When you think of Santorini, you probably visualize images either from the beautiful Oia, Santorini’s most famous village town or from, like the one above, Fira, the island’s beautiful capital perched high up along the caldera’s edge. Fira is not only the island’s main connecting hub but also has tons of things to see and do. Known for its beautiful sunsets, stunning caldera views, and white-washed buildings, you will no doubt love your time here. Although it can be crowded at times, Fira and particularly its coastal walking path are deserving of your time. To help you get the most out of your time in Fira, we present below our Santorini Travel Guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Fira.
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You might also be interested in these pages:
Best Things to See and Do in Santorini
Santorini Itinerary Ideas (1 to 5 days)
Santorini Travel Guide: Things to Know Before You Go
Where to Stay on Santorini
How to Get Around Santorini
About Fira
The history of Fira as a settlement started during the second half of the 18th century, when the Venetian nobles and Catholic community abandoned the Castle of Skaros near Imerovigli (built on Skaros Rock), which was the capital of Santorini at that time, after a prolonged period of earthquakes.
Today, Fira is the cultural and commercial center of the Santorini. is also where you’ll find the most restaurants, cafés, and clubs on the island. It’s also the only village known to have a vibrant nightlife scene. Fira is also Santorini’s main transportation and the location of the only bus terminal (all buses either start or end their route in Fira). It is home to the only two Cathedrals in Santorini (Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral and the Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist) and the two best museums on the island.
Another unique feature of Fira is its cable car system, the only Santorini, which connects the Old Port of Fira below the cliffs with the rest of Santorini. The Old Port is the start of many boat and catamaran tours to explore the various islands of the Santorini archipelago.
Orientation – How to Get to Fira
Fira is located in central Santorini, along the caldera on the island’s western coast. It’s perfectly located to act as Santorini’s main transportation hub, making it relatively easy to get to from anywhere around the island.
Because most people choose to base themselves in Fira during their stay in Santorini, we will provide directions on how to get to Fira from the three main ports of arrival: the airport, the Athinios Ferry Port and the Old Port of Fira.
By car: You can rent a car from several locations across the island including the Santorini Airport and the Athinios Ferry Port (the main exception is the Santorini Old Port). Fira is about a 10-minute drive from the Airport, and a 20-minute drive from the New Ferry Port. If your hotel or accommodation doesn’t have parking, there are several parking spots around town and this large lot is free and always has room.
If you haven’t booked your rental vehicle yet, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Santorini.
By bus: There are regular buses from Fira* all over Santorini. The main bus lines connect to Oia, Perissa, Kamari, Imerovigli, Akrotiri, the Santorini Airport, and the Athinios Ferry Port (New Port), in addition to a few other destinations. Most bus rides take between 10 and 25 minutes to get to Fira, depending on the start point.
*Note that the timetables listed are the current timetables, which change throughout the year with increased service during the summer high season
It’s also important to know that tickets are only sold on the bus and they take cash only. All tickets are one-way only and typically cost about €3 or less for an adult (2024) depending on the the destination and start point.
By cable car: Santorini has two cable car stations that connect Fira with the Old Port of Fira where many cruise ship passengers disembark. It costs €8 to go up and €8 to go down (2024) and, though the ride itself is short (4 minutes), you get to enjoy great views of Santorini and the caldera.
The cable car schedule changes throughout the year: 6:30 am to 11 pm from early June till the end of August, 6:30 am to 10 pm in May, September, and October, shorter hours the rest of the year and often close for maintenance in January/February (the full schedule can be seen here). The cable cars can transport up to 1200 people per hour, with each carriage seating up to six people in two rows of three.
By walking: If there is a long wait for the cable car, the best alternative might be to walk up (unless you have lots of heavy luggage). However, you should know that it is an uphill slog over 600 steps and an elevation gain of about 230m.
You can also pay for donkey/mule rides up the staircase. Although this method has a long-standing tradition in Santorini, we don’t particularly recommend this method of transportation as there have been reports of recent animal mistreatment (see PETA investigation report).
