Best things to do & places to stay:
Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece
Some 2,600 years ago, a volcanic eruption turned this island upside down and created the stage for one of the most dramatic Greek island destinations.
The cliffs of Santorini’s semi-circular volcanic rim are frosted with sugar-cube villages, and boutique hotels are carved out of the cliff face, a giddying 300m drop to the sea. Dubbed the ‘black pearl of the Aegean’ because of its black sand beaches, the island’s volcanic soil also produces superb wines.
Its stark mystique and spectacular sunsets have long made it the ultimate setting for seduction.
Santorini lies in the southern Cyclades. The action is centred in the capital Fira, all gold shops and overpriced cafés catering to day-trippers from the frequent cruise ships.
Five-star hotels and gourmet restaurants are lined up along the caldera, the flooded volcanic crater that created the island’s vertiginous cliffs.
Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia are the most spectacular settlements on the caldera. Inland, a few more rustic villages, such as Megalochori and Pyrgos, have survived.
The bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination
Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece
Arguably the most memorable hike in the Aegean, this easy 6-mile trek on the rim of the Santorini caldera offers precipitous views and mesmerising landscapes.
Best for ages: 16+ | Free | 4-5 hours
Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece
Santorini’s signature experience: sailing, swimming and lunching on luxury catamarans amid stunning volcanic scenery.
Best for ages: 6+ | £25 | 4 hours
Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece
Watch the sunset at Oia and marvel at the changing colours of the rocky cliffs as the sun dips below the horizon.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free | 1-2 hours
Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece
Sample Santorini’s most famous export at source: the distinctive wines produced from the volcanic terroir.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free | 1+ hours
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest
Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece
A perfectly preserved ancient Minoan settlement, buried beneath volcanic ash 3,500 years ago. It offers a unique insight into an ancient civilisation, which some speculate could be the lost city of Atlantis.
Best for ages: 18+ | £10
Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece
Antiquarian bookshop in Oia with many rare first editions some on sale for over £1,000, attracting clients from all over the world. Just walking through the doors feels like visiting a museum of books.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece
The black beaches of Santorini’s east coast, made up of volcanic gravel, are one of the island’s big attractions and Kamari is a resort for those who want the full sun, sea, and sand summer experience.
Best for ages: Any | Free
Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece
This small but interesting museum outside Kamari offers great insights regarding Santorini’s unique viniculture: and 400 years if wine-making history. You can sample the winery’s offerings, too. Here the vines are twisted into crown-shaped baskets so the grapes are protected from harsh winter winds.
Best for ages: 18+ | £12
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers
Santorini
€123 | Rating 4.89 / 5 [89 ratings]
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Santorini
€80 | Rating 4.87 / 5 [162 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Santorini
€220 | Rating 4.97 / 5 [201 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Santorini
€110 | Rating 4.85 / 5 [540 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay in this destination
Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece
Welcoming, tranquil, family-run boutique hotel, close to all amenities and only one block away from Santorini’s famed black beach at Kamari.
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Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece
The adults-only Avaton Resort boasts an excellent spa and caldera views, and is one of the island’s more ‘affordable’ luxury hotels.
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Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece
Stylish quirky and secluded, Avant Garde is a stunning design hotel, with an unusual location that results in an alternative sunset panorama.
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Santorini, Greek Islands, Greece
A perfectly-located, luxury hotel for drivers who don’t want to get clogged within the permanent traffic jam of Fira, yet still a hop skip and jump from Santorini’s effervescent capital.
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Little Santorini swarms with tourists in July and August – avoid if you can.
Greek Easter (usually in April) is a wonderful time to experience the spring bloom and local traditions, but it’s too chilly for swimming.
May, June, September and early October are the best times to go; the weather is reliably hot, the beaches, restaurants and resorts are less crowded, and prices are lower.
Pretty much everything shuts down between November and March.
The small airport (domestic and charter flights) is near Monolithos. There’s a regular bus service to Fira, where you can get connecting buses to other destinations. There’s often a long queue for taxis. Most hotels charge for port and airport transfers.
Ferries dock at the tiny, shabby port of Athinios. Cruise ships moor off the old port of Gialos, from where it’s a dizzying cable car or swaying donkey ride up the sheer hill to Fira.
Local buses are infrequent and taxis are scarce and pricey; it’s better to hire a car or moped to explore the sights. Many tourists rent quad bikes, but they’re not the safest form of transport.
First-time guests usually choose to stay on the caldera – you pay a high premium for that stunning view, but it really is worth it. Imerovgli and Oia are the prettiest and most coveted places to stay here.
Crowded, noisy Fira is best avoided unless nightlife is a priority. Bars are few and far between on the rest of the island. Inland, Pyrgos and Megalochori offer a taste of more traditional island life.
