The Only Santorini 3 Day Itinerary You Will Ever Need

Santorini is thought to be one of the most beautiful islands in the Cyclades, a natural wonder of the world. Couples come here from all over the world to spend romantic moments on the island, indulge in the great food, explore the history and watch the most beautiful sunsets over the caldera.

This Santorini 3 Day itinerary is based on my personal trip to Santorini, at the end of August. I divided my time on the island into not just exploring but relaxing as well, because what’s the point of visiting such a beautiful location only to tick touristy objectives? In this itinerary I have also included a day of just chilling at the beach and exploring the local area – in my case, the south of the island, Perissa beach.

About This Santorini 3 Day Itinerary

This Santorini itinerary can be customized, depending on how much time you have on the island. For example, I would have loved to have spent more time at the Red Beach, which I thought was fantastic. But, due to being in Santorini for only a short time, I had to leave it for another occasion. The same goes if you are in Santorini for less than three days, you can skip the relaxation day and jump straight to visiting the island. I would say that you need at least two days to see Santorini, one day is definitely not enough.

When it comes to restaurants and food, I tried to avoid the very touristy places, therefore I had most dinners in the south of the island, near my hotel. I had one lunch in Fira, which ended up costing more than dinner, for just salads and dips. The food was good, but the prices are definitely much higher in Fira and Oia than anywhere else on the island. For lunch it averages around 15-20 euros per person, whilst dinner is 30-35 euros per person for a main course, a salad, and drinks.

Where to Stay in Santorini

I chose to stay in the South of the island because it is much more affordable than Oia and Fira. You can get much more for your money when you stay in the South. Plus, there is a wonderful black volcanic beach where you can spend some relaxing time in Santorini.

I stayed at Santo Miramare, a four star hotel directly on the beach, with its own private section with sun loungers and umbrellas free of charge. I had a lovely apartment decorated in a white and blue Greek style, with a bedroom, living area and a small kitchenette. It also had two bathrooms and a private patio with a table and two chairs.

The hotel also featured four pools, a beach bar, and a restaurant where breakfast was included in the price. The bus station was just outside the hotel.

You can check the hotel reviews on Tripadvisor by clicking here, or the current price directly on Booking.com by clicking here. I went to Santorini on a Jet2 package holiday, which had the hotel, flights and transfers to the hotel included. 

How to Get Around Santorini

The great thing about Santorini is that it is a very small island. It takes less than one hour to travel from North to South, which means that no matter which side of the island you choose to stay in, you will never be too far away from the famous Oia.

The bad news is that the public transport in Santorini is not very reliable, unless you are based in one of the most popular villages. Even then, the buses are never on time.

The best way to get around Santorini is either by going on a tour, or hiring a car. If you are staying for longer on the island, you can definitely use the public transport, but don’t rely on it if you want to visit a few destinations in one day. I have also seen many people driving ATVs around the island, which also seems to be a very popular way of getting around Santorini.

If you want to hire a car, make sure you do so well in advance. Santorini is small and the selection of cars is limited, especially during the summer in peak season. I usually hire cars through Holiday Extras, because they show me the exact price I will be paying, so I don’t have any surprises when I arrive at the counter to pick my car up. You can check their offers by clicking here.

Day 1:

The first day of this three days in Santorini itinerary is full of sightseeing. I chose to go on a tour rather than rent a car, and to also take advantage of a knowledgeable guide. If I do go to Santorini again, I will opt for exploring on my own, now that I know what there is to see on the island, and where I would love to spend more time. But for a first visit, I thought that a full day tour would be a great taster of what Santorini has to offer. You can book a similar tour by clicking here. The tours are not expensive, but you do need to book in advance, especially if you are travelling during the high season. The tour I chose was fully booked, with no empty seats on the bus.

Prophet Elias Monastery

For the best views in Santorini, head over to the Prophet Elias Monastery, built on the highest peak of the island, at 565 meters above sea level. The monastery is one of the oldest on the island and it can’t be visited because monks are still living there. However, on some days, the small chapel is open for prayer.

Pyrgos

Pyrgos was one of my favourite towns in Santorini. I loved the quiet atmosphere, the narrow alleys going up to the castle, as well as the souvenir shops displaying the most colourful decorations on the white houses. Pyrgos was that perfect image of Greece that you see on the most beautiful postcards.

The village is guarded by the ruins of the old medieval Venetian castle, built in the 16^th century. Today there is not much left of it, but you can still go up and have an unspoiled view of the island from there. Pyrgos is very different to the other places in Santorini because it’s very non-touristy. You won’t see tour companies, or waiters trying to coax you into their restaurants. I really loved that.

Akrotiri

Akrotiri is also known as the Pompeii of Greece because it suffered a similar fate, being completely covered in ash after the eruption of a volcano. The difference is that in Akrotiri no human remains were discovered, which means that the locals were aware of what was happening and they evacuated the island.

