You probably heard multiple times that Santorini is a stunningly beautiful bucket-list-worthy destination. But is it worth all the hype? We definitely think so! From its stunning caldera views and mesmerizing sunsets to its picture-perfect villages and cubic white-washed Cycladic architecture, there is so much to enjoy and appreciate about this Greek island. Sure, it can get crowded at times, but there are ways to get around the crowds and there are many less crowded places to visit. And beyond the typical highlights and attractions, there’s also the food, the culture, the beaches and the history of Santorini to appreciate. To help you get a better sense of all the great things this fantastic island has to offer, we’ve put together this Travel Guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Santorini.
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You might also be interested in these pages:
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
Best Things to See and Do in Santorini
Visit the Picture-Perfect Village of Oia
Oia is picture-perfect for a reason: it was almost completely rebuilt from scratch in the 1970s following the devastating 1956 earthquake that levelled most of the village. Not being as old or as “vintage” as some of the other villages on Santorini doesn’t make it any less visually appealing, however. Having been reborn with tourism in mind, Oia rather creates the perfect backdrop for beautiful travel photography. Sure, you can go viewpoint and blue-dome hunting here, but you can have so much more fun by just wandering around the side streets and alleyways and trying to find your own special viewpoint.
For more information on this beautiful village, be sure to check out our Guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Oia.
Walk the Fira to Imerovigli Coastal Trail
This is without a doubt one of the best things you can do in Santorini. The trail is part of the famous Fira to Oia walking trail, though this 2.5km section of the trail is a path that is built up 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.
This beautiful walking path will provide you with some of Santorini’s most spectacular views along the Caldera. You will walk past dozens of hotels, traditional churches, restaurants, and shops, many of which are built into the cliffs.
Along the trail, you will also come across several of the famed Santorini blue-dome churches, including the popular Three Bells of Fira Church (top left picture; the viewpoint for this church is just off the walking trail, off the street located on the other side of the church).
For more information on this trail, check out our Santorini Guide on the Fira to Imegovigli Walk.
Explore Fira
Fira 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 hub and is is where you’ll find the only bus terminal (all buses either start or end their route in Fira).
You will probably have seen quite a bit of Fira along the Fira-Imerovigli walk (that’s indeed where the best views are, there is definitely more to the village than just the coastal trail. For starters, it’s probably the best place to do some window shopping (or some actual shopping too), as you’ll find loads of shops, boutiques, and artisan craft shops all over Fira.
Also, 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.
For more information on this beautiful village, be sure to check out our Guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Fira.
Explore Imerovlgli and Skaros Rock
We definitely have a soft spot for Imerovigli since we chose to stay in this lovely village during our time in Santorini. Though it doesn’t have famous sites or attractions per se, it does have a lot going for it. For starters, it is the highest village along the caldera, perfectly positioning it for those epic Santorini sunsets. It lies at the junction of three great walking and hiking trails: the one down to Skaros Rock (which we will get to very soon), the coastal path to Fira (described above) and the hiking trail to Oia (described further below). It is also fairly central in Santorini making a good base from which to explore the rest of the island and, due to its proximity to Fira, it’s well connected by bus to the rest of the island. On top of that, it is significantly less crowded than Fira or Oia.
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 along the caldera cliff offering stunning sunset views. A wide range of accommodation options also 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.
For more information on this beautiful village, be sure to check out our Guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Imerovigli.
If you are looking for a little more adventure and would like a different vantage point of Santorini, then this could be a great activity for you. Skaros Rock is a sort of conical peninsula with a huge 20m high rock on top. You wouldn’t necessarily know this from just looking at it, but a few centuries ago there used to be a fortress built atop the rock with a small town built around it – and at the time this was the capital of Santorini. Look carefully and you’ll find ruins here and there around the outcrop.
Skaros Rock 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 all those steps 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.
