotel in October for just over £100!

Getting Around Santorini

To explore the island at your leisure, renting a car or ATV is the best way to do so. There are plenty of rental companies available, but be mindful of parking and traffic during the busy season. Taxis are limited on the island and are usually costly, so make sure to book in advance. If you’re staying in a property on the caldera, many of these offer their own taxi and luggage service, as the island is notoriously hard to navigate with heavy luggage.

If you are staying in Fira, the city bus station serves most towns and villages on the island, including the airport, with fares around €2 for a single journey. If you are getting to and from Santorini by ferry, there is a bus that runs from Fira to the port regularly throughout the day. Be sure to get there with plenty of time, as the advertised timetables are not always strictly followed! The bus journey down the extremely windy road to the port is not for the faint-hearted, so if the budget allows, book a taxi for a smoother, less heart-stopping transfer!

How Much Does Santorini Cost?

Yes, Santorini does cost more than most other Greek islands, but you do really pay for the views here. Hotels, restaurants and bars along the caldera tend to be more expensive than those further inland, but you can still find affordable spots to eat and drink in. If you’re on a budget, visit during the shoulder season, look for restaurants away from the main caldera and opt for bakery breakfasts and lunches (the bakeries here are out of this world!) to save money whilst you explore. 

You can find gorgeous stays in Fira for less than £80 a night in September, just minutes from the iconic caldera views. Family-run tavernas and hole-in-the-wall gyros spots are fantastic budget food options, usually serving some of the best Greek food at more reasonable prices. My top tip: Grab breakfast and lunch at a local bakery, then splash out on a show-stopping sunset dinner or cocktails over the caldera; it will be 100% worth it!

The Best Things To Do in Santorini

Hike from Fira to Oía along the caldera coastal path

If you do one thing in Santorini, make sure it’s the hike from Fira to Oía. This 10.5km hike takes you right alongside the iconic caldera, with breathtaking photo opportunities of the famous blue-domed buildings perched precariously along the volcanic cliffside and spectacular ocean views. 

You can do this hike in either direction, with the Fira-to-Oía route being steeper but shorter (my preferred option!), and you can take the bus back from whichever town you end up in. We started in Fira and then got the bus back from Oía after a few hours of exploring. I’d recommend grabbing breakfast, coffee/juice and a delicious sweet treat (they have so many to choose from) at Svoronos Bakery. You can fuel up before the hike for under €10!

Start as early as you can, especially in the summer months; there is limited shade along the route, and even in September, it gets pretty hot. Make sure to pack plenty of water, suncream and a hat, and take plenty of rest stops along the way. You won’t find this an issue at all, as there are so many places to stop and take in the view!

Watch Mamma Mia! under the stars at an outdoor cinema

If you’re looking to enjoy the ultimate Greek ‘Mamma Mia’ experience, then make sure to book tickets to watch the iconic film at an outdoor cinema underneath the stars!

Volkan On The Rocks is a caldera-view restaurant located in Firostefani (just a short walk from the capital, Fira), featuring an open-air cinema that runs every night from April to November. You can visit the restaurant during the day, too, but the magic really comes alive at night. Tickets start at €22 for the standard movie ticket, and go up to €110 for the full dining experience. Booking early is recommended! We booked standard tickets and then ordered food and drinks when we got there, choosing to share a main (as it is more on the expensive side). They provided a small plate of olives and bread when we sat down, which was a nice touch. 

It was a first-come, first-served basis for seating, but all the tables had a fantastic view of the screen and an incredible sunset. They time the film to start after the sun has gone down, so you can sip something cool and savour the views beforehand. Headphones are provided so you can belt out the classic ABBA tunes to your heart’s content. A sunset experience that you’ll not forget for sure – book your tickets here!

Watch the sunset over the caldera in Oía (or Fira if you want to avoid the crowds!)

Santorini has some of the most spectacular sunsets in the entire world, and you’ll want to make sure you find time to watch one. Oia is one of the best places to watch the sun dip below the horizon, and if you can get a spot, watch it from the iconic castle for snaps that you’ll want to immediately upload to Instagram! 

If you want to avoid the crowds, there are some quieter spots dotted along the caldera in Fira, which are just as beautiful for golden hour. 

Explore Ammoudi Bay

If you’re visiting Oía, then don’t miss a stop at the gorgeous Ammoudi Bay. Connected to Oia village by a daunting 300-step staircase, this former fishing village is 100% worth the shaky legs. In the bay, you’ll find rustic Greek tavernas and a picturesque swim spot where you can dive into crystal clear Mediterranean waters to cool off. You’ll need it after those stairs! Please don’t be tempted to get a donkey ride back up, though – these gorgeous animals are seriously mistreated! Book a taxi ride back instead. 

Visit the black sand beaches

You won’t find glorious golden sands in Santorini; instead, you’ll find unique black-sand beaches synonymous with this incredible volcanic landscape. Located on the southeastern coast of the island, Perissa Beach and Kamari Beach are the places to go to relax in this fascinating environment. Here you’ll find all the usual beach offerings: sunbeds, water sports, aquamarine seas, and those all-important beach bars. 

Take a boat trip 

One of the best ways to see the dramatic edges of the caldera is not from the island itself, but from a boat!

Book a full-day trip to explore hidden coves and visit the hot springs, or a sunset sail to watch the iconic sunset experience in all its glory. No pesky fights for the best photo spot here. Sunset Oia offers incredible catamaran sailing experiences, from small-group to large shared tours.

Fuel up on gyros and Greek beer

No trip to Greece is complete without a lunch of gyros, and one of the best places to enjoy this delicious Greek street food is Pitogyros Traditional Grill House in Oia.

If you are doing the Fira-to-Oia walk, it’s the perfect post-hike fuel. Don’t be surprised if you order another straight after the first, as I did. They really are that good. At €6.80 for a huge portion, this is the best way to fill up on a budget. Washed down with an ice-cold local beer, it’s an authentic Greek experience that won’t break the bank.  

Have you been to Santorini?

What are the best things to do in Santorini? Anything you’d add to this Santorini bucket list?

Leah Salisbury