Santorini is world-famous and for good reason – this bucket-list-worthy island is home to white-washed cave houses, breathtaking sunsets, and cliffside restaurants. And once you visit you’ll understand why it’s one of the most-visited islands in Europe, attracting a whopping 2 million visitors every year!
You’ve clicked on this blog post because you’re keen to know the best things to do with 3 days in Santorini! And I’m going to deliver on that front, I’ve visited Santorini several times and have visited most of the island’s towns and done most activities the island has to offer!
Below, I’ve included the big-hitter attractions on Santorini – things like the Fira to Oia trail and watching the sunset from the three bells of Fira. But, I’ve also included some lesser-known activities like horse-riding on Eros Beach and a sunset wine-tasting tour!
To put it simply in this blog we’ll introduce you to experiences that are not on most 3 days in Santorini itineraries.
Related Reads: We spent over 6 weeks in Greece and explored Meteora and Syros among other places, but Santorini was one of our favorite stops!
Is 3 Days Enough in Santorini?
Yes, 3 days in Santorini is enough. In fact, it’s the most popular number of days to spend on this island. You’ll be surprised by how much you can squeeze into 3 days in Santorini. For example, you’ll get to tick off the island’s top attractions like the Fira to Oia hiking trail and a sunset boat cruise. But, you’ll also get to visit the island’s famous black sand beaches, go horse riding, and even go on a wine tasting tour.
Day 1 – Hike the Fira to Oia Trail, Explore Oia & Watch the Sunset from Skaros Rock
Morning – Hike the Fira to Oia trail
It’s your first day in Santorini and we recommend getting up early to walk the Fira to Oia trail before the intense heat and the crowds hit!
The Fira to Oia trail is 10.4 km (6.5 miles) and will take most people 3 hours to complete (one-way). Be sure to wear closed-toe, comfortable shoes for the walk – I wore flip-flops and it wasn’t my finest idea. It’s best to start the trail at around 8/9 am so that you avoid the intense heat during the day. That way, you’ll arrive in Oia in time for lunch.
The walking trail is typically flat and easy, although there are a few uphill sections. It follows the rim of the caldera, so as you can imagine, the views are stunning. It passes through the villages of Imerovigli, Firostefani, and Oia.
Lunch in Oia
It’s your first day in Santorini so we recommend lunch in a very special spot. Elinikon in Oia specializes in share dishes and meze platters and the best part is that it has one of the best views from any restaurant in Oia. Definitely book this one in advance!
Afternoon – Explore Oia
If you’re looking to do a spot of shopping Oia is the place for you. It has everything from luxury clothing and jewelry stores to quaint souvenir stores.
If it’s a hot day, we recommend heading to Lioyerma pool bar at Garbini Mills in Oia after lunch. It has a beautiful view overlooking the caldera. It’s one of the largest pools in Santorini and is a great spot to spend a few hours on a hot Santorini summer day, sunbathing and then cooling off in the pool. It’s also a great spot to watch the sunset!
There’s a small fee to rent a sunbed here (about €5) and you can purchase drinks and food from the bar. The food is freshly prepared and the salads especially are delicious.
Or if you’re visiting in the cooler months why not spend some time in one of the coolest bookstores in the world? Atlantis Books in Oia is quirky, charming, and colorful. It’s located on Nomikos Street in Oia and is actually housed within a historic Greek villa. Atlantis Books is owned and operated by several creatives who are very active in the local community, in fact, they set up a cool program called ‘the book donkey’ which brings books to the local schools.
For sale here are fiction and non-fiction books in most languages (Greek, French, Italian etc.) as well as rare antiquarian books and collectors’ first editions. Most tourists though come here to take photos of its qu mish-mashed interior.
Dinner – Try to nab a table at Panorama Balcony
Today is definitely a foodie day, in that, we’ve recommended dining at two of the best restaurants in Oia for lunch and dinner. But our suggested dinner spot this evening is super-special!