Watch the Sunset
The sunset in Santorini is considered to be one of the most spectacular ones in the world. Having experienced several of them during our time in Santorini, we cannot disagree! We did most of our sunset viewing from Imerovigli, as opposed to the more popular Oia, and we have absolutely no regrets, as the views were quite stunning (see for yourself below).
Hike the Caldera Trail between Imerovigli and Oia
As avid hikers, this was one of our favorite things to do in Santorini, and everyone we know who’s been to Santorini highly recommends doing this trail. Although the trail is about 8km long when starting in Imerovigli (10.5km if starting in Fira), it’s not a particularly difficult trail. There are a few uphill sections but for the most part, you will be going downhill toward Oia. In addition to stunning views of the caldera (and of Oia in the distance), you’ll cross beautiful desertic and volcanic landscapes and the occasional beautiful white-washed church.
For more information on this trail, be sure to check out our Guide on the Imerovigli to Oia Caldera Trail.
Discover Some of Santorini’s Most Authentic Villages: Pyrgos & Megalochori
Oia and Fira are both very visually stunning villages, but they can get quite crowded at times, particularly during the summer. For some more relaxed sightseeing, head south towards Pyrgos and Megalochori, two of Santorini’s most beautiful, authentic and traditional villages. Yes, they have been somewhat touched by tourism (you’ll find restaurants, cafés and gift shops in both of them), but many locals still live in these villages and you’ll often see more of them than tourists. They are both very charming villages to discover and a joy to wander through.
Pyrgos
Commonly referred to as Pyrgos, Pyrgos Kallistis has the distinction of being Santorini’s highest village, from which you can get panoramic views of the entire island. Due to its privileged elevated location in the centre of Santorini, Pyrgos historically served as a great vantage point to protect the entire island, while its elevated position combined with its narrow, winding alleyways made it difficult for marauders and pirates to invade. This is also where you’ll find one of the best-preserved 16th-century Venetian castle ruins perched atop the village, one of Santorini’s most-famed restaurants and a café with one of the best spots to watch the sunset in Santorini. Add to the list of reasons to visit the traditional Cycladic architecture, remains of neo-classical mansions, lovely churches scattered around the town, narrow winding paths leading up the hillside, small white houses, art galleries, and nearby vineyards, this traditional hilltop village definitely has a lot of appeal and is fascinating to discover.
For more information on this beautiful village, be sure to check out our Guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Pyrgos.
Megalochori
This village was a true hidden gem, as we hadn’t heard much about it before our time in Santorini. Megalochori is a charming and traditional village, near the edge of the caldera along Santorini’s western coast, but not built along the edge like Fira, Imerovigli and Oia. It’s also smack in the middle of the island’s wine country, with several beautiful vineyards surrounding the village. Common historical features of most of the homes here are the high walls, inner courtyards and solid wooden door entrances, built for privacy and protection against marauding pirates. There’s also a small and quaint main square near the village center with a few tavernas and cafes, and several trees providing shade for locals to play a game of ‘tavli’ (backgammon). From here, streets spiral out in all directions in a maze of cobbled streets and hidden alleyways, waiting to be discovered. There are several picturesque small churches scattered throughout the village.
There are so many lovely side streets and hidden alleyways that are easy to get lost in. Like Pyrgos, it doesn’t get that many tourists compared to the more popular villages along the Caldera. Megalochori also happened to be the home of our favorite winery in Santorini: Gavalas Winery.
For more information on this beautiful village, be sure to check out our Guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Megalochori.
Enjoy some wine-tasting at one of Santorini’s most underrated Wineries
You got a glimpse of one of our favorite wineries above, but several others are worthy of your time. Although Greece might not come to mind when thinking of countries with a rich history of viticulture, the success of Santorini’s wines has brought the world’s attention to Greek wines again. Santorini’s climate and volcanic soil give its wines distinct and unique flavor profiles, and this is particularly true of its flagship grape variety, Assyrtiko. Today, there are nearly 20 wineries on the island and you should definitely visit at least one of them during your stay. Some of the more well-known wineries include Santo Wines (the largest wine producer on the island) and Venetsanos, both along the caldera near the towns of Pyrgos and Megalochori. Most wine tours will stop at at least one of the two, if not both, and both tend to cater to large crowds.
