Caldera trail from Fira to Oia
4 h · 10 kmWith closed shoes and waterAll year, at dawn in summer
Ten kilometres along the caldera rim, from Fira to Oia via Firostefani and Imerovigli: 3–5 h, half of it without shade; bus back for €2.20.
From Athens5–8 h by ferry · 45 min by plane
Getting aroundKTEL bus from Fira
Best timeMay · Jun · Sep · Oct
Minimum time2 nights
Akrotiri€20 · closed Tuesdays in winter
Overall difficultyEasy, with steps
In July and August, the meltemi can delay or cancel the fast boats. It is the Aegean's summer north wind. Don't chain the last ferry with a flight home on the same day: leave a night's margin.
What to do
What to do in Santorini
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Akrotiri site, the city beneath the ash
1 h 30From age 6 · under coverAll year · from November to March it closes on Tuesdays
A Bronze Age city buried by the volcano's eruption, under cover and along walkways. Admission €20; in winter it closes on Tuesdays.
From €20
Book
Five-hour cruise around the caldera, with a swim in the hot springs
5 hAll ages15 March – 15 November
Five hours on a catamaran around the caldera with a swim in the hot springs, Red Beach and White Beach, a barbecue and hotel pick-up. From €79.
From €79
Book
Plan the trip
Santorini, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Santorini
In May, June, September and October: the sea is ready for swimming and Oia is not bursting. July and August bring heat above 28 °C, the meltemi, cruise ships and the highest prices. From November to March the island is quiet, but many hotels, tavernas and boats close.
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How you travel
Santorini your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
A base in Fira and the bus to everything
Santorini works well without a car: all the KTEL lines leave from Fira, the ticket costs between €2.20 and €2.80 and the caldera path can be walked. What you lose are the inland wineries and the bus changes in Fira.
90–160 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepFira, next to the bus…
- Getting aroundKTEL bus from Fira to…
- EatPitas and gyros in Fira…
- ServicesBus from Athinios port to…
Sleep
- Fira, next to the bus station
- Kamari, with a beach and a direct bus to Fira and the airport
Getting around
- KTEL bus from Fira to Oia, Perissa, Akrotiri, the port and the airport
- On foot from Fira to Oia along the caldera rim, 10 km
- The cruises pick up at the hotel
Eat
- Pitas and gyros in Fira, from a few euros
- Beach tavernas at Kamari and Perissa
Services
- Bus from Athinios port to Fira, €2.70
- Bus from the airport to Fira, about 10 minutes
The caldera from your own pool
Here are a good part of the Cyclades' luxury hotels, almost all on the cliff at Oia, Imerovigli and Firostefani. What is expensive is the view; for sleeping peacefully, Pyrgos.
From €500per person per day, approximate
- SleepKatikies and Canaves Oia Suites…
- Getting aroundPrivate hotel transfer from the…
- EatPetra, at Canaves Oia Suites…
- ServicesMany caldera hotels only admit…
Sleep
- Katikies and Canaves Oia Suites, on the Oia cliff
- Zannos Melathron, in Pyrgos, away from the crowds
Getting around
- Private hotel transfer from the port or airport
- Private catamaran around the caldera from Ammoudi
Eat
- Petra, at Canaves Oia Suites, for the caldera dinner
- Assyrtiko tastings at SantoWines at sunset
Services
- Many caldera hotels only admit older children: ask when booking
- The cliff hotels are staircases: ask how your luggage is taken up
Bunk, bus and the caldera on foot
Santorini is expensive, but the best is free: the path from Fira to Oia, the sunset and the black-sand beaches. With a hostel and the bus, the spending goes on food and one boat trip, if you treat yourself.
40–70 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepSantorini Camping Hostel & Rooms…
- Getting aroundKTEL bus, €2.20 to €2.80…
- EatGyros pitas next to Fira…
- FreeThe caldera path from Fira…
Sleep
- Santorini Camping Hostel & Rooms, in Fira, bunks from €12.50
- Caveland, in Karterados, and Youth Hostel Anna, in Perissa
Getting around
- KTEL bus, €2.20 to €2.80 per journey
- On foot between Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli
Eat
- Gyros pitas next to Fira bus station
- Supermarket and a picnic on the beach
Free
- The caldera path from Fira to Oia
- Sunset from Pyrgos
- The beaches of Perissa, Perivolos and Kamari
A small car and a base outside the caldera
A car opens up the wineries, Pyrgos, Akrotiri and the southern beaches in one day. The island is about 18 km from end to end, but the roads are narrow and in summer there are traffic jams in Fira and Oia.
