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Santorini
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Genuinely interested in why everyone goes/ wants to go to Santorini , I have visited 20 + Greek islands and love them all but I have never visited or wanted to visit Santorini
it’s beautiful ( from the pictures ) but every island is beautiful and others are more authentic and give much more of a flavour of real Greece
for info my Personal favourite is Kephalonia .... But I love them all and of it wasn’t for damn Brexit I would probably have moved to one
Top Comment: This is why. Definitely worth it once. Probably won’t go back, there’s too much Greece to not visit it all.
Everything I Wanted to Know Before My First Trip to Santorini (Comprehensive Guide)
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*About Me: I'm an American in my late 20's and an avid traveller. My goals for first time visits to other places are to see the tourist attractions (to check them off the list) and find the parts of town, eat the local food, and meet the people who create the culture of the environment to truly understand what life is like beyond the Instagram hot-spots. I research EVERYTHING (to the point of insanity) before traveling to be as prepared as possible but leave time and room for exploring to find the experiences that make each trip truly unique. This guide is a compilation of everything I've researched and experienced first-hand compiled into one place to hopefully save future travelers some time / questions when taking their first trip to Santorini.
The only *actually* helpful resource I used for planning my trip: This pinned post!
Getting There (Ferry v. Flying)
Depending on where you're traveling from, there are a couple of options for getting to Santorini - flying or taking the ferry. I spent a couple of days in Athens before my trip to the island and decided to take the ferry from Piraeus (Athens) to Thira (Santorini) to prevent potentially losing luggage / having to go through airport security more than necessary. This was a HUGE mistake.
While the luggage situation on board our ferry was much easier than flying, I did not realize just how turbulent the ferry transportation could be. Please note: I understood there was a risk of choppy waters when sailing but due to the 15+ cruises I've been on and numerous boating trips (including one in Santorini - keep reading) with no sea sickness to date, I did not think this would be a problem. And to be fair, I didn't get sick from the boat nearly capsizing for over 2 hours straight (out of the 4.5 hour long ferry ride), I got sick from the people around me who were literally screaming and vomiting on the floor in front of me. Imagine being trapped in a cabin full of puking anxious people for 4.5 hours and you'll know the kind of hell I endured. The ONLY reason I made it through the ride (aside from not being able to jump off and swim to my destination with my luggage) is that the outer decks finally opened and I was able to sit outside for the remaining hour of our ride and breathe in the fresh air.
So, all of this to say - if you're easily sea sick, don't take the ferry. If you're easily disturbed by other people's panic and bodily fluids - don't take the ferry. If you're a brave soul who can manage both with no problems - go for it. I won't be doing it again.
Arriving at the Port + Getting to Your Destination
Everything I read about transportation in Santorini made it seem as if taking the bus was the best option due to budget. Because of this, I incorrectly assumed we would disembark from the ferry and find the local bus station from signs. Instead, we were bombarded by taxi drivers all vying for our attention. We finally found our way onto a shared van (and never did locate the bus station), which took us straight to our destination. Despite the chaos of it all in the moment, I would definitely recommend taking a taxi or bus to get to your destination, as there are no addresses in Santorini, and it's difficult to find anything without the help of a local / Google maps. For reference, we paid a total of 50 Euro for 2 people to take a shared van to Firostefani (where our AirBnB was located) - the original quoted price was 100 Euro, but when we started to walk away and head toward the bus station, the price was cut in half : )
Where to Stay (Fira v. Oia + Another Option)
The biggest debate from all of my previous research is whether or not to stay in Oia or Fira. Based on cost alone, I chose to stay in Fira (because it was significantly cheaper with similar views of the caldera). (In case you're interested, I booked this AirBnB and LOVED it!) After visiting Oia, I can tell you that I 100% made the best decision and here's why:
- From my research, the draw to Oia is the "quintessential" Santorini view of the blue-domed buildings and cave houses. After spending some time in Oia, I will say that I was disappointed to find that there are only three of these blue domes, and that the rest of the view of the city paled in comparison to Fira. Where we stayed in Fira, the buildings surrounding were what you would think of as "traditional cave houses" with solid white architecture and plunge pools built into the deck / balcony of each house. The caldera view was equally as gorgeous, and for a fraction of the price, I can't see why anyone would choose to stay in Oia over Fira.
