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    Santorini (Thira)

    Greece

    Santorini (Thira)

    CityCulture

    Santorini, officially Thira, is the remnant of a volcano in the southern Cyclades. The island wraps in a crescent around a flooded caldera, whose present shape was partly formed by the great Bronze Age eruption.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Greece
    7. Cyclades
    9. Santorini (Thira)
    Santorini, officially Thira, is the remnant of a volcano in the southern Cyclades. The island wraps in a crescent around a flooded caldera, whose present shape was partly formed by the great Bronze Age eruption. The villages of Fira, Imerovigli and Oia sit along the rim of cliffs up to about 300 metres high. Ash from that eruption buried the settlement of Akrotiri, now excavated under a protective roof. The island is very crowded in summer, so travel in April, May or October if you can.

    Sights in Santorini (Thira)

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Fira and the Crater Rim

    1Fira and the Crater Rim

    The main town is located 260 meters above the water on the caldera's clifftop. From the Old Port, 588 steps lead up, next to which is a cable car; the mule ride is controversial due to animal welfare concerns. Worth seeing are the Prehistoric Museum with its findings from Akrotiri and the Orthodox Cathedral. When cruise ships anchor, the main street is hardly passable at midday.
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    Oia

    2Oia

    The village at the northern tip shows the island's familiar image: white cube houses, blue domes and the ruined Agios Nikolaos castle above the caldera rim. At sunset the castle area gets very crowded, so arrive early or find a spot further away. Around 300 steps lead down from the village to Ammoudi Bay with its fish tavernas. Early in the morning the lanes are almost empty.
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    3Three Domes Of Oia Famous Staircase 1

    The Three Domes of Oia, often mentioned in connection with the Anastasi Church, are an iconic motif of Santorini's Cycladic architecture. You'll find them by following a picturesque staircase that winds through the village and leads to one of the most famous viewpoints. From here, you'll enjoy an unparalleled view of the Caldera, the deep blue Aegean Sea, and the characteristic whitewashed houses clinging to the cliffs. This vista embodies the essence of Oia and has become a worldwide symbol of the island's beauty. The traditional blue domes and the organic construction of the cave houses reflect the local architectural style. Our Tip: Visit this spot in the early morning to avoid the crowds and capture the soft light for stunning photos. Alternatively, late afternoon offers spectacular sunset light, but also significantly more visitors. Be sure to respect the privacy of local residents.
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    4Views of Santorini & Caldera

    The Santorini Caldera was formed around 3,600 years ago by a massive volcanic eruption that shaped the island. From the cliffside villages of Fira, Imerovigli, and Oia, you'll enjoy an unrivaled panoramic view. You'll see the deep blue Aegean Sea, the volcanic islands, and the iconic whitewashed houses with blue domes clinging to the steep slopes. This unique blend of geology and Cycladic architecture is Santorini's world-famous hallmark. Our Tip: Visit the viewpoints early morning or late afternoon for ideal photo light and to avoid crowds. The hiking path between Fira and Imerovigli often offers more secluded views.
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    Red Beach near Akrotiri

    5Red Beach near Akrotiri

    Rust-red lava cliffs drop to a beach of dark red pebbles and sand. The footpath over the rocks is repeatedly closed due to rockfall risk, so check the signs. Arriving by boat from Akrotiri is safer, and from the viewpoint above you can see the bay without going down.
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    Pyrgos and the Profitis Ilias Monastery

    6Pyrgos and the Profitis Ilias Monastery

    The inland village was Santorini's capital until 1800 and tiers around a Venetian castle ruin. Above it, on the island's highest point, lies the Profitis Ilias Monastery with views over both coasts. Much quieter than the caldera rim and a good starting point for the surrounding wineries.
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    City walks in Santorini (Thira)

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    The Magic of Oia: Sunset, Art & Cycladic Architecture

    On this walk, experience the incomparable beauty of Oia, one of Santorini's most picturesque villages. Immerse yourself in the unique Cycladic architecture, stroll through charming lanes full of art galleries and enjoy the breathtaking views of the caldera, culminating in one of the most famous sunsets in the world.

    ~2 Std. 30 Min.
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    Stops (6)

    Dining & Drinks

    1

    Oia Oenosart

    The wine restaurant in Oia on Argonauton Street occupies a restored 18th-century *kanava* wine cellar, complete with a garden and rotating art exhibitions. Its menu lists around 250 wines, mainly from Santorini, many by the glass. Greek-Mediterranean cuisine with fish, meat, and vegetarian dishes is also served.
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    2

    Petrosia

    The family restaurant in **Oia** opened in 1948 as a simple tavern and is located on the crater rim with views over the Caldera. The cuisine combines the family's Santorini recipes with Mediterranean influences, with some ingredients sourced from their own production.
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    3

    Flora

    The café-restaurant in Oia boasts a terrace overlooking the Caldera. Mornings feature sandwiches, waffles, and fresh juices; later, light Mediterranean dishes, Santorinian wines, and cocktails. Open from breakfast until late evening.
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    4

    Hungry Donkey

    The snack bar in Oia serves crêpes, omelets, pancakes, and burgers, for takeaway or at simple tables. A spot for a quick meal between the viewpoints.
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    Food & Drink

    On volcanic soil without significant rain, little grows, but that little is special. The island cuisine thrives on three products found only here, and a white wine now sought after worldwide.
    Assyrtiko

    Assyrtiko

    This white grape variety is cultivated in low-lying, basket-shaped formations that shield the grapes from wind and sun, and draw moisture from the fog. The result is a dry, salty-mineral wine with high acidity. Several estates between Pyrgos and Megalochori offer tastings.
    Santorini Fava

    Santorini Fava

    A puree made from chickling vetch, not fava beans, as the name suggests. It is served lukewarm with olive oil, red onions, and capers. The island's variety holds a Protected Designation of Origin.
    Tomato tartlet

    Tomato tartlet

    The small, intensely flavorful Santorini tomatoes are made into Domatokeftedes, oil-fried patties with mint and onions. At the Tomato Industrial Museum in Vlychada, you can trace the history of their cultivation.

