My Ultimate Santorini Travel Guide | Things to Do in Santorini

Last Updated on June 7, 2023 by Christine Kaaloa

Ultimate Travel Guide Santorini , travel guide santorini
Ultimate Travel Guide Santorini

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While my time in historical Athens and mystical Meteora were divine, my arrival into romantic Santorini I started off on the wrong foot. But there’s a blessing in having unexpected roommates when you travel, even if you’re forced to share beds with them!

With Santorini, it wasn’t my initial agenda to rent a car to explore and seek out the best things to do in Santorini. As a solo traveler, car rentals can be a burden to my travel budget. Seeing as I had travel blogger roommates, changed that as sharing expenses of a car rental made it much easier !

The pros and cons of Santorini

There’s many ways that Santorini will impress you. Beautiful caldera views, sunsets, white plaster buildings lining the cliff, blue topped churches,… it’s a highly Instagrammable island. Then there are ways it can disappoint.

Beautiful white plaster resort hotels lining the cliff with caldera views, boutique shops, restaurants… You can like it for almost the same reason that you won’t. Ultimately, in Santorini, you’ll feel more like a tourist than a traveler.

There is a local part to Santorini, but if you’re staying in Fira or Oia (which most travelers do), you probably won’t experience much of it. The most local I got was food shopping at a local grocery store.  But still, Santorini is a romantic haven and I wouldn’t kick it out of my bucketlist!

Santorini island, santorini, things to do in Santorini
Santorini island from the ocean

 

Santorini
Santorini

15 Best Things to Do in Santorini (Watch Video)

Road Trip Santorini : 15 Best Things to Do in Santorini  (Video)

Best Things to Do in Santorini

Shopping and Sightseeing in Fira

Fira is the backpacker’s haven.  It’s got a wealth of accommodations from hotels, resorts, apartments and hostels. It’s closer to the port than Oia is. It’s also located across the volcano and it has many cafe/restaurant and accommodation options. It’s also got a barrage of souvenir shops if you wanted to go shopping.  If you want a true foodie experience in Fira, you can take a walking food tour. Both Fira and Oia are not cheap cities, but of the two, you’re sure to find more economical options in Fira.

Book your stay in Fira.

Volcano

Santorini has an active resident volcano.  Volcano tours are offered through tourist agency shops in both, Fira and Oia.  Most tours seem to offer a boat ride to the volcano along with a visit to the hot springs. Both, full day and half day tours are offered and require you to start from Fira.

Donkey spotting

Occasionally, you’ll need to watch where you walk. In Santorini, donkeys are work vehicles and you may come across donkey poo. Not to worry, it’s not a problem yet, like India and cows.

donkey rides in santorini, santorini things to do, riding donkeys in santorini
Spotting donkeys in Santorini

Caldera views

Caldera views are when buildings are along the cliffside and facing the ocean.  You’ll notice these in towns like Oia, Fira and Firostefani.  Hotels with a caldera view aren’t cheap.

Caldera views in Fira, caldera views in Santorini
Caldera views in Fira. How dramatic!

Souvenir Shopping

Whether you’re in Fira or Oia, you may find yourself souvenir shopping due to the sheer abundance of souvenir stores and boutiques.   Souvenirs to get: A  volcano rock, Olive Oil soap, stuffed animal donkey and items which accentuate Santorini’s island life.

Red Sand Beach

If there’s one beach you make sure you see, make it Red Sand Beach in Akrotiri. You’ve never seen anything like it!  During peak season you can sunbathe on the sands.  Off-peak season, perhaps a hike up the cliffs might be a better choice.  Tip:  The second beach to sightsee is the  Black Sand Beach.

Santo Wines at Sunset

Santo Wines is a well-known winery.  It’s located near the port in the village of Pyrgos.  Arrive in time for the sunset (it’s very striking against the cliffs) and kick back and enjoy a wine.  Tip:  It’s got one of the best sunsets on the island.  See more info on wine tasting tours and activities.

santo wines inpirgos
Santo wines at sunset
Santo wines, santo winery santorini, santo wines in pirgos
Santo wines for the sunset and a glass of wine

Explore Santorini Colors & Selfies

Although the buildings are like sugar cubes, Santorini occasionally has splashes of color which vibrate with a chic and artsy above-water seashell style.  Find those spots and you’ll feel your mobile phone camera rising to take a selfie.  Some of these colorful nooks are simply photogenic.

Selfies & Sunsets in Oia

Oia is like the Beverly Hills of Santorini.  There’s many cliffside resort villas with lovely views, it’s got a mellow charm and a lot of posh boutique shops and galleries.  Restaurant options feel minimal if you’re looking for something inexpensive. But it has a handful of good sights such as Ammoudi Bay, the windmills, blue domed churches and it has an amazing sunset.  It’s located on the farthest end of the island opposite of the port; roughly a 45 minute drive.  Book a hotel stay in Oia.

Oia Santorini, Santorini villages, santorini architecture
Oia Santorini

Ammoudi Bay

Ammoudi Bay is a small cove with a couple of fish taverns at the base in the town of Oia. The water is deep aqua blue and fishing boats are docked after fishermen bring their catch in.  There’s no beach to lay out on, so you’d visit mostly to take a quick dip or to eat at a tavern.

