# Ancient Thera, on Mesa Vouno mountain What to do en Santorini · Santorini Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/south-aegean/santorini/things-to-do/ancient-thera · Revisado: 2026-11-12 - Desde: 10 € adult - Duración: 2 h - Temporada: April – October, closed Wednesdays · November, Friday to Sunday · closed December to February - Para quién: With footwear and water · no shade The Dorian, Hellenistic and Roman city on Mesa Vouno, between Kamari and Perissa. Admission €10; from April to October closed on Wednesdays. What it is Ancient Thera was the island's capital for more than a thousand years. It occupies the ridge of Mesa Vouno, the limestone mountain of the south-east cape that separates the beaches of Kamari and Perissa. According to Herodotus, it was founded by Dorian settlers led by Theras, who gave his name to the island, then called Kallisti. The city was founded in the 8th century BC and was inhabited at least until the 9th century AD. From here in 631 BC went out Thera's only colony, Cyrene, in North Africa. Its great era came between 288 and 145 BC, when the island depended on Ptolemaic Egypt and its fleet was based here. Afterwards it was Roman. It was thoroughly excavated by the German Friedrich Hiller von Gaertringen between 1896 and 1902. What you will see The visit follows the ancient main street along the ridge, from north-west to south-east. On the way: The agora, the centre of the city, with the Stoa Basilike, a long building with Doric columns from the early 3rd century BC. The theatre, partly of the 2nd century BC, which also served as a council chamber; the stage building is Roman. The sanctuaries: of Aphrodite and Hera next to the entrance, of the Egyptian gods, and that of Apollo Karneios at the end of the ridge. Districts of Hellenistic and Roman houses, public baths and underground cisterns for rainwater. Inscriptions carved in the rock, at the south-east end, in Thera's archaic alphabet. From above you see Kamari on one side and on the other the beaches of Perissa and Perivolos. Opening hours and tickets The hours are short and change by month. According to the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades, for 2026: From April to October: from 8:30 to 15:30; closed on Wednesdays. November: only Friday to Sunday, from 8:30 to 15:30. From December to February: closed; opens only by appointment with the Ephorate. March: Monday and Thursday to Sunday, from 8:30 to 15:30. The last entry is at 15:10. Admission costs €10 (€5 reduced), according to the Ephorate's notice; it is bought at the ticket office or on the Ministry of Culture's ticketing website, linked from its page. How to get there The entrance is at the Sellada, the saddle between Mesa Vouno and Mount Profitis Ilias. You go up from two sides: By car, from Kamari: a narrow road with hairpin bends climbs to near the entrance. Up top the space to leave the car is limited: go early. By quad or scooter, take care on the bends. On foot, from Perissa or Kamari: there are paths that climb the slope, steep and without shade. Bring plenty of water and set out early. The KTEL bus from Fira goes to Kamari and Perissa: €2.20 to Kamari and €2.70 to Perissa. How long it takes and who it suits The visit to the site lasts about an hour and a half. With the climb and descent on foot, allow half a morning. Up top there is no shade or facilities: bring water, a hat and closed shoes, because the ground is uneven stone. It is a visit for teenagers and adults who enjoy the landscape as much as the ruins. With small children it is short if you arrive by car, but watch the edges: there are unprotected drops. It is not wheelchair accessible. In the wind Mesa Vouno is very exposed. With a strong meltemi, in July and August, it blows violently up top: hold on to hats and phones and don't go near the drops. ## Cómo llegar y contacto - Web: https://tickets.hh.gr/venues/eisitiria-gia-tin-arxaia-t-hira - Coordenadas: 36.3628, 25.4783 ## Cerca de aquí - [Youth Hostel Anna](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/south-aegean/santorini/where-to-stay/youth-hostel-anna), a 777 m - [Try dive on the Perissa reef](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/south-aegean/santorini/things-to-do/perissa-try-dive), a 820 m - [Black-sand beaches of Perissa and Perivolos](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/south-aegean/santorini/things-to-do/perissa-perivolos-beaches), a 1.0 km - [Kamari Beach Hotel](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/south-aegean/santorini/where-to-stay/kamari-beach-hotel), a 1.7 km - [Metaxy Mas](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/south-aegean/santorini/where-to-eat/metaxy-mas), a 1.9 km - [Assyrtiko and vinsanto tasting at the inland wineries](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/south-aegean/santorini/things-to-do/assyrtiko-winery-tastings), a 2.3 km - [Zannos Melathron](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/south-aegean/santorini/where-to-stay/zannos-melathron), a 3.4 km - [Pyrgos and sunset from the top of the village](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/south-aegean/santorini/things-to-do/pyrgos-village), a 3.4 km ## Consejos ### Go up in the morning It opens at 8:30 and closes at 15:30. Arriving early gives you cool and parking. ### Check the calendar In November it only opens Friday to Sunday, and in summer it closes on Wednesdays. ### Go down to the beach afterwards Finish the morning with a swim at Kamari or Perissa, at the foot of the mountain. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How much does admission cost? €10 general and €5 reduced, according to the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades for 2026. ### Can you walk up? Yes, by paths from Perissa or Kamari, steep and without shade. By car you go up by the winding road from Kamari. ### How much time do you need? An hour and a half for the site. If you walk up, add the climb and the descent. Destino: [Santorini](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/south-aegean/santorini.md)