Santorini holidays: the most beautiful places and tips beyond the tourist crowds

Contents:

• Best time to visit Santorini: holidays outside the peak season

• Really experiencing Oia: staying rather than just passing through

• Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli: taking in the caldera views at a leisurely pace

• Other sights on Santorini away from the tourist crowds

• Special beaches on Santorini: black sand, red rocks and lunar landscapes

• Wine in Santorini: Assyrtiko, Vinsanto and volcanic soils

• Culinary tips: where Santorini really tastes its best

• Where to stay in Santorini away from the tourist crowds?

• Conclusion: Experience Santorini at a more leisurely pace

Best time to visit Santorini: holidays outside the peak season

Santorini is beautiful, but it’s no longer an insider’s tip. Places like Oia and Fira can get very crowded, particularly in July and August. You’ll find the island quieter and more relaxed in May, early June and from late September through to October. The weather is usually pleasantly warm during these months, plenty of places are open, and you can explore the most beautiful spots at a more leisurely pace. Another advantage is that the Meltemi winds are often less strong in the off-season than in the height of summer.

Tip: Keep an eye on cruise ships – check cruise calendars such as CruiseMapper or the Santorini.net Cruise Ship Calendar in advance. There you can see when cruise ships are scheduled to call at Santorini and better time your visits to Oia, Fira or the Caldera. When several ships are in port at the same time, it quickly gets crowded. You should therefore plan visits to popular spots on days when there are fewer ships, or at times of day when many tour groups haven’t arrived yet or have already left.

Experience Oia properly: stay for a while rather than just passing through

Oia – pronounced ‘I-a’ – is the place that many people immediately associate with Santorini: white houses, blue church domes, winding alleyways and the famous view over the caldera. However, it gets very crowded here, especially at sunset. Many visitors come just for that one moment and then head straight on. It can get particularly crowded in the evening at the castle ruins of Oia, one of the best vantage points for the sunset. We therefore recommend staying overnight in Oia itself. That way, you’ll experience the place not just as a photo backdrop, but also in the peaceful morning, in the warm afternoon light and during the atmospheric evening.

Sunrise at the Blue Domes is a special experience. You won’t always be completely alone there – wedding parties with photographers are often already out and about – but the atmosphere is much more relaxed than during peak visiting hours. You should make sure to wear comfortable shoes for walks: Oia consists of lots of steps, steep paths and narrow alleyways. A lovely detour takes you down to Amoudi Bay, Oia’s only direct access to the water. At the small harbour, there are restaurants right by the sea – ideal for dinner with a view of the cliffs, the water and the sunset.

Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli: taking in the views of the caldera at a leisurely pace

Alongside Oia, Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli are among the most beautiful spots on the Caldera. The three villages are situated along the cliffs and can be easily explored on foot. Along the way, new views of the sea, the volcanic islands and the white houses overlooking the Aegean Sea keep opening up.

Fira is the liveliest stop, with restaurants, bars, shops and good transport links to other parts of the island. From here, the Caldera Trail leads via Firostefani and Imerovigli on to Oia. The entire route is around 10 kilometres long and is one of the most beautiful walks on Santorini. Even if you only walk the section as far as Imerovigli, you’ll still enjoy plenty of spectacular views. For a sunset away from the crowds of Oia, the Akrotiri Lighthouse in the south-west of the island is also well worth a visit. Firostefani is quieter and known for its view of the Church of Agios Theodoros with its blue dome. Imerovigli, often referred to as the ‘Balcony of the Aegean’, offers particularly beautiful panoramic views and is well worth a stroll to Skaros Rock.

A handy tip for Fira: take the cable car rather than the donkeys on your way up from the old harbour to the town. It’s comfortable, quick and the more animal-friendly option.

Other sights on Santorini away from the tourist crowds

If you’d like to experience the island at a more leisurely pace, you’ll find fascinating places off the beaten track, rich in history, offering sweeping views and far less hustle and bustle.

A worthwhile excursion takes you to ancient Thera on Mesa Vouno, the rocky ridge between Kamari and Perissa. The ruins of the Greco-Roman city are spectacularly perched high above the sea, combining archaeological wonders with a magnificent view over the coast. Anyone interested in Santorini’s early history should visit the Prehistoric Museum of Thera in Fira. There, you can see original artefacts and wall paintings from Akrotiri – a good complement to the archaeological site in the south of the island. For a sweeping panoramic view, Profitis Ilias, Santorini’s highest point, is well worth a visit. From here, the view stretches across the villages, the caldera and the open sea. It is particularly lovely in the morning or late afternoon, when the island feels more peaceful. An excursion to Thirassia takes you even further away from the hustle and bustle. This small neighbouring island is accessible by boat and reveals a much slower-paced, more unspoilt side of the Cyclades.

