26 Quick Tips + First Timer Guide To Santorini 2025

Santorini was long on my bucket list. So long, that I worried I’d be disappointed when the time came, especially hearing about the crowds at sunset and the number of daily cruise visitors. And yet despite both of those things being true, Santorini lived up to its hype. We combined our visit with a week in Crete and the contrast between the two made for a memorable holiday. I really attribute a lot of what made our experience great to timing and planning.

This post includes my new addition of quick-glance set of tips and essential things to know when arriving to a place for the first time. I started keeping these quick reference notes on my phone because they come in handy when I return somewhere. 

Things like public transportation, when to go, gyms, groceries, favorite spots and even how to pronounce things. 

The rest of the guide will cover the major towns and villages of the Santorini, some accommodation gems we found, and the activities you can or should do.

Plan Santorini right and everything easily falls into place when you’re here.

Essential Things To Know For Santorini

Best Months To Visit To Santorini

1. The Santorini season is generally from late March to early November.
2. The shoulder seasons of March to early May and late September to early November are, in my opinion, the best times to visit. The crowds thin, weather is still good, prices and availability are much better. We went at the beginning of October and it was perfect.
3. June to mid September is the peak season. Accommodation prices are at their highest (2x), it gets really hot during the day, and the overwhelming number of visitors and inbound daily cruises makes planning more difficult.

Transportation

1. Taxis are slightly expensive. Uber and Bolt is available, but also expensive. A ride from the Athinios port or airport to Oia is about €35-€40 during the day. More at night.
2. KTEL runs a bus network around the major spots on the islands with the main bus station in Fira. Frequency is every 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the route. Here are the online time tables and price list, but the printed or hand-written ones at the station will be the most up to date. Cash only and try to have exact change, since I’ve seen drivers try to pocket a few euros extra as ‘tip’ for themselves.
3. The buses run to/from the Airport and Athinios Port (timed for ferry arrivals) and is a cheap way (€2.5) to get to/from Fira. From there, you can take a bus or walk to your hotel.
4. Renting is a car is not necessary if you’re staying in Oia or Fira, but otherwise, it is inexpensive and much more convenient than using the buses. I found car rentals here for as low as $15 a day.

Internet and Data

1. Mobile data tends to be more expensive in Greece. European SIMs will usually have free roaming in Greece.
2. You can get a pre-paid local SIM at the Germanos or Cosmote store in Fira. Easier option is to buy an eSIM from Airalo. If it’s your first time, you can use code KIEN0079 to get $3 off.

Dining and Tipping

1. I paid around €12-15 per person for lunch without alcohol. €25-35 for person for dinner with a couple of shared appetizers. In Fira and along some of the smaller alleys, there were fast food stalls and souvlaki stands where you can grab a quick meal for between €6-12.
2. Tipping at restaurants is generally expected, but not mandatory. 10% seems to be the going rate, 15% for exceptional service and some change at coffee shops or a €1 at bars. Tipping is not expected if there’s already a service charge, so check your bills.
3. Tipping on tours is more or less expected, especially if you had a good experience. €10-20 should be sufficient for two people on a catamaran cruise.
4. Do not tip excessively. Like everywhere that’s not the US, this practice has slowly changed the tipping culture to the detriment of the local population.

Groceries

1. Sklaventis is the largest change of grocery stores on Santorini with the largest one in Fira. There’s also a big one in Mesaria.
2. In Oia, there are only smaller markets like Asteras and Carrefour Express.
3. We were told not to drink the tap water in Santorini.

Gyms and Fitness Studios

1. There are a number of gyms (Fit Factory, Evexia Gym, Mad Fitness), martial arts studios (Santorini’s Fighters, Karamolegkos Team Muay Thai), and yoga studios (Anasana Yoga, Dru Yoga).
2. Fit Factory is in only gym in Fira and offers a day pass option for €14 and a weekly pass. The rest are scattered around the island.

What To Pack and Shopping In Santorini

1. Even if it’s generally warm in Santorini, always bring a lightweight shell preferably with UV protector. I use a KOR Airshell. It’s great when the evening temperature drops, getting out of the water onto a boat, and even hiking in the middle of the day between Fira and Oia.
2. Opt for lighter colors and flowy clothes for the heat, and quick-dry shirts/shorts for activities, and some smart casual wear for the evenings.
3. Pack less than you need or leave some space in the suitcase. My partner and I found a lot of nice outfits that she really wanted to buy in the boutique shops.

