First-time Guide to Santorini, Greece (2025)
Dreaming of blue domes and sunset applause? Our 2025 Santorini guide packs best months, cliff hikes, secret tavernas and budget hacks into one lively read. Start here, avoid crowds, toast with volcanic wine.
Your pocket-sized, no-fluff Santorini travel guide — fresh for 2025.
Why Santorini still steals hearts
Some Greek islands whisper. Santorini sings. The crescent caldera holds white houses that tumble down cliffs like diced sugar. Expect contrasts on your first time in Santorini. Champagne-priced suites sit above no-frills cafés. Cruise crowds file past quiet vineyards. A sleeping volcano hides hot springs a short sail away. Three days give you a taste. Five let you breathe and roam without rush.
When to go
May and September offer a sweet spot. The sea feels warm, ferries run often, prices have not peaked. April and October feel cooler yet calm. Santorini weather in October hovers around 22 °C, so pack a light layer for sunset. July and August bring the selfie storm. Book early or brace for queues. Tourist arrivals drop by about forty percent outside high summer.
Getting to the island
How to get to Santorini from Athens
Aegean, SkyExpress and Ryanair fly in fifty minutes. The tiny JTR airport sits five kilometres south of Fira. Ferries from Piraeus take between four and eight hours. Blue Star sails steady and SeaJets skims fast.
Island-hopping makes sense in 2025 because new hybrid ferries cut fuel and noise. Routes to Naxos, Paros and Mykonos run daily from mid-May to early October.
Airport and port transfers
Shared shuttles cost fifteen euro and need patience. Regular taxis charge thirty-five to forty-five euro and vanish after the last flight, so pre-book late arrivals.
Getting around Santorini
Buses fan out from Fira every half hour in summer and hourly in spring or fall. Tickets cost under three euro. They reach Perissa Black Sand Beach, Kamari Beach nightlife and the famous Oia sunset.
Is it worth renting a car in Santorini?
Yes, if you want dawn photos with no one in frame or plan to chase distant wineries.
No, if hairpin roads scare you or you fancy more than one glass of Assyrtiko.
Quads and scooters add fun yet demand confidence on patchy tarmac.
Where to stay
| Village | Vibe | Good for | Heads-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fira | Late nights and buses | Party seekers, day trips | Few quiet corners |
| Oia | Postcard glamour | Honeymoons, luxury cave hotels | High prices and day crowds |
| Imerovigli | Calm cliff views | Romantic sunsets, no hassle | Limited dining |
| Perissa / Kamari | Beach life | Families, swimmers | Twenty minutes by bus to caldera |
Look for affordable hotels with caldera view in Firostefani. Spring rates can sit below one-eighty euro. Couples split between Imerovigli vs Oia for honeymoon must weigh serenity against buzz.
Seven essential things to do
- Watch the Oia sunset
Claim a spot near the castle an hour early. The village claps when the sun sinks. Cheesy yet magical. - Hike the Fira to Oia trail
Ten kilometres of chapels and blue domes. Start at dawn or near dusk for cooler air. - Visit Akrotiri Archaeological Site
A Bronze Age town frozen in ash three-and-a-half millennia ago. The modern roof keeps you shaded. - Sail the caldera
Catamarans circle the volcano, stop at Palea Kameni’s hot springs and time dinner with the sunset. - Hit the beaches
Red Beach glows under rust cliffs. Perissa offers water sports. White Beach needs a boat and a picnic. - Wine tasting in Santorini
Volcanic soil births punchy whites. Reserve a stool at Santo Wines and watch the sky turn pink. - Explore Pyrgos and Emporio
Medieval lanes stay quiet even in peak weeks. Perfect for lazy walks and hidden cafés.
Eating and drinking
Try tomatokeftedes (fried tomato fritters) and creamy fava. For a splurge, book Ambrosia in Oia. For wallet-friendly vibes, pick Metaxi Mas near Exo Gonia and share slow-cooked lamb. Rooftop bars in Fira shake cocktails until two. Tap water is not drinkable, so grab five-litre bottles for fifty cents.
Budget tips for 2025
- Sleep in Karterados or Perissa and bus up for sunsets.
- Eat where Greek voices prevail. Grilled sardines beat fifteen-euro gyros.
- A multi-site ticket saves twenty percent on ruins.
- Sip sunset from Fira’s Franco’s Cafe with a five-euro espresso.
Practical FAQs
Can you drink tap water in Santorini?
No. Stick with bottled or filtered water.
What to wear in Santorini in September?
Linen by day. A light jacket for night breezes. Solid shoes for gravel paths.
Is Santorini safe for solo female travellers?
Yes. Petty theft can happen in crowds, yet violent crime is rare.
How many days in Santorini is enough?
Three give you highlights. Five give you room to loaf and explore.
Does Santorini have an active volcano?
Nea Kameni still vents sulphur. The last major eruption occurred in 1950.
