Santorini is one of the most picturesque and visited islands in the Aegean.
Filled with white washed buildings, homes and churches, along with a sea of cascading blue domes; it’s no wonder that this magnificent place is on everyone’s bucket list.
So without any further delay, let’s get into it! Don’t forget to follow & subscribe to all of our social media channels for more blogs, tips, recommendations, travel news and much more.
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1. Sunset
There are so many wonderful places to watch the famous Grecian sunset. You can gaze at the dreamy horizon from Oia Village, the Castle of Agios Nikolaos, restaurants, sunset cruises on catamarans or sail boats, the Imerovigli caldera, Skaros Rock, and Old port in Fira.
Tip: If you’re planning on heading to one of the caldera or Cliffside restaurants, we highly recommend making reservations ahead of time as all spaces do get booked up.
2. Hike From Fira To Imerovigli & Oia
This was one of the most scenic and amazing experiences for us. Walking along the caldera’s edge to either end is just spectacular and may seem a little daunting but trust us, it’s absolutely worth it!
As we spent part of our trip staying in Imerovigli, this was a bit of an easier task as it’s central to the island. The cliff top views are not to be missed.
Tip: During the summer months, we would highly recommend starting your trek either early in the morning or evening as the days become quite hot.
3. Skaros Rock
Skaros Rock is also known as Fortress Skaros or Castle Skaros. It’s a rock formation / collection of ruins on the Greek island of Santorini. Located in Imerovigli with breathtaking views to the surrounding islands, perched cliffs, a cascade of white cave hotels and an amazing spot for the sunset.
The 20-30 feet hike up to the top is on a rugged path that is relatively easy. If you wish to make it to the peak, you’ll need to climb straight up so wear comfortable shoes preferably runners.
We went in the morning so there weren’t many people when we reached the top. It can be super hot closer to mid day so definitely plan out your hike and take a water bottle if you can’t make it in the early morning or late afternoon.
All in all, it is definitely worth the scenic views! Just be sure to watch your step and enjoy the beauty that is before you.
4. Dr Fish Spa 🐠
No trip to Santorini is complete without visiting Dr Fish Spa located in the main Fira Square. This is a fish pedicure experience that you’ll never forget. The owners take great pride in their establishment and it clearly shows when you step inside. Everything is hygienic and clean; there’s always great music playing in addition to great deals/promos.
They offer discounts on additional pedicures to wine/beverage & pedi packages. You can sit back, relax, listen to great music and sip on your beverage of choice and let the little guys do all the work!
Tip: we recommend opting for the promos as it’s cost efficient and you get a free pedicure as well!
5. Beaches 🏖
Kamari, Perissa, black sand, white sand and red sand are just a few of the beaches in Santorini.
We would highly recommend taking out the time to spend the day at Kamari beach! There is an array of restaurants, gorgeous blue water, beach chairs, umbrellas and great music.
Hook bar is one of the restaurants which offers its beach chairs & umbrellas on a complimentary basis for their customers. There are servers that walk around the beach area taking orders and serving to their respective restaurant guests.
You can also beach hop to Perissa by taking one of the water taxis that commutes back and forth from approximately 10am – 5pm. It briefly stops right in-front of this restaurant to let passengers on that are generally already waiting. If you want to beach hop, we recommend waiting for the water taxi as soon as you see it in sight; especially during high season.
Keep in mind, that you’ll need to walk into the water a little in order to board the boat. The cost is €5 / per person each way and the journey time is approximately 15 minutes.
6. Old Port + Cable Car
You can opt to either walk down the steps at old port to the pier or take the cable car.
The ride is approximately 3 minutes and costs €6 one-way whereas the walk will take you about 1/2 hr with beautiful scenic views and photo-op opportunities. This is also where you will run into the many donkeys.
Be sure to watch your step as you make your way down as at times, the steps are being cleaned with running water in order to remove the droppings left behind from the donkeys.
