Cidade Turismo
Greece
Santorini

Egeu Meridional · Greece

Santorini

Volcanic island of the Cíclades, with white villages on the rim of the caldera, the prehistoric town of Akrotiri, dark-sand beaches and vineyards planted in volcanic ash.

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In the photo: Oia

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Santorini (Thira, in Greek) is what remains of a volcano. An eruption in the Bronze Age sank the center of the island and left the caldera: a bay of about 18 km in outline, surrounded by cliffs up to 300 meters high. Fira, Imerovigli and Oia stand on the rim of those cliffs, facing the sea and the volcanic islets Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni. The outer side of the island slopes down gently to dark sand and stone beaches such as Kamari and Perissa.

The island belongs to the Cíclades and to the periphery of the Egeu Meridional. It has about 15 thousand permanent residents and receives many visitors from April to October, when cruise ships also arrive. Fira is the capital and the hub for buses, shops and museums; Oia, at the northern tip, concentrates the cave-houses and the most photographed windmills; Pyrgos, Megalochori and Emporio, inland, preserve the fortified villages (kastelli) from the Venetian period.

History is on display at two sites: Akrotiri, the town buried by the eruption and excavated since the 1960s, and Thera Antiga, the Doric town atop the Mesa Vouno mountain. Finds from Akrotiri are in the Museu Pré-histórico de Thera, in Fira. The island also produces wine in volcanic ash, with the assyrtiko grape and vines rolled into baskets (kouloura) to resist the wind.

The terrain demands legs: there are stairs, slopes and stone paving almost everywhere. The heat in July and August is strong and there is little shade on the rim of the caldera.

This destination brings together 1 city: Fira.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Santorini is
Fira

Contornos: Natural Earth (domínio público). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Santorini

✈ Aeroporto de Santorini (Thira) (JTR), in Kamari · 6 km to Fira

Check before buying. From Atenas, the flight to Santorini takes less than an hour. By boat, crossings depart from Pireu and Rafina and take about 5 hours (fast ferry) to 8 hours or more (conventional), to the port of Athinios; there are links with Creta and other islands, with more departures in summer. Confirm the season before purchasing.

Fira
Egeu Meridional · Santorini

Fira

Fira (Thira) is the capital of Santorini, on the rim of the caldera, about 260 meters above the sea. It concentrates the bus station from which buses depart to the whole island, the two archaeological museums, the cable car that descends to the old port, and the largest offering of shops, restaurants and accommodations. From the rim promenade you can see the volcano and the Kameni islets, and from there the trail to Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia departs. The town was rebuilt after the 1956 earthquake and mixes cave-houses, domed churches and hotels on the hillside.

The local experience

Things to do in Santorini

Oia
Fira · Egeu Meridional · Village

Oia

Village at the northern tip of the island, on the caldera rim, with white cave houses, blue domes, ruins of a Venetian castle and the bay of Ammoudi down below.

Imerovigli e rocha de Skaros
Fira · Egeu Meridional · Viewpoint

Imerovigli e rocha de Skaros

Village at the highest point of the caldera rim, facing the volcano, with the Skaros rock and the ruins of the medieval castle; starting point for the trail to Oia.

Akrotiri
Fira · Egeu Meridional · Archaeological site

Akrotiri

Bronze Age town buried by the volcanic eruption more than 3,500 years ago, excavated under a shelter and visited via raised walkways.

Museu Pré-histórico de Thera
Fira · Egeu Meridional · Museum

Museu Pré-histórico de Thera

Museum in Fira with the finds from Akrotiri: frescoes, pottery, Cycladic figurines and everyday objects from the town buried by the volcano.

See 10 more places in Santorini
Fira · Egeu Meridional · Museum

Museu Arqueológico de Thera

Museum in Fira with pottery, sculptures and inscriptions from Thera Antiga, from the geometric to the Roman period, in a refurbished building near the cable car.

Thera Antiga
Fira · Egeu Meridional · Archaeological site

Thera Antiga

Ruins of the Dorian city on the top of Mesa Vouno mountain, between Kamari and Perissa, with an agora, theater, temples and views of both beaches.

Praia de Perissa e Perivolos
Fira · Egeu Meridional · Beach

Praia de Perissa e Perivolos

A long stretch of dark sand in the southeast of the island, at the foot of Mesa Vouno mountain, with parasols, restaurants and the fortified village of Emporio nearby.

