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 historic island offers amazing highlights such as the gorgeous scenery, the small town charm, the quaint atmosphere, and the cuisine.
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
The small-town atmosphere of Santorini is one of the main reasons that visitors come here. Spend at least part of your day exploring the town to see the many sights and attractions. Santorini has a few small towns to explore, although the main sections of these towns are now built up with tourists. Fira and Oia are the two most popular with amazing views, restaurants, shops, and weaving streets. You'll find others around the island that are smaller and less touristy, too.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Santorini Sunset Walking Tour inc. tastings and 5 drinks ($138)
- Guided Walking Tour in Santorini ($45)
- Private Santorini Villages Morning Walking Tour inc. tastings ($172)
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 ($200)
- Experience Santorini Award-Winning Wineries with Sunset & snacks. ($162)
- Santorini Sunset Sailing Cruise: Dinner, BBQ, Open Bar, Transfers ($139)
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.
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 Sunset Walking Tour inc. tastings and 5 drinks ($138)
- Guided Walking Tour in Santorini ($45)
- Private Santorini Villages Morning Walking Tour inc. tastings ($172)
You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this island, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. Popular foods on this island include fava, Greek salad, and kofta.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Santorini Wine Stories: Sunset Tour with Tasting & Dinner ($200)
- Extra virgin olive oil And Honey Tasting ($67)
- Santorini Sunset Wine Tour with Santo Winery Views ($185)
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.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Exclusive Shore Excursion : Scenic Santorini, Shopping & Winery ($156)
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.
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.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Santorini.
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.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Santorini Stand-Up Paddle and Snorkel Adventure ($139)
- Discover Scuba Diving in the Caldera of the Volcano in Santorini ($104)
- Scuba Diving Experience in Santorini ($104)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Santorini.
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 Sunset Sailing Cruise: Dinner, BBQ, Open Bar, Transfers ($139)
- Half Day Premium Catamaran Cruise in Santorini including Oia ($185)
- Santorini Windsurfing lessons ($139)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Santorini.
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:
- Wine Tour in Santorini with private guide, wine museum and tasting ($220)
- Santorini Venetian Castles Discovery Private Tour ($203)
- Santorini Family Island Tour with Winery Museum Experience ($231)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Santorini.
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, savor the small town atmosphere, admire the quaint setting, and sample the delicious cuisine. 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
The village of Oia in 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.
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:
- Santorini Ancient Thira Walk Hiking Experience ($168)
- Sunrise Caldera Hike with Snacks ($226)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Santorini.
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. The historic towns of Fira and Oia are the two most popular with visitors, although they have become more built up and less historic over the past few decades. Historical areas are still found within these towns mixed in with restaurants, shops, and hotels set among the beautiful cliff-side views.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Santorini Sunset Walking Tour inc. tastings and 5 drinks ($138)
- Guided Walking Tour in Santorini ($45)
- Private Santorini Villages Morning Walking Tour inc. tastings ($172)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Santorini.
After you've explored most of Santorini, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Day Trip From Crete Discover Santorini's Charms ($196)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Santorini.
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.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Santorini.
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.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Santorini.
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.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Santorini.
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.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Santorini.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Santorini, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.