Santorini Travel Guide

Let's starts with some overall articles to share with you the best places in Santorini: the best beaches, the best villages, the best viewpoints, the best activities...
The island is small but there is lots to do. As a summary, some of my favorite locations in Santorini are:

• The village of Oia - there is a reason for its notoriety, the views and the architecture are spectacular (my tip: visit at sunrise!)
• The beach of Vlichada - its tortuous cliffs sculpted by the elements are so much fun to photograph!
• The village of Emporio - the maze of narrow streets with incredible architecture is worth getting lost in 🙂
• The Catamaran cruise along the South coast - what a day!

Below is a simple map of Santorini that you will see in several of my articles. It helps you located the most famous areas and get oriented to plan your Santorini travels.

To help you plan your trip to Santorini, I have compiled all my favorite locations with practical information and maps:

Inspired by all these amazing places to see in Santorini? Well, now it is time to plan your trip, to decide: when to go, how to get around, how long to stay etc...

How long to visit Santorini?

I think 3 days is a minimum to have a look at the various areas Santorini has to offer and to have the time to do a Catamaran Cruise (I really loved it!)

How to get to Santorini?

There are 3 main options to reach Santorini:

• By Ferry - from another island or from Athens - this is a fantastic way to arrive in Santorini with views of the giant cliffs! Book your ferries
• By plane - There is an airport on the island with frequent flights from Athens and Europe
• By cruise - I really don't recommend it - 1 day in Santorini including the time to get off and on the ship is really to short - it will really be a tiny snapshot

When and how to travel to Santorini

Below are my articles to help you chose when to plan your trip to Santorini and how to get around (including the driving conditions).
As a summary:

• Summer has the hottest weather and warm water if you want to enjoy the beach but it get crowded 
• Shoulder seasons offer good weather with less tourists
• Winter is getting more popular - weather can be cloudy and the wind can be cold, but you can enjoy the best views without crowds pushing you!
• Public bus run throughout the island from Fira
• Renting a car allows you to explore more of the island. Road are overall in good conditions, and all road signs are using latin alphabet

Need to rent a car in Santorini?
My tips:

• Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com - one of the best rated comparison sites!
• Choose the car and company you prefer (prefer a compact car for the narrow village roads)
• Consider their full coverage option - I always take it for peace of mind! 
• Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See my 36 tips about renting a car in Santorini

Where to stay in Santorini?
My tips:

• My favorite white village to stay in: Oia - See best rated accommodations
• For exploring the island by bus: Fira - See best rated accommodation
• For enjoying the beach and nightlife: Kamari - See best rated accommodations
• For cheaper options: Emporio - See best rated accommodations
• For beach time away from the crowds: Vlychada - See few accommodations

Find more inspiration in my article about where to stay in Santorini 

And below I share with you more detailed articles about some of my favorite places on the island - with plenty of pictures of Santorini to help you decide if you want to visit and the plan everything.
They include some of the most beautiful beaches and the most fascinating villages.

General Travel Tips

Practical websites to book your trip