How much does the Santorini to Folegandros ferry cost?

Around 25 to 50 euros a person on the high-speed boats and 14 to 28 euros on the conventional ferries.

How many ferries a day run to Folegandros?

Two to four in July and August, one to three in the shoulder months, and only two or three a week in winter.

Which port does the ferry leave from?

Athinios, the commercial port on the south-west coast of Santorini, about twenty-five minutes below Fira down a switchback road.

Where does the ferry arrive on Folegandros?

Karavostasis, the small harbour on the east coast, four kilometres below the cliff-top village of Chora.

Can I take a car on the ferry?

Yes, on the conventional ferries only, at 55 to 95 euros each way. The high-speed catamarans carry passengers and luggage only.

Can I visit Folegandros as a day trip from Santorini?

Yes in July and August, with roughly six to seven hours ashore. Two nights is far better and costs the same in fares.

Is there a bus at Karavostasis port?

Yes. A bus meets every arrival and takes passengers up to Chora for about 2 euros.

Is Folegandros worth the crossing?

It has the most beautiful cliff-top village in the Cyclades and almost no crowds, and the crossing is under an hour on a fast boat.

Where does a charter leave from?

Vlychada marina on the south coast for almost everything, with a handful of smaller vessels from Ammoudi below Oia.

How many people fit on board?

Day charters are typically licensed for eight to twenty depending on the vessel, and are comfortable well below that maximum.

Unlikely. This is the shortest and most sheltered crossing available from Santorini.

Which island is more beautiful?

Santorini, by a distance, because of the caldera. Mykonos beauty is in its town rather than its landscape.

Which is better for families with children?

Mykonos, for flat ground and sandy shallow beaches, with Kamari or Perissa on Santorini as the alternative.

How far apart are Santorini and Mykonos?

Two to three hours by high-speed ferry, with four to eight sailings a day in high summer.

Can I do both in one week?

Yes. Three or four nights on Santorini and three on Mykonos is the standard week, with an internal ferry between them.

Which island should I visit first?

Santorini first, then Mykonos, so the island of staircases and early starts comes while you are fresh.

If I can only choose one?

Santorini for a first trip to Greece, a honeymoon or photography. Mykonos for beaches, a group trip or nightlife.

santorini beaches

September 13, 2026 By Stelios Karamolegkos Leave a Comment

Santorini to Folegandros Ferry – Crossing Times, Fares and Ports

The santorini to folegandros ferry is the shortest worthwhile hop out of the island: 25 nautical miles, 45 minutes to an hour on a fast catamaran, and it lands you on the quietest beautiful island in the Cyclades. We book the crossing and the run down to Athinios as one arrangement at Santorini tours, because the port road is slow and the sailings are few.

Why visit Santorini in winter?

The truth is that when we hear about Santorini, we have in mind the summer, the sun, the sea and the endless dives. So, why visit Santorini in winter? A very alternative form of vacation is to go at Santorini in winter, which Santorini Tours highly recommends it and will surely be unforgettable for you.

The island of dreams, as it is called worldwide, is re-established with winter colors, milder rhythms but with the same mysterious charm. Even in the winter months you will find ways to have a good time, eat nice food and find some of the nicest accommodation at lower prices.

Weather in Santorini in winter

The weather on the island was relatively good, the temperature in winter is around 10-15 degrees, but the humidity, however, is definitely an important issue, especially in the accommodation that despite the constant maintenance, is affected by it during the winter months. The wind is strong enough on some days, but all this is forgotten when you look at the view of the caldera.

Stay at Fira in Winter

Fira is the ideal place to stay in the winter, it is the capital of the island and the only place that has life throughout the day. Hotels, restaurants, cafes, have much lower prices than in the summer, so having the caldera on your feet will not cost a fortune. Everything that can be done in Santorini, will make it much more comfortable in winter, due to the fact that there is not a large number of tourists on the island compared to the summer when there is overcrowding.

See the magical sunset in winter

Return to Fira and rest to visit Oia later. Built on the north side of the island, 11 km from Fira, Oia is probably the most traditional settlement of the island and the place which is famous for its unique sunset. Every summer thousands of tourists from all over the world visit this place to admire the much-discussed sunset of Santorini.

A walk in the alleys of Oia, photographing the landscape, the countless blue domes and the magnificent mills that compose a dreamy setting. The time is approaching and everyone is heading to the spot with the best view of the sunset. Watching the sun disappear in the sea, you enjoy the unique beauty, all these colors it creates in the sky, you feel blessed for every day that goes by. You can take a tour of Santorini!

Why visit Santorini in winter?

You will walk without obstacles the straits of Oia and the Caldera

These graphic white straights really steal your heart. So think of walking alone, gazing at the view that emerges at every turn and relaxing. Do the same thought now with the other 30 people in front of you, barking to shout to enter the tavern on the right and you to try to relax.The island as we said is famous for its sunset.

You can enjoy the famous sunset without having to wait in line to take a picture alone, without dozens of tourists next to you. In Santorini in winter, however, you will enjoy it without distractions. You will be impressed with how unique the colors are in the gray of the winter sky.

Relax at the Red Beach in winter

The Red Beach is behind a series of lava monoliths! Red Beach is one of the most famous, so you will rarely reach it without a lot of people, except in winter. Although the south catches it, it does not have big waves because it is a bay. Its special morphological character, make the Red Beach one of the most seductive beaches in the world.

You can stay in a “cave” hotel

Prices really have nothing to do with it. The island is expensive in summer and if you want a room with even a little view of the well-known parts of the island you will pay a lot. In winter things are different. You can find the suite you dream of at half price, or even at 1/3!

Seafood with winter essence

Santorini is famous for its fava beans and seafood. What is certain is that in winter you will enjoy them better on the one hand because the restaurants are not so crowded to serve on the other hand because the prices are better.

Dare to make a trip to a different, calmer Santorini, but one can only enjoy it from the end of November until March. When the island moves at a slower pace. A Santorini that is now in the top tourist destinations in the world for at least 15 years.

Visit the volcano in winter

You will climb to the volcano of Santorini with very favorable temperatures so the ascent will be much easier. Without the 35 degrees Celsius and also a lot of people. Also, you can visit the archeological site of Akrotiri and the Prohistorical Museum in Thira without be delayed by the crowds that exist in summer.

Trust Santorini Tours

In Santorini Private Tours, we can offer you a unique and customized experience. 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!

See more about Santorini tours:

Santorini to Folegandros Ferry: The Short Answer

The santorini to folegandros ferry is one of the shortest and most rewarding crossings in the Cyclades, and it puts you on the quietest beautiful island in the group in under an hour by fast boat.

Santorini to folegandros ferry distance. Around 25 nautical miles west-north-west, which makes this the shortest hop from Santorini to anywhere worth going.

Crossing time by high-speed catamaran. 45 minutes to 1 hour 10, depending on the boat and whether it calls at Ios first.

Crossing time by conventional ferry. 1 hour 40 to 2 hours 30, with the slower Zante-class and Zas Ferries boats.

Santorini to folegandros ferry sailings in July and August. Two to four, split between the fast boats and the conventional ones.

Sailings in May, June and September. One to three a day.

Sailings in April and October. Usually one a day, occasionally none.

Santorini to folegandros ferry in winter. Two or three a week on the conventional line, and weather-dependent.

Santorini to folegandros ferry fares. 25 to 50 euros a person on the high-speed boats and 14 to 28 on the conventional ferries.

Santorini to folegandros ferry ports. Athinios on Santorini, Karavostasis on Folegandros. Both small, both straightforward.

Cars on the santorini to folegandros ferry. Carried on the conventional ferries only, at 55 to 95 euros each way.

Santorini to folegandros ferry as a day trip. Possible on the right day and genuinely worth it, with roughly six to seven hours ashore if you take the first boat out and the last one back.

The one-line answer. Take the morning santorini to folegandros ferry, spend two nights, and you will wonder why you gave the caldera five.

Crossing Times and Who Runs the Route

The high-speed catamarans. The fastest boats on the line cover the 25 miles in 45 to 55 minutes when they run direct, and around 70 minutes when they call at Ios on the way.

The conventional santorini to folegandros ferry boats. Larger, slower, steadier and cheaper, taking 1 hour 40 to 2 hours 30 and carrying vehicles.

Zas Ferries. Runs the conventional service on the western Cyclades line and is the backbone of the santorini to folegandros ferry schedule outside peak summer.

SeaJets. Operates the fast catamarans in season, with the most departures in July and August.

Small Cyclades Lines and the local boats. Serve the route in shoulder season on a thinner timetable.

Direct or via Ios. Several sailings call at Ios between the two islands. It adds twenty to thirty minutes and nothing else.

Which santorini to folegandros ferry to take. The conventional ferry if anyone gets seasick or you have a car. The catamaran if you are doing it as a day trip and the hours matter.

Santorini to folegandros ferry reliability. Good in May, June and September. The fast boats cancel in a strong meltemi in July and August, and the conventional ones usually sail through it.

The santorini to folegandros ferry return leg. Identical times and prices. The last boat back to Santorini in high summer is usually in the late afternoon or early evening.

How the route sits on the map. Folegandros is on the western line, which runs Piraeus to Milos, Sifnos, Folegandros, Sikinos, Ios and Santorini. The santorini to folegandros ferry is the last leg of that chain in reverse.

Fares and What a Ticket Includes

High-speed, economy seat. 32 to 50 euros a person one way in high season, and 25 to 38 in the shoulder months.

High-speed, business or VIP seat. 45 to 75 euros, and on a 50-minute crossing it is not worth the difference.

Conventional ferry, deck or economy. 14 to 24 euros a person, which is the best value on the route.

Conventional ferry, air-conditioned lounge seat. 20 to 32 euros.

Santorini to folegandros ferry cabins. Not offered. The crossing is far too short.

A car on the santorini to folegandros ferry. 55 to 95 euros each way on the conventional ferries, and not carried at all on the catamarans.

Motorbike or scooter. 18 to 35 euros.

Children. Roughly half fare from about five to ten, free below that, and the exact bands vary by operator.

Santorini to folegandros ferry luggage. Free, unweighed and unlimited within reason. You carry it on and stack it by the door.

Pets. Carried, usually in a carrier or on the outside deck, and worth checking with the operator before you book the santorini to folegandros ferry.

Booking fees. 1 to 4 euros a ticket through most agents, and nothing at the port office.

Santorini to folegandros ferry refunds. Full refund or free change if the operator cancels for weather. Partial or none if you simply miss it.

The cheapest santorini to folegandros ferry. The conventional ferry in a deck seat, which is 14 to 24 euros and a considerably more pleasant hour and a half than the fast boat’s fifty minutes.

Timetables Through the Year

July and August. Two to four sailings a day, with the first usually leaving Athinios mid-morning and the last in the late afternoon. This is the only period with a genuinely comfortable day-trip window.

Santorini to folegandros ferry in June. Two to three a day, and the fast boats are running by the start of the month.

Santorini to folegandros ferry in September. Two to three a day until roughly the third week, thinning to one after that.

Santorini to folegandros ferry in May. One to two a day, mostly conventional.

Santorini to folegandros ferry in April and October. One a day on most days and none on some. Check before committing to a date.

Santorini to folegandros ferry from November to March. Two or three a week on the conventional western line, and cancellations are common in a winter northerly.

Typical departure hours in August. Mid-morning, early afternoon and late afternoon from Athinios, with the return legs spread similarly.

When timetables are published. Most operators load the summer santorini to folegandros ferry schedule between February and April, and the last few sailings appear later than that.

How far ahead to book. Two to four weeks is normally enough. In the first three weeks of August, book as soon as the schedule opens.

