Santorini’s beauty is world-renowned and its appeal is entirely justified. From its cube-like whitewashed Cycladic architecture to its bright blue church domes, and stunning caldera sunsets over the Aegean Sea. Near the very top of the island, literally, is Imerovigili, Santorini’s highest coastal town, beautifully perched up on a caldera-side cliff. We would argue that Imerovigli is the best place to stay on Santorini, for a long list of reasons that include its near-central location on the island, the amazing opportunities it provides for enjoying beautiful sunsets, and how quiet and less busy it is compared to other well-known towns on the island such as Fira and Oia. On top of that, there are so many fun things to do to keep you busy in and around Imerovigli. Below we present our Guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Imerovigli, which we hope will help you get the most out of our stay in Santorini.
Disclosure: This page (Best Things to See and Do in Imerovigli) may contain product affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. More details can be found on our disclosure and policies page.
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 Imerovigli
The village of Imerovigli, is built on the highest point of the caldera cliffs, about 300 meters above sea level. It is the northernmost of three consecutive villages, with the capital Fira the southernmost and Firostefani in between the two. It is notoriously famous for its beautiful sunsets that have given its nickname Balcony of the Aegean. In fact, the name Imerovigli itself stems from the Greek word “vigla” which means “viewpoint” or “lookout”.
Imerovigli is among the best places to stay (this is where we decided to base ourselves in Santorini) and it is primarily considered a romantic location with a relaxing atmosphere, filled with whitewashed houses and cobblestone alleys away from the hustle and the bustle. Despite the laid-back atmosphere, the village still has a small vibrant town square with several great restaurants, cocktail bars and cafés scattered around town, a few of which are renowned upscale ones offering stunning sunset views. A wide range of accommodation options are available in Imerovigli, from five-star hotels, villas, and deluxe resorts with swimming pools standing on the cliff edge to cozy family-run hotels, studios, apartments and rooms to let.
Imerovigli Location and Map
Imerovigli is technically considered a village, built on the caldera ridge along Santorini’s western coast. Imerovigli is somewhat centrally located on the island of Santorini (also often referred to as Thira); although geographically it is clearly in the northern half of the island, it remains nonetheless well connected with the rest of the island due to its proximity to Fira, Stantorini’s capital.
How to Get to Imerovigli
By car: You can rent a car from several locations across the island, including the Santorini Airport and the Santorini Ferry Port (the main exception is the Santorini Old Port). Imerovigli is about a 15-minute drive from the Airport, and a 25-minute drive from the Athinios 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: To get to Imerovigli from the Santorini airport or the Athienios Ferry Port, you will need to take a pair of buses (a first one to Fira and then a second to Imerovigli – all Santorini bus timetables can be found here*). 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 destination and start point.
*Note that the timetables listed are the current timetables, which change throughout the year with increased service during the summer high season.
By walking: There is a 2.5 km walking path that connects Fira to Imerovigli. In the other direction, there is an 8km hiking trail that connects with Oia (more details on these trails 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 and private transfer, either via Welcome Pickups (if coming straight from the airport or ferry port) or from one of the following services:
By Group Tour: This is another option to visit Imerovigli 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 Imerovigli.
Getting to Santorini
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. Santorini has a small international airport with not only daily flights from Athens during the summer but also from several major cities throughout Europe.
As one of the Cyclade’s most popular islands, Santorini is well connected by ferry to most other major islands and Athens. If you would like to arrive in Santorini via ferry, we highly recommend using Ferry Hoppers (you can even use the widget below to start your search – it will open a new webpage with your search results). In our opinion, it’s the best site to book ferries in Greece. It’s great for researching ferry timetables, costs, and schedules, and it’s easy and simple to make a booking.
Important: the ferry schedules to the Greek islands are usually only announced a few months before the date of departure. So, if you can’t find routes available on Ferryhopper, please check again 1-3 months before the day you want to travel.
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.
How to Get Around Imerovigli
The best way to get around Imerovigli is definitely on foot. The village is rather small, and most roads and alleyways are pedestrian-only. It’s also fairly easy to walk to other nearby towns and villages such as Firostefani and Fira.
If you would like to visit more distant places on the island, such as some of Santorini’s best beaches and vineyards, you’ll either need to take a pair of buses (one to Fira, then another to your destination of choice) or rent your own wheels (scooter, ATV, or car). If you only plan on visiting just one location as a day trip, then using the bus is probably fine, but if you would like to move around and see different, getting your own vehicle is ideal. For more information on how to navigate around the island you can read our Guide on How to Get Around Santorini).
