Which are the cheapest islands to visit?

Naxos, Palawan, Sri Lanka, Lombok, Sao Miguel in the Azores, and the Greek North Aegean islands.

Which are the most expensive islands?

The Maldives, Bora Bora, Mustique and the private-island end of the Seychelles, where there is no cheaper option elsewhere on the island.

Which island is best for a honeymoon?

Santorini for landscape and food, the Maldives and Bora Bora for water, and the Seychelles for a combination of both.

Which island is best for diving?

Raja Ampat in Indonesia, followed by Palau, Sipadan, Bonaire and the Galapagos.

Which islands are best for families?

Naxos, Mallorca, Sardinia, Jersey and Vancouver Island, all of which have shallow water or easy terrain and good infrastructure.

Which islands are best for walking?

Madeira, La Palma, Reunion, Corsica and the Faroe Islands, all of which have marked long-distance routes.

Are the famous islands ruined by tourism?

No, but they are concentrated. On most famous islands the crowd occupies two locations for about seven hours a day and the rest of the island stays empty.

How much does a Santorini boat tour cost?

40 to 60 euros a head on a large caique, 100 to 200 on a semi-private catamaran with food and drink, and from around 800 for a private charter.

Can you swim in the Santorini hot springs?

Yes. You swim from the boat into the bay at Palia Kameni. The water is warm rather than hot and the iron oxide permanently stains swimwear orange.

Is the Nea Kameni volcano walk hard?

Twenty to thirty minutes up loose volcanic rock to the crater rim, with no shade at all. Manageable in proper shoes and hard work at midday in August.

What happens if the boat tour is cancelled?

Operators almost always offer another day rather than a refund, which is why a boat tour should never be booked for the last day of a trip.

Can you visit Thirasia without a tour?

Yes, on the public ferry from Athinios or a small boat from Ammoudi. A full independent day on Thirasia is one of the best days available on the island.

SANTORINI TOURS

Q: What are the best islands in the world?

It depends what you want: Santorini and Madeira for landscape, the Maldives and Seychelles for beaches, Raja Ampat and Palau for diving, Sicily and Crete for food and history, and the Faroes and Chiloe for solitude.

Q: Which island in the world is the most beautiful?

Santorini's caldera, Lofoten, Palawan's limestone karst and Bora Bora's lagoon are the four most commonly named, and they are beautiful in four completely different ways.

Q: How many islands should I visit in one trip?

Two in a week and three at most. Every crossing costs about half a day once you count checkout, port time and the sailing.

September 8, 2026 By Stelios Karamolegkos Leave a Comment

Discover the secret spots of Santorini in summer 2023

Santorini is not only the sunsets in Oia, the nights in Fira and those photos with the infinity pools you see on social media. You can discover the secret spots of Santorini in summer 2023 with Santorini tours. The most beautiful of the Cyclades is much, much more. Leave the others to flock to the sunset on the rooftops of Oia, and you go to discover the true heart of Santorini. You can see the secret beaches, and wander in villages that are not Fira and Oia, because Santorini does not only consists of sunsets.

Foinikia

A secret village-jewel, two and a half kilometers outside of Oia, full of colorful cave houses and stone-built cobblestones. If you can’t stand the crowds of Oia, here you will come for the famous sunset. You can also stay here if your budget doesn’t allow for a Caldera view, but you also don’t want to go to the “back” side of the island. A kilometer and a half outside of Finikia, the Sigala Winery is definitely worth a visit

Akrotiri

The archaeological site of Santorini which, according to legend, may be all that remains of the mythical Atlantis, is definitely worth a visit, if nothing else to wander the courtyards and streets of a state whose inhabitants built two-story houses in 4500 BC For those who find it difficult to grasp how old 4500 BC is, let’s simply say that fewer years separate Socrates from us than they separate him from them

Karterados

Two kilometers outside of Fira, the cave village of Karterados is perfect for afternoon walks on its picturesque cobblestone streets, with a view of the endless vineyards that stretch out at your feet. However, it is worth passing by here in the morning, on your way to the beach.

Vothonas

Right next to Mesaria, and just outside Fira, Vothonas is one of Santorini’s most architecturally interesting villages – and that’s a great distinction on an island with so much competition. Built on both sides of a ravine that stretches for 5 kilometers, Vothonas is almost completely caved in and has a fantastic hiking route for sports enthusiasts, which starts from the large church of Panagia in the center of the village and ends to Panagia Sergena, or Hole, carved into the rock above a plateau.

The secret beaches of Santorini

The pebbly Mesa Pigadia with its imposing rocks that resemble those of Vlychada and the cave through which you can pass and find yourself at Aspri Paralia.

Kantharos, accessible only by a path starting from Ammoudi, with its black sand contrasting perfectly with the white rocks behind it Also there is the favorite of the locals, tiny Pori, with its quietness and its fish tavern that always serves fresh fish.

The deserted Kouloumpos, Santorini’s bastion of nudists, with its giant rock providing the much-desired shade during summer afternoons. Fun fact: Kouloumpos is the name of the active crater of the Santorini volcano, located about 500 meters below sea level, a short distance from the beach.

Thermi beach, in which you will also descend from a path, which starts from Megalochori, to find your peace and to dive into the waters of the caldera with a background of black pebbles, red volcanic rocks, geothermal springs (there once were the thermal baths of the island) and the rock-hewn little church of Christ the Thermi. You can take a personalized private tour with us.

Red Beach

Next stop is Red Beach. The landscape at Red Beach is magical and so unique and attractive that I promise when I go to Santorini again to swim in its waters. The beach is not organized and you enter the area at your own risk because of the landslides and because the road is not a well paved dirt road.

Thirasia

If you want to get a taste of what Santorini was like several decades ago, you don’t need to refer to a photo album from the 50s, but simply take the boat and cross over to the small island of Thirasia and its traditional settlement of Manolas which also stands above the steep volcanic rocks of ancient Thira, Strogyli.

Thirasia is located at a short distance (1.4 nautical miles) from the port of Oia, the beautiful Amoudi. From there, boats start that will take you to the small seaside village ofAgia Irini in Thirasia.

After arriving in Riva, you will get on the bus to take you to the village of Manolas, while if you have time and appetite, you can also get off at the village of Potamos, which is an intermediate stop for the bus.

Enjoy the imposing view of Manolas

When you arrive at Manolas we would suggest that you immediately start walking through its narrow streets and initially head to the right of the settlement (as you look towards Santorini) towards its edge from where you will find points with the best views of the unique landscapes of this place.

Where to stay in Santorini

It is better to stay in a beach hotel behind the caldera. Fira and the caldera are only 20 to 30 minutes away by car, while Oia is an additional 20 minutes away. If you are a couple you can rent a motorbike for easy movement, since parking is difficult near the caldera villages. You can take a tour of Santorini!

The island is small, so it’s easy to stay in one area and explore another. Many families with children in order to have better control and comfort, prefer to stay in the coastal areas for hotels, restaurants and activities, because the flat landscape is easier and safer for walks with children or those with strollers as opposed to the steep cliffs of caldera and the endless rows of stairs.

More Secret Spots of Santorini

Foinikia, Karterados, Vothonas, the hidden beaches and Thirasia are only the start. The island still has plenty of corners that the tour coaches pass by. These are the other secret spots of Santorini that we love to show our guests.

Secret spots of Santorini: how we chose. Each place below is quiet even in summer, easy to reach with a little planning and shows a side of the island that most visitors never see.

Secret spots of Santorini in the villages. Mansions, Byzantine churches, medieval castles and cave houses in the interior.

Secret spots of Santorini on the coast. Quiet bays, sculpted cliffs and beaches far from the organised strips.

Secret spots of Santorini for sunsets. Viewpoints where you can watch the sun go down without the crowds of Oia.

At the end you will find advice on timing, respect for local life and a plan for a day of hidden places.

Mesaria and Its Mansions

Right next to Vothonas, mentioned above, the village of Mesaria is one of the secret spots of Santorini for anyone interested in architecture.

Secret spots of Santorini: the merchants’ village. In the 19th century, wealthy wine and tomato merchants built grand neoclassical houses here, in contrast to the cave houses of the farmers around them.

The Argyros Mansion. Built in the late 19th century and restored after the 1956 earthquake, the mansion has painted ceilings and period furniture and can be visited in season.

Secret spots of Santorini: the lanes. Behind the busy main road, quiet lanes lead past old courtyards, chapels and cave houses.

Getting there. Mesaria lies in the centre of the island, a few minutes by car or bus from Fira.

Secret spots of Santorini nearby. Combine Mesaria with Vothonas and Karterados for a morning of cave villages and mansions.

Panagia Episkopi in Episkopi Gonia

Few visitors know that one of the oldest churches in the Cyclades stands in a quiet village near Kamari. It is one of the most important secret spots of Santorini.

Secret spots of Santorini: the Byzantine church. Panagia Episkopi dates from the Byzantine period, around the 11th century, and was for centuries the seat of the island’s Orthodox bishop.

The interior. Inside are important Byzantine icons and wall paintings, among the finest on the island.

Secret spots of Santorini: the feast. On 15 August, the feast of the Dormition, the church holds one of the island’s most important religious festivals.

Opening times. The church is not always open. Visit in the morning and dress modestly.

Secret spots of Santorini nearby: Exo Gonia. Just uphill, the village of Exo Gonia is built on a slope, with the large church of Agios Charalambos looking out over the vineyards and the sea.

The Kasteli of Emporio

The largest village of the island hides one of its best-preserved medieval centres. The kasteli of Emporio is among the most atmospheric secret spots of Santorini.

Secret spots of Santorini: the fortified village. Tall houses were built wall to wall so that their outer walls formed a defence against pirates. Inside is a maze of narrow passages and arches.

