No other Greek destination attracts as many visitors or is as romantic. The perfect island to visit any month of the year, Santorini features hundreds of enchanting landscapes and unique experiences that you could easily discover in just a few days.

If you’re planning to spend three days in Santorini, this is the right itinerary that you will want to steal!

Top Reasons to Visit Santorini

We could quickly come up with an endless list of reasons why Santorini should be on your travel bucket list.

Yet, it might be enough to say that it’s a fascinating volcanic island with dreamy, whitewashed houses built on ancient caves on the steep sides of its caldera.

Featuring stone alleys, incredible sunsets, and deep-blue seas, Santorini is a well-known destination for photography aficionados, romantic couples, and solitary travelers.

With unparalleled panoramas made of lonely landscapes, red and black volcanic beaches, blue-domed churches, and stunning rugged beauty, the island is a must-see destination.

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Getting to Santorini

Getting to Santorini can be fairly easy during the high season, from April until September, no matter where in the world you might be coming from.

During this hot season, there are charter and line flights from virtually every country in Europe, while more than two daily flights cover the air route between Athens and the island.

Ferry travel is also popular, with several weekly ferries reaching Santorini from the port of Piraeus in Athens as well as from other Greek islands, including Crete, Rhodes, and the nearby Mykonos.

If you’re traveling in winter, instead, both sea and air connections are reduced, while flights from other countries are quite rare.

If you prefer plane travel, you might need to travel to Athens or Thessaloniki first, from where you can take a connecting flight to the island.

If you prefer sea travel instead, consider that ferries do not depart with rough weather, strong winds, or thunderstorms, so your plans might be disrupted unexpectedly.

Moving Around in Santorini

Having your car is a perfect tool to move around freely on the island without depending on rigid (and oftentimes not punctual) bus schedules or high taxi fees.

However, not every driver might feel comfortable driving the local roads, sometimes flanked by steep ravines plummeting into the sea, with breathtaking sharp bends, and—at least during summer—intense traffic.

If this scenario doesn’t scare you, then go ahead and hire a car in advance.

Otherwise, check out the different organized excursions, boat trips, or private transfer services that can help you go anywhere you want on the island.

Where to Stay in Santorini

Since Santorini has a rightful reputation for being quite an expensive destination, this is one of those places where you want to book your accommodation early.

If you’re on a budget, consider staying in less scenic areas, such as Persia, Pyrgos, Emporio, or Kamari.

Even if you will be missing the stunning caldera views, you will have access to relatively good beaches, and prices will be more affordable.

Keep in mind, however, that staying in any of these small villages will require you to have a rental car or at least a quad to move around.

If the legendary vistas over the volcano are something you’re not willing to negotiate when it comes to your hotel room, then Oia and Fira are the top choices, but also the smaller villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli offer incredible views.

In that case, do keep in mind that the panoramas also come with a much higher price tag, although renting a car might not be as necessary.

No matter which is your hotel style, do keep in mind that accommodation sells like hot bread on the island!

And what may be available today will certainly be booked tomorrow, so do not hesitate to book fast as soon as you find the place that’s right for you.

Recommended Santorini Hotels

Here is a selection of Santorini hotels, from budget to luxury accommodations.

Caldera Area Lodgings

Affordable: Central Hostel Oia is a budget place to stay in one of the prettiest areas of the island, featuring rooms with shared bathrooms, a shared kitchen, and luggage storage space. Check for availability at Central Hostel Oia

Mid-range: Vogue Suites is a 3-star property facing the caldera offering simple rooms, some of them overlooking the sea. Find rooms at Vogue Suites

Luxury: Secret View Hotel is located in Oia and features a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, a terrace, a restaurant, and a bar. Book a room at Secret View Hotel now!

Perissa Lodgings

Affordable: Cal Day Rooms Santorini is the perfect accommodation for solo travelers looking for a relaxing place to stay far from the bustle of Oia and Fira. Check rates at Cal Day Rooms Santorini now

Mid-range: Veggera Beach Hotel is located right opposite the black beach of Perissa. Built in neoclassic and Cycladic style, it offers traditional rooms and maisonettes as well as three swimming pools and a hot tub. Find a room at Veggera Beach Hotel

Luxury: Anastasia Princess Luxury Residence & Spa is an adult-only resort with exclusive amenities including car rental services and free parking, lavish suites with sea views, a spa, and a hammam with an ample menu of relaxing and wellness treatments. Book a room at Anastasia Princess Luxury Residence & Spa

 

What to Do in Santorini in Three Days

This is a flexible itinerary thought for solo travelers focusing on enjoying a slow pace and taking enough time to admire panoramas, enjoy excursions, and relax during their adventure. Adjust it according to your wants and needs.

Days are realistic and do not pack a lot but do include interesting things to do in Santorini.

Day One in Santorini—Akrotiri, Pyrgos, Red Beach

It can be a good idea to start your day in the area of Akrotiri and move your way up north as the day goes by to end it admiring the legendary sunset of Oia, the northernmost whitewashed settlement on the island.

Akrotiri

Start the day by heading to the area of Akrotiri, where you can begin by exploring the impressive archaeological site that tells the history of the island and its terrible volcano.

The Archaeological Site of Akrotiri has often been dubbed the Pompeii of Greece and is among the most important ruins in the country.

During the years before the explosion of the terrific volcano that destroyed and shaped much of the present landscape of the island (around 1650 BCE), the area of Akrotiri was a flourishing commercial center in the Mediterranean. With possible Minoan origins, they traded with the most important civilizations in the basin, including the Cretans, the Egyptians, and other cultures in the Middle East.