Why the timetable is thinner than the Mykonos or Naxos routes. Folegandros has around seven hundred residents and sits on the western line rather than the main central one, so it takes a fraction of the traffic.

The practical rule. Never plan the last leg of a trip on a single santorini to folegandros ferry outside July and August. Leave a spare day before a flight home.

The Two Ports

Athinios, where the santorini to folegandros ferry leaves. The island’s commercial port, on the south-west coast, at the bottom of a switchback road cut into the cliff. Twenty-five minutes from Fira, thirty-five from Oia.

What Athinios is like. A quay, a row of ticket agencies and cafes, and almost no shade. When three ferries berth within an hour it is genuinely chaotic, with coaches, hire cars and hotel drivers competing for the same fifty metres.

How early to arrive. Forty-five minutes for a conventional ferry and thirty for a catamaran, plus the drive. On a busy August afternoon, an hour.

Getting to Athinios. Bus from Fira 2.50 euros and timed to the main sailings, taxi 25 to 35 euros, private transfer 35 to 55.

Parking at Athinios. Limited and informal. Leave the hire car at the top if you can.

Karavostasis, Folegandros. A small natural harbour on the east coast with a handful of tavernas, a beach beside the quay and a bus waiting for every arrival.

Getting from Karavostasis to Chora. Four kilometres uphill. The bus meets every santorini to folegandros ferry and costs about 2 euros, taxis are 10 to 15 and there are only a couple of them.

What is at the port. Two or three tavernas, a bakery, a small supermarket and a good swimming beach five minutes’ walk away.

Accommodation at the port. A few rooms and a hotel, useful for an early departure and not where you want to stay for a week.

Boarding the santorini to folegandros ferry. On both sides you walk up the stern ramp with your own bags. Nothing is checked, nothing is weighed, and boarding takes about ten minutes.

Booking the Ferry

Where to book the santorini to folegandros ferry. Directly with the operator, through one of the aggregator sites, or at any ticket agency in Fira. All three cost within a few euros of each other.

What you need. Full names as they appear on passports, and for Greek and EU sailings the passport or ID number is often required.

Paper or electronic. Most operators now accept a mobile boarding pass on this route, though some conventional sailings still want a printed ticket. Check when you book the santorini to folegandros ferry, because the port office queue at Athinios is not where you want to be at ten to sailing.

Collecting paper tickets. Any agency in Fira will print them, and so will the booth at Athinios up to about forty minutes before departure.

Santorini to folegandros ferry seat numbers. Allocated on the catamarans and open seating on most conventional ferries.

Changing a booking. Usually possible up to a few hours before departure for a small fee, and free if the operator cancels.

Santorini to folegandros ferry weather cancellations. The operator will offer a refund or a later sailing. In a strong meltemi the fast boats go first and the conventional ones often still run.

Booking the return at the same time. Sensible in August, because the last boat back fills, and unnecessary in May or October.

Open tickets. Not generally sold on this route.

The cheapest booking route. The port agency, which charges no online booking fee, though the saving is only a euro or two per ticket.

What we do for guests. We book the santorini to folegandros ferry and the transfer to Athinios together so the pick-up time is set by the sailing rather than by a guess.

The Day Trip From Santorini

Is a santorini to folegandros ferry day trip possible. Yes, in July and August, and on some days in June and September.

The window. The morning fast boat gets you into Karavostasis before midday and the late-afternoon return leaves you six to seven hours ashore.

What that buys. The bus up to Chora, two hours in the old town and the kastro, lunch in one of the three squares, the walk up to the Panagia church, and a swim at Agali or Karavostasis before the boat.

What it does not buy. The northern beaches, Katergo, the sunset from Chora and the evening in the squares, which are the best things on the island.

Cost for two. Roughly 130 to 200 euros including the santorini to folegandros ferry both ways, the bus, lunch and a taxi.

The santorini to folegandros ferry day-trip risk. Wind. If the afternoon boat cancels you are staying the night, and in August there may be no room to stay in.

Our honest view. Two nights is the right length. A day trip is better than not going, and it shows you about a third of the island.

The better version. Go out on the afternoon boat, stay two nights, come back on a morning sailing. That costs the same in fares and transforms the visit.

Compared with the Ios day trip. Ios is closer and easier but Folegandros is the more interesting island by a distance.

Compared with Thirasia. Thirasia is a half day inside the caldera and costs almost nothing. Folegandros is a proper island and a proper crossing.

What Folegandros Is Actually Like

The size. Thirty-two square kilometres and around seven hundred permanent residents. You can drive its length in twenty-five minutes.

Chora, what the santorini to folegandros ferry is for. One of the two or three most beautiful villages in Greece, built on the edge of a two-hundred-metre cliff, with four linked squares, no cars, bougainvillea over every wall and a Venetian kastro whose houses form the outer defensive wall.

The Panagia. A white church on the rock above Chora, reached by a zigzag path in twenty minutes, and the best short walk in the Cyclades.

Katergo. A pebble beach with extraordinary water, reached on foot in forty minutes or by small boat from Karavostasis.

Agali. The main sandy beach, with tavernas, a bus service and boats on to Agios Nikolaos and Livadaki.

Ano Meria. A scattered farming settlement along the spine of the island, with a folk museum and the best sunset.

The food. Matsata, handmade pasta with rabbit or cockerel, and it is on every menu for a reason.

The pace. Slow. There is no airport, no nightclub, and almost nothing to do after dinner except sit in a square, which is the point.

Crowds. August fills Chora’s squares in the evening and the beaches stay quiet. The rest of the year it is close to empty.

Why it justifies the crossing. Because it is the island Santorini was before the cruise ships, and the santorini to folegandros ferry is fifty minutes.

How Many Nights to Give It

One day. Chora, the kastro, lunch and one swim. Enough to see why people rate the island, not enough to enjoy it.

Two nights. The right minimum. Chora in the evening twice, the walk up to the Panagia, Katergo and Agali, and dinner in the squares.

Three nights. Adds Ano Meria, the boat round to Livadaki and Agios Nikolaos, and a sunset from the west end.

A week. For people who want to stop moving. The island has perhaps five beaches and one town, and that is the appeal rather than a shortfall.

Where to stay. Chora for the squares and the cliff, Karavostasis for an early santorini to folegandros ferry back, and Agali for the beach.

What it costs. 70 to 190 euros a night in high season for a good double, which is half of Santorini for a village that is arguably more beautiful.

Booking. Early. There are only a few hundred beds on the island and August sells out in spring.

The combination we book most. Four nights Santorini, the morning boat, three nights Folegandros, then the western line on to Milos.

Onward Connections From Folegandros

Onward from the santorini to folegandros ferry to Milos. 1 hour 15 to 2 hours 30, one or two sailings a day in summer, and the obvious next island on the western line.

To Sifnos. 1 hour 30 to 3 hours, with a thinner timetable.

To Sikinos. Twenty to forty minutes, and a genuinely obscure island worth an afternoon.

To Ios. Thirty to fifty minutes, and the closest island of all.

To Naxos and Paros. Usually via Ios or Santorini, and not always daily.

To Piraeus. 3 hours 30 on a fast boat and 7 to 9 hours on a conventional ferry.

To Athens by air. There is no airport on Folegandros. Everybody flies from Santorini or Milos, which is exactly why the santorini to folegandros ferry matters.

The western line loop. Santorini, Folegandros, Milos, Sifnos, Serifos and back to Piraeus is one of the best two-week routes in Greece.

Combining with the central line. Santorini, Folegandros, Ios, Naxos and Paros works in a week and mixes the quiet islands with the busy ones.

The practical warning. Western-line timetables are thinner than the central ones, so always check the specific date rather than assuming a daily boat.

Wind, Cancellations and What To Do

The meltemi and the santorini to folegandros ferry. A northerly that blows from late June to early September, hardest in the afternoons of July and August, and it is the only thing that stops this crossing.

Which santorini to folegandros ferry cancels first. The high-speed catamarans, which are lighter and sit higher. The conventional ferries sail in conditions that ground the fast boats.

How often the santorini to folegandros ferry cancels. Two or three times a month at the peak of the meltemi, and rarely at all in May, June or September.

How you find out. The operator texts or emails, and the port authority posts the decision. Agencies in Fira know before the apps do.

What happens to your ticket. Full refund or free transfer to the next sailing.

What to do if you are stuck on Santorini. Take the conventional ferry if one is running, or move the trip by a day.

What to do if you are stuck on Folegandros. Find a room early, because the island has limited stock and everybody else on the cancelled santorini to folegandros ferry is looking too.

The buffer rule. Never return to Santorini on the same day as a flight home. Leave a night.

Seasickness on the santorini to folegandros ferry. The channel between the islands is open water and it moves. The conventional ferry is far steadier and only an hour longer.

The santorini to folegandros ferry in winter. Two or three sailings a week and genuine weather risk. Folegandros in winter is beautiful and you need flexible dates to do it.

Santorini to Folegandros Ferry: Questions People Ask

How long is the ferry from Santorini to Folegandros? 45 minutes to 1 hour 10 on a high-speed catamaran, and 1 hour 40 to 2 hours 30 on a conventional ferry.

How much does it cost? 25 to 50 euros a person on the fast boats and 14 to 28 on the conventional ones.

How many ferries a day are there? Two to four in July and August, one to three in the shoulder months, and two or three a week in winter.

Which port does it leave from? Athinios, the commercial port on Santorini’s south-west coast, twenty-five minutes below Fira.

Where does it arrive? Karavostasis, the small harbour on the east coast of Folegandros, four kilometres below Chora.

Can I take a car? Yes, on the conventional ferries only, at 55 to 95 euros each way. The catamarans carry passengers only.

Can I do it as a day trip? Yes in July and August, with six to seven hours ashore. Two nights is much better.

Is there an airport on Folegandros? No. The santorini to folegandros ferry, or the boat from Milos, is the only way in.

How far ahead should I book? Two to four weeks normally, and as soon as the schedule opens for the first three weeks of August.

Does the ferry get cancelled? The fast boats do, in a strong meltemi, two or three times a month at the peak of summer. The conventional ferries usually run.

Is there a bus at the port? Yes. It meets every arrival and takes you up to Chora for about 2 euros.

Is Folegandros worth it? It has the most beautiful cliff-top village in the Cyclades and almost no crowds. On a fifty-minute crossing, yes.

Planning the Crossing With Us

We book the ferry and the transfer to Athinios as one arrangement, which matters more on this route than on most because the port road is slow and the sailings are few.

What we do about the santorini to folegandros ferry. Book the tickets, pick you up from your hotel at a time set by the actual sailing, and drive you down the switchback to the right berth.

Return legs. We meet the boat at Athinios and take you straight up, which avoids the taxi scrum when three ferries land together.

If the boat cancels. We rebook and re-time the transfer at no extra charge.

Before you go. Tell us your dates and we will tell you which santorini to folegandros ferry actually runs that day, and whether the fast boat or the conventional one is the better choice for your party.

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

September 13, 2026 By Stelios Karamolegkos Leave a Comment

Santorini Yacht Charter – Boats, Prices, Routes and Crews

A santorini yacht charter means hiring the whole boat with a crew, for a day or a week, from Vlychada or Ammoudi: 1,200 to 3,000 euros for a crewed catamaran day with food and drink. This page covers the vessels, the costs, the routes and what to check before you pay.

9 Things You Should Definitely Do in Santorini!

Are you preparing your luggage to Santorini? There are 9 things you should definitely do in Santorini!

Travel to Santorini! At last!

After endless conversations and a remarkable battle, you have persuaded your loved one to visit the most romantic island of the Aegean Sea!

With a shape that resembles a little croissant and a reputation spread to the most remote countries abroad, one is for sure… This island of Cyclades will surely steal your heart.