The windmills. On the hill above Emporio, old windmills overlook the south of the island.

Secret spots of Santorini: Agios Nikolaos Marmaritis. Outside the village stands a small chapel built into the remains of an ancient temple, one of the oldest surviving buildings on the island.

When to go. Early morning or late afternoon, when the lanes are cool and quiet.

Secret spots of Santorini nearby. Perissa and Perivolos beaches are a few minutes away for a swim after your walk.

Megalochori

A village of old mansions, wine cellars and a shaded square, Megalochori is one of the secret spots of Santorini that feels untouched by mass tourism.

Secret spots of Santorini: the canavas. The village grew rich on wine, and many old wine cellars, called canavas, are hidden behind high walls along its lanes.

The square. A small, peaceful square with tavernas and cafés under the trees.

Secret spots of Santorini: the bell tower. At the edge of the village, a much-photographed church bell tower stands against the caldera. Visit early in the morning.

Walks. A path leads from the village towards the caldera edge, with views that few visitors see.

Secret spots of Santorini nearby. The path down to Thermi beach, described above, starts from Megalochori.

Akrotiri Village and Its Castle

Most visitors to Akrotiri see only the excavation. The modern village above it, with its medieval castle, is one of the overlooked secret spots of Santorini.

Secret spots of Santorini: the Venetian castle. At the top of the village stand the remains of a medieval castle, one of the fortified settlements of the Venetian period, with views across the south of the island.

La Ponta. A restored Venetian tower in the village hosts presentations of the tsabouna, the traditional Cycladic bagpipe.

Secret spots of Santorini: the lanes. Quiet, whitewashed streets and small churches, with none of the crowds of the excavation.

Balos. A small bay just outside the village, with fish tavernas by the water.

Secret spots of Santorini nearby. Combine the village with the excavation, the Red Beach viewpoint and the lighthouse for a full day in the south.

Vlychada and the Tomato Museum

The south coast at Vlychada looks like another planet. It is one of the most surprising secret spots of Santorini.

Secret spots of Santorini: the cliffs. Pale volcanic cliffs, sculpted by wind and water into strange shapes, rise behind a long dark beach.

The marina. A small harbour with fish tavernas and the departure point for some catamaran cruises.

Secret spots of Santorini: the Tomato Industrial Museum. An old tomato-canning factory by the sea now tells the story of the industry that once sustained the island.

When to go. Late afternoon, when the low sun brings out the texture of the cliffs.

Secret spots of Santorini: a quiet swim. The far ends of the beach are the quietest, even in summer.

Baxedes and the North Coast

Below Oia, on the north coast, the beach of Baxedes is one of the quiet secret spots of Santorini, far from the southern beach strips.

Secret spots of Santorini: Baxedes beach. A long stretch of dark sand and pebbles with a few tavernas, quieter than Kamari or Perissa.

The wind. The north coast is exposed to the summer meltemi, so the sea can be rough on windy days. Choose a calm day.

Secret spots of Santorini: Kouloumpos. Further east, the quiet beach mentioned above, with its giant rock for shade.

Getting there. A short drive from Oia or Finikia. There is little public transport.

Secret spots of Santorini: combine it. A morning swim at Baxedes, lunch in Finikia and a winery visit nearby.

Armeni Bay Below Oia

Everyone knows Ammoudi. Far fewer find their way to Armeni, the second small bay below Oia, one of the hidden secret spots of Santorini.

Secret spots of Santorini: the steps. A long staircase leads down from Oia to the bay. The walk down is easy; the climb back needs time and water.

The history. Armeni was once home to Oia’s boat-building yards, when the village was a centre of shipping.

Secret spots of Santorini: the view. From the water’s edge, the whole cliff of Oia rises above you.

Boats. Some excursion boats leave from Armeni, so it can be briefly busy when they depart.

Secret spots of Santorini: when to go. Morning, before the heat and the boat departures.

Skaros Rock and the Chapel of Theoskepasti

Below Imerovigli, the rock of Skaros once held the island’s medieval capital. The chapel on its far side is one of the most dramatic secret spots of Santorini.

Secret spots of Santorini: the walk. A stepped path leads down from Imerovigli to the neck of the rock, around 20 to 30 minutes each way.

The chapel. A narrow path around the rock leads to the white chapel of Theoskepasti, perched above the sea. The path is exposed, so avoid it in strong wind.

Secret spots of Santorini: the castle. Earthquakes destroyed the castle over the centuries, but traces of its walls remain on the summit.

When to go. Early morning, when the path is empty.

Secret spots of Santorini: the climb back. The return up the steps is the hardest part, so save water for it.

Profitis Ilias and the Ridge

The island’s highest point is often skipped by visitors in a hurry. The summit and the ridge beyond are among the wildest secret spots of Santorini.

Secret spots of Santorini: the monastery. The monastery of Profitis Ilias, founded in the 18th century, stands near the summit at around 560 metres.

The view. The whole island below you, with the neighbouring Cyclades on the horizon on a clear day.

Secret spots of Santorini: the ridge path. A rough trail runs from the summit along the ridge towards Ancient Thera, with almost no one else on it.

Getting there. A road climbs from Pyrgos, and a walking path offers an hour’s steady ascent.

Secret spots of Santorini: when to go. Early morning in summer, or any time in spring and autumn.

The Hidden Lanes of Pyrgos

Pyrgos is well known, but most visitors walk straight up the main lane to the top of the hill and back down again. The circular lanes on either side are where the village keeps its secrets.

Secret spots of Santorini in Pyrgos: the kasteli. The village grew up inside and around a medieval fortified settlement. Its narrow lanes were built to confuse raiders, and they still wind in loops around the hill, passing under arches and between tall, windowless walls.

The churches. Pyrgos has dozens of churches and chapels, some centuries old, tucked into corners and hidden behind walls. Many open only on their saint’s day, when the village celebrates with a service and a small festival.

The views. From the upper lanes, both coasts of the island are visible: the caldera to the west and the vineyards and beaches of the east.

Early morning. As suggested in our other pages, Pyrgos is at its best early in the day, when the lanes are silent except for the sound of church bells and the first deliveries to the cafés.

Where to eat. Several tavernas and wine bars on the upper terraces serve local food with long views. They are busiest at sunset, so come for lunch if you want a quiet table.

The Path to Ancient Thera from Perissa

Most visitors reach Ancient Thera by the winding road from Kamari. A rougher path climbs from Perissa instead, and it is one of the quieter ways to discover the secret spots of Santorini.

The route. The path starts at the northern end of Perissa, at the foot of Mesa Vouno, and zigzags up the mountainside to the saddle below the ancient city. Allow around an hour to climb, depending on your pace and the heat.

The view on the way. As you climb, the long black beach of Perissa and Perivolos opens up below you, with the open Aegean beyond.

Ancient Thera. At the top, the ruined city stretches along the ridge: houses, temples, a theatre and an agora, inhabited from the Dorian settlement to early Byzantine times. Check opening hours before you set out, as they vary with the season.

What to bring. Walking shoes with grip, plenty of water, a hat and sun protection. There is no shade on the path or on the site.

The descent. Return the same way, or continue down to Kamari on the other side for a swim and a late lunch.

Hidden Wineries and Old Canavas

The big wineries with caldera terraces are well known. Smaller estates and old canavas, the traditional wine cellars dug into the rock, are among the most rewarding secret spots of Santorini for wine lovers.

The canavas. For centuries, wine was made and stored in cellars carved into the soft volcanic rock, where the temperature stays cool all year. Several villages, especially Megalochori, Pyrgos and Episkopi Gonia, still have them.

Family estates. A number of small, family-run wineries welcome visitors by appointment, often with the winemaker pouring the wines and explaining the vineyards.

The kouloura. Look at the vineyards around the smaller estates and you will see the vines trained low into circular baskets, protecting the grapes from wind and sun.

What to taste. Assyrtiko, the island’s crisp mineral white, and Vinsanto, the traditional sweet wine made from sun-dried grapes.

Booking. Small wineries have limited space and hours. Book ahead, and arrange transport so that nobody has to drive after tasting.

Quiet Corners of Fira

Fira is the busiest town on the island, yet a few steps away from the main streets it has some of the most unexpected secret spots of Santorini.

The Catholic quarter. On the hill above the town, a quiet neighbourhood of Catholic churches, a convent and old mansions recalls the island’s Venetian past. Few cruise visitors climb this far.

Megaro Gyzi. A 17th-century mansion in the old quarter houses a cultural centre with exhibitions of engravings, maps and photographs of the island before and after the 1956 earthquake. It opens in the summer season.

The lanes behind the caldera. Away from the cliff edge, small streets hide bakeries, simple tavernas and shops used by residents.

The path north. Walking towards Firostefani early in the morning, you pass the blue-domed church often called the Three Bells of Fira, with almost nobody else around.

Timing. Fira is quietest before 9:00 and after the last cruise tenders have left in the evening.

Imerovigli Beyond the Hotels

Imerovigli is known for its luxury hotels, but the village itself has quiet corners that make it one of the calmer secret spots of Santorini.

The highest village on the rim. Imerovigli sits at the highest point of the caldera edge, around 300 metres above the sea. Its name comes from a lookout post, used in the past to watch for approaching ships.

The churches. Small whitewashed churches with blue and white domes line the path through the village, often empty in the early morning.

The path to Oia. Beyond Imerovigli, the caldera path leaves the villages behind and crosses open ground with small chapels, one of the quietest stretches of the whole walk.

Sunset. The views towards Skaros and the setting sun are among the finest on the island, with far fewer people than in Oia.

Tip. Walk from Fira to Imerovigli in the late afternoon, stay for the sunset and have dinner in the village.