Tip: We would recommend walking down to the pier and taking the cable car ride back up; enjoying a different view each time!
7. Therasia / Riva / Korfus
Set out some time and take one of the local ferries to Thirassia, Riva or Korfus. You can catch the ferry from Ammoudi Bay which costs €1.
Therasia was separated form the main island as a result of the volcanic eruption. There is limited development on the island with a few beaches and restaurants/taverns.
The small ferry leaves at approx 8am and the last one back is at around approx 5pm. Be sure to check the local schedules and proactively plan your day.
8. Nightlife
Along with everything else, be sure to head out and enjoy the nightlife on the island! There is an abundance of bars, restaurants and lounges to choose from.
The town of Fira is bustling with locals and tourists walking around, dining, eating gelato from one of the many parlours, bar/ lounge hopping; there’s something for everyone!
We had the most amazing time at the “Two brothers” bar which is located right in the main Fira Square around the corner from Nick the Grill.
This quaint trendy spot is full of people ready to party it up with a live DJ, amazing music, great staff and half priced drinks!! Not only do they have happy hour but also do a countdown in the evening by ringing the ceiling bell to let people know that drinks will be half price!!! This place is definitely the place to go to have a great time!
9. Self Guided Photo Tour
Take a stroll and explore the vast array of paths, stairs and alleys of this breathtaking island! You never know what beautiful gems you will discover!
As we walked from Imerovigli to Fira, we can across this beautiful home with a waterfall of bougainvilleas trickling down on one side; it just left us standing in our tracks!
10. Ancient Akrotiri
Take a tour and explore the Minoan archaeological site of Akrotiri. The ancient city was covered in volcanic ash and often referred to as the Pompeii of the Aegean.
There are several tours available from private to half day and full day tours which usually include visiting a couple of different sites.
11. Volcano Tour + Hot Springs
Another very popular tour to take on the island is a trip to the Volcano and it’s hot springs. This does sell out, so be sure to purchase your tickets a head of time to avoid any disappointments.
There are several different packages to choose from. You may want to do a day sailing or evening tour with dinner or a sunset sailing.
You can hop on from the old port in Fira and set sail for an epic adventure that you will always remember. The boat docks at Volcano Bay where you can hike to the top of the crater and from there it heads to the hot springs in Palea Kameni. You can relax in the hot springs and or enjoy the natural mud baths.
12. Ammoudi Bay
When in Oia, be sure to visit the famous Ammoudi Bay and sit down at one of the few restaurants. Overlooking the gorgeous blue waters, along with fresh seafood dining has never been more appealing!
We absolutely loved dining at Ammoudi Fish Tavern and the sunset view was nothing short of spectacular!!
13a. Dining / Drinks
You’ll definitely want to take advantage of the stunning panoramic views. Head out to one of the many caldera restaurants for dinner or drinks.
We really enjoyed PK’s; they play great music, have some of the best views overlooking the sea. If you’re feeling famished, head down one level as there is plenty of dining space!
13b. Fira Food Favourites
When it comes to food, there are several options to choose from. Some of our favourites include Nick The Grill, Lucky’s Souvlakis, Diverso, Svoronos Bakery and chillbox frozen yogurt & gelato!! These are definitely not to be missed.
Tip: Gyros do sell out at either Nick the Grill & Lucky’s so be sure to go earlier in the day to get your particular meat fix.
14. Cooking Class
An amazing culinary experience for any foodie! The excursion includes local food and wine tasting followed by a cooking class featuring authentic local recipes.
15. Helicopter Tour
This is definitely a big indulgence and would most definitely be the icing on the cake as you will get to witness breathtaking views of the island, cliffs, caldera and the famous volcano. The tours can run from 25 mins to an hour.
We hope that you found all of the aforementioned useful and wish you happy travels!!
Comment down below👇🏼 your top things to do in Santorini; we would love to hear from you!
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Until next time, keep dreaming, traveling, exploring and spreading your footprints.
Thetravelingfootprints ♥️