If you are looking to travel to a place that will completely take your breath away, go to Santorini, Greece. No amount of postcards or social media videos can prepare you for that incredible, peaceful, and awestruck feeling of setting your eyes on the gorgeous caldera views of Santorini for the first time. We chose Santorini for our honeymoon because it has been at the top of our bucket list, and it was phenomenal.

Is Santorini worth it? 100% Yes. Besides the most beautiful Instagram-worthy views and photo spots, the island has so much to offer in terms of history, culture, food, wine, and hospitality. This Santorini guide is a comprehensive compilation of everything we have researched and experienced, including what to do, see, and eat, as well as a three-day itinerary for Santorini.

Where to Stay in Santorini

The biggest debate that anyone planning a trip to Santorini will have is deciding between Oia and Fira, the two most popular villages.

Oia

Oia is a postcard. When you see all the photos and videos of Santorini it is most likely of the beautiful caldera cliff views and three blue domed churches in Oia. It is the most romantic area where flocks of people wait for the iconic sunset for at Oia castle. Because of this, it is the most expensive part of the island and offers more high-end luxury hotels and restaurants. It is also a quieter, area at night with no nightlife.

1. Aspaki Exclusive Hotel by Art Maisons: We stayed at Aspaki and it was the best decision. It is centrally located in Oia and has the most stunning views of both old and new Oia. The entrance to the hotel is one of the most popular photo spots in Oia. We booked the “Honeymoon Suites with Outdoor Jacuzzi | Blue Domes & Caldera and sea View” and waking up to that view was priceless. The breakfast was phenomenal, probably the best hotel breakfast we ever had especially the yogurt, fruit and the Greek pastries. And, the hospitality was exceptional. They asked us about every part of our itinerary and suggested some really good recommendations to make our time in Santorini even more special.

1. Katikies Santorini: has a beautiful panoramic view of Oia, chic minimal designs in each room, and private jacuzzis perfect for lounging at the hotel. It is highly rated and has won numerous hospitality awards. It is located at the beginning of the main pedestrian road with all the shops and restaurants within walking distance.,
2. Andronis Luxury Suites is a charming boutique hotel that offers breathtaking views, spacious rooms, excellent hospitality, and a range of amenities. This hotel also is the home of Lycabettus, an incredible restaurant on the cliff with stunning views of Oia.

Fira

Fira is the capital of Santorini. It has a lively nightlife, shopping, and a variety of dining options. Fira is situated in the center of the island, making it a convenient home base for exploring the rest of the island. It is also where the cruise ships dock, which could lead to major crowds. It also has a wider range of accommodation options with more budget-friendly hotels.

1. Aigialos: is a beautiful, romantic boutique hotel with 16 rooms. It is a collection of antique villas from the 18th and 19th centuries, each updated and renovated while preserving its traditional architecture. Each room offers a beautiful view of the caldera and is conveniently located within walking distance to the center of Fira.
2. Homeric Poems: is located at the lower edge of Firostefani, about a 15-minute walk from Fira, and looks straight into the volcanic caldera. It has the iconic cave suites with arched ceilings and an infinity pool to looks over the edge of the cliff.
3. Callia Retreat Suites: a hip, stylish, great value hotel with contemporary rooms with private terraces and a hot tub. It also offers a great location near many restaurants, sights, and activities.

How to Get Around Santorini

1. Walking and exploring each village is easy once you are in the village. You will need to find alternative forms of transportation to hop from village to village. Locals do not recommend renting a car or ATVs since Santorini has very narrow, winding roads with little to no stoplights or stop signs. It is really dangerous to drive on roads you are not familiar with, and the locals can drive fairly fast, especially around blind corners.

1. Taxis in Santorini are all referred to as “private transfers” and are run by private companies, which makes them very expensive, with prices ranging from 30 to 80 euros per trip. They are easily available by asking your hotel or restaurant to call one for you. Our hotel arranged for us to have a private driver, Chris, who also ran tours of Santorini. He drove us around the island, and we learned a great deal about the island, Greek culture, and Greek cuisine from him. However, this was expensive and cost approximately 300 euros for the entire day.
2. Buses are the most affordable option, with prices ranging from 2 to 3 euros per trip (cash only) depending on your destination. However, routes are limited, schedules can be delayed, and the lines can be crowded, especially during peak months.

