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Hey! I’m on vacation in Greece and I’ve been to Santorini, but I’ve got lots of more cool stuff that I didn’t get to. So check out this guide for my top 10 things to do in Santorini.
The best activities in Santorini
Santorini’s best activities:
- Volcanic island cruises
- Romantic catamaran trips
- Wine tastings
- Sunset dinners
- Exploring hidden beaches
- Visiting hot springs
- Touring ancient archaeological sites
Things to do in Santorini that we suggest:
1. Santorini: Volcanic Islands Cruise with Visit to Hot Springs
Sail from Athinios Port to tiny islands with volcanoes, hot springs, and traditional settlements.
Stop at Nea Kameni and follow the trail to the active volcano’s crater.
Take advantage of your free time to explore the island. After that, go to Palea Kameni and swim in the hot springs.
Return aboard the boat for a quick voyage to Thirassia, where you’ll have time to explore.
Visit Manolas, which may be reached by winding steps or a donkey ride up to the village. The excursion may be extended at Oia to take in the panoramic vistas and a stunning sunset.
This option is available from May 1 through September 21. The trip lasts 6 or 10 hours, depending on the package picked.
If you choose this option, you will be moved to Oia at the conclusion of the boat voyage. Please meet your bus at the designated meeting location 15 minutes after dusk.
2. Santorini: Romantic Catamaran Cruise for Small Groups
Take a leisurely catamaran trip during the day for beautiful views or a nighttime cruise for a romantic ambiance.
If you take the morning cruise, you’ll set out from Ammoudi Bay at 10:00 a.m. to the island’s famed caldera, where you’ll enjoy a soothing dip in its warm springs.
Return to the boat and proceed towards Aspronisi Island, taking in views of Indian Rock and the Venetian Lighthouse along the way.
The journey continues with a visit to Mesa Pigadia Beach, which provides a picturesque setting for a Greek barbeque lunch.
After your dinner, view the vermilion sands of Red Beach and go for a dip in the Aegean Sea’s turquoise waves before concluding your voyage at Vlychada Marina.
What are the highlights of the Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Trip with Sunset Oia?
The highlights include sailing around the Santorini caldera on a luxury catamaran, enjoying an open bar, snorkeling at famous spots, and savoring a freshly prepared Greek meal.
What does the tour package for the Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Trip include?
The tour package includes hotel pickup, a traditional Greek meal with meat and vegetarian options, unlimited drinks from an open bar, snorkeling equipment, and towels.
How long does the Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Trip last?
The trip duration varies between 5 to 6 hours, depending on whether you choose the morning or sunset cruise option.
What safety measures are in place during the Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Trip?
Safety measures include a safety briefing in multiple languages, flotation devices onboard, experienced crew members, and a shower available onboard.
What are the meal options available during the Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Trip?
Guests can enjoy a variety of Greek delicacies such as barbecue skewers, dolmadakia, Greek salad, and more, with options for both meat and vegetarian dishes.
3. Santorini: Catamaran Cruise with Fresh BBQ & Drinks
Take a 5-hour sunset sail around Santorini in the Aegean Sea on the 74-foot Ocean Voyager or the 80-foot Tahiti catamaran.
Set off on an adventure that will lead you first to the hot springs, then to the Red Beach, and ultimately to the White Beach.
You will depart from the Ammoudi Port of Oia or your hotel if you upgrade to add hotel pickup and drop-off service, and sail about 30 minutes to the magnificent Red Beach to swim and snorkel.
Continue to a remote White Beach that can only be reached by boat for additional swimming and snorkeling in the shade of the towering white cliffs.
Enjoy a barbeque meal on the catamaran, complete with salads and grilled meat and vegetarian choices.
Continue cruising within the crescent-shaped Caldera, near to the volcano, and have one more plunge in the Hot Springs before floating back to Oia as the day comes to a close with a stunning sunset.
What are the highlights of the Santorini Catamaran Tour with BBQ Dinner, Drinks, and Music?
The highlights include sailing on a catamaran around Santorini, enjoying a barbecue dinner with unlimited wine and soft drinks, swimming and snorkeling at Red Beach and White Beach, and experiencing a spectacular sunset near Oia.
