Santorini News

A santorini infinity pool is a plunge pool with a vanishing edge cut into a terrace on the caldera cliff, and almost everything written about them leaves out the parts that matter: they are about two metres by four, the water is fifteen degrees in May unless heated, and the terrace sits forty to a hundred and fifty steps below the road. We arrange the transfers and the days out for guests staying in them at Santorini tours, so this is the honest version.

3 reasons to visit Santorini off season

The island of Santorini is considered one of the most famous destinations in the world. Most visitors to the island are foreigners from all over the world. In Santorini Tours, we know about the natural beauty of the island, the enchanting sunset, the volcano, the unique view, the wonderful food and wines are some of the reasons that everyone wants to visit the island. We will report information on Santorini holidays, accommodation, food, ferry services and beaches.

Visit the island of Santorini

Santorini or Thira belongs to the Cyclades and is the most famous destination by people from all over the world. It is a beautiful island where the view is breathtaking for a romantic vacation. The clear blue waters on the beaches of the island with quick access, the good food with the original dishes as the ingredients are of excellent quality from the land of Santorini can be enjoyed by the visitors. The unique view from many parts of the island as well as the cosmopolitan life in restaurants, cafes and bars, the walks in the narrow streets, the organized beaches, the archeological sites, the countless wineries of the area also entice tourists to visit it.

The famous Caldera invites you to visit it and photograph the beautiful colors of the sunset. The contrast of the white houses with the blue sky, the small churches with the blue roofs make the backdrop unique. The famous volcano with black and red stone and the beaches that take their name from the color of the rocks enchants the visitors who do not stop photographing the landscape. Photographing the most beautiful sunset in the world with the sun disappearing in the depths of the Aegean Sea, even weddings and various events take place in Santorini Famous fashion magazines and designers photograph their clothes advertising Santorini around the world.

Admire the famous Sunset

You can also admire the most famous sunset of Greece from the alleys and terraces of Oia but unfortunately in these places there is always a lot of people. This is why you need the 3 reasons to visit Santorini off season! If you want to enjoy the sunset more quietly you can see from the church of Agios Ioannis Thalassinos in Oia, from the upper neighborhood in the village of Finikia, from the settlement of Imerovigli or from the old mines in Fira. You can of course visit the island during the low season in April or May and even in October and November.

Unique beaches of Santorini

The island has many beaches with colors related to the volcano of the island. Not only white pebbles with the wonderful blue color of the Aegean sea, but black, white and red beaches are some of the rarest beaches in the whole world. It is a magnificent scenery which will for sure enchant you.

The beaches in detail:

• White Beach: A small beach with black sand and pebbles with high cliffs. It is an organized beach with sunbeds and umbrellas. You can only arrive by boat and you must have supplies with you as there is no restaurant or canteens in the area.
• Red beach: Very beautiful beach of Santorini with red and black rocks. The waters are dark blue and red sand but also black pebbles. It is an organized beach with sunbeds and umbrellas. The unique beauty of the area that is worth visiting.
• Kamari: A beach organized with sunbeds and umbrellas, cafes, restaurants and taverns. The beach consists of black sand and very clear waters.
• Monolithos: It is an organized beach that is recommended for families with children as it has a playground and a lifeguard. The waters are shallow and black sand. You will find basketball and beach volleyball courts, cafes, taverns, cafes and hotels.
• Perivolos: A beach with fine sand, deep waters, very clear waters and huge. It is usually very crowded with famous beach bars, water sports, taverns and cafes.
• Baxedes – Paradise: Another large beach, shallow waters that we recommend for young children. With Greek sand, organized beach with umbrellas and sunbeds and many hotels.
• Gialos: Below Fira is a quiet organized beach Gialos with clear blue waters, black sand and rocky hills behind the coast

Sights and activities in Santorini

There are many activities that can be done in Santorini. So you can walk in the alleys of the island. You will visit and enjoy the view of the caldera and you will enjoy the sunset from Oia. You can also take the cable car to see the island from above. In addition, there are many archeological sites and museums that one can visit in order to get to know the culture and history of the island. You can take a tour of Santorini!

Here are some famous attractions in Santorini:

• Prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri
• Museum of Prehistoric Thera
• Archaeological Museum of Thera
• Nautical Museum of Thera
• Thematic village “Santorini that left”
• Folklore Museum of Santorini
• Museum of Minerals and Fossils

 Take a tour with Santorini Private tours

In Santorini Tours, we can offer you a unique and customized experience. We are delivering tours around the whole island either in small groups or bigger ones. We will offer you a guide, transportation and information depending on the nature of the tour you will choose. Choose between archaeological tours, gastronomic tours, historical tours, volcano tours or create your own route! It really depends on your preferences!

See more about Santorini tours:

• Santorini Sightseeing Private Tour
• Exclusive Shore Santorini Private Tour
• Impressive Caldera Santorini Private Tour
• South Part Santorini Private Tour
• North Part Santorini Private Tour
• Santorini Historical Private Tour
• Santorini Sunset Private Tour

Santorini Infinity Pool: The Short Answer

The infinity pool on a caldera terrace is the single most photographed thing on the island after the sunset, and most of what is written about it leaves out the parts that matter: how small they are, what they cost, how cold they are in May, and which ones are private rather than shared.

What a santorini infinity pool actually is. A pool with a vanishing edge on the caldera side, cut into a terrace on the cliff, so the water appears to end at a four-hundred-metre drop.

Private plunge pool. Typically two by four metres and a metre and a half deep. For sitting in, not swimming.

Shared hotel pool. Usually eight to fifteen metres, and the ones you can actually swim in.

What a room with a private santorini infinity pool costs. 300 to 1,400 euros a night in August depending on the village.

What a hotel with a shared one costs. 180 to 600 euros a night in August.

Where the santorini infinity pool hotels are. Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani and the rim of Fira. Everything else on the island is a pool with a garden view.

Best santorini infinity pool view. Imerovigli, at the highest point on the rim, looking down the whole caldera.

Best value. Firostefani, where a santorini infinity pool costs roughly forty per cent less than the same thing in Oia.

Is a santorini infinity pool heated. The better properties heat them from April to early June and in October. Unheated water in May is around fifteen degrees.

Which way a santorini infinity pool should face. North-west for the sunset in the water, south-west for the full caldera panorama.

The santorini infinity pool catch. Steps. Almost every one of these terraces sits forty to a hundred and fifty steps below the nearest road.

The other catch. Overlooking. Terraces step down the cliff, so the property above can often see into yours.

The one-line answer. Book a heated private santorini infinity pool in Firostefani or Imerovigli for three nights, check the step count and the heating in writing, and you will get the photograph and the morning that go with it.

Private, Plunge or Shared: Knowing What You Are Booking

The words are used loosely by hotels and by booking sites, and the difference between them is several hundred euros a night.

A private santorini infinity pool. On your own terrace, accessible only from your room, nobody else uses it. The premium product and usually a plunge pool by size.

Private plunge pool. The same thing described honestly. Around two by three or two by four metres, waist to chest deep, with a bench along one side.

Private jacuzzi. Smaller again, often heated year-round, and sometimes photographed to look like a pool.

A shared santorini infinity pool. The hotel’s main pool with a vanishing edge on the caldera side. Eight to fifteen metres, properly swimmable, and busy from eleven to five.

Semi-private pool. Shared between two or three suites. Rare, and genuinely good value when it exists.

Pool with a caldera view. Not necessarily an infinity edge. Check the photographs for the lip.

Pool without a caldera view. Common in Fira, Kamari and inland, perfectly pleasant, and not what people mean by a santorini infinity pool.

How to spot a real santorini infinity pool in a listing. Look for a stated pool size in metres, the words private or shared, and a photograph taken from the side rather than along the edge.

The santorini infinity pool wide-angle problem. Every photograph of these pools is taken on a wide lens from the far corner. A two-by-four-metre pool looks like a lap pool in the picture and does not in person.

What to ask. The pool’s dimensions, its depth, whether it is private or shared, whether it is heated, and which months the heating runs.

The honest expectation. A private santorini infinity pool is a beautiful place to sit in water with a view. It is not somewhere to swim.

Where They Are, Village by Village

Oia, the densest santorini infinity pool village. The largest concentration and the highest prices. The village terraces down the northern end of the cliff, the outlook faces north-west, and the sunset lands directly in the water. Also the busiest lanes on the island above you.

Imerovigli, the best santorini infinity pool view. The highest point of the rim at around three hundred and thirty metres, looking down the entire caldera with Skaros rock in the foreground and both volcanic islets ahead. The best view attached to any santorini infinity pool, and the longest staircases.

Firostefani, the value santorini infinity pool. Between Imerovigli and Fira, ten minutes’ walk into the capital, with the same panorama at roughly sixty per cent of the Imerovigli price. The value answer.

Fira, the cheapest rim santorini infinity pool. The rim below the main square has genuine caldera pools, cheaper again, with bar noise until three or four in high season.

Akrotiri and the southern cliffs. A handful of properties looking across the caldera rather than along it, from the far south. Considerably cheaper and a different, wider view.

Megalochori and Pyrgos. Village hotels with pools and no caldera. Lovely, flat, cheap, and not what this article is about.

Kamari and Perissa. Beach hotels with ordinary pools, sea views and a fraction of the price.

Vlychada. The marina and the pumice cliffs, with a couple of design hotels and sea-facing pools.

