Santorini 3 day Itinerary: The Ultimate Guide to a Greek Paradise
Breathtaking views. Lively city streets. Incredible local cuisine. Beaches and hiking trails. A glass of wine with the sunset looking out at the Caldera. Yes, chances are you already know about Santorini. But there is a reason for it.
Santorini is many travelers’ first stop while visiting Greece. And to get the ultimate introduction to Greek culture and topography, we found it to be a sensible choice.
So, here we’ll give you the ultimate Santorini starter kit for an epic 3 day adventure!
Just the most crucial details of how to make a perfect few days spent in Santorini – although, with a place like this, you don’t have to try very hard. Just let the island speak for itself.
Here’s what you need to know about Santorini:
How to get to Santorini?
The easiest way to get to Santorini is by ferry or plane.
If you go by ferry we would recommend the Ferry Hopper app to book your tickets. This app was a game changer. You can book and check in with the app and you can even track the ferry so you know when it is set to arrive because ferries in Greece can run behind. This was an easy way for us to book all our ferries in Greece and I would highly recommend it!
If you are going by plane, I would leave around 2 hours between when you arrive and get onto your flight to Santorini. You will have to go to domestic flights when you get off your international flight. It was honestly painless and super easy to do.
Which option you chose depends on where you are coming from. If you are coming from your international flight into Athens, I would say book a flight from there to Santorini. If you are planning to stay in Athens or another Greek Island first, I would recommend taking the ferry.
Where to go before Santorini?
There are a couple good options when picking where to come from. We came to Santorini straight from our international flight. You can also stay in Athens for a couple of days and then take a ferry. Mykonos and Naxos are also close to Santorini and easy to get there. For a longer ferry you can come from Crete too. It all depends on what destinations you are going to in Greece. Check out our Ultimate Greece Guide for more information on our itinerary and the order we went in.
How many days to spend in Santorini?
Santorini is a dream, and you can easily see a good portion in around 2 to 3 days but also can easily relax, eat, and enjoy the gorgeous ocean and hikes for a week or more depending on how relaxed you want your trip to be.
How to get around Santorini?
Santorini is an island of 35 square miles and is very easy to get around. There are two main areas of Santorini- Fira or Oia. Once in Oia or Fira you can get most everywhere on your itinerary without having a vehicle of your own. When getting between the two cities you can easily find a cab or even take the hike between Oia and Fira which is AMAZING. We were usually able to easily find cabs around town, and when we did not, we asked our hotel to call us and they got there very fast. We rented a car most everywhere in Greece, except for Santorini 🙂
Where to stay in Santorini?
This is a great question because there is no wrong choice. They are both vibrant and lively. Oia is known to be very romantic with stunning vistas and sweeping views of the caldera. This is the place to catch the amazing sunsets Santorini is known for. However, we were on our honeymoon and stayed in Fira, and found it to be very romantic too. You are in Greece after all, it is all stunning. Oia felt more luxury and boutique hotels and shops. Fira is more casual and lively, and provides those cute Greek alleyways and markets to wander around in. Both areas are beautiful and walkable. There is no wrong choice!
We stayed in Fira at the Lemon Suites in Santorini and loved it. It was located a short walk from the heart of Fira, the rooms were beautiful, and the staff were so friendly and helpful!
Santorini 3 day Itinerary
Day 1
Day one is the perfect day to explore the area of Santorini you are staying- I would recommend basing yourself in Oia or Fira.
Take some time to grab a bite to eat, check out the shops, and walk around.
Santorini is famous for its gorgeous sunsets. Oia is known as the better area in Santorini to watch the sunsets but we also wined and dined while looking at the sunset in Fira and found it to be beautiful as well. Find a restaurant to enjoy dinner and drinks or even a viewpoint to watch the sunset and soak in all the beauty that is Santorini.
Tip: Be sure to get to the restaurant or sunset spot early, or book a reservation ahead of time, they will fill up early!
Day 2
Day 2 we hit the ground running with the hike from Fira Oia. This hike is absolutely gorgeous, and if you do one thing in Santorini do this! You can start from either Oia or Fira. The hike is from either Oia to Fira or Fira to Oia. It can take several hours if you go a leisurely pace like we did, so plan accordingly. Be sure to pack plenty of water and sunscreen.
Stop at one of the cafes and grab a brunch or food to take before you hit the trail. We went to Pink Sophia Maria and it was possibly the best breakfast we had in Greece. It was just the cutest restaurant and one of the more memorable meals we had in Greece, perfect before setting out on your adventure.
Day 3
Enjoy the beaches in Santorini! Some great beaches are Perissa Beach (20 min drive from Fira) which is a black sand beach and the Red Beach which is a mixture of both red and black sand.
Day 4
If you have another day, take this time to spend more time exploring Oia or Fira. We spent this day exploring Oia since we were based in Fira and wanted more time in Oia. Both cities are very walkable and have lots to do, eat, drink, endless alleyways to wander and great views.
Have more time in beautiful Santorini? Check out these things to do!
- Have a Spa Day and pamper yourself
- Go on a Sunset Cruise
- Explore Akrotiri- A town that was evacuated due to a volcano and life was frozen in time and preserved due to the lava molding the city.
- Explore Emporio Village- known for its unique streets and medieval castles
- Visit the Volcano and Hot Spring
- Explore Megalchori- a small quaint town close by (12-30 minutes away depending where you are based)
- Explore Pygros Village- located on top of a hill, with great views, churches, and boutiques.
How to #TravelBetter while in Santorini
As proponents of ethical and sustainable travel, we are committed to helping travelers live by our hashtag #TravelBetter. Here are some quick and easy tips to make your trip to Santorini more sustainable:
- Learn basic Greek Phrases – Check some out here. When you need help you google translate which now can even translate signs, so cool! Another great resource is the pocket sized, Point It Book where you can point to what you need when there is a language barrier.
- Shop locally – When you are unsure, do a quick google search and check out locations to see if they are local.
- Eat locally– They are just better food too!
- Use reusable water bottles, bags, and straws when possible – Check out these travel straws, travel bags, and towels.
- Book travel tours that are locally owned and operated – Check out some of our favorite locally run tour companies.
Traveling more in Greece? Check out our Ultimate 2-3 Week Greece Guide, Athens Guide, Oia or Fira Guide, Oia Things to Do Guide, Naxos Guide, Why Crete is the Best Island, Crete Guide, and Halki Village- The Best Day Trip in Naxos.
Have a wonderful trip in Greece and make all your Mamma Mia dreams a reality!
Happy Travels!