Oia’s Quiet Corners

Oia is the least secret place on the island, yet at the right time it has hidden corners too. These are the secret spots of Santorini inside its most famous village.

Secret spots of Santorini in Oia: dawn. Before the tour groups arrive, the marble lanes, blue domes and captains’ houses are almost empty.

The lower lanes. Below the main street, narrow paths wind past cave houses and small chapels that most visitors miss.

Secret spots of Santorini in Oia: the Maritime Museum. A small museum in a restored mansion tells the story of the village’s sea captains.

The windmills. At the edge of the village, the windmills are quieter in the morning than at sunset.

Secret spots of Santorini in Oia: respect. Many terraces belong to hotels and homes. Do not climb onto private roofs for photographs.

Secret Sunset Spots

Leave the others to flock to the rooftops of Oia, as the article says above. These are the secret spots of Santorini for watching the sunset in peace.

Secret spots of Santorini for sunset: Imerovigli. High on the rim, with Skaros Rock in the foreground and far fewer people than Oia.

Foinikia. As mentioned above, the village near Oia offers the same sunset without the crowds.

Secret spots of Santorini for sunset: Pyrgos. From the top of the village, the whole island glows in the evening light.

The Akrotiri Lighthouse. The sun sinks into the open sea beyond the cliffs. It is no longer a secret, but still calmer than Oia.

Secret spots of Santorini for sunset: Megalochori’s caldera edge. A short walk from the village leads to a quiet viewpoint over the caldera.

From the sea. A sunset cruise lets you watch from the water, away from every crowd.

Secret Spots on the Water

Some of the island’s hidden places can only be reached by boat. These are the secret spots of Santorini at sea.

Secret spots of Santorini by boat: the White Beach. A small cove under pale cliffs near Akrotiri, reached only from the sea.

The hot springs. In a bay off Palea Kameni, warm iron-rich water rises into the sea. Swim to it from the boat and wear old swimwear.

Secret spots of Santorini by boat: the caldera walls. From the water you see the coloured layers of volcanic rock that record the island’s eruptions.

Quiet bays. Private boats can stop at small coves along the south coast where no road reaches.

Secret spots of Santorini by boat: Thirasia. As described above, the quiet island across the caldera, with Manolas on its rim.

Where Locals Eat

Hidden places are not only sights. Some of the best secret spots of Santorini are simple tavernas where islanders eat, far from the caldera-view restaurants.

Village tavernas. In Pyrgos, Megalochori, Emporio, Karterados and Exo Gonia, family tavernas serve local dishes at fair prices, often with the owner cooking.

Fish by the sea. Small tavernas at Pori, as mentioned above, at Vlychada, at Balos below Akrotiri village and at Korfos on Thirasia serve the day’s catch. Ask the price per kilo before you order.

What to order. Fava with capers, tomato fritters, white aubergine, chloro cheese and a carafe of local wine.

Bakeries. Village bakeries sell pies and bread for a cheap, delicious breakfast or picnic.

How to find them. Look for tavernas full of Greek families, especially at weekends and late in the evening. Ask your hotel or guide where they eat themselves.

Timing. Greeks eat late. A table at 21:30 is normal, and many village tavernas fill only after that.

Hidden Spots for Photographers

The famous views have been photographed millions of times. These quieter places give photographers something different, and they rank among the secret spots of Santorini for anyone with a camera.

Vothonas from above. From the edge of the ravine, the village appears as doorways, domes and chimneys set into the rock.

The kasteli of Emporio. Narrow passages, arches and light falling between tall walls make strong compositions, especially in the morning.

Vlychada’s cliffs. The wind-sculpted pale rock is almost abstract in the low afternoon light.

Megalochori’s bell tower. A classic frame against the caldera, best at sunrise.

Skaros at dawn. The rock and the chapel of Theoskepasti catch the first light while the caldera is still in shadow.

Respect. Ask before photographing people, and never enter private terraces or rooftops for a picture.

Secret Spots Out of Season

Almost the whole island becomes a secret spot outside July and August. Spring, autumn and even winter reveal a quieter Santorini that most visitors never see.

Spring. In April and May the island is green, with wild flowers along the paths and in the vineyards. Walks to Skaros, Profitis Ilias and Ancient Thera are at their best.

Autumn. September and October bring warm sea and fewer crowds. The hidden beaches, from Mesa Pigadia to Thermi, are almost empty.

Winter. From November to March many hotels and restaurants close, but the villages are full of local life and the famous viewpoints are deserted.

What to check. Out of season, boats run less often and some sites have shorter hours. Confirm opening times before you set out.

Why it matters. In the quiet months you see Santorini as the people who live here see it, which is the real secret of the island.

A Day of Secret Spots

With a car or a private guide, you can see many of the secret spots of Santorini in a single day.

Secret spots of Santorini, morning. Start early at Skaros Rock, then drive to Mesaria and Vothonas for mansions and cave houses.

Late morning. Panagia Episkopi and Exo Gonia, then on to Pyrgos and the view from Profitis Ilias.

Secret spots of Santorini, lunch. A village taverna in Megalochori or Emporio.

Afternoon. The kasteli of Emporio, then Vlychada’s cliffs and the Tomato Industrial Museum.

Secret spots of Santorini, evening. The sunset from the top of Pyrgos or the edge of Megalochori, followed by dinner in the village.

With a guide. A local guide knows the lanes, the opening times and the stories behind each place.

How to Keep the Secret Spots Special

Hidden places stay special only if visitors treat them with care. These are our tips for enjoying the secret spots of Santorini responsibly.

Secret spots of Santorini: respect residents. Many hidden lanes are people’s homes. Keep your voice down and do not enter courtyards.

Dress modestly in churches. Cover shoulders and knees.

Secret spots of Santorini: take your rubbish. Remote beaches have no bins. Leave nothing behind.

Stay on paths. Cliff edges are unstable, and some beaches are closed because of rockfalls.

Secret spots of Santorini: support local businesses. Eat in village tavernas and buy from small shops.

Timing. Visit early or late in the day, and in spring or autumn, for the quietest experience.

Secret Spots of Santorini by Area

Grouping the hidden places by area makes them easy to combine in a day.

The north. Foinikia, Armeni Bay, the lower lanes of Oia, Baxedes and Kouloumpos.

The caldera centre. The Catholic quarter of Fira, Imerovigli’s quiet churches and Skaros Rock with the chapel of Theoskepasti.

The interior. Karterados, Mesaria, Vothonas, Episkopi Gonia and Exo Gonia, with their cave houses, mansions and Byzantine church.

The south. Megalochori, Thermi beach, Akrotiri village, Balos, Vlychada and the White Beach by boat.

The south-east. The hidden lanes of Pyrgos, Profitis Ilias, the kasteli of Emporio and the path to Ancient Thera from Perissa.

Across the water. Thirasia, with Korfos and the view from Manolas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best secret spots of Santorini?

Foinikia, Vothonas, Mesaria, Panagia Episkopi, the kasteli of Emporio, Megalochori, Skaros Rock, Armeni Bay and Thirasia.

Are there quiet beaches in Santorini?

Yes: Mesa Pigadia, Kantharos, Pori, Kouloumpos, Thermi and Baxedes, as well as the far ends of Vlychada and Perivolos.

Can I find a quiet sunset?

Imerovigli, Foinikia, Pyrgos and Megalochori are much calmer than Oia.

Do I need a car to reach the secret spots of Santorini?

A car or private tour helps, as many villages and beaches have limited bus connections.

With Santorini Tours. Our private tours include the secret spots of Santorini alongside the famous sights. Contact us to plan a day away from the crowds.

Best Islands in the World – Compared, Not Just Ranked

There is no single ranking of the best islands in the world, because an island that is perfect for diving is wrong for a family and one that is perfect for a honeymoon is wrong for a walker. Santorini, Madeira and Lofoten win on landscape; the Maldives, Seychelles and Palawan on beaches; Raja Ampat and Palau on diving; Sicily, Crete and Sri Lanka on food and history; and the Faroes, Chiloe and Amorgos on solitude. Choose the geology and the season first, and the shortlist collapses from twenty islands to three.

best islands in the world: the Santorini caldera seen from the rim at sunset — Visit Santorini Island in 2025

Find your dream destination based on your travel style.

Regarding travel in 2025, island vacations are taking center stage. With travelers seeking natural beauty, wellness, digital detox, and unique cultures, island getaways offer the perfect escape. From famous paradises like Bali and Santorini to rising stars like São Tomé and Madeira, here’s your ultimate guide to the world’s best islands to visit in 2025.

Not all island getaways are created equal—some are made for luxury like Santorini Tours, others for thrill-seekers, and many for cultural exploration. Here’s your updated list of islands to visit in 2025, organized by traveler type to match your vacation style.

1. Seychelles 🇸🇨

Why go: Secluded beaches, eco-luxury resorts, marine parks

With 115 islands floating in the Indian Ocean, Seychelles is a paradise of untouched beauty. In the list of islands to visit in 2025, it remains a top pick for honeymooners and luxury seekers looking for total seclusion and turquoise waters. Private-island resorts like North Island and Fregate Island offer barefoot luxury, while Mahé and Praslin balance indulgence with local flair.

Top Experiences:

Private catamaran sunset cruises
Spa treatments with sea views
Diving in Sainte Anne Marine Park
Visit Anse Lazio—often ranked among the world’s most beautiful beaches

2. Santorini, Greece 🇬🇷

Why go: Iconic sunsets, caldera views, luxury stays, private Santorini tours

No island screams romance like Santorini. Perched dramatically above the Aegean Sea, its whitewashed villages, volcanic beaches, and luxury cave hotels make it a dream destination for couples. In the list of islands to visit in 2025, there’s a rise in curated experiences like private chef dinners and caldera yoga sessions.

