Top 10 Things to Do in Santorini, Greece

When you visit Santorini, there are many things to include in your activity list. However, due to time constraints and other factors, you cannot get to experience all there is to do in a single visit. Just ensure you do some or all of the Santorini activities in the list below. Have fun!

Watch the sunset from Oia

Everyone who has ever been to Santorini, Greece will know why sunset watching in Oia is always recommended for any tourist. Oia’s sunset has been referred to as the most spectacular sunset by several tourists to the Island. If you are keen about making your Oia sunset watching, you should pack a little picnic and leave early to secure the right spot. Some recommended spots include any of the Byzantine Castle ruins, the Akrotiri Lighthouse or any restaurant overlooking the caldera.

Gaze at the Caldera

Take a boat trip to the volcano

If you are curious about what lies at the middle of Santorini’s Caldera, take a boat ride up the crater 130 meters above. You will find Nea Kameni, a village right in the crater. It is a 20 minutes’ walk on a road lined with sulfur vents. The safest and only means of reaching Nea Kameni is by taking a boat trip.

Swim in the famous Red beach

Next to the Ancient Archaeological site of Akrotiri, lies a beach whose sands are in different shades of red color. Right from the headlands, you can see this beautiful beach sands especially if you are not taking the rocky mountain path to the beachfront.

Go wine tasting

Santorini Greece houses many wineries, and it will not be nice of you to leave the beautiful island without sampling wines made from the best grapes on the island. With the opportunity to mingle with the friendly people, it is an exciting way to experience Santorini Greece away from its Caldera. If you are a wine lover, you can simply go on a tour to see more than one winery and taste varieties.

Take a cable car ride

After taking a walk down the old port of Fira, you can ride the cable car back up. Between the month of May and October, the cable car goes on a 20 minutes ride from 7:30 am to 10:00 pm; it runs much longer in July and August and has a shorter schedule between November and April. A cable car ride costs as low as 2€ for children and 4€ for adults.

At Fira’s port, you will find restaurants where you can enjoy good, traditional meals; souvenir shops where you can buy safe keeps made from the Island’s local products and agencies that can sell tours to the volcano or springs.

Visit the picturesque village of Pyrgos

Also referred to as Pyrgos Kallistis, Pyrgos is a Santorini village situated close to Fira, the Island’s capital. It is located on a hill thereby becoming the highest point in Santorini. Its location lets it provide excellent views of Santorini Greece in all directions. Atop the hill is the ruins of Kasteli, a Venetian castle which was formally the administrative headquarters of the island. The village of Pyrgos features medieval architecture with its narrow, labyrinthine streets, hidden passageways and fortified walls.

Explore the archaeological excavation town of Akrotiri

Akrotiri is the ancient village left behind after the volcanic eruption. It is a well preserved archaeological site. Your visit there will let you see excavated artifacts telling stories about the island; including its history, volcanic eruption and the aftermath.

Go diving

One of the things to do in Santorini Greece is diving. If you can swim, daring, adventurous, aquatic lover, and in Santorini, then, you must dive. Whether from the hilltop at Amoudi bay, or right from the top of the Caldera; take a plunge into the Aegean Sea and experience an exciting view of the underwaters in Santorini. If you are not familiar with the Santorini Waters, ensure you’ve got a dive guide on the ground before taking a plunge.

Taste local fava beans

The Island of Santorini is fertile enough to allow the growth of unique agricultural products with explosive flavors. Among these crops is fava beans. One of the significant things to do in Santorini Greece includes trying out the local fava beans at a traditional tavern or restaurant.

Fava beans are a Santorini traditional peas which are yellow in color. Although exported to other parts of the world, it grows only in Santorini and Anafi, a small island right beside Santorini. It is a delicious Santorini dish. It can be served as a Fava Dip, in a salad or with melted butter and shaved cheese.

Eating fava beans at a local restaurant in Santorini is not a regrettable action since it is super tasty. It will also provide you with an opportunity to mingle with the locals and experience a warm Greek, hospitality.

Visit a Venetian castle

Santorini Island, Greece boasts of five impressive, Venetian Castles. Although they are now in ruins, visiting one of them will let you relive memories of their glory days and also learn about Venetian architecture. You can find one in each of Akrotiri, Oia, Pyrgos, Emporio, and Imerovigli respectively.

Whether you walk on their debris, explore them, photograph them or merely enjoy impressive views of the island, visiting them is one of the things to do in Santorini Greece which is assured of giving you an excellent, unforgettable experience.

When you visit Santorini and want to be involved in all or some of the above-listed activities, you need accommodation. Since Santorini is a popular tourist location, there are hotels and apartments in Santorini. If you are staying in Oia, you should stay in one of Oia Santorini hotels. One of the best hotels in Oia Santorini is the Nikos Villas hotels situated in Oia; you should look forward to seeing the sunset in Oia Santorini right from your suite’s window when you lodge here!