For instance, during our 5-day stay in Santorini, we used the bus twice (once to get back to Imergovigli from Oia after hiking there along the Caldera trail, and the other time to visit the village of Megalochori and its lovely Gavalas Winery). On a separate day, we rented a car to visit the Ancient Akrotiri site, two different beaches and the Estate Argyros winery.
If you do rent a car for more than a day, you might encounter the problem of not being able to drive all the way to your accommodation due to certain streets being exclusive to pedestrians. Fortunately, that’s not a huge issue as there are several large free parking lots within a 5-minute walk to town (and you can probably drop off your luggage much closer to your hotel than that).
If you are not interested in travelling by bus or renting your own vehicle, you can alternatively join one of several group tours that offer hotel pickup in Imerovigli.
Best Things to See and Do in Imerovigli
Walk the Caldera trail to Firostefani and Fira
This is without a doubt one of the best things you can do in Imerovigli, let alone Santorini. The trail is part of the famous Fira to Oia walking trail, though this 2.5km section is fully on concrete and cobblestone paths. It takes on average 35-40 minutes to walk the full length of the path/trail from Imerovigli, which follows the caldera rim. 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.
From Imerovigli, the walk is mostly downhill, so if you only want to walk the path in one direction, this is the one we recommend. On top of that, we found that the scenery is more progressively revealed going south (Imerovigli to Firostefani and Fira), making for more surprises along the way.
You no doubt will also come across several tourists doing the famous “flying dress photoshoots“. If that’s something you could be interested in, there are several great photographers for hire on the island.
For more information on this trail, check out our Santorini Guide on the Fira to Imegovigli Walk.
Go Cyclacic Churches and Blue Dome Hunting
Although Santorini’s blue-domed churches are 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 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) –the viewpoint for this church is just off the walking trail, off the street located on the other side of the church.
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).
Hike down to Skaros Rock
If you are looking for a little more adventure and would like a different vantage point of Santorini, then this activity is for you. Skaros Rock is a sort of 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.
Walk the Hiking Trail to Oia
For an even better and longer active adventure, walk the Caldera trail down to Oia. This is definitely the best hiking trail to be found on Santorini (though they are few and far between). From Imerovigli, the trail is 8.1km in length, it takes most people between 1h45 minutes and 2 hours and a half to complete. Though some return the same way after exploring Oia (that’s another 8km), we took the bus back to Fira, from which we walked back to Imerovigli (30 minutes).
The trailhead is located at a T-intersection with other trails: go north to Oia, south to Fira, and west to Skaros Rock. You’ll see a little of everything along this hike, from sweeping caldera views to dramatic black cliffs, with the occasional bright white church along the way.
For more information on this hike, be sure to check out our Santorini Hiking Guide on the Imerovigli to Oia Trail.
Enjoy Santorini’s famous Sunsets
It is said that Santorini has some of the most beautiful sunsets on earth, and it’s very difficult to disagree with that statement having witnessed several of them. Of all the places to view a sunset on Santorini, Imegovigli is probably the best place due to its high elevation and position along the caldera edge. If you don’t believe us, just look at these pictures!
-Enjoy a drink with a sunset view
Due to its high vantage point, Imerovigli has several excellent places from which you can admire the sunset while enjoying a relaxing drink. The Wine Bar and the Buddha Bar are two of the most popular spots in Imerovigli. But as with any establishment offering a great view over the caldera, you’ll need to book a table in advance to secure a table with a sunset view. Note that these places tend to be a bit pricey as you are mostly paying for the view.
-Enjoy dinner with a sunset view
If you would like to combine high-end cuisine with beautiful caldera and sunset views, Imerovigli is definitely the place to go. The most popular and well-rated restaurants with caldera views include La Moustache, Athenian House, La Maison, and the White Lounge Restaurant. For other great restaurants and cheaper eats in Imerovigli, see the section below on Where to Eat in Imerovigli.
For other places where you can witness a beautiful sunset in Santorini, check out our Guide on the Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Santorini (coming soon).
Another great way to enjoy the sunset is to take a sunset catamaran cruise. Although Imerovigli is not very close to any of the ports or marinas on Santorini, most catamaran cruise companies include free hotel pick-up and drop-off.