If you want to go a little off the beaten track as we did, we prepared a Guide of Wineries to Visit that will highlight three wineries that not only provide a more intimate and authentic wine-tasting experience but also have something that is quite unique to each of them.
If you would rather have all the winery decisions and transport logistics handled by someone else, you can also join an organized group wine-tasting tour.
Sunbath in one of Santorini’s Volcanic Black-Sand Beaches
As popular as Santorini is a travel destination, its beaches aren’t as world-renowned as those from some Greek island neighbours, such as Crete, Corfu and Mykonos. That being said, several of its beaches are quite unique due to the volcanic rock providing an impressive amount of diversity in colour and composition. Interestingly, while the beautiful cliffside caldera views are along the western Santorini coast, most of Santorini’s best beaches are on the eastern Santorini coast. Two of our favourites (and two of the most popular) are Perissa Beach and Kamari Beach.
We cover in greater detail these two beaches, along with Red Beach in our Guide on Santorini’s Best Beaches.
Visit Santorini’s own “Pompei” at the Akrotiri Archeological Site
This is such a fascinating archeological site to visit. You have no doubt heard of Pompeii, Italy, the ancient city Italy’s ancient city that was buried following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. But did you know Santorini has its own “Pompei” and that it is substantially older? The prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri on the island of Santorini (Thíra) is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. The earliest evidence for human habitation of Akrotiri can be traced back as early as the fifth millennium BC when it was a small fishing and farming village. It wasn’t until the Late Bronze Age, about 4000 years ago, that Akrotiri developed into one of the main urban centres and marine ports in the Aegean Sea. Akrotiri’s prosperity continued for about another 500 years.
This all came to an abrupt end, however, in the 16th century BC, following the massive volcanic eruption of Thera (Santorini), which covered the town in lava and ash. As a result, like the Roman ruins of Pompeii after it, it is remarkably well-preserved. Frescoes, pottery, furniture, advanced drainage systems and three-story buildings have been discovered at the site,
Boat a Boat or Catamaran Excursion into the Caldera
One of the most popular activities to do on Santorini is to partake in a boat or catamaran cruise around the caldera and Santorini.
The main difference between the differently-priced tours is the size of the boat, and thus whether it will be a private, small group or large group tour.
There are basically two types of tours: day tours and sunset tours. Both typically serve snacks, drinks and a meal (lunch or dinner). The day tours typically involve more swimming and beach stops, whereas a portion of the sunset tours is reserved for relaxing on the boat and watching the sun go down from beneath the cliffs of Oia. Several tours will also take you to the stunning White Beach, which is the only way to get there as there are no roads leading to it.
Day tours typically depart around 9h or 10h am and return around 3h or 4 pm. Sunset tours typically depart around 3h or 4h pm and return after sunset. Both tours typically offer hotel pick-up and drop-off (or at least to a meeting point close to your hotel), so you don’t have to worry about what port your boat tour is departing from.
One of the unique things you can do via boat tours is visit the central islands of the Santorini archipelago, Nea Kameni and Palia Kameni (there’s no ferry service to the islands). Often referred to as “the volcano” according to the locals, they are the youngest volcanic lands in the Eastern Mediterranean. Palea Kameni (Old Burnt Island) is less than 2.000 years old, whereas Nea Kameni (Young Burnt Island) began to form only 450 years ago, and slightly expanded following the 1950 eruption. 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, which are the result of underwater fumarolic activity. You can also hike along a short out-and-back 2.5 km trail on Nea Kameni.
