Santorini Travel Guide

*Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Pick for Drinks With A View*

Santo Wines

My top recommendation for grabbing drinks with a view is Santo Winery. They offer winery tours, wine tastings and a restaurant that serves their wines as well as local food. You can book all three separately on their site.

I did a wine tasting and stuck around for some sunset views. Santorini is known for their white wines, and the crisp, refreshing white wine varieties were perfect since the temperatures were so high. I’d definitely recommend adding Santo to your list for the views as well as the wines!

Top Things to Do in Santorini

Sunset in Oia

I had to make sure to catch the infamous Oia sunset during my short trip. I was there during October, which is considered shoulder season in Santorini, and it was packed, like actually hard to find a spot to see packed and get pictures without a ton of other people in them.

Luckily, I had heard this from others and did a ton of research and found the perfect spot from She Wanders Abroad. This article has a ton of detail, but I recommend following her instructions for spot #2. I did it and got some amazing photos despite all the crowds!

Hike From Fira to Oia

After a lot of research I decided my day 2 plan would start with the infamous hike from Fira to Oia. This would give me time to explore the three most popular cities in Santorini; Fira, Imperovigli & Oia.

The hike itself is about six miles, but that doesn’t include wandering through the various towns and exploring, so you’ll end up walking quite a bit more than that.

There’s no real dedicated path, but it’s easy to follow as long as you keep the Caldera at your left the whole time and keep walking you’ll eventually end up in Oia!

A lot of it is flat, easy walking, but there is a hillier, rockier stretch as you get closer to Oia from Imperovigili. It gets hot midday, so make sure you pack water, sunscreen, etc!

Fira is the busiest area of Santorini and is a great place for souvenir shopping & for the late night bar scene. I spent about half an hour exploring the narrow pathways cutting every which way through Fira before heading towards the small village of Firostefani and the famous Three Bells of Fira.

The next town you’ll come to is Imperovigli, another cute town with endless little paths and cutoffs to explore. Imperovigli is a bit more low key than Fira and tends to be more of a go-to spot for honeymooners and couples looking more for views & relaxing than nightlife.

As you continue to make your way North you’ll leave Imperovigli and keep heading toward Oia. This is certainly the longest and most “hiking” part of the journey with the least to see. It’s a decent uphill stretch on a rocky, dirt path. Eventually, you’ll come to Panagia church, and the view back is pretty incredible.

The trail begins to descend into Oia and you’ll soon be hit with those quintessential Santorini views (like the ones below & above) I cannot say enough how impressive this view is. I must have taken 500 pictures on the last stretch of this hike and then another 500 more when finally making it to Oia!

Like the other towns, Oia is filled with wandering paths that lead to a variety of shops and restaurants. There is plenty to explore & tons of places to reward all your hard work with a glass of wine or a cocktail with some of the worlds most famous views! Also, make sure to venture all the way up to the infamous windmill.

Amoudi Bay

If you’re up for more walking (and a LOT of stairs) you can get to the charming Amoudi Bay via a set of stairs in Oia. There are about 300 long, rocky steps winding down the into Amoudi Bay.

This is where you’ll see the donkeys you can ride up and down. I opted to walk (and almost got slightly trampled by a rogue donkey with a terrified child on it!) Gng down wasn’t too bad.

Coming up was much more of struggle after the ten + miles of walking my iPhone told me I’d already done that day. At the bottom there are several delicious restaurants known for the seafood and Aegean views. It’s a great spot to grab lunch after a long day!

Sunset Cruise

Another option I would have considered if I had one more night in Santorini would be to catch the sunset on a catamaran cruise. There are tons of options, but some of the better ones include a full afternoon with a volcano tour, hot springs, open bar & ending off the coast of Oia for those perfect sunset views!

Boat Tour of the Caldera

There are tons of boat tour options for visiting the Caldera. I recommend this half day tour. This tour leaves from Santorini Old Harbor and allows you to visit:

• The Santorini Volcano – wander around the volcano’s ridge
• Palea Kameni – soak in Santorini’s infamous hot springs
• Thirassia – visit a small island, mostly untouched by tourism. Explore the quaint towns, grab lunch and enjoy some stunning views of Santorini!

Taste Santorini’s Infamous Wine

Santorini is very popular for its wine production, particularly white wine. There are a series of wineries you can visit in Santorini, but my top recommendation is Santo Wines!

You can do a tasting, a tour, lunch or just grab drinks. The views are stunning, it’s also a great place to watch the sunset!

Visit the Red & White Beaches

These beaches are meant to be visited for the stunning landscape and views (not the soft sand and swimming) Santorini beaches are rocky and unique.

They’re located a bit farther from Fira and Oia and can be reached via car or by using Santorini’s local bus system. I found the bus system overall very reliable, but it would be easier to visit these spots with a car on your own!

Getting Around Santorini

Despite being a small island , there are quite a few things you’ll likely want to see in Santorini that are not in walking distance of one another. You have a few options for how to get around

Renting a Car in Santorini

Car rentals are common and popular in Santorini. You can certainly go to Santorini without renting a car. It sort of depends on where you want to stay, what you want to see, and if you’re ok with utilizing guided tripe or public transport.

If you’re staying in Oia or Fria and don’t plan to venture too much outside of the main areas I don’t recommend getting a car. If you want freedom to explore the less populated areas of Santorini (like the South coast) a car might be a good option.

A few things to keep in mind:

• The roads are narrow and windy and cliffside, so make sure you’re comfortable.
• Parking can be tough in a lot of areas (i.e. Oia at sunset)
• Make sure your hotel has parking and determine if there is an added cost ahead of time!

Renting an ATV

Similar to renting a car, but much smaller and easier to navigate into smaller parking areas!

Local Busses in Santorini

I used the Santorini busses several times. They get crowded (like taking a bus out of Oia after sunset) but I found them convenient and did not have any issues

Taxis in Santorini

Taxis are available on Santorini, but can be limited, so call and book ahead of time (or have your hotel book one for you)

Welcome Pickups

Schedule a ride ahead of time and don’t worry about n

How Many Days to Spend in Santorini

2-3 Days

I’d take at least 2 days to explore the highlights of Santorini, a 3rd day allows you to explore some of areas outside of Thira, Oia and Imperovigli, or to take a day to relax poolside!

Safety for Solo Female Travel in Santorini

5 out of 5

Santorini is extremely safe. I did not ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe traveling alone or at night. Everyone was insanely friendly and helpful!

Additional advice for solo travel: Unsurprisingly, Santorini is couplies and honeymoon central, so it can feel a little weird or intimidating to go there solo. I wouldn’t worry about it. The views and experience will make up for any potential weirdness you feel!

At night, head to Fira for the bar and restaurant scene, you’re much more likely to meet other groups of people not travelling for a honeymoon or a romantic getaway!