The Prehistoric city of Akrotiri was one of the most important flourishing urban settlements and ports in the Aegean Sea, back in the Bronze Age. When the super volcano exploded in the 16^th century BC, the city was destroyed, and wasn’t discovered by archaeologists until 1967, when the first modern excavations started.

The volcanic ash has preserved many of the frescoes, artwork and objects inside the houses of Akrotiri. Most of the objects found can be seen in the museums in Fira, but the site is worth visiting to discover how advanced our ancestors were. The streets of Akrotiri used to be paved, the city had an extensive drainage system, with houses benefiting from flushable toilets! The city was also an important centre for processing copper, as well as pottery. 

There is much of Akrotiri still to be excavated, but the site is open to visitors. A ticket to access the Akrotiri archaeological site costs 12 euros.

The Red Beach

The Red Beach is located 10-15 minutes’ walk from the site of Akrotiri. If you plan to visit it on your own, arrive early as the car park is very small. To access the beach you will have to climb over a rocky path, so make sure to bring proper footwear.

There are two parts to the red beach. The first one is harder to access because of a recent landslide. The guide told us that access is forbidden at the moment due to the instability of the soil, but people still sunbathe underneath the rocks. The second part is further away, and whilst it may not be as spectacular, it is still pretty amazing.

The red beach takes its name from the bright red colour of the rocks above it. The water is crystal clear and I’ve seen plenty of people just sunbathing directly on the larger rocks, in the sea. If I’d have had more than three days in Santorini, I would definitely have loved to return and spend more time in the sun.

Lunch in Fira

The restaurant that the guide recommended looked very touristy, so my friend and I walked around for a while until we found a more suitable one. We always looked at the price of the tzatziki and the Greek salad as a guide to how expensive the place would be.

We stopped at Elia, a Greek taverna with a lovely rooftop terrace and views over the city. The prices were more expensive than in the south of Santorini, but not as expensive as in Oia. We opted for a selection of salads, tzatziki, garlic pita bread and baked feta cheese. The total bill, for food and drinks for two, was around 50 euros.

Stroll Around Fira

I really liked Fira. Whilst it is still touristy, with plenty of people strolling around the streets, it is not anywhere near as crowded as Oia. Fira also has plenty of back streets to get lost in, with many shops, restaurants, gyros joints, as well as pretty squares and churches to explore.

Fira is the capital of Santorini, home to the main cruise harbour on the island. It offers stunning views over the caldera and the islands surrounding it. There are plenty of things to do in Fira, if you have the time. I only had two hours to explore and have lunch, so I only saw everything from the outside.

One of the most popular attractions in Fira is the 19th-century Orthodox Cathedral which dominates the skyline with its bell tower. I found this area to be pretty local, without too many tourists around.

There are a few museums in Fira, the most popular being the Santorini Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Prehistoric Thira where you can see original frescoes from Akrotiri, as well as archaeological artefacts found in the ancient city of Thira.

Sunset in Oia

Watching the sunset in Oia is one of the most sought after things to do in Santorini. It’s supposed to be extremely romantic and a once in a lifetime experience. Unfortunately, it is not. In fact, it’s totally the opposite. I actually ended up watching the sunset from a rooftop terrace, near the main car park in Oia.

At first I was excited to finally watch the sunset from Oia – but so were the thousands of other people from the three cruises anchored in the bay that evening. I can’t even explain how many people were roaming around the tiny, narrow street in Oia (yes, there is only one main road in Oia – the rest are all private). I have never seen so many flowy dresses in one place in my whole life. Both hot spots for the sunset were already packed by 5:30pm, with the sunset being at 7:30pm. It’s up to you if you want to share this moment with thousands of other people – I thought it was suffocating, so I left.

I remember the guide recommending a small bar with a rooftop terrace just off the car park, if we wanted to see the sunset in peace. And that’s where we went. It was a much better experience than getting pushed around by crowds of people, and a much easier way back to the bus. I can’t even imagine what the crowds starting to move towards the car park all at the same time would be like

Have Dinner in Perissa 

Filippos is a Greek taverna I stumbled upon whilst looking for a restaurant on my first evening in Santorini. It was a Saturday and they had a Greek night going on, with live music, dances, and the smashing of plates on the floor.

I ordered the moussaka and my friend went for a souvlaki, both traditional Greek dishes in Santorini. The food was good, and the entertainment a lot of fun. It was a great welcome to my trip to Santorini.

Day 2:

On the second day I chose to go on a cruise inside the caldera and explore the islands from the sea. I booked a day cruise on the King Thiras, a beautiful wooden three mast schooner, with pick-up from my hotel. You can book the same trip by clicking here. 

Climb the Nea Kameni Volcano

Around 1500 BC, the Santorini volcano broke the island apart and created the caldera we were now sailing on by collapsing in on itself.  It is supposed to have been one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in the world, responsible for entirely covering the city of Akrotiri as well as dividing the island of Thira.

