Top 10 Places to visit in Santorini

Oia village has some of the most beautiful views and accommodation in Santorini, with historic churches, colorful flowers, and epic ocean views.This is the place you always see in the famous postcard photos of Santorini. There are a lot of things to see and do in Oia, and it probably has more photo spots than any other area of Santorini.The main photo spot you can’t miss is the iconic view at Oia Castle, where you can see pretty much the whole town of Oia, with its whitewashed windmills and tightly packed buildings.This is a very popular sunset spot, but we also liked it during the day when it’s less crowded.The iconic view from Oia Castle in Santorini Another good photo spot in Oia is the view overlooking the iconic three blue domes of Santorini. You can take some amazing pictures of these churches from either side, although you’ll have to wait in line a bit since it’s so popular. Remember to give photographers priority since their clients are paying to get special pictures. When you get done exploring Oia town, walk down to Ammoudi Bay to see the fish tavernas and the Mediterranean Sea up close.

Fira is the capital of Santorini, and it’s also one of the main tourist areas on the island.Like Oia, it has stunning views of the caldera, and lots of luxury accommodation and scenic restaurants to go with it. One of the main photo spots in Fira is the view overlooking the iconic three bells of Fira.However, our favorite spot in town was above the Church of St. John the Theologian. It’s a wonderful old building with an equally amazing background. If you enjoy museums, Fira has two of them to check out — the Archaeological Museum of Thera and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera. Fira is the main bus hub of Santorini, so it’s very easy to reach from anywhere on the island. You can even walk or hike from Fira to Imerovigli (or vice versa) in less than 30 minutes.

The village of Imerovigli is beautiful and underrated. In some ways, it has the best of both worlds in Santorini! It’s arguably just as nice as Oia or Fira, but it’s also less crowded with tourists.If you enjoy hiking, you can do the short trek out to Skaros Rock, which has great views of Imerovigli and the ruins of a Venetian Castle built in 1207 by Marco Sanudo, who was then ruler of all the Cyclades islands. Go a bit further to see the Theoskepasti Church.From Imerovigli, you can even walk or hike to Fira (or vice versa) in less than 30 minutes, so it’s easy to visit Fira and access the main bus station there even if you’re staying in Imerovigli.

Perissa is a laid back area in Santorini with a black sand beach that stretches more than 3 kilometers (2 miles) long, plus it has lots of hotels and restaurants near the beachfront.Together with the Kamari area, Perissa is known for being one of the most affordable areas of Santorini. This is a great place to eat cheap Greek food and shop for souvenirs. We had some amazingly inexpensive gyros here! The beach at Perissa was also one of our favorites on the island of Santorini. For sightseeing, you can take some pictures of the Church of the Holy Cross near the bus station. If you’re interested in hiking in Santorini, you can climb up to the monastery on the side of the mountain near Perissa (Chapel of Panagia Katefiani).It’s also possible to reach the ruins of Ancient Thera by this route, although you’ll be going all the way to the top of the mountain, so remember to bring a hat and water! There is accommodation for every budget in the Perissa area. Even though it has some of the cheapest hotels in Santorini island, there are also luxury options as well.

The quiet little village of Megalochori is one of the most underrated places to visit in Santorini, with quaint narrow streets, Greek cafes, and some great photo ops, including a white bell tower with 6 bells.We would have loved to spend more time in Megalochori! It’s still a hidden gem, and it doesn’t have the crowds or bustle of Oia. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants if you decide to stay longer.You can get to Megalochori easily from the main bus station in Fira, and it’s also possible to drive there. We found plenty of parking space near the town. Where To Stay In Megalochori: Villa Katerina (Midrange) or Ducato Wine Villas (Luxury)Megalochori Village Best Things To Do In Santorini Greece Island Megalochori Village Best Things To Do In Santorini Greece Island

The village of Pyrgos is the former capital of Santorini, and it’s still well worth a visit today. It sits on a foothill of Prophet Elias Mountain, so it’s great to visit on your way up to the mountain!

The main thing people come to see in Pyrgos is the medieval castle, but the cafes and restaurants are also worthwhile, and it’s fun to walk through the charming narrow streets and shop for Greek souvenirs.

We didn’t think Pyrgos was quite as beautiful as Megalochori, but we still really enjoyed it, and it’s easy to reach from Fira by bus, car, or ATV.

The highest peak in Santorini is Mount Prophet Elias, with an elevation of 565 meters (1,900 feet) above sea level. There’s a nice 18th century monastery at the top of the mountain that’s open to the public, and it’s free to enter. Aside from having wonderful panoramic views of Santorini island from above, this mountain is also a great place to watch the sunrise or sunset without the crowds of Oia. You can see everything up here, including the planes taking off and landing at the airport. It’s one of the most underrated things to do in Santorini!The mountain is accessed by driving your vehicle up a winding road for about 10 minutes past Pyrgos. Parking is limited at the top, so come a little early and remember to bring a jacket, as it can be very windy up there!

This is a 19th century lighthouse on the southwest tip of Santorini island. Even though it’s slightly off the beaten path compared to other attractions in Santorini, you can still get there easily with a rental car, and there’s plenty of parking. The Akrotiri Lighthouse was built by a French company in 1892, so it’s actually one of the oldest lighthouses in Greece! Normally you can’t go inside the building, but the views outside are nice and it’s a fun place to watch the boats go by. It’s also an especially popular spot to watch the sunset, but remember to hold onto your hat because it can get very windy here sometimes!

The Red Beach near Akrotiri for surreal, Otherwordly landscapes, where the blue waters and skies contrast against cliffs of red lava rock. The beach is a five-minute hike down to the shore. Here, you can rent an umbrella and a sunbed, or snorkel to explore the underwater formations and fishes. There’s even a nudist-friendly section at the northern end of the beach.

The Akrotiri Museum covers an archaeological site and ancient city in Santorini that was buried in volcanic ash during the 17th century BC. There are well preserved houses, pots, and other artworks to see, and you can learn some interesting facts about the old settlement here.If you love history, this is a great place to visit in Santorini. It’s located near the Red Beach, so you can easily combine the two places in one trip!