24 things to do in Santorini

1. Visit the picturesque village of Oia

Oia is located on the northern part of Santorini and it’s the most busiest and famous picturesque village on the island. Most tourists come here to take pictures of the crystal clear water and the pastel-tinted houses on the cliffside,

2. Explore Fira and Firostefani

Fira is the capital of Santorini. It’s a labyrinth-like village with narrow streets lined with shops, restaurants, bars and cafés.

Only a 10 minute walk away from Fira you’ll reach Firostefani, a small quiet village with just a couple of restaurants and cafés located on the highest point of view over the caldera.

3. Visit Imerovigli

Further north you’ll get to the village of Imerovigli. A quiet luxurious area – perfect for couples or newly weds. The village is full of the best hotels that can be found on the island, as well as apartments and fine restaurants. The 5-star luxury boutique hotel that I stayed at (you can read the review here) can be found in this area.

4. Explore Pyrgos

Pyrgos is one of the oldest villages and it’s situated on the highest point of Santorini, providing a spectacular panoramic view over the island. The magnificent sunset is quite different here in comparison to the sunset in the other villages and must be seen!

5. Eat Greek salad

Who doesn’t love a good Greek salad with fresh tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, onion, feta cheese and olives? Greek salad can be found in every corner on the island.

6. Hike at Scaros

In front of Imerovigli there is an enormous rock hill called Scaros. It used to be a part of the land and had a castle build on it. It’s a perfect place to go hiking and it takes about an hour to walk around the hill. There’s a narrow path leading to the church of Theoskepasti which is located in front of Scaros. Here you may take nice photos of the stunning view of the Aegean sea or of the island.

7. Buy souvenirs or stickers

Who doesn’t buy a souvenir or two when traveling? I do. Needless to say, souvenirs can be bought everywhere, the stickers on the other hand is rather hard to find.

8. Admire Santorini’s beautiful sunsets

Santorini is also very famous for its breathtaking sunsets. Some may say that the best spots for watching the sunset is in Oia. I can hand on heart say it’s surely not the only spot. I became speechless when I witnessed the sun go down (for the first time) in Imerovigli. I also watched the sun go down in Oia, but the moment wasn’t as magical as it was in Imerovigli.

9. Dine in at Kapari Wine Restaurant

Taste some of chef George’s mouth watering Mediterranean recipes at the Kapari Wine Restaurant. He is using the finest ingredients to create healthy and appetizing meals. Everything on the menu is home made by the chef himself.

10. Visit Kamari

Kamari is a coastal village on the southeastern part of the island. It’s located approx. 8 km away from Fira. Kamari offers many water sports activites. As well as hotels, restaurants, bars and cafés that can be found right above the sea-level. If you plan to visit this place during fall, expect to have difficulties finding a taxi that will take you back to the other villages on the island. During low season public transportation and taxis are harder to come by here. They are mostly in the busiest areas like Fira, Oia and Imerovigli where most people are staying.

11. Take an evening walk

Going for an evening walk in the narrow streets of Santorini is an experience in itself. All the hotels, domes, restaurants, bars, cafés and other tourist attractions are beautifully lit up in the evening.

12. Rent a car or hire private chauffeur

If you only have a few brief days in Santorini and you won’t be able to see all the main attractions, I suggest that you rent a car or hire a private chauffeur to take you around the island.

13. Watch the sunrise

Watching the sunset is as beautiful as watching the sun rise. Try to wake up early enough one morning to catch a glimple of the rising sun.

14. Eat Greek yoghurt

When you are in Santorini you must order a greek yoghurt with honey and nuts. Not only is it rich on protein, but it’s also a healthy filling snack you can eat any time of the day.

15. Take a dip at red beach

Red beach is one of Santorini’s most famous beaches, well known for it’s red volcanic sand. Once you reach this lovely spot you’ll see the obvious reason why the beach has its name. Chairs and umbrellas are available for rent along the beach.

16. Stay in a cave house

Stay in a cave house and get a feeling of how it is to live like the Greeks. These traditional cave houses are carved inside the volcanic earth overlooking the magnificent caldera.

17. Float in an infinity pool

An infinity pool is definitely the most luxurious water feature a hotel can have. Floating in that infinity pool while overlooking the caldera is an experience you will not forget!

18. Dance the night away

The centre of nightlife in Santorini is located in the capital. The most popular bars and nightclubs can be found on the cliffside. Tango is the most glamorous bar you can find in the village and is only 3 minutes away from the central square of Fira.

19. Have breakfast with a view

Eating breakfast with a stunning view on Santorini is a must!

20. Try at least one traditional greek food

Fava is a traditional Greek dish made of yellow split peas. It is slowly cooked for a period of time to make the peas into a creamy mashed potato like consistency. The purée is flavored with onion and mixed with olive oil. Fava can be served warm or cold, as an appetizer or as a side dish.

21. Have lunch at Avocado

There is a cute little mediterranean cuisine restaurant in Imerovigli called Avocado that has the tastiest blue-shell mussels. They also have the traditional Greek salad on the menu with their own little twist – it is served in a yeast loaf.

22. Get pampered at a spa and wellness centre

Spa Nails Massage Del Mar e’ Sol in Fira is the perfect place to have your “me” time. Get yourself a relaxing massage, a mani-pedi, or other body and facial treatments in a positive and pleasant atmosphere.

23. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Crepe house

Crepe house is a small creperie restaurant located in Fira town. Some of the delicious treats you can find here are sweet crepes with nutella and strawberry, waffles with ice-cream and pancakes.

24. Eat Ice-cream while overlooking the caldera

Treat yourself to a sweet scoop of ice-cream or two in a waffle cone.