Enjoy your vacation in Santorini by booking now Santorini Tours and Santorini Transfers!

1. Try local Santorini tastes

It would be a tragic mistake to go to Santorini and not taste the delicious local dishes. It is one of the top culinary destinations in the Aegean Sea for its own food as well as for its own restaurants and taverns with its unique decoration and unique view.

There are taverns and restaurants for all pockets, but you have to be careful because you are most likely to choose the wrong tavern and pay a very expensive lunch. To be sure your money and experience will be worth, choose places with award-winning chefs.

Try the famous fava and tomato bites of the island, well-known cod, scandamacarona and known as meatballs of poor or pseudo-bite (meatballs of various herbs and legumes).

Book now a Santorini Private Tour and Food Experience

2. Tour to Akrotiri, Santorini

Akrotiri is a top destination if you are a history lover. Although not so advertised as Vergina or Mycenae, it is one of the most important archaeological sites of the whole Aegean, at a distance of 15km from Fira.

Paving streets, exceptional frescoes and finds of an ancient civilization that has remained in obscurity for more than 3,500 years will make you stand out.

Book now a Santorini Sightseeing Private Tour

3. Visit the Santorini Museum of Prehistoric Hunting

The Prehistoric Hunting Museum is definitely one of the museums to visit. It is easily accessible, with great exhibits and very important finds from excavations. Often those who visited it say that it looks like a “dive into the dangers of Aegean history“.

It can be easily combined with the visit to Akrotiri, completing it. Only for the Prehistoric Thera Museum the price is €6, while there is a combined ticket.

Book now a Santorini Historical Private Tour

4. See the Santorini sunset

The magical sunset of Santorini is by itself the main attraction of thousands of tourists every year because of the amazing color palette it creates during its set. The castle of Oia is the top choice for sunset but it is not the only place where you can admire the unique feeling of the sunset in Santorini.

At Faros in Akrotiri, the sun literally looks diving in the sea, while the world is much less than in Oia. At the beach of Vrychada the volcanic scenery creates a very special atmosphere, while the view from Imerovigli, Prophet Elias or Firostefani is equally seductive.

Book now a Santorini Sunset Private Tour

5. Go for a Santorini dive

Perhaps only diving lovers can appreciate the uniqueness of such an experience. The bottom of Santorini is far from common. You can take a tour of Santorini!

Besides its rich underwater treasures such as redfish, colorful sponges or sea slugs with its wonderful colors, you will have the chance to admire volcanic rocks, unique in the Mediterranean.

Book now a Santorini Exclusive Shore Private Tour

Alternatively you may rent a car in Santorini.

6. Stay in a Santorini cave home

Another unique experience that this magical island offers. Cave houses are essentially houses that are built in the rock. They are built by the locals in this way to protect themselves from the winds.

They offer dew in the summer and heat in the winter while the architecture gives them an unbeatable beauty in the landscape. If you are claustrophobic try it for one night. Worth!

7. Try Santorini wine from a winery

Apart from the fantastic sunset and the archaeological interest of the region, the volcanic vineyards of more than 3200 years of age attract numerous wine lovers every year.

Visit some of the region’s award-winning wineries and travel to the world of senses in a different way.

Book now a Santorini Private Custom Tour

8. Have an organized Santorini tour

In case your stay allows, please visit the travel agencies of the area and choose one of the Santorini Tours that suits you. The view of the area at sea is something you will remember forever!

We recommend packages that include a visit to the Volcano, the Hot Springs and swimming in the famous beaches.

9. Visit Santorini, Emporio Thera

Emborio or Nimborios is 12 km away from Fira and is the largest village of Santorini. It was part of the sale – and probably of production – of the products during the 17th century, and often residents of the area visit the village for supplies.

The medieval Kastelli and the Tower of Goulas, located in the village, are a masterpiece of architecture and definitely worth a visit.

Book now a Santorini Full Day Private Tour

Santorini is definitely one of the top destinations and not only. The scenic and unique landscape creates unbelievable feelings, while the various activities that can be made during the tour allow the combination of romantic, active and educational activities.

See more about Santorini island:

Santorini Yacht Charter: The Short Answer

A santorini yacht charter means hiring a boat with or without a crew, for a day or for a week, from one of two small harbours on the island. It is a different product from a shared cruise ticket: you choose the vessel, the hours, the route and the music, and you pay for the boat rather than for a seat on it.

What a santorini yacht charter can be. Sailing catamarans, monohull sailing yachts, motor yachts, RIBs and a small number of crewed luxury yachts.

Santorini yacht charter day rates. Roughly 1,200 to 3,000 euros for a sailing catamaran for five to eight hours with crew, food and drink. 2,000 to 5,000 for a motor yacht. 600 to 1,400 for a RIB or speedboat.

Santorini yacht charter weekly rates. Roughly 5,000 to 15,000 euros a week for a crewed catamaran, and considerably more at the luxury end.

Per head. A santorini yacht charter for eight to twelve people on a catamaran lands at roughly 120 to 300 euros each, which overlaps the price of a shared cruise ticket.

Where a santorini yacht charter boards. The marina at Vlychada on the south coast for almost everything, and Ammoudi below Oia for a handful of smaller vessels.

Crewed or bareboat. Almost all Santorini charters are crewed or skippered. Bareboat is rare here because there is no large marina and the caldera anchorages are deep.

Santorini yacht charter season. April to early November, with the best conditions in June, September and early October.

The wind. The meltemi blows June to September and it is the single largest variable in any santorini yacht charter, affecting the route more often than the departure.

Booking a santorini yacht charter. Four to eight weeks ahead for a day charter in July and August, and three to six months for a crewed week.

The honest summary. For six or more people a private charter costs about what the shared tickets would and delivers a completely different day. For two people it is a luxury rather than a value decision.

Crewed, Skippered or Bareboat

The first decision, and on this island it is largely made for you.

Crewed. The standard arrangement: a skipper, a hostess or deckhand, food cooked on board, drinks, and nothing for you to do. Almost every catamaran sold here is crewed.

Skippered. A skipper and nobody else, with you handling the rest. Available on smaller yachts and less common, because the economics of a day charter here assume catering.

Bareboat. You take the boat yourself. Genuinely rare from Santorini, for three reasons: there is no large charter base on the island, the caldera is too deep for casual anchoring, and the meltemi makes the surrounding water unforgiving for a crew without local knowledge.

Where bareboat does work. From Athens, Paros, Lavrion or Kos, sailing down to Santorini over a week or two. That is a Cyclades charter that includes Santorini rather than a santorini yacht charter.

Licences. A bareboat charter in Greece requires a recognised skipper’s certificate plus a VHF licence, and a declared second competent crew member. Crewed and skippered charters require nothing from you.

What the skipper actually knows. Where the swell is on a north wind, which swim stops are sheltered that day, which cave is enterable at that state of the sea, and when to abandon the Red Beach and go east instead. This is most of what you are paying for.

The hostess. Cooks, serves, clears, and on the better boats is the reason the day feels like a holiday rather than a boat trip.

Which to choose. Crewed, on any santorini yacht charter of a day or less. Skippered only if somebody in the party wants to sail the boat.

Catamaran, Monohull, Motor Yacht or RIB

The santorini yacht charter catamaran. The default and the right answer for most people. Two hulls, so almost no heel and very little roll at anchor. A large flat foredeck with nets, a shaded cockpit, two to four cabins with heads, a proper galley and a swim ladder. Twelve to sixteen metres is the common size for a day charter.

Monohull sailing yacht. Prettier under sail and considerably more heel. Less deck space, fewer bathrooms and a wetter ride. Good for sailors and harder for a mixed group.

Motor yacht. Faster, so more stops in the same hours, with air conditioning and a flybridge. No sailing, higher fuel cost, and the most expensive santorini yacht charter per hour.

RIB or speedboat. Six to twelve people, very fast, wet and exciting. Gets into the sea caves and the small coves the larger boats cannot enter. Short on shade and short on comfort.

The luxury santorini yacht charter. A small number operate out of the island or come in for a booking, with a chef, a full crew and a price to match.

Gulet. Occasionally offered for larger groups, traditional wooden motor-sailers with cabins, more common in the Dodecanese than here.

Size and capacity. Day charters are typically licensed for eight to twenty passengers depending on the vessel, and the comfortable number is usually well below the licensed maximum.

Shade. The detail that decides a July day. Look for a bimini over the cockpit in the photographs, because five hours of Santorini sun with nowhere to sit out of it is a long charter.

Which to choose. A sailing catamaran for a group, a RIB for six people who want the caves, and a motor yacht if the schedule is tight or somebody needs air conditioning.

What It Costs

Sailing catamaran, five hours. Roughly 1,200 to 2,200 euros for the vessel with crew, food and drink. The standard santorini yacht charter.

Sailing catamaran, eight hours. Roughly 1,800 to 3,000 euros, which buys Thirasia and a much slower pace.

Larger or newer catamaran. 2,500 to 4,000 euros for a day, with more space rather than a different route.

Motor yacht, day charter. 2,000 to 5,000 euros depending on size, with fuel frequently charged separately.

RIB or speedboat, three to four hours. 600 to 1,400 euros for six to twelve people.

Crewed catamaran, one week. Roughly 5,000 to 12,000 euros plus provisioning, for eight to ten guests.

Crewed luxury yacht, one week. From around 20,000 euros and with no ceiling worth quoting.

Per head on a day charter. Divide by the group. Eight people on a 1,800 euro catamaran is 225 each, which is more than a shared ticket at 90 to 190 and buys the whole boat.

Where the santorini yacht charter crossover is. Six people. Below that a shared cruise is better value; above it a santorini yacht charter costs roughly the same and is a different experience.

What moves the price. The month first, then the vessel, then the hours. July and August run thirty to fifty per cent above May and October for the same boat.

Santorini yacht charter deposits. Typically thirty to fifty per cent to confirm, with the balance before or on the day.

What Is Included and What Is Not

Normally included on a santorini yacht charter. The crew, fuel for the standard route, a meal cooked on board, wine, beer and soft drinks, snorkelling gear, towels and insurance.

Normally extra on a santorini yacht charter. Transfers to and from the marina, port fees in some cases, spirits and champagne, and tips.

The meal. On a good santorini yacht charter this is a barbecue or a full Greek spread cooked on board and served at anchor: chicken, pork or fish, Greek salad, fava, tzatziki, bread, fruit and local wine. Confirm whether it is cooked or delivered, because the difference is substantial.

Drinks. Unlimited house wine, beer and soft drinks is standard. Spirits are almost never included and are frequently permitted if you bring your own.

Transfers. Some operators include hotel pickup and some charge 15 to 25 euros a head. Given that a sunset charter returns to Vlychada at around ten at night, this line is worth checking before comparing two quotes.

Fuel. Included on sailing charters for the agreed route and frequently charged at cost on motor yachts.

Tips on a santorini yacht charter. Not obligatory and normal. Five to ten per cent of the charter, or fifty to a hundred euros to the crew on a day charter.

On a multi-day charter. Provisioning, berthing fees, fuel and the crew’s food are usually separate, sometimes as an advance provisioning allowance of thirty to forty per cent of the charter fee.

What to ask before signing. The passenger maximum, whether food is cooked on board, whether transfers are included, and what happens if the weather changes the route.

Where You Board

Vlychada marina. The main base for almost every santorini yacht charter. A small modern marina on the south coast, fifteen minutes from the airport, twenty from Fira and thirty-five from Oia, with two or three fish tavernas on the quay and free parking.

Ammoudi. The old fishing harbour below Oia, three hundred steps down from the village or a short drive on a narrow road. A handful of smaller vessels leave from here, and it puts you straight into the caldera.

