The Ultimate Santorini Travel Guide

Greece is truly a dream destination. If you have an upcoming trip to Greece or it’s been a location at the top of your bucket list for a while now, then keep reading! I will be sharing everything you need to know like how to get there, how to get around on the islands, where to eat, what to do, and more. In this Santorini travel guide, you’ll read everything you need to know and why it is one of the most popular travel destinations in Greece.

Santorini is known for its breathtaking views, beautiful sunsets, volcanos and wine making. It is definitely a more romantic destination between the Greek islands. If you are looking for a honeymoon location, you can’t go wrong with Santorini.

This was actually our second time coming to Santorini. We came for the first time in 2019 and had such an amazing time that we were dying to go back. Although we have a mile long list of destinations within Europe that we haven’t been to yet, we couldn’t wait to get back to Greece. We missed the amazing food, Greek hospitality, crystal clear waters, the Cycladic architecture, and cobblestones walkways throughout the towns.

Our Engagement in Santorini:

Marco and I also got engaged on this trip, so Santorini has become a special place to us! He surprised me with a photo shoot and had every little detail planned with the most amazing photographer! After shooting in multiple, scenic locations, we went to the last location of the day. It was an old, beautiful church that we were able to stand on top of. Right as the sun was setting, Marco got down on one knee and proposed. I couldn’t have asked for a more special evening. If you want some amazing photographs to remember this trip forever, I cannot recommend our photographer Kimon enough!

Getting there:

Santorini has one small airport on the island. You will find the most flight options (and typically more affordable) by flying into Athens first. From Athens you can take a second flight to the islands or hop on a ferry. A flight from Athens to Santorini will take you about 50 minutes to 1 hour and a high-speed ferry will take you about 4-5 hours.

We have spent time in Athens on a previous trip, and if you have a day to spare, it is definitely worth seeing. If you are short on time or not overly enthused with history, Athens can get scratched off the list. I personally think 1 full day in Athens is enough to walk around, see the Parthenon, Acropolis and market, before making your way to the islands. Check out my Athens travel guide here for a complete 1-day itinerary.

Where to stay:

Our weeklong Greece vacation started in Santorini and luckily found a direct flight from Frankfurt to Santorini.

We found a really cute hotel in Oia that was only a 10-15 minute walk into the town. Since we only had 2 days in Santorini, so staying in Oia was a no-brainer to us. It is definitely the more touristy location, but for good reason. There is no shortage of amazing views, boutique shops, and delicious restaurants.

When we came in 2019, we stayed in Fira, which is perfect if you plan on going out and wanting more nightlife! Oia is more romantic, picturesque, and the location of Ammoudi Beach.

There are of course a lot more areas in Santorini than Oia and Fira, but these are definitely the most popular with most of the activities you probably came to Santorini for in the first place.

After deciding which area is best for you, there are so many hotels and Airbnb options to choose from. We really loved our hotel, but next time we will probably pick a place that is in the heart of Oia and next to all of the shops. We usually love to stay in the middle of all the action so that it is easier to come and go throughout the day. Although we were only a short 10–15-minute walk from the town, it was mostly uphill and still far enough away where it made it harder to pop in and out during the day. The hotel itself was absolutely beautiful and had a private pool and rooftop.

How to get around:

When we came in 2019 it was much easier to get around than it is now. You used to be able to rent ATV’s and easily get anywhere you needed! At the beginning of January 2022, they changed certain traffic laws and now renting an ATV or scooter is a bit more restricted. Only people with either a motorcycle license or are from one of the dozen or so states whose licenses are still accepted are able to rent an ATV.

Luckily, since everything we wanted to do was around Oia, we were able to see everything by foot. If you plan on visiting Fira or another part of the island, setting up a taxi service is easy. Most Airbnb hosts or hotels will gladly set up a taxi service for you. The downside of this is that taxis are very expensive on the islands. Depending on where you are going, a taxi could cost you anywhere from 20-50 euros each way. So, take that into account when picking out your hotel location as well. A cheaper option would be to rent a car if you plan on seeing a lot of the island. We rented a car in Mykonos, and it cost us 70 euros per day plus gas.

What to do:

Oia: Walk through Oia and visit all of the shops. You could honestly spend a full day just walking in and out of all the amazing little shops throughout the town.

Ammoudi Beach: A fun place to go for lunch or enjoy dinner at sunset! Beware that it will take you a couple hundred steps to get down to the bay, but once you do it will be worth it! They have the option of paying to ride a donkey back up the stairs, but please try to refrain from that option.

Fira: If you’re not into hiking, it’s definitely still worth taking the time to visit Fira. If you want to experience any of the nightlife while on the island, Fira is the best place for it.

Wine tasting tour: Santorini is known for being a large Greek wine region. With countless wineries to choose from, I highly recommend visiting a few while you’re on the island. You can also opt for doing a wine tour, so you are able to visit several!

Hiking Activities:

Hike from Oia to Fira: If you’re into hiking and / or scenic views, I definitely recommend doing the hike from Oia to Fira. In total it is 6.5 miles / 10.5 km long. You could hike it in as quick as two hours or turn it into a whole day’s activity. I suggest taking your time, as you’ll want to stop several times for photos, a bite to eat, etc! Once you make it to Fira, you can spend a few hours walking around and then taxi back to your hotel.

Hike to Skaros Rock: Skaros Rock is also known as Castle Skaros or Fortress Skaros. It is a giant rock formation that was created through volcanic activity. Skaros is located in the town of Imerovigli, which is set between Oia and Fira.

Where to eat:

Mia’s: A higher end restaurant that is on the pricier side, but a great option if you want one nicer meal to splurge on.

Ammoudi Fish Tavern: Highly recommend going to dinner at sunset! It is a beautiful view on the water and even better at sunset.

Galini Cafe: A really cute place for breakfast that has an amazing view. Located in Fira.

Esperisma: A breathtaking dinner spot in Fira with beautiful views.

Souvlaki N’ Wrap: If you’re looking for a quick bite in Oia, this fast-food Souvlaki restaurant is perfect.

Armeni Restaurant: A Mediterranean and seafood restaurant, located in Oia on the old port of Armeni.

After a very quick couple of days in Santorini, we hopped on the ferry to Mykonos for the duration of our trip. The ferry ride will take you about 2-3 hours but was a quick and seamless ride. Be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes prior, so you can get in line and be ready to board as soon as the ferry comes in. We got stuck in traffic on the way to the port, and almost missed our ferry, so give yourself plenty of time. If you are also headed to Mykonos before or after Santorini, be sure to check out my in-depth Mykonos travel guide here!

Best time to go:

In my opinion, try to avoid going in July or August if you can. Costs of hotels and Airbnb’s skyrocket, booking any reservation is very difficult unless done far in advance, and it is SO crowded. I would suggest trying to go in May, June or September. We went this year in the first week of May and it was low to mid 70s all week. I did wish it was a little warmer, so we were able to do more boat / pool days, but the locals did assure us that it is typically much warmer during that time of the year.

Overall thoughts:

Santorini really is one of my all-time favorite towns to visit. Something about it is so magical and you’ll never want to leave. The people, the culture, the food, the views, the water, I could go on and on. If Greece is a place that has been on your bucket list for a while now, then I highly suggest making it your next vacation destination! It is perfect for a girl’s trip, honeymoon, or even solo traveling.

Heading anywhere else?

If you are flying in or out of Athens, and plan to spend any time there, be sure to check out my Athens travel guide for a complete 1-day itinerary of everything to do, see, and eat in one day!! I share all the iconic landmarks, restaurant recommendations and how to budget your time when you’re short on time!

If you’re like me and need help keeping all of your travel plans and itinerary organized, be sure to check out my travel journal that I designed for just this reason! It’s how I plan every single trip and keep organized. It has everything you need from a packing list, a page for your accommodation info, travel itinerary, budgeting on your trip, journaling each day and more!

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