Praia de Kamari
Fira · Egeu Meridional · Beach

Praia de Kamari

Organized beach of dark sand and pebbles on the east of the island, with a promenade of restaurants, an open-air cinema and the road that climbs to Thera Antiga.

Pyrgos
Fira · Egeu Meridional · Village

Pyrgos

Medieval village on top of a hill in the center of the island, with the Venetian kastelli, churches and spiral alleys; from there the road climbs to the monastery of Profitis Ilias, the highest point of Santorini.

Megalochori
Fira · Egeu Meridional · Village

Megalochori

Wine village in the central-south of the island, with a shaded square, bell towers over the street, rock-cut cellars (canavas) and ship captains' houses.

Nea Kameni e Palea Kameni
Fira · Egeu Meridional · Boat trip

Nea Kameni e Palea Kameni

Boat trip around the caldera to the volcanic islets: a hike to the crater of Nea Kameni and a swim in the warm, iron-rich waters of Palea Kameni.

Teleférico e porto velho de Fira
Fira · Egeu Meridional · Viewpoint

Teleférico e porto velho de Fira

Cable car that connects Fira with the old port, 220 meters below, where cruise passengers arrive and the boats to the volcano depart; the alternative is the staircase of almost 600 steps.

Fira · Egeu Meridional · Winery

Vinícola Santo Wines

Winery of the Santorini producers' cooperative, on the edge of the caldera near Pyrgos, with tasting terraces facing the volcano and tours of the production.

Faro de Akrotiri
Fira · Egeu Meridional · Viewpoint

Faro de Akrotiri

Lighthouse from 1892 at the southwest tip of the island, at the end of the road, with views over the entire caldera and the sunset without Oia's crowds.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From May to October the island operates fully, with boats, museums and beaches in service. July and August are the busiest and hottest months, with the meltemi wind blowing strongly in the afternoon. May, June, September and early October usually have milder heat and fewer people. In winter many hotels and restaurants close and the sea becomes rough: check what will be open.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days cover Fira, Oia, the caldera hike and Akrotiri. Three days allow adding the boat to the volcano, an east-side beach and the inland villages with a winery. Travelers in high season save time by starting early: Oia's alleys and Fira's museums empty before 10 a.m.

Which city to stay in

Fira is the most practical base: the bus hub for the whole island, shops, museums and the cable car stop. Firostefani and Imerovigli, just to the north, sit on the same caldera rim with less bustle and views of the volcano. Oia is the most sought-after for view accommodation, but it's far from the beaches and fills up during the day. Kamari and Perissa, on the east side, suit those who prefer the beach, with flat, simpler lodgings. Pyrgos and Megalochori, inland, are quiet options among vineyards, with a car or bus needed to get around.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Santorini

How to get to Santorini from Athens?

By plane, in less than an hour, to Santorini airport, near Kamari. By boat, from Pireu or Rafina, on crossings that range from about 5 hours on fast ferries to 8 hours or more on conventional ones, to the port of Athinios. Fast ferries roll more on windy days. Check the season and departure days before booking.

How many days to stay in Santorini?

Two days for Fira, Oia, the caldera trail and Akrotiri; three days to include the boat to the volcano, a beach and the inland villages. Those spending only one day, as on a cruise, usually choose between Oia and Akrotiri.

Do you need a car in Santorini?

It isn't mandatory. The KTEL buses depart from Fira to Oia, Kamari, Perissa, Akrotiri and the port of Athinios, with more schedules in summer. A rented car or quad gives freedom to reach the inland villages and the lighthouse, but parking in Fira and Oia is difficult in high season.

What's the best time to go to Santorini?

From May to October, when boats, museums and beaches operate. May, June and September usually have milder heat and fewer people than July and August. In winter much of the island closes and the sea becomes rough.

Can you watch the sunset in Oia calmly?

Oia usually gets crowded in the late afternoon, especially in summer and on cruise days. Alternatives are the sunset viewed from Imerovigli, from Firostefani, from the Akrotiri lighthouse or from a winery on the caldera rim near Pyrgos.

Is Santorini good for beaches?

The beaches are on the east and south side, outside the caldera: Kamari and Perissa have dark sand and pebbles of volcanic origin, and are organized with umbrellas and restaurants. The dark sand gets very hot in the sun; bring sandals to walk.

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