r/Santorini

Looking to do a trip to Santorini mid October

Ideally hoping weather to still be warm/water to be swim-able/restaurants & pubs open

Is this realistic that time of year?

Me (23m) and my gf(23f) have an opportunity to fly to Santorini for a week, from 14 of september.

We know there might be better options, but we came across this very cheap deal that includes flights and a 4-star hotel plus breakfast in Fira.

What we wanna ask is whether or not we would have fun for a full week there?

We like beaches very much and taking walks and trekking to find nice places in nature environment. Water sports are also something we would love doing if it exists there.
We love good food and the Greek culture too, but the question is whether there are enough things to do there for us to go through seven days.

it feels like every tiktok or video i see about what to do there has like "heres what to do 7 days there" and then continues to say only sunsets, cruise and walking to places with a view which is nice but isnt really something that can fill more then 2 days i mean

Donkey Abuse - DO NOT RIDE THEM!

I know there are going to be upset people saying there she goes again, but until things change...I will continue to voice this as it needs to be said/heard. The only way to make an impact and change something as big as this is to be persistent and continue to spread the word. So please help pass along my story as well as the stories from the others who have shared theirs on my threads...Thank YOU from the bottom of my heart.

I typically do not take the time to reach out to make my feedback known, but this one has scarred me to the point where I cannot disregard it. It was absolutely horrific to witness how the donkeys have been used (and abused) in Santorini. I went to dinner at the Fish Tavern in Ammoudi Bay in July, and I sat in shock as I watched the donkeys in the scorching heat go up and down every few minutes without a break/without water/without food. It was incredibly heartbreaking to see as the donkeys were being whipped in the face despite their utter exhaustion. The next day I saw the same thing happening on repeat, so I took a minute to stop and pet the donkeys. I asked if they get breaks/food and water, and the man pretended he didn't speak English (when I previously heard him speak English). You could literally feel the desperation and fear by just looking at the donkey's faces. Witnessing this treatment ruined our honeymoon as it was unbearable to put on a smile and pretend that I did not see what I did. I will not go back to Santorini because of this, and I will be sharing this experience with my entire network of friends/family and beyond. This needs to be stopped as it is beyond cruel to the animals. Giving them back-breaking work in extreme heat and working them to exhaustion is unacceptable. I was told that when it is off season the donkeys are then used to carry debris up and down the cliffs- so there is no end for them, which is gut-wrenching to even hear about. I hope this resonates with you and you all do not ride the donkeys to play into this abuse. The animals have no voice, and everyone I talked to there agreed with me on how horrible this situation is, but they say there isn't anything that can be done. I will share my experience to no end until actions are taken. Voice this to as many people as you can, share this experience and demand change with me. Unbelievably cruel to these animals.

There are so many tourists who I witnessed who are blind (or act blind) to all of this and just ride up the donkeys, laughing, taking pictures, waving as if they are a king/queen, all while ignoring the fact of what is actually happening...supporting this business = this will never end. So STOP riding the donkeys and PLEASE help spread the word. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate you reading this and for any and all help that you all can give to this case.

Hey everyone! My wife and I just wrapped up a magical three-day stay in Oia, and I wanted to share a quick trip report since this sub was so helpful while we were planning.

We stayed at the Andronis Luxury Suites, and to put it simply: wow. The property, the views, and the service were absolutely top-tier. It was the perfect base for our time on the island.

Here are a few highlights from our three days:

• Dining at Lycabettus: We did the Cliff area degustation menu here, and it completely lived up to the hype. Sitting out on that dramatic cliff edge with the sea below us is a memory we'll have forever. The food and presentation were flawless.
• Sunsets: Instead of battling the massive crowds at the old castle, we watched the sunset from Sparkling Sunset. It was spectacular, relaxed, and allowed us to actually enjoy the moment without feeling packed in. The staff were as wonderful as the view. Especially noting the baklava here, it was awesome.
• Shopping: My wife absolutely loved the shopping in Oia. She spent plenty of time exploring the boutique steps and winding paths, finding some incredible local pieces.
• Leaving Oia (Just Once!): Honestly, we loved the vibe of Oia so much we barely left. The only time we ventured out was for a local cooking class, which turned out to be fantastic. Getting to learn the secrets behind authentic Greek flavors was a massive highlight of the trip.

A note on the crowds: We were a bit nervous about the June crowds based on some posts here, but staying from June 7-10, we really didn't notice them being an issue at all. Maybe we just timed our wanderings right, or staying at Andronis gave us a perfect sanctuary, but the whole experience felt incredibly peaceful.

If you're on the fence about booking a cliffside suite or splurging on a special dinner, absolutely do it. Santorini completely stole our hearts, and we're already missing those caldera views! Happy to answer any questions about the hotel or our itinerary if anyone is planning a trip soon.

Thanks

I’ve stayed around Santorini a few times and wanted to mention Emporio for anyone planning a trip and looking for something different from Oia or Fira.

