Santorini
- Sightseekr
- Aug 5
- 8 min read
Updated: Nov 7
Is it really nothing more than an influencer's paradise?
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Many people just see Santorini as an influencer’s paradise, somewhere to visit, take pictures, and leave. And yes, it’s absolutely stunning, and in our opinion, one of the most picturesque places you could ever visit. But there is so much more to Santorini than this. From amazing food, to black sand beaches, vineyard tours to volcano hiking, the island is packed full of things to do, see and explore!
The capital of Santorini is Fira (sometimes spelt Thera) - but don’t be deceived, this place doesn’t feel like a capital city in the slightest. There are winding streets, cobbled stairs and beautiful independent shops and restaurants on every corner. Not to mention the stunning views of white buildings all down the cliffs, the ocean, and even the caldera.
By the way - caldera is a word you’ll see mentioned a lot in Santorini. Basically, it’s the crater formed by the volcanic eruption that formed the island of Santorini. It’s filled by the ocean, but you can see the edge of the crater. There’s an island in the middle, which is also the top of the volcano.
In our opinion, especially if you’re not hiring a car, Fira is the best place to stay if you’re looking to spend your time in Santorini seeing amazing views and taking days out to visit attractions and other towns across the island. This is because all of the buses on the island start from Fira, so you’re really well-connected in terms of public transport.
There’s also a taxi rank, if that’s your preferred method of transport, and so many amazing bars and restaurants with incredible views.
For example, Volkan on the Rocks is a bar with absolutely amazing Caldera views, which not only offers great views, food and drink - they actually have an open-air cinema with a sunset showing of Mamma Mia! If that’s not a perfect way to spend an evening, we don’t know what is.
In Fira, you’ll also find the biggest cathedrals on the island. There’s a typical Greek Orthodox cathedral, and a catholic cathedral too. Either way, you’ll be impressed to see the stand-out blue domes, and stunning interior (they’re free to go inside too - always a bonus).
Despite Santorini's reputation for being an expensive island, only full of celebrities and social media influencers, you can find very reasonably priced, very authentic food if you know where to look. Of course, if you're going to the terrace looking out onto the ocean for a 4-course sunset dinner - it's going to be pricey. But if you're happy to get gyros (from around 3 euros) to take away or sit in a more local restaurant without the view, you'll pay significantly less.
We had a delicious meal at Triana Tavern including dishes local to Santorini such as tomato fritters, fava beans, and of course some traditional Greek staples like moussaka.
There are incredible views on every corner, winding streets with countless boutiques and independent shops, and regular places to stop for an ice cream with a breathtaking view of the ocean! We really cannot recommend Fira enough as a destination.
However, we think if you spent a whole week solely in Fira, you could become a little bored - it’s more like a small town than a major city. There isn’t a beach here, although you can see the ocean from many viewpoints around the city. You'll need to take a day trip to a beach town like Kamari if you want to sprawl out on the sand, or swim in the sea.
Buses run regularly (especially in peak tourist season) from Fira to Kamari, Imerovigli, Oia, and Perivolos, all beautiful towns with their own unique views, sights and attractions.
If this is all sounding like a lot to fit into your trip - and you don't even know where to start, why not check out our new digital Santorini Travel Toolkit. It contains everything you need to know about the island including a list of all the sightseeing spots you should visit, bar and restaurant recommendations, direct ticket links, cultural information, and even an interactive map with everything you need saved to it.
It's a great way to save time on your research and support a small travel company too!
You can also take guided or self-guided trips to vineyards for wine tasting, on a boat trip to visit the top of the volcano (in the middle of the Caldera), or go horseback riding on the beach!
Our favourite day trip was visiting Artemis Karamolegos winery for an INCREDIBLE wine tasting. The garden where we sat to taste all of the wines was unbelievably beautiful, and the wines were of such high quality, all produced-on site.
We highly recommend taking the extra effort to go to a vineyard for a wine tasting, rather than just doing one in a restaurant or bar. It completely elevates the experience. Plus, for only a couple of extra euros, we took part in a tour of the winery (with even more samples and tastings).
It’s safe to say that after another (irresistible) bottle of wine, and a meal in their wonderful restaurant, we definitely stumbled out of the winery, rather than walking! You can view and book all the Artemis Karamolegos experiences through their website here.
Another day trip we absolutely loved was to Akrotiri - home to an archaeological site which dates back thousands of years. It's also home to a modern village, a beautiful red beach and some gorgeous cafes. restaurants and bars.
Something else unmissable in Santorini is the sunsets. Whether you grab a drink and walk to enjoy the view (we recommend a takeaway cocktail from Boozery), book a 3-course sunset dinner, or sit down with a cocktail - the views will take your breath away. In our opinion, the best place to watch the sunset in Santorini is the fantastic PK cocktail bar. With a great selection of handcrafted cocktails, full panoramic views of the sunset, amazing music and the friendliest staff - you’ll want to go back every night.
