Start with the caldera: watch a sunset over it, hike its rim, and see it from a boat. Then add Akrotiri, a beach morning and a wine tasting. If you're short on time, keep the sunset, a boat trip and one ancient site.
What are the best things to do in Santorini?
Santorini is a small island with a long list: archaeological sites, museums, churches, villages, beaches and a volcano that is still active. Give it at least three nights. That leaves one slow day by the pool at your hotel and a day or two to roam.
The list below runs from the experiences that define the trip to the ones worth adding if you have time to spare.
Watch the sunset, but pick your spot
Oia is well known for its sunsets, with domes and windmills often framing the view. The castle ruins at the western tip of the village are the prime vantage point, with the sun sinking into the Aegean behind the domes and windmills. In summer the ruins are thronged, with hundreds of people jostling for the same photo, so arrive about two hours early if you want a good spot and plan to hold it.
Calmer spots work just as well. At Skaros Rock, near Imerovigli, the last light turns the castle ruins red and pink. PK Cocktail Bar in Fira is a multi-level bar with caldera views and pricey drinks; get there early, because the view is no secret. Or leave the crowd behind and watch from the water on a sunset cruise.
Walk Oia at sunrise
At sunrise Oia is nearly empty. The streets are calm early on, the light slowly fills the lanes, and you can photograph the architecture with far fewer people around. Because the village stretches along the cliff, you'll find several viewpoints for the sunrise itself. Leave the map behind: the village is narrow, so the central street is easy to find again. Buses to Oia run from Fira.
Hike the caldera rim from Fira to Oia
The trail follows the edge of the caldera for about 6.5 miles (10 km), passing through Firostefani and Imerovigli on its way to Oia. Most people take about three hours one way, and the views hold the whole way. It's mostly flat, with a few uphill stretches.
Wear closed-toe, comfortable shoes; sandals and flip-flops are a bad idea here. Bring water and sunscreen, and in summer set out in the late afternoon to dodge the worst of the heat and reach Oia in time for sunset.
Climb Skaros Rock
The path drops steeply, then a narrow trail circles the rock. Allow about an hour. It sits roughly halfway along the Fira to Oia trail, so it makes an easy detour on the hike.
Go early in the morning, before the sun bakes the rock, and wear sneakers with good tread.
Get out on the water
A catamaran day of six to eight hours sails along the south coast, past cliffs banded black, red, white and striped, then into the center of the volcano and its hot spring. Pickup from your hotel is included. Bring socks, because the wind can chill your feet, and leave the light-colored swimsuit at home, since the hot spring water can stain it.
A volcano tour takes you out to the islands in the middle of the caldera: on Nea Kameni you walk up to the crater of the active volcano, and at Palea Kameni you swim in the hot springs. A sunset cruise gives you the evening light with a much quieter vantage point, and a full day of sailing around the island is another good use of a free day.
Step into Akrotiri
Akrotiri was a Minoan port town buried in ash after a volcanic eruption. The ash preserved it so well that it's called the Greek Pompeii. Walkways suspended above the site let you look down into the walls and rooms of two- and three-story buildings, all under a roof, so you're out of the direct sun.
Arrive at opening time or later in the afternoon, when the big tour buses have cleared out. Buses from Fira take about 20 minutes. Entry is by reserved time slot, so book online before you go.
2026 prices: full admission to Akrotiri of Thera is €20. Ancient Thera and the Prehistoric Thera Museum are each €10 full and €5 reduced, and the ticket is valid at all three.
In winter, Akrotiri runs 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and closes on Tuesdays; the summer schedule lists the same hours on Mondays and Thursdays. Autumn hours at Akrotiri shift through the season: early to mid September it runs 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., late September until 7:00 p.m., the first half of October until 6:30 p.m., and the second half of October until 6:00 p.m., with last entry half an hour before closing. Seasonal hours shift, so check the schedule before you go.
For more of the Bronze Age, the Prehistoric Thera Museum in Fira displays ancient jewelry and figures alongside recreations of Bronze Age houses. It's open 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and closed on Tuesdays.
