Oia Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Oia featuring a sunset and a coastal town
Oia
Oia showing a windmill and a coastal town
Oia showing general coastal views and a coastal town
Oia showing general coastal views, a coastal town and a luxury hotel or resort

Oia Travel Guide Video

This cliff-topped village is at the pinnacle of the visual drama of Santorini, with its striking white-and-blue homes, windmills and churches.

On an island of unsurpassed drama and incredible vistas, it is Oia – on the northern tip of Santorini's crescent-shaped sliver of land – that takes the prize. You could put that down to fortunate geography – Oia faces over the open western horizon, ready to scoop up the dying sunlight, as the sun slips into the sea. You could put it down to an innate architectural genius, which saw the villagers dig their homes into the hillside, becoming an organic part of those razor cliffs. Or you could put it down to several pots of home-made lime paint.It is the vibrant mix of colours splashed over the simple cubes and domes of Oia's homes, that make it such a striking sight from a distance – a spill of white, on the old volcano's red-rusted slopes. Once you're in the village, the full palette of that paint work is seen – a bold canvas of blazing whites, patterned pastels and the deep-marine blues. But pretty as it is, the paint used here is also very practical.Santorini is an exceptionally dry island, the only place in Europe classed with a desert climate. The slick painted surfaces of its rounded roofs and channels are actually designed to capture every last rain and dew drop. The locals have also been careful to harvest another of Santorini's precious resources – the wind – gifting visitors with those iconic traditional windmills, which naturally find a place into every photo of Oia. Oia does have other attractions, aside from its own exceptional beauty. There are art galleries, restored churches, a naval museum and a weaving mill – Oia didn't always depend on tourists for a living. But the most popular place to be, especially at sunset, is the part-ruined castle of Fort Londsa. As the highest point in the village, it has an uninterrupted view across the whole village – and the whole horizon. It is here you can make your picture of Oia perfect.

Katikies Santorini - The Leading Hotels Of The World
Katikies Santorini - The Leading Hotels Of The World
5 out of 5
Oia, Santorini, Santorini Island
The price is NZ$1,431 per night from 6 July to 7 July
NZ$1,431
6 July - 7 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Santorini. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (333 reviews)
"This property was top notch. We really enjoyed the ambiance and the elegance this hotel had. It is very walkable to all places in town, Oia. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. I’m gluten free and they had plenty of options. The complimentary breakfast was fantastic. They also organized ..."

Reviewed on 15 Jun. 2025

Katikies Santorini - The Leading Hotels Of The World
Andronis Arcadia Hotel
Andronis Arcadia Hotel
5 out of 5
Oia, Santorini, Santorini Island
The price is NZ$1,664 per night from 15 July to 16 July
NZ$1,664
15 July - 16 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Santorini. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (163 reviews)
"The staff were amazing"

Reviewed on 13 Jun. 2025

Andronis Arcadia Hotel
Caldera Premium Villas - Adults Only
Caldera Premium Villas - Adults Only
Oia, Santorini, South Aegean
The price is NZ$471 per night from 23 June to 24 June
NZ$471
23 June - 24 June
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Santorini. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (603 reviews)
"room was clean and spacious, staff were friendly and helpful. if i go back id stay here again"

Reviewed on 13 Jun. 2025

Caldera Premium Villas - Adults Only
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Nikos Villas Hotel in Oia Santorini
Nikos Villas Hotel in Oia Santorini
Oia, Santorini, Santorini Island
Stay at this aparthotel in Santorini. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (81 reviews)
"Can’t say enough good things about this stay and experience! They take care of you here not as if they are employees but if it were their own business. Truly remarkable. The hotel is perfect in all regards-location, space, a lovely ambiance, breakfast, private, safe. I cannot complain about a single ..."

Reviewed on 13 Jun. 2025

Nikos Villas Hotel in Oia Santorini
Nano Oia Villas
Nano Oia Villas
OIA SANTORINI 1,1 1, Santorini, Aegean Islands
Stay at this villa in Santorini. Enjoy free WiFi, in-room massages, and an airport shuttle (surcharge). Popular attractions Athinios Port and Oia Castle are ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (36 reviews)
"The property is beautiful, but what really makes a Luxury - high end experience is the staff, all of them extremely nice, smiley and client oriented"

Reviewed on 17 Jun. 2025

Nano Oia Villas
Phaos Oia Suites
Phaos Oia Suites
Oia, Santorini, Cyclades
Stay at this apartment in Santorini. Enjoy free WiFi, concierge services, and furnished patios. Popular attractions Athinios Port and Oia Blue Dome Church Viewpoint ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2 reviews)
"We stayed at Phaos Oia Suites for 3 nights in May. It was a comfortable stay , the suite was very spacious and clean . There were some issues with the main door and hot water . The owner was very quick and responsive to all our questions/concerns . It was solved in an efficient manner. The location ..."

Reviewed on 1 Jun. 2025

Phaos Oia Suites
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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