Here are some of the best sunset tours:
Best Things to See and Do near Imerovigli
Take a day trip to see some of Santorini’s best beaches
Although Santorini might not be known for its beaches (its beaches aren’t as world-renowned as those from some Greek island neighbours), it does have a few great ones that are worthy of a visit – all of which are located on the eastern and southern shores (opposite the caldera) and thus are best reached by bus or via rental vehicle (car, ATV, scooter). What makes the beaches and the surroundings particularly unique is their volcanic composition, which provides the scenery with an impressive diversity of colour and composition.
For more information on the best beaches to visit, be sure to check out our Guide on Santorini’s Best Beaches.
Discover some of Santorini’s best vineyards
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 Imerovigli, they can all be easily reached either 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.
Where to Eat in Imerovigli?
While the restaurants listed above in the sunset section are all great options, they also definitely lean towards the expensive side – you are paying (at least in part) for the view. We did consider trying one or two out, but in the end, opted not to because we had rented a great apartment (more on this below) that had a private balcony with amazing sunset views of its own, and also because there are a lot of other great restaurants in Imerovigli.
Our favorite restaurant in Imerovigli was definitely Aroma Gefsis, serving delicious and authentic Cycladic cuisine. Two other great options are located side-by-side in Imerovigli’s small main town square, Anogi and Mama Lena. Both serve great Greek food with large outdoor seating areas. We didn’t get to try these last two, but they were on our list of places we wanted to try: 4 Seasons and Pergeros.
If you are more in the mood for a quick lunch or takeaway, we highly recommend Let’s Eat. For all other food needs, check out Ilios Bakery. In particular, they serve the best pastries in town while also doubling as the best general food market.
Is Visiting Imerovigli Worth It?
Why you might like Imerovigli
-In our opinion, Imerovigli has the best sunset views on the island.
-In fact, it offers some of the best views of the caldera due to its high position. So you can easily enjoy fantastic views without the crowds of Fira and Oia.
-Although the town isn’t as famous as Fira or Oia, it nonetheless has its fair share of blue-dome churches.
-Imerovigli is also where you will find the trailhead for the hike down to Skaros Rock.
-Despite the town’s quiet atmosphere, there are plenty of restaurant options, including several along the caldera offering fantastic views.
Why you might not like Imerovigli
We honestly struggle to come up with reasons why you wouldn’t want to visit Imerovigli.
Should you Stay in Imerovigli?
After reading the previous section on whether we think Imerovigli is worth visiting, you probably aren’t surprised to see that we highly recommend staying in Imerovigli during your time in Santorini. Indeed, we think it’s the best place to stay on the island. In addition to what we listed above, staying in Imerovigli allows you to split the Fira – Oia trail into two separate parts, the Fira to Imerovigli segment and the Imerovigli to Oia segment.
The main argument against staying in Imerovigli is probably if you are travelling with kids and would prefer to have a nearby beach – like most towns along the Caldera side of Santorini, Imerovigli has no nearby beach access. However, several accommodation options in Imerovigli have pool access.
Where to Stay in Imerovigli
We don’t often recommend specific places to stay in a given destination – because tastes, needs, preferences, and budgets tend to differ a lot between travellers. While some websites recommend a bunch of places for different budgets, that’s something we try to avoid since there is no way we could have tried them all out – in fact, we generally only stay in one or two places when we visit a city.
That being said, we can highly recommend Heliades Apartments, which is perfect for a couple or two people. The views are stunning from the private balcony and the small apartment is charmingly delightful. A delicious breakfast served on your private balcony every morning is included with your overnight stay.
If this property is booked for your preferred travel dates or need a larger place to accommodate more people, worry not; several other similar properties are available in Imerovigli.
If you are not sold on staying in Imerovigli, be sure to read our Guide on Where to Stay in Santorini for some additional information.
Other things to do in Santorini
We’ve only covered some of the highlights and attractions that Santorini, but there’s so much more to discover on this beautiful Greek island. Aside from Imerovogli, we’ve touched on some of the wineries and beaches you visit during a day trip, and covered the walks to Oia and Fira, but didn’t cover where there is to do there. Both towns are definitely worth a visit but are best visited early in the day before they get too crowded.
Other less touristy yet very charming and authentic Santorini villages are also definitely worth a visit, such as Pyrgos and Megalochori.
There’s also the Akrotiri Archaeological site – Santorini’s own Pompeii, and several fantastic island discovery cruises you can take part in.
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.
—–
Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Santorini Guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Imerovigli and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to Santorini.
—–
You might also be interested in these related pages:
