Santorini: A First-Timer's Guide Beyond the Sunset
Santorini is the most photographed Greek island in the world — a crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the southern Aegean, formed by the catastrophic 1600 BC Minoan eruption — and the iconic whitewashed villages of Oia and Fira clinging to 300-metre caldera cliffs are possibly the most-Instagrammed travel image of the past decade.
The contemporary visitor experience is anchored by the caldera-cliff hotels (Canaves Oia, Andronis, Mystique Santorini, Grace Hotel Santorini, Cavo Tagoo Santorini) — all dug into the cliff face with private pools and dramatic caldera views. Plus the volcanic-soil wineries producing some of the world's most distinctive white wines (Assyrtiko grape, low-yield, mineral-driven), the 3,500-year-old Akrotiri Bronze Age archaeological site (Greek Pompeii, preserved under volcanic ash), and the red-and-black volcanic-sand beaches of the south. A 4-5 night trip, ideally combined with another Cycladic island (Mykonos, Paros, Naxos) for contrast.
Quick facts
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Where to base yourself
First-time visitor? Pick a neighborhood that matches your vibe and stay there.
Oia
The sunset village
On the northern tip of the caldera-rim — the iconic Santorini village. Whitewashed Cycladic-style cuboid houses, blue-domed churches, the famous sunset point at the ruined Byzantine castle. Properly photographed, properly crowded. Where most luxury caldera-cliff hotels are.
Fira
The capital and central caldera
On the central caldera-rim — the island's capital, with more restaurants and bars than Oia, the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, and the cable car down to the old port (or 587 steps if you walk). Busier and more commercial than Oia.
Imerovigli
Caldera village between Oia and Fira
Between Fira and Oia — the highest point on the caldera rim, with sweeping views in both directions. Quieter than Oia and Fira, with several of the most respected luxury hotels (Grace Hotel Santorini, Astra Suites). The smart luxury alternative to Oia.
Akrotiri
Bronze Age site + south coast
Southern tip of the island — the Akrotiri archaeological site (the Bronze Age Minoan town buried under volcanic ash), plus the Red Beach (with its red volcanic cliffs and dark sand), and a quieter, less touristy small village. Where you go for history.
Pyrgos
Inland traditional village
In the centre of the island — Pyrgos is the historical centre of Santorini before tourism shifted everything to the caldera rim. Hilltop traditional village with a Venetian castle, panoramic island views, and a small but properly serious restaurant scene. The 'real Santorini' on tourist itineraries.
Kamari & Perissa
Black-sand beach towns
On the east coast — Kamari and Perissa are the main beach-resort towns, with long black volcanic-sand beaches, taverns, casual restaurants, and the cheaper accommodation alternative to the caldera-rim hotels.
Where to stay
Canaves Oia's flagship suites — 27 hand-cut cliff-side suites with private plunge pools, the iconic infinity pool overlooking the caldera. The defining luxury Oia stay.
“Leading Hotels of the World.”
27 cliff-side suites in Oia — the iconic infinity pool, Lycabettus Restaurant (one of Santorini's most refined fine-dining experiences).
“Among the most photographed hotel pools in the world.”
Marriott's Luxury Collection in Oia — 22 cliff-side suites carved into the caldera, the famous Charisma restaurant with the wine list of the Aegean.
“Among the most consistent caldera-luxury experiences.”
On the highest point of the caldera rim at Imerovigli — 21 suites with private pools, plus the Champagne Lounge (Aegean's most ambitious by-the-glass champagne programme).
“The defining design-luxury Imerovigli stay.”
The sister property to Cavo Tagoo Mykonos — 34 suites and villas on the caldera at Imerovigli, with the iconic Pirate sushi-and-cocktail bar.
“Properly polished modern luxury.”
Among the original luxury cliff-cave Oia hotels — 32 suites in the iconic blue-shutter-and-whitewash style, multi-level infinity pools, the famous Mikrasia restaurant.
“Properly classical Santorini luxury.”
Adults-only — 12 villas built into the Imerovigli caldera cliff, each with private terrace and pool. Smaller and more intimate than the bigger luxury names.
“Among the smartest mid-luxury Imerovigli choices.”
A boutique hotel in Firostefani (between Fira and Imerovigli) with caldera views — 23 rooms and suites, garden pool.
“The most affordable serious-caldera-view option.”