- Oia is extremely crowded (and we visited at the end of "shoulder season" - the beginning of May). Every post I read said that Oia was miserably crowded, but I chalked those posts up to frustrated tourists. I can confirm that walking through the narrow streets of Oia is shoulder to shoulder and filled with people. I can't imagine what it's like during peak season. Sure, this was fine for a visit during the day, but I think spending a week fighting these crowds would grow tiresome very quickly.
*While the caldera view is unbeatable and rightfully one of the biggest draws to Santorini, should I ever return, I will likely choose to stay in Kamari Beach. I discovered this area on my last day and was so sad to not have more time here! This is a quintessential resort town with access to the beautiful mediterranean sea and black sand beach with stunning resorts and restaurants lining the area. If you want a Mediterranean beach vacation, this would be my pick for the area!
Getting Around (Bus, Taxi, Rental Car?)
As you read earlier, I originally planned to take the bus for transportation around the island (after finding the various bus stops around the city and seeing how many people were waiting on them to arrive, I'm very glad we didn't do this). After our single taxi ride to our AirBnB that cost 50 Euro, I realized that paying for taxis wasn't a feasible option for exploring the island for an entire week either. My boyfriend decided to rent a car, and while I was apprehensive to begin, I have to say this was the best decision for someone who wants to see as much of the island as possible!
We rented a car from this company and just walked into their storefront location the day of to book. We paid $30 / day in cash and walked out with the keys in hand and jumped into the car. Overall, we had a great experience with this company (the owner met us at the airport at 7:00 AM to let us drop off the car at our final destination) and would recommend it. Some things to note before deciding to drive:
- Manual: Majority of cars are manual transmission. My boyfriend drives a manual at home, so when we walked in and this was the only option for a rental, he had no problem accepting it. Otherwise, we would have needed to book in advance for an automatic car.
- Traffic Signs: Look up general traffic laws / signs in Greece before hitting the road. Most are self-explanatory, but there were a couple of one-way roads we caught ourselves headed down due to lack of initial research.
- Avoid ATVs and Scooters: Heed everyone else's advice and don't rent a scooter or ATV. The roads are extremely windy and steep and the speed limits are practically non-existent. We saw one too many near-accidents in these things - I just don't think it's worth the risk on this busy of an island.
- Parking: There is public parking almost everywhere (for free)! If not in a large lot, you can likely find a spot on the side of the road to squeeze into (perks of a small car). The only time we paid for parking was when we were rushing to get to the beach before it rained and wanted a spot nearby (which only cost us 5 Euro for 3 hours).
- Navigating: As I mentioned before, there are no addresses in Santorini, so having a GPS is a must for finding exact locations. I found that Apple Maps was easier to follow (since there aren't many road names) visually, but Google Maps was able to locate more places, so a combination of the two should be enough to get around without any issues. I would also recommend downloading an offline version of Google Maps of the entire island should you end up somewhere without service (this happened to us a few times). It's not perfect, but it's better than nothing!
Oh, and of course you can walk once you're in each city, but be prepared for lots of steps, uphill climbs, and slippery ground (a lot of it is made from marble)!
What to Do + Where to Eat
My approach to these two topics are to simply: figure it out when you get there! I love wandering around and seeing what I stumble upon, but for those of you who prefer to plan, here's what we did and would recommend (in no particular order):
- Kamari Beach - walk around and explore the various shops, have a drink at one of the beachfront restaurants and lounge on the black sand, go for a swim in the Mediterranean!
- Akrotiri - this preserved city rivals Pompeii (but is indoors). It's not too expensive to walk around and was such a neat sight to see!
- This Sunset Cruise - this might have been the highlight of our trip! I researched for weeks looking for the best sunset cruise (there are SO many to choose from), and ended up selecting this private tour which was 1000% worth the extra couple of hundred dollars! I can't say enough good things about this trip, so if the comments on his AirBnB listing don't do it for you, feel free to ask me for more details! (Yes, this is the one thing I planned in advance!)
