Santorini Greece Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors (2026): Know Before You Go!

Last updated on July 19th, 2026 at 06:17 pm

If you’re planning to visit Santorini Greece for the first time, you are in for a trip of a life time, Santorini is easily one of the most stunning destinations in the Cyclades, a beautiful island captivating travellers from all over the world to explore the stunning cliff-tops, caldera boutiques and terraces, and it’s where I’ve stayed more frequently than anywhere else in Greece, I love uncovering the hidden gems, re-visiting my favourite haunts and soaking up the atmosphere!

Visiting iconic Oia and it’s premium white-washed village, is the main draw with it’s impressive volcano views, picturesque lanes, landmarks and excellent restaurants. It’s what most visitors come to experience matched only by the islands unbelievable range of luxury caldera view hotels, perfect for relaxing with a view after a day of exploring, truly the incredible scenery always WOWs!

But there’s also other stunning caldera villages worth your time and authentic hill-top towns, beaches and wineries. With so much to experience – there is definitely a right way to visit Santorini and in this guide, I’m sharing all you need to know from when to stay, how to get around, where’s best to spend your time and more. So whether you’re visiting for a week-long trip or planning to island hop, you’ll learn what to do in Santorini, alongside practical travel tips and insider advice, to help you plan with confidence!

Best Time To Travel To Santorini Greece

Santorini’s main season runs from May to September, but the best time to travel to Santorini is within the shoulder months mid-May or late-September to early October for warm temperatures, fewer crowds, and lower accommodation prices compared to the peak summer months of July and August (which are bursting with tourists and best avoided).

How Many Days In Santorini

I recommend staying in Santorini for a minimum of four full days to cover the highlights of the island – including a sunset boat trip, you’ll also want to enjoy your hotel pool views and relax with a glass of wine over the caldera! But it’s so stunning you might want to stay for at least a week and divide your time between two spots, which is my favourite way to experience the island!

WHERE TO STAY IN SANTORINI GREECE

Choosing which area to stay in Santorini can completely define your trip, especially if it’s your first visit to the island. Oia is famous for its luxury cave hotels and iconic sunset views, while Imerovigli offers a quieter and more romantic atmosphere on the caldera-clifftops. Fira is the liveliest area with restaurants, nightlife and easy transport links, while Pyrgos feels more traditional and peaceful, perfect for a slower stay away from the crowds! Here’s a quick breakdown of the areas:

Oia

Oia is the place you see on all the postcard-perfect pics, the white buildings and blue domes are iconic and even though it all comes at a premium, it lives up to the hype, Oia best for luxury stays, iconic views and stylish terraces!

Imergovigli

Imerovigli sit’s on the sprawling cliff tops between Fira and Oia, it offers stunning volcano views across the caldera – the best on the island, expect a quieter, romantic ambience and some of Santorini’s most beautiful caldera hotels and restaurants!

Fira

Fira is Sanotini’s capital it’s lively and central with restaurants, shops, nightlife and easy transport links around the island – Fira is more budget friendly, but doesn’t compromise on views!

Pyrgos

Pyrgos is a quieter hilltop village with boutique stays, traditional charm, pretty restaurants and fewer crowds, perfect if you prefer a slower and more authentic side of Santorini.

For a full breakdown of the best areas, boutique hotels and caldera-view stays, read my complete guide on the best places to stay in Santorini Greece or if you’re looking specifically for exceptional volcano views and cliff-edge pools check out the best caldera hotels in Santorini

HOW TO TRAVEL TO SANTORINI GREECE

Santorini is part of the Cyclades group in Greece and it lies 150 miles southeast from Greece mainland and is well connected by ferry to other islands and even has it’s own airport!

Flying

Santorini Airport (JTR) is the islands airport, providing direct flights from major European cities and Athens, Easyjet and Jet2 are the main carriers, making travel to Santorini super easy. As an alternative to ferry’s you can also get flights between the islands, such as Mykonos.

Ferry

Ferry’s depart multiple times per day from Santorini to the mainland and the other Cyclades islands, perfect for island hopping, there are many companies, summer schedules and prices, I recommend using Omio ferry to compare and book!

First Time Arrival Tips!

Waiting taxis at the airport and ferry port are the most expensive, it’s almost criminal and the experience hectic! With this in mind, I recommend pre-booking your private pick-up transport in advance, especially if you have cases – to avoid the wait and €50 flat fee for a shared minivan – we waited in the van for 30 minutes before it went anywhere – please do your research!

Book your private airport or port pick-up here from €14 per-person!

HOW TO GET AROUND SANTORINI

Walking Between Villages

Oia, Imerovigli or Fira are compact and easy to walk around, and you can also walk between them, especially Fira to Imerovigli along the beautiful cliff tops, there’s terraces enroute – and majestic views (it’s actually one of the best things to do in Santorini)!

Taxis

Taxis are plentiful from the main transport hubs and even though very expensive are handy if you are on a time crunch and need to get from A to B quickly – your hotel can also book them for you!

Public Buses

Local buses (KTEL) will take you all over the island, the main bus hub is in Fira, it’s a little busy and chaotic at times, but you can bus between towns, villages and beaches cheaply – get the Santorini bus time table.

ATV

ATV’s are a popular way to travel around Santorini, for fun and freedom, you can park easily and they can be cost effective per day.

