Is Santorini worth visiting?
Yes, Santorini is worth visiting for a number of reasons. This is a island that everyone should explore, and we loved our time here.
Whether you're a traveling as a family, a couple, or a backpacker, this island has a lot to offer. Any local will tell you what makes it special is the spectacular resorts and terrific shopping.
It's often mentioned as one of the best places to visit in major publications, such as in Conde Nast Traveler's Best Places to Go in 2024.
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.
Santorini, Greece
9 Reasons to Visit Santorini
1. Resorts
The resorts range from all-inclusive options to resorts with a more local feel. The island is one of the most romantic of the Greek Islands, and the resorts are no exception.
2. Shopping
Towns around the island are filled with clothing and jewelry boutiques as well as many unique Greek shopping experiences.
3. Museums
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.
4. Food
Popular foods on this island include fava, Greek salad, and kofta.
5. Nightlife
It is one of the calmer, more romantic islands in Greece. For the best nightlife, you'll want to stay near Fira.
6. Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
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.
7. Beaches
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.
8. Historical Sights
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.
9. Hiking
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.
Things to Consider Before Visiting Santorini
Lots of Tourists
Santorini sees a high number of visitors every year, which means you might have to wait in line and deal with large crowds during your visit.
Getting Around
The area is not very walkable, and public transit is not great here, so it might be difficult to get around without arranging your own transportation.
The Cost
Depending on your budget, schedule, and travel style, Santorini might be an expensive destination for you. You can find out the travel costs for Santorini here or see if Santorini is expensive here.
Related
What is Santorini most famous for?
Santorini is most famous for its beautiful volcanic beaches, stunning natural beauty, and breathtaking sunsets over the whitewashed villages. People visit this impressive island for its great resorts. It's also known for shopping. And many travelers come for the museums, food, nightlife, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, and hiking, as well. It is often described as stunning, historic, and romantic.
What is the most famous sight in Santorini?
The most popular sight in Santorini is The Caldera and Volcano of Santorini. You can see prices and costs for this and other sights in Santorini on our travel costs page.
Or, see tickets, activities, and tours for The Caldera and Volcano of Santorini and other attractions here.
How touristy is Santorini? Is it a popular island to visit?
Santorini is a very touristy island that attracts travelers from around the globe. Here are some of the most popular activities and tours. (Prices in US Dollars)
- 6-hour Best of Santorini Sightseeing Guided Tour: $133
- Private Tailormade Tour in Santorini Island with Local Driver: $107
- 5-hour My Santorini Private Tailor Made Tour: $194
- Half-Day Santorini Private Tour: $178
- 6-hour Santorini Tour, All Must-see Places, Photoshoot and History Lesson: $243
- Golden Route: Santorini Sunset Cruise with Ammoudi Bay Views: $155
- Exclusive cruise experience in Santorini: $200
- Santorini Half-Day Private Sightseeing tour: $189
How long should I spend in Santorini?
The ideal length of time for a trip to Santorini is at least three or as many as seven days. Since Santorini has a variety of activities such as resorts, most people need this much time to see and do everything here.
If you have a specific amount of time for your trip, see our advice about how much time to spend here: Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Santorini?, Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Santorini?, and Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Santorini?.
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.
Expert Advice from Local Travelers
We're asking our community members and registered users to contribute their experiences about Santorini.
Why would you recommend Santorini to budget travelers? Or, why not?
I found some cheaper hotel options in Fira away from the cliffside. The place we stayed ended up being fantastic and really cute, it just didn't have the views. But we were only a few blocks away from all of the views so it was worth it. Plenty of amazing restaurants with good prices are also just a few blocks back from the cliffs, too.
Santorini is probably my favorite places in Greece, but it's also one of the more expensive.
There are very affordable hotels in Fira, so if you're on a budget it's cheaper to stay there. Restaurants can still be expensive though.
What makes Santorini a budget-friendly destination? Or not?
We felt like Santorini was probably the most expensive Greek island we visited. We did stay at a nice hotel with a beautiful pool. The restaurants were pretty expensive as well, particularly the ones with a view.
While there are some hostels on the island, most of the restaurants are more expensive than the other Greek islands.
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