Santorini itinerary

1. 1

   Oia - The World's Most Famous Sunset Village

   No list of places to visit in Santorini can start anywhere else. Oia (pronounced ee-ah) sits on the northern tip of the caldera rim, a cascade of whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches, and cave dwellings tumbling down…

   Address

   Oia Main Street, Oia 84702, Santorini

   Nearest transit

   KTEL bus from Fira (25 min, EUR 1.80)

2. 2

   Fira - Santorini's Buzzing Caldera Capital

   Fira (also spelled Thira) is the island's capital and transport hub, perched on the caldera rim roughly halfway along Santorini's western coast. The town is more energetic and less polished than Oia - a tangle of narrow…

   Address

   25is Martiou, Fira 84700, Santorini

   Nearest transit

   Central KTEL bus station

3. 3

   Akrotiri Archaeological Site - A Minoan City Frozen in Ash

   Akrotiri is one of the most important Bronze Age archaeological sites in Europe, often called the 'Pompeii of the Aegean'. This Minoan settlement was buried under metres of volcanic ash during the catastrophic eruption…

   Address

   Akrotiri Archaeological Site, 84700, Santorini

   Nearest transit

   KTEL bus from Fira to Akrotiri (30 min, EUR 2.50)

4. 4

   Red Beach - Santorini's Most Striking Volcanic Cove

   Red Beach (Kokkini Paralia) is a small cove backed by towering red and black volcanic cliffs on Santorini's southern coast, about 800 metres south of the Akrotiri archaeological site. The beach gets its colour from…

   Address

   Kokkini Paralia, Akrotiri, 84700, Santorini

   Nearest transit

   10-min walk from Akrotiri bus stop

5. 5

   Santorini Caldera Boat Tour - Volcano, Hot Springs, and Sunset

   Seeing the Santorini caldera from the water transforms your understanding of the island's geology. Boat tours depart from Fira's Old Port (reached by cable car, donkey, or 588 steps), Ammoudi Bay below Oia, and Vlychada…

   Address

   Fira Old Port, Fira 84700, Santorini

   Nearest transit

   Cable car from Fira (EUR 6) or 588 steps

6. 6

   Fira-to-Oia Caldera Trail - The Best Walk in the Cyclades

   The caldera trail connecting Fira to Oia is a 10 km clifftop path that ranks among the finest coastal walks in all of Greece. The route follows the caldera rim northward through Firostefani, Imerovigli, and along…

   Address

   Caldera Trail trailhead, Nomikos Conference Centre, Fira 84700, Santorini

   Nearest transit

   Starts from Fira centre, ends at Oia bus stop

7. 7

   Amoudi Bay - Fresh Seafood Below the Oia Cliffs

   Amoudi Bay is the tiny fishing port tucked at the base of Oia's cliffs, reached by walking down roughly 300 steps from the village (or by car via a winding road to a small car park). The bay is little more than a…

   Address

   Amoudi Bay, Oia, 84702, Santorini

   Nearest transit

   300 steps down from Oia or by car

8. 8

   Perissa Black Sand Beach - Santorini's Longest Beach Strip

   Perissa is a long, dark volcanic sand beach on Santorini's southeastern coast, backed by the dramatic vertical face of Mesa Vouno mountain (369 m). The beach stretches for several kilometres, merging into Perivolos to…

   Address

   Perissa Beach, 84703, Santorini

   Nearest transit

   KTEL bus from Fira (20 min, EUR 2.50)

9. 9

   Ancient Thera - Hilltop Ruins with Panoramic Views

   Ancient Thera occupies a dramatic ridge on top of Mesa Vouno (369 m), the rocky headland separating Perissa and Kamari beaches. Founded in the 9th century BCE by Dorian settlers, the site spans Greek, Roman, and…

   Address

   Ancient Thera, Mesa Vouno, Kamari 84700, Santorini

   Nearest transit

   Shuttle from Kamari or hike from Perissa (45 min)

10. 10

    Pyrgos Village and Santo Wines - Hilltop Calm and Caldera Wine

    Pyrgos is a fortified medieval village sitting on a conical hill in central Santorini, roughly 7 km south of Fira. It was the island's capital until the 19th century, and its concentric layout - narrow lanes spiralling…

    Address

    Pyrgos village, Pyrgos 84701, Santorini

    Nearest transit

    Limited KTEL bus; taxi EUR 10-12 from Fira

From the trip1 travel guide “Top 10 Places to Visit in Santorini, Greece - 2026 Guide” · trip1.com