Greece is a place I’ve dreamed about visiting my entire life. I was even a little worried that the islands wouldn’t quite live up to the almost mythologically beautiful image of them I had in my mind. Upon visiting the Cyclades, I quickly learned that image I had in my head wasn’t just a far-off daydream.
No place has captivated me as much as the mystical and awe-inspiring landscape of Santorini. White cave houses with bright blue roofs dot a rugged landscape bathed in sunlight. A gleaming and deep cerulean sea reflects the serenity of this calmingly beautiful place as a cool breeze rushes through the marble streets. It is quite the unreal place to visit. I now understand why the Ancient Greeks were so inspired by the natural beauty of Greece that they attributed its creation to Greek gods and fantastical myths.
Santorini is my new favorite place outside of the U.S. It’s the kind of place that everyone needs to see for themselves at least once in their lifetime. In the past few years, Oia in particular has gotten very hyped up on social media. Well, I’m here to tell you that all that press is well-deserved.
Santorini may not be Greece’s best kept secret anymore, but it is still a truly stunning and special place. I highly recommend that everyone should visit, regardless of crowds. It’s just that beautiful. Rumor has it, that the lost city of Atlantis lies beneath the stunning cerulean waters of Santorini. A visit to Santorini is so enrapturing that it’s almost hard not to believe the legend.
Santorini History + Culture
Santorini is an island in the middle of the Cyclades archipelago in Greece. The island was formed after a massive volcanic eruption around 1600 BC, and what remains of the island is actually the caldera of the volcano. That’s what gives Santorini it’s unique shape. The island itself is the unsubmerged edge of a giant volcanic crater. Minoans used to reside here before the eruption in the Bronze Age and used Akrotiri as a major port. In recent decades, Santorini has become a travel hot spot. But there’s a reason your Instagram feed is filled with Santorini photos. It holds a magic all its own that even the best cameras can’t quite capture. With that being said, I hope you enjoy the Santorini snapshots sprinkled throughout this post. Maybe they’ll just inspire your own Santorini adventure!
Santorini Travel Guide Tips
When to Visit Santorini
Santorini boasts a mild and pleasant climate pretty much year-round. The best time of year will depend a lot on your likes and dislikes. Spring and fall are excellent shoulder seasons for warm weather, no rain, and smaller crowds. The summer season is very crowded, but it’s the only time of year where the water is warm enough to go for a swim. Winter is rainy, but the crowds are almost nonexistent.
What to Wear in Santorini
Santorini is made for sundresses and breezy clothing. This sundress I picked up at a boutique in Oia is one of my favorite dresses I’ve ever owned. Greek fashion is just stunning, and the fabrics are so soft.
Practical Santorini Travel Guide Advice
- Santorini is home to its own airport. Flying in here is a lot easier than taking the 8+ hour ferry ride from Athens.
- A lot of places are cash only, and it’s very difficult to find currency exchange on the island. Make sure you have your Euros ready to go before you arrive.
- Dine at local tavernas and delis for a more authentic taste of Greece.
- Buses are the cheapest way to travel between towns on Santorini. The routes are relatively quick and well-organized.
- Wear comfy shoes if you’re heading down to Ammoudi Bay—those steps are no joke!
- Bring a sweater along for nighttime—the temperature drops and the winds pick up.
- If you’re planning on watching the sunset in Oia, you need to stake out your spot at least an hour in advance. It can get really packed really fast!
- Try Greek ice cream—you’ll thank me later 🙂
Where to Stay in Santorini
I absolutely loved the place I stayed at in Oia: The Flower Pension. I can’t recommend it enough if you want to stay within walking distance of Oia. There are no crowds, peace and quiet at night, beautiful ocean and volcano views, and easy access to arguably the finest village in Santorini. Flora, the owner, is so hospitable and the pension has a very welcoming and cozy feel. Plus it’s about a third of the cost of most AirBnBs in Oia during peak season 🙂 This is one of my favorite places I stayed at during my European summer.
