Santorini Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Santorini
Oia showing general coastal views, a coastal town and a luxury hotel or resort
Santorini
Santorini
Santorini

Santorini Travel Guide Video

This Aegean island has been charming visitors for centuries with its pretty villages, romantic sunsets and tranquil pace of life.

Santorini rises dramatically from the sea on a crescent-shaped basin, or caldera, formed by an ancient volcanic eruption. Its whitewashed villages tumble haphazardly down the cliffs, dotted with churches and windmills while, at its shoreline, colourful fishing boats bob and toss on the sparkling waves.The island was named by the Venetians who landed here in the 13th century and dedicated it to Saint Irene. A devastating earthquake in 1956 destroyed many of the ancient buildings, but it has been thoughtfully rebuilt in the traditional style and has lost none of its historic charm.The capital, Firá, is a popular stopping-off point for island-hopping cruise ships, with plenty of shops, restaurants and bars to keep the holiday crowd happy. Picturesque Oia on the island’s northernmost tip is known for its romantic sunsets and typical blue and white houses, while the timeless village of Pyrgos has plenty of friendly tavernas as well as a 15th-century castle. The eye-catching black sand beaches of Perivolos and Perissa are popular spots for sunbathing, while the rocky coastal strips around Mesa Pigadia and Pori are fun to explore on foot.Santorini enjoys a pleasant climate all year round, with temperatures averaging 29° C in the summer and around 15° C in winter. The narrow village streets and steeply banked harbours can get very busy during the peak tourist season though, so if you want to avoid the crowds choose a quieter time of year.There is an airport on the east side of the island served by both scheduled and charter flights and most of the main sites are accessible by road. An economical way to see this compact island is by hiring a taxi or renting a car to get from A to B.

Santorini Palace
Santorini Palace
4 out of 5
Fira town, Santorini, Santorini Island
The price is NZ$274 per night from 17 July to 18 July
NZ$274
17 July - 18 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Santorini. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (712 reviews)
"Our stay was wonderful. The hotel is walking distance to downtown, has great views of the rest of the island at sunset, and the breakfast buffet had an array of food options to choose from. We didn’t have time to try the pool out as we were out & about most of the time so I can’t review it. I do ..."

Reviewed on 8 Jul. 2025

Santorini Palace
Desiterra Resort & Spa
Desiterra Resort & Spa
5 out of 5
Fira, Santorini
The price is NZ$440 per night from 12 July to 13 July
NZ$440
12 July - 13 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Santorini. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an attached winery. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (167 reviews)
"Nice villas and very nice and accommodating staff. the location is a 15-20 min drive to oia and 10 min drive to Fira. You must rent or arrange some sort of transportation (taxis can get expensive). They provide transportation from airport for 30 euros. The area nearby is under construction and really ..."

Reviewed on 3 Jul. 2025

Desiterra Resort & Spa
Costa Grand Resort & Spa
Costa Grand Resort & Spa
5 out of 5
Kamari Beach, Santorini, Santorini Island
The price is NZ$459 per night from 18 July to 19 July
NZ$459
18 July - 19 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 and the property condition ...
9/10 Wonderful! (335 reviews)
"Absolutely beautiful property that gives you all of the Santorini vibes."

Reviewed on 26 Jun. 2025

Costa Grand Resort & Spa
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.
Porto Castello
Porto Castello
Exo Gialos, Santorini, Santorini Island
Book a stay at this beach aparthotel in Santorini. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
7.6/10 Good! (356 reviews)
"The family who runs the hotel is welcoming and available 24 hours. The hotel provides a free shuttle to the bus transportation depot that takes you to the famous town of Oia to watch the sunset. The only concern is that you have to follow the hotel shuttle schedule that runs every three hours, requiring ..."

Reviewed on 6 Jul. 2025

Porto Castello
Blue Waves Hotel
Blue Waves Hotel
2 out of 5
Kamari, Santorini, Santorini Island
Book a stay at this beach aparthotel in Santorini. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (412 reviews)
"I cannot recommend this hotel enough! From the moment I arrived, the entire experience was seamless and full of warmth. The staff went above and beyond to make my stay comfortable, and every request I had was met with kindness and efficiency."

Reviewed on 28 Jun. 2025

Blue Waves Hotel
Aqua Luxury Suites
Aqua Luxury Suites
5 out of 5
Imerovigli, Santorini, Santorini Island
Stay at this 5-star luxury aparthotel in Santorini. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (203 reviews)
"We had a fantastic stay at Aqua Luxury Suites. The caldera view from our room was breathtaking and we appreciate how accommodating the front desk was. True professionals in hospitality!"

Reviewed on 27 Jun. 2025

Aqua Luxury 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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Reviews of Santorini

4.6
Top destination
5 - Excellent
187
5 - Excellent 68%
4 - Good
75
4 - Good 27%
3 - Okay
13
3 - Okay 5%
2 - Disappointing
2
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Ticked off all expectations and more. Best place to have our honeymoon. Worth every penny!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

I went in the low season ,the good t about going in the low season was the weather was fine and clear yet cloudy (22-24 degrees Celsius). Not too much tourist crowding around while you walk through very narrow streets of Thira.But there are drawbacks

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Beautiful holiday destination.

5/5 - Excellent

Kate

We have stayed in Santorini multiple times

5/5 - Excellent

Kate

Santorini is a dream, perfect location for couples looking to explore and include romance. If you have enough time to stay in two locations, I would recommend this as there is more to the island than the sunset and caldera that draws the crowds.

4/5 - Good

JENNY

the hike from santorini ot oia was very picturesque. santorini gets very crowded when the cruise ships visit

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