After a few days in Athens, we hopped on a flight to Santorini for the second half of our Greece trip. Rather than staying in Oia (ee-yah), where it seems most people tend to stay due to the famous blue domes, we chose the capital city of Fira (feer-ah) instead.

Santorini Fun Facts

• The island has had many names. While most people call it Santorini, its official name is actually Thera. It was also previously known as Strongoli, “of round shape”, before a volcanic eruption altered the shape of the island.
• Speaking of the volcano, while its currently dormant it is still active. It has erupted over 100 times in the past, but the last one occurred in 1950. You can schedule boat tours to visit the volcano and hot springs.
• Like many parts of Greece, the sewer infrastructure in Santorini is much older than what we have in the US. Because of that, you can’t flush any paper down the toilet. Everything has to go in the trash can instead.
• Some people believe that the mythical lost city of Atlantis was located on Santorini. There’s even an interactive museum on the island called the “Lost Atlantis Experience”.

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Getting Around

You have two options to get to Santorini: by ferry or plane. Many people go the ferry route, but that takes hours. Due to our limited time on the island (and my mom’s tendency to get seasick) we opted to take a quick 45 minute flight instead. The ferry from Athens to Santorini takes anywhere from 5 to 8 hours, and cost between €50 – €100+/per person (2025). This is all dependent on the ferry you take, the time of year, the weather on that particular day, etc. On the other hand, our Sky Express flights were €180/per person round trip. Personally, I’d rather pay extra to save 4+ hours each way. We went in the shoulder season (early October), so I’d assume it’d be even more expensive in the height of the summer.

Private Transportation to/from the Airport

Prior to our trip, we set up a private shuttle to and from the airport through our hotel. When you arrive at your destination, be prepared to pay the driver in cash. Our ride cost €30 each way. Compared to the bus it was a bit pricey, but it was worth it not having to drag our bags to and from the bus stop! If your hotel doesn’t have their own shuttle service you can also book a transfer yourself.

Santorini Bus System

Santorini’s entire public bus system is run by KTEL. Fira is the main bus hub for the island, with every route beginning and ending there. There are buses and people everywhere at the station and it can be a bit chaotic. More than once I thought a person or another bus was going to be hit, but those bus drivers really know what they’re doing! The buses reminded me of the private charter buses used for school field trips, and weren’t at all what I was expecting for a public bus system. Tickets are cash-only and you pay once you’re aboard the bus. You’ll find the bus schedule posted by the information booth, and schedules vary depending on the season.

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Santorini Attractions

Visit Kamari Beach

Before this trip I’d actually never even heard of Kamari Beach. But seeing the black sand was a bucket list item for my mom. I didn’t expect to find a beach made up mostly of black volcanic pebbles, instead of the fine grains of tan sand I saw every summer in Ocean City, Maryland growing up. It was super easy to get to Kamari from the bus station in Fira. The bus ride from Fira only took about 20 minutes, and cost less than €2 each way/per person. It was only about 72°F (22°C) and breezy that day, so not exactly my ideal beach weather. We still enjoyed dipping our feet in the water and doing some shopping without all the usual summer crowds.

Take a Guided Wine Tour

I regretted not going on a wine tour during my trip to Italy, so I made sure to remedy that by booking a (surprise) small group sunset tour with Santorini Wine Adventure on my mom’s birthday. A Mercedes sprinter van picked us up in front of our hotel and took our group of 10 to three different wineries. Our guide Marina was amazing, and I’d highly recommend booking with this tour group. Check out my full overview of our experience here!

Additional Ideas

I’m not sure what made me think spending only two full days in Santorini was going to be enough time. As nice as it was to relax and take things easy compared to our time in Athens, we left so much of the island unexplored. These are a few things that are on my list for next time:

• See the Sunset in Oia – if you’ve seen photos of Santorini at sunset, it’s probably from Oia!
• Take a Cooking Class – this is especially great for foodies who want a break from sightseeing.
• Hike the Fira to Oia Trail – a 6.5 mile hiking trail around the caldera.
• Visit the Akrotiri Archaeological Site – a prehistoric settlement that was buried and preserved by a volcanic eruption.
• Take a Catamaran around the Island – there are options for both private and group tours.

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Looking for more to do in Santorini, Greece?
Check out these exciting options:

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Food and Drinks

If you’re planning to visit anytime after mid-October/early-November, be aware that many restaurants close for the ‘low season’ which generally runs from November through March. Some places will stay open year-round, especially in the town centers like Fira and Oia, but just make sure to check that wherever you want to go is still open!

Where We Ate

Kapari Taverna – 25is Martiou, Fira.
Thanks to our flight from Athens being delayed, we got to our hotel in Fira at a weird time. It was too late for a full lunch, but we still had a few hours until our dinner reservation. Thankfully this small plates restaurant with a cute outdoor seating area was right down the main street and opened just as we got there. We ordered drinks and appetizers, including a bowl of loaded potatoes and Iliokaftes (fried sun dried tomatoes). We also discovered Raki here, a grape-based brandy from Crete also known as Tsikoudia, and loved it! The whole experience was an unexpected treat. Just be aware that they don’t take reservations.