There is also a 2.5 km walking path that connects Fira to Firostefani and Imerovigli. That path turns into an 8km hiking trail afterwards that connects with Oia (more details on these specifics will be presented below).
By private transfer: Taxis aren’t a great option on Santorini – there are roughly only 40 taxis that operate on the island, meaning it can be very difficult to find one at times. Your best option is to pre-book a private transfer, either via Welcome Pickups (ideal if you are coming directly from the airport or port) or from one of the following services (if you want to visit Fira from somewhere else on the island):
By group tour: Another option to visit Fira if you have decided to stay elsewhere on the island is to join one of several group tours of Santorini that include a visit to Fira.
To reach Santorini from anywhere in Greece (or Europe), your main options are either to fly directly into Santorini Airport or to book a ferry into the Santorini New Ferry Port. If you would like more information on how to best travel to Santorini from elsewhere, check our Santorini Travel Tips: Things to Know Before You Go.
Best Time to Visit Fira
Time of Day
Although Fira sometimes gets a bad rap for being too crowded and busy at times, which are justified complaints, we believe the town is still worthy of your time and there are ways to plan your sightseeing around the crowds. For instance, exploring the town in the early morning (before 10 am – but the earlier the better) will be a much more peaceful experience and you won’t have to share your sightseeing or shopping with so many other people.
The main reason Fira gets so crowded during the day is not that it is Santorini’s largest town (though that does play a role), it’s because of the sheer amount of cruise ship day-trippers that make their way up to Fira, which is both connected to the port of arrival via its cable car station and serves as the island’s transport hub. Knowing this, you can, if you want to, time your sightseeing based on cruise ship arrivals.
Thanks to CruiseGig you have access to not only the number of ships that will dock in Santorini on a given day, but also at what time they are expected to do so. Having this knowledge at hand can help you pick the best time to visit some of the more popular villages in Santorini, such as Fira and Oia.
If you don’t want to plan too much based on the cruise ship schedule, another good time to explore Fira is in the late afternoon or just before sunset. Most of the cruise ship day trippers will have left and others will have started to gather in restaurants and bars with a sunset view. That doesn’t mean that you have to miss the sunset, as in our opinion the best thing to do in Fira is to walk along the caldera trail that connects Fira with Firostefani and Imerovigli, from which there are nearly an infinite number of spots from which to watch the sunset (more on this trail below).
Time of Year
Our favourite time of year to visit many places in Europe, and this includes Santorini, is during the shoulder season after summer, primarily during September and October. The weather is usually still great without being too hot, the days are still relatively long and the seas are still warm, and there are definitely fewer crowds than in the summer. Also, the price of accommodation and activities tends to be lower than during the high season.
If you plan on visiting Santorini during the off-season or winter, Fira is the best place to visit. Many of the restaurants and hotels in Santorini’s other towns will close during the off-season, but several options remain open year-round in Fira. While the weather remains relatively warm during winter (rarely dipping below 10°C with average daytime highs around 14°C-15°C, rainy days are much more frequent. And it can be very windy any time of year.
Best Things to See and Do in Fira
Walk Along the Caldera Trail Towards Imerovigli
This is without a doubt one of the best things you can do in Fira, let alone Santorini. The trail is part of the famous Fira to Oia walking trail, though this 2.5km section is fully on concrete or cobblestone paths. It takes on average 40-45 minutes to walk the full length of the trail to Imerovigli, which follows the caldera rim. It’s a slightly shorter walk in the opposite direction as you will be walking downhill from Imerovigli to Fira. If you don’t want to walk back up the trail to Imerovigli, you can always take a bus back from the Fira bus station up to Imerovigli and then walk the trail back down to Fira.
For more information on this trail, check out our Santorini Guide on the Fira to Imegovigli Walk.
You will no doubt also come across several tourists doing the famous “flying dress photoshoots“. If that’s something you could be interested in doing, there are several great photographers for hire on the island.