The Old Port below Fira. Mostly the large volcano excursion boats rather than charters, reached by cable car or 588 steps.

Perissa and Kamari. A few RIBs and small boats in high season.

Which to choose. Vlychada for the full south-coast and caldera route, which is the standard santorini yacht charter. Ammoudi if you are staying in Oia and want to skip the coast.

Getting there. There are three bus departures a day to Vlychada and none of them help at ten at night. Either the charter includes a transfer or you book a vehicle.

Santorini yacht charter check-in. Thirty minutes before departure. The quay is narrow and the boats board one at a time.

Parking. Free and adequate at Vlychada, tight in August.

What the marina is like. Working rather than glamorous: fishing boats alongside charter catamarans, a chandlery, and the pumice cliffs behind.

The one thing to arrange. The return journey. A sunset santorini yacht charter docks at ten at night on an island with around thirty taxis, and that is the part people forget.

Day Charter Itineraries

The standard five-hour route. Out of Vlychada west along the pumice cliffs, past the lighthouse, the Red Beach and the White Beach, a swim stop, Indian Rock and the sea caves, the hot springs at Palia Kameni, a meal at anchor, then north into the caldera and a hold off Oia for the sunset. This is what almost every santorini yacht charter sells.

The eight-hour santorini yacht charter. The same plus Thirasia, with a stop at Korfos or Riva, and considerably more time in the water.

The morning santorini yacht charter. Identical coast, calmer water, empty swim stops and no sunset, at twenty to thirty per cent less.

The caves and coves route. A RIB itinerary: the sea caves, Mesa Pigadia, Balos and the small western coves that the catamarans cannot enter. Three to four hours and the most active version.

The caldera-only route. From Ammoudi: Nea Kameni’s crater, the hot springs, Thirasia and back. Shorter, and it skips the south coast entirely.

The sunset-only santorini yacht charter. Two to three hours from Ammoudi or Vlychada, positioning off Oia for the light and coming back in the dark. The cheapest private option.

What a charter can add that a shared boat cannot. An earlier departure to reach the hot springs before the fleet, a longer stop at the White Beach, a detour to a cove the crew likes, and dinner on board at anchor rather than a barbecue at two in the afternoon.

What it cannot change. The wind. On a hard meltemi the route reverses or the south coast is dropped, and no amount of money alters that.

The swim stops. Two or three on a five-hour santorini yacht charter, and four or five on an eight-hour one.

The hot springs note. Iron-rich water reached by swimming fifty to eighty metres from the anchorage, and it stains swimwear permanently orange. Wear something old.

Multi-Day Charters From Santorini

Why it is unusual. Santorini is not a charter base in the way Athens, Paros or Kos are, so a week on a yacht here normally means a boat that has been positioned for you or one that starts elsewhere.

The classic santorini yacht charter week. Santorini, Ios, Folegandros, Sikinos and back, which is the tightest and most dramatic circuit available from the island. Four to six hours of sailing a day at most.

The northern week. Santorini, Ios, Naxos, Koufonisia, Amorgos, which is the small Cyclades and the best anchorages in the group.

The one-way week. Santorini to Paros or Athens, dropping down through Ios, Naxos and Paros. Frequently cheaper because it repositions the boat.

Anchorages. The caldera is too deep to anchor casually, so nights are spent at Vlychada, Ammoudi or off the neighbouring islands. This surprises people who imagine sleeping at anchor under Oia.

Provisioning. Done at Vlychada or in Fira before departure, or handled by the crew against an advance allowance.

Weekly santorini yacht charter cost. 5,000 to 15,000 euros for a crewed catamaran sleeping eight to ten, plus provisioning, fuel and berthing.

Per head. For ten people that is 500 to 1,500 each for a week including accommodation, which against Santorini hotel prices is genuinely competitive.

Booking window. Three to six months for July and August on a crewed week, and longer for the better crews.

Who it suits. Groups of eight to twelve, families with older children, and anybody who would rather see six islands than one. A multi-day santorini yacht charter is the best-value luxury in the Cyclades for a large group.

Season, Wind and Cancellations

April. The fleet goes in the water. Cool, quiet and cheap, with a sea too cold for most people to swim.

May. Good. Eighteen to twenty degree water, light crowds at the swim stops, and prices well below peak.

June. One of the two best months for a santorini yacht charter: warm sea, long light, and the meltemi only beginning.

July and August. Peak prices and the strongest wind of the year. Charters still run and the route changes more often.

September. The best santorini yacht charter month. The warmest sea of the year, the wind easing and the swim stops thinning out.

October. Excellent into the third week, with falling prices and the fleet coming out from the end of the month.

November to March. No charters. The boats are ashore.

The meltemi. A dry northerly blowing two to four days at a stretch from June to September. It reroutes more charters than it cancels, because a catamaran can work the sheltered side of the island.

What happens if it blows. The skipper reverses the route, drops the exposed southern stretch, or skips the hot springs. On a private santorini yacht charter you are told in advance and offered a reschedule.

Santorini yacht charter cancellation policy. Most operators reschedule or refund for weather and hold you to the terms otherwise. Free cancellation to twenty-four or forty-eight hours is common and worth having.

The planning rule. Book the charter for early in your stay. A santorini yacht charter on the last afternoon has nowhere to move to.

How to Book and What to Check

The santorini yacht charter passenger maximum. The single most important number on any charter listing, and the one most often omitted. A sixteen-metre catamaran licensed for forty is a different boat from the same hull sold for twelve.

The hours, and whether boarding counts. A five-hour charter that starts the clock at check-in is a four-hour trip.

Santorini yacht charter crew size. Two on a small catamaran, three or four on a larger one, and it correlates almost exactly with how well the food and the swim stops are run.

Whether food is cooked on board. Ask directly. A barbecue cooked at anchor and a tray of sandwiches delivered to the quay are sold in similar language.

Shade. A bimini over the cockpit, visible in the photographs.

Bathrooms. Two on a catamaran, one on most monohulls.

Transfers. Included, extra, or not offered.

The route, in writing. Which stops, in which order, and what the alternative is in wind.

Insurance and licensing. Every legitimate santorini yacht charter operates under a Greek professional licence with passenger insurance. Ask for the licence number if anything about the listing feels informal.

The cancellation and weather policy. In writing, before the deposit.

Reviews, searched for one word. Crowded, if it is a shared boat, and crew, if it is a charter. Those two tell you more than the rest combined.

Santorini yacht charter booking window. Four to eight weeks for a day charter in July and August, three to six months for a crewed week, and a few days in May or October.

Who a Charter Suits, and Who Should Not Bother

A santorini yacht charter for eight to sixteen. The clearest case: it costs roughly what the shared tickets would and delivers the whole boat.

Families. Excellent, with a morning departure rather than a sunset one, because five hours ending at ten at night is long with children.

A honeymoon santorini yacht charter. A small crewed catamaran or a sunset charter, and one of the few splurges on this island that nobody regrets.

Proposals. A private charter timed to hold off Oia at sunset, which the crew will arrange without being asked twice.

Anybody celebrating anything. The crew will take a cake, a bottle and a playlist.

People who dislike group activities. The entire point.

Photographers. A charter buys the one thing a shared boat cannot: position and timing.

Two people on a budget. A shared catamaran at 90 to 190 euros a head is the better answer, and it visits the same places.

Anybody prone to seasickness. A catamaran rather than a monohull, and a morning departure if the forecast is windy.

Anybody with mobility difficulties. Boarding is over a stern gangway onto a moving deck and the swim ladder is a ladder. Some crews manage it very well; ask directly rather than hoping.

Who should genuinely skip it. Almost nobody with a group. A santorini yacht charter is the best day the island sells, and the only real objections are money and a toddler.

Charter or Shared: The Arithmetic

The decision that matters most, laid out with numbers rather than adjectives.

Two people. A shared catamaran at 90 to 190 euros each, total 180 to 380. A santorini yacht charter at 1,200 to 2,200. The shared ticket wins by a factor of five.

Four people. Shared 360 to 760. Charter 1,200 to 2,200. Shared still wins comfortably.

Six people. Shared 540 to 1,140. Charter 1,200 to 2,200. The gap narrows to the point where a semi-private boat or a small charter becomes a real question.

Eight people. Shared 720 to 1,520. Charter 1,200 to 2,200. Broadly level at the upper end of shared and the lower end of private.

Ten people. Shared 900 to 1,900. Charter 1,400 to 2,600 for a larger catamaran. A santorini yacht charter now costs roughly the same and gives you the boat.

Twelve or more. Charter, clearly, and the per-head cost falls below a shared ticket.

What the charter buys at the same price. The departure time, which means reaching the hot springs before the fleet. The music. The swim-stop lengths. No strangers. And a crew cooking for your group rather than for twenty.

What it does not buy. A different coastline or better weather.

The semi-private middle. A catamaran capped at eight or ten rather than twenty, at roughly a third above the standard shared price. For four to six people this is frequently the best value on the island.

The conclusion. Under six people take a shared boat and spend the difference on dinner. Over eight, take a santorini yacht charter, because it costs what the tickets would and it is a better day by a wide margin.

Santorini Yacht Charter: Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a santorini yacht charter cost? Roughly 1,200 to 3,000 euros for a crewed sailing catamaran for five to eight hours including food and drink, 2,000 to 5,000 for a motor yacht, and 600 to 1,400 for a RIB.

Is it cheaper than a shared cruise? Not per head below about six people. From six upwards the per-head cost converges with a shared ticket at 90 to 190 euros.

Where does it leave from? Vlychada marina on the south coast for almost everything, and Ammoudi below Oia for some smaller vessels.

What is included? Crew, fuel for the route, a meal cooked on board, wine, beer and soft drinks, snorkelling gear and towels. Transfers and spirits are usually extra.

Can I charter without a licence? Yes, on any crewed or skippered charter, which is almost all of them here. Bareboat requires a recognised skipper’s certificate and a VHF licence.

How many people fit? Day charters are typically licensed for eight to twenty depending on the vessel, and comfortable well below that maximum.

How long is a day charter? Five hours is standard, eight hours adds Thirasia, and two to three hours covers a sunset only.

What is the route? The pumice cliffs, the lighthouse, the Red and White beaches, the sea caves, the hot springs at Palia Kameni, and the caldera wall at sunset.

Can I charter for a week? Yes. 5,000 to 15,000 euros for a crewed catamaran sleeping eight to ten, plus provisioning, and the classic circuit is Ios, Folegandros and Sikinos.

Does the wind cancel charters? It reroutes more than it cancels, because a catamaran can work the sheltered side. Book early in your stay so a bad day can be moved.

What is the best month? September first, then June, then May and early October.

How far ahead should I book? Four to eight weeks for a day charter in high season, and three to six months for a crewed week.

Do I tip the crew? Not obligatory and normal. Fifty to a hundred euros on a day charter, or five to ten per cent on a longer one.

Can we sleep on board in the caldera? Not usually. The caldera is too deep to anchor casually, so nights are spent at Vlychada, Ammoudi or off a neighbouring island.

We Get You to the Boat and Home Again

We are a local operator on Santorini with our own vehicles and our own drivers. Charters leave from Vlychada and Ammoudi, neither of which is straightforward to reach on a schedule, and a sunset departure puts you back on the quay at around ten at night when the buses have finished.

Tell us your boarding time and where you are staying and we will have you at the marina with time to spare and a vehicle waiting when you step off. We can put Akrotiri, an inland village or a winery into the same day beforehand.