- Megalochori - We loved this part of town so much, that we went back multiple times! It's quite small but oh so charming. Would highly recommend checking out "Studio Leather Transit" - all of the leather goods are made in the shop by the man running it himself. These were some of our favorite souvenirs from the trip! I would also argue that "The Family" Bakery was some of the BEST food we ate on the island AND the most reasonably priced!
- Fira - Obviously spend your time walking around all of the various shops and exploring the area. It's beautiful! The best restaurant we ate at in this area was "Onar" - breathtaking view and incredible food!
- Oia - Same here - you have to at least see it while you're here. The shops were more touristy / expensive than others. Same with the food. Best for walking around and sight seeing than spending a ton of time and money here in my opinion.
- In General - Just drive around and get lost on the island! This is what made our trip so magical!
- Ammoudi Bay - Picturesque area for wandering around - very small but right on the water! We didn't stop for food but hiked along the trail to the nearby "beach" and had quite the adventure.
General Note for Food: We did not eat anything that was bad the entire trip! Be prepared to spend a decent amount on each meal (especially if you're staying in Fira / Oia), but know that each restaurant whether we researched it before or just stumbled upon it was just as delicious as the last. Our two favorites from the entire trip are above, though : )
That should hopefully cover everything, but I'm sure I've left some questions unanswered, so whatever you want to know from my experience spending a week in Santorini, let me know- I'm happy to answer your questions! And if you made it to the end of this post, thanks for reading. I hope you have the trip of a lifetime!
Top Comment: Beautiful summary and tips- thanks so much! Did you do the hike from fira to oia? if so, any tips for it? are there a fair bit of stops along the way? i have a chronic illness and often need a few bathroom breaks....
Tips on how to do Santorini right?
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I have read a lot of cautions about Santorini: it's overcrowded, expensive, a tourist trap, etc.
One of the issues that I tried to sidestep was the overcrowding at lookout points for the sunset. My husband and I booked accommodations in Oia with amazing views so that we don't have to battle other tourists when trying to get a glimpse of the famous Santorini sunsets.
We're also going October 3-7 so that it's hopefully a little less chaotic on the island.
What else would you recommend to make our experience an unforgettable one instead of a mediocre one?
Top Comment: Eat at mataxi mas but don’t tell anyone else. Fly instead of dealing with the hectic port.
Santorini travel amidst the seismic crisis.
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We had planned 7d-6n honeymoon trip to Athens and Santorini. We had ferry tickets to Santorini for 11th Feb and back on 14th Feb. The travel agent is telling that the hotels are open and they would not issue refund. If we plan to change the destinations, it would be additional cost that we need to bear. Greece has declared it a state of emergency. Should we still plan to visit Santorini? Are the tourists even allowed to go to the island? What alternatives should we look for. We don't have much time. Thanks.
Top Comment: I would not willingly travel to a place that just declared a state emergency, regardless of how much money I may lose. Don't cancel your hotel. By Feb. 11 the hotel may decide to close in which case they would refund you. If you have any travel insurance see if it applies.
Are Mykonos and Santorini really that bad?
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My GF and I are planning a 10-day greece trip. Currently we're looking at 3 days in Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos as we're getting a travel package from Costco.
The more research I do, the more Mykonos and Santorini are looking like a bad place to go. Overpriced and overcrowded tourist traps that really don't have any of the Greek charm or heritage. I just want a relaxing vacation where I hang out on the beach and explore ancient history.
It's hard to find unbiased opinions as it seems like people only go online to complain about the two islands. Are they really that bad or should I get out of my head?
That catches that my girlfriend really wants to go to these two islands as she went when she was much younger and wants to revisit them as an adult. I doubt she's going to want to go anywhere else.
Edit: forgot to mention but I'm more worried about Mykonos than Santorini. I really don't care about the party scene. I love to party but it's been years since I've been to a venue that wasn't a packed overpriced venue blasting the most boring and bass, heavy music I've ever heard in my life.
I have heard that Santorini is absolutely breathtaking. I can suck up tourist trap shenanigans if it means I get to take that all in.
