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Santorini

Greece

Santorini travel guide

White villages on the cliffs, blue domes and the most famous sunsets of the Aegean.

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Photo: TomasEE · CC BY 3.0
Best time to visit
May-June and September-October
Flight from the Gulf
No direct flights from the Gulf - fly to Athens, then 45 min by plane or about 5 h by fast ferry
Airport
Santorini (JTR), about 15 min from Fira
Time difference
Same time as Riyadh, Doha and Kuwait in summer; 1 h behind the UAE
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Language
Greek; English is spoken everywhere
Visa
Schengen visa for most Gulf passports; UAE citizens do not need one for short stays

Santorini is a volcanic island in the Aegean Sea. Its white villages hang on the edge of a giant flooded crater, the caldera, 300 metres above the water. The view from Oia or Imerovigli, with its blue domes and the sun setting over the sea, is one of the most photographed in the world.

Plan three or four nights. Many families choose a hotel or villa with a private pool facing the caldera and take it slowly: a boat trip around the volcano, an afternoon in Oia, a black-sand beach and dinners with a view. Santorini is easy to combine with Athens: it is 45 minutes by plane or about five hours by fast ferry.

The best months are May, June, September and October, when the sea is warm and the island is calmer. July and August are very busy, and from November to March many hotels and restaurants are closed.

Things to do in Santorini

The places our guests love most, with the time you need and how to avoid the queues.

White houses, blue domes and windmills on the cliff. Walk the marble main street, then watch the sunset from the old castle - or from a…

Half day

Sail across the caldera to the volcano of Nea Kameni, walk to the crater, then swim in the warm springs of Palea Kameni. A private catamaran…

Half day or full day

The path on the edge of the caldera links Fira with Firostefani and Imerovigli in about 30 minutes, with views all the way. In Fira, the…

2-3 hours

A Bronze Age town buried by the volcano 3,600 years ago and kept under ash - sometimes called the Pompeii of the Aegean. Covered and shaded,…

1-2 hours

Kamari and Perissa have long black-sand beaches with sunbeds, cafés and calm water. The Red Beach near Akrotiri is famous for its red cliffs - admire…

Half day or full day

A quiet hill village of narrow lanes and churches around an old castle, with views over the whole island. Far fewer visitors than Oia - a…

1-2 hours

Hotels in Santorini

Hotels we know and recommend. Send your dates: we book the best rate for you and confirm on WhatsApp.

Summary

Santorini ★★★★★

Oia, on the caldera

Private pools · Caldera view

Best priceon request
Summary

Santorini ★★★★★

Imerovigli, on the caldera

Infinity pool · Quiet

Best priceon request
Summary

Santorini ★★★★★

Oia, near the village

Villas with pools · Spa

Best priceon request
Summary

Santorini ★★★★★

Fira, near the caldera path

Central Fira · Large pool

Best priceon request
Summary

Santorini ★★★★★

Oia, on the caldera

Private pools · Sunset views

Best priceon request
Summary

Santorini ★★★★★

Imerovigli, on the caldera

Caldera view · Quiet

Best priceon request
Summary

Santorini ★★★★★

Oia, on the caldera

Cave suites · Private pools

Best priceon request
Summary

Santorini

Kamari, east coast

Near the beach · Flat streets

Best priceon request

All hotels in Santorini

Tours, packages and transfers in Santorini

Private day trips with your own driver and guide, complete holidays, and airport transfers at a fixed price.

Where to stay in Santorini

FiraThe main town on the caldera, with shops, restaurants and the cable car down to the old port. Lively, central and practical.
Imerovigli and FirostefaniQuiet villages on the highest part of the caldera, a 15-30 minute walk from Fira, with luxury hotels and wonderful views.
OiaThe famous village of blue domes and windmills at the northern tip, with boutique hotels and the most famous sunset.
Kamari and PerissaBlack-sand beaches on the east coast, with flat streets, bigger hotels with pools and lower prices. Easy for families with small children.

