11:30
Timeline
Three days: the buried town and the first sunset on arrival, the caldera path, Oia and wine on the full day, the boat before the flight.
Day 1 · Tue
Akrotiri and the sunset from Skaros Rock
Santoriniland 11:00👟 ≈ 5,000 stepsLand at 11:00, the hotel's transfer, lunch on the caldera. Akrotiri, the Bronze Age town under the ash, at 16:00; Skaros Rock and dinner at sunset.
🗺 The whole day in Google Maps →12:00
12:30
food
Lunch on the caldera in Imerovigli📍 in Google Maps
€30–50 each
The restaurants along the caldera path have terraces over the drop; a proper restaurant with tablecloths. Fava, the yellow split-pea purée of the island, and tomato fritters, made with Santorini's small tomatoes.
14:00
16:00
sightphoto ↑
Akrotiri📍 in Google Maps🎟 book etickets.tap.gr
A Minoan-era town buried by the volcano's eruption about 1600 BC, its two- and three-storey houses preserved under ash and a modern roof.
about €20 eachshaded
A taxi booked ahead, 30 minutes. The whole site is under a roof, cool in the afternoon. Walk the raised path over the streets; the famous frescoes are in Athens and Fira, but the houses, jars and stairs are here. An hour.
19:15
walkphoto ↑
Skaros Rock📍 in Google Maps
A rocky headland jutting into the caldera below Imerovigli, where a Venetian castle stood until earthquakes brought it down.
freeday's highlightsteps down and back
From the church of Agios Georgios a path of steps drops down and out along the ridge, 20 minutes; the climb back is the hard part.
From the rock the whole caldera curves round: Oia to the right, Fira to the left. Come back up before dark; the path has no lights. Sunset is about 20:35.
20:45
food
Dinner in Imerovigli📍 in Google Maps
€50–80 eachbook ahead
A restaurant on the caldera path; book a table on the edge. Grilled fish by weight, lamb kleftiko, and a bottle of Assyrtiko, the island's white.
If you fall behind
- Skip Akrotiri: the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira holds its frescoes and is ten minutes away.
- Watch the sunset from the hotel if the climb back is too much.
Day 2 · Wed
The caldera path to Oia, Ammoudi Bay and wine at Santo at sunset
Santoriniout 07:30👟 ≈ 15,500 stepsOut at 7:30 to walk the caldera path to Oia before the heat, about three hours. Fish at Ammoudi Bay, a rest, and Santo Wines' terrace at sunset.
🗺 The whole day in Google Maps →
07:30
walkphoto ↑
The caldera path from Imerovigli to Oia📍 from 🏁 Oia
The footpath along the rim of the caldera, the sea cliff left by the eruption, from Fira to Oia.
freeday's highlightno shade
Nine kilometres, about three hours with stops, roughly 12,000 steps. The middle part leaves the villages and climbs over the hill of Profitis Ilias of Oia on a rough track; trainers with grip are enough.
There is no shade and no water between Imerovigli and the last stretch: two litres each, hats, sun cream. Start by 7:30 to reach Oia by 10:30.
10:45
walkphoto ↑
Oia📍 in Google Maps
The village at the island's northern tip, of white houses and blue church domes on the cliff, the picture most people have of Santorini.
freecrowded later
The marble main street runs along the rim; the blue domes of Anastasi church are below it. By noon the cruise-ship groups arrive. Coffee, then the ruined castle at the end, where the steps go down to Ammoudi.
12:00
food
Lunch at Ammoudi Bay📍 in Google Maps
The little harbour under Oia's cliff, with fish tavernas at the water's edge.
€40–60 each300 steps
About 300 steps down from the castle, 15 minutes. Tavernas with tables over the water; choose the fish from the ice. After lunch, swim off the rocks round the point towards the islet of Agios Nikolaos, a ten-minute walk on a path.
14:30
15:00
18:30
food
Santo Wines at sunset📍 in Google Maps🎟 book santowines.gr
The cooperative winery of Santorini's growers, on the caldera rim near Pyrgos; its vines are trained low in baskets against the wind.
€25–45 eachbook a table
A taxi, 20 minutes. A tasting flight of six or twelve wines with cheese, on the terrace; book a table for sunset. Vinsanto, the sweet sun-dried wine, ends it. Dinner in Pyrgos village above, then a taxi home.
If you fall behind
- Walk only Imerovigli to Fira and back, an hour, and take the bus to Oia.
- If you are tired, skip Ammoudi and lunch in Oia.
Day 3 · Thu
A catamaran round the caldera, the hot springs and Red Beach
Santoriniout 09:15👟 ≈ 2,500 stepsCheck out, bags at the reception. A catamaran round the caldera with swims at the hot springs and off Red Beach, lunch on board, back by 15:30 for the 19:00 flight.
🗺 The whole day in Google Maps →
09:15
stay
Check out, bags at the reception📍 in Google Maps
Leave the bags and book the transfer to the airport for 16:45. The catamaran company collects you from the hotel.
10:00
tourphoto ↑
Catamaran from Vlychada📍 in Google Maps
A sailing catamaran cruise round the caldera, the flooded crater of the volcano that blew the island apart.
€120–180 eachday's highlightbook ahead
Five-hour morning cruises leave the marina at Vlychada on the south coast, with a minibus from the hotel. Shared boats take 20–50 people; a private one costs several times more. Lunch, wine and towels are included.
Bring swimwear, sun cream and a cover-up; the deck gets windy.
11:30
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Swim at the hot springs📍 in Google Maps
A bay off the volcanic islet of Palea Kameni where warm, iron-red water seeps from the seabed.
included
The boat anchors off the bay and you swim the last 50 metres. The water warms to about 30°C near the shore and stains swimwear orange: wear an old one.
13:00
walkphoto ↑
Red Beach from the sea📍 in Google Maps
A beach under a cliff of red volcanic rock near Akrotiri; the path to it is closed for rockfall, so the boat is the way to see it.
included
The boat stops off the beach for a swim, and lunch is served on board: grilled chicken or fish, Greek salad, white wine.
15:30
If you fall behind
- If the sea is too rough for the boat, swap it for Perissa's black-sand beach and lunch at a beach taverna.
- Ask for the boat's earlier return if the flight is moved.