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

September 12, 2026 By Stelios Karamolegkos Leave a Comment

Santorini to Ios Ferry – Times, Fares and the Day Trip

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 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

September 12, 2026 By Stelios Karamolegkos Leave a Comment

Santorini vs Mykonos – Every Comparison That Actually Matters

The santorini vs mykonos question has a clean answer: Santorini is a landscape and Mykonos is a beach and a party. This page compares them on beaches, nightlife, towns, food, cost, crowds and every kind of traveller, and says which to pick.

Santorini has the reputation of being the most romantic island with the most amazing sunset almost all over the world. The beauties of the island are many, but the excellent beaches of Santorini are another feature that makes it stand out.

These are the 7 beaches you can visit in Santorini Tours in August 2022 that are worth visiting during your holiday on the island, without saying that the rest cannot also pleasantly surprise you.

1. Red beach

The name of this beach is due to the red rocks that surround it.

It is located just half a kilometer from the archaeological site of Akrotiri and 8 kilometers from Fira.

Red Beach is not accessible by car, so you will need to leave somewhere and continue on foot.

There is also access by tourist boat from Akrotiri and Perissa.

It would be good to have a pair of beach shoes and a bottle of water with you.

Upon arrival, you will be impressed by the unique natural landscape and the beach, which consists of red and black pebbles.

2. White beach

It got its specific name because of the white rocks that surround it.

It is located next to the Red Beach and is only accessible by sea.

You can get there by tourist boat from Akrotiri, Perissa and from the neighboring Red Beach. If you are a large group, we would suggest renting a sailboat and doing the tour of Santorini at the same time.

It is considered one of the most famous beaches.

For the adventurous, there is access by swimming through the cave, which connects Aspri beach with the neighboring Mesa Pigadia beach.

In addition to a few umbrellas and sunbeds, visitors can get water and other supplies from the underground canteen located on the beach.

3. Perivolos

If you are looking for beach parties in Santorini in August 2022, Perivolos is the right beach for you.

Santorini may be famous for its romance, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have options for the free and beautiful.

The beach bars in Perivolos host well-known guest DJs from all over the world, offering the ultimate entertainment to the guests.

For music and dance lovers, it seems like the ideal place.

It is mainly recommended for the youth, as it is the noisiest beach in Santorini.

Together with Perissa, which is right next to it, they form the largest beach of the island. You can take a tour of Santorini!

4. Perissa

Perissa is one of the most organized beaches in Santorini and the cheapest place to stay on the volcanic island!

It forms the base of Mesa Vounos which separates Perissa from Kamari.

Perissa is one of the busiest beaches in Santorini and has been awarded a blue flag.

It is a fully organized beach that has a mini market, water park, bars, cafes, taverns and shops selling beach accessories.

Also, if you are a fan of beach sports, there is a beach volleyball court available, while for water sports fans, there are facilities with watersports equipment.

Perissa is located 13 kilometers from Fira.

5. Kamari

It is one of the most secular beaches of the island, due to its proximity to Santorini airport.

It is located on the other side of Mesa Vounos, under the hill of Ancient Thera. It is one of the most organized beaches, with a blue flag and has all the necessary shops for a visitor.

It is famous for its volcanic black sandy beach which, in combination with the white accommodation located around, offers an idyllic landscape.

On the paved pedestrian street of the beach you will find restaurants, cafe-bars and ATMs as night clubs operate in the area in the evening.

6. Monolithos

Looking to find the most popular family beach in Santorini in August 2022?

Monolithos beach seems like the ideal place for you.

The fact that it has shallow waters and fine sand, without pebbles, attracts many families looking for safe beaches for children.

It is considered the favorite beach of the locals.

Near the beach there is a playground, as well as courts for various sports.

At the end of the beach, there is a picturesque harbor and along the beach the rock that looks like a sculpture of nature.

On the beach you will find some restaurants and fish taverns up where the wave breaks.

7. Vlychada

For those looking for isolation in Santorini in August 2022, Vlychada is the ideal place.

Although a few umbrellas and sunbeds have recently been added at the beginning of the beach, there is plenty of room for natural swimmers.

The volcanic profile of the beach combined with the lunar rocks make you feel like you are on another planet.

In the port of Vlychada you will find taverns overlooking the sea and the luxury boats that dock there.

You will definitely need the right equipment and accessories for this beautiful, unorganized beach.

Arriving at the port of Santorini in August 2022, facing the looming rock in front of you, you realize from the first moment that what is happening on this island is something charmingly otherworldly. If you plan to take a in August 2022, you will understand that nothing that is written or said about it is exaggerated.

Santorini vs Mykonos: The Short Answer

The santorini vs mykonos question has a clean answer, and it is not the one either island’s marketing gives you. Santorini is a landscape. Mykonos is a party and a beach. Almost everything else follows from that, and the people who end up disappointed are the ones who booked the wrong half of that sentence.

Santorini vs mykonos: choose Santorini if. The setting is the point. A flooded volcano with a three-hundred-metre cliff, villages hanging off it, and the most photographed sunset in Europe. Also archaeology, wine and a short, intense trip.

Santorini vs mykonos: choose Mykonos if. The beaches and the nights are the point. Long sand, organised beach clubs that run from midday to sunrise, international DJs, and a genuinely beautiful town to get lost in.

Landscape. Santorini, by a distance. Nothing in the Cyclades looks like the caldera.

Beaches on santorini vs mykonos. Mykonos, decisively. Sand, shallow entry, dozens of bays, organised clubs. Santorini has black volcanic sand on one coast and no swimming at all on the other.

Nightlife on santorini vs mykonos. Mykonos, without argument. Santorini has one good strip in Fira; Mykonos has an industry.

Town. Mykonos town is a labyrinth of whitewashed lanes and one of the most attractive in Greece. Santorini’s villages are smaller and more dramatic.

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

Cost on santorini vs mykonos. Both expensive. Mykonos costs more for drinking, beach clubs and dinner; Santorini costs more for a room with a view.

Honeymoon. Santorini, comfortably.

Families. Mykonos, for flat ground and sand, with the caveat that it is the more expensive island to feed a family on.

Doing both on santorini vs mykonos. Easy. Two to three hours apart by fast ferry, several sailings a day in summer, and the classic pairing.

The one-line answer. On santorini vs mykonos: Santorini for what you look at, Mykonos for what you do.

The Two Islands, Honestly Described

Santorini. Seventy-six square kilometres of what is left of a volcano that blew its centre out around 1600 BC. The western edge is the inside wall of that crater: a cliff between two hundred and three hundred and thirty metres high with white villages balanced along the top of it, dropping into water four hundred metres deep. The eastern half tilts away into vineyards and black-sand beaches. There are about fifteen thousand residents and something over two million visitors a year, and almost all of them go to two villages at the same hour.

What Santorini is actually like. Spectacular between six and ten in the morning and after seven in the evening, and crowded, hot and shadeless in between. A staircase island: caldera hotels sit forty to a hundred and fifty steps below the road, and the villages are connected by lanes rather than streets. Extremely photogenic, genuinely romantic, and smaller than people expect.

Mykonos. Eighty-five square kilometres of low granite hills, dry, windswept and treeless, with a superb harbour town and a coastline of sandy bays. The island has no dramatic geology at all and has never needed any, because what it sells is the town, the sand and the night. Around eleven thousand residents and a comparable visitor load to Santorini.

What Mykonos is actually like. Flat where it matters, easy to drive, and organised entirely around two things: the beach clubs on the south coast and the bars and restaurants in Chora. The town is genuinely beautiful, a deliberate maze built to confuse pirates, and it is the part of the island people underestimate before they arrive.

The shared facts. Both are Cycladic, both are whitewashed, both are expensive, both are windy from June to September, both are crowded in August, and both have around thirty taxis for the whole island.

The difference that matters. Santorini asks you to look at it. Mykonos asks you to do something. Every other item in a santorini vs mykonos comparison is downstream of that.

Beaches: The Clearest Difference

If you are weighing santorini vs mykonos and you intend to swim every day, the comparison is over before it starts.

Santorini vs mykonos: the Mykonos beaches. Thirty-odd bays of pale sand with shallow, clear entry. Paradise and Super Paradise for the party, Psarou and Ornos for the polished end, Platis Gialos as the hub, Elia and Kalafatis for space, Agios Sostis and Fokos for nothing at all.

How they are organised. Loungers, umbrellas, service to the sunbed, restaurants on the sand, and at the famous ones a DJ from midday. A pair of loungers runs from 20 euros at the quiet beaches to well over 100 at the fashionable ones.

Getting to them. Buses from Fabrika in Chora, the sea bus from Platis Gialos, taxis, or a hire car. Fifteen to thirty minutes from town.

Santorini vs mykonos: the Santorini beaches. Black volcanic sand and pebble on the east and south coasts: Perivolos, Perissa, Kamari, Vlychada, Monolithos. Long, organised, and considerably cheaper than Mykonos.

The problem. The sand is black, it gets genuinely hot underfoot, and the famous half of Santorini has no beaches at all. The caldera cliff drops straight into deep water.

Water temperature. Effectively identical. Around 19 to 20 degrees in May, 24 in July, 25 to 26 in August and September.

The wind. Both catch the meltemi. Mykonos has enough bays that there is always a sheltered one; Santorini’s east coast takes it head on.

Which wins. Mykonos, and not narrowly. On beaches the santorini vs mykonos comparison is the most one-sided item on this page.

The Santorini counter-argument. A catamaran day. The Red Beach, the White Beach and the sea caves are reached by boat, and that day is better than any beach day on either island.

Nightlife: The Other Clear Difference

Mykonos. The party island of Greece without qualification. Beach clubs from midday to sunrise on the south coast, international DJs on residency, an enormous and long-established gay scene, and bars in Chora that run until the buses start again.

Santorini vs mykonos: the shape of a Mykonos night. A beach club from two in the afternoon, dinner at ten, Chora from midnight, and a club until five or six. There is no evening in which nothing is happening between May and October.

Cost. High and occasionally absurd. Cocktails from 15 to 25 euros, bottle service at the beach clubs running into the thousands, and a widely reported willingness to charge whatever the market bears.

Santorini. One genuine late-night strip, in Fira, below the main square, walkable end to end in ten minutes, running until four or five in high season. Beach bars at Perivolos and Perissa from midday into the evening, and caldera terraces for the sunset hour.

What Santorini does not have. Superclubs, headline residencies, or anything that runs to sunrise on a beach.

Cost. 12 to 18 euros for a cocktail in Fira, more on a rim terrace, and rarely an entry charge.

The honest framing. Santorini nightlife is a good night out. Mykonos nightlife is a reason to book the flight.

Which wins. Mykonos, decisively, and this is the other item where santorini vs mykonos is not a close contest.

The caveat. If you want a quiet dinner and to be in bed by midnight, Mykonos in August is the wrong island and it will be loud wherever you sleep.

Towns and Villages

Santorini vs mykonos: Mykonos Chora. The best town of the two and the thing people least expect. A deliberate labyrinth of whitewashed lanes with blue and red doors, built to disorient pirates and now disorienting everybody else. Little Venice with the houses hanging over the water, the row of windmills above it, Panagia Paraportiani, and a genuine working harbour at the northern end.

Ano Mera. Mykonos’s only inland village, with a monastery and a square, and the one place on the island that feels ordinary.

Santorini vs mykonos: the Santorini villages. More numerous and more dramatic. Oia for the domes and the sunset, Imerovigli for the best view, Firostefani for the balance, Fira for the transport and the noise, Pyrgos and Megalochori inland for the medieval cores and the quiet, Emporio for a real kastelli.

The architecture. Similar whitewash and different logic. Santorini’s villages are terraced down a cliff; Mykonos’s town is flat and horizontal.

Crowds in town. Mykonos Chora is busy in the evening and manageable. Oia between five and nine is several thousand people on one lane.