If money is no object, I recommend staying at these accommodations in Oia, Thira and Imerovigli:
Oia vs. Thira
Most visitors to Santorini choose between staying in Santorini’s bustling capital, Thira (Fira) or posh Oia. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. This pros-cons list should help you decide which village is the better fit for you!
Oia
Pros
- Best sunset views
- Luxurious with the best shopping on the island
- Posh restaurants
- Easy access to Ammoudi Bay
- Great for getting the iconic Santorini cave houses shot
Cons
- Expensive accommodations and restaurants
- Lots of day cruise and sunset crowds
- Relatively remote from the rest of the island in terms of transportation access
- Not a lot of privacy if you’re staying in a cave house. People frequently walk by windows, doors and pools since they’re often located right next to the cobblestone streets.
Accommodations
- Canaves Oia Suites ($$$)
- Charisma Suites ($$$)
- Adronis Boutique Hotel ($$)
Thira
Pros
- Great central location
- Cheaper eats and accommodations
- Advantages of a larger village: currency exchange, businesses open later
- Easy airport and beach access
- Home to the bus hub, so you can easily reach anywhere on the island
Cons
- Doesn’t offer the same posh vacation vibe as Santorini
- More touristy
- Limited sunset views
- Large cruise crowds
Accommodations
- Athina Luxury Suites ($$$)
- Aressana Spa Hotel and Suites ($$)
- Asma Suites ($)
Imerovigli
Imerovigli is Oia’s quieter but just as luxurious cousin. I recommend staying here if you’re looking for a romantic getaway or a less expensive alternative to Oia without sacrificing style. There’s not a lot going on in Imerovigli, but the sunset views and resorts are exquisite. Total honeymoon goals!
Accommodations
- Above Blue Suites ($$$)
- Absolute Bliss ($$)
- Dreams Luxury Suites ($$)
Things to do in Santorini
Swim in Ammoudi Bay
Straight out of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants films, Ammoudi Bay is a Grecian dream. If you can brave all 218 steps down (and back up again), this gem of Santorini is so worth it. This is the perfect place to go for an afternoon swim or to have a waterside lunch with beautiful views.
Watch the Sunset in Oia
Oia sunsets are world-famous, and for good reason. Make sure to snag a sunset spot early for stunning views (about an hour before sunset or so). Oia does get extremely crowded during golden hour, so be prepared for the heavy crowds that come with these iconic sunsets. Tip: stick around after sunset because colors deepen about 20 minutes after the sun goes down. Plus the crowds leave just as the sun dips below the horizon, so you should have those cotton candy skies all to yourself!
Shopping in Oia
Atlantis Bookstore
I’m not exaggerating when I say this is my favorite bookstore on the planet. I love to find local gems and bookstores with heart, and Atlantis Bookstore is all that and more. The book selection was clearly curated with heart. Literary quotes are painted and interwoven among the shelves and nooks and crannies throughout the interior and staircase of the store. The rooftop views are absolutely jawdropping. I also visited Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice on my trip. I was sorely disappointed that the place had no character and was one giant tourist trap. Atlantis Books is actually worth the hype your time to visit.
Boutiques
Oia has a beautiful selection of clothing boutiques curated by Greek label designers. All the fabrics are so soft, and I truly fell in love with the designs during my visit. I highly recommend picking up any jewelry with the “all-seeing eye,” an emblem of Santorini. You can shop my favorite boutiques in Oia below:
- Agora
- The House of Art
- Ammos
- Andronis
- The White Santorini
Santorini Beaches
Red Beach
One of the only red sand beaches in the world, Red Beach is even more stunning in person. The contrast between the turquoise water with white sailboats and rust red sand is exquisite on a summer day. You could easily spend an entire day at this little slice of paradise. The beach is an easy bus ride away from Oia with a quick change in Thira. There are plenty of convenience stores nearby for beach essentials and even a yummy gyro restaurant!