What to Eat & Drink in Santorini

The best part about Santorini is the food. Santorini’s volcanic landscape and unique microclimate plays a crucial role in the impeccable taste and quality of its produce. The tomatoes, vegetables and Greek yogurt, were some of the best we have ever had.

Must Try Restaurants in Santorini

Since we spent the majority of our time in Oia, our food recommendations are all located in Oia.

1. Pitogyros

Pitogyros is hands down the best low-key souvlaki & gyros restaurant in Oia. It has a small terrace where you can sit after adding your name to the waiting list. They do not offer reservations, but the wait goes by really quickly. Their menu is simple, really affordable, and offers a variety of pita wraps, plates with gyro or souvlaki with fries, and also a variety of Greek sides and dips.

2. Lycabettus

If you want a delicious fine dining tasting menu experience with the most beautiful view in Santorini, go to Lycabettus. It is located in the Andronis Luxury Suites in the heart of Oia. The inventive Greek-Mediterranean tasting menu is one of the best tasting menus we have ever had. The service was incredibly friendly, not overly stuffy, and you cannot beat the sunset view from the cliff, with no obstructions from the crowds. Book your reservations online at their website early, especially for the sunset hour.

3. Ammoudi Bay Fish Tavern

Located in Ammoudi Bay, right along the water is the most well-known Ammoudi Fish Tavern. It serves traditional Greek seafood and offers live music during the peak seasonal months. The must-try dishes include grilled octopus and seafood pasta. This is a popular restaurant and needs reservations in advance.

4. Basalt Santorini

Nearby Ammoudi Bay Fish Tavern is a newer, hip, date night spot, Basalt Santorini. It offers more elevated and creative Greek-Mediterranean cuisine, and incredible seaside views. We dined here on our first night in Santorini and had the fresh octopus and sea bass. The fish was so incredibly fresh, deliciously seasoned, and cooked well. Our favorite part was sitting by the water and watching the sunset with the boats floating in the water. We recommend booking on their website early as reservations fill up, try to come to the restaurant a little earlier than sunset and ask for the table near the water.

5. Roka

Roka operates from an old captain’s house built in 1912. It has a cozy, Greek atmosphere, and its menu serves classic, mom-and-pop heartwarming Greek dishes. It’s a local favorite.

Things to Do in Santorini

1. Sunset in Oia

Make time in your itinerary to watch the sunset in Santorini every day that you are there. The incredible cliffs and volcano offer stunning views with the sunset as a perfect backdrop. The most popular spot to watch the sunset in Santorini is at the Oia Castle ruins. People begin to wait at Oia Castle about an hour before sunset to secure a good spot with a view. This area is located at the western tip of Oia. But you can enjoy the sunset anywhere on or around the island. We loved watching the sunset from Lycabettus, in Ammoudi bay, and on the sunset cruise.

2. Wine Tasting

Santorini has a long history of wine dating back frrom ancient Greek and Roman times. Santorini has a unique Mediterranean climate with warm temperature and low rainfall which makes it most famous for white wine particularly Assyrtiko, Athiri and Aidani. The Santorini grape vines are grown low to the ground in a circular basket shape which protects the grapes from the winds and heat of the island. There are multiple wineries you can visit and even do a wine tasting tour across multiple stops.

Santo Wines: We chose to do a wine tasting at Santo Wines, the largest wine producer in Santorini, which offers beautiful views of the volcano. It is located in Pyrgos and was established in 1911. We did a wine tasting flight paired with seafood, and we enjoyed trying the variety of Santorini wines.

Art Space: Art Space was highly recommended by our hotel and our driver/tour guide, Chris. It is a small boutique winery that was built in 1830 and also doubles as an art gallery. A family business runs it and produces wine at a much smaller scale. We did not get a chance to visit Art Space, but it is definitely on our list for next time.