Getting lost. A genuine pleasure in Mykonos town and close to impossible in Santorini’s villages, which are linear.

Shopping. Mykonos, by a wide margin, including serious international brands. Santorini has jewellery, ceramics and wine.

Which wins. Mykonos for the town itself; Santorini for the number and variety of villages. On santorini vs mykonos this is the closest item on the page.

The tiebreak. Santorini’s inland villages are the part of either island that most visitors never see and most regret missing.

Food and Wine

Santorini’s advantage. The island grows its own food, which almost nothing in the Cyclades does. Fava with protected designation status, the small dense cherry tomato, white aubergine, capers and caper leaves, chloro cheese, and wild greens. The cuisine is specific rather than generic Greek.

Wine on santorini vs mykonos. The strongest single card either island holds. Assyrtiko from ungrafted vines trained into low baskets on the ground to survive the wind, with no rain from May to October, and Vinsanto from sun-dried grapes. A dozen serious wineries, most in the southern interior, tastings at 25 to 60 euros a head.

Mykonos’s food. Very good and largely imported. The island grows little beyond onions and some cheese, and its restaurant scene is international, expensive and highly polished. Kopanisti, the peppery soft cheese, and louza are the genuine local products.

Fine dining. Mykonos has more of it and charges more for it, including a handful of internationally known names. Santorini’s fine dining is mostly on the caldera rim and you are partly paying for the view.

Value. Santorini, on the strength of its inland villages. A dinner in Pyrgos or Exo Gonia costs a third of the same meal on the rim and is frequently better.

Fish. Both good. Ammoudi on Santorini and the Mykonos harbour tavernas are comparable.

Breakfast. Mykonos, because it is a later island with a proper cafe culture.

Which wins. Santorini, on wine and on having a cuisine of its own. This is the clearest point in Santorini’s favour in the whole santorini vs mykonos comparison after the landscape.

Where You Sleep, and What It Costs

Santorini vs mykonos: Santorini hotels. Cave suites carved into the caldera face, small boutique properties terraced down the cliff, and infinity pools that hang over a four-hundred-metre drop. The product is the view.

Santorini prices. 250 to 700 euros a night for a caldera-view room in high season, 150 to 500 in Firostefani, 70 to 200 inland or on the east coast.

The Santorini catch. Steps. A rim property is routinely forty to a hundred and fifty steps below the nearest road, and the number is almost never disclosed.

Santorini vs mykonos: Mykonos hotels. Design hotels, beach resorts and villas, mostly flat, mostly with real pools, and concentrated around Chora, Ornos, Platis Gialos and Psarou.

Mykonos prices. 200 to 600 euros a night in high season for a good hotel, with the fashionable beachfront properties well above that and villas running into thousands.

Which is more expensive. Close, and the shape differs. Santorini charges more for a view; Mykonos charges more for everything you do after breakfast.

A realistic week for two. Roughly 2,500 to 4,000 euros on either island in August excluding flights, with Mykonos higher if you use the beach clubs and Santorini higher if you insist on the caldera.

The budget end. Both have hostels. Perissa and Fira on Santorini, Paraga on Mykonos. Both islands are doable from 60 to 100 euros a night if you stay away from the famous postcodes.

Which wins. Santorini for the room itself, Mykonos for the ease of using it. On santorini vs mykonos accommodation, the tiebreak is whether you mind carrying a suitcase down a staircase.

Getting There and Getting Around

Flights for santorini vs mykonos. Both have international airports with direct European routes from late April to the end of October, and year-round connections via Athens. Mykonos has marginally more traffic; Santorini’s runway handles similar volumes.

Ferries from Athens. Santorini is four and a half to nine hours from Piraeus. Mykonos is two and a half to five and a half, and also served from Rafina, which is closer to the airport.

Between them. Two to three hours by fast ferry with several sailings a day in summer.

Ports. Santorini’s Athinios is at the bottom of a hairpin road and is the worst port in the Cyclades. Mykonos’s New Port at Tourlos is flat, modern and two kilometres from town.

Taxis on santorini vs mykonos. Around thirty on each island, which is the single most underestimated fact about both.

Buses. Santorini’s network radiates from Fira and stops around half past ten. Mykonos runs from Fabrika and the Old Port, later in season, plus a sea bus along the south coast.

Driving. Mykonos is easier: flatter, wider roads and simpler parking outside Chora. Santorini’s villages are impossible to drive into and Fira parking in August is a genuine problem.

Walking. Santorini has the caldera rim path, ten kilometres from Fira to Oia and one of the best walks in Greece. Mykonos has very little.

Which wins. Mykonos on logistics, Santorini on the one great walk. For anybody comparing santorini vs mykonos with no intention of hiring a vehicle, both work, and Santorini’s bus network is the more useful of the two.

Santorini vs Mykonos by Traveller

The same two islands answer very differently depending on who is asking.

Honeymoon on santorini vs mykonos. Santorini. The caldera, the cave suites with private plunge pools, and the sunset exist for exactly this, and no argument about beaches changes it. Mykonos is a honeymoon for couples who want to go out.

Proposal. Santorini, at Skaros Rock or on the Imerovigli rim twenty minutes before sunset.

Anniversary. Either. Santorini for a quiet one, Mykonos for a loud one.

Family with small children. Mykonos. Flat ground, sand, shallow water and no cliff edges. Santorini’s caldera villages are genuinely unsuitable with a toddler, although Kamari and Perissa work well.

Family with teenagers. Mykonos, for the beaches and the water sports, with the warning that it is an expensive island to feed four people on.

Group of friends. Mykonos, without much debate. This is what the island is for.

Bachelorette or stag trip. Mykonos. Santorini will do a boat day and a good dinner and it will not do a superclub.

Solo traveller. Mykonos is easier to meet people on; Santorini is easier to be alone on. Both are very safe.

Older travellers. Mykonos, on flat ground, or Santorini’s east coast. Not the Santorini rim.

Photographers. Santorini, by a distance, and it is not close. The caldera at sunrise is the single best subject in the Cyclades.

First trip to Greece. Santorini, because the landscape is the thing you cannot see anywhere else.

Fifth trip to Greece. Neither. Naxos, Amorgos, Milos or Sifnos.

Cruise passengers with one day. Santorini, which is the better single day, although the cable car queue is brutal.

Budget travellers. Santorini, marginally, because the inland villages and the east coast offer an escape route that Mykonos does not really have.

The pattern. On santorini vs mykonos, Santorini wins the trips that are about looking and Mykonos wins the trips that are about doing.

Culture, Archaeology and the Things to Actually See

Santorini vs mykonos: Akrotiri on Santorini. A Bronze Age town buried in ash around 1600 BC and preserved under a modern roof: streets, three-storey houses, drainage and frescoes. The best single hour on either island, and it is cool at any time of day.

Ancient Thera, Santorini. A Hellenistic city on a ridge at 360 metres above Kamari, reached by a forty-five minute climb or a road, and almost empty.

Santorini vs mykonos: Delos from Mykonos. The counter-argument, and a strong one. A whole uninhabited island that was once the religious centre of the Aegean and one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, thirty minutes away by boat. The Terrace of the Lions, the theatre quarter, the mosaics.

The volcano, Santorini. Nea Kameni’s crater and the hot springs at Palia Kameni, reached by boat, and the only place in the Cyclades where you walk on an active volcano.

Museums. Santorini has the Prehistoric Thera museum in Fira with the Akrotiri finds. Mykonos has a good archaeological museum and the Delos finds are split with Athens.

Churches. Panagia Paraportiani in Mykonos town is one of the strangest and most photographed churches in Greece. Santorini has the blue domes and around three hundred and fifty chapels.

Wineries. Santorini only, and they are a genuine reason to visit.

Windmills. Both, and Mykonos’s row above Chora is the more famous.

Which wins. A draw, and an unexpectedly close one. Akrotiri against Delos is the most evenly matched pair in the whole santorini vs mykonos comparison.

Crowds, Seasons and When to Go

The santorini vs mykonos season. Both run late April to the end of October and both largely close in winter, although Mykonos closes harder: a great deal of the island shuts completely, while Fira keeps functioning year-round.

May. Excellent on both. Everything opening, prices at half of August, a cool sea, and space to move.

June. The strongest month overall. Warm sea, long days, everything open, and the crowds not yet at peak.

July and August. Peak on both, and the difference in character sharpens. Mykonos becomes a party at full volume; Santorini becomes a queue.

September. The best month on both. The warmest sea of the year, thinning crowds after the first week, and falling prices.

October. Santorini holds up better into the third week. Mykonos winds down faster because its product is the beach.

The wind. Both take the meltemi from June to September. Mykonos is more exposed overall and has more sheltered bays to retreat to; Santorini’s caldera side is sheltered when the east coast is not.

Cruise ships on santorini vs mykonos. Santorini takes two to five a day and funnels them through Fira and Oia. Mykonos takes them too and absorbs them better, because the town is bigger.

Crowd feel. Santorini’s crowds are concentrated in two villages at two hours of the day. Mykonos’s are spread across beaches and a town, which makes it feel busier all day and less crushed at any moment.

Which wins. Santorini in the shoulder months, Mykonos in high summer. On santorini vs mykonos for a July trip, the island that handles heat and volume better is Mykonos.

Swimming, Boats and Water Sports

Worth separating from the beaches themselves, because the question of where you actually get in the water divides the two islands sharply.

Swimming from the shore. Mykonos, everywhere, on sand, with a gradual entry. Santorini, only on the east and south coasts, on black sand and pebble, with a steeper shelf.

Swimming on the famous side. Mykonos has no famous side to exclude. Santorini’s caldera wall drops straight into four hundred metres of water, so the view half of the island has no swimming at all.

Water clarity. Both excellent, with fifteen to thirty metres of visibility on a calm day.

Windsurfing and kitesurfing. Mykonos, at Ftelia and Kalafatis, which is a serious scene. Santorini has almost nothing, because the caldera is sheltered and the east coast is choppy rather than consistent.

Diving. Santorini, interestingly. The caldera wall, a small wreck and volcanic topography at depth make it a genuinely unusual dive. Mykonos diving is pleasant and ordinary.

Snorkelling. Santorini, on the volcanic rock around Akrotiri, the White Beach and the sea caves. Mykonos’s sandy bays have less to look at.

Boat days on santorini vs mykonos. Santorini wins this decisively. A catamaran into the caldera with the Red Beach, the White Beach, the hot springs at Palia Kameni and the crater walk on Nea Kameni is the best organised day on either island. Mykonos’s equivalent is a boat to Delos and Rhenia, which is excellent and different.

Jet skis and parasailing. Mykonos, at the organised beaches.

Sea kayaking. Santorini, along the south-west coast under the pumice cliffs.

Which wins. Mykonos for getting into the sea, Santorini for getting onto a boat. On santorini vs mykonos in the water, that is the whole distinction.

Shopping, Spas and Downtime

Shopping in Mykonos. The best on any Greek island, including international fashion houses with seasonal boutiques in Chora and a dense concentration of jewellery, art and design. People fly in specifically for it.

Shopping in Santorini. Jewellery workshops in Fira and Oia, ceramics in Pyrgos and Megalochori, and wine. Smaller, more local, and far less expensive.

Spas on santorini vs mykonos. Both islands have serious hotel spas. Mykonos’s are larger and more resort-scaled; Santorini’s are smaller and frequently carved into the rock, which is a better room if not a better menu.

The hot springs. Santorini only, at Palia Kameni, reached by swimming fifty to eighty metres from an anchored boat into iron-rich water that stains swimwear permanently.

Yoga and wellness. Both, with retreats running on each from April to October.

Doing nothing. Mykonos, on a lounger with service, for as long as your budget lasts. Santorini’s equivalent is a villa pool inland, because the rim pools are four metres long and in shade by mid-afternoon.