Here are some of the best day tours:
Here are some of the best sunset tours:
Other Top Sights & Activities in Santorini
Visit the Akrotiri Lighthouse
Located at the very southwestern tip of the island, a short 13-minute drive from the Archeological site is the Akrotiri Lighthouse, Santorini’s most popular lighthouse and a popular spot to enjoy the sunset. The lighthouse interior is generally closed to the public but you can walk around it and enjoy the views for free. The lighthouse was built by a French company in 1892, making the lighthouse one of the oldest in Greece. Unfortunately, there are no buses that can take you to the lighthouse
Watch a Movie At The Open Air Cinema in Kamari
The Kamari Open-Air Cinema is a unique setting that allows you to enjoy modern movies in an outdoor environment. It’s a short 7-minute drive from Pyrgos. All movies are popular current movies in English, shown with Greek subtitles. Doors open at 8:30, and the movies start at 9:30. Unfortunately you cannot book ahead.
Take a Ride on Santorini’s Cable Car…
…or walk down 587 steps to visit the Old Port of Fira. 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. If you take the stairs, you’ll likely cross lots of donkeys.
Discover Ancient Thira
If you are a history buff and enjoyed the Archeolgical site of Akrotiri, you might also enjoy visiting the Ancient Thira site. While the Akrotiri site dates from nearly four millennia ago and concerns the Minoan civilization and the massive volcanic eruption, the Ancient Thera site is much more recent, dating back approximately one millennium and concerns Dorian colonists, one of the four major ethnic groups in Ancient Greece.
A special combo ticket is available for €15 (2024) that includes the entrance fee for 3 sites: the Archaeological Site of Akrotiri, the Archaeological Site of Ancient Thera, and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera (in Fira). The single ticket can be obtained from the archeological site or the museum you choose to visit first and is valid for 3 days. Tickets can be purchased online in advance on the Greek government’s ticketing website. However, tickets purchased online are non-refundable.
Take Part in a Flying Dress Photoshoot
This isn’t something we took part in ourselves, but we saw several photoshoots take place every day, whether we were in Oia, Fira, or anywhere along the Fira to Imerovigli trail. It’s very popular and, for some, it’s the first thing they plan before arriving in Santorini. It definitely provides beautiful photographic souvenirs. If that’s something you could be interested in doing, there are several great photographers for hire on the island.
Discover Ammoudi Bay
While in Oia, be sure to take the time to descend the long staircase to Ammoudi Bay. It’s a bit of a trek down the 278 steps that take to sea level where lies this beautiful Bay, but the journey is definitely worth it. Historically an old fishing port, Ammoudi Bay now mostly caters to tourists with several seafood restaurants and outdoor patios right on the edge of crystal clear waters.
Take a Greek Cooking Class
Want to learn how to prepare and cook the Cycladic and Mediterranean cuisine? Then this is the activity for you! From dolmades to moussaka, and from spanakopita to baklava, there are so many tasty dishes in Greek cuisine. To learn how to make some of these tasty treats, there are several great cooking classes that you can take part in while in Santorini.
Visit the Tomato Museum
Did you know that Santorini has a rich history of tomato farming? You can learn more about Santorini’s tomato processing legacy at the Tomato Industrial Museum, set up in the former factory of D. Nomikos that was in operation from 1945 to 1981. The factory closed following a dramatic reduction of tomato cultivation in Santorini and was eventually transformed into a museum in 2014.
Entrance tickets cost: €12 (2024)
Visiting hours: April to November 10:00 -18:00 (closed on Mondays)
For more information about the museum and its facilities, visit its official website
How to Plan a Santorini Itinerary
If you are struggling to put together an itinerary that makes sense for you, you are not alone. There are so many amazing things to see and do in Santorini, prioritizing them and organizing your time here isn’t a simple task. To help you deal with some of the issues of itinerary planning, we put together a comprehensive Santorini Itinerary Guide where we share various itinerary suggestions for stays of up to five days.
If you would rather let someone do all the planning and handle the travel logistics for you, there are several great organized tours (including large group, small group and private options) that take care of all of this for you in addition to handling transportation around the island.
Preparing a trip to Santorini?
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 Travel Guide on the Best Things (20+) to See and Do in Santorini and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to Santorini.
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