What does the Santorini Catamaran Tour package include?
The tour package includes hotel pickup, a 5-hour cruise on a catamaran, barbecue dinner onboard with salads and grilled options, unlimited wine and soft drinks, music onboard, and swimming/snorkeling opportunities at Red Beach and White Beach.
How long does the Santorini Catamaran Tour last?
The tour duration is 5 hours, providing ample time to enjoy sailing, snorkeling stops, dinner onboard, and experiencing the sunset.
What safety measures are in place during the Santorini Catamaran Tour?
Safety measures include a host or greeter assisting with boarding, a restroom onboard, towels provided, a leaflet with safety instructions, and adherence to a maximum capacity of 50-55 guests.
What should I bring for the Santorini Catamaran Tour?
Guests should bring a passport or ID card, sun hat, swimwear, towel, sunscreen, and a jacket if they have booked a sunset option to prepare for cooler evening temperatures.
4. Catamaran Cruise with Lunch and Open Bar in Santorini
You will sail away from the dock (Vlychada port) toward your first destination of the day, the famed Red Beach.
The enthralling Red Beach, with its vibrant colors and strange rock formations, is certainly a sight to see.
Combine sightseeing with swimming, snorkeling, or just lazing on the beach while you’re here.
You’ll also see the magnificent White Coastline, a brilliant and wild beach coated in limestone, during your trip.
Close by, you’ll find breathtaking views of Akrotiri’s Venetian Lighthouse, a landmark that provides lots of fantastic picture possibilities for everyone.
The Santorini Volcano is your next visit, a volcanic hot spring with medicinal capabilities and a plethora of breathtaking caves and volcanic beaches. Stop at Mesa Pigadia beach, which is widely referred to be Santorini’s best hidden secret.
What are the main features of the Santorini catamaran cruise with snorkeling, meal, and open bar?
The main features of the Santorini catamaran cruise include snorkeling at the Red and White beaches, sightseeing at the Venetian lighthouse and rock formations, learning about the volcanic history from the onboard guide, and enjoying a BBQ lunch with unlimited wine and soft drinks.
How does the cruise handle hotel pickups and what should participants bring along?
Hotel pickups are handled via minibus from accessible points near hotels. Participants should bring essentials like swimwear, sunscreen, and a sun hat.
What are the options for cancellation and payment flexibility for this Santorini catamaran cruise?
The options for cancellation and payment flexibility for this Santorini catamaran cruise include canceling up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can reserve your spot now and pay later for added flexibility.
What are the dining options available during the catamaran cruise?
During the catamaran cruise, you can enjoy Greek “meze” (fingerfood) and either lunch or dinner, depending on the selected starting time. An open bar is available with white wine and soft drinks.
What activities are included in the Santorini catamaran cruise experience?
The Santorini catamaran cruise includes swimming and snorkeling at multiple beaches, soaking in the volcanic hot springs, and a scenic sail around Santorini’s caldera with insights from a knowledgeable guide onboard.
5. Santorini: Small Group Luxury Catamaran w/ Meal & Open Bar
Set sail on a 5-hour luxury catamaran tour of the Santorini caldera, complete with a wonderful traditional dinner and refreshing beverages from the open bar.
Sail on a cruise with a limit of 20 persons in the morning or at dusk, or upgrade to a private cruise experience.
Relax as you are driven directly to the dock after being picked up from your hotel.
Take advantage of the snorkeling opportunities by stopping for a half-hour off the coast of Red Beach, followed by 1.5 hours snorkeling in the sea caves of White Beach.
Bathe in the hot springs of the lagoon and snorkel in the pristine waters.
Taste the tastes of Greece as you dine on a selection of native Santorini specialities for lunch or supper, depending on the time of day, including meat and vegetarian choices.
6. Sunset Dinner Cruise on the Santorini Volcano and Thirassia
Benefit from hotel pickup and then travel to Athinios Port to board a boat.
Cruise to the island of Nea Kameni and ascend to the summit of the volcano.