A thick layer of volcanic ashes kept this ancient settlement protected for centuries until the first excavation started bringing light upon the complex structure of these advanced peoples.

The place is one of the few archaeological sites in the country that is not out in the open, so it is easy to visit any time of the year.

You can purchase a regular ticket or a three-day pass that also includes access to different museums on the island and the Archaeological Site of Ancient Thira, located on top of a mountain near the settlement of Kamari.

 

Red Beach

After checking out the archaeological site, head to the seaside area of the same settlement, Akrotiri, to visit one of the most breathtaking landscapes on the island.

The iconic Red Beach.

Known in Greek as Kokkini Paralia, the place is a paramount destination if you enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving since the fantastic submarine landscape modeled by volcanic lava has created an impressively odd underwater environment that you wouldn’t want to miss.

From this beach, it is possible to observe the so-called White Beach, only meters away and reachable on foot or by boat, that features dark, volcanic ash but incredibly white limestone walls.

To reach Red Beach it will be necessary to hike for a few meters along a cliff, but the road is quite safe if you’re wearing the right pair of shoes. You’ll be much safer if you avoid flip-flops.

 

Pyrgos

The last settlement you will visit today is located in the heart of the island, so there are no breathtaking marine landscapes that surround you.

Yet, this unique village remains a charming Cycladic place where beautiful winding roads lead up the hill to some unique blue-domed churches and an ancient Venetian castle, which once was one of the most important protective fortresses in Santorini.

Pyrgos is the perfect place to sit at a local tavern and sample local staples, including Santorini’s fava spread, local tomato fritters, capers, and Santorini wine.

 

Day Two in Santorini—Fira to Oia

Devote your second day on the island to exploring the most visited areas and the villages facing the caldera.

And there are different alternatives to doing so.

If you’re a traveler that enjoys hiking, you could check out that coastal path that takes you from Fira, the capital of the island, to Oia.

This is the famous whitewashed settlement in the north where, while passing also the smaller but still enchanting settlements of Firoestefani and Immerovigli, another of the five different castles of Santorini once stood to protect the island from pirate attacks, the Skaro rock.

The whole hike can be excruciating under the sun, but you can easily walk just a part of it and then continue on your way by taxi or bus.

Fira

The first place you should visit is Fira, the main city and capital of Santorini, home to the main port where most cruise ships dock for the day, making it incredibly overcrowded from the mid-morning.

Heading to Fira early is key to walking and enjoying the place without feeling overwhelmed by the crowds.

There are several places to visit in Fira, including the Archaeological Museum where several pieces that were found in the Akrotiri excavations are exhibited.

Fira is also home to the beautiful Cathedral of Santorini, an original white-domed church located on the main road of the settlement.

And Fira is home to several art galleries, gorgeous boutiques, and souvenir shops, but also heavenly hotels facing the small islet of Thirassia, in the center of the caldera.

And even when we might end the day enjoying the sunset views from Oia, the sun setting over the horizon is a pretty view also from Fira.

If you have an extra day to spend on the island, don’t miss the experience.

 

Oia

You can easily spend the whole morning wandering the winding, cobblestoned alleys of Fira, have a quick, restoring lunch with a view, and then head to the central bus station to reach the next stop of the day, Oia.

Situated on the northern tip of the island, the settlement is home to the most iconic views of Santorini as well as the most photographed place in the country.

Take some time to walk along the winding alleys and visit one of the coolest bookstores in the Aegean, Atlantis Books.

If the past of the island makes you curious, then check out also the Naval Maritime Museum. Set in a gorgeous 19th-century mansion, it exhibits the local maritime history, including old figureheads, sailors’ chests, and models of old ships.

Not far from the museum, and when the sun is about to set, find a spot at the nearby ruins of Oia Castle and get ready to witness the most famous sight in Santorini, its sunsets.

Keep in mind that this is one of the places that, every day, is packed with tourists. Be a little patient to fully enjoy the experience.

 

Day Three in Santorini—Beaches, Wineries, Sunset Sailing

It is a good idea to explore the beaches on the island; they are not as gorgeous as other more famous shores in Greece, but their attraction is in their uniqueness.

You can choose to head to the northern part of the island to take a look at Baxedes.

Not far from Oia, this wide beach features gorgeous cliffs and darkish sands and offers some organized premises for you to rent an umbrella and spend a couple of hours relaxing by the sea.

Keep in mind that the area is often windy.

If you prefer a different kind of beach, head to Kamari, not far from Fira, on the island’s opposite coast.

Here you can enjoy a wide, organized beach with very dark volcanic sand and pebbles and a deep blue sea.

In the village, there are dozens of hotels and restaurants to have a snack by the sea or a proper lunch with fresh seafood.

Closer to the southernmost tip of the island, Perissa is another black sand beach, wider and with a laid-back vibe, a perfect place for water sports too.

If you’re not much of an active type, order a drink and simply enjoy the gorgeous landscape.

Keep in mind that, especially in summer, the volcanic pebbles get very hot under direct exposure to the sun, so don’t forget your footwear if you want to avoid an unpleasant experience.

In the afternoon, it can be a great idea to go for an organized tour. You can either enjoy a boat trip around the caldera before sunset that includes a cocktail and some food.

Or you can visit some of the best local wineries and try some of Santorini’s most famous varieties, including the white, dry Assyrtiko, or a glass of Vinsanto, the island’s most famous dessert wine.

 

Final Thoughts

Santorini has experiences to suit every kind of traveler. It can be a great place for adventure and discovery, as well as the perfect island to relax and enjoy long walks or try your skills at photography. It can be romantic but also perfect for solo travelers too. So don’t put off a visit any longer, and bookmark this 3-day Santorini itinerary to carry with you and always know what to do!

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