Santorini
Santorini is a Greek island in the Aegean known for whitewashed villages on cliffs above a flooded volcanic caldera, dark volcanic beaches and sunsets over the water.
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Santorini is a volcanic island in the Cyclades, in the Aegean Sea, part of Greece. Its villages, Fira and Oia among them, sit on cliffs above a caldera, the flooded crater left by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. Visitors come for whitewashed houses with blue domes, sunsets over the water and black and red volcanic beaches. The Bronze Age Minoan town of Akrotiri, preserved under volcanic ash, is one of the island's main archaeological sites.
Santorini suits couples, groups of friends and travelers who want dramatic scenery and a slower pace by the sea. The island is busiest in summer, when day visitors from cruise ships arrive in the main villages. Late spring and early autumn bring milder weather and fewer people. A two- to four-day trip allows time to walk between the main villages, swim at a volcanic beach and see a sunset from the rim. Ferries and flights connect the island to Athens and other Greek islands.
Santorini in five
- Check cruise daysWhen several ships call, Fira and Oia are crowded from late morning. Cruise passengers pay a per-person landing fee that is highest in the peak months.
- Walk from Fira to OiaThe rim path runs about 10 km through Imerovigli, in about 3–4 hours. Start early and carry water; there is little shade.
- See the sunset away from OiaOia's castle is packed at sunset. Imerovigli, Firostefani or the Akrotiri lighthouse give similar light with fewer people.
- Know the beaches are volcanicKamari and Perissa have black sand and pebbles that get very hot. Red Beach can close after rockfalls.
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Santorini, the full guide
Fira
- Best for: First visits, trips without a car
- To airport: About 20 min by bus or taxi
- Price band: $$$
- Bus hub for beaches and Oia
- Many restaurants and shops
- Crowded on cruise days
Skip if you want quiet at midday.
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Oia
- Best for: Photographers, short stays
- To airport: About 30 min by taxi
- Price band: $$$
- Sunset crowds on the castle
- Calm before the first buses
- Far from beaches and the airport
Skip if you want a beach or local prices.
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Things to do in Santorini
See all attractions in Santorini
Need to know
- Airport
- Santorini (JTR), about 20 min to Fira by bus or taxi
- Getting there
- Ferries from Piraeus about 5–8 hours; flights from Athens
- Getting around
- Buses from Fira, rental cars or ATVs; walking on the rim
- Best base
- Fira or Imerovigli for views, Kamari or Perissa for beaches
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low12°Mild, most shutJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, most shut
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh15°Low13°Windy, most shutFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Windy, most shut
- MarchClear6 rainy daysHigh16°Low14°Cool, openingMarchClear
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, opening
- AprilClear4 rainy daysHigh18°Low15°Mild, calmAprilClear
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calm
- MayClear3 rainy daysHigh22°Low18°Warm, sea coolMayClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, sea cool
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh25°Low22°Warm, busyJuneClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 5 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh27°Low24°Hot, windy, busiestJulyClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, windy, busiest
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh27°Low25°Hot, busiestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busiest
- SeptemberClear1 rainy dayHigh26°Low23°Warm sea, busySeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 5 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, busy
- OctoberClear3 rainy daysHigh22°Low20°Mild, closingOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, closing
- NovemberClear5 rainy daysHigh19°Low17°Quiet, rainNovemberClear
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 26 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, rain
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low14°Mild, most shutDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, most shut
Average daily high and low in Fira, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Santorini
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
20
- Feels like
- 20°
- Humidity
- 77%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 73%
Santorini
10:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today22°18°73%Monday: Rain. High 22°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Tue22°19°68%Tuesday: Rain. High 22°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 68%.
- Wed22°17°23%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Thu19°15°5%Thursday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Fri16°14°0%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 16°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat17°14°3%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 17°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sun18°16°3%Sunday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 3%.
Updated 10:38 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Nea Kameni volcanoabout half a day by boatWalk the volcanic island, then swim at the hot springs of Palea Kameni.
- Akrotiriabout 30 minutes by bus from FiraA Bronze Age town preserved under volcanic ash, under a roof.
- Thirassiaabout 30 minutes by boatThe small island across the caldera, with a quiet village.
Before you go to Santorini
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Rules for Santorini, checked
- Greece is in the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (mfa.gr) before you fly.Source
- Non-EU visitors may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's current EES guidance before you travel.
- Smoking is banned in enclosed public spaces across Greece, so check the signs before you light up indoors.
Plan around Santorini
Islands, ferries, entry rules and money
Read the guideOiaThe postcard village at the northern tip
Read the guideFiraThe main town and bus hub on the rim
Read the guideMykonosThe other island most trips pair with Santorini
Read the guideBest time to visit GreeceWhich months suit islands and cities
Read the guideFerries, buses and trainsGetting around Greece by sea and land
Read the guideSantorini FAQ
When is the best time to visit Santorini?
May, June, late September and October have warm weather and fewer crowds than July and August. Many places close from November to March.
Is there a fee for cruise passengers in Santorini?
Yes. Greece charges cruise passengers a per-person fee at its busiest island ports, higher in peak months, and it is added to the cruise fare. Ferry and flight visitors do not pay it.
Where should I stay in Santorini?
On the caldera in Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli or Oia for views, or at Kamari or Perissa for beaches and lower prices.
Do I need a car in Santorini?
Not if you stay in Fira, which is the bus hub. A car or ATV helps for beaches, wineries and the south of the island.
How many days do you need in Santorini?
Two or three days cover the rim walk, a beach or wine afternoon and Akrotiri. One night in Imerovigli or Oia gives you the quiet hours after the day trippers leave.