If you are looking forward to visiting Santorini but are having a hard time figuring out how to plan your itinerary on the island, you are not alone. With so much to see and do, it can be difficult to prioritize certain attractions and activities. Oia and Fira are obvious choices, but what else? There are beautiful black-sand beaches to enjoy some time by the sea, great hiking trails along Santorini’s stunning caldera, idyllic wineries and vineyards, historic archeological sites, catamaran cruises, and lesser-known authentic villages like Megalochori and Pyrgos. Below we present our Santorini Itinerary ideas on How to Spend up to Five Days in Santorini, to help you make sense of all your options and figure out how to organize your time on the island.
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You might also be interested in these pages:
Best Things to See and Do in Santorini
Santorini Travel Guide: Things to Know Before You Go
Where to Stay on Santorini
How to Get Around Santorini
How to Get to Santorini
You can only arrive in Santorini in one of three ways: via a flight into the airport, via a cruise ship into either the Fira Old Port or the Athinios Ferry Port, or via a Ferry into the Athinios Ferry Port.
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.
The ferry trip from Athens to Santorini (Athinios Ferry Port) typically takes 5-9hr, depending on the type of ferry and the wind conditions. The ferry trip from Mykonos to Santorini takes 2-3hr.
There are basically two types of ferries in Greece: high-speed catamarans and conventional ferries. The catamarans are faster and offer smoother rides, but are generally more expensive. Catamarans are also more susceptible to cancellations and delays in the event of rough sea weather. The conventional ferries are much larger, slower, less impacted by the weather and ideal for those travelling with a vehicle. Note that it is not unusual for the Greek Port Authorities to have to cancel all ferry operations due to poor weather and wind conditions (this typically happens a few days per year, including the summer months which are often the windiest).
If you are arriving either via the airport or the Athinios Ferry Port, you have three options to leave your port of arrival:
1. Rent a vehicle.
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.
2. Take a bus* (all buses go to Fira, from which you will have to transfer to a second bus)
*Note that the timetables listed are the current timetables, which change throughout the year with increased service during the summer high season
3. Pre-book a private transfer. Taxis are a rarity in Santorini, we wouldn’t rely on them. We recommend pre-booking a private transfer, either via Welcome Pickups or from one of the following services:
If you are arriving via the Old Port of Fira, you will either have to walk up nearly 600 steps to reach Fira or take the cable car up. The cable car is obviously ideal if you have lots of luggage, only takes 4 minutes and costs €8 to go up (2024). 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 main downside to using the cable cars is that they can get quite busy and you might have to wait a while before getting on.
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).
Best time to visit Santorini
Our favourite time of year to visit many places in Europe, and this includes Santorini, is during the after-summer shoulder season, primarily during mid-to-late 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. Alternatively, late April, May and early June are good times to visit, but you might find the seas cool for swimming.
July and August are both very busy and very hot. If these are the only months you can visit, you might want to try to maximize your early mornings and evenings for some sightseeing to stay out of the heat and the crowds.
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°-15°C, rainy days are much more frequent. And it can be very windy any time of year.
How Long Should You Stay in Santorini?
It really depends on how much time off you have for your holiday and what else you want to see during your time in Greece (or in the Cyclades). We spent two weeks in Greece and chose to spend 5 days in Santorini. With hindsight, that was the perfect amount of time. In fact, we probably could have stayed longer because we didn’t get to see everything, but that’s all the reason to come back one day.
To get a proper sense of everything Santorini has to offer, we think you should try to stay anywhere between 3 and 5 days. If you can only afford two days or less, that’s fine too. You’ll have time to see a few popular highlights and perhaps a few under-the-radar spots.
In the next section, we will first start with our 5-day itinerary, but will also provide some suggestions afterwards for tweaking the itinerary for 1-to-4-day stays on the island.
The 5-day Santorini Itinerary
The following itinerary suggestion assumes that you will be staying in either Fira, Firostefani or Imerovigli, but things can easily be tweaked if you are staying elsewhere on the island. This is simply because these are the most central villages on the central, which makes them convenient bases from which to explore the island.
The itinerary also assumes you will have a car rental for a day or two (especially for days 3 and 4, but they are both do-able by bus as well – you can find more about your travel options around the island in our Guide on the Best Ways to Get Around in Santorini).
We also tried our best not to pack too much on any day without rushing you. We tried to put together this itinerary so that you could see a little bit of everything during your stay while leaving you with ample downtown each day.
Day 1: Explore Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli + Skaros Rock
This is a fairly easy day to accomplish if you are staying in Fira, Firostefani or Imerovigli, as everything is within walking distance of your hotel. There will be a fair amount of walking and steps to climb, however, but you will probably be too distracted by all the beautiful caldera views and sightseeing to notice the effort you are putting in.
Although Imerovigli and Firostefani don’t have many popular “attractions”, they are both pleasant to stroll through and, in particular, provide stunning views of the caldera along the Fira – Imerovigli walking path. You will honestly be constantly taking pictures of the stunning vistas around you during the 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.
You will also come across your fair share of beautiful churches and blue domes along the walking path.