What the map means. There are perhaps four villages on the whole island where a santorini infinity pool with a caldera view is physically possible, and they occupy about six kilometres of cliff.

Which santorini infinity pool village we recommend. Firostefani for the balance of price and view, Imerovigli if the view is the entire point, and the southern cliffs if you want the caldera from the outside for half the money.

What They Cost

Oia, private plunge pool suite, August. 600 to 1,400 euros a night.

Oia, room with shared infinity pool, August. 320 to 700 euros.

Imerovigli, private plunge pool suite, August. 450 to 950 euros.

Imerovigli, room with shared infinity pool, August. 260 to 550 euros.

Firostefani, private plunge pool suite, August. 300 to 650 euros.

Firostefani, room with shared infinity pool, August. 180 to 420 euros.

Fira rim, shared infinity pool, August. 150 to 380 euros.

Southern cliffs near Akrotiri, August. 150 to 350 euros.

The private santorini infinity pool premium. A private pool adds roughly a third to a half over the same room with shared access, which is the single largest line item in this decision.

Santorini infinity pool rates in June. Around seventy-five to eighty-five per cent of the August figure.

May or the second half of September. Fifty-five to seventy per cent.

April or late October. Thirty-five to fifty-five per cent, and the heating question becomes critical.

Santorini infinity pool hotels in winter. Most of these properties close from November to March.

What else moves a santorini infinity pool price. Terrace width, floor level on the cliff, and whether the pool is heated. A property six terraces down costs less than one on the top row because of the climb.

The value calculation. Three nights with a private santorini infinity pool in late September costs about what one August night in Oia costs, and the caldera is identical.

What the View Actually Contains

People book the pool and rarely ask what is in front of it, and the answer differs a great deal along six kilometres of cliff.

From Oia. The caldera opening to the north-west, Thirasia across the water, the channel between them, and the sun going down into open sea from roughly May to August. In winter the sun sets further south and lands behind Thirasia instead.

The santorini infinity pool view from Imerovigli. The widest view on the island: Skaros rock immediately below, Nea Kameni and Palia Kameni in the middle distance, Thirasia beyond, and the cliff curving away in both directions. The sun sets to your right rather than straight ahead.

From Firostefani. Almost the Imerovigli view with Skaros seen side-on, plus the lights of Fira to your left in the evening, which some people prefer and others find intrusive.

From the Fira rim. The volcanic islets straight ahead, the old port and the cable car below, and cruise ships at anchor for most of the day in season.

From the southern cliffs. The caldera from outside and across, with the whole rim visible as a wall of villages. A completely different and underrated picture.

The cruise ship factor. Between April and October up to five ships anchor in the caldera during the day. From Fira and Firostefani they are large in the frame and from Oia they are distant.

The volcano. Nea Kameni is a black cone with a visible crater, and Palia Kameni sits behind it. From a santorini infinity pool they look close enough to swim to and are four kilometres away.

Sunrise from a santorini infinity pool. The sun comes up behind you, over the island’s eastern slope, and lights the cliff opposite in red and gold for about twenty minutes. This is the shot.

Night. The rim villages light up in a long line and the caldera is completely black. From Imerovigli you see Oia three kilometres away as a string of lights.

Hotel Tiers and What Changes Between Them

Under 200 euros a night. A shared infinity pool at a small hotel in Firostefani, Fira or the southern cliffs. Good view, busy pool, simple rooms, and the best value on the island for this.

200 to 350 euros. A shared pool at a better property, or a small private plunge pool in Firostefani or Fira. Breakfast usually included and often served on the terrace.

350 to 600 euros. A private plunge pool in Imerovigli or Firostefani with a proper terrace, a wide view and heating in shoulder season. This is where the product becomes what the photographs promise.

600 to 1,000 euros. Oia and the best of Imerovigli. Larger terraces, better privacy, heated water, a butler service of some kind, and a restaurant on site.

Over 1,000 euros. The handful of properties that run two-level suites with a larger private pool, full privacy from above, and a price that is mostly about scarcity.

What improves as santorini infinity pool prices rise. Terrace size, privacy from the terraces above, whether the water is heated, and the shortness of the walk down. Not, generally, the view itself.

What does not improve. The steps. A thousand-euro suite in Imerovigli can be a hundred and forty steps below the road, and a two-hundred-euro room in Firostefani can be thirty.

The value sweet spot. Around 320 to 450 euros a night in Firostefani in late September buys a heated private santorini infinity pool with a wide terrace and a short walk, which is the same experience the Oia listings sell at three times the price in August.

Water Temperature and the Heating Question

This is the detail that ruins more shoulder-season bookings than any other, and almost no listing states it clearly.

An unheated santorini infinity pool in April. Around 14 to 16 degrees. Unusable for most people.

An unheated santorini infinity pool in May. 16 to 19 degrees. Brief.

Unheated in June. 21 to 24 degrees. Pleasant.

Unheated in July and August. 25 to 29 degrees, and by late afternoon in August a small pool on a hot terrace can reach 30 and stop being refreshing at all.

Unheated in September. 24 to 27 degrees, the best month of the year for this.

Unheated in October. 20 to 23 early in the month and cooler by the end.

A heated santorini infinity pool. Typically held at 27 to 30 degrees, which makes April, May and October work properly.

When santorini infinity pool heating is switched on. Varies by property. Some run it April to June and again in October; some only on request; some not at all.

The cost of heating. Usually included at the properties that offer it, and occasionally charged at 30 to 80 euros a day for a private pool.

Why small pools lose heat. Two by four metres on an exposed terrace at three hundred metres loses temperature overnight quickly, so an unheated plunge pool is coldest at dawn and warmest at six in the evening.

What to ask, exactly. Whether the santorini infinity pool is heated, which months the heating runs, whether it is on by default or on request, and what temperature it is held at.

The practical santorini infinity pool rule. From mid-June to early October the heating does not matter. Outside those months it is the difference between using the pool and looking at it.

The Steps, the Terraces and the Privacy Problem

Why the steps exist. The caldera villages are terraced down a cliff. There is no road at the level of the rooms, so access is a pedestrian lane along the top and then a flight of irregular stone steps down.

How many steps below a santorini infinity pool. Forty to a hundred and fifty at most rim properties, more in Imerovigli, and three hundred for anything at Ammoudi level below Oia.

Why it matters here specifically. A santorini infinity pool sits on a terrace, and the lower the terrace the better the view and the longer the climb.

Ask the santorini infinity pool hotel in writing. How many steps from the nearest vehicle drop-off to the room door. The good properties answer with a number.

Who should avoid the rim. Anybody with a knee, hip or heart condition, anybody with a pushchair, and anybody who will not enjoy the climb twice a day.

The santorini infinity pool privacy problem. Terraces step down the cliff, which means the property above yours often looks directly down onto your pool.

How bad is it. It varies enormously. Some suites are genuinely screened by the cliff or by a wall; others are overlooked by three terraces and a public lane.

What to ask about privacy. Which terraces are directly above, whether the pool is visible from the village lane, and whether there is a screen or a canopy.

The Oia lane issue. The main pedestrian lane runs along the top of the village and several thousand people walk it between five and nine. Some pools below it are in full view.

Sound around a santorini infinity pool. Carries up a cliff face, so conversations on the terrace below are audible, and so are yours.

The best-privacy villages. Imerovigli and the quieter end of Firostefani, where there is no through-lane above most of the properties.

The honest summary. A private santorini infinity pool is private from the sides and rarely private from above, and the listings never mention it.

Photographing an Infinity Pool Properly

The hour to shoot a santorini infinity pool. Sunrise, between six and seven. The caldera faces west, so the cliff is lit from behind you, the water is still, and there is nobody in any frame.

Why not sunset. The sun is in front of you, the light is flat on the villages, and everybody else is doing the same thing.

The trick everybody uses. Shoot low, with the camera near the water surface, so the vanishing edge lines up with the sea behind it and the two appear continuous.

The lens every santorini infinity pool photo uses. Wide, 16 to 24 millimetres equivalent, which is why every santorini infinity pool looks twice its actual size online.

Stillness. Wait for the surface to settle. Thirty seconds after anybody leaves the water is enough, and the reflection is the whole shot.

The reflection frame. Blue domes and white walls mirrored in the water, taken from the far corner at dawn.

The person in the santorini infinity pool. Back to camera, arms on the edge, looking out. It is a cliche because it works.

Drone shots of a santorini infinity pool. Restricted over the villages and around the airport, and increasingly unwelcome. Check the current rules and do not fly over neighbours’ terraces.

Phone versus camera. A modern phone is genuinely fine here. The light does the work.

Editing. Resist the temptation to push the blues. The water at dawn is grey-blue and the caldera is red and black, and the real colours are better than the saturated version.

Hiring a photographer. 250 to 900 euros for an hour at sunrise, and several work specifically on the rim terraces.

The honest note. Almost every santorini infinity pool photograph you have seen was taken at a focal length and an angle that flatters a two-by-four-metre pool. Knowing that before you book prevents the only common disappointment.

Booking One: the Twelve Questions

Is the santorini infinity pool private or shared. The first question and the largest price difference.

What are the santorini infinity pool dimensions. In metres. A stated size tells you more than twenty photographs.

How deep is it. A metre to a metre and a half is normal. Anything shallower is a jacuzzi.

Is the santorini infinity pool heated, and in which months. Critical for April, May and October.