Nea Kameni is a dormant volcano in the middle of the caldera, which can be visited when you join a boat trip. The hike up is steep and slippery, so make sure you are bringing proper shoes with a good grip. It takes around 20 minutes to reach the summit from where you can see the latest crater of the volcano Georgios, which was created by the 1940 eruption.

The view from the top of the crater is quite spectacular. Whilst the inside of the crater is just lunar-like soil, smoke flows out of fissures inside the rocks. If you place your had inside the small crevasses, you can feel the heat of the volcano, sleeping underneath your feet. Walking around the crater takes another 10 minutes or so, and it’s an easy stroll.

The legend says that if you build a small pile of stones and make a wish, it will come true if it doesn’t collapse.

The entrance fee to Nea Kameni National Park is 5 euros.

Swim in the Natural Hot Springs

As Nea Kameni is still an active volcano, the waters surrounding it are warm and rich in sulphur.  After the boat left the Nea Kameni harbour, it anchored about 50 metres away from the hot springs. We headed towards the swimming area and descended the stairs to get into he water. Some people had already decided to jump in the water directly from the deck. I wasn’t that courageous as it was quite a way down, so I took the stairs

The closer I swam towards the hot springs, the warmer the water became. Its colour changed as well, from greenish to a murky brown, because of the sulphur. I liked that the water was so salty that when I stopped swimming I could just float.

We were not offered safety vests, and passengers were advised not to jump in the water if they couldn’t swim. It’s 20 meters deep! A crew member was in a small boat with an engine at all times, looking after the people who decided to swim.

A great tip is not to wear a white bathing suit if you decide to swim in the natural hot springs. The sulphur in the water will turn it yellow, and there is nothing you can do to bring back its original colour.

Have Lunch in Thirasia

Thirasia is a small island off the main coast of Santorini, previously part of it before the eruption of the volcano in 1500 BC. The island is small, with only 150 permanent residents living on it. The boat anchored in the small harbour, which is filled with fish restaurants extending their terraces over the water. The sea here is so clear that you can see the fish swimming among the stones on the bottom. 

We chose the restaurant furthest away from the harbour, The Windmill, to enjoy an al fresco lunch. I went for the traditional Santorini tomato fritters with tzatziki and a Greek salad, whilst my friend chose the meatballs in tomato sauce. The bill for food and drinks for the both of us was 36 euros.

Sail Along the Coast

On the way back to the new harbour of Santorini, the ship sailed slowly along the coast, passing by Oia, Fira, and all the other villages in between. It’s a really nice way to see the villages from the sea, as well as just relax and sunbathe on the deck.

Watch the Sunset in Pyrgos or Fira 

Pyrgos or Fira are great alternatives for watching the sunset in Santorini. From Fira you will get the same stunning views as from Oia, over the caldera. From Pyrgos you will see the entire island. Consider getting away from the crowds and experience the sunset in a different village than Oia.

Have Dinner in Perivolos

The Fish Tavern o Perivolos was one of my favourite restaurants in Santorini: decent prices, generous service with bread and dips, as well as rakia on the house, fresh fish dishes and a perfect location right on the beach. You can choose to have a table on their terrace or one right on the sand.

I actually ate here twice during my stay in Santorini and loved the food and the atmosphere both times. I highly recommend the stuffed octopus, which is filled with a delicious mixture of feta cheese and tomatoes, grilled whole, and served alongside fries and salad. I couldn’t believe how big the entire dish was. Another great fish dish that I really enjoyed here was the prawns saganaki.

Day 3:

Fira to Oia Hike

This is optional, depending which season you are visiting Santorini. I visited at the end of August and it was too hot to attempt this hike. Many friends who have done it told me it is spectacular. If you are visiting Santorini at any other time of the year, it is worth going on this hike. The views are incredible and the scenery is breathtaking with lunar-like volcanic soil, so you will want to stop often to take photos.

This is a moderate hike and it will take a good three hours at least to complete.

Lunch on the Beach

On the last of my three days in Santorini I finally chose to have a gyros for lunch, and a delicious starter of fried feta cheese covered with local honey. It was the last feta cheese of the trip, so it had to be good.

I went to Terra Nera beach club, which was very close to my hotel. They have a terrace with tables and chairs, as well as sunbeds which you can use if you eat and drink for 30 euros. My friend and I chose to stay at the terrace and enjoy a freshly made lunch together. The bill for our lunch, for food and drinks for two, was 36 euros.

Relax Time

Spend the rest of the day enjoying the beach or your hotel facilities. On my last day in Santorini I had to check out at 12, but my flight wasn’t until 10pm that evening. The hotel allowed me to store my luggage in reception, and use the facilities until the transfer came to pick me up. They even had showers that travellers in the same situation could use to get ready for going to the airport.

Conclusion

I hope you will find this Santorini 3 day itinerary useful, and it will help you plan the perfect trip to the most beautiful island of the Cyclades. Santorini was my first introduction to Greece and it exceeded all my expectations. I hope it will do the same for you!

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