Unique beaches on Santorini: black sand, red cliffs and lunar landscapes

Santorini isn’t your typical Greek island with long, light-coloured sandy beaches. That’s precisely what makes the beaches here so special: they’re shaped by volcanic activity, rougher and scenically striking.

Perissa is one of the island’s best-known beaches. This long beach with black lava sand is situated in the south-east of Santorini and is ideal for a relaxing day by the sea. Along the promenade you’ll find plenty of tavernas, cafés and beach bars. Vlychada almost looks like a lunar landscape. The light-coloured, wind-sculpted rock faces in the background give the beach a very special atmosphere. If you’re looking for a quieter beach with stunning scenery, this is the place for you. Red Beach near Akrotiri is one of Santorini’s most famous beaches. The red lava rocks form a striking contrast to the blue sea, making the beach one of the island’s most impressive photo opportunities.

Wine on Santorini: Assyrtiko, Vinsanto and volcanic soils

Santorini is one of the oldest wine-growing regions in the world. The dry climate, strong winds and volcanic soils shape the island’s wines and give them their distinctive character.

Assyrtiko, a fresh, mineral-rich white wine, is typical of Santorini. You should also try Nykteri, a fuller-bodied white wine, and Vinsanto – the sweet dessert wine made from dried grapes, which has been produced on the island for centuries. As you drive around the island, you’ll often see low bushes lining the roads: many of these are grapevines growing close to the ground to protect them from the wind and sun.

For a wine tasting, Santo Wines is well worth a visit, with its large terrace and views over the caldera. Other good places to visit include Estate Argyros, Boutari Winery and Anhydrous Winery. If you’d like to learn more about the history of winegrowing, you can also visit the underground Koutsoyannopoulos Wine Museum.

Culinary tips: Where Santorini really comes into its own

If you want to eat well in Santorini, don’t just look for restaurants with views of the caldera. Often, the island’s best food is to be found in places that are a bit simpler, more local and more relaxed – in small villages, at the fishing harbour or a few steps off the main streets. Our tip: Avoid restaurants with laminated menus and large photos of the dishes. Instead, look for tavernas where people are ordering, chatting and laughing in Greek – that’s often the best guarantee of quality.

For traditional cuisine, Metaxi Mas in Exo Gonia – one of the island’s best-known tavernas – is well worth a visit. In Fira, Parea Tavern is a good choice if you want to eat in a central location but not in one of the expensive restaurants overlooking the caldera. Pyrgos is also lovely: Penelope’s Ouzeri is ideal for meze, tomatokeftedes and a glass of Assyrtiko, whilst Kantouni has a slightly more rustic and convivial atmosphere. For fresh fish and seafood, it’s worth making the trip to Vlychada – particularly to To Psaraki by the small harbour. After a day’s swimming at Kamari’s black sand beach, Captain’s Corner Taverna is a lovely spot for classic Greek dishes such as lamb kleftiko, grilled fish or meze.

Where can you stay on Santorini away from the tourist crowds?

If you want to experience Santorini in a quieter and more authentic way, you don’t have to stay right in Oia or Fira. It’s particularly in the island’s interior and in the south that you’ll find places that feel more relaxed, offer more space to breathe, and are still well-situated for exploring the island.

Pyrgos is ideal for anyone wishing to discover Santorini’s traditional side. The village is perched on a hill, offering beautiful views across the island and delighting visitors with its winding alleyways, small churches and wonderful atmosphere. A stylish accommodation recommendation is Ark in Pyrgos. Megalochori is a particularly charming choice for a peaceful holiday. The village has a village-like feel, is well-kept and pleasantly unhurried – with traditional houses, small squares and tavernas. Here, we recommend Athermi Suites – Adults Only. Akrotiri in the south is particularly well suited if you’d like to discover the quieter and more rugged side of Santorini. Red Beach, the Akrotiri lighthouse and beautiful viewpoints are all within easy reach from here. A good choice here is La Ponta Villas & Suites in Akrotiri. Emporio is also worth considering as an alternative to the classic Caldera resorts. The village showcases a more authentic side of the island and is ideal if you’d like to experience Santorini in a more local, peaceful and less touristy way.

Conclusion: Experience Santorini at a more leisurely pace

Santorini is spectacular – but at its best when you take your time and really soak up the island. If you travel outside the peak season, plan your visits to popular spots wisely and discover some quieter corners too, you’ll experience Santorini not just as a photo opportunity, but as a special island full of atmosphere.