Continue to Palia Kameni to dive and swim in the hot springs formed by the volcano’s underwater capabilities.
Sail over the underwater craters to Thirasia Island, where you may relax with a supper buffet of pork rolls, chicken rolls, rice and baked potatoes, Greek salad, tzatziki, bread, and seasonal fruit, all served with local wine.
Set sail as the sun starts to set into the sea and immerse yourself in the genuine romanticism of Santorini from the ocean.
What does the Santorini Volcano and Hot Springs Sunset Dinner Cruise offer?
The Santorini Volcano and Hot Springs Sunset Dinner Cruise offers a journey around Santorini with stops at Nea Kameni volcano for a hike, Palia Kameni for hot spring swimming, and Thirasia Island for exploration.
What are the highlights of the Santorini Volcano and Hot Springs Sunset Dinner Cruise?
Highlights include climbing Nea Kameni Island’s volcano, swimming in Palia Kameni’s hot springs, and enjoying a sunset dinner cruise with views of Santorini’s coastline.
What are the options for cancellation and payment on the Santorini Volcano and Hot Springs Sunset Dinner Cruise?
The options for cancellation and payment include free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and the ability to reserve now and pay later, ensuring flexible travel plans.
What does the Santorini Volcano and Hot Springs Sunset Dinner Cruise include?
The Santorini Volcano and Hot Springs Sunset Dinner Cruise includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a local guide, a cruise, a buffet dinner featuring local cuisine, and unlimited local wine during the buffet.
What should participants bring for the Santorini Volcano and Hot Springs Sunset Dinner Cruise?
Participants should bring comfortable shoes for hiking, a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen.
7. Horseback Riding from Vlychada to Eros Beach in Santorini
Begin your horseback riding experience by having a professional teach you the fundamentals and supply you with all of the essential equipment.
After beginning your tour in the magnificent dunes of Caldera Beach, you’ll be led to the Santorini highlands to observe nature’s pristine beauty while taking in panoramic views of the Aegean Sea and local culture.
Your course will next take you to Eros’s dark beach, where you’ll ride down the coastline, dipping in and out of the water’s edge.
You’ll be able to stop here and snap shots of the surrounding area, as well as admire the lovely sand dunes. Finally, you’ll return to your stable on a path that will lead you back to where you started, but with memories that will last a lifetime.
What does the Santorini Horse Riding Trip to Black Sandy Beach offer?
The Santorini Horse Riding Trip to Black Sandy Beach offers a unique experience to explore Santorini on horseback, including riding along Vlichada’s volcanic black sand beach and through scenic Santorini fields.
What are the highlights of the Santorini Horse Riding Trip to Black Sandy Beach?
Highlights include exploring the magical fields in Vlichada, journeying across the volcanic black sand beach on horseback, and pausing at the beach to appreciate the view and take photos.
What are the options for cancellation and payment on the Santorini Horse Riding Trip to Black Sandy Beach?
The options for cancellation and payment include free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and the flexibility to reserve now and pay later, ensuring convenient booking.
What does the Santorini Horse Riding Trip to Black Sandy Beach include?
The Santorini Horse Riding Trip includes horse riding instructions, a pause to take photos, and drinking water.
What should participants bring for the Santorini Horse Riding Trip to Black Sandy Beach?
Participants should bring comfortable shoes, a sun hat, and comfortable clothes.
8. Santorini’s Majestic Spots by Island Bus
Begin with the breathtaking view from the Prophet Elias Monastery and then go to the lovely monastery.
Then, visit Pyrgos village, one of the most scenic on the island.
Continue to the Akrotiri Excavations, one of the most important archaelogical sites in the region.
Akrotiri is a massive building that was originally home to 200 households and was preserved by the volcano’s lava.
Then you will have around 40 minutes of free time at Red Beach to just appreciate the beautiful formations of the mountains and/or visit Akrotiri Bay for coffee or lunch with Greek traditional mezedes and ouzo (not included in the price).
Following that is Fira town, the island’s capital, where a trip around will allow you to capture stunning photos of the Caldera.