Which direction does the terrace face. North-west for the sunset, south-west for the caldera panorama.

Is the pool overlooked, and from where. Ask specifically about the terraces above and any public lane.

How many steps from the road. In writing, as a number.

Is there a lift. Rare and transformative if steps are a concern.

Is breakfast served on the terrace. Breakfast beside your own santorini infinity pool at eight in the morning is the best half hour of the trip, and not every property offers it.

Is there shade on the santorini infinity pool terrace. An unshaded terrace at two in the afternoon in August is unusable, and a canopy or umbrella matters more than people expect.

What is the pool’s hours if it is shared. Most hotel pools close around sunset, which is exactly when you want to be in one.

What is the cancellation policy. Non-refundable rates save ten to twenty per cent and cost everything if a ferry strands you.

A Day on the Terrace, Hour by Hour

Six to seven at a santorini infinity pool. The best hour of the day and the one people miss. The cliff opposite lights up, the water is glass, the village is silent and the pool is coldest. Worth one early alarm.

Eight to ten. Breakfast on the terrace. Still shaded at most orientations, still quiet, and the caldera at its clearest before the haze builds.

Ten to one. The sun comes round and the terrace warms. Good swimming hours if your pool is unheated, and the point at which shade starts to matter.

One to four. The hottest part of the day. An unshaded terrace in July or August is genuinely unusable and the pool water can reach 30 degrees. Most people go out or go in.

Four to six. The terrace comes back. This is when a santorini infinity pool is at its best in summer: warm air, softening light, and the pool has cooled a little.

Six to eight. Sunset. The lanes above fill, the caldera goes gold and then pink, and everybody on every terrace is in the water with a drink.

Eight onwards. The villages light up. Pool lights on, air still warm, and the best two hours of the evening before dinner.

Late. Sound carries on a cliff and most properties ask for quiet after eleven, which is reasonable when the terrace below is three metres away.

What this means for booking. Shade and orientation matter more than pool size, because they determine how many of these hours you can actually use.

Infinity Pools Elsewhere on the Island

Beach hotels at Perivolos and Perissa. Several have infinity edges facing the open sea to the south. No caldera, a long horizon, direct beach access and a third of the rim price.

Kamari, a santorini infinity pool without the cliff. A handful of hotels with sea-facing pools below the Mesa Vouno cliff. Flat ground, family-friendly, and no drop.

Vlychada. Two or three design properties near the marina with pools facing the pumice cliffs and the sea.

Megalochori and Pyrgos. Village hotels with vineyard views and good pools. Quiet, cheap, and a car needed.

Akrotiri and the south-west. Pools looking across the caldera from outside it, which gives you the whole rim as a picture and includes the sunset.

Day passes. Several caldera hotels sell access for 40 to 120 euros a head with a food and drink minimum, which is how to use a santorini infinity pool for an afternoon while staying somewhere flat and cheap.

Beach club pools. The south-coast clubs have large pools beside the black sand, free with a sunbed spend, and nothing to do with the caldera.

Why any of this matters. The rim is not the only option, and for families, longer stays and anybody with a knee, a sea-facing infinity edge on flat ground is the better answer.

The combination we suggest most. Three nights on the rim with a private pool, then four nights in Kamari or Perivolos with a shared one, a beach across the road and no steps at all.

Who It Is Worth It For

Honeymooners and the santorini infinity pool. The strongest case. A private terrace, a plunge pool over the caldera and breakfast brought up at eight is a honeymoon room that nowhere else in Greece can match.

Couples on a milestone trip. Same argument, three or four nights rather than seven.

Photographers and the santorini infinity pool. Obviously, and the dawn hour on your own terrace is the whole reason to pay the premium.

Anybody who will actually use it. If you are the sort of traveller who leaves at nine and returns at eight, you are buying a photograph rather than a pool.

Families and the santorini infinity pool. No. The steps rule the rim out with a pushchair and a plunge pool with an infinity edge on a cliff is not a place for small children.

Groups and the santorini infinity pool. A shared infinity pool at a good hotel is better value and more sociable than four private ones.

Swimmers and the santorini infinity pool. No. Book a hotel with a proper shared pool, or use the sea.

Anybody with limited mobility. No, on the steps alone. The southern cliffs near Akrotiri have level access at a few properties.

Shoulder-season travellers. Yes, provided the heating is confirmed. This is where the value is.

Budget travellers. A shared santorini infinity pool in Firostefani at 180 euros a night gives you ninety per cent of the experience for a third of the money.

How many nights with a santorini infinity pool. Three. The view stays extraordinary and the steps do not.

The alternative nobody mentions. Several caldera hotels sell day access to their infinity pool for 40 to 120 euros a head with a minimum spend, which buys the view and the photograph without the room rate.

Mistakes People Make

Assuming a private santorini infinity pool means a large one. A private pool is usually two by four metres. The large ones are shared.

Booking April or May without checking heating. Fifteen-degree water on a warm terrace is scenery.

Booking seven nights. Three or four is the honest maximum on the rim for most people.

Not asking about the terraces above. The most common disappointment after size, and entirely avoidable with one email.

Judging by the photographs alone. Every one is shot wide and low from the corner. Ask for dimensions.

Expecting to swim in a santorini infinity pool. You will sit, float and stand. That is the product.

Ignoring shade. An unshaded santorini infinity pool terrace is unusable between one and five in July and August.

Booking Oia by default. Firostefani has the same caldera at forty per cent less and a shorter climb.

Booking in July for August. These rooms are the first to sell out. January and February for August.

Bringing hard four-wheel cases. They do not roll on lanes or steps.

Forgetting the port transfer. Athinios is twenty-five minutes below the rim and the taxi queue is long. Pre-book.

Missing the sunrise. You have paid several hundred euros a night for a terrace facing a volcano. Set one alarm.

Santorini Infinity Pool: Questions People Ask

How big is a private infinity pool in Santorini? Typically two by three or two by four metres and a metre to a metre and a half deep. It is a plunge pool with a vanishing edge.

Is a santorini infinity pool heated? The better properties heat them from April to early June and again in October. Many do not heat them at all, so ask.

How cold is the water in May? Around 16 to 19 degrees unheated. Heated pools are held at 27 to 30.

Which village has the best santorini infinity pool view? Imerovigli, at the highest point of the rim, looking down the whole caldera.

Which village is best value? Firostefani, at roughly sixty per cent of the Oia price for the same panorama.

How much does a room with a private one cost? Between 300 and 1,400 euros a night in August depending on the village, and roughly half that in May or late September.

Can I visit a santorini infinity pool without staying? Several caldera hotels sell day access at 40 to 120 euros a head, usually with a minimum spend.

Are they private from above? Often not. Terraces step down the cliff, so the property above can frequently see down into yours.

Can you swim lengths? Not in a private plunge pool. The shared hotel pools of eight to fifteen metres are the swimmable ones.

Are they suitable for children? No. The steps, the depth and the infinity edge on a cliff make the rim a poor choice with small children.

When should I book? January or February for August. These are the first rooms to sell out on the island.

What is the best hour to use it? Sunrise, between six and seven, when the light is behind you, the water is still and the caldera is empty.

Arranging the Rest of the Trip With Us

We know which lane every caldera property sits on, where a vehicle can actually stop and how many steps are below that point. That is the part booking sites leave out and the part that decides your arrival day.

Transfers to your santorini infinity pool. Airport and Athinios port, fixed price agreed before you travel, with a driver who knows the drop-off point for your hotel.

Caldera boat days. Shared and private catamarans, collected from the port nearest your village.

Private island tours. Five or eight hours with a driver, which is how to see the south and the wineries without parking in Oia.

The sunrise run. If your room does not have the angle you wanted, we will drop you at Imerovigli or Skaros before six and collect you after.

Ask us directly. Send the hotel name and we will tell you what the terrace faces, what is above it and how far the walk is, before you commit to a santorini infinity pool you have only seen in photographs.

Every Village and Site on the Island

Any of these can be built into a private day. Each has its own page with what to see and how long to allow.

Caldera villages: Fira · Firostefani · Imerovigli · Oia · Finikia · Baxedes

Inland villages: Pyrgos · Megalochori · Emporio · Mesaria · Karterados · Vothonas · Vourvoulos · Exo Gonia · Mesa Gonia · Pigadia

Beaches: Perissa · Perivolos · Kamari · Vlychada · Monolithos · Red Beach · White Beach · Agios Georgios · Agia Paraskevi

Sites and landmarks: Akrotiri · Ancient Thira · Akrotiri Lighthouse · Nea Kameni · Palia Kameni · Thirasia · Athinios Port

All our tours: All Santorini tours · Full day tour · Sightseeing tour · Personalised tour · North part tour · Horse riding · South part tour · Sunset tour · Shore excursion · Caldera tour · Food experience · Wine tour · Historical tour · Small group tour

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The santorini to ios ferry is the shortest hop from the island: 35 to 55 minutes by catamaran, 18 to 55 euros, four to eight sailings a day, and the only crossing from Santorini that works as a genuine day trip. This page covers the boats, the timings and the island.

Visit Santorini during Autumn 2020

Santorini is famous all over the world and its enchanting sunset is seen up close by travelers from all over the world. It is one of the most popular islands in the world with its charm, magic and mystery. In Santorini Tours we know better than anyone that Santorini is worth visiting all year round! Besides, anyone who has visited it knows well that the wonderful Cycladic island is much more than a sunset.