Panorama Balcony in Oia has only one table in the restaurant and one seating per night between 8 – 11 pm. The only table in the restaurant overlooks the deep blue ocean and the food is fine-dining-style!
As you can guess, you will need to book this one months in advance!
If you can’t nab a table at this insanely popular spot, we also love Candouni an authentic Greek restaurant which often has live music acts or Roka a charming, quiet eatery with excellent food!
Watch the sunset
Oia is the most popular village in Santorini where you can watch the sunset, specifically in front of Oia Castle. However, this spot is thronged in the busy months – there are literally hundreds of tourists gathered in this small area vying for space and trying to get that iconic sunset photo.
Instead of joining the huge crowds in Oia, why not travel a little further to the Venetian ruins on Skaros Rock in Imerovigli? Imerovigli is the next town over from Oia, and you can walk between the two if you’re adventurous.
I’ve visited Santorini a few times now and I must admit that my favorite place to watch the sunset in Santorini is Skaros Rock. At sunset, the castle ruins are illuminated by the red-pinkish light of the sunset, which makes for a great photo. Whilst you’re in the area why not visit the lovely little Chapel of Theoskepasti, which faces the Caldera.
Day 2 – Horse-riding on Eros Beach, Visit a Black Sand Beach & Sunset Boat Tour
Morning – Horse-riding on Eros Beach
This morning we recommend going horse-riding on Eros Beach – this is a 90-minute tour and costs from €85 per person. It takes you through sand dunes, along a golden beach with stunning canyon views all-round. Get ready to take loads of Instagram-worthy photos!
This tour is suitable for all skill levels, and if you’re feeling less than confident, your experienced guide will take the time before you depart to show you the ropes (literally!). You will ride through the sand dunes at Caldera Beach and into the surrounding mountains before coming to the black-sand Eros Beach (which is breathtaking).
You must make your own way to Efippos Riding Center for this tour and a taxi here from Fira will cost you around €35.
BOOK horse-riding on Eros Beach here!
Afternoon – Beach day
One of the most unique things to do in Santorini in the summer is to head to Kamari or Perissa for a relaxing day on a beautiful black sand beach. Be sure to wear shoes at all times as the sand will BURN your feet! You can rent a sunbed and umbrella on these beaches for a fee. And to keep you nice and refreshed in the hot Greek sun there are lots of restaurants lining the edge of these beaches.
How to get to Kamari – From Fira (the main town) get a KTEL bus which takes 15 minutes and costs approximately €2. The bus times vary from every 20 minutes in busy times to every hour in the mornings/ evenings.
How to get to Perissa – From Fira (the main town) get a KTEL bus which takes 20 minutes and costs approximately €2. The bus departs hourly.
Evening – Sunset boat tour
A great way to enjoy the sunset and avoid the crowds is to book a sunset boat tour. Most tours leave from either the port of Ammoudi in Oia or the port of Athinios every day at 3 pm. The tours are typically 5 hours in duration and include a tour of the island of Santorini from the ocean and maybe even a spot of swimming or snorkeling. The tour ends with you dropping anchor in a prime spot to watch the sunset near Oia.
This sunset boat tour is one of the most popular tours in Santorini and it’s been awarded a traveller’s choice award thanks to its 2,500 5-star reviews. It’s a small group tour, just 20 people so it makes for a more intimate experience. We loved that about it – as our sunset-watching experience in Fira and Oia was very crowded. Dinner, white wine and soft drinks are included in the price. You’ll also get to go swimming in the Santorini Hot Springs and see Red Beach and White Beach.
Prices for this tour cost €116 per person and you can BOOK IT HERE!
Day 3 – Akrotiri Ruins, Wine Tasting & Wander Fira
Morning – Visit the Greek Pompeii
Akrotiri is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. This is certainly one of the most unique things to do in Santorini! The town of Akrotiri was abandoned after a series of earthquakes and then covered by volcanic ash somewhere between 1620 and 1530 BC following a volcanic eruption. The ash has exceptionally preserved the settlement.
