Hi everyone!
This is the SantoriniDave guide to the best tours and things to do in Santorini.
There are SO many fabulous activities to enjoy during your visit.
Let’s get right into it.
Our top 3 recommendations no matter how long you stay are #1, hiking the incredible caldera
trail , #2 taking a boat tour of the caldera, and #3 touring Santorini’s unique, traditional
wineries.
If you have MORE time on the island, we suggest visiting the island’s small, charming villages,
the ancient ruins of Akrotiri, nearby Thirassia Island, or some of the volcanic beaches.
There are also ALL kinds of other great activities including cooking classes, walking and photography
tours, kayaking, fishing, museums, and even helicopter rides.
Now everything featured in this video is explained in greater depth in our Santorini Travel Guide
at SantoriniDave.com, PLUS you can find links to our other detailed videos including Where
To Stay, Things to Do, Best Restaurants, Best Hotels, Best Wineries, Boat Tours, and more
in the description below.
And if you like great content from Santorini and across Greece, then make sure to subscribe
to this channel as we are always adding new videos.
The Walking Path A true highlight of visiting Santorini is
the Fira-Oia trail.
The breathtaking path largely follows the rim of the caldera, atop the cliffside through
the main Santorini villages of Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, and Oia.
At 10.5 KM or 6.5 miles, you can expect the walk to take between 3-5 hours depending on
your pace and how frequently you choose to stop.
Some parts of the trail are paved, some parts cobblestone, and some parts dirt so it’s
common to see it referred to both as a hike and also as a walk.
Though the path begins in Fira or Oia and passes through stretches of Firostefani and
Imerovigli that are lined with hotels and commerce, there are long stretches of the
path without access to good shade or drinks, so be sure to bring plenty of water with
you.
In summer, you’ll want to begin your walk early to avoid the hottest parts of the day,
remembering to bring sunscreen and ideally to wear a hat for protection.
You’ll also want to wear comfortable walking shoes, , as flip flops or sandals will not
provide the support you’ll need.
It is possible to limit yourself to only walking some sections, but if you’re up for it,
you’ll find the whole walk a wonderful challenge with breathtaking views of the caldera.
Another option is to add in the side trip around Skaros Rock below Imerovigli, which
will add at least an hour to your overall hike.
The side trip is definitely worth it if you’ve got the energy, as the sweeping views here
are even more panoramic than those from the walking path.
Another option would be to do Skaros Rock on its own one day, separate from or instead
of the longer hike.
Our recommendation is to take a bus or taxi in the morning to the farthest point you plan
to visit and then walk back toward your home base , as finding a bus or taxi in the afternoons
can be tough.
We have an excellent walking trail map which you can view and download at SantoriniDave.com.
(Link below in description + arrows)
Boat Tours Taking a caldera boat tour enables you to
appreciate the island’s geography.
You’ve got a variety of tours to choose from, including whether you want to be out
for an afternoon or prefer the sunset.
Most tours depart from Vlychada Marina on the south side of the island, Ammoudi Bay
up north below Oia, or The Old Port, centrally located below Fira.
The typical itineraries on all boats are similar, taking in the island’s unique geology, the
famous Red Beach, Akrotiri Light House, the volcano hot springs, and other caldera highlights.
There are plenty of opportunities to swim, with fins and snorkels included.
Boat tours usually provide excellent meals and include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic
drinks.
There’s always a bathroom on board, and covered shady spaces to relax.
Tours last between 3-5 hours.
All tours include hotel pickup and drop off which takes away the hassle of getting there
on your own and finding parking or locating your specific vessel.
Wine Tours
Santorini is loaded with excellent wineries, some of the most famous having dramatic caldera
views, but most are located in the countryside and small villages . We recommend joining
an organized tour for a few important reasons.
Professional tours include transportation to and from your hotel.
This is helpful as many wineries are small and difficult to find.
Not worrying about the navigation is safer and easier and enables you to really relax
and enjoy yourself.
Most wineries are concentrated in the central and southern part of the island, and it is
of course possible to visit wineries on your own by bus or rental vehicle, and most all
of them offer daily tours and tastings.
We’ve got a great wineries map and extensive winery information at SantoriniDave.com.
Even if you don’t have the opportunity to visit any wineries, you’ll definitely want
to sample the great Santorini wines when dining in the restaurants, most of which feature
local varieties like crisp, dry, white Assyrtiko - Santorini’s most famous grape - fruity
red Mavrotragano, and sweet, luscious Vinsanto on their menus.
Ammoudi Bay 278 steps below Oia is the majestic Ammoudi
Bay, a small port lined with a handful of terrific seafood restaurants.
Diners sit with the crystal clear waters lapping at their feet.
Throughout the day, boat tours arrive and depart.
It’s a pleasure to relax and enjoy lunch or dinner, snacks or a cocktail between meals.
Continuing on past the restaurants, just a 5 minute walk along a dirt path brings you
to the famous swimming spot where there’s a popular ledge you can jump from.
To reach Ammoudi, you have the choice to walk the famous stairs, which are somewhat steep
but pleasant, or to take a taxi.
Most people choose to walk down then taxi back up or to take a taxi both ways.
To get there by taxi, just ask at your hotel, and your waiter at the restaurant can help
arrange your return.
We do not recommend attempting to drive your rental car to get here.