    White Aubergine and Capers

    The island's light-skinned eggplant is milder and less bitter than typical varieties; caper leaves are pickled and served as a salad. You'll find both on the menus of ambitious eateries away from the Caldera.

    Dining with and without a view

    A table on the crater rim costs extra, regardless of the cuisine. The better places are often a lane back from the rim or in villages such as Megalochori, Emporio, and Exo Gonia.

    History and culture

    In the Bronze Age, Akrotiri in the south of the island was a prosperous port town with multi-storey houses, drains and wall paintings, closely linked to Minoan Crete. Around 1600 BC a massive volcanic eruption buried the town under ash. Because almost no skeletons have been found, archaeologists assume the inhabitants were able to flee beforehand.Antiquity to modern timesLater, Dorians settled the island; their capital, Ancient Thera, lay on the ridge above Kamari. The name Santorini was given by Venetian rulers after the chapel of Saint Irene. From the Middle Ages to the 19th century, fortified villages (kastelia) grew up in places like Pyrgos and Oia.Building and wineMany houses on the caldera are yposkafa, dug into the soft volcanic rock, which keeps them cool in summer. The Assyrtiko grape grows on pumice soils without irrigation; the vines are woven into low baskets (kouloura) that protect the grapes from the wind. Dried grapes make the sweet Vinsanto. An earthquake in 1956 destroyed large parts of the villages, and many houses were rebuilt afterwards.

    Getting around

    Getting thereThe airport is on the east coast near Kamari, about six kilometres from Fira. Large ferries and catamarans dock at Athinios port, about ten kilometres south of Fira below the cliffs, with buses and taxis to the villages. The Old Port below Fira is used by cruise tenders and excursion boats and is reached by cable car or around 600 steps.BusesKTEL Santorini buses run in a star pattern from the bus station in Fira to Oia, Kamari, Perissa, Akrotiri, Pyrgos, the airport and Athinios. Buy tickets on board. To travel between two villages outside Fira you usually change in Fira; in season the buses are often full.Rental car, taxi and on footA rental car gives you flexibility, but parking in Fira and Oia is difficult. Taxis are few, so book transfers in advance. A walking trail of about ten kilometres runs along the caldera rim between Fira and Oia; allow three to four hours and avoid the midday heat.

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    Nearby

    Lefkes

    Lefkes

    Lefkes is located at about 250 meters, almost in the center of Paros, eleven kilometers from Parikia, and was once the island's main village. The village sprawls amphitheatrically up the slope beneath a pine-covered hill, with Cycladic houses standing alongside neoclassical buildings. Cars are left at the car park on the outskirts; the labyrinth of alleys is only accessible on foot.The main street, Ramnos, leads past the House of Literature, a residence for writers and translators since 2004, up to the Agia Triada church of Parian marble. On the village's edge begins the Byzantine path to Prodromos. A small folklore museum exhibits tools, embroideries, and household items from past village life, and after August 15, Lefkes celebrates its major village festival.
    Cyclades

    Cyclades

    The Cyclades are a group of around 220 islands and islets in the central Aegean Sea; only a fraction are inhabited. White-washed villages, barren hills, and a dense ferry network define the region, uniting very diverse islands, from Mykonos' nightlife to Amorgos' quiet mountain villages.If you want to see more than one island, plan your route along the ferry lines, not the map. Two or three islands on a single route are easily manageable in a week.
    Naxos

    Naxos

    At around 430 square kilometres, Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades and one of the most fertile. Long sandy beaches such as Agios Prokopios and Plaka line the west coast, while the interior has mountains, olive groves and villages of marble and stone. Above the harbour of Chora stands the Portara, the marble gateway of an unfinished temple of Apollo, with the Venetian Kastro above the town. Visit in May, June or September if you can, and plan on a rental car for the mountain villages.
    Paros

    Paros

    Paros is located in the center of the Cyclades and is an important hub in the ferry network, bringing the island significant transit traffic and excellent connectivity. From its quarries came Parian marble, which ancient sculptors like Praxiteles used.Those who stay will find two very different port towns, a quiet mountainous interior with old paved paths in between, and on the east coast, windy bays popular with wind- and kitesurfers.
    Naoussa

    Naoussa

    Naoussa, located on the large northern bay, is Paros' second-largest town and boasts one of the biggest fishing fleets in the Cyclades. Around its small old harbour, fishing boats, tavernas, and bars cluster, some housed in former boathouses. Behind this begins a car-free labyrinth of whitewashed alleyways, small churches, and courtyards brimming with bougainvillea, originally designed to protect against pirates.At the harbour entrance stand the partially submerged remains of Kastelli, a 15th-century Venetian fortification, next to the Chapel of Agios Nikolaos, patron saint of fishermen. Around the bay lie beaches like Kolymbithres, Agios Ioannis, and Monastiri; many can be reached by small boats from the harbour in summer. On August 23rd, the town re-enacts a pirate raid with fireworks and dancing.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash, Pexels. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI