Greece is easily one of my favorite countries. The traditional Greek cuisine, the wine, the history, the people, the sunsets…the list is endless. There are 227 inhabited Greek islands in addition to the mainland. I could basically spend the rest of my life exploring this magnificent country. Most first timer’s guides to Greece are going to include the island of Santorini. It’s an insanely popular destination for a reason. The caldera views are jaw dropping, the buildings whitewashed, and everywhere you turn has you pinching yourself and going “I’m sorry, but is this real life?”. The problem is that because it’s so popular it can be very crowded which can really take away from the experience. Don’t worry I got you. I’m going to share with you some of favorite things to do and general tips to avoid the crowds in this Santorini travel guide.
Is Santorini worth visiting?
But first, is Santorini even worth a visit? You read where I said there are 227 inhabited islands, right? I absolutely think Santorini is worth seeing at least once (I’ve personally been there 3 times) however, please don’t make the mistake of only seeing Santorini on your trip. Each Greek island has its own flair and there is so much more to see in Greece than just Santorini.
How to avoid the crowds in Santorini + make the most out of your trip
Best time to visit Santorini
If you can, avoid the summer months (which is peak season) and go to Greece in the shoulder season aka April – May and September – October. These are definitely the best times to visit Santorini. There will be a lot fewer crowds, better hotel and flight prices, and still pretty good weather. I’ve also been during the winter months which I don’t personally recommend as a lot of restaurants were closed and the weather was a bit unpredictable.
If you can only go in the summer, don’t panic, I got you! Just keep reading for other ways to avoid crowds.
How to get to Santorini
Santorini is a fairly easy island to get to! There are direct flights from Athens (under an hour) or you can take a ferry (5ish hours). I’d recommend using a taxi to get to and from both the ferry port and Santorini airport or you can have your hotel arrange a transfer for you.
After Santorini you can easily take a Ferry to neighboring islands like Ios.
Where to stay in Santorini
I personally recommend staying in Imerovigli. It’s between the bustling towns of Oia and Fira so it’s a great location. It’s also slightly less popular than Oia and Fira so it’s likely to be a little less crowded. To truly avoid the crowds, you could stay in other parts of the island (we stayed in Perissa my first time way back in 2014 as a budget traveler right out of University) however, you just want to ensure you have a rental car or another way to get around.
Tips for a smooth trip (including how to get around Santorini)
Be sure you have enough time to explore the island, especially if you want to get a bit off the beaten path. I would recommend a minimum of 3 days to ensure you have plenty of time to see all the great things this small island has to offer!
There are public buses in Santorini but they are not the most reliable or well connected system to get around the whole island so if you’re planning on visiting more than Fira, Oia, and Imerovigli, you’ll need another option. Taxis can be really sparse. The best way to get around would be either renting a car or getting the number of a reliable taxi you can call at any time.
Don’t eat on the main streets of Oia. While they boast nice views, you’re likely going to be in an overpriced, crowded restaurant and a bit touristy. I’m not saying you can’t have a good experience but if you want more bang for your buck, wander off the main street into some of the side streets and pick a spot there.
If you’re going to a popular spot, ask your hotel to help you make reservations!
If you don’t have cell service, I highly recommend downloading google maps offline before your trip. That way you can at least still pull up the map which is really helpful when something is just a short walk away!
My recommendations for the best things to do in Santorini
Eat at Roka
You HAVE to go to this restaurant. It’s located in Oia but tucked away on one of the side streets so it’s not easy to stumble upon unless you’re looking for it. For me, this adds to the charm of this laidback restaurant. Every morsel of food we had here was delectable and hands down the best restaurant we ate at in Santorini. I recommend everything on their menu but be sure to get their fava beans and try dessert!
Sip incredible wine at Hatzidakis Winery
In my opinion, Santorini boasts some of the best local wines. The volcanic soil lends a unique flavor to their wines and it’s exquisite. Easily some of my favorite wine in the world.
I would hop on a flight tomorrow just for Hatzidakis Winery. The two most well known wineries in Santorini are Santo Wines and Venetsanos Winery. While they’re beautiful wineries, they can get pretty crowded and you can feel how popular they are. Hatzidakis, on the other hand, is completely off the beaten path and is some of the best Greek wine I’ve ever had. You can’t get there by bus so you will need a taxi to get there.
We felt like we got such a personalized experience and learned a lot about the history of the winery and enjoyed our wine tasting. Every time we see a bottle of Hatzidakis in Boston (which isn’t often) we have to get it and we cry a little at the price tag which is easily 5x what you can get it for in Santorini.
Hike between Oia and Fira
Trust me, you’ll want to add this to your Santorini itinerary. If you’re staying in Imerovigli you’re in the middle of this route so what I would recommend is walking Imerovigli to Oia one day and then Imerovigli to Fira the other. I would say the route between Imerovigli to Fira is more of a walk and much easier than Imerovigli to Oia which feels more like a hike. This is hands down one of my favorite things to do in Santorini as there are spectacular views the entire way.
If you do the whole route it can take you anywhere from 2 hours to half a day to complete as you’re going to want to stop and take photos and soak in the views along the way.
Take a sunset cruise
Okay so this isn’t a hidden gem recommendation. I’m sure any travel blog on the internet will likely include this recommendation but I’m assuming you trust my opinion and that’s why you’re here. I will say that I think a sunset boat trip is worth it and is definitely one of the top things to do in Santorini. There are usually a ton of options and they are about half a day which means you spend the first part swimming and exploring different areas of Santorini. Then you get to watch the famous Santorini sunset from the water, all while sipping wine, munching on delicious food, and taking in the amazing views. What’s not to love about that? We actually met another couple on our cruise and we proceeded to spend hours hanging out with them after the boat and it was easily one of the highlights of our trip.
Here are some tips to make sure you have the best cruise experience.
Don’t take one of those massive boats, like the pirate ship boat tour (gross). You want as small of a boat as possible. Ours was a catamaran and was the perfect size for us to be able to meet everyone and have a relaxed vibe.
Watch the sunset every single night
One of my favorite things to do when I’m in Greece is to watch the sunset every single night with some Greek wine in hand, of course. Think about it. When else in your day to day life do you take time to enjoy the sunset? And the sunsets in Santorini are breathtaking. The most popular spot to watch the sunset is at Oia Castle but I personally don’t think it’s worth it. Yes, it’s a beautiful spot but I’ve literally been stuck in a barely moving crowd right afterwards. I think the best places to see the sunset are from the water on a sunset cruise or from anywhere that has fewer people. For example, we watched the sunset from the roof of our hotel in Imerovigli. It’s not hard to find a good spot to watch the sunset!
Explore other towns
Obviously, the most popular towns are Oia, Fira, and Imerovigli but there’s much more to Santorini than just those iconic three. You can check out the black sand beaches of Perissa or stroll the streets of Pyrgos. Again, while you can get to these places by the local buses more or less, your best option will be to rent a car or find a reliable taxi.
Bottom Line
Santorini is popular for a good reason and I do think it is worth a visit but only if you promise me you’ll check out some of the other islands as well! And just because you visit Santorini doesn’t mean you have to fight through crowds. There are plenty of things you can do that are bit more off the beaten path and you can still enjoy everything this stunning island has to offer!
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