Top Experiences:

Sunset tours around the caldera with volcanic hot spring swimming
Wine-tasting tours at Santo Wines and Venetsanos Winery
Explore Akrotiri, the ancient Minoan city
Instagramable tours in Oia and Imerovigli
Romantic dinner tour in a cliffside restaurant in Fira

3. Fiji 🇫🇯

Why go: Remote beauty, luxury overwater bungalows, coral reefs

Fiji’s 300+ islands offer the kind of remoteness that modern travelers crave. Known for its warm hospitality (“Bula Spirit“), Fiji is perfect for those who want barefoot luxury and cultural depth. In the list of islands to visit in 2025, expect expanded eco-luxury resorts and wellness-focused experiences.

Top Experiences:

Stay in an overwater bungalow in the Yasawa Islands
Dive with reef sharks or snorkel the Great Astrolabe Reef
Visit a local village and attend a traditional kava ceremony

4. Corfu, Greece 🇬🇷

Why go: Mediterranean elegance, history, family-friendly luxury

Corfu blends Ionian beauty with Venetian charm. Its old town, a maze of cobbled alleys, fortresses, and pastel mansions, reflects centuries of occupation by the Venetians, French, and British. In the list of islands to visit in 2025, Corfu balances sustainable tourism with high-end hospitality, offering boutique hotels and heritage-rich experiences.

Top Experiences:

Explore UNESCO-listed Corfu Town
Visit the Achilleion Palace
Relax in Paleokastritsa and Canal d’Amour
Wine tasting at island vineyards in Livadi and Lefkimmi

Best Islands for Adventure and Nature

5. Madeira, Portugal 🇵🇹

Why go: Cliffside trails, volcanic terrain, Atlantic views

Madeira has become Europe’s go-to island for active travelers. Known as the “Hawaii of the Atlantic,” it’s a hiker’s dream, with trails like the Levada Walks and Pico do Arieiro. In the list of islands to visit in 2025, Madeira is also embracing digital nomads, offering “workation” hubs and outdoor co-working retreats.

Top Experiences:

Hike the Pico do Arieiro – Pico Ruivo trail
Drive the wild Estrada Regional 101 coastal route
Taste poncha in local tavernas after a canyoning session

6. Vancouver Island, Canada 🇨🇦

Why go: Forests, marine life, dramatic coastlines

Wild, rugged, and wildly underrated, Vancouver Island is one of North America’s top nature retreats. From orca sightings and ancient rainforests to surfing and off-grid cabins, it offers an earthy alternative to tropical escapes.

Top Experiences:

Watch orcas and humpbacks from Tofino or Telegraph Cove
Surf at Chesterman Beach
Hike the Juan de Fuca or West Coast Trail
Stay in a forest dome or floating eco-cabin

7. Palawan, Philippines 🇵🇭

Why go: Island-hopping, marine biodiversity, limestone cliffs

Palawan is often crowned the “last frontier” of the Philippines, and for good reason. Its aquamarine lagoons, karst cliffs, and remote coves are a magnet for divers and backpackers. In the list of islands to visit in 2025, travelers are venturing beyond El Nido to quieter spots like San Vicente and Balabac.

Top Experiences:

Snorkel in Twin Lagoon and Secret Beach
Take a boat tour through Bacuit Bay
Visit the Puerto Princesa Underground River, a UNESCO wonder
Stay in eco-lodges built by local communities

Best Islands for Culture and History

8. Zanzibar, Tanzania 🇹🇿

Why go: Swahili-Arab heritage, spice tours, beaches

Zanzibar is a sensory-rich island where centuries of African, Arab, and Indian influences blend. In the list of islands to visit in 2025, it’s increasingly popular with travelers looking to combine beach time with cultural depth.

Top Experiences:

Explore Stone Town’s historical labyrinths
Tour the spice plantations that gave the island its nickname
Snorkel off Mnemba Atoll
Visit the ruins of the Persian Baths and Maruhubi Palace

9. Bali, Indonesia 🇮🇩

Why go: Balinese Hindu culture, temples, food, yoga

Bali isn’t just for beach lovers—it’s a spiritual and cultural hub. From temple ceremonies to healing retreats and craft villages, Bali continues to evolve beyond its party image. In the list of islands to visit in 2025, Ubud, Sidemen, and the island’s north coast are drawing conscious travelers.

Top Experiences:

Visit the sacred Tirta Empul and Besakih temples
Watch a Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu Temple
Shop handcrafted batik and silver jewelry in Ubud
Stay in a jungle retreat and practice sunrise yoga

10. Ischia, Italy 🇮🇹

Why go: Thermal spas, authentic Italian culture, volcanic beaches

Often overshadowed by Capri, Ischia is beloved by Italians for its rustic charm, therapeutic waters, and volcano-fed beaches. In 2025, it’s gaining global recognition for wellness tourism and culinary escapes.

Top Experiences:

Soak in the Poseidon Thermal Gardens
Visit the Aragonese Castle by boat
Hike Mount Epomeo for sunrise views
Dine in local trattorias serving rabbit alla Ischitana
Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Islands

11. São Tomé and Príncipe 🇸🇹

Why go: Raw nature, chocolate plantations, volcanic peaks

One of the least visited countries in the world, São Tomé and Príncipe is ideal for those craving off-the-radar experiences. In the list of islands to visit in 2025, it’s gaining traction among eco-travelers and photographers drawn to its Jurassic landscapes, cocoa farms, and wild coastlines.

Top Experiences:

Tour a 19th-century cacao plantation
Hike up Pico Cão Grande, a volcanic spire rising 370m
Discover Obô Natural Park’s rare wildlife
Snorkel with untouched coral reefs on Ilhéu das Rolas

Travel Planning Tips for islands to visit in 2025

To make the most of your islands to visit in 2025 vacation:

Book flights early – especially for remote or seasonal destinations
Book Tours in advance – Also consider choosing private transfers instead of local transportation
Travel smart – many islands now offer work-friendly options for digital nomads
Consider shoulder seasons – May, June, and October combine great weather and lower prices
Be sustainable – Choose eco-lodges, pack reef-safe sunscreen, and respect local cultures

Santorini and the Art of the Island Escape

From tropical rainforests to volcanic coasts, the world’s best islands in 2025 offer something for every kind of traveler. But if there’s one island that consistently captures the imagination of globetrotters, it’s Santorini.

Santorini is more than just a travel cliché. In 2025, it will evolve into a complete sensory experience:

Luxury with its iconic caldera-view suites
Culture through ancient Minoan ruins and Cycladic heritage
Romance in every sunset that paints the Aegean gold
Gastronomy rooted in volcanic soil and timeless tradition

Whether you’re sipping Assyrtiko wine at a cliffside vineyard, sailing past the volcano on a catamaran, or exploring the quiet charm of Pyrgos village by booking a tour, Santorini delivers a timeless escape wrapped in elegance.

Yet, Santorini is just one star in a sky full of dazzling destinations. From the emerald cliffs of Madeira to the coral reefs of Palawan and the cultural treasures of Zanzibar, your perfect island getaway in 2025 is out there, waiting to match your travel style and spirit.

Ready to choose your islands to visit in 2025?

Explore our in-depth guide for each destination. Whether you’re drawn to the volcanic cliffs of Santorini, the jungle retreats of Bali, or the wild coasts of Vancouver Island, there are islands to visit in 2025 that match your travel mood.

Best Islands in the World: The Short Answer

There is no single ranking of the best islands in the world, because an island that is perfect for diving is wrong for a family and an island that is perfect for a honeymoon is wrong for a walker. What exists instead is a small number of islands that are genuinely exceptional at one thing, and the useful question is which thing you want.

The best islands in the world for landscape. Santorini, Faroe Islands, Lofoten, Madeira, Kauai.

The best islands in the world for beaches. Maldives, Seychelles, Palawan, Whitsundays, Grenadines.

The best islands in the world for diving. Raja Ampat, Palau, Sipadan, Cozumel, Galapagos.

The best islands in the world for food. Sicily, Crete, Hokkaido, Sri Lanka, Penang.

The best islands in the world for culture and history. Crete, Sicily, Bali, Rhodes, Easter Island.

The best islands in the world for families. Naxos, Mallorca, Vancouver Island, Jersey, Sardinia.

The best islands in the world for solitude. Faroe Islands, Chiloé, Isle of Eigg, Amorgos, Fogo Island.

The best islands in the world for value. Naxos, Palawan, Sri Lanka, Sao Miguel, Lombok.

The most photographed of the best islands in the world. Santorini, and it earns it — the caldera is the only drowned volcanic crater you can sail into and sleep on the rim of.

How to Choose an Island, Properly

Most island lists are photographs with captions. The useful version is a set of questions, because the same island scores completely differently depending on the answers.

How far will you fly to reach the best islands in the world? This is the first filter and it eliminates half the shortlist. The Maldives and the Seychelles are ten to twelve hours from most of Europe; Santorini, Sicily and Mallorca are two to four. On a one-week trip, a twelve-hour flight costs two days of the holiday, which is why the best islands in the world for a short break are almost always the near ones.

Do you want a beach or a landscape? The best islands in the world rarely offer both. They are rarely the same island. Volcanic islands — Santorini, Madeira, the Azores, Iceland’s coast, Lanzarote — give drama and poor sand. Coral and granite islands — the Maldives, Seychelles, Whitsundays — give sand and very little else to look at.

Do you want to move or to stay still? Archipelagos reward movement: the Cyclades, the Balearics, the Philippines, Croatia’s Dalmatian chain. Single large islands reward staying put: Crete, Sicily, Sri Lanka, Vancouver Island.