Reading a book. Genuinely better on Santorini, because the island is quieter in the middle of the day and has shaded village squares.

Gyms. Mykonos, by a distance.

Which wins. Mykonos on shopping and organised relaxation, Santorini on quiet afternoons. On santorini vs mykonos for a week of doing very little, Mykonos has the infrastructure and Santorini has the peace.

The Gay Scene and LGBT Travel

Mykonos. One of the longest-established gay destinations in Europe, with a scene dating to the 1960s and 1970s. Elia and Super Paradise are the traditional beaches, Chora has a cluster of bars around the Little Venice area, and the island hosts a major annual pride event.

Santorini. Relaxed, entirely welcoming and not a scene. Same-sex weddings and honeymoons are ordinary here and go without comment, and there is no dedicated nightlife.

Legal position. Identical on both: Greece recognises same-sex marriage, and both islands are mainstream wedding destinations.

Which wins. Mykonos for the scene and the community, Santorini for a quiet honeymoon. On santorini vs mykonos this is one of the few items where the two islands are not competing at all.

Weather, Wind and the Physical Experience

Temperature. Effectively identical. Sixteen to twenty degrees in April, twenty-four to twenty-eight in June, twenty-eight to thirty-four in July and August, twenty-five to twenty-nine in September.

Rain. Almost none on either from May to October.

The meltemi on santorini vs mykonos. The defining weather on both. A dry northerly blowing for two to four days at a stretch from June to September.

How each island handles it. Mykonos is more exposed overall and has enough bays that one side is always sheltered. Santorini’s caldera side is sheltered while the east coast takes it head on, which means the wind changes which half of the island is pleasant.

Shade. Neither has any. No trees, no forest, no natural cover on either island, which surprises people every year.

Heat underfoot. Santorini’s black sand is genuinely hot by midday. Mykonos’s pale sand is not.

Physical effort. The real divergence. Santorini is a staircase: hundreds of steps a day, polished marble, and hotels built down a cliff. Mykonos is flat where it matters.

Accessibility on santorini vs mykonos. Mykonos, clearly, and it is not close. For a wheelchair user or anybody with a mobility issue, the question has one answer.

Sun exposure. Equal and severe on both, with the wind removing the sensation of burning.

Which wins. Mykonos on comfort, Santorini on the reward for the effort.

The Numbers Side by Side

Everything quantifiable in one place, because the santorini vs mykonos argument is usually conducted on impressions.

Area on santorini vs mykonos. Santorini 76 square kilometres. Mykonos 85.

Population. Santorini around 15,500. Mykonos around 11,000.

Highest point. Santorini 567 metres at Profitis Ilias. Mykonos 341 metres at Profitis Ilias Vorniotis.

Beaches. Santorini perhaps a dozen usable, all on the east and south coasts. Mykonos around thirty.

Caldera-view room, high season. Santorini 250 to 700 euros. Mykonos has no equivalent; a good hotel runs 200 to 600.

Cocktail. Santorini 12 to 18 euros, more on a rim terrace. Mykonos 15 to 25, considerably more at a beach club.

Pair of loungers. Santorini 15 to 40 euros. Mykonos 20 to well over 100 at the fashionable beaches.

Dinner for two. Santorini 70 to 120 euros in a village, 160 to 400 on the rim. Mykonos 100 to 250 ordinarily and no ceiling worth quoting.

Bus fare. Santorini 1.30 to 2.30 euros. Mykonos roughly comparable.

Taxis on the island. Around thirty on each, which is the statistic that shapes both trips.

Ferry from Piraeus. Santorini four and a half to nine hours. Mykonos two and a half to five and a half.

Flight from Athens. Forty-five minutes to either.

The santorini vs mykonos crossing. Two to three hours, four to eight sailings a day in high summer.

Season. Late April to the end of October on both, with Mykonos closing harder in winter.

What the numbers do not capture. That Santorini’s 76 square kilometres contain a four-hundred-metre hole in the ground, which is the entire reason the santorini vs mykonos question exists.

What Each Island Gets Wrongly Blamed For

Santorini: “it is only a sunset.” Wrong. Akrotiri is the best archaeological site in the Cyclades, the wine is the most distinctive in Greece, Ancient Thera is empty and spectacular, and the rim path is one of the country’s great walks. The sunset is the least interesting thing on the island.

Santorini: “it is too crowded.” Partly true and badly framed. The crowds are in two villages between ten and six. At seven in the morning Oia is empty and at nine in the evening it is quiet again.

Santorini: “there is nothing to do.” Wrong. There is too much for three days.

Mykonos: “it is only a party island.” Wrong, and the most persistent error in the santorini vs mykonos debate. Chora is one of the most beautiful towns in Greece, Delos is a major archaeological site, and the northern beaches are empty.

Mykonos: “it is tacky.” Wrong. Parts are expensive in a way some people find distasteful, which is a different complaint.

Mykonos: “you cannot relax there.” Wrong. Ano Mera, Ftelia, Fokos and Agios Sostis are as quiet as anywhere in the Cyclades.

Both: “they are overpriced.” True at the famous postcodes and false two streets back on either island.

Both: “the locals are tired of tourists.” Not in our experience on either island, and service on both is warmer than the prices would suggest.

The fair criticism of Santorini. The steps, the absence of swimming on the caldera side, and the concentration of everybody into two villages.

The fair criticism of Mykonos. The price of a day at a fashionable beach club, and a landscape that does not reward the drive.

Adding a Third Island

Both sit on the main Cyclades line, which means the santorini vs mykonos choice does not have to be the whole trip.

Naxos, between the santorini vs mykonos pair. two hours from Santorini and an hour from Mykonos. The best all-round island of the three: a thousand-metre mountain, long sandy beaches, marble villages, real food and half the prices.

Paros. Also between them, with Naoussa’s harbour, windsurfing and a relaxed evening scene.

Ios. Forty-five minutes from Santorini, with one outstanding beach at Mylopotas and a young nightlife.

Milos. Two hours west of Santorini on the other chain, with Sarakiniko’s white rock and Kleftiko’s sea caves.

Folegandros. Small, dramatic and almost empty, on some sailings between Santorini and Milos.

Amorgos. East of Naxos, with the best walking in the Cyclades and a monastery built into a cliff.

Delos and Rhenia. A half day from Mykonos rather than a separate stay.

Thirasia. A half day from Santorini, with three hundred residents and no crowds at all.

The ten-day santorini vs mykonos route. Santorini, Naxos, Mykonos. Three nights, four nights, three nights, each hop under three hours, and it resolves the santorini vs mykonos question by refusing it.

The two-week route. Santorini, Ios, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, which is the classic Cyclades chain and one of the best fortnights available in Europe.

What not to do. Mix the main line with the western chain in one week. Milos and Sifnos are a separate trip.

Thirty Versions of the Question, Answered

Almost everybody arrives at this comparison with one specific trip in mind rather than a general curiosity. These are the thirty forms the question takes and the answer to each.

Santorini vs mykonos for a honeymoon. Santorini. The caldera, the cave suites and the sunset were built for it.

Santorini vs mykonos for a beach holiday. Mykonos. Sand, shallow entry, thirty bays and organised clubs.

Santorini vs mykonos for nightlife. Mykonos, and it is not a contest.

Santorini vs mykonos for photography. Santorini, at sunrise, and nothing in the Cyclades comes close.

Santorini vs mykonos for a first trip to Greece. Santorini, because the landscape exists nowhere else.

Santorini vs mykonos for a second trip. Mykonos, or neither, and Naxos instead.

Santorini vs mykonos with a toddler. Mykonos, for flat ground and shallow sand.

Santorini vs mykonos with teenagers. Mykonos, for the beaches and the water sports.

Santorini vs mykonos with grandparents. Mykonos, or Santorini’s east coast only.

Santorini vs mykonos for a wheelchair user. Mykonos, clearly.

Santorini vs mykonos on a tight budget. Santorini, marginally, because the inland villages offer an escape that Mykonos lacks.

Santorini vs mykonos with no budget limit. Either, and Mykonos will find more ways to use it.

Santorini vs mykonos for three nights. Santorini. It is the better short, intense trip.

Santorini vs mykonos for a week. Mykonos, because Santorini starts to repeat itself after four days.

Santorini vs mykonos for ten days. Both, with Naxos in between.

Santorini vs mykonos for a group of friends. Mykonos.

Santorini vs mykonos for a bachelorette trip. Mykonos for the nights, Santorini for the photographs and the boat day.

Santorini vs mykonos for a solo traveller. Mykonos to meet people, Santorini to be left alone.

Santorini vs mykonos for wine. Santorini, without argument.

Santorini vs mykonos for food. Santorini for its own produce, Mykonos for range and polish.

Santorini vs mykonos for walking. Santorini, on the strength of the rim path alone.

Santorini vs mykonos for archaeology. A draw: Akrotiri against Delos.

Santorini vs mykonos for shopping. Mykonos, by a wide margin.

Santorini vs mykonos for a proposal. Santorini, at Skaros Rock before sunset.

Santorini vs mykonos for a wedding. Either, and Santorini hosts more of them.

Santorini vs mykonos in August. Mykonos, which handles heat and volume better.

Santorini vs mykonos in May or October. Santorini, which stays open longer at both ends.

Santorini vs mykonos in winter. Santorini, because Fira still functions and most of Mykonos does not.

Santorini vs mykonos off a cruise ship. Santorini, allowing an hour for the cable car queue.

Santorini vs mykonos if you cannot decide. Santorini for three nights. It is the safer single choice and the one people talk about afterwards.

Ten More Specific Situations

Santorini vs mykonos if you get seasick. Santorini, because its best day is a sheltered caldera cruise rather than an open crossing to Delos.

Santorini vs mykonos if the meltemi is forecast. Santorini, where the caldera side is sheltered when the east coast is not.

Santorini vs mykonos if you hate crowds. Santorini, but only inland and only early. Mykonos’s northern beaches are the other answer.

Santorini vs mykonos if you want to drive. Mykonos. Flatter roads, simpler parking, a more rewarding island to circle.

Santorini vs mykonos if you will not hire anything. Santorini, because the rim villages connect on foot and the bus network is genuinely useful.

Santorini vs mykonos for an early flight home. Mykonos, because you will not be carrying luggage up a hundred and fifty steps at half past four.

Santorini vs mykonos for a quiet anniversary. Santorini, in Imerovigli, in May.

Santorini vs mykonos for a loud one. Mykonos, in Chora, in July.

Santorini vs mykonos for a week of doing nothing. Mykonos, on a lounger, if the budget allows. Otherwise a villa inland on Santorini.

Santorini vs mykonos for the thing you will remember in ten years. Santorini. The caldera at six in the morning is the single strongest memory either island produces, and it is free.

Month by Month, Island by Island

The right answer moves through the year, and most comparisons ignore that entirely.

Santorini vs mykonos in April. Santorini. Mykonos is barely open and its entire product is the beach, while Santorini’s villages, Akrotiri and the rim path are all at their best at sixteen to twenty degrees. The sea is too cold for either.

Santorini vs mykonos in May. Santorini, still. Twenty to twenty-four degrees, no rain, green hillsides and rim rooms at half their August price. Mykonos opens properly towards the end of the month.

Santorini vs mykonos in June. Either, and this is the best month on both. Warm sea, the longest days of the year, everything open, and prices not yet at peak.

Santorini vs mykonos in July. Mykonos, narrowly. Twenty-eight to thirty-three degrees with no shade anywhere, and Mykonos gives you sand and water to retreat into while Santorini gives you a staircase.

