Santorini Travel Guide

Some facts about Santorini

Santorini is arguably the most popular of the Greek Islands amongst tourists, and this can mean it gets busy in the height of summer.

When you think of Santorini it is likely you are picturing Oia and Fira – as these two villages are where you'll find those iconic sunset views. There is more to the island than these two places however, so make sure you check out our guide on where to stay below.

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Practical Info

Santorini map

Santorini is one of the Greek Islands found in the Aegean Sea – just north of Crete. Check out our handy map of Santorini below to get a better feel for the island.

Culture and etiquette

Religion

The majority of people in Santorini and the rest of Greece are Greek Orthodox, but other religions are practiced too.

Tipping

Tipping isn't seen as a necessity but if you feel you've had good service then it's always nice to leave some change at the end.

Smoking

Smoking is banned in enclosed public spaces like bars, restaurants and public transport. In recent history, Greece has had the highest rate of smoking in Europe, although rates are starting to decrease as anti-smoking laws are enforced more strictly.

Language 101

Greek is the main language in Santorini. English is widely spoken in tourist areas but we think it's a good idea to learn a few key phrases and words to help immerse yourself in the culture.

• Hello (informal) – Yassou (ya-sou)
• How are you? – Ti kanis? (ti-kanis)
• What's your name? – Pós se léne? (poss-eh-len-eh)
• My name is – Me léne (me len-eh )
• Numbers:
  • One – Ena
  • Two – Theo
  • Three – Tria
  • Four – Tessera
  • Five – Pende
• Please – Parakaló (para-kalo)
• Thank you – Efharistó (ef-ha-risto)
• Table for two – Trapézi gia dýo (tra-pezi jiya duo)
• The bill, please – Ton logariasmó, parakaló (toh-loh-garismo, para-kalo)
• Goodbye – Antio (antio)

Jabs, visas and other advice

For up-to-date advice on jabs, visas and other foreign advice, we recommend following the government's website.

Emergency numbers

For ambulance services call 166 and for the police call 100.

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Santorini weather

Weather in Santorini

Santorini weather during December, January, February (Winter). These are the coldest months in Santorini but temperatures are still relatively mild for winter (around 12°C). Rainy and windy days can't be ruled out, so you'll definitely need to pack jackets and long sleeves.

Santorini weather during March, April, May (Spring). From mid-March to May temperatures start to warm up to around 15 to 25°C and chances are you'll enjoy clear, sunny days. It's often said that Santorini weather in May is like summer weather here at home in the UK.

Santorini weather during June, July, August (Summer). The summer months in Santorini are warm and sunny with temperatures ranging from 26 to 30°C.

Santorini weather during September, October, November (Autumn). Santorini weather in September is still lovely and feels like summer. You'll be able to enjoy temperatures from 21 to 26°C and little to no rain. In October it's getting slightly cooler with temperatures averaging around the 21°C mark but the sea is still warm enough to enjoy a swim or some water sports. The weather in November is still pleasant with sunny days and highs of 18°C, however there's a small chance you'll experience a rain shower or two during your trip.

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Getting to Santorini

As one of the most popular Greek islands for UK tourists there are daily direct flights to Santorini Airport (also known as Thera Airport). It's a really small airport, so it's easy to navigate and there's no long walk from the plane.

Once you have landed in Santorini the transfer time to your hotel is usually under an hour. We recommend pre-booking an airport transfer.

If you haven't booked a transfer you can take a taxi, but be warned they only seat four people and there are no flat rate fees, so you'll be charged by taximeter based on distance. A taxi to Fira will be around €35, depending on traffic and time of day. There is also a shuttle bus which runs between the airport and Fira (€1.70 one way ticket), but these don't run that often so you may have to wait.

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Getting around Santorini

Although Santorini is a small island, and it doesn't take long to get anywhere, the public transport can be infrequent and doesn't take you to all parts of the island. We recommend you hire a car for your visit – this gives you the freedom to see the whole island and do so at your own pace.

The roads can be quite narrow and winding in places – but will reward you with spectacular views. Just make sure to park up off the road and stop for a minute to take them in.

In some of the main tourist spots, such as Oia and Fira, the car parks can get very busy – so make sure to allow time for this in your day.

If you can't hire a car, then not to worry there is public transport available – this will get you between all the main villages and is very affordable. There's also plenty of lovely walks that will take you between the villages, as we said nowhere is really that far on Santorini!

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Santorini for families

Santorini has a reputation as a romantic location for couples, so you may be wondering if Santorini is a suitable choice for your family holiday. There are definitely some pros and cons to consider when deciding if Santorini is right for your holiday, but overall there's no reason why you shouldn't choose Santorini – the views aren't just for couples after all!

The busy season for Santorini is July through August, and it gets busy - really busy. So we advise avoiding visiting at this time, it'll also save you money to go off season. The other main consideration is how easy it is to navigate around Santorini – it is after all a rugged volcanic island and the main attractions are built into the cliffside. The main pathways in Oia and Fira are easily accessible by pushchair, but when you start to head towards the caldera views the paths get much narrower and steeper. So if you have little ones, you may want to limit how far off the main path you go.

In terms of things to do, this is a great island to explore with kids. If they are learning about geology or love volcanoes they'll get a real kick out of the black sand beaches, a boat ride round the volcanic caldera or the mountainous red rocks. Or if history is their thing, then you can visit the bronze age settlement at Akrotiri – it was buried by the volcanic eruption that shaped the island and is now being slowly uncovered.