Explore and Visit the Beautiful Cycladic Churches
Although Santorini’s blue-domed churches tend to be mostly associated with Oia, located at the northern tip of the island, they can actually be found all over the island, and there are a few that you will cross along the caldera trail between Imerovigli and Fira, or just a short walk off the trail.
Church of Panagia Malteza (Imerovigli)
Agios Georgios Chapel – not a blue dome, but still a lovely chapel with a fantastic view over the caldera.
Church of the Resurrection of the Lord (Imerovigli)
Three Bells of Fira (Firostefani)
Church of St. Mark the Evangelist (Fira)
Church of Agios Gerasimos (Fira)
Catholic Church of Saint Stylianos (Fira) – church in the foreground of the second picture
Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (Fira) – technically not a blue dome (tall tower in the background), but the architecture is nonetheless beautiful and it’s the largest church on Santorini).
Watch the Sunset
Although our favorite spot to watch the sunset was in Imerovigli, both because of its higher vantage point and the fewer number of tourists, sunset viewing from Fira and anywhere along the trail between Fira and Imerovigli were close seconds. The closer you are to the center of Fira near the cathedral, the more people there are likely to be – though not as bad as in Oia. For more solitude, just walk north along the caldera trail towards Imerovigli until you find a spot you like.
Your accommodation in Fira might have a beautiful terrace with sunset views, which is the ideal situation. Alternatively, you can also look for one of the many caldera-side bars or restaurants in Fira – though these fill up quickly and making a reservation ahead is recommended.
People often say that Santorini has some of the best sunsets in the world, well it’s hard to disagree.
Walk or Cable Car Down to the Old Port
If you didn’t arrive via a cruise ship, a short visit down to the Old Port can make for an interesting activity. It’s not a huge area to explore, but there are several small shops selling arts and crafts – and prices are typically cheaper than in Fira. You will also find there some tavernas and small cafes that serve fresh seafood and Mediterranean cuisine.
You can choose to go either via the cable car or walk up and down the winding cliffside staircase. An alternative is to walk down and take the cable car back up to save some energy – after all, there are 587 steps!
Visit Santorini’s Best Museums
Santorini’s two best museums can be found in Fira. The Museum of Prehistoric Thera has exhibits and artifacts uncovered from the ancient city of Akrotiri – a city that like Pompeii in Italy was covered in ash and lava following a massive volcano explosion nearly 4000 years ago. If you have the time, also try to visit the Akrotiri Archeological Site near the southern tip of the island, it’s a fascinating site to explore to learn about how life on the island would have looked like back then.
Fira is also home to the Santorini Archaeological Museum, which displays various relics from different periods of Santorini’s history, such as sculptures, ceramics and rock carvings.
Go shopping
You’ll find loads of shops, boutiques, and artisan craft shops all over Fira (and along the Fira-Imerovilgi trail).
Best Things to See and Do Near Fira
Walk the Imerovigli to Oia Trail
This trail is a must-do while in Santorini if you are an outdoor adventurer. The views along the trail are just stunning. The trailhead is located where the Fira-Imerovigli trail ends. The trail from Imerovigli to Oia runs for 8.2 km (one-way), starting from Fira will add an extra 2 – 2.5km, depending on your exact starting point. The trails can be done separately or combined, depending on how much time you have and your anticipated energy level. If it’s going to be a very hot day, it’s best to undertake the hike in the early morning, as there is little to no shade to be found along the trail. For more information on this hike, be sure to check out our Santorini Hiking Guide on the Imerovigli to Oia Trail.
Hike the trail to Skaros Rock
The trailhead to Skaros Rock is located where the Fira-Imerovigli Walking Path ends and where the Imerovigli-Oia trail begins, forming a T-intersection. Skaros Rock is a conical peninsula with a huge 20m high rock on top. It is located directly below Imerovigli, and you’ll have to go down (and later come back up) lots of steps – a few hundred in fact. But don’t let that deter you, it’s definitely worth the effort as it provides great views of Santorini all around.