Where to eat
Established 1986 — Santorini's most respected fine-dining institution, in a stone-arched cellar in the traditional inland village of Pyrgos. Modern interpretations of Santorinian dishes using strictly local ingredients (fava, white aubergine, capers, local cheese).
“Properly serious.”
Selene's wine-bar-and-meze sister restaurant — same kitchen ethos, but in a more accessible meze-and-wine format.
“Properly serious Santorini wines by the glass.”
A traditional Greek family-run taverna in the village of Exo Gonia — properly authentic Greek cooking (grilled lamb, fresh fish, Greek salad with proper tomato), with island-wide reputation.
“Reservation required.”
A traditional Greek restaurant in Oia with one of the best sunset views from a non-hotel restaurant — properly classical Greek cooking, busier than refined.
“Reserve a sunset table weeks ahead in peak season.”
A modern seafood restaurant on the caldera in Imerovigli — fresh fish, properly serious Greek and international wine list.
“Among the most consistent serious dinners outside Oia.”
A long-running iconic Fira restaurant — Greek seafood with proper caldera-edge tables. Booking essential in summer.
“Classical, reliable, properly Santorini.”
Museums worth your time
A 3,600-year-old Bronze Age Minoan town buried under volcanic ash from the 1600 BC eruption — among the most important archaeological sites in the Aegean (often called 'Greek Pompeii'). Two- to three-storey houses with preserved frescoes, plumbing systems, and pottery.
“€12 entry.”
Visit website →Houses the most important finds from Akrotiri — including the iconic 'Boxers' fresco and the Spring fresco.
“The proper companion museum visit to Akrotiri itself.”
Visit website →Covers Santorini's post-Minoan archaeological history — Greek-Roman antiquities including sculptures, ceramics, and the famous Mochlos fish-and-bronze bowls.
Visit website →Santorini's main winery cooperative — properly serious Assyrtiko, with a panoramic terrace overlooking the caldera (the best winery-with-view in Greece).
“Tastings and tours daily; particularly photogenic at sunset.”
Visit website →One of Santorini's most respected boutique wineries, in Oia — Paris Sigalas's properly serious Assyrtiko and Nykteri (oak-aged) programmes.
“Tastings and tours by reservation.”
Visit website →Only-here places
The most-photographed sunset in the world — every evening, thousands of visitors gather on the ruined Byzantine castle and the surrounding terraces of Oia to watch the sun set over the caldera.
“Best from a hotel pool or terrace; the public spots are properly crowded.”
A 10-km clifftop walk along the caldera rim, from Fira through Firostefani and Imerovigli to Oia — possibly the most cinematic walk in the Cyclades. 3-4 hours; do it in the morning to avoid the heat.
“Free.”
The Red Beach (with its dramatic red volcanic cliffs and dark sand) and the smaller White Beach (accessible only by water taxi or scrambling over rocks) — both at the southern tip of the island near Akrotiri.
“The most photographed Santorini beaches.”
The classic Santorini south-island day — Akrotiri archaeological site in the morning, lunch in Akrotiri village, Red Beach in the afternoon.
“A complete south-coast experience.”
The small volcanic islet in the centre of the caldera — still actively volcanic, with hot sulphurous springs at Palea Kameni nearby. Half-day boat tours from the Fira Old Port.
“Properly evocative for a Santorini context.”
Climb the Kasteli (the Venetian castle ruin) at the highest point of Pyrgos village, then drive up to Profitis Ilias (the highest peak on the island at 567m) for the most panoramic view of the entire island, the caldera, and (on clear days) the surrounding Cyclades.
Tours & things to do in Santorini
In partnership with GetYourGuide, Locals Insider recommends these tours and things to do in Santorini.
Nature & quiet
A small islet in the caldera with active hot sulphurous springs — boat tours from Fira Old Port include the swimming stop.
“The sulphur stains your swimwear permanently, so pack accordingly.”
Santorini's two main long beaches — Kamari and Perissa, both with dark volcanic sand. Properly developed with beach clubs, sunbed rentals, casual restaurants.
“The classic Santorini beach day.”
A quieter beach on the south coast — dramatic eroded white volcanic-rock cliffs along the back of the beach. Less crowded than Kamari or Perissa.
“Properly atmospheric.”
Any walking path along the caldera rim — from Fira to Imerovigli to Oia — gives constantly changing perspectives on the caldera.
“Best at sunrise (much quieter than sunset, just as beautiful).”