We'll be honest, you may have more to do and see on one of the other Greek Islands, Naxos in particular is very child friendly. The caldera side of Santorini does have a lot of accommodation that doesn't accept children, so you may be better off staying at one of the smaller resorts (these also have better beaches!) such as Pyrgos or Perissa.

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Accessibility in Santorini

Getting around Santorini may pose some challenges for those with limited mobility, but this doesn't mean you can't access the famous views. The main towns of Fira and Oia are largely pedestrianised, with relatively flat main routes which can be navigated. However, once you leave the main routes the paths become much narrower and have a number of stairs due to the fact they are built into the cliffside.

But there is more to Santorini than these two villages, the village of Perissa is on the non caldera side of the island and is a mostly flat resort. In Perissa there is the famous black sand beach, with plenty of swimming opportunities. It's also much cheaper than staying in the main villages – and the money saved here can be used for a day trip to Oia or Fira to take in the views.

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Santorini for LGBTQ+ travellers

Santorini is one of the most romantic travel destinations out there, and with gay rights in Greece improving in recent years you are unlikely to come across any trouble here.

That being said there are no gay venues on the island – if that's your scene you'd be better off heading to Mykonos. Santorini is more laid back – perfect for you and your partner to relax together.

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Sustainable tourism in Santorini

Being as beautiful as it is, Santorini gets very crowded during the peak summer season. This puts quite the strain on local resources, the environment and communities, so consider visiting during the shoulder seasons. Spring and autumn are great times to go, as the weather will still be warm and you'll be able to enjoy the island in relative peace away from all the summer crowds.

One of Greece's main strategies to tackle overtourism is to increase the amount of destinations holidaymakers would want to visit and encourage people to head there during the winter too. The conditions in winter are perfect for exploring Greece's adundance of historic sites and picturesque hiking trails, so do consider heading off the beaten track for your Greek adventure.

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Best beaches in Santorini

Full disclosure – if you're going on holiday for the beach then you'd be better off visiting a different Greek island, such as Zante or Kefalonia. Santorini's not known for its beaches, largely because the ones it does have are volcanic with coarser black sand. That being said, this makes them an interesting and photo-worthy beach visit!

Kamari Beach

Kamari, aka 'Black Beach', is one of the most easily accessible and visited beaches in Santorini. With hundreds of sunbeds along the beautiful black sand, lifeguards, diving centre, beach volleyball area, plus various shops, restaurants and bars, Kamari has everything you need for the perfect beach day.

Perissa Beach

This is one of the most tourist friendly beaches on the island, with plenty of bars and restaurants. You can hire sunbeds and umbrellas here – perfect for a longer day at the beach. The water here is beautiful and it's a great spot for those who enjoy water activities.

Vlychada Beach

Located on the south coast of Santorini, Vlychada Beach, also referred to as 'Moon Beach', is known for its striking mixture of black and white sand and unique, lunar-esque rock formations. While there are taverns, snack bars and sun loungers available for rent, it has a less touristy feel, making it ideal if you're looking for a quieter beach with local charm.

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5 must-do activities in Santorini

Watch the sunset in Oia

Oia is world famous for its stunning sunsets and is sure to be a bucket-list worthy experience. One of the most popular viewpoints is by Oia Castle, where you'll be able to soak up views across the whole town, with its whitewashed buildings and windmills glowing in warm hues.

Top Tip: Be sure to arrive early to get the perfect spot as it gets very crowded! A less busy but equally postcard-perfect location is right beside the famous blue domes. Here's the exact location in Google Maps.

Take a scenic hike from Fira to Oia

Enjoy some of the most majestic views of Santorini and explore charming villages like Imerovigli and Firostefani along the way with the Fira to Oia walk. The route is about 6 miles (10 km) and is a mixture of pedestrian streets and dirt hiking trails. We recommend allowing 3 to 5 hours for the hike, heading off in the morning to avoid the midday sun and packing all the essentials like water, snacks and sun cream.

While you can do this hike in either direction, we love walking from Fira to Oia since the route is largely downhill (always a bonus), all the best views are in front (instead of having to turn around to see them) and you'll end up in Oia, where you can spend the rest of the day exploring the town and watch the legendary sunset over the caldera.

Tour a vineyard

Santorini is a unique Greek island, which carries over to the food and drink too. And probably the most unique thing on Santorini is the wine!

Due to the volcanic history of the island, and the lack of water, the vines here don't grow in a typical fashion. Rather than the classic tall vineyards you'll see elsewhere, vines here are grown in trenches in the soil. Due to the soil (a mixture of pumice, volcanic ash and lava) the small insects that like to feed on vine roots can't survive – this makes the vines on Santorini some of the oldest in the world. It also gives Santorini wine a unique, almost metallic flavour.

We highly recommend a wine tour during your stay on the island. Ya mas!

Visit the historical sites

Although Santorini is very much a modern tourist destination whose popularity has skyrocketed in the age of Instagram, the island itself has a rich history. So a trip to Santorini really isn't complete without a visit to some of the historical sites.

To the south of the island is Akrotiri, where you can find an ancient Minoan settlement that dates as far back as 4000 BC. The settlement was buried in ash in the volcanic event in 1627 BC – it's now being unearthed and you can visit the site and see the village preserved in time. It is also believed that Akrotiri was the inspiration for the story of Atlantis.

Take a boat tour

One of our favourite things to do in Santorini is to take a boat tour around the caldera. It's a great opportunity to see the island from a different angle, and get some amazing caldera views.

The boat will take you out to the hot springs, where you can get out and take a swim in the warm water. Bring a snorkel (or most boats will have some you can use) as you'll also get the opportunity to jump off the boat to swim in the beautiful crystal clear waters.

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