Santorini, Greece’s little island, is known for its old, white, and blue buildings, high-end hotels with infinity pool views, and photogenic, picturesque architecture.
Santorini is often associated with luxury, but you can still travel there on a budget. Many of the most popular things in Santorini, like strolling through the old towns, taking photos, relaxing on the beaches, or watching the sunset, are also free.
Santorini is a must-see on any trip to Greece’s islands. It’s now easier than ever for travelers to reach it from Athens or other major European cities.
This Santorini guide will tell you how to get to the island, where to stay, and what tour packages and transport options to choose from. It also explains some of Santorini’s best attractions. You can also find a Santorini map to help you plan your trip!
Staying in Santorini
Best Santorini Tours
A day tour is an excellent way to explore the island if you only stay a few hours or days.
GetYourGuide is the best option for Santorini Tours! GetYourGuide offers private and shared tours to some famous sights, including Oia Pyrgos and Perissa.
You can hire a private photographer who will take photos of you wearing a flowing dress with Santorini’s buildings and seascape as the backdrop, just like the pictures you see on Instagram.
This company has been great for day tours and activities worldwide. Highly recommended
Where is Santorini Island located?
Santorini is an island in the Aegean Sea located southeast of mainland Greece. As the plane flies, it is approximately 230 km (140 miles).
Although it is only one of the 30 islands in the Cyclades group, Santorini is the most famous of the Greek islands and probably even the entire country!
Santorini was formed by volcanic activity. There are still natural hot springs, as well as other traces, around the caldera.
How to Get to Santorini Greece
Santorini Island can be reached via flight or ferry.
Flying from Athens to Santorini can be the fastest and most affordable (but still recommended) method of getting there. Nonstop daily flights from Athens and other international cities such as Frankfurt, London, Rome, etc., service Santorini Airport (JTR).
Aegean/Olympic Air and Sky Express offer one-way tickets for between 50 and 100 Euros.
Aegean or its subsidiary Olympic Air is the best option if you can choose. However, any airline will do. Free ch
Ferries to Santorini are cheaper than flights but are also more complex and slower.
The ferry will take you to either Piraeus (Piraeus) or Rafina. Depending on your chosen option, the cost varies between 50 and 90 Euros. Santorini is reached in around 5 hours by fast ferries or 8 hours by slow ferries.
You can mix up your itinerary if you are interested in island-hopping in Greece.
You can, for example, fly to Santorini, spend a few nights there, then take the ferry to Mykonos and fly back from Mykonos to Athens. This can be an excellent option!
Transportation: Santorini’s Transport System
Santorini’s towns (like Oia and Fira) are small enough to walk to most restaurants and other attractions. However, if you wish to explore outside the city, you will need a vehicle.
Santorini’s bus system is an excellent way to travel on a budget. There are stops in all the major areas of the island. The main hub, Fira, is the central station. Santorini’s bus system is easy to use and cheap, especially during the summer when Greece is crowded with tourists. There are fewer connections during the low-season months. There may be better options.
You can use a taxi for short trips to the city. Welcome Pickups handled our airport transfers to Santorini, and we had a wonderful experience. The drivers are safe and have clean cars. They will take you to and from the airport.
Renting a 4-wheeler or car is another way to explore the island of Santorini. Many companies offer car rentals on the island. We recommend ExploreCars.
Santorini’s roads are generally in good condition. Driving is not difficult, but it can be a little stressful. Finding parking is one of the biggest challenges. Santorini being a small island, parking is scarce.
Driving in towns can be challenging, as there is more traffic and narrow roads, with many cars parked on both sides. Stay alert and move slowly when you’re in the town. Once you leave town, most of the roads are easy to navigate.
The Greeks drive on their right side, just like Americans and Canadians. Locals are known to go fast and often ignore speed limits. They also pass double yellow lines. Be aware of it and let them pass.
The Law has changed so that foreign tourists from Australia and Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States no longer need an International Driving Permit to drive in Greece.
Law 4850, article 25, contains the actual text (in Greek) of the new Law. 25, par. It’s confirmed by the U.S. embassy in Greece and e page 1069.
It’s still a good idea to carry an IDP in Santorini if the authorities or local car rental companies need clarification. This change still needs to be discovered by many people in Greece.
We used the bus to travel around the island on our first trip to Santorini. We only rented a vehicle for two days to reach some of the remoter places, which are difficult to reach via bus. This worked perfectly.
You can also take a shared or privately guided tour if you prefer to avoid driving in Santorini.
Top Things to Do in Santorini Greece
Oia VillageOia village, pronounced “ee-yuh,” has some of Santorini’s best views and accommodations. It is home to historic churches, colorful flower arrangements, and fantastic ocean views.
You see this place on the postcards of Santorini, Greece. Oia is a great place to visit and has many things to do. It also has the most photo spots of any area in Santorini.
You can take a photo of the entire town from the Oia Castle. It is a stunning view, and you will want to take advantage of it.