Volkan on the Rocks – next to the Nomikos Cultural Center, Firostefani, Fira.
We had dinner here on our first night in Santorini. The restaurant has beautiful views of the city lights at night and seating built into the cliffside. We made a reservation, but to be honest we didn’t need it as the restaurant was almost empty! I’m assuming when the weather is warmer they are much busier. I didn’t realize I’d need more than just a cardigan so I was freezing the entire time. I mainly recommend this restaurant for the views and to try their namesake Volkan beer, as the food was somewhat average and the service left a little to be desired.

Parea Tavern – Fira 847.
While we hadn’t really needed it most places, we were thankful for our reservation at Parea Tavern because the restaurant was PACKED. I felt terrible walking by the 10+ people waiting, but that’s why I push so hard about making reservations! This spot is located in the heart of downtown Fira and is wildly popular. At last I got my sister’s seal of approval with this restaurant, as she was happy to “finally be eating somewhere authentic”. She ordered a pasta dish, while I had chicken souvlaki and my mom went with moussaka. Everything was delicious, I highly recommend it.

Santorini Brewing Company – Mesa Gonia, on the main road between Kamari and Fira.
On the way back from Kamari Beach, I recommend making a pitstop at Santorini Brewing Company. Lucky for us (and I’m sure by design) there is a bus stop right across the street! Here you’ll find a variety of hazy, unfiltered ales. While they didn’t have anything on draft, they do offer samples of a few different beers. Then you can buy a bottle to drink out on their patio or a pack to take back with you. My personal favorites were the Salty Donkey and the White Donkey, and as someone who doesn’t like IPAs I actually didn’t hate the Crazy Donkey. I wish I could get these back in the states! I did bring home a few t-shirts at least.

Kaliya – Mitropolitou Gavriil 22, Fira.
We started off my mom’s birthday festivities with brunch at Kaliya. I decided it was the perfect day for the drink trifecta: one for hydration, one for energy, and one for fun. My sister combined the energy and fun into one, and got a delicious espresso martini. I’m still shocked that we had the place to ourselves for the entirety of our meal! The restaurant was beautiful and the food was great. I will say that compared to other places we went to on the island, it was a little pricey, so maybe that contributed to the emptiness.

On the List for Next Time

Canava Roussos Winery – Episkopi Gonias.
One of the oldest wineries in Santorini (if not the oldest), family-owned since 1836.

Pelican Kipos – Fira.
A popular all-day cafe and wine bar with outdoor garden seating and a wine cellar in the heart of Fira.

PK Cocktail Bar – Ipapantis, Fira.
Three-level cocktail and wine bar overlooking the caldera, with live music at night.

Iriana – Ipapantis, Fira.
An all-day cafe/lounge/bar with outdoor seating and views of the caldera.

Salt & Pepper – 25is Martiou, Fira.
Traditional Greek restaurant located just down the street from Kapari Taverna.

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Where to Stay

Where you stay on the island of Santorini really depends on your priorities. If you’re looking to be in a central location, you’ll want to be in Fira. Prefer a luxury hotel/experience? Then you’ll probably prefer somewhere in Oia or Imerovigli. If you’re more of a beach person, there are plenty of hotels in Kamari or Perissa as well.

Hotel Highlight: Dream Island Hotel

I don’t rant or rave about hotels all that much, but Dream Island Hotel really surprised me – in a good way! The pool was crystal clear, an overwhelming assortment of breakfast options were brought to our room every morning, and the amazing staff went out of their way to make sure we enjoyed our stay. The hotel is less than a 5 minute walk from the Fira town center, which was convenient when we wanted to go out while also being relaxing/quiet at night. I wish we could have stayed for a few more days or that it had been warm enough for a swim!

10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for somewhere to stay in Fira.

This cutie showed up every morning looking for attention (and food) while we ate our breakfast!

Additional Hotels to Consider

If you’re looking to stay in a different area of the island, these are all highly rated options I’d consider myself for a future trip to Santorini.

Terra Verde Oia by K&K – Oia.
Property with a pool, located near the popular Oia Blue Dome viewpoint and Oia Castle.

The Boathouse Hotel – Kamari.
Beachfront property with a pool and on-site restaurant, bar, and coffee shop.

Theano Cave Suites & Villas – Imerovigli.
Luxury villas with a pool and caldera views, situated between Fira and Oia.

Heyday Luxury Suites – Perissa.
Located near Perissa Beach and Ancient Thira, this beachfront hotel has a pool and private hot tubs.

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What should I check out on my next trip to Santorini? Let me know in the comments!