City festivals
- July (12-15)Megalochari Festival (Imerovigli)
Imerovigli's annual saint's day festival — 12-15 July, with religious processions, traditional Cycladic dances, food and wine. The defining traditional cultural event of high summer.
- August (15 August)Panagia (Assumption Day)
Greece's biggest summer religious festival — major celebrations across the island with processions, fireworks, traditional dance. 15 August is a public holiday.
- July-AugustSantorini Arts Factory
A summer arts festival in Vlychada — exhibitions, dance performances, concerts. Among the more contemporary cultural programming on the island.
- Year-roundWine tasting in Pyrgos and across vineyards
Santorini's wine industry is properly serious year-round — major wineries (Sigalas, Argyros, Vassaltis, Santo Wines, Hatzidakis) run regular tasting and tour programmes. The harvest (vendange) is in mid-August, the best time for serious wine visits.
Travel safety & inclusivity
Santorini is among the safest tourist destinations in the Mediterranean — very low crime, properly polished tourist infrastructure. The major practical caution is heat (regular 35-38°C in July-August) and the substantial crowd pressure in peak season (June-September). Steep caldera-edge paths can be slippery in wet weather. Solo travel of any kind is fine.
Greece legalised same-sex marriage in 2024 (recently — the first Christian Orthodox country in the world to do so). Santorini is among the most LGBTQ+-friendly Greek islands, with a properly visible scene particularly in Fira and Oia. Visible affection in central tourist areas is completely normal.
Safety scores reflect UK FCDO & US State Department travel advisories. LGBTQ+ scores reflect Equaldex and ILGA-Europe rankings. Both refreshed quarterly.
Frequently asked about Santorini
Where do locals eat in Santorini?
Three picks across the spectrum of how Santorinians actually eat on Greece's most-visited island.
For the modern, Michelin-starred pick: Selene, at Pyrgos Kallistis 847 00, Santorini. Chef Ettore Botrini's restaurant in the inland village of Pyrgos (away from the Caldera crowds) — modern Greek cuisine emphasizing Santorini's iconic volcanic-soil ingredients (the famous fava beans, white aubergines, cherry tomatoes, capers). Among Greece's most consistently top-rated restaurants for decades.
For the iconic seafood institution: To Psaraki (Tο Ψαράκι) at Vlychada Harbour, Akrotiri, Santorini 84700. A small family-run seafood taverna directly above the small Vlychada fishing harbour on the south coast (a 20-minute drive from Fira) — daily fresh Aegean catch (sea bass, red mullet, octopus), the iconic Santorini-style fava bean dip, and properly chilled local Assyrtiko white wine. Reservations recommended.
For the affordable, locals' standard: Krinaki, at Finikia, Santorini 847 02. A traditional Greek taverna in the small village of Finikia (just north of Oia) — proper Greek home cooking (moussaka, the iconic Santorini tomato-keftedes fried tomato fritters, slow-cooked goat), terrace tables with mountain-and-sea views. Walk-in friendly. For an Oia-village affordable alternative, Roka on the main pedestrian path is the contemporary modern-Greek casual favourite.
Where can I get the best seafood with champagne or sparkling wine in Santorini?
Santorini's iconic Assyrtiko wines are among the world's most highly-regarded indigenous-grape white wines, and the island also produces serious traditional-method sparkling wines (Argyros, Santo Wines, Gavalas are the references). For Santorini seafood with serious Champagne and Santorini sparkling, the destination is Argo at Fira village waterfront, Santorini 84700.
The most-cited Caldera-edge seafood restaurant in Fira — daily fresh seafood from the Cyclades (sea bass, red mullet, lobster), the iconic shellfish raw bar, and a serious Santorini-and-Champagne wine list with sunset views over the volcano. Reservations essential for the Caldera-view terrace tables.
For a more iconic luxury alternative with the most cinematic Santorini setting, 1800 Restaurant at Main Street, Oia, Santorini 84702 (housed inside a restored 1800s sea captain's mansion) offers serious raw bar and Champagne service in one of the island's most beautifully preserved heritage settings. For the casual Santorini-coastal alternative, the Amoudi Bay tavernas directly below Oia (accessible via the iconic 286-step donkey path or a switchback car road) serve daily-fresh seafood at sunset.
Which historical boutique hotel should I stay at in Santorini?
For an old-world boutique stay in Santorini (in the proper traditional Cycladic-architecture sense), the reference is Katikies Hotel, at Main Street, Oia, Santorini 847 02.
