One of the most magical trips we’ve taken since moving abroad was to Greece. You’ve probably seen tons of gorgeous photos of Santorini (particularly the sunsets) and it’s not because the photographers are extremely talented, it’s because literally every viewpoint is incredible. It’s basically impossible to take a bad picture while visiting Santorini.
Matt and I had been to Santorini once before, but it was as part of a cruise so we only had about 6 hours there. With a long list of places I want to visit in life, I don’t tend to repeat destinations, but I knew I needed more time to explore this island.
For our Greece trip we knew we wanted to see Santorini but also wanted an off-the-beaten-path island, so we did 3 nights in Santorini and 3 nights in Paros (I’ll be sharing more on that island next). First, let’s talk about Santorini. If you’re planning a trip, here’s what you should know.
Travel Guide to Santorini, Greece
Where to Stay in Santorini
There are two main towns in Santorini, Fira and Oia. If you want to be in the main hustle and bustle, pick a hotel in one of these areas. Be warned though, these areas are extremely crowded and touristy, especially during the summer season. I recommend staying out of these towns for a more relaxing stay.
We chose an Airbnb in Akrotiri, one of the smaller, more southern towns on the island. We loved being in a quieter and less touristy area and could still easily make our way into Fira and Oia. Another great option is to stay in one of the small towns between Fira and Oia. You get the quiet vibe but can easily journey into the main towns.
Grace Santorini: We didn’t stay here but all the photos and reviews of this hotel look incredible.
Astra Suites: Another one we looked at but ended up not actually staying at. A friendly recommended it and it’s another one that looks amazing. You can walk to Fira from this hotel.
Airbnb: We opted for an Airbnb since we were a group of 6 and preferred a house. We stayed at the Vineyard Villa in Akrotiri. The house was perfect for us. It has a small plunge pool, plenty of space to lay out, three large bedrooms and a very helpful host. Our host always called cabs for us and gave us good local recommendations. He even had some of his friends drive us places for free. Sounds kinda sketchy but was actually amazing! There are tons of incredible looking Airbnbs with huge pools and insane views. If you want to snag one of those, definitely book early.
Where to Eat in Santorini
Greek food has been my favorite cuisine of all the places we have visited. If I could eat a greek salad every day for the rest of my life, I’d be a happy girl. Here were our favorite spots:
The Good Heart: A delicious local restaurant in Akrotiri. If you watch the sunset at the Akrotiri lighthouse, head here for dinner after. Very affordable for tons of fresh food.
Taverna Katina: After hiking down the steps to Amoudi Bay, sit waterside (literally 1 foot from the water) at Taverna Katina. If you’re in the mood for fresh fish, you can actually select your fish and they’ll grill it up for you.
Fino: We went here for dinner one night and it was such a great meal. It’s away from the main street (and thus doesn’t have a water view), but is super popular nonetheless. The place has a cool and friendly vibe with interesting dishes.
Luckys Souvalkis: Definitely one of the weirder experiences of our time in Greece, but Luckys is a must for souvlaki! We went around closing time so we just sort of had whatever they were willing to make us. Lucky (if that’s his real name?) was there and he’s quite a character. He may have been drunk and high at the time… and had a really long conversations with us. I have no idea what he was talking about 75% of the time. After looking up reviews on TripAdvisor, this seems pretty par for the course at Luckys!
PK Cocktail Bar: An excellent pre-dinner spot to grab a unique cocktail and watch the sunset in Fira.
What to See & Do in Santorini
Hike Fira to Oia: This was for sure a highlight for me. Start out in Fira, walk through the town and head all the way to Oia. It’s a moderate hike, nothing too challenging or scary. The full hike is just about 10 kilometers and will take around 3 hours to complete. The views along the way are breathtaking. The trail is easy to follow, but here’s a helpful guide if you want more specific info.
Walk the Steps to Amoudi Bay: If you do the above mentioned hike, why not take it a step further and descent 200 steps at the end? Once at the edge of Oia you can walk down the stairs and find Amoudi Bay, a great place to jump in the water to cool off and then enjoy a fresh seafood meal. The hike back up the stairs kind of sucks, but promise it’s worth it.
Sailing Trip with Santorini Sailing: Another highlight of the trip! How could sailing around the most beautiful water not be a highlight? Santorini Sailing offers a couple of options, we chose the smaller group (max 12 guests on board) and I’m so happy we did. The boat sails around the island making 2 swimming stops and serves up a delicious greek lunch. It was one of the more expensive activities, but well worth it. I loved that we were with a small group and it was a super relaxing experience.
Sunset at the Akrotiri Lighthouse: Head to the southern town of Akrotiri for beautiful sunset views. This isn’t the typical Santorini sunset that you’ve probably heard about (with the sun shining on all the white buildings), but it’s another great spot to check out if you have multiple nights on the island. Bring a bottle of wine, snacks and enjoy.
Sunset views in Oia: And then there’s the very famous sunset; one of the best viewing spots is in Oia. If you’re at the pool (mentioned below), head a bit more into the center of town so you can catch golden hour shining across the buildings.
Sunset views in Fira: Ok, I guess every part of the island has incredible sunsets! If you’re going to watch from Fira, I recommend having a drink at PK Cocktail Bar as the sun sets. The top photo in this post is from that viewpoint.
Lioyerma Lounge Cafe & Pool: If your hotel doesn’t have a large pool or you need a place to kill some time, this is your spot. The pool is free but make sure to bring your own towel.
General Travel Tips for Santorini
- This is one of (if not THE) the most popular Greek islands. That means it can be very touristy and crowded. Don’t let that scare you away, it’s popular for a reason. Just keep that in mind if you going during the summer season.
- Santorini has an airport. If you’re flying from Barcelona like we just so happened to do, you can get a direct flight (though the only option was to land at 3:30am!). It’s one of the more accessible islands thanks to the airport.
- If not going by plane, you can take a high speed ferry from other islands.
- Greece uses the Euro and I highly recommend bringing a lot of cash. We had to use it for most of our cab rides and some restaurants. There can be long lines at the ATMs so bring more than you think you might need.
- You can rent a car in Santorini which would probably be helpful, but the more popular towns will likely be a challenge for parking.
- Otherwise you can rent ATVs, scooters, or depend on taxis. We used taxis and didn’t have any issues.
- Most people speak English so don’t worry about your Greek.
(photo credit Michael Ratpojanakul)
(photo credit Michael Ratpojanakul)
(photo credit Michael Ratpojanakul)
(photo credit Michael Ratpojanakul)
Santorini has a ton to offer and this is probably just the tip of the iceberg of things to do there. Have you been to Santorini? Any favorite things I missed?
