The back story
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The back story
Santorini: the volcano, the caldera and the crowds
Born of a volcano, crowned with white villages: the most romantic island in Greece, and the busiest.
Island guide · Santorini, the Cyclades
Santorini island guide
Santorini’s caldera towns are the most photographed and romantic places in the Aegean, and also very popular and busy. Understanding the volcano, and timing your days, makes all the difference.
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Towns & villages
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The most photographed village in Greece
Oia
Whitewashed houses, blue domes and cave homes spilling down the northern tip of the caldera.
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The busy heart of the island
Fira
The island’s capital on the caldera rim, with shops, terraces, the bus hub and a cable car to the old port.
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Highest point of the caldera
Imerovigli
A quieter caldera village between Fira and Oia, with some of the island’s finest views and hotels.
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Close to Fira, calmer in spirit
Firostefani
A ten-minute walk from Fira along the caldera, but with a far gentler atmosphere.
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The island from above
Pyrgos, Santorini
A beautifully kept hill village wrapped around the site of a Venetian castle, with views over the whole island.
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Among the vineyards
Megalochori
A peaceful wine village of bell towers, old mansions and a tiny shaded square.
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Easy-going and good value
Kamari
A long black-sand beach backed by a pedestrian promenade of cafés and restaurants.
Sights & museums
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The best way to see Santorini
Fira to Oia caldera walk
A cliff-top path of about 10 km through Firostefani and Imerovigli to Oia, with the caldera below all the way.
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A Bronze Age town under ash
Akrotiri
A Minoan-era town preserved by the great eruption about 3,600 years ago, now under a protective roof.
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Plan it, or watch it elsewhere
Sunset in Oia
The world-famous sunset from the castle at Oia, best planned or swapped for a quieter viewpoint.
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Walk on the volcano
Volcano & hot springs boat trip
Boats from Fira’s old port cross to Nea Kameni’s craters and the warm springs of Palea Kameni.
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Volcanic whites
Santorini wineries
Assyrtiko and Vinsanto from vines trained into baskets in the volcanic soil.
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Akrotiri’s treasures
Museum of Prehistoric Thera
The museum in Fira for the finds from Akrotiri: wall paintings, painted pottery and objects from the Bronze Age town.
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Old Santorini in pictures
Megaro Gyzi
A 17th-century mansion in the Catholic quarter of Fira, now a cultural centre with old maps, engravings and photographs of the island.
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The island’s tomato story
Tomato Industrial Museum
A restored tomato-paste factory on the beach at Vlychada, now a museum and the home of the Santorini Arts Factory.
Beaches & beach clubs
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Kilometres of black sand
Perissa & Perivolos
One long volcanic-sand beach on the south-east coast, lined with beach bars and tavernas.
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Cliffs sculpted by the wind
Vlychada
A dark-sand beach below pale cliffs of volcanic ash carved into strange shapes, next to a small marina.
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Best seen from the viewpoint
Red Beach
A small beach under dramatic red cliffs, where access has been restricted because of rockfall risk.
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Fish lunch below Oia
Ammoudi Bay
A tiny harbour of fish tavernas at the foot of Oia, with swimming off the rocks nearby.
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Polished beach day
Seaside by Notos
A smart beach club and restaurant on Perivolos with service to your sunbed.
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Under the ash cliffs
Theros Wave Bar
A beach bar, restaurant and lounge below the sculpted cliffs of Vlychada.
Restaurants & tavernas
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Santorini on a plate
Selene
A pioneer of Santorini fine dining, cooking with the island’s tomatoes, fava, capers and white aubergines.
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Every table faces the caldera
Lycabettus
A cliffside restaurant below Oia with terraces arranged for uninterrupted caldera views.
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The locals’ favourite
Metaxy Mas
A hillside taverna inland, recommended by locals for generous Greek and Cretan-influenced cooking.
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Lunch among the vines
Aroma Avlis
A courtyard restaurant at the Artemis Karamolegos Winery, pairing island produce with the estate’s wines.
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Honest food in Fira
Kapari Taverna
A family-run taverna in Fira with traditional dishes at fair prices.
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Dinner over the caldera
Argo
A long-running caldera-view restaurant in Fira, with Greek and Mediterranean cooking, seafood and sunset tables.
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Rooftop taverna in Fira
Stani
A family taverna on a rooftop in Fira, with traditional Greek dishes and a view across to the caldera.
Cafés & sweet things
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A green courtyard in Fira
Pelican Kipos
A garden café and wine restaurant in the centre of Fira, open from morning coffee to dinner.