Just trust us on this one.
The staircase to Ammoudi begins just below the castle in Oia, the most popular sunset
watching perch.
The steps are wide, but the surfaces are uneven at times.
It’s best not to attempt the stairs in fancy shoes, but otherwise, like the Fira to Oia
trail, just take it slow and you should be fine.
Akrotiri An excellent cultural activity on Santorini
is a visit to the ancient ruins of Akrotiri, believed by some to be the inspiration behind
Plato’s Atlantis legend.
Dating back 6000 years, the site’s very well preserved Minoan ruins were covered in
ash from a volcano eruption in the 17th century BC.
This left parts of the ancient city’s infrastructure, homes and art pieces well protected before
they were discovered by archaeologists in the late 60’s.
The area is still an active archaeological site, with a raised boardwalk winding through
the space, and staircases down into sections of the dig.
A high tech roof that opens and closes, allowing for airflow, covers the space, making it a
great place to escape the sun during the hottest parts of the day.
Information here is very well organized and signed, with video monitors and innovative
visual displays throughout.
This is a great place to hire a guide to make the most of a visit, which can be done ahead
of time or at the entrance to the site.
Scheduling a tour ahead of time usually comes with round-trip transportation.
The traditional village of Akrotiri is a short walk away, with, a hilltop castle, and
a handful of cafes and small shops.
The lighthouse at the far western point of the peninsula has one of the most romantic,
unobstructed sunset views across the caldera.
Again, all of the activities featured in this video are explained in far greater depth on
our website SantoriniDave.com and in videos scattered across this YouTube channel.
Villages Away from the caldera, you’ll find the island
also has picturesque, historic villages to explore.
Getting lost in the winding alleyways, enjoying a meal or a cold drink in a shady cafe on
a plaza, and shopping for local souvenirs is a great way to spend a few hours.
Some of our favorites include Pyrgos which is the highest of the small villages , and
especially great at sunset, Megalochori (the largest of the traditional villages),
and emboREEoh for a more local experience, all of which are reachable by bus from Fira.
Beaches While other Greek islands are known for
their perfect white sand, the character of Santorini beaches is more rugged, with coarse,
black, volcanic sand, pebbles, and wind-swept cliffs.
There are a handful of beautiful beaches, but these are not typically the main draw
to Santorini that is common with other Cycladic islands.
Our favorites beaches include: Kamari, Perissa, Perivolos, Red Beach, Monolithos, and Vlychada.
Helicopter A helicopter tour of Santorini is a truly
epic way to see the island, including the volcano, the caldera, and all the villages
perched along the edge of the cliff.
The jaw dropping ride offers both a unique perspective and a major adrenaline rush.
These tours depart from helipads close to the airport, and include hotel transfers.
Some people even choose to transit to or from Santorini from other Cycladic Islands by helicopter,
a costly but unforgettable choice, that is easy, fun, and fast.
Jet Ski On Perissa Beach you can find a variety of
water sports including raft rides, parasailing, kayak, and jet ski rentals.
Here you can take exhilarating jet ski tours of varying lengths.
There are three options for tours: The short tour takes you along the South Coast beaches
and swimming spots.
The medium adds in the volcano and hot spring.
And the longer includes a trip across the entire caldera with visits to Thirassia and
Ammoudi Bay.
There are stops at which you can swim and snorkel, and the tour is accompanied by a
motorboat for both safety and convenience.
Another fun activity is the outdoor cinema in Kamari, where they screen popular current
movies in English with Greek subtitles.
Cocktails, beer, wine, and snacks are available for purchase.
For nightlife, Fira has a vibrant party scene with everything from wine bars to dance clubs,
but the clubs and noise are easily avoided if you’re not interested.
It is possible to get nighttime drinks along the caldera and at a few bars in Imerovigli
and Oia, but for higher energy and more action, Fira is likely your best call.
Cable Car The cable car is primarily designed to bring
cruise ship passengers from the old port, where they are tendered ashore, up into Fira
and back.
There is little to see or experience in the new port beyond a handful of souvenir shops
and waterfront cafes, but the ride itself can be a fun excursion, especially if you
have young children.
Make sure to avoid the main hours when cruise ships passengers are coming and going as there
are long lines not worth the hassle.
You can of course walk the steep staircase one way and take the cable car the other if
you chose.
Thirassia Thirassia is a small island that now forms
the western part of the caldera ring with Santorini, having been originally connected
to Santorini before the ancient volcanic eruption.
It’s an inhabited island with some good local tavernas, and is easily distinguished
in the distance for it’s white zigzagging stairs up the steep hillside, visible from
many parts of the caldera.
It’s worth the few euros boat ride to visit if you’re on Santorini for more than just
a couple of days.
Boats leave several times a day from Ammoudi and the Old Fira port; the earliest sets out
at 8am.
The last boat back to Santorini usually departs Thirassia around 5pm, so make sure to be on
board by the last boat to avoid getting stuck overnight.
There are very few hotels in Thirassia if you get stuck.
Check out our Santorini Travel Guide for more detailed information including Where to stay,
Where to eat, the airport & ferry port, best beaches, wineries, hikes and more.
We’ve also got lots of other great travel guides to Greece and Europe at SantoriniDave.com
and across this YouTube channel.
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Thanks for watching.