The history behind Santorini island

There were many names: from Stroggili to Kallisti or Kallisto, then Thirameni and Rineia, to the classic Thira. Its current name is due to the passing Frankish Crusaders, who left it to Santa Irina and it was transformed into Santorini.

Legend has it that Santorini emerged from the depths of the sea. Signs of life date from the Early Bronze Age, to the middle of the third millennium BC. The most famous prehistoric settlement is the one in the area of ​​Akrotiri, which was buried under ash in the great eruption of the volcano around 1600 BC.

Together with Thirasia and Apsronisi, Santorini are the remnants of the volcanic island of Strongyli. Parts of its volcano are Nea and Palea Kameni, among others. There are many boats that go around the Caldera, giving the visitor the opportunity to see up close the steep cliffs and the contrast of the black earth with the white of the Cyclades.

The tour of the island in land is also full of emotions. The cave houses in the volcanic soil which look like small tiles in the work of art that spreads in Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli or the touristically prominent Oia, with the legendary sunset. In Fira, do not miss a visit to the museum of Prehistoric Thera, to make a virtual trip through time with a sigh of relief.

And in the minds of most it may be one of the ultimate summer destinations, but Santorini is irresistibly charming and wonderful in the fall as well.

Why visit Santorini during Autumn 2020?

Santorini is an island and people obviously visit it during summer, in order to enjoy the warm Greek weather and the sea. Nevertheless, this does not mean that the island is not great during other seasons too. You will be surprised by the number of people who visit Santorini during Autumn 2020.

First of all, you will be able to enjoy the amazing sunset which is known in all over the world. Why this is better in autumn? Because you will be having the sunset for yourself, as most of the tourists and the traffic are during the high season meaning July and August.

Generally speaking, doing bottom of the islands will be basically private to you as it is not as crowded. He will be able to bond with the local people who are staying there all year round. All of the restaurants and cafés that are still working during September and October will be not as crowded so this way you’ll be able to enjoy and taste the local delicacies.

The same goes for museums and archaeological sites which are still functional during September and October. You will not have to wait in lines to see your favorite sites and the museums visits will be almost private just for you!

You can take a tour of Santorini!

Visit the volcano and go hiking

The island of Santorini is known for the volcano and the many hiking routes. We believe that these activities are much more enjoyable during the fall time. Without the 35 degrees Celsius of July, everything seems easier. You can climb the volcano, pass by Kokkini and Mavri beach and enjoy the uniqueness of Santorini like no other.

The natural, cool breeze of the fall will let you hike around the whole island and enjoy the Santorini Sightseeing Private tour, Santorini South Part Private Tour, or basically any other tour that we offer!

Beaches of Santorini

Who said that people can not swim in the sea during Fall? Yes, we can admit that the sea gets a bit colder and this might be considered an extreme sport but it is not that bad!

There are a lot of people who prefer to swim all year round so this is the best choice for them. Actually, the colder water of the sea has got lots of benefits for the human body and it also boosts the immune system. So it would be a great way taking care of yourself and enjoy a great, private,
 

Take a tour in Santorini during Autumn 2020 with Santorini tours

One of the greatest things that will happen if you visit Santorini during Autumn 2020, is that you can still take any tour.  In fact, it is even better because we offer our tours and there are many more available spaces in our schedule! This way you can see the archaeological sites, visit the volcano, have a private island tour all at your ease!

Our office offers a variety of tours which can be customized according to your needs and preference. You can contact us and book your own private tour anytime! Take the chance and visit Santorini during fall 2020 and enjoy the marvelous scenery of the most famous Cycladic island!

See more about Santorini tours:

• Santorini Sightseeing Private Tour
• Exclusive Shore Santorini Private Tour
• Impressive Caldera Santorini Private Tour
• South Part Santorini Private Tour
• North Part Santorini Private Tour
• Santorini Historical Private Tour
• Santorini Sunset Private Tour

Santorini to Ios Ferry: The Short Answer

The santorini to ios ferry is the shortest island hop available from Santorini, and the only one close enough to do as a genuine day trip. Ios sits forty-five minutes north on the main Cyclades line, and the crossing is short enough that it changes what is possible rather than just where you sleep.

Crossing time. The santorini to ios ferry takes roughly 35 to 55 minutes on a high-speed catamaran. Roughly 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 45 on a conventional ferry.

Santorini to ios ferry fares. Roughly 30 to 55 euros a person one way on the fast boats, and roughly 18 to 32 on the conventional ferries.

Frequency. The santorini to ios ferry runs four to eight sailings a day through high summer, two to four in the shoulder months, and a few a week in winter on the year-round Piraeus line.

Santorini to ios ferry operators. Blue Star Ferries on the conventional service, with Seajets, Golden Star Ferries and Minoan Lines running high-speed vessels across the season.

Santorini to ios ferry ports. Athinios on Santorini, at the bottom of a hairpin road below the caldera, and Ormos Ios, the harbour at Gialos, about two kilometres below the hilltop Chora.

Distance. Around 18 nautical miles north, which is the shortest crossing from Santorini to anywhere inhabited except Thirasia.

The day trip. Genuinely possible, unlike every other route from here. A morning santorini to ios ferry out and an evening one back gives you seven or eight hours ashore.

Why Ios. Mylopotas, one of the best beaches in the Cyclades, a hilltop Chora that is among the prettiest in Greece, a famously young nightlife, and prices a third below Santorini.

The wind. The meltemi cancels fast craft between June and September, and on this route there is almost always another boat within a few hours.

The honest summary. The easiest crossing from Santorini, the cheapest island at the other end, and the only one you can sensibly visit and return from in a day.

Fast Catamaran or Conventional Ferry

On a crossing this short the difference matters less than on any other route out of Santorini, and it still decides the price.

The high-speed catamaran. Thirty-five to fifty-five minutes, air-conditioned, assigned aircraft-style seats and usually no open deck. On a forty-minute santorini to ios ferry there is barely time to sit down.

The conventional ferry. An hour and a quarter to an hour and three quarters on a large Blue Star ship, with open decks, a cafeteria and lounges. Slower, cheaper, and the more pleasant way to do it if the timetable suits.

Motion. Both fine. The crossing is short and partly sheltered, and this is the least likely route from Santorini to make anybody seasick.

Cancellations. Fast craft are restricted at a lower wind threshold, and Blue Star sails in almost anything.

Price. A fast santorini to ios ferry costs roughly double, which on a short hop is a weaker argument than on the longer routes.

Stops. Direct in both directions. Conventional sailings continue to Naxos, Paros and Piraeus after Ios.

Vehicles. Conventional ferries only.

Deck space. Worth having for the first fifteen minutes, because the santorini to ios ferry leaves the caldera with the cliff and the villages above you, which is the best view of Santorini there is.

Luggage. Free on both, handled by you.

Which we would take. The conventional ferry, because on a forty-minute saving the open deck is worth more than the time.

Fares, Tickets and Booking

Conventional economy. Roughly 18 to 32 euros a person one way, which makes this the cheapest santorini to ios ferry and one of the cheapest crossings in the Cyclades.

High-speed economy. Roughly 30 to 55 euros a person one way.

Business and VIP. Available and pointless on a crossing this short.

Children and infants. Reduced fares for children, and infants generally free without a seat.

Vehicles. Conventional ferries only, at roughly the cost of two extra passenger fares. Santorini hire cars almost never permit leaving the island.

Where to book. Direct with the operator or through an aggregator covering every line. On a route with this many daily sailings the aggregators make the day-trip timings much easier to see.

How far ahead. Two to three weeks for July and August, and a few days in the shoulder months. The santorini to ios ferry has more capacity than most routes from here and rarely sells out in economy.

Paper tickets. Some operators still require collection from a port kiosk or an agency in Fira. Check when you book.

Changes and refunds. Changeable for a fee up to a cut-off, then non-refundable, with weather cancellations handled separately.

Santorini to ios ferry boarding. Thirty to forty-five minutes before departure, which on a short hop is longer than the crossing itself.

The day-trip booking. Book both legs at once and leave at least ninety minutes of margin on the return, because a missed evening boat means an unplanned night on Ios.

Sailing Times and Frequency

Morning departures. Roughly seven to eleven, and the santorini to ios ferry you want for a day trip or for an arrival with the afternoon intact.

Midday. A mix of fast and conventional, arriving early afternoon.

Afternoon and evening. Several, including the returns that make a day trip work, and the departures most exposed to the afternoon wind.

July and August. The santorini to ios ferry runs four to eight sailings a day across all operators, with a real choice of vessel and of timing.

June and September. Three to five a day, lower fares, and September is the calmest month on the water.

May and October. Two to four a day, with the santorini to ios ferry timetable thinning at the edges of the season.

April. Building, and worth checking rather than assuming.

November to March. A few sailings a week on the year-round Piraeus line, weather-dependent.

Santorini to ios ferry day-trip pairs. In high season there is usually a departure between seven and nine in the morning and a return between six and nine in the evening, which is the combination that makes Ios a day rather than a stay.

Delays. Knock-on rather than original, and more likely later in the day.

How to check. The operator’s own site a week before and again the day before, because the santorini to ios ferry schedule is revised without notice.

Athinios: Leaving Santorini

Where it is. Athinios, on the caldera side about ten kilometres south of Fira, at the bottom of a road of hairpin bends cut into the cliff.