3. Boat Day

You can take a day to sail the Aegean Sea on a catamaran boat to see the entire island from the water. We booked our 6-hour tour on Get Your Guide. The tour included pickup and drop-off to and from Oia, a freshly prepared Greek dinner, an open bar, a 30-minute stop at the hot springs, and other stops for swimming. It ended with a sunset view of Oia overlooking Ammoudi Bay. However, it was a little cloudy the day we went, so our sunset was obstructed by clouds. The entire experience was peaceful and relaxing. We got to meet other fellow travelers, and the food prepared was really good.

4. Sunrise Photoshoot

If you plan to visit Santorini for a special occasion, such as a honeymoon, proposal, anniversary, babymoon, or simply for the memories, consider planning a sunrise photoshoot with a professional photographer. We hired Anna Sulte, who is a local photographer in Santorini, and she was amazing. She was quick and responsive with dates, rates, and scheduling. We also loved how she knew all the best locations in Oia for photos, was efficient with switching poses, and was a lot of fun to work with. She also delivered our final photos quickly, which was a huge plus.

5. Take a Cooking Class

Greek food is one of the best cuisines centered on the freshest vegetables, yogurt, and olive oil. If you want to learn more about the culture, we always recommend learning about the traditional recipes and food. This cooking class at Petra Kouzina is highly rated and highly recommended.

6. Explore Oia

Oia is the second-largest village after Fira, offering incredible views, photo spots, shopping, and a variety of restaurants. Oia has one long main street where most of its restaurants and shops are located. When you walk down the main streets, you may see people lining up randomly for a good photo spot with the famous blue dome churches. At the western end of the main street is Oia Castle, which is most famous for its stunning, breathtaking views at sunset. People camp out about an hour before sunset to secure a good spot.

At Oia Castle, you can also walk down 278 steps to Ammoudi Bay. The steps are made up of uneven cobblestone and sloped steps, which can be a bit challenging. It’ll take about 20 minutes to walk down the steps, but it may be much more challenging to walk back up. To go back up, you can alternatively ride a donkey or catch a taxi (which will cost around 40 euros).

7. Explore Imerovigli

Imerovigli is also home to more blue-domed churches, where you can take more photos without the immense crowds. Imerovigli also offers beautiful pathways with vibrant bougainvilleas draping the white washed walls. We stopped by Imerovigli during our sunrise photoshoot, and it was so beautiful and quiet in the morning. Here, you can also explore Skaros Rock, a historical landmark with a medieval fortress, with panoramic views.

8. Explore Fira

Fira is the capital of Santorini and the largest village in Santorini. It offers more budget-friendly accommodations and a wide range of shops, restaurants, bars, and clubs. Here you can visit the ancient ruins of Akrotiri, the Archaeological Museum of Thera, or the Museum of Prehistoric Thera.

9. Explore Megalochoci

Megalochoci is one of the island’s oldest villages. It has retained most of its traditional charm and architecture. The town is incredibly charming and quieter than the busier Fira and Oia. It is known for its iconic bell tower located in the village square. It also features a unique cave home that dates back to ancient Greek times, where you can visit and see how people lived in the past. However, it is extremely dark and you will need a guide to show you around.

8. Beaches

Santorini has a few beautiful beaches perfect for spending a beach day. We visited Perissa beach which is the popular black sand beach on the southeast end of Santorini. It is unique because of its black volcanic sand, crystal-clear blue waters, sun loungers, umbrellas, and restaurants. Other beaches worth visiting include Red Beach, which requires a steep hike to reach, and Kamari Beach.

9. Shopping

Shopping in Santorini is so cute. Yes, you will come across souvenir shops with classic touristy items, such as magnets, sweatshirts, and keychains. But among those shops are handmade pottery shops, art galleries, unique jewelry boutiques, and other local grocery stores. Just wander around and get lost, and you can find some good finds in Santorini. In the summer months, the shops stay open until late at night, which is convenient if you need to get any jewelry customized or resized, like I did.

10. Hike from Fira to Oia

Santorini has a famous trail that runs from Fira to Oia. It follows the caldera’s edge with incredible views over the island and volcano. It’s approximately 6 miles (10 kilometers) long, with mostly cobblestone or paved roads, and some dirt sections. It should take about 3 hours to complete. However, you may want to start it early in the morning or only go during off-season months when the weather isn’t too hot.