You can get there on foot by taking the path towards the sunset point and towards the beach. The other option is to take a car.

Ammoudi Bay Oia, Ammoudi Bay Santorini
Ammoudi Bay, Oia

Santorini Church Architecture

Most churches in Santorini are privately owned, so only a few are open to the public. However, they still add to the architectural beauty of the island. Read How to get married in Santorini.

Churches in Santorini, Santorini architecture, greek architecture
Churches in Santorini

Windmills

Oia is known for their windmills.   I’m not sure why but there are a couple towards the side of Oia which has the sunset point and Ammoudi Bay.

Riding donkeys

I decided against a donkey ride for ethical reasons.  In many films about Greece, you’ll notice tourist-carrying donkeys portrayed as a popular and romantic novelty of the island. In fact, it looks more glamorous on screen than it is in real life.  The roads the donkeys travel are steep and quite a workout. Hike one of those donkey paths,  understand how challenging the climb is and you’ll never want to put your ass on an “ass” again.

Photogenic Sunsets

Santorini has some of the most splendid sunsets I’ve seen.  The most photogenic spots to capture are the cliffs facing the sea.  Whether the sunset is bouncing off of the cliffside or architecture, the light it casts is simply magical.

Sunsets in Santorini
Sunsets in Santorini

Must Try Foods in Santorini

Being a Mediterranean island, expect seafood to be fresh. Personally,  falafel, greek yogurt, salad with feta cheese and local wine were also on my plate . Eating at a restaurant can be a little pricy.  So with my newfound blogger crew (we were all on a budget), we shopped at a local grocery store to make our own meals, when not traveling. If you want a true foodie experience, you can take a walking food tour to sample the range Santo has to offer (I wish I knew about this one!)

Tomato Balls were the locally recommended must try food. It’s said to be the specialty of Santorini and are a deep fried patty filled with cheese and a tomato puree. It wasn’t my favorite but I was in a rush and got this at a restaurant near the boat port as I was waiting to depart.

Read Must Try Greek Foods

Getting Around

If your hotel doesn’t have a pickup van, you can hire an inexpensive shuttle transfer service. Renting a car in Santorini is possibly, the best and quickest way to tackle it.  I’ve known some travelers to use the bus to get around Santorini, but Santorini is larger and more spread out than you think it’s going to be.  Driving really isn’t so bad or confusing.  The map they give you at the car rental should be sufficient. Rental car prices start at 50Euro a day.

Santorini Roadtrip, things to do in santorini
Road Tripping Santorini : 15 Best Things to Do (Video)
Rental car prices in Santorini, renting a car in Santorini
Rental car prices in Santorini

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What to Pack

Depending upon time of season, Santorini can be both beachy and/or cold and windy. There are parts of Oia and Fira which also feel rather resorty, with all the white stucco flats, chic cafes and boutiques.  With caldera views come walking and occasional steep uphill strolls.  I brought both my flip flopsir?source=bk&t=grrrltraveler 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=cb05e4f997ae457aae9a864d91a82ec1& cb=1484169172237 and jogging shoes, for intensive uphill walking and relaxing. Sandals are also perfect.  Always take sunscreen. Sunburn is never fun nor attractive, but sun-kissed is chic. Beach coverups are a nice asset as a way to tame your locks.

Read Packing Tips for Beach & Summer Travel

Recommended Travel Essentials for Santorini. Click to Shop.
Shouldit Infinity Scarf
Sholdit Infinity Scarfir?source=bk&t=grrrltraveler 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=fed795b39c2aa91c2f85503d012e583d& cb=1484169124397
la blanca island tunic coverup
la blanca island tunic coverupir?source=bk&t=grrrltraveler 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=b64af1251c51412e8b9debe83684d73f& cb=1484140720137
Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray
Bumble and Bumble Surf Hair Sprayir?source=bk&t=grrrltraveler 20&bm id=default&l=ktl&linkId=7ab968ea3723b36a2a981cbf81b38e44& cb=1484141116179

 

Safety Tips for Solo Travelers in Santorini

Overall, I didn’t encounter anything there by way of scams or criminal intention. It’s a fairly small island, where people know people, so it can feel pretty safe and touristy. However, there are always exceptions to the rule so one should always practice street smarts.

Where to Stay in Santorini

Peak seasons are July, August & September. Popular towns are Oia or Fira, although there are other areas. Everything from shops to restaurants are accessible in these towns.  Or you can rent a car and stay a little further or rent an AirBnB.

Prices on Santorini (especially in Fira and Oia) aren’t cheap– food is often imported and resources like water is something the hotel owner will pay for.

For around 50 Euros you might find a decent budget room. Expect to splurge for better hotels, starting at 120 Euros ranging from luxury villas and hotel suites, with a caldera view and a cave-like interior. 30 Euros and under will be looking at hostels in Fira, studio apartments,… even rentable camp tents!

Santorini Museum Spa Wellness Hotel– a lovely luxury resort villa. Spacious with a fabulous caldera view it had a kitchen, two bedrooms and a living room. It was like living in a grande studio apartment (my review ).

Getting to Santorini via ferry

Read  Athens to Santorini:  Greek Island Hopping

Wanna go? What would you recommend in things to do in Santorini ? Let me know below!

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