Where to eat: restaurants and cafés

Places we like and recommend to our guests, from local classics to cafés and sweet stops.

Ammoudi Fish Tavern Seafood & veggie Fish and seafood · Ammoudi Bay, below Oia Fresh fish and grilled octopus on tables right by the water in the small bay below Oia. Walk down the steps or… Reviews on Tripadvisor
Seafront tavernas of Kamari Seafood & veggie Fish and Greek dishes · Kamari beach promenade Family tavernas along the beach promenade serve grilled fish, calamari, tomato fritters and fava. Easy and relaxed, with space for children to… Reviews on Tripadvisor
Middle Eastern and Indian restaurants in Fira Halal on request Grills and curries · Fira centre A few small restaurants in Fira serve falafel, grilled chicken and curries, and can prepare halal chicken if you ask the day… Reviews on Tripadvisor
Selene Fine dining, Santorini cuisine · Pyrgos The best-known fine-dining restaurant of the island, cooking with local products such as fava, cherry tomatoes and white aubergine. Book ahead. Reviews on Tripadvisor
Loukoumades and ice cream in Fira Desserts · Fira centre Hot loukoumades (small Greek doughnuts) with honey and cinnamon, and Greek yoghurt ice cream - a sweet stop while walking along the… Reviews on Tripadvisor
Metaxy Mas Cretan and Greek · Exo Gonia, in the hills A much-loved taverna in a small village with a view to the sea, serving Cretan dishes, grilled meat and fresh salads. Book… Reviews on Tripadvisor
To Psaraki Seafood & veggie Fish taverna · Vlychada marina, south coast A fish taverna above the little marina of Vlychada, with fish of the day, grilled octopus and a calm view of the… Reviews on Tripadvisor
Svoronos Bakery Bakery · Fira and other villages A local bakery for breakfast on the go - spinach and cheese pies, fresh bread, cookies and Greek sweets. Reviews on Tripadvisor
Cafés of Pyrgos village Cafés with a view · Pyrgos Small cafés on the terraces of Pyrgos look over the whole island. Come for a Greek frappé or a lemonade in the… Reviews on Tripadvisor

Halal status is what the restaurant tells its guests and can change. When you book with us, we check it again before your trip.

Tips for your trip to Santorini

  1. Book hotels with a caldera view early - for summer, many are full by spring.
  2. Many hotels are built on the cliff with many steps. With elderly parents or a stroller, ask for a room with few steps, or stay at a beach hotel in Kamari.
  3. For the Oia sunset, arrive an hour early or watch it from your hotel or a boat - the village is very crowded at sunset.
  4. Book a private car with driver or rent a car. Buses are full in summer and taxis are few.
  5. Take a boat trip around the caldera to the volcano and the hot springs - it is the best way to see the island.
  6. Bring sandals for the beaches - the black volcanic sand gets very hot.

Questions

How many nights do we need in Santorini?

Three or four nights are ideal - time for a boat trip, Oia, a beach day and relaxing at the hotel. Combine it with three nights in Athens.

How do we get from Athens to Santorini?

By plane in about 45 minutes, or by fast ferry from Piraeus in about five hours. With children and luggage, the flight is easier.

Is Santorini good for children?

Yes, if you choose the hotel well. Cliff hotels have many steps; beach hotels in Kamari and Perissa or villas with private pools are easier for families.

Can you book a villa with a private pool for us?

Yes. Tell us your dates, the number of people and your budget, and we send you a choice of hotels and villas with the transfers and the boat trip.

Read before you go to Santorini

Plan your trip to Santorini with us

Hotel, car with driver, tours and restaurants: tell us your dates and who is travelling. We reply in Arabic or English with a full plan and one price. No payment until you confirm.

  • Reply within a few hours
  • Family rooms and halal restaurants checked for you
  • Support on WhatsApp during the trip
Travel dates
Travellers

Photo credits

Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under their free licences.