For more information on Skaros Roch, be sure to check out our Guide on the Short Hike to Skaros Rock.
Get Out on the Water with a boat/cruise trip
Fira’s proximity to the Old Port makes it very easy to join various boat, catamaran and sailing excursions. These offer the opportunity to enjoy some time out on the water and to admire Santorini’s coastline from a different perspective. They also offer the opportunity To visit and walk on some of the other islands in the Santorini archipelago, which all used to be part of the same massive volcano, such as Theresia, Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni.
Although Santorini is a dormant volcano, it is still considered an active Volcano. Numerous minor and medium-sized, mainly effusive, eruptions have built the dark-coloured lava shields of Nea and Palea Kameni inside the caldera. Their last eruption was in 1950, and now only fumarolic activity, primarily inside the recently active craters underwater, takes place. One of the fun things to do while on one of the boat tours is to take a dip in the hot springs or the mud baths near Nea Kameni.
Most boat tours will serve, snacks, lunch and drinks, or dinner if you prefer to go out on a sunset cruise. There are many options to choose from, and most tours offer pick-up service from (or near) your hotel.
Visit the Charming Villages of Megalochori and Pyrgos
If you would like to experience some beautiful and authentic Santorini villages without the crowds, then Megalochori and Pyrgos are for you. They are wonderful places to aimlessly wander through narrow streets and alleyways while still being impressed by the beauty of the white-washed buildings and the stunning blue dome churches. Both villages are close to Fira and can be easily visited from there. Both villages were built inland (not along the caldera), and Pyrgos is Santorini’s highest village with hilltop castle ruins providing panoramic 360-degree views of the island.
For more information on visiting this charming village, be sure to check out our Guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Megalochori.
For more information on visiting this beautiful mountain top village, be sure to check out our Guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Pyrgos.
Visit some of Santorini’s Best Vineyards and Wineries
Santorini is known for its dry white and sweet Vinsanto wines, both of which are based on the island’s flagship grape variety, Assyrtiko. Here, the vines are ungrafted and tend to be planted in small, sheltered hollows that get woven into a living basket or bird’s nest shape. This method is used to protect the vines from the frequent strong winds that blow over Santorini. The method combined with the unique minerality of the volcanic soil produces a set of wines that is very unique to Santorini. While the sweet Vinsanto dessert wine has achieved more international fame, Santorini’s dry whites are arguably the island’s most promising modern-day wine style.
As of 2023, there were at least 18 vineyards and wineries in Santorini. While none are located in Fira, they can all be easily reached by bus, group tour or with your own vehicle.
For more information on the best beaches to visit, be sure to check out our Guide on Santorini’s Best Vineyards.
Should You Base Yourself in Fira while in Santorini?
Fira is where you’ll find the majority of hotels, restaurants, nightlife, shopping and services in Santorini. It’s also the main transportation hub, so it definitely has a lot going for it. But as we alluded to earlier, it does have a justified reputation for being crowded and noisy at times, particularly during the high season. We preferred to be somewhere close to Fira but in a village that had more of a quiet quality to it: Imerovigli.
Ultimately, it comes down to your personal preferences and what you want to prioritize during your stay in Santorini. For more information to help you decide on where to base yourself during your trip, you can check out our Travel Guide on Where to Stay in Santorini.
Preparing a trip to Santorini?
You might also be interested in these pages:
Best Things to See and Do in Santorini
Santorini Itinerary Ideas (1 to 5 days)
Santorini Travel Guide: Things to Know Before You Go
Where to Stay on Santorini
How to Get Around Santorini
Preparing a trip to Greece?
You might be interested in these Greece pages:
Top Things to See and Do in Greece
Two-Week Greece Itinerary (including Mykonos and Santorini)
Greece Travel Guide: Things to Know Before You Go
How to Travel Around Greece
We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Rick Steeves Greece
Lonely Planet Greece
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travellers. Includes Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance. Primarily geared towards long-term travellers, digital nomads, and expats.
e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Santorini Travel Guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Fira and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to Santorini.
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