Shop or dine on authentic Santorinian fare. The last destination is Oia village, which is home to the world’s most renowned sunset.
What does the Santorini: Island Highlights Guided Day Trip with Oia Sunset offer?
The Santorini: Island Highlights Guided Day Trip offers a comprehensive bus tour across Santorini, visiting attractions such as Prophet Elias Monastery, Pyrgos Village, Akrotiri Excavations, Red Beach, Fira Town, and Oia village for sunset views.
What are the highlights of the Santorini: Island Highlights Guided Day Trip with Oia Sunset?
Highlights include exploring Prophet Elias Monastery for panoramic views, discovering Pyrgos village’s picturesque charm, exploring the ancient Akrotiri Excavations, relaxing at Red Beach, strolling through Fira Town, and witnessing the famous sunset in Oia.
What are the options for cancellation and payment on the Santorini: Island Highlights Guided Day Trip with Oia Sunset?
The options for cancellation and payment include free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and the flexibility to reserve now and pay later, ensuring convenient booking.
What does the Santorini: Island Highlights Guided Day Trip with Oia Sunset include?
The Santorini: Island Highlights Guided Day Trip includes pickup and drop-off from designated areas, a specialized guide. Not include admission to Akrotiri Excavations (€12 fee) and Food and drinks.
What should participants know before joining the Santorini: Island Highlights Guided Day Trip with Oia Sunset?
Participants should be aware that the tour includes free travel for children under 4 years old, who will sit on their parent’s lap during the trip.
9. Santorini: Small Group Wine Tasting Tour (4 Hours)
Visit the most prestigious wine estates on the island of Santorini and taste 12 different wines made by local vineyards.
Learn about the volcanic island’s 3,500-year history of winemaking, beginning with a vineyard planted on the peculiar soils with traditional basket vines.
Learn about the local viticulture that has helped to make Santorini a UNESCO World Heritage Site for wine production.
Visit three unique wine estates: Argyros Estate or Art Space Winery, Koutsoyannopoulos Wine Museum, Venetsanos Winery, or Gavalas Estate Winery.
Organic wines such as Nykteri, Assyrtiko, and Vinsanto are paired with local delights like as cheese and olives.
What does the Santorini: Guided Tour to 3 Wineries with Wine Tastings offer?
The tour offers a guided tasting experience at three of Santorini’s top wineries, where visitors can sample a variety of local wines and learn from a wine expert about the island’s viticulture.
What are the highlights of the Santorini: Guided Tour to 3 Wineries with Wine Tastings?
Highlights include visits to acclaimed wineries such as Venetsanos Winery, Argyros estate winery, and Art Space Winery or Kotsoyannoploulos Wine Museum. Guests can enjoy panoramic views, learn about local grape varieties like Nykteri, Assyrtiko, and Vinsanto, and indulge in wine tastings paired with local delicacies.
What are the options for cancellation and payment on the Santorini: Guided Tour to 3 Wineries with Wine Tastings?
The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and the flexibility to reserve now and pay later, allowing travelers to plan with peace of mind.
What does the Santorini: Guided Tour to 3 Wineries with Wine Tastings include?
The tour includes pickup and drop-off from customizable locations, transportation in an air-conditioned Mercedes minivan, a knowledgeable tour guide, visits to three wineries, tasting sessions of 12 different wines, a tasting tutorial, and ample photo opportunities.
What should participants know before joining the Santorini: Guided Tour to 3 Wineries with Wine Tastings?
Participants should be aware that smoking is not permitted in the vehicle, unaccompanied minors are not allowed, and those under 17 must be accompanied by a parent. It’s also recommended to wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen, a hat, and a camera for the tour.
10. All-Inclusive Luxury Catamaran Small Group Cruise in Santorini
Explore the stunning blue Mediterranean seas of the Santorini Caldera on the brand new Lagoon 450 catamaran, which has cutting-edge technology and luxurious facilities.
The fee includes a round-trip minibus service from your accommodation.
The first stop on the 5-hour trip will be a half-hour visit to Red Beach, so called for its red sand.