Visit Ancient Thera if you like ruins and a workout
Ancient Thera crowns Messavouno Mountain above Kamari, and it makes a good second archaeological stop if Akrotiri hooked you. Expect harsh sun and a hike up; a small food truck at the top sells water and snacks. In summer it's open 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and closed Wednesdays. In November it opens Friday to Sunday, in March Thursday to Monday, and from December through February visits are by appointment. Posted hours can differ from what you find at the gate, so a quick call ahead is a good idea.
Which beaches are worth a day?
Santorini is not a classic beach island, and you won't find fine white sand. The beaches are volcanic, with sand and pebbles of solidified lava in different colors, and the water at the darker beaches runs noticeably warmer because the lava soaks up heat. Wear shoes: dark sand and rocks get hot enough to burn your feet.
Kamari and Perissa
Both are black beaches on the east coast, covered in a mix of dark sand and small pebbles, with sunbeds and umbrellas for rent. Kamari's waterfront is lined with shops, beach bars and restaurants, so a few relaxed hours by the sea come easily. Perissa is long and draws a backpacker crowd, busiest near the restaurants and bars. Buses from Fira reach Kamari in about 15 minutes and Perissa in about 20.
Vlychada
Vlychada is the quiet choice. Wind and water have carved its cliffs into strange shapes, the water is calm, and the crowds are thin, so bring a camera and walk the shore. For lunch, To Parasaki, up the hill, serves fish from the Vlychada harbor. The Tomato Industrial Museum is a fun stop when you want a break from blue sky and white walls.
Red Beach
Red Beach, south of Akrotiri, takes its color from the iron-rich rock in the cliff face and its red sand. Enjoy it from the viewpoint, a short walk away, since getting down to the beach itself is considered risky. Bring water and snacks, since there's nowhere nearby to buy any. White Beach sits along the coast near Red Beach, and visitors get there by boat from Red Beach or from Akrotiri.
What should you eat and drink?
Santorini is arid, yet its soil grows vines, yellow split peas and tomatoes. You'll taste them in tomatokeftedes, the island's tomato fritters, and in melitzanosalata, an aubergine dip made with white aubergines.
Go wine tasting
Wine has been made on Santorini for about 3,500 years, and the volcanic soil gives it a distinct flavor, especially the white Assyrtiko. Santo Wines, Gaia Wines and Domaine Sigalas all pair their tastings with caldera views. Wineries tend to sit away from the main tourist areas, so a tour takes care of the transport question if you don't have a car. Tastings come with light snacks, such as fava dip and tomato crostini. Book ahead in peak summer and try to arrive before the tour buses. A cooking class at a winery, with a tasting and lunch, combines the two.
Eat by the water at Ammoudi Bay
The tavernas fill up, but the fresh seafood is worth the wait. Around the corner, you can jump off the rocks for a swim. Skip the donkeys, and save the climb back up for outside the hottest hours of the day.
Where should you stay?
Oia tends to win on scenery and sunsets, though its restaurants can feel a bit touristy. A night or two there lets you enjoy the village early in the morning and in the evening, after the day crowds leave, and a luxury cave hotel can be a worthwhile splurge. Fira is busier, with the cruise ships, the shops and the bus connections. Imerovigli sits between the two, a quieter base with wonderful caldera views, especially around sunset. Kamari suits beach time and nightlife, and Emporio is the cheaper base. Splitting your stay between two towns gives you two different views of the island.
How do you get around?
All buses start and end in Fira. They fill up in summer and don't go absolutely everywhere, so plan your day around their timetable. If you're staying in Fira or Oia, you can skip a car and use taxis. To explore the wider island and beat the crowds with early starts, rent a car, and keep it small, since village streets can be narrow. Distances are short: Oia to Vlychada is about a 45-minute drive. If your time is short, organized tours are a simple way to see the highlights.
ATVs are a popular way to tackle the hilly roads, but they can flip with an inexperienced driver. If you haven't driven one before, a guided ATV tour is a gentler way to try it.
When should you go?
Late April to early November brings warm, sunny weather. May and September have fewer crowds and lower hotel prices than June through August. Summer days average about 82°F (28°C), and July and August reach 86°F (30°C) and above. Winter is cooler and less predictable, and some businesses close. In summer, book lodging and tours at least two months ahead.
Sources
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