Journey times. Twenty minutes from Fira, twenty-two from Firostefani, twenty-five from Imerovigli, twelve from Megalochori, twenty-five from Kamari or Perissa, thirty-five from Oia. Add half again in August.

The port. A narrow quay, a handful of agencies and cafes, no shade, and chaos when several boats load together.

When to arrive. Thirty to forty-five minutes before a santorini to ios ferry departure in peak season, which is longer than the crossing takes.

By bus. 2.30 euros and twenty-five minutes, timed against the ferry schedule rather than a clock, and it fills early.

By taxi. Around thirty taxis serve the whole island. Not a plan for a boat with a fixed departure.

To the santorini to ios ferry by private transfer. Booked, door to quay, priced per vehicle, and the sensible answer for an early day-trip departure.

Luggage. Uneven quay, steep ramps, no trolleys. For a day trip, take a small bag and nothing else.

Finding your boat. Vessels go by name and berth wherever there is space. Watch the hull and ask staff.

The return. An evening santorini to ios ferry lands you at Athinios in the dark with no bus, so book a vehicle for the pick-up as well as the drop-off.

Gialos and Chora: Arriving on Ios

The santorini to ios ferry arrival port. Ormos, also called Gialos, a horseshoe harbour on the western side of the island with tavernas along the waterfront and a beach at the far end.

Getting up to Chora. Two kilometres and about 150 metres of climb. A bus every twenty minutes in season, a taxi, or the old stone staircase which takes twenty-five minutes and is the better option if the heat allows.

Chora. A hilltop village of whitewashed lanes and windmills that is a genuine rival to anything on Santorini, and far less visited by day. Most people off the santorini to ios ferry see it at lunchtime and have it largely to themselves.

Mylopotas, twenty-five minutes from the santorini to ios ferry. The island’s main beach, a long sweep of pale sand fifteen minutes from Chora by bus, with loungers, water sports and beach bars. One of the best beaches in the Cyclades.

The other beaches. Manganari in the far south, Agia Theodoti and Psathi on the east coast, Koumbara next to the port for sunset.

Homer. The tomb attributed to Homer at Plakoto in the north, which is a modest site with an enormous claim and a spectacular position.

Buses from the santorini to ios ferry. Frequent in season on the port to Chora to Mylopotas line, which covers almost everything a day visitor needs.

Taxis and hire. A handful of taxis, plus cars, scooters and quads at the port and in Chora at well below Santorini prices.

Where to stay. Chora for the lanes and the nightlife, Mylopotas for the beach, Gialos for the ferries, and Manganari for genuine isolation.

The contrast. Flat, compact and easy after Athinios, with everything a day visitor wants inside a three-kilometre triangle.

The Day Trip, Hour by Hour

This is the thing the santorini to ios ferry makes possible and no other route from Santorini does. The figures below are a high-season day and they work.

06:45. Leave the hotel by booked vehicle. No buses run that early.

07:20. At Athinios, ticket in hand, boat found by name.

08:00. Departure. The first fifteen minutes out of the caldera are the best view of Santorini available.

08:45. Ormos, Ios. Off the boat and onto the bus or the staircase.

09:15. Chora, empty, with the shops opening and the lanes to yourself. An hour is enough to walk all of it, including up to the windmills and the church at the top.

10:30. Bus down to Mylopotas. Loungers, a long swim, and water that is warmer and shallower than anything on Santorini.

13:30. Lunch on the sand or back in Chora, at roughly two thirds of Santorini prices.

15:30. Either a second beach, or Koumbara, or the tomb of Homer if you have hired something with wheels.

18:00. Back to Gialos. A drink on the harbour while the boats come in.

19:30 to 21:00. The evening santorini to ios ferry back, and a vehicle waiting at Athinios.

What the santorini to ios ferry day costs. Roughly 60 to 110 euros a head for two return fares, two transfers, loungers and lunch.

The risk. One cancelled return boat and you are staying the night. Check the forecast, leave margin, and know where the later sailing is.

Day Trip or Stay the Night

The case for the santorini to ios ferry day trip. It works, it is cheap, it adds a completely different island to a Santorini week, and it gives you the best beach day available within an hour of the caldera.

What the day trip misses. The nightlife, which is the thing Ios is most known for, and the hour after sunset in Chora, which is when the village is at its best.

The case for one night after the santorini to ios ferry. Chora in the evening is genuinely excellent: lanes full of small bars, a young crowd, and an atmosphere Santorini does not have. One night turns the santorini to ios ferry from a beach excursion into a proper second island.

The case for two or three nights. Mylopotas, Manganari, Agia Theodoti and the Chora evenings, at a third below Santorini prices. Ios is a three-night island and not much more.

Who should do the day trip. Couples and families on a Santorini week who want a beach day and a change of scene.

Who should stay. Anybody under thirty, anybody who wants a night out, and anybody on a budget, because the accommodation saving over Santorini pays for the crossing twice over.

Who should skip Ios. Travellers looking for quiet in August, when Mylopotas and Chora are both loud.

The reverse trip. Plenty of people base on Ios and take the santorini to ios ferry in the other direction for a day in the caldera, which is cheaper overall and means an early start and a long day.

Our recommendation. One night, not a day trip, if the itinerary has room. The island is better in the evening than in the afternoon.

And a word on why this route is different. Every other crossing from Santorini is a transfer between holidays. The santorini to ios ferry is short enough, frequent enough and cheap enough to be an excursion, which makes it the one route on this island that can be added to an existing plan rather than built around. Forty minutes each way, eighteen to fifty-five euros, four to eight sailings a day in summer, and a beach at the other end that Santorini cannot match at any price. For anybody on a Santorini week who has done the caldera, the boat day and Akrotiri, and who wants one completely different day, this is the best value available from Athinios.

The counter-case, stated fairly. A day spent on a santorini to ios ferry is a day not spent on Santorini, and Santorini has more in it than three days can hold. If this is a first visit of four nights or fewer, stay put: Ancient Thera, the Profitis Ilias ridge, Thirasia and the inland villages are all still unseen, and none of them needs a ferry ticket. Ios earns its day on a second visit or on a week.

Santorini and Ios: What You Are Swapping

Landscape. Santorini is a flooded caldera with a cliff. Ios is rounded, bare hills with a hilltop village and long sandy bays.

Beaches. Worth the santorini to ios ferry on their own: Ios, decisively. Mylopotas alone is better than anything on Santorini, and Manganari and Agia Theodoti are both excellent.

Spectacle. Santorini, by a distance.

Price. Ios is a third to a half cheaper for rooms, food and drinks, which is the other reason the santorini to ios ferry is so well used.

Nightlife. Ios, and it is a different kind: younger, denser, concentrated in Chora’s lanes, and louder.

Village. Ios Chora is a serious rival to Oia, with a fraction of the visitors by day.

Food. Santorini, on the strength of its wine and its own produce.

Crowds. Ios is busy in August and nothing like Santorini at any time.

Families. Ios has the flat sandy beaches; Santorini has the better logistics and the more varied days.

Which to give more days to. Santorini, unusually for these comparisons. Ios is a three-night island and Santorini is a four-night one.

Wind, Cancellations and Continuing North

The meltemi. A dry northerly blowing two to four days at a stretch from June to September.

Why this route copes well. The crossing is short, partly sheltered, and served by four to eight sailings a day, so a cancelled fast boat usually means a wait rather than a lost day.

What gets cancelled. High-speed craft first. Blue Star sails in almost anything.

The day-trip risk. The one real exposure on the santorini to ios ferry. If the wind builds through the day the evening fast boat can go while the conventional one runs, so know both options before you leave.

Continuing past the santorini to ios ferry to Naxos. An hour to an hour and a half beyond Ios, directly on the line.

Continuing to Paros. An hour and a half to two and a half hours, also direct.

Continuing to Mykonos. Two to three hours.

Continuing to Piraeus. Four to seven and a half hours depending on the vessel.

The classic chain. Santorini, Ios, Naxos, Paros, each hop under two hours, which is the best island-hopping sequence in Greece and starts with the shortest crossing of the lot.

The booking rule. Book each leg separately and leave a night either side of anything that connects with a flight.

Ios Beach by Beach

The beaches are the main reason to take the santorini to ios ferry rather than stay on the caldera for another day, so they are worth setting out properly.

Mylopotas, the reason for the santorini to ios ferry. The island’s headline beach and one of the best in the Cyclades: a kilometre of pale sand in a wide bay, shallow and clear, with loungers, beach bars, water sports and a bus every twenty minutes from Chora. Fifteen minutes from the village and twenty-five from the port.

Koumbara. Ten minutes west of Gialos, a small sandy cove with rock at one end and the best sunset position on the island. The locals’ choice and the right answer for anybody off a midday santorini to ios ferry with a few hours to spare.

Gialos beach. At the far end of the harbour, shallow and sheltered, and good enough that you do not have to move if the day is short.

Manganari. Four sandy coves in the far south, about forty minutes by road or reachable by a small boat from Gialos. Quiet, beautiful and the furthest thing on the island from its nightlife reputation.

Agia Theodoti. On the north-east coast, long, sandy and backed by tamarisks, with a single taverna and almost nobody there.

Psathi. Further south on the east coast, a long exposed sweep of sand that catches the meltemi and is superb on a still day.

Kalamos. Remote, pebbly, and one of those beaches that exists mostly so that people can say they got there.