Santorini vs mykonos in August. Mykonos. The hottest, busiest and most expensive weeks of the Greek year on both, and the island with thirty beaches absorbs it better than the island with two famous villages.

Santorini vs mykonos in September. Either, and the best month of all on both. The warmest sea of the year, the crowd thinning after the first week, and falling prices.

Santorini vs mykonos in October. Santorini. It holds up into the third week with golden light and open restaurants, while Mykonos winds down faster because the beach clubs close.

Santorini vs mykonos in November. Santorini, and only just. Fira keeps functioning; most of Mykonos shuts.

Santorini vs mykonos in December to February. Santorini, for the same reason, plus a real Greek carnival in February.

Santorini vs mykonos in March. Santorini, with the first hotels reopening at the end of the month.

The pattern underneath. Mykonos wins the two months when heat and swimming dominate. Santorini wins the eight months when they do not, which is the opposite of how the santorini vs mykonos question is usually framed.

The Trips That Go Wrong

Four real patterns, each of which we see several times a season.

The beach holiday booked on the caldera. A couple takes a week in Imerovigli in July expecting to swim. They discover the cliff drops into four hundred metres of water, the nearest sand is twenty-five minutes away and black, and the hotel pool is four metres long and in shade from three. On santorini vs mykonos, this is the single commonest mis-booking and Mykonos was the answer.

The honeymoon booked on a beach. The reverse. A couple takes Mykonos for the romance, spends five evenings in a town at full volume, and drives to a viewpoint that does not exist, because Mykonos has no caldera and never pretended to.

The family on the cliff. Two adults and a three-year-old in a cave suite in Oia. A hundred and twenty steps with a pushchair, an unfenced terrace above a three-hundred-metre drop, and forty minutes to the nearest sand. Kamari or Mykonos, both at a third of the price.

The group that split the week badly. Two nights on each island with two airport transfers and a ferry in the middle, which leaves about three usable days out of five. Either pick one island or give each of them at least three nights.

What they have in common. Every one of them booked the photograph rather than the trip, which is the failure mode the whole santorini vs mykonos comparison exists to prevent. Decide what the days will actually contain, and the island chooses itself.

The fix, in one sentence. Write down what you intend to do on each morning and each evening of the trip, and the right answer on santorini vs mykonos falls out of the list without any further argument.

A Week on Each, Side by Side

The clearest way to settle santorini vs mykonos is to look at what seven days on each one actually contains.

Santorini, day one. Arrive, drop bags, and walk the rim path from Fira through Firostefani to Imerovigli in the late afternoon. Skaros Rock before the crowd, sunset from Imerovigli, dinner in Firostefani.

Santorini, day two. A catamaran from Vlychada: the Red Beach, the White Beach, the sea caves, a barbecue on board, the hot springs and the caldera wall at sunset. Five hours and the best day on the island.

Santorini, day three. Akrotiri at eight, the lighthouse, an inland village for lunch, the pool through the heat, a winery at five, Oia at seven and Ammoudi for dinner.

Santorini, day four. Kamari or Perivolos on the black sand, and the Kamari open-air cinema in the evening.

Santorini, day five. Sunrise in Oia at six, back to bed, then Ancient Thera from Kamari in the late afternoon.

Santorini, day six. Thirasia by ferry from Ammoudi, or the Profitis Ilias ridge, or a second boat.

Santorini, day seven. Pyrgos, Megalochori and Emporio at a walking pace, and a last dinner inland.

The honest assessment of that week. Four outstanding days and three good ones, with the second half noticeably quieter than the first. This is why people who compare santorini vs mykonos for a full week frequently conclude that Santorini is a four-day island.

Mykonos, day one. Arrive, and Chora in the evening: Little Venice, the windmills, the lanes, and dinner somewhere on the water.

Mykonos, day two. A beach day at Platis Gialos or Ornos, with a lounger from eleven and lunch on the sand.

Mykonos, day three. Delos in the morning, thirty minutes by boat, with two hours among the ruins, then an afternoon at Agios Sostis.

Mykonos, day four. Paradise or Super Paradise from two in the afternoon, and the night that follows it.

Mykonos, day five. A hire car and the north: Ftelia, Fokos, Ano Mera and the monastery, with nobody anywhere.

Mykonos, day six. Psarou or Elia, the boat along the south coast, and a long dinner.

Mykonos, day seven. A last beach and Chora at blue hour.

The honest assessment of that week. Seven genuinely different days, none of them demanding, and a trip that scales comfortably to ten. On santorini vs mykonos over seven nights, Mykonos is the island with more week in it.

The obvious conclusion. Three or four nights on Santorini and four or five on Mykonos, which is what the ferry between them exists for.

The Verdict, Stated Plainly

Santorini is the better island to look at. The caldera is one of a handful of genuinely extraordinary landscapes in Europe, and no photograph prepares you for the scale of it. Standing on the rim at Imerovigli at six in the morning is the best single experience either island offers, and it costs nothing.

Mykonos is the better island to spend a week on. Thirty beaches, a town that rewards five evenings rather than two, a real scene, flat ground and an easier rhythm. Nothing about it is difficult.

Santorini is the better short trip. Three or four nights, three or four outstanding days, and a strong reason to have come.

Mykonos is the better long one. Seven nights without repetition and without a staircase.

Santorini asks more of you. Early starts, hundreds of steps, heat with no shade, and a plan. The reward is proportionate.

Mykonos asks almost nothing. Turn up, take a lounger, eat well, go out. The reward is proportionate to that too.

Cost is not the deciding factor. They are within a few hundred euros of each other for a comparable week, and the money lands in different places.

The crowds are not the deciding factor either. Both are busy, and Santorini’s are concentrated while Mykonos’s are spread.

What is the deciding factor. Whether your holiday is built around looking at something or doing something. That one question resolves santorini vs mykonos for almost everybody, and everything else on this page is detail underneath it.

And the answer we give most often. Do both. Four nights on Santorini, four on Mykonos, a two-hour ferry in the middle, and the argument disappears entirely.

And one last practical note. Whichever way the santorini vs mykonos decision falls, the same two bookings matter on both islands and for the same reason: the transfer from the airport or the port at each end, and anything with a fixed time attached to it. Each island has around thirty taxis, each has a bus network that stops before the night does, and each has a port that fills with several hundred people at once when a ferry lands. Every other part of a trip to either place can be improvised over breakfast.

The thing both islands share. They are at their best in the hours nobody uses. Oia at six in the morning and Mykonos Chora at one in the afternoon are both nearly empty, and both are better than the same places at the hour everybody chooses. If you take one habit from this comparison rather than a conclusion, take that one: go early, rest through the middle of the day, and go out again at seven.

Doing Both on One Trip

For most people the honest answer to santorini vs mykonos is both, because they are two to three hours apart and they complement each other almost perfectly.

The ferry. Two to three hours on a high-speed catamaran, or three and a half to five on a conventional ship calling at Ios, Naxos and Paros. Four to eight sailings a day in high summer.

Fares. Roughly 60 to 110 euros a person on the fast boats and 35 to 60 on the conventional ferries.

Which order. Santorini first, then Mykonos. You do the island of staircases and early starts while you are fresh, and finish on the one designed for lying down and going out.

The reverse. Works if you want the spectacular finish, and it puts the late nights before the six in the morning alarms.

Three nights and three. The standard week, and it works. Santorini for the villages, a boat and Akrotiri; Mykonos for the town, two beaches and a night out.

Four and three. Better, because Santorini has more to do than its size suggests.

Two and two. Too tight. A crossing eats most of a day once you add both ports.

Ten days. Four Santorini, four Mykonos, and two on Naxos or Paros, both of which sit on the line between them and cost half as much.

Flights. Into one and out of the other, which is usually priced the same as a return and saves a crossing.

The wind. The meltemi cancels fast boats between June and September. Do not put the crossing on the day you fly home.

The verdict on doing both. Comfortable on a week, excellent on ten days, and the reason the santorini vs mykonos question is frequently the wrong one.

If You Can Only Choose One

A decision procedure rather than an opinion. Answer these in order and stop at the first clear yes.

Will you swim in the sea most days? If yes, Mykonos. Santorini’s famous half has no beaches at all and the black sand on the east coast is a long way from the view you came for.

Is this a honeymoon or an anniversary? If yes, Santorini. The cave suites and the caldera exist for this.

Do you want to be out until four in the morning? If yes, Mykonos, and it is not a close call.

Is anybody in the party unable to manage steps? If yes, Mykonos, or Santorini’s east coast only.

Is photography a main reason for the trip? If yes, Santorini, at sunrise, and nothing else comes close.

Is this your first time in Greece? If yes, Santorini, because the caldera is the thing you cannot see anywhere else.

Are you travelling with children under ten? If yes, Mykonos, or Kamari on Santorini.

Do you care about wine and local food? If yes, Santorini.

Is the budget the binding constraint? If yes, neither, and the answer is Naxos or Paros.

Still undecided? Santorini for three or four nights. It is the shorter, more intense trip and the one people remember, and on santorini vs mykonos it is the safer single choice for a first visit.

Mistakes People Make

Booking Santorini for a beach holiday. The commonest error in the whole santorini vs mykonos decision. The caldera side has no beaches and the east coast is black sand twenty-five minutes away.

Booking Mykonos expecting the caldera. The reverse error. Mykonos is low, dry and flat, and the drama is in the town and the nights.

Assuming Mykonos is only a party island. The town, Delos and the quiet northern beaches are all serious, and plenty of people have a calm week there.

Assuming Santorini is quiet. Fira has a proper late night and Oia at sunset holds several thousand people.

Underestimating the steps on Santorini. A cave suite can be a hundred and fifty steps below the road, with luggage, twice.

Underestimating the prices on Mykonos. Beach club bills are the most common financial shock either island produces.

Not booking transport on either. Around thirty taxis each, and buses that stop before the night does.

Putting the ferry between them on the last day. The meltemi cancels fast boats and the fallback is a lost day.

Giving each island two nights. A crossing plus two airport transfers leaves very little holiday.

Going in August without booking in February. True of both, and more expensive on Mykonos.

Santorini vs Mykonos: Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, santorini vs mykonos? Santorini for landscape, romance, wine and photographs. Mykonos for beaches, nightlife and a better town.

Which is more beautiful? Santorini, by a distance, because of the caldera. Mykonos’s beauty is in its town rather than its landscape.

Which has better beaches? Mykonos, decisively: sand, shallow entry, dozens of bays and organised clubs.

Which is better for nightlife? Mykonos, without argument. Santorini has one good strip in Fira.

Which is more expensive? Close. Mykonos costs more for drinking, beach clubs and dinner; Santorini costs more for a caldera-view room.

Which is better for a honeymoon? Santorini.

Which is better for families? Mykonos, for flat ground and sand, with Kamari or Perissa on Santorini as the alternative.

How far apart are they? Two to three hours by fast ferry, with four to eight sailings a day in high summer.

Can I do both in a week? Yes. Three or four nights on Santorini and three on Mykonos is the standard week.

Which should I do first? Santorini, then Mykonos, so the demanding island comes while you are fresh.

Which is better in September? Both, and September is the best month on either.

Which is better for one day off a cruise? Santorini, although the cable car queue can take an hour.

If I can only pick one on santorini vs mykonos? Santorini for a first trip, a honeymoon or photographs. Mykonos for beaches, a group or a party.

If Santorini Is the One

We are a local operator on Santorini running private tours and transfers in our own vehicles, so we will declare the obvious interest and then be straight with you: if you want a fortnight of beach clubs, book Mykonos.

If you want three to five days of the most dramatic island in Greece, tell us your dates and we will handle it properly: the caldera villages at the hours when they are empty, Akrotiri before the coaches, the wineries at five, and the airport or the port at both ends.

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.