In Fira, there’s a little more sightseeing to do in the village proper compared to the other two villages. For instance, 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. 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.
Another thing to do in Fira is 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. 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!
If you have some time and some energy, you could squeeze in the short hike down to Skaros Rock in the late afternoon or close to sunset. Skaros Rock is a sort of conical peninsula with a huge 20m high rock on top. It is located directly below Imerovigli,
For more details on the places covered in Day 1 of the Santorini itinerary:
Fira – Imerovigli walking path
Best Things to See and Do in Fira
Skaros Rock Hiking Trails
Best Things to See and Do in Imerovigli
Day 2: Hike the trail to Oia + visit Oia and Ammoudi Bay
Start your day with the best hiking trail that Santorini has to offer. The views of the coastline and the caldera are just stunning. You also cross several beautiful white-washed churches along the trail. Although there are a few small hills to climb, the trail from Imerovigli is mostly downhill and totals just over 8km (one-way). There’s little to no shade along the trail, so it’s best to start the hike as early as possible before it gets too hot.
The trail ends in Oia, Santorini’s most famous village. Oia is that picture-perfect Cycladic village you have probably seen images of everywhere. Built on a steep slope of the caldera and known for its remarkable sunsets, many of its white-washed homes are impressively carved into the cliffs.
Although not a particularly large village, you can still spend a few hours here wandering around and trying to make sense of the side streets and alleyways, all the while trying to find those perfect spots from which you can take the best pictures of Oia’s iconic blue domes.
Once you’ve finished exploring Oia, you can then make your way down to Ammoudi Bay. Historically an old fishing port, it now mostly caters to tourists with several seafood restaurants with outdoor patios right on the edge of crystal clear waters
Ammoudi Bay is a great place from which to take a boat or catamaran tour around the waters of Santorini. There are many tour operators to choose from, and they are very comparable. So pick the option that best suits you in terms of price and schedule.
For more details on the places covered in Day 2 of the Santorini itinerary:
Fira – Imerovigli to Oia Hiking Trail
Best Things to See and Do in Oia
Day 3: Visit the Charming Towns of Pyrgos and Megalochori + some Wineries
On Day 3 it’s time to leave the popular bucket list villages behind and go explore some of the quieter and more authentic villages of Santorini. Just because they weren’t built along the caldera’s cliff doesn’t make them any less beautiful, and the relative peace and quiet found in these villages can be very welcome, especially if visiting during the summer high season.
Two of our favourites are Megalochori and Pyrgos, both of which are located a short distance south of Fira. Megalochori is the smallest of the two and was built on flat land, making it one of the few places on the island with few staircases. It’s filled with beautiful churches, colorful alleyways and a cozy town square.
If that wasn’t enough, it’s also home to our favourite winery in Santorini, Gavalas Winery, located right in the center of the village. (Yes, Santorini has great wines!). Gavalas Winery is a small boutique winery that has been family-run for 5 generations (over 300 years). They have 11 different wines and only produce 90,000 bottles/year.
Pyrgos, in contrast, we built high atop a hill. So high it is in fact Santorini’s highest village, with the ruins of an old Venetian castle from which you have panoramic views of the entire island. It’s another very pleasant place to just wander through the side streets and alleyways.
Once you are done with visiting Pyrgos, you can head to one of two nearby wineries for a tasting. Our favourites in the area were Estate Argyros, located in idyllic surroundings, and Art Space Winery, a winery and art exhibit all rolled into one.
If you would like to experience a few different wine tastings on the same day but don’t want to have to name a designated driver or have to use several buses, a great option could be to join a Santorini wine-tasting tour. In this situation, you would visit Megalochori and Pyrgos in the morning, and then join a wine-tasting tour in the afternoon/evening.
For more details on the places covered in Day 3 of the Santorini itinerary:
Best Things to See and Do in Megalochori
Best Things to See and Do in Pyrgos
Three Wineries to Discover in Santorini
Day 4: Visit the Akrotiri Archeological Site and some of Santorini’s Beaches
Day 4 is a nice mix of culture and history with spending some time sunbathing on the beaches of Santorini. Obviously, you don’t have to beach hop like we did. If you find a beach you like and want to stay there, you definitely should. We just thought that since the beaches are all relatively close to one another it seemed like a fun idea to try a few of them out.
Although Santorini’s beaches aren’t as world-renowned as those from some Greek island neighbours, such as Crete, Corfu and Mykonos, several of its beaches are still rather unique due to the volcanic rock providing an impressive amount of diversity in colour and composition. The east and south coasts (opposite the caldera) have the sandiest beaches and sheltered waters that are good for swimming. Two of the most popular (and most beautiful) black-sand beaches on Perissa and Kamari Beach, which are almost side-by-side but separated by the towering Mesa Vouno (Santorini’s tallest mountain) creating a striking backdrop as you soak up the sun or swim in the calm waters of Santorini’s eastern coast.
But before you head to the beach, start your day with the Akrotiri Archeological Site. You have probably heard of Pompeii – Italy’s ancient city that was buried following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. But did you know that Santorini has its own version of “Pompei” and that it is a substantially older historical site? Because the town was covered in ash following a dramatic volcanic eruption of Thera (Santorini) in the 16th century BC, the preservation of the Akrotiri settlement is quite exceptional. It is truly a fascinating historical, geological and archeological site.