What is the sea temperature in your month? The most commonly ignored variable. The Aegean is 25 to 26 degrees in September and 16 in March. The Caribbean is 27 all year. Northern Europe never exceeds 18.

What is the wet season? Tropical islands have one and it matters more than temperature. South-east Asia, the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean all have months that are simply the wrong time to go.

How much do you mind other people? This is the real dividing line among the best islands in the world. Santorini, Mykonos, Bali and Capri are extraordinary and crowded; Amorgos, Chiloé, Fogo and the Faroes are extraordinary and empty. Both are valid, and the disappointment comes from expecting one and booking the other.

What can you eat? Several of the best islands in the world are worth going to for the food alone. A serious food culture makes a rainy day pleasant. Sicily, Crete, Sri Lanka, Penang and Hokkaido are worth going to for the eating alone.

The Best Islands in the World: The Mediterranean

The most accessible of the world’s island regions from Europe, the most varied, and the one where the phrase best islands in the world is most contested.

Santorini, Greece. A volcano that destroyed itself around 1600 BC and left a crescent of rim around a crater eleven kilometres wide and four hundred metres deep. You sleep on the edge of it, sail into it, and walk on the black islets rebuilding themselves in the middle. Add a Bronze Age town preserved under ash at Akrotiri, ungrafted vines trained into baskets on the ground, and the most photographed sunset in Europe. It is crowded from June to September and it is worth it.

Crete, Greece. The most complete of the best islands in the world in the Mediterranean. Not an island so much as a small country: 260 kilometres long, with mountains over 2,400 metres, four cities, gorges, a Minoan palace civilisation, and a cuisine that stands on its own. Open year-round with a real winter population, which almost no Greek island manages.

Sicily, Italy. Greek temples, Norman cathedrals, Arab-influenced food, an active volcano and the best street food in Italy. The most historically layered of the best islands in the world, and large enough to need two weeks.

Sardinia, Italy. The clearest water among the best islands in the world in Europe. The clearest water in the Mediterranean, a granite interior, and a culture that predates Rome. The Costa Smeralda is expensive; everywhere else is not.

Mallorca, Spain. Unfairly dismissed. The Serra de Tramuntana is a UNESCO cultural landscape of terraced mountains and stone villages, and the island has three hundred kilometres of coast beyond the resorts.

Corsica, France. The most mountainous of the Mediterranean best islands in the world. The most mountainous island in the Mediterranean, with the GR20 running its spine and a coastline that alternates granite and sand.

Hvar and the Dalmatian islands, Croatia. Venetian towns, lavender, clear cold water and a chain close enough together to sail between.

Malta. The oldest architecture of any of the best islands in the world. Prehistoric temples older than the pyramids, a walled capital, and a language that exists nowhere else.

Naxos, Greece. The counter-argument to Santorini: sand, mountain villages, cheese, marble and half the price.

Capri, Italy. Small, vertical, absurdly beautiful and absurdly busy. Two hours from Naples and worth one night rather than none.

The Atlantic and Northern Europe

Cold water, dramatic land, and the part of the list that most people never consider when they think about the best islands in the world.

Madeira, Portugal. A volcanic wall rising out of the Atlantic, with levada irrigation channels turned into hundreds of kilometres of walking paths, laurel forest, and a climate that never leaves the high teens or low twenties. Year-round, which almost nothing else on this list is.

The Azores, Portugal. Nine of the emptiest of the best islands in the world. Nine islands, crater lakes, whales, hot springs, hydrangeas and almost no crowds. Sao Miguel is the gateway and Pico is the one to add.

The Faroe Islands, Denmark. Eighteen islands of vertical basalt in the North Atlantic, with grass-roofed villages, more sheep than people, and weather that changes every twenty minutes. One of the genuinely uncrowded best islands in the world.

Lofoten, Norway. The most dramatic of the northern best islands in the world. Granite peaks straight out of the sea above red fishing cabins, above the Arctic Circle, with midnight sun in June and northern lights from September.

Iceland’s Westman Islands. A volcano that half-buried a town in 1973, and the largest puffin colony in the world.

The Isle of Skye, Scotland. Britain’s entry among the best islands in the world. The Cuillin ridge, sea cliffs and a light that changes hourly. Busy in summer by Scottish standards, which is empty by Mediterranean ones.

The Aran Islands, Ireland. Limestone pavement, stone walls, Irish spoken as a first language, and a prehistoric fort on a cliff edge.

Bornholm, Denmark. Round churches, smoked herring, and the best light in the Baltic.

Sao Tome and Principe. Volcanic, forested, equatorial and almost entirely unvisited. Cocoa plantations and rainforest running down to empty beaches.

The Canary Islands, Spain. Four very different entries on the list of best islands in the world. Lanzarote for volcanic landscape and Cesar Manrique’s architecture, La Palma for stars, La Gomera for laurel forest, and Tenerife for a 3,700-metre mountain.

The Indian Ocean

The stretch of the best islands in the world that people picture when they say “island holiday”, and the one where expectations most need calibrating.

The Maldives. The purest water holiday among the best islands in the world. Twenty-six atolls of coral, almost all of it under two metres above sea level, with water that genuinely is the colour of the photographs. The model is one resort per island, which means the holiday is the resort. Extraordinary snorkelling and diving with manta rays and whale sharks; almost no local culture accessible unless you stay on an inhabited island, which is now possible and much cheaper.

The Seychelles. The most varied of the Indian Ocean best islands in the world. Granite rather than coral, which changes everything: enormous rounded boulders on the beaches, forested interiors, and a landscape rather than a sandbar. Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue is the most photographed beach on earth. More expensive than it looks and more varied than the Maldives.

Mauritius. A volcanic island with a mountainous interior, a lagoon behind a barrier reef, and a genuinely mixed Creole, Indian, Chinese and French culture that makes the food the best in the region.

Zanzibar, Tanzania. Stone Town is a UNESCO site of Swahili, Arab, Indian and European architecture with a spice trade behind it. The east coast beaches have enormous tidal ranges; the north has the swimming.

Sri Lanka. The largest of the best islands in the world by any reasonable measure, and often treated as an island destination when it is really a country. Tea hills, Buddhist archaeology, leopards, whales off Mirissa, and food that is the equal of anything in Asia.

Reunion, France. An active volcano, three collapsed calderas full of villages reachable only on foot, and some of the best trekking of any island anywhere.

Socotra, Yemen. The strangest of the best islands in the world. Dragon’s blood trees and a third of its plant life found nowhere else. Difficult to reach and unlike any other place on the planet.

Lakshadweep, India. Coral atolls with permit-controlled access and almost no development.

The Best Islands in the World: Asia and the Pacific

Palawan, Philippines. Limestone karst rising vertically from turquoise water, lagoons reachable only by kayak, and the underground river at Puerto Princesa. El Nido and Coron are the bases, and the boat trips between the islets are the reason to go.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia. The best diving of any of the best islands in the world. The most biodiverse marine environment on earth, with more coral and fish species in a single bay than the entire Caribbean. Remote, expensive to reach, and the standard against which divers measure everything else.

Bali, Indonesia. Rice terraces, volcanic peaks, temples and a Hindu culture in the largest Muslim country in the world. Overloaded in the south and still remarkable in the centre and the east.

Flores and Komodo, Indonesia. Dragons, pink sand, and a coastline that is largely unbuilt.

Koh Lipe and the Andaman islands, Thailand. Clear water and limestone, at their best in the dry season from November to April.

Langkawi and Penang, Malaysia. Rainforest and duty-free on one, and the best food city in South-East Asia on the other.

Fiji. The warmest welcome among the Pacific best islands in the world. Three hundred islands, a genuine welcome, soft coral diving and a culture that has not been rebuilt for visitors.

Bora Bora and French Polynesia. The lagoon and the volcanic peak in the middle of it are the image most people carry of the best islands in the world. Very expensive and, unusually, worth it.

Palau. The most protected of the Pacific best islands in the world. Rock Islands, jellyfish lake and wreck diving, in a country that has made half its ocean a sanctuary.

The Cook Islands. Aitutaki’s lagoon is arguably the most beautiful body of water on the planet, and it takes considerable effort to reach.

Lord Howe Island, Australia. The most tightly capped of the best islands in the world. Four hundred visitors allowed at any one time, two mountains, a coral lagoon at the southern limit of coral growth.

The Whitsundays, Australia. Whitehaven Beach is seven kilometres of 98 per cent pure silica sand, and the Great Barrier Reef starts offshore.

The Best Islands in the World: The Americas

The Grenadines. Thirty-two islands and cays between St Vincent and Grenada, most of them reached by boat, with the Tobago Cays a marine park you anchor inside. The closest the Caribbean comes to the Pacific.

Dominica. The wildest of the Caribbean best islands in the world. The Nature Island: rainforest, boiling lake, hot springs, whale watching and a hiking trail the length of the island. Almost no beaches, and that is why it is quiet.

St Lucia. The Pitons rising vertically out of the sea, sulphur springs and rainforest, with a drama that most Caribbean islands do not have.

Cuba. Not a beach destination so much as a country that happens to be an island, with Havana, tobacco valleys, colonial towns and the most distinctive music in the region.

Bonaire. Shore diving from a parked car along the entire west coast, in a marine park that has been protected since 1979.

Vancouver Island, Canada. Temperate rainforest, orcas, storm watching in winter, and Victoria at the southern end. One of the best islands in the world for anybody who wants wilderness rather than warmth.

Galapagos, Ecuador. The most important of the best islands in the world scientifically. Wildlife that has no fear of people, an evolutionary laboratory, and a permit system that keeps numbers controlled.