100–180 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepKamari and Perissa, with room…
- Getting aroundSmall car: the streets and…
- EatInland tavernas, such as Metaxy…
- ServicesCar and quad hire at…
Sleep
- Kamari and Perissa, with room to park
- Pyrgos, in the centre of the island
Getting around
- Small car: the streets and car parks are narrow
- Leave the car outside Oia and Fira at sunset, or go by bus
- The quad is the most exposed option on a road with so much traffic
Eat
- Inland tavernas, such as Metaxy Mas in Exo Gonia
- Wineries with restaurants near Pyrgos
Services
- Car and quad hire at the port, the airport and the villages
- If you cross by ferry with the car, book it with the ticket
Fly to Santorini or Athens and Connect
Santorini is one of the few islands with a direct flight from Spain: Vueling flies from Barcelona in season, in about three and a quarter hours. From Madrid and elsewhere, you fly to Athens and connect with a flight of about 45 minutes or with the ferry from Piraeus. The airport is next to Kamari, about 10 minutes from Fira, with a KTEL bus, taxi or hotel transfer.
- Getting thereSantorini Airport (JTR), direct from…
- Getting aroundKTEL bus from Fira to…
- Where to stayKamari Beach Hotel, in Kamari…
- ServicesAirport and KTEL bus
Getting there
- Santorini Airport (JTR), direct from Barcelona in season
- Athens Airport (ATH), with direct flights from Spain all year and a connection to the island
- KTEL bus from the airport to Fira and Kamari
Getting around
- KTEL bus from Fira to Oia, Kamari, Perissa and Akrotiri
- Small hire car for the wineries, Pyrgos and the southern beaches
- Hotel transfer if you arrive at night at the caldera
Where to stay
- Kamari Beach Hotel, in Kamari, a few minutes from the airport
- Fira, if you want all the bus lines close at hand
Services
- Airport and KTEL bus
- Car and quad hire at the airport and in Fira
How much does it cost?
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Nights3
Who you're with
Santorini for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Black beach, a boat and Akrotiri in the shade
With children, Santorini works if you sleep at the beach and not on the caldera: at Kamari or Perissa there is sand, pools and a bus, and the cliff villages are left for an afternoon. Organise the day around the heat: out in the morning, shade at midday.
- What works bestAkrotiri, under cover, for the…
- SleepKamari Beach Hotel, on the…
- EatGyros pitas in Fira to…
- Bear in mindIn Oia, Fira and Imerovigli…
What works best
- Akrotiri, under cover, for the hours of most sun; from age 6
- The caldera cruise, with a swim in the hot springs
- The family kayak from Akrotiri, for ages 6 to 14
- The beaches of Perissa and Perivolos, with a gentle entry into the water
Sleep
- Kamari Beach Hotel, on the beach and with a supervised pool
- Apartments in Perissa and Kamari
Eat
- Gyros pitas in Fira to get by
- Beach tavernas at Kamari and Perissa, at shade time
Bear in mind
- In Oia, Fira and Imerovigli everything is steps: no pushchair, baby carrier yes
- Black sand burns at midday: water shoes or sandals for everyone
- In July and August the caldera path has no shade: don't do it with small children at midday
- Some caldera hotels only admit over-13s
What to do as a family
Paddling, diving and walking along the rim
Santorini has more for a teenager than it seems from the photos of Oia: the whole caldera path, a kayak trip to coves reached only by sea, a try dive and two buried cities like no museum.
- What works bestThe Fira to Oia path…
- SleepSantorini Camping Hostel & Rooms…
- EatPitas and gyros in Fira…
- Bear in mindThe KTEL bus gives them…
What works best
- The Fira to Oia path: 10 km along the cliff edge
- Kayaking along the south coast, the adult departure from age 14
- Try dive at Perissa, with no previous experience
- Akrotiri and Ancient Thera, for anyone who likes history
Sleep
- Santorini Camping Hostel & Rooms, in Fira, with a pool
- Beach hotels at Kamari, from where they can get around alone by bus
Eat
- Pitas and gyros in Fira, cheap and quick
- Fish at Ammoudi, if they walk down the steps
Bear in mind
- The KTEL bus gives them independence: all the lines go through Fira
- The Oia sunset in August is a crowd: it bores them more than you
- Quad and scooter are not an option: a licence is required to hire them
What to do with teenagers
Where to stay
Where to stay without a carin styleif you're backpackingif you're drivingif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Katikies Santorini
Why we like it: Two houses hanging from the Oia cliff, with pools over the caldera and a private transfer to the port or airport. It only admits children over 13; with little ones, the group sends them to its…
Canaves Oia Suites
Why we like it: Suites cut into the Oia cliff, with a spa in a 17th-century cave and a pool over the Aegean. The group has its own sailing boat and catamaran at Ammoudi.
Zannos Melathron
Why we like it: A suite hotel five minutes' walk from Pyrgos square, with cave suites and suites with a jacuzzi. Luxury without the Oia crowds, and in the centre of the island, near the wineries and the southern beaches.
Kamari Beach Hotel
Why we like it: 106 rooms on Kamari's black-sand beach, with loungers for guests and a supervised pool. Close to the airport and with a bus to Fira (€2.20); with a car, parking here is far easier than on the…
Santorini Camping Hostel & Rooms
Why we like it: 350 metres from the centre of Fira and 300 from the bus station, with bunks from €12.50 (€30 in high summer), private rooms, pitched tents and a plot for your own tent from €10 per person…
From €12
View details
Hostel
Caveland
Why we like it: A former winery turned hostel in Karterados, the first village south of Fira, with dormitories and rooms in caves, a garden and a pool. Fira is 25 minutes' walk or five by bus.