I highly recommend bringing tennis shoes or shoes you can hike in. You also should bring your own towel to lay out on since there are no chair or sunbed rentals. To reach the beach, you have to climb up and down boulders along the cliffside, so good walking shoes are essentials. The Akrotiri Ruins are just a short walk from the beach and definitely worth a few hours if you have plenty of time.
Kamari Beach
Kamari is Santorini’s famous black sand beach. If you’re looking more of a resort-style beach day, I recommend going here. There are sunbeds and beach umbrella rentals available as well as food and drinks. The sand here absorbs a lot of heat, so make sure to bring your sandals if you want to get your feet wet. Kamari Beach is an easy bus ride away from Thira.
Perissa Beach
Kamari isn’t the only black sand beach on Santorini. Perissa Beach is another great choice for a beach day to soak up some sun. Beach rentals and chairs are available here as well.
Sail Around Santorini
Locals will always tell you that Santorini is best seen from the sea! There are so many great sailing choices depending on how you like to vacation. You can go on group boat tours around the island and swim in the hot springs and volcano. Private cruises and charters are also available if you want to explore the island with a small group or for a romantic couples’ getaway. No matter what type of Santorini sailing trip you choose, I recommend booking these tours:
Volcano + Hot Springs + Exploring Oia Group Tour // Semi-Private Catamaran Cruise // Luxury Small Group Cruise
Akrotiri Ruins
If you’re into history or archaeology, I recommend spending a few hours exploring Akrotiri followed by a visit to Red Beach. The Akrotiri Ruins is an important Aegean historical site and displays artifacts from the Bronze Age. The Minoans used to live on Santorini and used Akrotiri as one of their strategic ports. The city was buried under the ash from a catastrophic volcanic eruption in the 17th century BC. You can purchase tickets to Akrotiri here.
Where to Eat in Santorini
One of the best parts about visiting Greece is the food! To be perfectly honest, I only ate at two restaurants during my long weekend in Santorini. They were both so delicious and affordable that I didn’t even want to try anywhere else!
When I was researching my trip, I was shocked to learn how expensive most of the restaurants in Oia are. I’ve always been told that Positano dining is far more expensive than Santorini dining, but I found the opposite to be true. Most restaurants with a view in Santorini will put you out about 80 Euros for an entree, and there’s no way I could justify that. Both restaurants listed below are absolutely delicious and have stellar reviews for a much better price. Make time to visit both of them during your trip. You may just end up going back a second time like me!
Ammoudi Fish Tavern
If you’re looking for the perfect waterfront views, Ammoudi Fish Tavern is ideal. The turquoise water is absolutely gorgeous when the sun hits it in the afternoon. This spot is also world-renowned for its sunset views (plus no waiting around with crowds in Oia for hours if you make a dinner reservation here!).
The seafood is caught fresh in Ammoudi Bay every morning and served up for lunch a few hours later. You just can’t beat that! I highly recommend ordering the salmon. I still dream about it, honestly. The Greek salad is also a must here. You really can’t go wrong with ordering anything on the menu, though. The waiters here are also so kind—one of my favorite parts about visiting Greece was how welcoming the people are.
Pita Gyros
Looking for the best gyro in Santorini? This is the place. I’ve been eating gyros and Greek food my whole life, and these are far and away the best I’ve ever had. There are so many different types, but they’re all equally delicious. The Greek salad is so yummy, too. Make sure to get here early for lunch or dinner because it’s extremely popular! Those Yelp reviews don’t lie.
You can wait to be seated (not worth it since you’ll probably we waiting 45+ minutes) or take your gyro to go. One of my favorite parts about staying in Oia was picking up my gyro and being able to walk 10 minutes to my hotel for dinner. Super convenient! Not even ashamed to say that by the time I left Santorini, they knew me by name here. PitaGyros is conveniently located just off the main path in Oia.
Santorini truly is heaven on earth. I could honestly go on for hours about my Greece adventures. Seriously dreaming of moving here one day. Do you have any questions about Santorini? I’d love to answer them for you in the comments!
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