Chiloe, Chile. Wooden churches, stilt houses, mythology and rain. Utterly unlike the rest of South America.

Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. A volcanic archipelago with a strict visitor cap, spinner dolphins in the thousands and the best beaches in Brazil.

Fogo Island, Canada. Newfoundland’s outport culture, icebergs offshore, and one of the most striking modern hotels anywhere.

Kauai, Hawaii. The greenest of the Pacific best islands in the world. The oldest of the Hawaiian islands, and the most eroded: the Na Pali cliffs, Waimea Canyon and rainfall that keeps everything green.

Easter Island, Chile. The most remote of the best islands in the world. The most remote inhabited island on earth, with nearly nine hundred moai and a story about what happens when an island’s resources run out.

Best Islands in the World, by Purpose

The same ten islands appear on every list. Grouping them by what they are actually for is more useful than ranking them.

The best islands in the world for a first big island trip. Santorini, Mallorca, Sicily or Bali. All well connected, all with enough infrastructure that nothing goes badly wrong.

The best islands in the world for a honeymoon. Santorini, the Maldives, Bora Bora, the Seychelles or St Lucia. Two of those are about landscape and three are about water.

The best islands in the world for diving. Raja Ampat, Palau, Bonaire, Sipadan, the Galapagos and Cozumel. None of them are beach holidays.

The best islands in the world for walking. Madeira, La Palma, Reunion, Corsica, Skye, the Faroes and Crete. All of them have marked long-distance routes.

The best islands in the world for food. Sicily, Crete, Sri Lanka, Penang, Mauritius and Hokkaido.

For archaeology and history. Crete, Sicily, Malta, Rhodes, Easter Island and Santorini, whose buried Bronze Age town at Akrotiri is the best preserved in the Aegean.

For families. Naxos, Mallorca, Sardinia, Jersey, Vancouver Island and Fiji.

The best islands in the world for wildlife. Galapagos, Borneo, Komodo, Vancouver Island, South Georgia and Fernando de Noronha.

The best islands in the world for silence. The Faroes, Chiloe, Fogo, Lord Howe, Amorgos and the Aran Islands.

For a long weekend from Europe. Santorini, Mallorca, Madeira, Malta, Jersey and the Aeolian Islands.

The best islands in the world for value. Naxos, Palawan, Sri Lanka, Sao Miguel, Lombok and Albania’s Ksamil coast.

The best islands in the world for photography. Santorini, Lofoten, the Faroes, Palawan and Socotra. Landscape rather than beach, in every case.

When to Go, Region by Region

Timing separates a good island trip from a disappointing one more reliably than the choice of island does, and each region has months that simply do not work.

The Mediterranean best islands in the world. Late May to mid June and September to early October. July and August are hot, full and expensive; November to March closes most of it except Crete, Sicily, Mallorca and Malta.

Northern Europe and the Atlantic islands. June to September for the Faroes, Lofoten and Skye. Madeira, the Azores and the Canaries work all year.

The Caribbean best islands in the world. December to April. Hurricane season runs June to November and peaks in September.

The Maldives and Seychelles. December to April for the Maldives dry season; the Seychelles work all year with wind shifting in April and October.

South-East Asia. November to April for Thailand’s Andaman coast and the Philippines; April to October for Bali and Raja Ampat.

The South Pacific. May to October, which is the southern winter and the dry season.

Australia’s islands. The Whitsundays are best May to September, outside the stinger season.

The Galapagos. Year-round, with warmer water and calmer seas December to May and better wildlife activity June to November.

The rule that applies everywhere. On the best islands in the world, the shoulder months at either end of the high season give you the same weather at half the price and a third of the people.

What Islands Cost

The price gap between the cheapest and most expensive of the best islands in the world is a factor of twenty, and it correlates with distance and scarcity rather than with quality.

The most expensive of the best islands in the world. The Maldives, Bora Bora, Mustique and the private-island end of the Seychelles, where a night in high season runs from 800 euros into the thousands and there is nowhere cheaper on the island to move to.

Expensive but escapable. Santorini, Mykonos, Capri, St Barths and the Costa Smeralda. All have a cheap side: Santorini’s inland villages cost a third of the caldera rim, and Sardinia away from the north-east is ordinary Italian prices.

Mid-range best islands in the world. Crete, Sicily, Mallorca, Madeira, the Azores, Bali, Zanzibar and most of the Caribbean outside the exclusive islands. 80 to 180 euros a night for a good double in season.

The cheapest of the best islands in the world. Naxos, Palawan, Sri Lanka, Lombok, Sao Miguel, Albania’s coast and the Greek North Aegean. 40 to 90 euros a night, and often less.

What actually drives the cost. Not luxury — access. An island with one small airport, no ferry and limited water supply is expensive whatever the standard of the hotel. An island with a motorway to a port is not.

The flight is the hidden cost. A cheap island twelve hours away with two connections is not a cheap holiday. A mid-range island three hours away frequently is.

Where the money goes. Accommodation is fifty to seventy per cent of a typical island trip almost everywhere, and it is the most compressible item on every one of the best islands in the world.

The shoulder-season saving. Thirty to fifty per cent across the Mediterranean, twenty to forty in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean, for weather that is barely different.

Mistakes People Make Choosing an Island

Booking the photograph. The commonest error with the best islands in the world. The image that sold you the trip was taken at six in the morning in May by somebody who spent a week waiting for it. It is a real place and it is not what a Tuesday in August looks like.

Ignoring the wet season. The most expensive error with the tropical best islands in the world. Temperature is stable near the equator; rainfall is not.

Choosing a coral island and expecting a landscape. Atolls are flat, low and about the water. If you want mountains, go volcanic or granite.

Choosing a volcanic island and expecting sand. Santorini, Madeira and the Azores are among the best islands in the world and none of them has a classic white beach.

Underestimating the transfer. Reaching a Maldivian island can take a seaplane and half a day after the international flight. So can Palawan, Raja Ampat and Lord Howe.

Too many of the best islands in the world in one trip. Two in a week is a holiday; four is a packing schedule. This is true in the Cyclades, the Philippines and the Caribbean equally.

Booking a ferry on the day you fly home. Weather cancels boats everywhere, and the cost of that mistake is always the same.

Assuming a small island means a quiet island. Capri, Mykonos and Gili Trawangan are all tiny and all extremely busy.

Assuming a famous island is ruined. The famous ones are famous for a reason, and almost all of them are empty before nine in the morning.

Not checking what closes. Half the Mediterranean best islands in the world shut from November to March, and a beautiful island with nothing open is a long week.

Why Volcanic Islands Look the Way They Do

A disproportionate number of the best islands in the world are volcanic, and the reason is worth understanding because it explains what you will and will not find on them.

Volcanic islands are built upwards rather than accumulated. Lava and ash pile into steep cones, and erosion then cuts them into ridges, gorges and cliffs, which is why Madeira, Reunion, Kauai, La Palma and the Azores all have vertical interiors and hundreds of kilometres of walking paths within a small footprint. The soil is mineral-rich and holds water, so the vegetation is dense wherever rainfall allows it.

What they do not produce is white sand. Beaches on volcanic islands are black, grey or red, made of ground basalt and scoria, and they are frequently steep because the coastline drops away fast. Coral has not had time to build reefs on the youngest of them, so the water is deep close in and the snorkelling is rock rather than reef.

Calderas are the extreme case, and there are only a handful in the world you can visit properly. Santorini is the most dramatic: the centre of the island collapsed into an emptied magma chamber around 1600 BC, the sea poured in, and what remains is a ring of cliff around water four hundred metres deep with two black islets still growing in the middle. You can sail into it, swim in sulphur springs inside it, walk to the crater rim on new land, and sleep on the edge looking down. No coral island offers anything comparable, which is precisely why a small dry Greek island with almost no beach appears on every list of the best islands in the world.

The trade-off is consistent across all of them. Volcanic islands give landscape, walking, wine, archaeology and drama, and they take away sand, shade and reliable swimming. Coral and granite islands give the opposite. Knowing which of those two lists matters to you settles the choice faster than any ranking.

Greece, Which Has More of Them Than Anywhere

Greece has around six thousand islands and islets, of which roughly two hundred are inhabited, and it supplies more entries to any list of the best islands in the world than any other country. It is worth taking the groups one at a time, because they are genuinely different from each other.

The Cyclades. Greece’s largest contribution to the best islands in the world. The postcard: whitewashed cube villages, blue domes, treeless brown hills and very clear water. Santorini for the caldera, Naxos for beaches and mountain villages, Paros for its harbour town, Milos for the strangest coastline in Greece, Mykonos for nightlife, Folegandros and Sifnos for quiet, Tinos for food and marble, Syros for a working nineteenth-century town. Well connected by ferry and busy from June to September.

The Dodecanese. Ottoman until 1912 and Italian until 1947, which shows. Rhodes has the largest inhabited medieval town in Europe; Symi is an amphitheatre of neoclassical mansions around a harbour; Patmos has the cave where Revelation was written; Karpathos has a mountain village where traditional dress is still worn.

The Ionian. The greenest of the Greek best islands in the world. Never Ottoman — Venetian, then French, then British until 1864 — and green rather than brown, with pitched tile roofs, campaniles and considerably more rain. Corfu for the town, Kefalonia for Myrtos beach and the mountains, Zakynthos for the shipwreck bay, Ithaca and Paxos for quiet.

The Sporades. Pine forest running down to clear water. Skiathos for beaches, Skopelos for villages, Alonissos for a marine park protecting the monk seal.

The Saronic. Ninety minutes from Athens. Hydra has no cars at all; Aegina has a Doric temple and pistachios; Spetses is wooded and wealthy; Poros is a channel away from the mainland.