Just a few minutes from the archeological site is where you’ll find, at least in our opinion, Santorini’s most unique and visually stunning beach: Red Beach. The beach itself is a relatively small and intimate crescent-shaped cove, where the stark contrast between the dramatic volcanic cliffs that sharply rise from the sea and the deep blue-turquoise Aegean waters creates a unique and beautiful coastal setting.
For more details on the places covered in Day 4 of the Santorini itinerary:
Akrotiri Archeological Site Guide
Santorini’s Best Beaches
Day 5: Take a Catamaran or Boat cruise around Santorini
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:
Suggested Itinerary Tweaks
Skaros Rock Trail
If you are based in Imerovigli, you can hike to Skaros Rock at any time during stay, since it takes less than an hour to complete and the trailhead is located at the base of the village. We did it early one morning to watch the sun rise over Imerovigli (in mid-September) and had the place nearly to ourselves.
Alternatively, it can be combined with the Imerovigli to Oia hiking trail, adding about 45 minutes to the total hike duration to Oia. If starting the hike to Oia from Fira, including the Skaros Rock trail means that you’re looking at about a 3h30 hike (not including the return to Fira from Oia).
Swapping Vineyards and Beaches
Days 3 and 4 of the above itinerary were designed by theme, but they could also be reorganized by geography. One day you could visit the Akrotiri Archeological site, Red Beach and Megalochori. Megalochori is located just off the main road that connects Fira and Akrotiri.
On the other day, you could visit Pyrgos and Kamari Beach, and mix in a winery or two, such as Art Space and Argyros Estates.
Perissa Beach doesn’t fit neatly into either day itinerary from a geography perspective, but if you would like to spend some time there, it’s less of a detour by including it in the Akrotiri + Megalochori day. It’s also the less busy of the two days so there’s more time to fit it in.
Itinerary tweaks for shorter stays (4 days or less)
4-Day Santorini Itinenary
Choosing what activities and attractions to sacrifice really depends on your personal preferences. Our suggestion would be to remove either Day 3, Day 4 or Day 5 from the above itinerary, and combine what you can save from that day with Day 2 (Hike to Oia), which is the least busy day of those listed above. If you have been on boat and catamaran cruises before, that could also be an option to remove from the itinerary. Alternatively, several of the boat cruises include beach stops for swimming.
Our suggestion:
Day 1: Explore Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli + Skaros Rock
Day 2: Hike the trail to Oia + visit Oia and Ammoudi Bay
Day 3: Akrotiri Archeological site, Megolochori + Winery, Pyrgos
Day 4: Catamaran Boat Cruise
3-Day Santorini Itinenary
The same logic applies here, but you could also mix and match days depending on your preferences. Do you want to prioritize visiting lesser-known villages, hanging out at the beach and relaxing at some vineyards? Honestly, you can almost make any combination you want happen, especially if you have a rental car for a day or two.
Our suggestion:
Day 1: Explore Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli + Skaros Rock
Day 2: Hike the trail to Oia + visit Oia and Ammoudi Bay
Day 3: Akrotiri Archeological site, Megolochori + Winery, Pyrgos
2-Day Santorini Itinenary
If you want to maximize your time on the island, you might want to forego the hiking trail to Oia. Instead, you could combine a visit to Oia by bus with elements from Day 3 or Day 4 (authentic villages, wineries, beaches or the Akrotiri Archeological site.
Our suggestion:
Day 1: Explore Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli + Visit Oia
Day 2: Akrotiri Archeological site, Megolochori + Winery, Pyrgos
1-Day Santorini Itinenary
If you have just one day (or less) in Santorini, you will really have to prioritize. Because the island is pretty small, you can still pack a lot into a day, especially if you rent a car. Even if you choose to travel by bus, you could still probably visit 2-4 villages or sites during a day.
It’s easy to visit Imerovigli, Firostefani and Fira in just a few hours by simply walking between them along the Caldera Trail. You could combine that walk with a short visit to Oia and another one to one of the authentic central villages of Megalochori or Pyrgos.
Our suggestion:
Day 1: Explore Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli + Visit Oia + Visit Pyrgos (time permitting)
Best Place to Stay in Santorini
The “best” place to Stay in Santorini depends on a lot of things: your interests, your travel/vacation and your budget. The are more than 15 villages in Santorini each with their own sets of advantages and drawbacks. Fira and Oia are obvious options, and because of this, they can get quite crowded and busy during the summer months. For a more laid-back atmosphere and an authentic village atmosphere, Pyrgos and Megalochori. If you want to have a beach close by, Kamari and Perissa are your best bets.
Imerovigli ended up being our choice of where to stay in Santorini. The average accommodation there is a little more pricey on average, but its stunning hilltop location for sunset viewing and its proximity to Fira (walking distance) without the crowds made it a winning choice for us.
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.
For a broader discussion of your options in Santorini, check out our Travel Guide on the Best Places 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 Itinerary Guide on How to Spend up to Five Days in Santorini and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to Santorini.
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