The original 1996 boutique that established the iconic Santorini Caldera-edge whitewashed cave-house aesthetic — 27 rooms across a vertical complex carved into the cliffs of Oia, with the iconic three infinity pools cascading down the cliff face directly facing the Santorini volcano and the Aegean sunset. Among the world's most-photographed hotel exteriors. Set the visual template for the entire Cycladic boutique hotel category that followed.
Pricing from around €1,200/night in peak season (June-September). Bookings via the official site. For a smaller more contemporary alternative, Canaves Oia at Oia, Santorini 84702 (a sister-property cluster with the iconic ultra-luxury whitewashed cave aesthetic across multiple buildings) is the contemporary luxury alternative. For a more affordable Cycladic boutique experience, Mystique at Oia 847 02 is the alternative Caldera-view luxury choice.
What is the LGBTQ+ scene like in Santorini?
Greece passed civil partnerships in 2015 and finally legalised same-sex marriage in 2024 — the first Orthodox-majority country to do so. Santorini is widely LGBTQ+-friendly as a tourist destination, but has very little dedicated LGBTQ+ infrastructure — the island has only 15,000 permanent residents and the LGBTQ+ scene in Greece is concentrated in Athens (3 hours away by ferry) and on the LGBTQ+ destination islands of Mykonos (more famous for its LGBTQ+ scene) and Lesbos.
The neighborhood: There is no defined gay quarter in Santorini. Fira has the busiest nightlife scene with several gay-friendly establishments.
The bars: Santorini has no dedicated LGBTQ+ bars or clubs, but the main Fira nightlife is widely LGBTQ+-friendly. Kira Thira Bar in Fira is the long-running iconic Santorini jazz bar that's LGBTQ+-friendly. For a proper LGBTQ+ night out, most LGBTQ+ visitors to the Cyclades take the 1-2 hour ferry to Mykonos (the iconic Greek gay-tourism island) where the iconic JackieO' Beach Club and Toy Room Mykonos are the destination LGBTQ+ venues.
Pride: Athens Pride in June is the major mainland Greek Pride. Mykonos XLSIOR Festival in late August is one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ summer festivals.
What unique small museum, new 2024-2026 landmark, or 1-3 day itinerary should I plan for Santorini?
The famous-person small museum: Museum of Prehistoric Thera, at Fira, Santorini 84700. The contained museum housing the artifacts excavated from the iconic Akrotiri archaeological site — the Minoan-era Bronze Age city buried by the Theran volcanic eruption around 1620 BCE (the eruption that may have inspired the Atlantis legend). The collection includes the iconic 3,600-year-old wall frescoes (the Spring Fresco with swallows over Theran landscape, the Fisherman fresco, the Boxing Boys), plus the original Theran pottery, gold jewellery, and bronze tools. Closed Tuesdays.
The recent landmark: Akrotiri Archaeological Site at Akrotiri, Santorini 84700 — the Pompeii-of-the-Aegean Minoan Bronze Age city, buried in volcanic ash around 1620 BCE and remarkably preserved including three-storey buildings. The current bioclimatic protective roof structure (opened 2012) covers the entire excavated site and is the most architecturally significant recent development on the island. The on-site walking paths take visitors through the original Bronze Age streets. For the iconic Santorini sunset experience, the village of Oia remains the most-photographed sunset-watching destination in the world.
1-3 day itinerary: Day 1 — Caldera villages (Fira walking tour, Imerovigli, Firostefani — all linked by the iconic Caldera footpath, evening sunset at Oia from one of the rooftop bars). Day 2 — Archaeological day (Akrotiri excavation site, Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira, lunch at Selene in Pyrgos), beach afternoon at Red Beach or Vlychada (the black volcanic-sand beaches). Day 3 — Volcano boat tour (small boat from Athinios harbour to Nea Kameni volcanic island for the active crater walk, then to the hot springs at Palia Kameni, lunch on Thirassia island) or wine tour day (Domaine Sigalas, Santo Wines for the iconic Caldera-view tastings of Assyrtiko and Vinsanto).
Planning more than just Santorini? Our Greece travel guide covers the whole country — weather and currency live, hotels and restaurants across regions, must-visit experiences and where else to go.
Articles in this section are written by the Locals Insider editorial team. Got a Santorini tip we missed? Email us at hello@localsinsider.com — we read every one.