Rental Cars

You don’t really need a rental car in Santorini, rental cars are not a very common mode of transport on the island at all, but are available, often the vehicles are a older models – so be thorough with inspections!

TOP THINGS TO DO IN SANTORINI GREECE

Watch The Sunsets On The Caldera

Watching the sunset on the Caldera is a must, expect golden skies, whitewashed buildings glowing pink and hundreds of people all trying to snap the perfect photo across the island, but honestly, the views really are worth the hype – especially if you book a sunset dinner or caldera-view cocktail for a more refined experience in Imerovigli!

See the best things to do in Oia here!

Experience Santorini’s Wine Scene

Santorini is famous for its volcano wine and there are family ran winery’s and venues across the island including Santos right along the beautiful cliff top and local vineyards that offer wine tastings, it’s easily one of the most stylish ways to spend an afternoon in Santorini Greece, they are so close together you can visit three in one afternoon!

Take A Catamaran Cruise Around The Caldera

Santorini is known for it’s dramatic cliff tops and volcanic island views rather than it’s beaches and this dramatic coastline is best experienced by catamaran, you’ll see the uniqueness of the island, swim in the hot springs, visit the cliffs, caves and enjoy lunch onboard your private catamaran!

Check out the best Santorini boat trips here!

Book A Caldera View Dinner

Dinner overlooking the Caldera is one of the main reasons why people travel to Santorini, you can expect fabulous sunsets, chic terraces, candle-lit cave restaurants and some of the most incredible dining views in the whole of Greece!

Explore Santorini’s Cliffside Villages

Exploring the island’s beautiful whitewashed villages perched above the caldera is the best thing to do in Santorini, from sunset famous Oia to romantic Imerovigli and Fira with it’s lively restaurants, shopping and dramatic sea views – you can even hike between them!

Visit Charming Pyrgos On the Mountain

Pyrgos sits on the highest part of the island boasting panoramic views all across the landscape and a authentic and pretty centre to walk around with quality restaurants, but not stuffy and some lovely cafes and bars to while away the hours!

Looking for more inspiration and unforgettable experiences? From chic sunset cruises and wine tastings to the prettiest villages and must-see caldera views, don’t miss my full guide to the best things to do in Santorini Greece (coming soon).

TRAVEL TO SANTORINI FOR THE FIRST TIME TIPS!

Book your caldera view boutique hotel in advance

Santorini’s is one of the most popular places in Greece and the best boutique hotels can book out months in advance in summer. If you’re travelling between June and September, it’s worth planning earlier than you normally would, especially for Oia and Imerovigli stays!

See my full guide on where to stay in Santorini!

Explore Santorini earlier in the morning

Santorini’s main towns such as Oia and Fira are best explored in the morning – around 9am, before the cruise ship passengers descend and it’s not too hot for walking along the cliff tops, it’s also a nice time to begin the Fira to Imerovigli walk and visit smaller villages like Pyrgos!

The reality of walking around Santorini

Santorini is incredibly picturesque, but it’s not always the easiest island to navigate. Many hotels and restaurants are built into the cliffs which mean heaps of narrow stairs, steep walkways and uneven stone paths – and they are all part of the experience, especially around Oia and Imerovigli.

How to best experience the sunsets

Sunsets in Santorini are spectacular and I recommend finding your own space to enjoy it without the crowds, for a more special experience, book a sunset dinner, a catamaran cruise, or choose a hotel with its own sunset-facing terrace in Oia or Imerovigli.

Reserve restaurants & boat tours ahead in summer

For stays across summer, you should be booking those sort after cliff-top restaurants in advance, early evening especially and same goes for premier boat tours (with small numbers) in particular, which is one of the most popular things to do in Santorini!

Take a peak at the best Santorini boat tours!

Pack layers for the evenings!

Santorini is chilly in the mornings and evenings, especially in shoulder season (April-May, September- October) due to the location and excessive evening winds on the cliff-edge and caldera view hotels and many terraces are wide open – bring a few layers, evening shawls and jackets.

Is Santorini expensive?

Yes, Santorini is known as one of the premier Greek Islands and everything from boutique hotels with a view and cliff edge restaurants come with a higher price, but can you can avoid overspending by booking accommodation in advance and and mixing high end with charming traditional taverns dotted around the authentic hill top villages.

Is Santorini Worth Visiting for First-Time Visitors?

Yes absolutely! Santorini is one of those destinations that truly lives up to the hype, it’s completely different from all the other Greek Islands! Between the dramatic caldera views, chic cave hotels, sunset dinners and beautiful Cycladic villages, it’s easily one of the must-see Greek Islands – and definitely one of the most memorable!

Planning More Greece Island Hopping?

Santorini pairs perfectly with some of the other beautiful Cycladic islands, whether you’re looking for nightlife and beaches in Mykonos (2-3 hour ferry), quieter luxury escapes like Paros (2 hours) or slower traditional villages with a visit to Folgrandos – only an hour away!

Plan your travel to Santorini!

If you’re building your itinerary next, these in-depth guides from things to do in Dubrovnik to the best boutique hotels and day trips will help you plan the perfect stay:

• Where to Stay in Santorini – best areas & boutique hotels
• Things To Do in Santorini – top experiences & hidden gems
• Best Boat Tours from Dubrovnik – best scenic excursions!
• Things to do in Oia – from sunset viewpoints to restaurants!
• Best Santorini Hotels With Caldera Views – boutique & luxury stays!

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