Santorini had lived in my imagination long before I landed on this volcanic island in Greece, and my first glimpse of its whitewashed buildings spilling over the cliffs felt surreal. With a relaxed 3-day itinerary, I immersed myself in Santorini's beautiful scenery-from red sand beaches to colorful sunsets and the sweeping panoramas along the famous Fira to Oia walk.
Santorini was my second stop while island-hopping in Greece. After five days of exploring Rhodes, I flew about one hour west to Santorini Airport (JTR). It was late afternoon, and the daylight faded as we passed over the caldera.
On the ground, I grabbed a taxi to the highly-rated Hotel Kykladonisia, a budget-friendly accommodation in central Fira, the island's capital. The following 3-day itinerary for Santorini is based on my stay in July, the peak season for tourists (and hot weather).
Table of Contents
Day 1
Spend your first morning in Santorini acclimatizing to this unique island environment. Volcanic activity thousands of years ago sculpted the dramatic landscape.
Once a single volcano, a massive eruption around 1600 B.C. caused its center to collapse, forming today's caldera. The explosion shaped the island's cliffs and beaches, layering them with volcanic ash and pumice stone.
Wandering around Fira in the morning is a good place to start. Grab a coffee at one of the local cafes, go window shopping, check out the caldera, and feast on a traditional Greek lunch.
Buy a ticket for an afternoon Santorini boat tour departing from the Old Port. I departed on one at 3:30 p.m., and the first stop was Nea Kameni Island in the caldera's center. There, we disembarked and walked around the black lava rocks of Tholos Naftilos volcano.
In addition to walking around an active volcano, the island offered another excellent vantage point from which to see the whitewashed villages of Santorini.
The remainder of our boat tour was spent visiting hot springs at Palea Kameni (for swimming) and cruising past the island of Therasia toward the northwestern corner of Santorini.
As the sun slowly set over the Aegean Sea, the Amoudi Bay Port, the cliffs above it, and the town of Oia glowed with orange and red light. The tour concluded back at the Old Port in Fira around 8:30 p.m.
Day 2
After spending most of your first day at sea, switch gears and take an inexpensive excursion to the south coast of Santorini by public bus.
Akrotiri
First, stop at the Akrotiri archaeological site, a Bronze Age settlement buried beneath volcanic ash from the eruption around 1600 B.C.
Excavations have uncovered well-preserved buildings, pottery, frescoes, and tools, providing insight into life in the Minoan civilization. Often compared to Pompeii, Akrotiri reveals urban planning, architecture, and evidence of trade connections across the Aegean.
Walking around the excavated settlement, which has a roof over it to prevent erosion, is a fascinating trip back in time and well worth a place on any 3-day itinerary of Santorini.
Red Beach
Red Beach, near Akrotiri on Santorini's southern coast, is known for its distinctive rust-colored sand and cliffs (the result of iron-rich volcanic rock). Its dramatic colors contrast vividly against the clear blue waters, making it one of the island's most visually striking beaches and a popular swimming spot.
Akrotiri is less than a mile east of the parking lot and trailhead for Red Beach; it's about a 15-to-20-minute walk or a five-minute drive. Reaching the stony beach requires a 10-minute hike through the rocks.
Get there early if you want to rent a lounge chair and umbrella for about $27 (€25). Otherwise, it can be a bit uncomfortable. Falling rocks are a real possibility here, so keep that in mind when deciding where to sit.
After visiting Red Beach, stop for lunch at one of the nearby seaside taverns like The Dolphins before catching the bus back to Fira.
White Beach
If you seek seclusion, consider adding White Beach to your 3-day Santorini itinerary. It's located further west along the coast and accessible by a (dicey) dirt road (3.3 miles from Red Beach) and hiking trail or boat. The beach is named for the surrounding white cliffs, not the rocks you'll find on it.
Black Beach
Black Beach is more easily accessible by road and is named after the black volcanic rocks it contains. It's about a 2.4-mile drive west of White Beach.
Fira to Imerovigli Walk
Take a brief siesta at your lodging back in Fira before going for a relaxing walk from the capital to the village of Imerovigli. It's only about one to one-and-a-half miles north, but there are many pretty views and blue-domed churches to photograph.
From the center of Imerovigli, you can get an excellent view of Skaros Rock, a promontory with the ruins of a centuries-old castle. A well-defined trail leads to the base of the peak so visitors can take a closer look. There's no infrastructure installed to help climb the peak, so don't risk a fatal fall.
Sunset in Oia
Catch the public bus from Imerovigli or Fira to the village of Oia at the island's northwestern edge to conclude your second day. Oia is famous for its sunset views, drawing hundreds (probably thousands) of travelers from around the island on any given night.
Crowds gather at the ruins of the Castle of Oia (St. Nikolaos Castle), a 16th-century Renaissance fortress built by the Venetians.
After the sun goes down, try one of the local restaurants for dinner. I splurged on a Mediterranean restaurant, Red Bicycle, which offered a sea view with my meal. Catch the bus back to your accommodation before calling it a night.
Day 3
Fira to Oia Walk
On your third day, consider the easy-to-moderately challenging Fira to Oia Walk, which winds along the western rim of Santorini. This 6-mile (10-kilometer) hike can take a few hours to a full day. Since there's little shade along the way, it's essential to dress comfortably, wear sunscreen, and bring water and snacks.
Plan to do the walk in the early morning or late afternoon, arriving at Oia in time for sunset. This doubles for visitors to Santorini in the hottest months (July and August). Once you're in Oia, catching a bus back to Fira is easy.
If you walked from Fira to Imerovigli on your second day, you have already walked a small portion of this scenic trail.
Visit Oia During the Day
While I didn't do the Fira to Oia hike on my third day in Santorini, I did want to explore Oia during daylight hours. I took the bus mid-afternoon, giving me plenty of time to photograph the Greek churches and windmills (and pools, all of which looked incredibly inviting) before another colorful sunset.