Emporio is on the south side of the island and one of the larger traditional villages. The highlight is the Kastelli — a medieval fortified village within the village, with maze-like alleyways, low arched passages, and houses built into each other as a defensive structure.

It has the same whitewashed aesthetic you’d expect from Santorini, but the layout and atmosphere feel far more raw and lived-in than the curated streets of Oia or Fira.

What I like about it:

*It feels more local and residential than Oia or Fira — actual people live here year-round.

*There are family-run cafes, bakeries, and tavernas scattered around the village, nothing fancy.

*Perissa Beach and Vlychada Beach are both a short drive or bus ride away.

*Bus connections are decent, so you can get around the island without renting a car.

*The hill above the village has old windmills, a hilltop church, and open views toward the southern coastline.

It’s not the place to stay if you want caldera views right outside your door, and nightlife is minimal compared to Fira. But if you want a quieter base and a more authentic side of Santorini, it’s worth considering.

Any pro Palestine place to
Eat here?? Heading there soon

I have a domestic flight at 8.30 from Santorini to Athens tomorrow. How long before my flight should I reach the airport? The public buses are very limited in the morning so I’m trying to plan the bus in advance accordingly.

Update: I reached the airport 2.5 hours before to be safe but the check-in counter opened only 2 hours before. The airport was mostly empty even though it was supposed to be the busiest time. We heard from many local businesses that tourism is very low this year and a lot of the local restaurants and hotels have remained closed.

I’m visiting Santorini on 28th and 29th June for my anniversary trip and staying in Fira for accessibility purposes. I’m looking for suggestions on places we can explore or any experiences that we can try for a good time.

My current itinerary is blank except for the Oia to Fira walk for the sunset view. I’ve read that Oia is overhyped and very crowded so I’m looking for alternative places to check out. I’d appreciate any help or suggestions!

I welcome comments and insights on my plan please. This is my first time in Santorini, and while I want to hit a few key viewpoints, I don't need to "do it all". I'm travelling with teens and we're looking for a combination of a bit of exploring/wandering +relaxing with views. We hired a private driver for the morning for the ease of getting around and having someone who can tell us a bit about the island.

1. Meet our driver at the top of the cable car 8:30 am

2. Drive to Oia; explore for 1-2 hours

3. Ammoudi Bay for lunch and possibly a quick swim to cool off

4. Drop off at Imergovili around 2 pm where we have booked a few sun loungers by a pool

5. Late afternoon, walk along the caldera path back towards the cable car station. Back on board by 10pm

I understand that this does not give me the "full island" experience, but we don't want to be driving around all over the place just to hit all of the tourist stops. The only thing I am possibly considering is adding in a quick village stop (possibly Pyrgos).

Hello - im confused about our cruise stop at santorini. We have Royal Caribbean cruise coming up and one of the stops is Santorini. There will be 2 more ships that day. We will arrive at 1pm till 11pm. Other ships will be there by morning. Im confused if we should book excursions to get to Santorini fast or wait to see if we can cable car up to santorini? I dont want to be in the line for hours. I have toddlers with us and will not be able to keep them busy for too long. Other people with RC, what was your experience? How long did it take to get tender boat and cable car up to fira? Would you suggest excursions is best way to go?

Planning to visit next year May. Preferably May 16-20. How crowded does it get during mid May if I choose to stay in Oia?

Also, fira to oia or oia to fira which direction is better?

And finally any hotel recommendations near the blue dome to enjoy the sunrise?

We are arriving July 15th at 7am with our cruise. Can't decide whether to take the cable car or to do water taxi to Oia (Ammoudi Bay). Main goal is to avoid a long wait. I've heard the water taxi can take a long time to fill up before they leave. Does anyone have recent experience with the cable car wait times first thing in the morning? We do have priority tender.

I am traveling with my family to Greece mid-September(all adults) mid Sep for one night, 6 people in total. Requiring 4 beds. Looking for recommendations to which are some suitable hotels as there are so many options to choose from😵‍💫

Hoping to stay in Firostefani or Fira but open to suggestions. Probably looking to book 2-3 rooms. Looking for convenience first and then views. Budgeting probably around $350 per room.

Dear all,

I am planning to visit Alt-Thera as well as the Akrotiri archelogical site. As far as I know I need a ticket, but despite using Google I have difficulties to find the official way to buy it.

As far as I can tell, this seems to be the official website: http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh355.jsp?obj\_id=2454. Is this true? However, the website only tells a price, but there is option to buy it. Also, the website looks as if it has not been updated for at least 15 years and I don't know how accurate the information is. I found a few third-party website that sell tickets, but due to bad experiences with third parties I prefer to buy it directly from the service procider.

I am thankful for any help.

I have a 5-hour ferry layover in Santorini coming up in Mid-September. Arrival at port 9:50, departure 14:45.
I understand it could be delayed to arrive.
But assuming I’ll have 3-4 hours, where should I go? Is there a point in renting a car?