Santorini Holidays

The path from Fira to Oia follows the top of the caldera for around ten kilometres. It passes through Firostefani and Imerovigli, with the sea and volcanic islands rarely out of sight. There are steep, exposed stretches too, and Skaros Rock is an easy detour to add along the way.

Out on Nea Kameni, Santorini suddenly looks very different. The ground is dark and bare, with a walking trail leading across the volcanic landscape towards the crater. Boat trips often carry on to Palea Kameni afterwards, where there is a chance to swim near the warm springs.

Sailing beneath Santorini’s cliffs shows just how high the villages sit above the water. Boats and catamarans head out from Ammoudi, Athinios and other points around the island, usually breaking up the trip with swimming stops. Later departures stay out for sunset across the caldera.

Kayaking works especially well around the quieter stretches of Santorini’s southern coast. From the water, it is possible to paddle past small coves, volcanic rock and sea caves without the distance that comes with a larger boat trip. Sunset outings are available too.

Below the surface, Santorini’s volcanic landscape continues in the form of lava rock, reefs and underwater formations. Dive trips run at different points around the island and caldera, including the Ammoudi area, with some sites also featuring wrecks.

Horse riding takes things away from the busy village streets. Routes differ, but rides can cross open countryside, inland tracks and stretches of volcanic coastline. It is a quieter way to see parts of Santorini that are easily missed when travelling everywhere by road.

Perissa and Perivolos are the obvious places to look for water sports, thanks to their long beachfronts and easy access to operators. A few hours on the water can be mixed with swimming, lunch or drinks along the shore, without needing to plan an entire day around it.

Beyond the tavernas at Ammoudi Bay, rocky swimming spots attract visitors when conditions are calm. The shoreline is uneven and sea conditions can change quickly, so follow local advice and never jump or dive into unfamiliar water.

Akrotiri gives a remarkable glimpse of Santorini long before the whitewashed villages appeared. The Bronze Age town had multi-storey houses, frescoes, pottery and an organised drainage system. Layers of volcanic ash preserved much of it, leaving an unusually detailed record of everyday life.

The eruption that changed Santorini took place during the second millennium BC. It buried Akrotiri beneath ash and reshaped the island on a huge scale, helping form the caldera seen today. Its effects were felt far beyond Santorini, across parts of the Aegean.

Life returned to Santorini long after the Bronze Age eruption. Dorian settlers established Ancient Thera high on Mesa Vouno in the eighth century BC. Over time, the settlement gained sanctuaries, an agora and public buildings, with later Hellenistic, Roman and early Christian additions.

Santorini’s medieval history can still be picked out in its fortified villages. Skaros, near Imerovigli, once served as an important stronghold, while Pyrgos grew behind defensive walls and twisting lanes. These remains tell of a period when protection from raids shaped where people lived.

The earthquake of 1956 left a visible mark on Santorini. Buildings were badly damaged in Fira, Pyrgos and Oia, and large-scale rebuilding followed. That is why older churches, houses and village streets often sit alongside structures reconstructed during the twentieth century.

The story of Atlantis has followed Santorini for years, largely because of the massive eruption and the advanced settlement uncovered at Akrotiri. It makes an interesting connection, but it remains a theory. No archaeological evidence has proved that Santorini was Plato’s lost civilisation.

Akrotiri is one of Santorini’s most important archaeological sites, but it is not a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Archaeological Site of Akrotiri was nominated for World Heritage status in 1989, but UNESCO deferred the nomination and recommended consideration of a broader nomination covering Santorini. As of 2026, neither Akrotiri nor Santorini is inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Santorini makes more sense once you notice how much of its architecture responds to the landscape. Many houses are built into the volcanic rock, with thick walls, small windows and curved roofs. The whitewashed walls and blue domes came later to define the island’s familiar look.

Vineyards here look different from those elsewhere in Greece. Santorini’s vines grow close to the ground, woven into basket-shaped kouloura to protect the grapes from strong winds. Assyrtiko dominates, and places such as Santo Wines and Venetsanos are good stops for tasting it locally.

Pyrgos is best taken slowly. Its lanes wind uphill between old houses, churches and the remains of a fortified settlement, with views opening up as the village climbs. Megalochori feels different again, shaped by the wine trade and still dotted with old merchants’ houses and bell towers.

A few hours in Santorini’s museums puts much of what is seen around the island into context. Fira holds important prehistoric collections, Oia has a museum devoted to its maritime past, and Vlychada’s old tomato factory tells a surprisingly interesting story about local farming and industry.

Churches are part of everyday Santorini rather than simply landmarks for photographs. Some sit quietly between village houses, while others occupy spectacular viewpoints. Panagia Platsani in Oia, the Three Bells of Fira and the Monastery of Profitis Ilias are among the most memorable.

The island’s food reflects what could actually survive in Santorini’s dry volcanic soil. Tomatoes, local produce and wine turn up repeatedly in traditional cooking. Cooking classes and winery meals are useful for understanding those flavours properly, especially when recipes are explained rather than simply served.

Fira has the island’s liveliest nights, especially once the dinner crowds begin to thin out. Koo Club and Enigma Club are long-running names for dancing, while Tango is better for cocktails, music and caldera views. Everything sits close enough to wander between places.

A sunset drink in Fira is hard to skip. PK Cocktail Bar has a front-row position above the caldera, so the view does much of the work. Around it, smaller terraces and bars offer somewhere to settle in with a drink as evening arrives.

Evenings around Kamari and Perissa tend to stay fairly laid-back. There are beach bars, restaurants and places playing music along the black-sand coast, but the mood is more about a few drinks by the water than staying out until the early hours.

Some nights call for something other than another bar. Open Air Cinema Kamari has been showing films since 1987, in a leafy outdoor setting with a bar and relaxed seating. Films are shown in English with Greek subtitles, alongside occasional performances and cultural events.

The Greek Wedding Show is much more than sitting quietly in a theatre. Set around a Greek wedding celebration, it mixes acting, live music and dancing with local appetisers and wine. Guests are encouraged to join in, right down to the traditional plate breaking.

Down below Oia, Ammoudi Bay has a completely different pace. Seafood tavernas sit beside the little harbour, backed by deep red cliffs and open sea. Around sunset, it is a good place to stay over dinner rather than rush back up into the village.

Pyrgos is one of the most memorable places to spend Easter in Santorini. On Good Friday, thousands of small lights are placed across the hillside village, while a religious procession moves through its narrow streets. Easter dates change each year, usually falling in spring.

Every 6 August, churches in Pyrgos, Akrotiri and Fira mark the Transfiguration of Christ. Services and village gatherings form the heart of the day, giving visitors a chance to see a side of Santorini that feels far removed from its busy viewpoints and beaches.

15 August is one of the biggest religious dates in Greece, and Santorini joins in fully. Celebrations take place across the island, with Panagia Episkopi hosting one of the best-known gatherings. Traditional food and local wine are often shared after the church service.

Held on the third Saturday of September, Ifestia turns Santorini’s volcano into the backdrop for a huge fireworks display. The show is designed to echo a volcanic eruption, with bursts of red, orange and gold lighting up the caldera after dark.

The International Music Festival comes to Fira in September, bringing musicians from Greece and abroad to the island. Performances run over several days, offering a quieter alternative to Santorini’s beach bars and sunset crowds.