Return to the sailboat after some relaxing swimming and wonderful snorkeling and proceed to White Beach, which has similarly dramatic rock hues and more fantastic swimming and snorkeling.
Following the swim, the team will offer a fantastic barbeque dinner aboard.
After that, enjoy the views from the beach before cruising by the magnificent uninhabited islands of Aspronissi and Akrotiri. The last stop on the trip will be at the hot springs for 30 minutes of relaxation.
What does the Santorini: Catamaran Tour with BBQ Meal and Unlimited Drinks offer?
This tour offers a luxurious sailing experience around Santorini’s Caldera aboard a Lagoon 450 catamaran. Guests can enjoy swimming and snorkeling at Red Beach and White Beach, indulge in a barbecue meal with meat and vegetarian options, and savor unlimited wine, beer, and soft drinks. The tour also includes hotel transfers and the opportunity to watch the sunset from Oia village.
What are the highlights of the Santorini: Catamaran Tour with BBQ Meal and Unlimited Drinks?
Highlights include exploring the clear waters of the Santorini Caldera, visiting picturesque spots like Red Beach and White Beach for swimming and snorkeling, and relaxing in the hot springs of the volcano. Guests can feast on a barbecue meal onboard the catamaran and enjoy unlimited drinks while taking in stunning views of Santorini.
What are the options for cancellation and payment on the Santorini: Catamaran Tour with BBQ Meal and Unlimited Drinks?
Travelers can cancel their booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour allows for reserving now and paying later, providing flexibility for travel plans.
What does the Santorini: Catamaran Tour with BBQ Meal and Unlimited Drinks include?
The tour includes a luxury Lagoon 450 catamaran equipped with modern amenities, a barbecue meal featuring pork or chicken skewers, vegetarian options, seafood, Greek salad, and more. Guests can enjoy unlimited drinks such as white wine, beer, soft drinks, and water. Snorkeling equipment, towels, round-trip hotel transfers by minibus, and safety instructions in multiple languages are also provided.
What should participants know before joining the Santorini: Catamaran Tour with BBQ Meal and Unlimited Drinks?
Participants should bring essential items like a passport or ID card, warm clothing (especially for evening tours), a sun hat, swimwear, sunscreen, and a jacket. Hotel pick-up starts approximately one hour before the tour departure time, depending on the accommodation location. Guests are advised to provide full participant names and hotel information during booking to receive detailed instructions from the tour operator.
Santorini the biggest island of the archipelago
Santorini is the biggest island in a tiny, circular archipelago of the same name, which is the remains of a volcanic crater.
It is the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of around 73 km2 (28 sq mi) and a population of 15,550 according to the 2011 census.
The populated islands of Santorini and Therasia, as well as the uninhabited islands of Nea Kameni, Palaia Kameni, Aspronisi, and Christiana, are all part of the municipality of Santorini.
The entire land area of Santorini is 90.623 square kilometers (34.990 sq mi).
Thira is the regional unit that includes Santorini.
Santorini is one of the most massive volcanic
The Santorini was the location of one of the most massive volcanic eruptions in recorded history, the Minoan eruption (also known as the Thera eruption), which happened about 3,600 years ago during the height of the Minoan civilisation.
The eruption created a huge crater encircled by hundreds of meters of volcanic ash deposits.
It may have indirectly contributed to the demise of the Minoan civilisation on the island of Crete, 110 kilometers (68 miles) to the south, through a massive tsunami.
Another prominent idea argues that the mythology of Atlantis originated with the Thera eruption.
It is the most active volcanic center in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc, but it is mostly a water-filled caldera today.
The volcanic arc is around 500 kilometers (300 miles) long and 20 to 40 kilometers (12 to 25 miles) broad.
Though volcanism on Thera started approximately 2 million years ago with the ejection of dacitic lavas from vents near Akrotiri, the area first became volcanically active around 3–4 million years ago.
The name of Santorini
The Latin Empire called Santorini in the thirteenth century in honor of Saint Irene, from the name of the medieval church in the hamlet of Perissa.
The name Santorini is a contraction of the name Santa Irini.
Previously, it was known as Kallst (, “the most beautiful one”), Strongl (o, “the round one”), or Thra.