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Breakfast and crêpes in Oia
Vitrin
A small café-crêperie in Oia for breakfast, coffee, crêpes, waffles and ice cream, with a view.
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Loukoumades in Oia
Foodini
A casual spot in the heart of Oia for breakfast, street food, loukoumades (Greek doughnuts) and ice cream.
Bars & nightlife
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Candles, stone walls and jazz
Kira Thira
A cosy, long-running bar in Fira with a jazz and world-music soundtrack.
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Fira’s cheerful classic
Two Brothers
A fun, unpretentious bar in Fira since 1983, with dancing and a young crowd.
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Sunset from the top of Pyrgos
Franco’s
A terrace bar at the top of Pyrgos, looking over the whole island to the caldera.
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Wine in an old cellar
Oenosart
A wine bar and gallery in a vaulted canava, one of Santorini’s traditional wine cellars.
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A sunset seat away from the castle crush
Sun Spirit
A café-bar on the caldera edge in Oia, with cocktails, music and a view west to the sunset.
Where to stay: luxury, boutique & value
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Honeymoon classic
Katikies
Tiers of white terraces and infinity pools cascading down the cliff below Oia.
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Quiet cave suites
Mystique
A Luxury Collection hotel in the caldera cliff at the edge of Oia, with cave-style suites.
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The pool on the rim
Grace Hotel Santorini
A sleek hotel high on the cliff at Imerovigli, with an infinity pool facing the caldera.
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Calm among the vines
Vedema
A Luxury Collection resort around an old winery in the wine village of Megalochori.
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Caldera suites in Fira
Athina Luxury Suites
Five-star suites on the caldera cliff in Fira, looking straight across to the volcano.
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Quiet on the rim
Andromeda Villas
Villas and suites with a spa on the caldera at Imerovigli, the highest and calmest part of the rim.
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A design hotel in Fira
Aressana Spa Hotel & Suites
A four-star design hotel with a spa in the centre of Fira, close to the caldera.
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Small and stylish in Imerovigli
Senses Boutique Hotel
A boutique hotel and suites in the village of Imerovigli, about 300 m above the sea.
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Cave rooms on the cliff
Hotel Keti
A small, family-run hotel of cave-style rooms built into the caldera cliff in Fira.
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Sunset in Oia
Esperas
Traditional cave houses turned into suites on the caldera at Oia, facing the sunset.
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Firostefani, a short walk from Fira
Reverie Santorini Hotel
Rooms, studios and suites a few steps from the caldera side in Firostefani, about ten minutes’ walk from Fira.
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Budget base near the rim
Afrodete Hotel
Simple, inexpensive rooms in Firostefani, within walking distance of Fira.
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Beach base in Kamari
Hermes Hotel
A four-star hotel in Kamari, near the black-sand beach and the airport.
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Quiet south near Akrotiri
Hotel Mathios Village
A three-star hotel in Akrotiri village, close to the archaeological site and the southern beaches.
Shopping, markets & jewellers
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Fine jewellery in Fira
Lagoudera Jewellery
An established Santorini jeweller with a shop in Fira, selling gold and silver pieces.
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Bronze and glass sculpture
MATI Art Gallery
A gallery of original bronze and glass sculpture by Yorgos Kypris, with handmade jewellery and guided art tours.
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Handmade glass
Santorini Art Glass
A shop for handmade art glass, from small gifts to larger pieces.
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Greek-made linen
Haris Cotton
Linen and cotton clothing for women and men, designed and made in Greece.
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Take home Assyrtiko and fava
Santorini wine & produce
The best things to bring home: Assyrtiko and Vinsanto from the wineries, fava, capers and sun-dried cherry tomatoes.
Car & scooter hire, getting around
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A car opens up the south
Car & scooter hire on Santorini
International and local firms rent cars, scooters and quads at the airport, the port and in Fira, Kamari and Perissa.
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Local firm, island-wide delivery
Manos Rent
A Santorini car-hire company with a range of small cars and family models.
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Pre-book your transfers
Taxis, transfers & the cable car
Santorini has few taxis for its visitors, so pre-book airport and port transfers; the cable car links Fira with the old port.
Getting there
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Under an hour from Athens
Santorini Airport
The island airport near Kamari, a few kilometres from Fira, with flights from Athens and seasonal flights from Europe.
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Arrive early, leave early
Athinios port
The main ferry port at the foot of the cliffs, with a winding road up to the caldera rim.
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Cheap, busy at sunset
KTEL Santorini buses
Buses from Fira to Oia, Kamari, Perissa, Akrotiri, the airport and Athinios.
Share your Santorini experience
Been to Santorini? Share your tips with other travellers.
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