Youth Hostel Anna
Why we like it: A hostel about 12 minutes' walk from Perissa beach, with dormitories of 4 to 12 beds and a pool. For those who prefer beach to caldera and don't mind taking the bus to Fira.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Santorini
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Metaxy Mas
What to order: fava, baked white aubergine and the fillet with vinsanto sauce.
Book by phone · park next to the church of Agios Charalambos
Ammoudi Fish Tavern
What to order: the fresh fish of the day.
Open from April to October, from 11:00 to 23:00 · book for sunset
SantoWines
What to order: an assyrtiko tasting flight with plates to share.
Open all year · terrace with views of the volcano
Petra, at Canaves Oia Suites
What to order: the “O Topos Mas” tasting menu, or the three-course one if you prefer something shorter.
Hotel restaurant · dinner only, from 19:30 to 23:00 · book ahead for a front-row table
Takeaway and markets
Lucky's Souvlakis, Fira
Map
Everything on the map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Nearby
Near Santorini
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Buy Akrotiri with an e-ticket
It costs €20 and is covered, so it is the plan for the hottest hours. It opens at 8:00 in summer: go first thing.
- 2Check the bus timetable on the KTEL website
It changes with the season. Between 0:30 and 5:00 a night fare applies, 25% more expensive.
- 3Book the port transfer if you arrive at night
The port is 8 km from Fira along a winding road, and outside hours there is no cheap alternative.
- 4Walk the caldera path from Fira to Oia
That way you finish in Oia and come back by bus. There is no shade: start before 9:00 in summer.
- 5Book your sunset dinner days ahead
In Oia and Ammoudi, tables with sunset views fill up before the others.
Local tip
Two nights on the caldera is a luxury you notice in the price. One night in Oia or Imerovigli and the rest in Kamari or Perissa gives you the same for much less.
We'd skip it
Going up or down on a donkey on the steps of Fira's old port. It is about 600 steps that you can walk down in half an hour; the animal carries a weight that is not its to carry, and animal protection organisations have been asking for years that it not be used.
Ferry or plane, and how do you book?
From Spain the quickest way is to fly. Vueling has a direct flight from Barcelona in season, of about 3 hours 15 minutes; from Madrid and elsewhere, the usual way is to fly to Athens and connect with a 45-minute flight or by ferry. The airport is next to Kamari, 10 minutes from Fira on the KTEL bus.
The ferry leaves from Piraeus and arrives at the port of Athinios, beneath the cliff. Fast boats take about 5 hours; conventional ones, between 7 and 10, depending on the stops. Buy your ticket on the ferry company's website or on a ferry search engine, weeks ahead in July and August, and keep your boarding pass on your phone. From Athinios there is a KTEL bus to Fira (€2.70) and to Perissa, Kamari and Pyrgos; taxis are few and there is a queue.
Do you need a car or quad bike?
Not if you sleep in Fira or nearby: the KTEL bus leaves from Fira station for Oia, Kamari, Perissa, Akrotiri, the airport and the port, and costs between €2.20 and €2.80. All the lines go through Fira, so a trip from Oia to Perissa means changing there. A small car gives you freedom for the wineries, Pyrgos and the southern beaches, but in Oia and Fira parking in summer is almost impossible. The quad bike is popular and is the most exposed option on a narrow road with a lot of traffic.
How do you avoid the caldera crowds?
Oia at sunset and Fira in mid-morning, when the cruise ships disembark, are packed. Sleep in Kamari, Perissa or Pyrgos and go up to the caldera early, or walk the Fira to Oia path in the morning and leave sunset for Pyrgos, Imerovigli or a boat. The views are almost the same and there are half as many people.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need on Santorini?
Three nights: one day for the caldera and the path, another for Akrotiri and the southern beaches, and one for a boat trip or the wineries. With two you see it, in a rush.
Can you go in winter?
Yes, and it is quiet, but from November to March many hotels, tavernas and boats close, Akrotiri opens from 8:30 to 15:30 and closes on Tuesdays, and Ancient Thera closes from December to February. The bus runs on a reduced timetable.
Are there sandy beaches?
Black volcanic sand, on the east side: Kamari, Perissa and Perivolos, long and with facilities. They get very hot in the sun: bring water shoes or sandals. Beneath the caldera there is no beach; you reach the hot springs by boat.
Where is the best place to see the sunset?
In Oia, with thousands of people. At the Pyrgos castle, in Imerovigli or from a boat in the caldera, with far fewer.
Is Santorini good for going with children?
For children who walk and can cope with the heat, yes: black-sand beaches at Kamari and Perissa, Akrotiri under cover and a boat trip with a swim. With a pushchair, no: the caldera villages are steps.
How do you get to other islands?
By ferry from Athinios. Naxos, Paros and Ios are on the same line towards Piraeus, and in season there are fast boats to Milos and to Crete. Check the timetables with the ferry company: they change every season and with the meltemi.