Tris Klisies and Loretzaina. Small western coves reachable by track or boat, and genuinely empty.

Which to choose off a day trip. Mylopotas, without hesitation. It is the closest, the best served and the best, and it is why the santorini to ios ferry works as a beach day at all.

Which to choose on a longer stay. Manganari or Agia Theodoti, both of which need wheels and repay them.

Compared with Santorini. Pale sand against black, shallow entry against a shelf, and a warmer sea. On beaches the comparison is not close.

Where to Stay on Ios

Chora, above the santorini to ios ferry harbour. The hilltop village, and the best base if the evenings matter. Whitewashed lanes, windmills above, bars and restaurants at every turn, and a bus down to the beach every twenty minutes. Loud after midnight in August in the central lanes and quiet two streets out.

Mylopotas. On the beach itself, with hotels and a large campsite along the bay. Convenient, unglamorous in places and exactly right for a beach week.

Gialos and Ormos. Around the harbour, which is where the santorini to ios ferry arrives. Practical for a short stay, quiet at night, and with a handful of good tavernas on the water.

Koumbara. A few small hotels above the cove, quiet and with the sunset in front of them.

Manganari. One or two properties in the far south, genuinely isolated, and needing a vehicle for everything.

Prices after the santorini to ios ferry. Roughly 60 to 180 euros a night in high season for a good room, against 150 to 700 on Santorini’s rim. Hostels and the campsite at Mylopotas from 25 to 50.

Booking. Four to eight weeks for July and August. Ios has far less accommodation than Santorini and Chora in particular fills.

What Ios does not have. Caldera views, cave suites or infinity pools hanging over a four-hundred-metre drop. It is a cheaper, simpler island and it does not pretend otherwise.

The honest recommendation. Chora for two nights if you are arriving on a santorini to ios ferry with any intention of seeing the island properly, and Mylopotas if the beach is the entire plan.

Ios Nightlife, Honestly

Ios has a reputation and it needs context, because a great many people arrive off the santorini to ios ferry expecting something either more or less than what is there.

What it actually is. A dense cluster of small bars in the lanes of Chora, packed between midnight and four in high summer, with a young and international crowd. Walkable end to end in five minutes.

The scale. Smaller than its reputation. This is thirty or forty small venues in a village rather than the beach-club industry of Mykonos.

The hours. Restaurants until eleven, bars from midnight, the busiest hour around two, and the last of it between four and five.

Mylopotas by day. Beach bars with music from the afternoon, which is where the evening starts for a lot of people.

Prices. 6 to 12 euros for a drink, which is roughly half what a caldera terrace on Santorini charges.

The season. July and August at full volume, June and September noticeably calmer, and almost nothing from November to April.

Who it suits. Travellers in their twenties, groups, and anybody who wants a night out that costs a third of Mykonos.

Who it does not. Light sleepers in the central Chora lanes in August, and anybody looking for a quiet dinner followed by bed at eleven. Stay at Mylopotas, Koumbara or Manganari instead.

What gets missed. Chora at eight in the evening, before any of the above starts, when the lanes are lit and almost empty and the village is at its best. A day-tripper off the santorini to ios ferry who leaves at seven never sees it.

The fair summary. A very good night out in a very pretty village, confined to a small area and a few hours, and far more manageable than the island’s reputation suggests.

Ios Practicalities for a Short Visit

Money for a santorini to ios ferry day. Cash machines in Gialos and Chora, cards accepted almost everywhere, and cash preferred at the smaller beach tavernas. Bring fifty euros a head for a day trip.

Water. As on Santorini, the tap supply is not for drinking. Buy bottles at the harbour before you head up.

Shade. Almost none, like every island in this group. Chora’s lanes are narrow enough to give some relief at midday and the beaches have umbrellas.

Shoes. Chora is a hill village of steps and cobbles, so the same rule applies as on Santorini: flat and grippy.

Pharmacy and medical. A pharmacy and a health centre in Chora. Anything serious goes to Santorini or Athens, which is one more reason the santorini to ios ferry matters to the island.

Luggage storage. Nothing formal at Gialos. A taverna on the harbour will usually watch a bag for an hour if you are eating there.

Phone signal. Good across the inhabited parts and patchy in the southern valleys towards Manganari.

Opening hours. Chora’s shops open late, close for the afternoon, and reopen at six. A day visitor arriving at nine will find the village asleep and beautiful.

The santorini to ios ferry season. Late May to early October for everything, with July and August at full volume and almost nothing open in winter.

The one thing to get right. The return sailing. Every other decision on a santorini to ios ferry day is reversible and that one is not.

Santorini to Ios Ferry: Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the santorini to ios ferry? About 35 to 55 minutes on a high-speed catamaran, and 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 45 on a conventional ferry.

How much does it cost? Roughly 30 to 55 euros a person one way on the fast boats, and 18 to 32 euros on the conventional ferries.

How often does it run? Four to eight sailings a day in July and August, three to five in June and September, and fewer at the edges of the season.

Which port does it use on Ios? Ormos, also called Gialos, on the western side of the island, two kilometres below the hilltop Chora.

Which companies operate it? Blue Star Ferries on the conventional service, with Seajets, Golden Star Ferries and Minoan Lines on the high-speed sailings.

Can I do Ios as a day trip from Santorini? Yes, and it is the only island from Santorini where that genuinely works. A morning departure and an evening return gives seven or eight hours ashore.

Do I need to book ahead? Two to three weeks for July and August. Economy on the conventional ships rarely sells out.

Can I take a car? Only on conventional ferries, and Santorini hire agreements almost never permit taking the vehicle off the island.

Will I get seasick? Unlikely. This is the shortest and most sheltered crossing from Santorini.

Does the santorini to ios ferry get cancelled? The fast boats occasionally in strong wind, and with four to eight sailings a day there is usually another within hours.

How do I get from the port up to Chora? A bus every twenty minutes in season, a taxi, or the old stone staircase in about twenty-five minutes.

Is Ios cheaper than Santorini? Yes, a third to a half cheaper for rooms, food and drinks.

Is Ios just a party island? No. Chora is one of the prettiest villages in the Cyclades and Mylopotas is among the best beaches. The nightlife is concentrated in a few lanes.

Can I continue to Naxos or Paros? Yes, both are directly on the same line, an hour to two and a half hours beyond Ios.

Mistakes People Make

Treating it like the longer routes. The santorini to ios ferry is forty minutes. People allow a whole day for the crossing and then discover they had seven hours spare on the other side.

Booking the last return santorini to ios ferry. One cancellation and you are staying the night. Take the second-to-last sailing.

Not booking the Athinios pick-up. An evening arrival at the port in the dark, with no bus and around thirty taxis on the island, is the commonest way this day goes wrong.

Walking up to Chora at two in the afternoon. A hundred and fifty metres of climb with no shade in thirty-two degrees. Take the bus up and walk down.

Assuming Ios is only for the young. Chora by day and Mylopotas are entirely mainstream, and the nightlife is confined to a few lanes after midnight.

Taking too much luggage for a day trip. The Athinios quay has no trolleys and Gialos has a bus with limited space.

Hiring a quad off the santorini to ios ferry. The same advice as on Santorini: the roads are narrow, the gravel is real, and it is the commonest source of holiday injury on both islands.

Missing Chora in the evening. The best hour on the island, and the thing a day trip cannot give you.

Planning the crossing for a flight day. A short hop is still a hop, and Athinios is still twenty-five minutes from the airport on a single-lane road.

We Handle Both Ends of the Day

We are a local operator on Santorini with our own vehicles and our own drivers, and an Ios day trip has exactly two weak points: a seven in the morning departure when no bus runs, and a nine in the evening return when none run either.

Tell us your sailing times and where you are staying and we will cover both, so the only thing you have to think about is which beach. We can also build the rest of the week around it: Akrotiri, a winery, a caldera cruise, and the airport or the port at each end.

Prices are per vehicle rather than per person, hotel pickup anywhere on the island is included, we guide in twelve languages, and an 80 EUR deposit confirms a date.

See the personalised tour, the private transfers, or contact us.

Every Village and Site on the Island

Any of these can be built into a private day. Each has its own page with what to see and how long to allow.

Caldera villages: Fira · Firostefani · Imerovigli · Oia · Finikia · Baxedes

Inland villages: Pyrgos · Megalochori · Emporio · Mesaria · Karterados · Vothonas · Vourvoulos · Exo Gonia · Mesa Gonia · Pigadia

Beaches: Perissa · Perivolos · Kamari · Vlychada · Monolithos · Red Beach · White Beach · Agios Georgios · Agia Paraskevi

Sites and landmarks: Akrotiri · Ancient Thira · Akrotiri Lighthouse · Nea Kameni · Palia Kameni · Thirasia · Athinios Port

All our tours: All Santorini tours · Full day tour · Sightseeing tour · Personalised tour · North part tour · Horse riding · South part tour · Sunset tour · Shore excursion · Caldera tour · Food experience · Wine tour · Historical tour · Small group tour

Planning and services: Famous sights tour · Private transfers · Transfers to Oia and Finikia · Transfers to other villages · Villages of Santorini · History of Santorini · Tours near you · Languages we guide in · Food and fun tours · Gay friendly tours · Our tour buses · Daily tours · Day tours · FAQ · Gallery · Tour photo gallery · About us · Contact · Blog

Santorini snorkeling is volcanic rather than tropical: dark lava rock, pale pumice shelves, arches, sea caves and water clear to fifteen or thirty metres, with no coral. This page sets out the best spots, the boats, the water temperatures and the safety notes specific to this coast.