Archaeologists have discovered Akrotiri had an elaborate drainage system and was made up of many multi-story buildings, each decorated with stunning wall paintings. The luxurious quality of the furniture and ceramics found points to the town being very prosperous.
Today, Akrotiri is covered by a bioclimatic roof, and its walkways are suspended above the site, this allows visitors to walk easily among the two and three-story buildings.
There are regular buses from Fira to the car park at Akrotiri Red Beach – the journey will take approximately 20 minutes. Once you get off the bus, it’s a 250-meter walk to Akrotiri. The bus ticket costs around €2 for an adult.
Alternatively, you can book a guided tour to Akrotiri like this one which is 6 hours long and also visits Red Beach. It costs from €50 per person.
Afternoon – Go on a Wine Tour
You wouldn’t think that a small volcanic island would produce great wine, but Santorini certainly hits the nail on the head with some great wines coming from the area. The mild Greek climate, combined with Santorini’s volcanic soil, enables a few unique grape varieties to grow. In fact, wine has been produced in Santorini for approximately 3,500 years!
The best-known wine varieties in Santorini are Assyrtiko, Athiri, and Aidani – all whites and Mandilaria, Mavrotragano, and Voudomato – all reds. Santorini wines are high in alcohol content and have an intense flavor.
Why not try a slightly more unique wine tour and do a sunset tour – it include a stop at 3 wineries (and 12 wine tastings), ending at Santo Wines which has an epic view of the famous sunset. Worth noting is that it’s a small group tour (limited to just 10 people). Included is a cheese platter and nibbles as well as hotel pick-up and drop-offf. Again, it’s one of the best-rated tours in Santorini with over 1,000 5-star reviews.
This sunset wine tour costs from €122 and you can BOOK IT HERE!
Evening – Dinner in Fira
Fira is one of the busiest areas of Santorini as this is where the cruise ships dock. It’s where most hotels, restaurants and bars are located and it’s a great spot for shopping. As you can imagine, seeing as Fira is sat atop a 220-meter cliff the views from here (especially at sunset are astounding!)
For the final evening of your 3 days in Santorini, we recommend getting away from the crowds and wandering Fira’s quaint back streets before dinner. These flower-filled streets are a world away from the busy main shopping area in Fira.
For dinner, we loved Naoussa in Fira which serves up traditional Greek food. It’s located on the northern end of Fira and offers a stunning view over the sea.
After dinner, head to the most popular sunset-watching spot in Fira – the three bells of Fira just above the Three Bells church. Aim to get here around 30 minutes before sunset as it gets really bust!
Where to Stay in Santorini
SPLURGE –
- Perivolas in Oia – Possibly the most famous hotel in Santorini, featured in numerous travel magazines and instagram accounts. Perfect for honeymooners, the view from your infinity pool is to-die-for. Save this one for a special occasion! Rooms from €833 per night.
- Iconic Santorini in Imerovigli – A small hotel in the quieter town of Imerovigli with a shared pool and a stunning view over the Caldera. Rooms from €700 per night.
- Katikies Hotel in Oia – A larger hotel with 3 infinity pools all with excellent views of the caldera and the deep blue sea. Rooms from €646 per night.
MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD –
- Afroessa in Imerovigli – Brilliant value for money for what you get – each room has a private balcony with stunning views. Rooms from €233 per night.
- Carpe Diem Santorini in Pyrgos – No kids allowed in this adults-only resort. For the views alone and the stunning rooms it’s great value for money. Rooms from €394 per night.
BUDGET –
- Chez Sophie Rooms & Suites in Kamari – Family-run, excellent value for money and in a great location close to the beach. Sure, you don’t have the caldera views like you would in Oia or Fira but you have the beach. Rooms from €126 per night.
Thanks for Reading!
I hope you enjoyed reading my guide to 3 days in Santorini! 3 days is the perfect number of days to spend in Santorini but ideally, if you have the time I’d extend your stay here to 5 days!
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Last Updated on June 22, 2024 by snaphappytravel