The name Thera was reintroduced as the official name of the island and its principal city in the eighteenth century, although the colloquial name Santorini is still widely used.
History Akrotiri, Minoan
Excavations at the Akrotiri site, which began in 1967 under the late Professor Spyridon Marinatos, have rendered Thera the best-known Minoan site outside of Crete, the culture’s birthplace.
At the time, the island was not known as Thera.
Only the southern part of a massive town has been discovered, but it has revealed complexes of multi-level houses, streets, and squares, as well as the ruins of walls as tall as eight meters, all encased in the hardened ash of Thera’s renowned eruption.
The site was not a palace-complex like those discovered in Crete, but it was also not a collection of merchants’ storage, as shown by its good brickwork and beautiful wall-paintings.
A loom-workshop advises that textile weaving be structured for export.
Santorini Bronze Age
This Santorinis Bronze Age culture flourished between 3000 and 2000 BC, peaking between 2000 and 1630 BC.
Many of the residences in Akrotiri are substantial constructions, some of which are three storeys tall.
Its streets, squares, and walls were preserved in the ejecta layers, which were sometimes as tall as eight meters, showing that this was a significant town.
Many homes still have stone stairs that store big ceramic storage jars (pithoi), mills, and ceramics.
The most notable archaeological relics discovered at Akrotiri are wall murals or frescoes that have retained their original color despite being buried under several metres of volcanic ash.
The town also had a well-developed drainage system, and the exquisite artwork indicated that its residents were undoubtedly smart and quite rich.
Akrotiri’s pipes with flowing water and water closets are the earliest such facilities identified.
The pipes are dual systems, showing that Therans employed both hot and cold water sources; the hot water’s source was most likely geothermic, given the volcano’s closeness.
According to Charles Pellegrino
According to Charles Pellegrino, the twin pipe system, complex construction, and apparent layout of the Akrotiri discovery reflect Plato’s description of the mythical lost city of Atlantis, indicating the Minoans as the civilisation that originally inspired the Atlantis tale.
Akrotiri’s fragmentary wall paintings lack the forceful religious or mythical substance seen in Classical Greek décor.
Instead, the Minoan paintings show “Saffron-Gatherers” presenting crocus-stamens to a sitting woman, maybe a deity.
Crocus has been shown to offer a variety of medical properties, including the treatment of menstruation discomfort.
Archaeologists
Many archaeologists think that the saffron/crocus gatherers fresco is a coming-of-age painting dealing with female pubescence.
Among other frescoes in another house are two antelopes painted with a confident, flowing, decorative, calligraphic line, the famous fresco of a fisherman with his double strings of fish strung by their gills, and the flotilla of pleasure boats, accompanied by leaping dolphins, where ladies take their ease in the shade of light canopies.
The ancient town’s well-preserved remains are sometimes compared to the stunning ruins at Pompeii in Italy.
September 2005
In September 2005, the canopy that covered the remains fell in an accident, killing one visitor and injuring seven others.
The facility was closed for almost seven years while a new cover was constructed. In April 2012, the facility reopened.
The earliest signs of human settlement are from the Late Neolithic.
(4th millennium BC or earlier), but between 2000 and 1650 BC.
Akrotiri developed into one of the Aegean’s major Bronze Age ports, with recovered objects from not only Crete.
But also Anatolia, Cyprus, Syria, and Egypt, as well as the Dodecanese and the Greek mainland.
The Bronze Age eruption was dated.
Ancient Thera Stoa Basilica
Because evidence of the eruption appears across the area and the site itself includes material culture from outside, the Minoan eruption gives a fixed point for the chronology of the second millennium BC in the Aegean.
The eruption took place during the “Late Minoan IA” era on Crete and the “Late Cycladic I” period on the surrounding islands.
Based on the recognized chronology of Bronze Age Mediterranean civilizations, archaeological evidence places the eruption about 1500 BC.
These dates, however, contradict radiocarbon dating, which shows that the eruption took place between 1645 and 1600 BC.
The date of the eruption is debated for these and other reasons.