Edit II: Thank you to everyone for the advice. We decided not to go to Mykonos and instead do an even split between Athens and Santorini. While we do take the criticisms against them as valid. We do still wish to visit those places. I did not go through Costco as the package was more expensive than if we went through my Chase Sapphire program.
If anyone is interested, I can provide my thoughts on Santorini after I visit.
Side note, the girlfriend this post and figured out it was me when she was doing research. Time to burn the account
Top Comment: Get it out of your head! I went to Santorini and Mykonos for my honeymoon. We were able to avoid the ‘overcrowded’ piece by traveling during shoulder season, which I would highly recommend as this will make the experience better It’s also possible to stay in less crowded parts of the island Bottom line - any Greek island is probably a great idea. Surrounded by sea, excellent food - never a bad option
Is it safe to travel in Santorini right now?
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We’re going to Greece this month from April 20-30. Spending 20-23 in Santorini.
Our hotel in Santorini just messaged us that “Due to the ongoing intense seismic activity currently affecting Santorini”,
they’re closing the hotel until end of the month and will open again on May 1. They’re asking us to cancel free of charge or change dates after April.
From what I see when I searched the news and google, it looks safe to travel
Top Comment: It’s fine (currently there). HOWEVER, some places and facilities are unsafe/being shored up and are closed. For example, the 540+ steps from Fira to the old port. And some of the beaches are currently inaccessible due to earthquake driven landslides EDITED: Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni announced that the Old Port (Paleo Limani) and Thirassia island will be closed until the 25th of May, for critical safety upgrades and infrastructure improvements.
Is Santorini worth it as a first time visiter?
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I am currently planning a trip to Greece for me and my family for early May. We have around 8-9 days to explore. We're flying into Athens and staying there for 2 days which leaves enough time to explore 2 other islands. After doing some research, Naxos and Crete seem to be the most appealing to me in terms of scenery, history, exploring small villages, and beaches. Is Santorini worth going to over Naxos/Crete? The iconic blue roofs are there and all the travel blogs are making it seem like it is a must go. Also, is early May too soon/cold for beaches/water activities? We are trying to avoid the crowds but hoping for everything to be open by then.
Top Comment: Yesss we loved it- did Greece for 10 days and did Santorini, Paros, then Athens. Best trip ever
Is Santorini worth it or overhyped ? Is anyone going in September ?
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The cave hotels look so gorgeous. From what people have been posting on social media it’s a mouth dropping experience. Anyone who has been to Santorini what are you thoughts ? Is it over hyped ? What do you recommend to see and where do you recommend to stay ? Drop the details !
I’m going to a wedding in September but would love to explore Santorini before the wedding. I’m outgoing, friendly, and love to try new foods, tourist attractions, and see the day to day life of locals as well. So if you’ll be there in September let’s chat 💕
Top Comment: The view truly is incredible and it's worth splurging on a caldera view hotel. Ours in Fira had a patio with a hot tub and breakfast served every day out there. The rest of the island is just just rocky volcanic and some beaches. There are some great restaurants (check out Santorini Dave's list) but a lot of overpriced tourist garbage too. I doubt you'll see much local day-to-day life though. It's a heavily touristic island and everything revolves around that.
Will I regret not staying in Oia, Santorini?
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Hello all,
Making hotel plans for our honeymoon trip to Greece. We are going during peak high season (end of July). After some reading, I decided not to stay in Oia due to the crowd and instagram-focused visitors.
I also chose not to stay in Fira for similar reasons. I was planning on staying in Imerovigli or Firostefani for the great views and more privacy. However, when I told our friends that we arent staying in Oia (they have gone multiple times before) they were shocked. Are we missing out on better views/ambiance/shopping/etc by not staying in Oia? I definitely plan a few hours to visit and have a meal in Oia, but was not going to stay there. Is that enough time?
Does anyone have a favorite restaurant in Oia. We were thinking of having lunch at Lefkes.
Thank you everyone!
Top Comment: Been to Santorini many times , haven’t and wouldn’t stay in Oia . Nice to see but too crowded to stay . Imerovigli is our go to place. Perfect location .