If you’re looking for an affordable sunset bar option in Oia (they’re few and far between), head to Vitrin. It’s actually a cafe and creperie, so if you fancy a sweet treat as the sun sets, even better! But they also have a great selection of coffees, smoothies, milkshakes and alcoholic drinks, with a stunning sunset view.
Speaking of Oia - this is the go-to town to visit in Santorini, the one you’ve seen ALL over Instagram and TikTok. It can get very very crowded, especially in summer, so we wouldn’t particularly recommend staying there, unless you’re in gorgeous accommodation with a view, and planning to stay around your hotel most of the time.
However, Oia is most definitely worth visiting, and you can see all the sights in a day. The windmills, the cliffs, the white buildings and blue domes, paired with a stunning caldera view - it’s hard to imagine how Oia could be any more picturesque.
Many people do just see Oia as a place to go and take pictures, but we found some absolutely lovely shops and viewpoints to relax in. There’s also a great restaurant called Karma where you can taste authentic Greek food, made using only fresh, local ingredients, for very affordable prices too. Plus, amazing wines and vibrant garden area to relax in. Definitely one to stop by when you’re in the area!
If you love a bit of hiking, you can actually walk all the way from Fira to Oia (or vice versa) on a beautiful coastal path. It can take 3-4 hours depending on pace, but the views are incredible. You do pass through Imerovigli, only a 40 minute walk from Fira, so this is a good shortened version if you don’t fancy the full hike!
Close to Imerovigli you can also walk to Skaros Rock - a headland that goes all the way out into the sea, providing even more incredible views of the whole island. There are a lot of stairs, so only attempt it if you’ve got plenty of water with you, especially in the summer!
We could genuinely talk and write about Santorini forever. It may be a victim of over-tourism, and have some pricey areas, maybe even some tourist traps. But this island has so much more to offer than a quick picture for Instagram. Beautiful culture, amazing food and some of the most picturesque skylines you’ll ever see. What more inspiration do you need?
If we've inspired you to visit Santorini - here's some practical information you might appreciate on your trip!
How do I get to Santorini?
Santorini is easy to access by air, as it has its own international airport. There are regular direct flights from several airports in the UK, and flights to and from Athens several times per day. There is a public airport bus that takes you to Fira, or you can pre-book a taxi or airport transfer. You can also access Santorini by ferry from mainland Greece or other Greek islands.
Where should I stay in Santorini?
We stayed in some beautiful apartments called Nostos Apartments Fira which we couldn't recommend more. They were central to Fira and ours even had a rooftop terrace (and Jacuzzi) with a sea view! They had everything you need for a stay on the island, especially if you'd like to have a few takeaway or homemade meals in your accommodation to save on spending money.
We were also lucky enough to eat at Katsaboo restaurant, which is attached to the Calm Collection Hotel & Suites - also in Fira. If you're looking for a relaxing, luxury break where you will meet the friendliest staff, eat incredible food and chill with cocktails or coffees by the pool - this is an amazing place to stay.
If you don't fancy this one, don't worry, there are plenty of other options for accommodation in Santorini. Have a look for something that will suit your group size and budget below:
Do I need a visa to visit Santorini?
Citizens of most countries do not need a visa to visit Greece for a stay of up to 90 days. Read our Schengen Agreement post to find out more details about this rule.
The rules of entering Europe are changing. Take a read of our handy European travel rules post for more information.
What's the currency in Santorini?
The currency of Greece is Euros. You can change money when you arrive or withdraw from ATMs, but be aware of high conversion fees! Some ATMs may charge you to withdraw money, even if your bank doesn't. It's always best to pay in local currency.
We found that almost everywhere takes both cash and card in Santorini.
What languages are spoken in Santorini?
The official language of Santorini is Greek, but English is widely spoken as it is a major tourist destination. It's always polite to learn a few phrases, though!
What's the weather like in Santorini?
Santorini is an island, and therefore can be windy throughout the year. It may be warm in the daytime in spring and autumn, but the temperature drops on an evening so be sure to bring a jacket.
Here's the average high / low temperatures for each season in Santorini:
Spring: 20°C / 14°C
Summer: 29°C / 22°C
Autumn: 23°C / 17°C
Winter: 14°C / 10°C
Always make sure to check the forecast before your trip so you pack the correct clothing. This is the current weather in Santorini:
What's the time zone in Santorini?
Santorini is in the Eastern European Time Zone, usually 2 hours ahead of the UK.
What are the best things to do in Santorini?
We always try and give you a few great recommendations of things to do on our Sightseekr Inspiration posts but there are even more tips, a full list of sightseeing spots and bars and restaurants, plus cutlural information in our Santorini Travel Toolkit. Alternatively, if you're looking for a more detailed, personalised itinerary, check out our MakeTheMost travel planning service.
Or, if you're just looking for an activity to fill another day, have a look for the best activities, excursions and other things to do in Santorini with a local provider like Santo Luxury Escape or on GetYourGuide.
