Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Santorini?
Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks in Santorini?
Most people spend at least 3 or as many as 7 days in Santorini during their visit. The romantic island offers amazing highlights such as the gorgeous scenery, the quaint atmosphere, the shops and boutiques, and scuba diving and snorkeling.
Santorini is one of the most popular Greek Isles for tourists and it has a long running history dating back centuries. The island has beautiful volcanic beaches and a stunning natural landscape. It is a popular destination for honeymooners and travelers who are seeking the beauty of the Mediterranean.
Do you have one or two weeks to visit Santorini? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one week enough time in Santorini?
One week is more than enough time to see pretty much everything on Santorini. You can move at your own pace and take in the scenery and culture of the island. You could also use Santorini as a base for exploring the nearby destinations or get out on the water. You'll find some great day trips here for sure.
How to spend a week in Santorini
Santorini offers a charming atmosphere that's hard to find anywhere else. Spend part of the day exploring the scenery. The island's towns are filled with wandering cobblestone streets, striking churches, and quaint cafes.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Santorini: Walking Tour of Fira ($53)
- Santorini Villages Morning Private Walking Tour inc. tasting ($142)
Santorini is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. It has striking blue water and contrasting white buildings. It is the place many travelers dream of visiting for its picturesque setting.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Santorini Wine Stories: Sunset Tour with Tasting & Dinner ($185)
- Experience Santorini Award-Winning Wineries with Sunset & snacks. ($142)
- Small-Group Sunset Wine Tour with Tapas and Santo Winery Views ($175)
Public transit in Santorini is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the island quite easily. There is a bus system, KTEL Santorini Buses, that runs 23 buses during the summer months but only a small fraction of that operate during the winter months.
Shopping in Santorini is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. Towns around the island are filled with clothing and jewelry boutiques as well as many unique Greek shopping experiences.
You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. Popular foods on this island include fava, Greek salad, and kofta.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Santorini Wine Stories: Sunset Tour with Tasting & Dinner ($185)
- Santorini First-time Visitors Private Tour with Wine Tasting ($191)
- Half-Day Small-Group Eat and Walk Santorini Food Tour ($136)
Perhaps the most famous place in Santorini is the Caldera and Volcano of Santorini, so don't miss it. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.
This island is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. It is one of the calmer, more romantic islands in Greece. For the best nightlife, you'll want to stay near Fira.
The surrounding waters are great for scuba diving and snorkeing, so spend some time in the water to see nature up close. Some of the best snorkeling places are found at Red Beach, White Beach, and the less accessible Kambia. One of the island's best diving spots is Caldera Beach.
The beautiful beaches await you in Santorini, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. The island has many beaches, most of which are made of black pebbly sand that are a result of the island's volcanic history. Popular beaches include Perissa Beach, Kamari Beach, and Perivolos Beach.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Santorini Windsurfing lessons ($131)
- Santorini Sea Kayak - South Discovery, Small Group incl. Sea Caves and picnic ($115)
- Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise with Meal, BBQ and Open Bar ($109)
This island offers some good museums and historic landmarks, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. Pick the ones that appeal to you the most and get started. One of the most impressive historical sights is Akrotiri Archaeological Site. The island has many archeological sites as well as the Archeological Museum in Fira.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Santorini Highlights and Venetian Castles Small-Group Day Tour ($98)
- Cave Wine Museum Tour in Santorini with Tasting and Pick Up ($76)
- Santorini private tour traditional Village and wine museum ($136)
Known for it's hiking, Santorini sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. The best hiking trails on the island pass by quaint villages and offers stunning ocean views. You can also hike along the edge of a volcano.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Small-Group Santorini Caldera Fira to Oia Hike ($108)
- Santorini Caldera Walk Hiking Experience Fira-Oia ($147)
- Santorini : Night Hike, Wine Tasting and Dinner ($169)
Is 2 weeks enough time in Santorini?
Two weeks provides more than enough time to explore the entirety of Santorini at your own pace to take in the beautiful scenery, admire the quaint setting, go shopping, and snorkel or scuba dive. Then, use your hotel as a base to take some day trips or get out on the water, as this island offers plenty of options
Santorini, Greece
How to spend 2 weeks in Santorini
Having 2 weeks in Santorini will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the island.
After you've explored most of Santorini, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Santorini Flexible Day Trip! (Choose your start time and Destination) ($164)
With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Santorini. Plenty of amazing options are available.
Another fun day at the beach awaits, so spend more time relaxing and swimming. After all, a beach vacation usually calls for plenty of time to have fun on the sand and in the waves.
With plenty of hiking trails and viewpoints around Santorini, you'll need another day to experience the gorgeous hiking trails that you haven't seen yet. Either head out in a different direction, or pick up where you left off before.
With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Santorini. Plenty of amazing options are available.
Another fun day at the beach awaits, so spend more time relaxing and swimming. After all, a beach vacation usually calls for plenty of time to have fun on the sand and in the waves.
With plenty of hiking trails and viewpoints around Santorini, you'll need another day to experience the gorgeous hiking trails that you haven't seen yet. Either head out in a different direction, or pick up where you left off before.
More Info
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