Names and Pronunciations

1. Santorini is also referred to by its Ancient Greek name of Thira or Thera.
2. Oia is pronounced like ‘e-ah’. Fira is pronounced like ‘fee-rah’.

Things We Didn’t Expect Before Arriving To Santorini

1. You don’t get a lot of privacy at many cliffside hotels with the private plunge pools since the cascading levels means people walking around can look down into the pool and terraces.
2. During the peak season, several cruise liners stop in Santorini and begin offloading tender after tender full of people who head up to Fira by cable car from the Old Port. That narrow alleyways and viewpoints can get really crowded between 10 am – 12 pm.

Emergency Services

1. Call 112 for emergencies. 166 for an ambulance, 199 for the fire department and 100 for the police. The Santorini General Hospital is located in Fira. There’s usually at least one pharmacy at each major town in Santorini, and many in Fira.

Major Towns and Beaches

Fira is the main hub for the widest range of budgets. Nightlife takes place place here and it’s a convenient base if you’re traveling around the island.

Oia is where you go for a luxury holiday overlooking the caldera. Prices are the highest here and it gets extremely crowded at sunset. Access to Amoudi Bay where some catamaran cruises embark as well as some cute tavernas right on the water. High end resorts are clustered further west away from the main part of Oia.

Firostefani and Imerovigli perched on a high cliff in between Fira and Oia . More quaint and quiet than Fira. Gets you away from the crowd, but still close enough.

Finikia is the town next to Oia. It’s a cute village away from the crowd with some great value accommodation options and a couple of traditional restaurants.

We’ve stayed in Fira, Oia, and Finikia. You can read about where we stayed and my recommendations.

Akrotiri is a beautiful village hub in the south if you want to be closer to the sandy beaches and activities like diving and horseback riding. Most start here. The Akrotiri ruins are here as well as the Akrotiri Lighthouse. Accommodations tend to be cheaper here as well. Recommended to have a car if you’re staying down here.

Megalochori is another quaint village just south of Fira. If you have a car, it’s worth stopping here for lunch or an afternoon stroll.

Mesaria is right in the middle of the island and the most local area. Might be worth a wander, but not necessarily to stay here.

Pyrgos is another small local village set higher uphill. Not many options for things to do or eat here, but might be worth coming for the view if you have a car.

Perissa and Kamara are two beach access areas on the southeast side of the Santorini. Cheaper accommodations and a laid back vibe. Not much else here. Skip the expensive beach bars and opt for the taverns with cheaper umbrellas and food.

Vlychada is a port village, where a lot of boats dock, with a small and mostly quiet beach. More for visiting than staying.

White Beach is accessible only by boat, if you want a sandy pebble beach away from the crowd. Red Beach is set in front of an impossible iron-rich cliff face. Not recommended to sunbathe or swim here since there’s risk of falling rocks. Catamaran cruises will sail and anchor nearby, but won’t take you to the beaches themselves.

Activities You Can Book

1. Catamaran Cruises are one of the quintessential ways to experience the island and the caldera. You can read about my morning sailing experience and my sunset sailing experience.
2. Scuba Diving In The Caldera. You keep hearing about the caldera, but most of it underwater, so diving is one of the best and alternative ways to experience Santorini. Certified divers can book here and there’s also discovery dive for beginners.
3. Sea Kayaking. If you want an active alternative to a sailing, there’s a 5 hour sunset kayaking tour where you can swim, snorkeling and chill on one of the beaches along the south coast. Dinner is provided as well.
4. Horseback Riding. There are a few stables around Santorini, but the best horse riding experience should be down south near Akrotiri where you can ride to the dramatic black sandy beaches.
5. The Greek Wedding Show. If you are a fan of the Big Fat Greek Wedding movie, the show is a fun musical that gets the crowd going and involved, dancing and smashing plates like you would in a traditional Greek wedding. Different appetizers are served through the show along with Greek white wine. It’s really a one of a kind experience.

Updated on June 4, 2025