The North Aegean. The least visited of the Greek best islands in the world. Almost no international tourism. Lesbos for ouzo and olive groves, Chios for mastic villages, Samos for wine and Pythagoras, Ikaria for longevity and festivals that start at midnight, Limnos for empty beaches.

Crete. A country in its own right, and the only Greek island with a genuine year-round life across its whole length.

What makes the Greek islands unusual among the best islands in the world is the density: you can be on a completely different island, with a different history and a different landscape, two hours after leaving the last one, and repeat that for a month.

Santorini Against the Rest of the List

Santorini appears on essentially every ranking of the best islands in the world, and it is worth being precise about what it does and does not offer, because it is not a conventional island holiday.

What it has that nothing else does. A caldera you can sleep on the edge of. The volcano collapsed around 1600 BC, the sea filled the crater, and the result is a ring of cliff fifteen hundred feet high around water four hundred metres deep, with two black lava islets still growing in the centre. You can sail into it, walk on the new land, swim in warm sulphur springs inside it, and eat dinner looking down into it. No other accessible island on earth is arranged like that.

The archaeology. Akrotiri, a Bronze Age town of two and three-storey houses with paved streets, drainage and painted walls, buried under ash and preserved. It is the best-preserved prehistoric settlement in the Aegean and it is under a roof, which makes it a wet-day option as well as a sunny one.

The wine. Ungrafted assyrtiko vines, some of them centuries old, trained into low circular baskets on the ground because there is no rain in the growing season and the wind would otherwise destroy the fruit. Phylloxera never took hold in volcanic ash. Nothing about this viticulture exists anywhere else.

What it does not have. White sand. The beaches are black, red and grey volcanic material, steep and hot underfoot. There is almost no shade anywhere on the island, tap water is not for drinking, and the villages are staircases.

The crowd. Two million visitors a year on an island of 15,500 people, concentrated in two villages between ten and six. Before nine in the morning it is empty.

Who should go. Anybody who wants landscape, archaeology, wine and a view. Anybody whose priority is a beach should go to Naxos, and anybody whose priority is a lagoon should go to the Indian Ocean.

Where it ranks. On landscape, in the top handful of the best islands in the world. On beaches, nowhere near it. Both statements are true at once, and knowing which matters to you is the whole decision.

Islands That Deserve More Attention

Every list of the best islands in the world converges on the same twenty names. These are the ones that consistently do not appear and consistently should.

Sao Miguel, Azores. The most overlooked of the Atlantic best islands in the world. Crater lakes, hot springs you can cook in, tea plantations at the northern edge of the crop’s range, and whales offshore. Two hours from Lisbon.

Chiloe, Chile. Wooden shingle churches, houses on stilts over the water, a mythology of its own, and rain most of the year.

Sifnos, Greece. The best eating of the smaller best islands in the world. The best food in the Cyclades, a pottery tradition, and three hundred and sixty-five churches on an island you can walk across in a day.

Vis, Croatia. Closed to foreigners until 1989 as a military base, which preserved it entirely.

Ile d’Yeu, France. Atlantic, cycled rather than driven, with a coastline that alternates between Brittany and the Mediterranean.

Ogasawara, Japan. A twenty-four-hour ferry from Tokyo and no airport, with endemic species that earned it a UNESCO listing.

Ilha Grande, Brazil. A former prison island turned nature reserve, with no cars and a hundred beaches.

Cape Verde’s Santo Antao. Volcanic ridges and green valleys, and some of the best walking in the Atlantic.

Ouessant, France. The far end of Brittany, lighthouses, and weather that arrives from three thousand miles away.

Amorgos, Greece. A monastery built into a cliff face, a dramatic spine of rock, and none of the crowds of its neighbours.

Gozo, Malta. The quietest of the central Mediterranean best islands in the world. Quieter than Malta, with a prehistoric temple complex older than Stonehenge and the best diving in the central Mediterranean.

Sao Tome. Cocoa, rainforest, colonial ruins and volcanic peaks, in one of the least-visited countries on earth.

The Five Kinds of Island

Almost every argument about the best islands in the world dissolves once you know that islands come in five geological types, and that the type determines the holiday far more than the country does.

Volcanic islands. The largest single group among the best islands in the world. Built upwards by eruption and then cut by erosion into ridges and gorges. Steep interiors, dense vegetation where rain allows, mineral-rich soil, deep water close inshore, and beaches of black, grey or red ground basalt. Santorini, Madeira, the Azores, Reunion, Hawaii, the Canaries, Iceland’s coastal islands. Expect landscape, walking, wine and archaeology; do not expect white sand.

Coral atolls. The flattest of the best islands in the world. A reef that grew around a volcano which then subsided, leaving a ring of low sand islands around a lagoon. Flat, rarely more than two metres above sea level, with brilliant white sand made of ground coral and parrotfish digestion, extraordinary snorkelling, and almost nothing to look at above the waterline. The Maldives, the Tuamotus, the Cook Islands, Lakshadweep. Expect water; do not expect a view.

Granite and continental islands. Fragments of a continental shelf, separated by rising sea levels rather than built by volcanism. Rounded boulders, forested interiors, and pale sand from eroded quartz. The Seychelles inner islands, Sardinia, Corsica, the Cyclades’ non-volcanic majority. Expect a combination of landscape and beaches, which is why they win so many rankings.

Limestone and karst islands. The most dramatic coastlines of the best islands in the world. Ancient reef lifted above sea level and then dissolved by rain into towers, caves and sinkholes. Vertical cliffs straight out of turquoise water, sea caves, and hidden lagoons. Palawan, Ha Long Bay, the Andamans, parts of Croatia and Greece’s Ionian.

Barrier and tidal islands. Sand deposited by currents against a mainland coast. Low, shifting, often with enormous tidal ranges and extraordinary bird life. The Frisian Islands, the Outer Banks, Fraser Island. Expect wildlife and space rather than spectacle.

Once you can identify the type, the rest follows. Every complaint people make about the best islands in the world — no sand here, nothing to look at there, no shade, no reef — is a complaint about booking the wrong geology.

Wildlife, and Why Islands Are Strange

Islands produce biology that occurs nowhere else, and on several of the best islands in the world the wildlife is the whole reason to go.

The mechanism is isolation. A population cut off from the mainland stops exchanging genes with it and begins to drift, and over enough time it becomes something else. Islands also lack large predators, which removes the pressure that keeps mainland animals cautious and small. The results are consistent everywhere: species become either much larger or much smaller than their mainland relatives, flightlessness evolves repeatedly in birds, and animals lose their fear of anything approaching.

The Galapagos. The textbook case among the best islands in the world, and the reason evolutionary biology exists as a discipline. Finches with beaks adapted to different food sources on different islands, marine iguanas that feed underwater, giant tortoises with shells shaped by the vegetation they reach for, and no fear of humans at all.

Madagascar. Ninety per cent of its wildlife is found nowhere else, including every lemur species on earth.

Socotra. A third of its plant species are endemic, including the dragon’s blood tree, which looks like an umbrella turned inside out.

Komodo. The largest lizard alive, on four islands and nowhere else.

New Zealand’s offshore islands. Predator-free sanctuaries holding species that cannot survive on the mainland.

Lord Howe. A stick insect thought extinct for eighty years, rediscovered on a single rock stack offshore.

The Azores and the Canaries. Laurel forest that once covered the Mediterranean basin and now survives only here.

Alonissos, Greece. The largest marine park in Europe, protecting the Mediterranean monk seal.

The fragility. Island species evolved without predators and collapse when one arrives. Rats, cats and goats have caused more extinctions on islands than anywhere else on earth, which is why several of the best islands in the world now have biosecurity checks stricter than their passport control.

Climate, and What the Numbers Actually Mean

Island weather is not mainland weather, and three effects explain most of the surprises.

The sea moderates everything. Water heats and cools far more slowly than land, so islands have narrower temperature ranges than the nearest mainland. Santorini rarely freezes and rarely exceeds 34 degrees; Athens does both.

Sea temperature lags air temperature by about two months. The single most useful fact for planning a trip to any of the temperate best islands in the world. The Mediterranean is coldest in March and warmest in September, which is why late September beats June for swimming and April feels colder than it looks.

Mountains make their own weather. Any island with height has a wet windward side and a dry leeward side. Madeira’s north is green and its south is not. Kauai has one of the wettest places on earth and a dry southern coast. On volcanic islands this can mean two entirely different holidays twenty kilometres apart.

Wind is under-reported. The meltemi across the Aegean from June to September, the trade winds in the Caribbean, the alize in the Indian Ocean. Wind decides whether boats run, whether exposed beaches are usable, and whether an August afternoon is pleasant or unbearable.

Rainfall matters more than temperature in the tropics. Temperature barely moves across the year near the equator. Rainfall moves enormously, and the wet season is the difference between a good trip and a wasted one.

Hurricane and cyclone seasons are non-negotiable. June to November in the Caribbean, peaking in September. November to April in the South Pacific and the southern Indian Ocean.

What to check before booking. Sea temperature for your month, rainfall for your month, prevailing wind, and whether anything closes. Those four settle more about a trip to the best islands in the world than any ranking will.

Planning the Trip: The Practical Layer

Choosing between the best islands in the world is the enjoyable part. What follows is the part that decides whether the trip works.

Flights to the best islands in the world. Most islands have one small airport with a short runway, limited slots and seasonal routes that appear in April and vanish in October. Check whether your route exists in your month rather than assuming, and expect a connection through a mainland hub for anything outside the peak.

The transfer after the flight. Frequently longer than people budget for. A seaplane in the Maldives, a bangka in Palawan, a switchback road from a port in the Cyclades, a ferry in the Sporades. Add it to the itinerary as a leg in its own right.