The 9 most impressive beaches of Santorini

Santorini has the reputation of the most romantic island with the most wonderful sunset in almost the whole world. There are the 9 most impressive beaches in Santorini that are worth visiting during your vacation on the island. Santorini Tours organizes personalized private tours to the beaches of Santorini, according to your preferences.

The beauties of the island are many, but the excellent beaches of Santorini are another feature that makes it stand out.But, without meaning that the rest aspects of Santorini can not pleasantly surprise you.

Red Beach

The most impressive beach that often stars in travel magazines and blogs is the famous Red Beach, which is located in the southern part of the island. The beach is of particular morphological interest as it is full of red and black volcanic rocks. Access is either from Akrotiri by boat or by car and then on foot.

The beach is organized. Features umbrellas, sun loungers and a separate canteen.It is a picturesque beach, one of the most famous on the island, although access to it is very difficult.

Perivolos

Perivolos is one of the most beautiful organized beaches on the island, very large in length and width, with fine sand and clear deep waters. It is essentially the continuation of the beach of Perissa, in the southeastern part of Santorini.It has intense tourist traffic, sunbeds, umbrellas, cafes, beach bars with loud music, taverns right by the sea and many water activities.

Βut at the same time it is an ideal beach for relaxation, since as the visitor moves away from the bars they find the peace they want. This beach is one of the largest in the island and can satisfy even the most demanding visitor. Perivolos is considered one of the most beloved beaches of Santorini.

Vlychada

Located in the southern part of the island, Vlychada has easy access, has a quiet canteen for essentials and sunbeds with umbrellas. It is long in length, with dark black sand and crystal clear waters that deepen very steeply. But if you move away from the canteen, you will enjoy your bath completely alone. In the surrounding area you will find a few taverns with delicious traditional delicacies, while if you sit until sunset, the sunset will compensate you for the stay.

White Beach

Anyone who visits the Red Beach of the island is worth going to the next beach, Aspri. As its name suggests, the beach is full of white rocks that are in stark contrast to its black sand. Ideally quiet in relation to the busy and neighboring Red Beach. You will need to go there prepared. It has minimal sunbeds and umbrellas and you will not find a canteen or tavern there.

Mouzakia

Mouzakia beach of Santorini is ideal for you who have your own boat, or the way to rent one. Mouzakia beach is located between Oia and Imerovigli. You can get there only from the sea but its crystal clear waters and relative tranquility will compensate you with the above. Santorini Tours can transport you at Mouzakia.

Perissa

Perissa is the most economical solution for unforgettable youth holidays in Santorini. It is located in the southeastern part of the island, and has everything a visitor who is looking for intense fun, day and night. Its beach is one of the largest and most organized on the island, with thick black sand, steep waters, diving school , water park, facilities and trainers for water sports, camping, beach bars, sunbeds, umbrellas, hotels, taverns, etc. In Perissa the fun never stops. You can take a tour of Santorini!

Kamari Beach

One of the most cosmopolitan and tourist beaches of Santorini is Kamari, due to its close distance from the airport of the island. The beach has black sand, fine gravel and deepens sharply. It is particularly large in both length and length. There are many beach bars in every part of it, however, Kamari is also preferred by families.

The 9 most impressive beaches of Santorini

Ammoudi

This is a port and not a beach. However, its waters are wonderful and there are many people from the island who prefer it for their swimming (apart from the food in the taverns on the sea). Access is a) on foot descending 200 steps or b) with mules if you are an adventurous guy, or c) a classic choice by car but then you will need to walk 200 m.

Although Ammoudi is not exactly a beach it is one of the most picturesque places of Santorini and attracts a lot of people who want to enjoy a Santorini meal and take a dip. It is a nice choice to see the sunset at 7, with crowds standing on the stairs or on the path that leads from the parking lot to the port.

Monolithos

Monolithos is a beach in the east of the island that is well known to locals and families. With black sand but also with very shallow waters, Monolithos has moderate tourist traffic. It is organized, and in addition to the beach bar travelers can enjoy local delicacies in one of the taverns along the beach.

Learn more about Santorini tours:

• Santorini Sightseeing Private Tour
• Exclusive Shore Santorini Private Tour
• Impressive Caldera Santorini Private Tour
• South Part Santorini Private Tour
• North Part Santorini Private Tour
• Santorini Historical Private Tour
• Santorini Sunset Private Tour

Santorini Snorkeling: The Short Answer

Santorini snorkeling is better than the island’s reputation suggests and it works differently here from anywhere else in the Cyclades, because the coastline is volcanic rather than limestone. What you get is dark rock, sudden drops, pale pumice shelves, sea caves and water that is exceptionally clear. What you do not get is a coral reef or big fish, and anybody arriving with Red Sea expectations will be disappointed.

Where the good santorini snorkeling spots are. The south and south-west coast around Akrotiri: the White Beach, Mesa Pigadia, Balos, the rocks off the Red Beach and the caves near Indian Rock. Then Ammoudi below Oia, and the shelves off Thirasia.

Where it is poor. The long sandy beaches at Perissa, Perivolos, Kamari and Monolithos. Beautiful for swimming and almost nothing to look at underwater.

Santorini snorkeling visibility. Frequently fifteen to thirty metres, which is excellent. Volcanic sand stirs up in swell, so the day after a windy day is the worst day.

Water temperature. About 17 degrees in April, 19 to 20 in May, 22 in June, 24 in July, 25 to 26 in August and September, and 22 to 23 through October.

What you will see. Damselfish in clouds, sea bream, wrasse, salema, octopus, sea urchins, the occasional moray and, on the volcanic shelves, the geology itself, which is the real attraction.

From shore or from a boat. Both. The best santorini snorkeling is reached by boat, because the White Beach, Balos and the sea caves have no land access.

Santorini snorkeling gear. Bring your own mask if you are particular. Dive centres and beach operators rent sets for a few euros, and every catamaran cruise carries gear on board.

Santorini snorkeling cost. Free from the shore. A snorkelling trip by boat runs 50 to 90 euros; it is also included at no extra cost on most catamaran cruises.

The season. June to early October for comfort. May and late October are swimmable for the hardy.

The one safety note. Sea urchins are everywhere on the volcanic rock and the entries are sharp. Wear something on your feet.

The Best Santorini Snorkeling Spots

The island’s good water is concentrated in the south-west, where the volcanic rock meets the sea in shelves and drop-offs rather than sloping sand.

The White Beach. Reachable only by boat, under pale pumice cliffs near Akrotiri. Rock on both sides of a small bay, a gravel floor, and the clearest water on the island. The single best santorini snorkeling stop and the one every catamaran visits.

Mesa Pigadia. The best santorini snorkeling from land: a small pebble cove on the south coast under red and black cliffs, with a road down to it. Rock at both ends, fish immediately, and almost nobody there.

Balos. A tiny sheltered santorini snorkeling bay west of Akrotiri, shallow at the edges and dropping quickly, with a sand and rock floor. Quiet, accessible on a dirt track, and excellent.

The Red Beach rocks. The beach itself is gravel and the rock at either end is where the fish are. Best seen from a boat, because the land path over the rockfall closes periodically.

The sea caves near Indian Rock. On the southern shore, reached by boat, with overhangs and arches and light coming through the water. The most dramatic santorini snorkeling on the island.

Ammoudi and Agios Nikolaos rock. Below Oia. You swim out a hundred metres to the small rock island, which is a standard local swim, and the drop on its far side is deep and full of fish.

Armeni. The other tiny harbour below Oia, quieter than Ammoudi, with rock to the north.

Thirasia. The emptiest santorini snorkeling on the island, across the caldera, with a rocky shoreline at Riva and almost no one in the water.

Vlychada’s eastern rocks. At the end of the beach where the pumice cliffs meet the sea. Modest and convenient.

Kambia. A small black-pebble cove north of Akrotiri on the caldera side, with deep water straight off the shore and a reputation among local divers.

The caldera itself. Deep, dark, and not a snorkelling environment. The wall drops hundreds of metres and there is nothing to see in the first ten.

What to avoid. Perissa, Perivolos, Kamari and Monolithos. Long sandy beaches with nothing underwater, and the santorini snorkeling is genuinely not worth the effort there.

Santorini Snorkeling by Boat

The best spots have no road to them, which means the most productive santorini snorkeling here is done from a deck.

Catamaran cruises. Five hours from Vlychada, 90 to 190 euros a head including food and drink, with two or three swim stops at the White Beach, the Red Beach and the caves, and snorkelling gear supplied. Not sold as snorkelling and in practice the easiest way to do it.

Dedicated santorini snorkeling trips. Three to four hours, 50 to 90 euros, with a guide, gear and two or three sites. Smaller groups and more time in the water than a cruise gives you.

Speedboat and RIB tours. Six to twelve people, fast, and able to get into the caves and coves the bigger boats cannot enter.

Sea kayak and snorkel. Half-day trips along the south-west coast, combining paddling with two or three stops. Excellent value and the most active version.

Private charter. 1,200 to 3,000 for a catamaran for the day, which for eight or more people converges with the shared price and lets you choose the stops.

Morning versus afternoon. Mornings are calmer, clearer and emptier. Afternoon wind stirs the sand and the same santorini snorkeling site can lose half its visibility by three o’clock.

