Santorini

Travel Guide

Santorini
Oia showing general coastal views, a coastal town and a luxury hotel or resort
Santorini
Santorini
Santorini
This Aegean island has been charming visitors for centuries with its pretty villages, romantic sunsets and tranquil pace of life.

Santorini rises dramatically from the sea on a crescent-shaped basin, or caldera, formed by an ancient volcanic eruption. Its whitewashed villages tumble haphazardly down the cliffs, dotted with churches and windmills while, at its shoreline, colourful fishing boats bob and toss on the sparkling waves.The island was named by the Venetians who landed here in the 13th century and dedicated it to Saint Irene. A devastating earthquake in 1956 destroyed many of the ancient buildings, but it has been thoughtfully rebuilt in the traditional style and has lost none of its historic charm.The capital, Firá, is a popular stopping-off point for island-hopping cruise ships, with plenty of shops, restaurants and bars to keep the holiday crowd happy. Picturesque Oia on the island’s northernmost tip is known for its romantic sunsets and typical blue and white houses, while the timeless village of Pyrgos has plenty of friendly tavernas as well as a 15th-century castle. The eye-catching black sand beaches of Perivolos and Perissa are popular spots for sunbathing, while the rocky coastal strips around Mesa Pigadia and Pori are fun to explore on foot.Santorini enjoys a pleasant climate all year round, with temperatures averaging 29° C in the summer and around 15° C in winter. The narrow village streets and steeply banked harbours can get very busy during the peak tourist season though, so if you want to avoid the crowds choose a quieter time of year.There is an airport on the east side of the island served by both scheduled and charter flights and most of the main sites are accessible by road. An economical way to see this compact island is by hiring a taxi or renting a car to get from A to B.

Santorini Palace
Santorini Palace
4 out of 5
Fira town, Santorini, Santorini Island
The price is €163 per night from 10 Jul to 11 Jul
€163
10 Jul - 11 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Santorini. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (709 reviews)
"Great property!!!!! Would stay again"

Reviewed on 5 Jul 2025

Santorini Palace
Costa Grand Resort & Spa
Costa Grand Resort & Spa
5 out of 5
Kamari Beach, Santorini, Santorini Island
The price is €256 per night from 10 Jul to 11 Jul
€256
10 Jul - 11 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Santorini. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
9/10 Wonderful! (335 reviews)
"Absolutely beautiful property that gives you all of the Santorini vibes."

Reviewed on 26 Jun 2025

Costa Grand Resort & Spa
Volcano View Hotel Santorini
Volcano View Hotel Santorini
5 out of 5
Fira, Santorini, Santorini Island
The price is €235 per night from 12 Jul to 13 Jul
€235
12 Jul - 13 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Santorini. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (930 reviews)
"Great"

Reviewed on 29 Jun 2025

Volcano View Hotel Santorini
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Porto Castello
Porto Castello
Exo Gialos, Santorini, Santorini Island
Book a stay at this beach aparthotel in Santorini. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
7.6/10 Good! (356 reviews)
"The family who runs the hotel is welcoming and available 24 hours. The hotel provides a free shuttle to the bus transportation depot that takes you to the famous town of Oia to watch the sunset. The only concern is that you have to follow the hotel shuttle schedule that runs every three hours, requiring ..."

Reviewed on 6 Jul 2025

Porto Castello
Blue Waves Hotel
Blue Waves Hotel
2 out of 5
Kamari, Santorini, Santorini Island
Book a stay at this beach aparthotel in Santorini. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (412 reviews)
"I cannot recommend this hotel enough! From the moment I arrived, the entire experience was seamless and full of warmth. The staff went above and beyond to make my stay comfortable, and every request I had was met with kindness and efficiency."

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2025

Blue Waves Hotel
Aqua Luxury Suites
Aqua Luxury Suites
5 out of 5
Imerovigli, Santorini, Santorini Island
Stay at this 5-star luxury aparthotel in Santorini. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (203 reviews)
"We had a fantastic stay at Aqua Luxury Suites. The caldera view from our room was breathtaking and we appreciate how accommodating the front desk was. True professionals in hospitality!"

Reviewed on 27 Jun 2025

Aqua Luxury Suites
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Santorini

4.7
Top destination
5 - Excellent
512
5 - Excellent 71%
4 - Good
182
4 - Good 25%
3 - Okay
26
3 - Okay 4%
2 - Disappointing
5
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
1
1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

I was in winter so a lot of renovation

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Beautiful island and unbelievable views. Worth going now before it becomes too filled with tourists.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Beautiful scenery and very quiet during the Winter season. You'll be able to enjoy this beauty without all the crowd.

5/5 - Excellent

JT

Lovely city with incredible views

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Well worth it's reputation but too many tourists make getting around quite hard. We couldn't get taxis unless pre-booked and the buses were over-crowded in a way I have never seen before. Santorini has become a victim of its own success.

5/5 - Excellent

Family

Santorini in particular Fira and Oia is great place to be. Really enjoyed the place.