Where boats leave from. Vlychada marina mostly, with some departures from Ammoudi and from Akrotiri’s small harbours.

What is included. Mask, snorkel and fins on almost every boat, and a towel on the better ones. Wetsuit shorties in May and October on request.

Booking a santorini snorkeling boat. Two to four weeks ahead in July and August for the smaller boats. Catamarans sell out earlier for the sunset slot than the morning one.

The honest recommendation. If you want one day in the water, take a morning catamaran or a dedicated snorkelling trip, not a sunset cruise. The sunset is lovely and the water is better at ten in the morning.

What You Will Actually See

Expectation management is most of the value of this page. The Aegean is a clear, clean, relatively empty sea, and santorini snorkeling gives you geology and small fish rather than abundance.

Damselfish. The santorini snorkeling staple: clouds of small dark fish hanging over the rock, the most numerous thing you will see, and they barely move as you pass.

Sea bream. Several species, silver and striped, in loose groups over the shelves.

Wrasse. Green and orange, territorial, and the most colourful thing in this water.

Salema. Yellow-striped and in shoals, usually shallow.

Octopus. Common on the volcanic rock if you look for the piles of shells outside a hole rather than for the animal.

Moray eels. Present and rarely seen, tucked into cracks. Harmless if left alone.

Sea urchins. Everywhere, black and long-spined, and the reason you wear something on your feet.

Starfish and sea cucumbers. On the sandy patches between rock.

Jellyfish. Occasional on a santorini snorkeling day, and seasonal, mostly harmless moon jellies. Stinging species appear in some years in late summer.

No coral. The Mediterranean has no tropical reef. What you get instead on santorini snorkeling is black lava rock, pumice shelves, arches, caves and startling drop-offs.

The geology, which is the point. Layers of ash and lava visible underwater, red and white rock meeting in the same cove, and in places warm water seeping from the seabed. There is nowhere else in Greece that looks like this below the surface.

The dark sand effect. Volcanic grit makes the shallows look less inviting than limestone islands do, and it also makes the fish and the rock stand out more sharply once you are over them.

Gear, Conditions and the Season

The santorini snorkeling mask. The one thing worth bringing from home. Rental masks leak and a leaking mask ruins a day of santorini snorkeling faster than anything else.

Fins. Useful rather than essential from the shore, and worth having for the swim out at Ammoudi.

Reef shoes or old trainers. Strongly recommended. The entries are sharp volcanic rock and the urchins are not decorative.

A shorty wetsuit. Worth it in May and October, when the water is 19 to 22 degrees and an hour in it is cold.

A rash vest. The better answer in July and August, because the sun on your back in flat water burns in twenty minutes.

Where to rent. Dive centres at Perissa, Kamari and Akrotiri, beach kiosks on the organised beaches, and every catamaran carries sets.

A dry bag. For the phone, and most of the good spots involve a scramble.

Santorini snorkeling water temperature by month. 16 to 17 in April, 18 to 20 in May, 21 to 23 in June, 24 in July, 25 to 26 in August and September, 22 to 23 in October, and 16 to 18 through the winter.

Visibility. Fifteen to thirty metres on a calm day, and five to ten the day after a blow. The best santorini snorkeling follows two calm days in a row.

The meltemi. A north wind from June to September. It flattens the south coast on some days and wrecks the east coast on most of them, so check which side is sheltered before choosing a spot.

Santorini snorkeling time of day. Morning. The wind builds through the afternoon and the light is better earlier.

Best santorini snorkeling months. September first, for the warmest water of the year and clearing crowds, then June, then July and August, then May and October.

Safety, and the Things Specific to This Island

Sea urchins. The commonest santorini snorkeling injury. Dense on volcanic rock, and the spines break off in the skin. Footwear solves it entirely.

Sharp entries. Lava rock is abrasive and the shelves are uneven. Enter where there is gravel if you can.

Santorini snorkeling depth. The volcanic coast drops away suddenly. Two metres and then twenty, with no shelving. Fine for a confident swimmer and disorientating for a nervous one.

Currents. Usually mild on the south coast and stronger in the channels between Santorini, Thirasia and the volcano islets. Do not snorkel across a channel.

Boat traffic at santorini snorkeling sites. Heavy in summer around Ammoudi, the White Beach and Vlychada. Use a float or a bright cap, and stay close to the rock rather than crossing open water.

Swell and surge. The caves and arches are the best santorini snorkeling on the island and the worst place to be in any swell. Leave them for a flat day.

Sun. Face-down in flat water for an hour is the fastest sunburn available here. A rash vest or factor fifty on your back.

No lifeguards at santorini snorkeling spots. Only on the organised beaches in season, and none of the good spots are organised beaches.

The hot springs. Not a snorkelling site. Shallow, muddy, iron-rich and it stains swimwear permanently.

Buddy up. The good spots are remote, phone signal is patchy under the cliffs, and nobody is watching.

Snorkeling or Diving

Santorini has several dive centres and the underwater volcanic landscape is genuinely good, so the question comes up often.

What diving adds. Depth, which here means walls, a small wreck, caves and the caldera floor. The volcanic topography is the attraction rather than marine life.

Cost. 70 to 120 euros for a guided dive with gear, 110 to 180 for two, and 120 to 160 for a try-dive with no certification.

Cost of santorini snorkeling. Nothing from the shore, or 50 to 90 euros on a boat trip, and included on a catamaran cruise.

What santorini snorkeling does better. The shallow rock, the caves at the waterline, the light, and the ability to do it for an hour whenever you like with no booking.

Visibility. The same water, so similar, and better deeper because the surface grit settles.

Who should dive. Certified divers, and anybody curious enough to spend a morning on a try-dive. The caldera wall is a genuinely unusual dive.

Who should stick to santorini snorkeling. Everyone else, and anybody on the island for three or four days who does not want to lose a morning to a briefing.

The combined answer. A morning catamaran with three snorkelling stops costs less than one guided dive and shows you more of the coast. Start there.

Santorini Snorkeling: Frequently Asked Questions

Is santorini snorkeling any good? Yes, in the right places. The south-west coast around Akrotiri has clear water, volcanic shelves, arches and caves. The long sandy beaches have nothing.

Where are the best spots? The White Beach, Mesa Pigadia, Balos, the rocks off the Red Beach, the caves near Indian Rock, and Ammoudi below Oia.

Can you snorkel from the shore? Yes, at Mesa Pigadia, Balos, Ammoudi, Armeni, Kambia and the eastern end of Vlychada.

Do I need a boat? For the best sites, yes. The White Beach and the sea caves have no land access.

How much does it cost? Free from the shore. 50 to 90 euros for a dedicated snorkelling trip, and included on catamaran cruises at 90 to 190 euros.

What will I see? Damselfish, sea bream, wrasse, salema, octopus and urchins, plus volcanic rock, pumice shelves and caves. No coral.

How warm is the water? 19 to 20 degrees in May, 24 in July, 25 to 26 in August and September, and 22 to 23 in October.

When is the best time? September for the warmest sea, and mornings in any month because the wind builds in the afternoon.

Is it safe? Yes, with footwear for the urchins and care about boat traffic and sudden depth. There are no dangerous animals here.

Do I need to bring gear? Bring a mask if you are particular about fit. Everything else is rented cheaply or supplied on the boat.

Is santorini snorkeling good for children? At Mesa Pigadia and Balos, yes. Not on the caldera side, where the drop is immediate.

Snorkel or dive? Snorkel first, on a boat with two or three stops. Dive if the volcanic walls appeal and you are certified.

We Can Get You to the Water

We are a local operator on Santorini with our own vehicles and our own drivers. The best shore spots — Mesa Pigadia, Balos, Kambia and the Akrotiri coves — are on dirt tracks with no bus service, and the boats leave from Vlychada and Ammoudi.

Tell us where you are staying and which of them you want, and we will run you there and back, and put Akrotiri, the lighthouse or a winery into the same day if you like.

Prices are per vehicle rather than per person, hotel pickup anywhere on the island is included, we guide in twelve languages, and an 80 EUR deposit confirms a date.

See the personalised tour, the private transfers, or contact us.

Every Village and Site on the Island

Any of these can be built into a private day. Each has its own page with what to see and how long to allow.

Caldera villages: Fira · Firostefani · Imerovigli · Oia · Finikia · Baxedes

Inland villages: Pyrgos · Megalochori · Emporio · Mesaria · Karterados · Vothonas · Vourvoulos · Exo Gonia · Mesa Gonia · Pigadia

Beaches: Perissa · Perivolos · Kamari · Vlychada · Monolithos · Red Beach · White Beach · Agios Georgios · Agia Paraskevi

Sites and landmarks: Akrotiri · Ancient Thira · Akrotiri Lighthouse · Nea Kameni · Palia Kameni · Thirasia · Athinios Port

All our tours: All Santorini tours · Full day tour · Sightseeing tour · Personalised tour · North part tour · Horse riding · South part tour · Sunset tour · Shore excursion · Caldera tour · Food experience · Wine tour · Historical tour · Small group tour

Planning and services: Famous sights tour · Private transfers · Transfers to Oia and Finikia · Transfers to other villages · Villages of Santorini · History of Santorini · Tours near you · Languages we guide in · Food and fun tours · Gay friendly tours · Our tour buses · Daily tours · Day tours · FAQ · Gallery · Tour photo gallery · About us · Contact · Blog