Ferries between the best islands in the world. Cheaper, slower and weather-dependent everywhere. Conventional ferries sail in conditions that ground the fast catamarans. Schedules thin dramatically outside the season, and the single rule that applies on every island on earth is never to book a crossing on the day of an international flight.

Ground transport. Most islands have a skeleton bus network routed through one town, a shortage of taxis, and hire cars that sell out in high season. On small islands the answer is usually a hire car for part of the stay and feet for the rest; on cliff islands it is a driver.

Accommodation types. Resorts on atolls, boutique hotels on cliffs, family guesthouses in villages, and apartments almost everywhere. On the best islands in the world the location matters more than the standard: a room ten minutes from the famous view costs a third of the same room with it.

Water and power. Dry islands run on desalination or tankers, and outages are normal on the smaller ones. Tap water is not drinkable on much of the Mediterranean.

Connectivity. Good across Europe and patchy in the Pacific and parts of South-East Asia. Do not assume a remote island has usable data.

Money. Cards work in island towns and not always in island villages. Cash machines on small islands run out at weekends in high season.

Health on the best islands in the world. Small islands have a clinic rather than a hospital, and serious cases are transferred by boat or helicopter. Travel insurance that covers evacuation matters more here than on the mainland.

What to pack that people forget. Shoes with grip for polished stone and volcanic scree, a windproof layer, water shoes for urchins, reef-safe sunscreen, and a rain shell even in a dry month.

Sample Trips, by Length

A long weekend among the best islands in the world. Three to four nights on one island, no more. Santorini, Mallorca, Madeira, Malta or Jersey — all short-haul, all with direct flights in season, and all worth a compressed visit.

One week, first trip. Two islands at most. Santorini and Naxos; Mallorca and Menorca; Sicily on its own. The temptation is always to add a third and the answer is always not to.

One week, long-haul. One island only. The Maldives, the Seychelles, Bali or the Caribbean. Two travel days out of seven means anything else is a schedule rather than a holiday.

Ten days. Two islands plus a city. Athens and two Cyclades; Palermo and two Aeolians; Lisbon and Sao Miguel.

Two weeks among the best islands in the world. Either one large island properly — Crete, Sicily, Sri Lanka, Vancouver Island — or three small ones with real time on each.

Three weeks or more. An archipelago traverse. The Cyclades, the Philippines, Indonesia’s islands east of Bali, or the Azores across three or four of the nine.

The universal ratio. Allow three nights minimum per island and half a day for every crossing. Applied honestly, that single rule improves a trip to the best islands in the world more than any other planning decision.

How These Lists Get Made

It is worth understanding where rankings of the best islands in the world come from, because it explains why the same names keep appearing.

Most published lists fall into three categories. Readers’ polls, in which a travel magazine’s subscribers vote — which measures who reads that magazine and where they can afford to go, not island quality. Editorial lists, which are one or two writers’ opinions, frequently written without visiting most of the entries. And affiliate lists, in which the ranking correlates with which hotels pay commission.

None of that makes them useless. It does mean the same twenty islands recur — the Maldives, Bora Bora, Santorini, Bali, the Seychelles, Maui, Palawan, Capri — because they are photogenic, well-marketed and reachable. It also means genuinely extraordinary islands with no hotel industry, no direct flights and no marketing budget almost never appear: the Faroes, Chiloe, Socotra, Sao Tome, Ogasawara.

The practical consequence is to read any ranking as a shortlist of well-served destinations rather than a judgement of quality, and then apply your own filters: flight length, geology, season, crowd tolerance and what you want to eat. Do that and the shortlist collapses from twenty islands to three, which is a far more useful number.

The one thing rankings do get right is that a small number of islands are genuinely unlike anywhere else — an island built around a flooded volcanic crater, a lagoon with an extinct volcano in the middle, a limestone forest growing out of the sea, an archipelago where the animals have never learned to run away. Those are the ones worth crossing the world for, and they are the reason the phrase best islands in the world means anything at all.

Twenty Islands, Compared Directly

Rather than another ranking, here are twenty of the best islands in the world set against each other on the five things that decide a trip: flight length from Europe, landscape, beaches, crowds and cost.

Santorini, Greece. Three to four hours. Landscape exceptional, beaches poor, crowds heavy in season, cost high on the rim and moderate inland. The caldera is the argument and there is no substitute for it.

Crete, Greece. Three to four hours. Landscape excellent, beaches excellent, crowds moderate, cost moderate. The most complete island in the Mediterranean and open year-round.

Naxos, Greece. Four hours via Athens. Landscape good, beaches excellent, crowds light, cost low. The best value of all the Greek entries on any list of the best islands in the world.

Sicily, Italy. Three hours. Landscape excellent, beaches good, crowds moderate, cost moderate. More history per square kilometre than anywhere else on this page.

Sardinia, Italy. Two and a half hours. Landscape excellent, beaches exceptional, crowds moderate, cost variable. The clearest water in the Mediterranean.

Mallorca, Spain. Two hours. Landscape excellent in the Tramuntana, beaches good, crowds heavy on the coast and light inland, cost moderate.

Corsica, France. Two hours. Landscape exceptional, beaches excellent, crowds moderate, cost high. The GR20 is the hardest long walk in Europe.

Madeira, Portugal. Four hours. Landscape exceptional, beaches almost none, crowds moderate, cost low to moderate. Year-round, which very little else is.

Sao Miguel, Azores. Four hours. Landscape exceptional, beaches poor, crowds light, cost low. The most underrated of the best islands in the world within reach of Europe.

The Faroe Islands. Three hours via Copenhagen. Landscape exceptional, beaches none, crowds very light, cost high. Weather is the entire variable.

Lofoten, Norway. Four hours with a connection. Landscape exceptional, beaches spectacular and freezing, crowds light, cost high.

Skye, Scotland. Two hours plus a long drive. Landscape exceptional, beaches good and cold, crowds moderate in summer, cost moderate.

Malta and Gozo. Three hours. Landscape moderate, beaches limited, crowds moderate, cost low. Prehistoric temples older than the pyramids.

The Maldives. Ten hours. Landscape none above water and extraordinary below it, beaches perfect, crowds nil within a resort, cost very high. The purest water holiday available.

The Seychelles. Ten hours. Landscape excellent, beaches exceptional, crowds light, cost very high. Granite boulders, forest and sand together.

Zanzibar, Tanzania. Nine hours. Landscape moderate, beaches excellent, crowds moderate, cost low to moderate. Stone Town carries the trip.

Sri Lanka. Ten to eleven hours. Landscape exceptional, beaches excellent, crowds moderate, cost low. Effectively a country rather than an island.

Palawan, Philippines. Sixteen hours with connections. Landscape exceptional, beaches exceptional, crowds moderate, cost low. The limestone karst is the reason.

Bali, Indonesia. Sixteen hours. Landscape excellent, beaches variable, crowds very heavy in the south, cost low. The interior redeems it entirely.

Vancouver Island, Canada. Ten hours. Landscape exceptional, beaches cold and wild, crowds light, cost moderate. Whales, rainforest and winter storms.

Read down that list and the pattern is clear. The best islands in the world are not interchangeable and almost none of them scores well on everything. The ones that come closest — Crete, Sardinia, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles — are the ones large enough or varied enough to contain several different holidays at once.

Islands as an Idea

There is a reason lists of the best islands in the world outnumber lists of the best valleys, coastlines or mountain ranges by an enormous margin, and it is not entirely about beaches.

An island is legible. It has an edge you can see, a size you can hold in your head, and a completeness that a stretch of mainland coast does not. You can circumnavigate it, walk across it, or stand on a high point and see the whole of it at once. That is unusual in modern travel, where almost everywhere else continues past the horizon in every direction, and it produces a particular kind of satisfaction that has very little to do with the weather.

Islands are also, by definition, places you have to decide to go to. Nobody passes through an island. That single fact changes the character of everywhere on this list: a ferry or a flight is a threshold, arrival is an event, and the population on the other side of it knows perfectly well that everybody present chose to be there. The best islands in the world all share this, from a Cycladic port at midnight to a seaplane dock in the Maldives.

The isolation that produces strange biology produces strange culture in exactly the same way. Island dialects diverge from mainland languages. Island food uses what grows in poor soil and what the sea provides, which is why the cooking on Santorini, Sifnos, Sicily and Sri Lanka is so specific. Island architecture responds to what is locally available: no timber means vaulted roofs and thick walls, which is why the Cyclades look the way they do; abundant wood means shingles and stilts, which is why Chiloe looks the way it does. Island music, festivals and superstitions all drift the same way. None of this is preserved deliberately; it simply had nowhere to be diluted.

Islands are also finite in a way that is increasingly visible. Water runs out. Land is limited. A single road serves everybody. When two million visitors arrive somewhere with fifteen thousand residents, the constraint is not aesthetic but physical, and the islands that will still be on lists of the best islands in the world in twenty years are the ones now capping numbers, protecting water and returning tourism money to the people who live there year-round.

And there is the thing that no list can rank, which is the moment on any decent island when the ferry pulls out, the day trippers go with it, and the place quietly becomes itself again — the harbour empties, the tavernas fill with people who live there, and the island that was a photograph at four in the afternoon turns into somewhere real by nine in the evening. That is available on every one of the best islands in the world, it costs nothing, and it is the single strongest argument for staying a night rather than passing through.

Overtourism, and Choosing Responsibly

Several of the best islands in the world are being visibly changed by the number of people who want to see them, and it is worth knowing where the pressure points are and what an individual visitor can actually do about them.

The problem is rarely the annual total. It is concentration. Santorini receives well over two million visitors a year on an island of about 15,500 residents, and a large share of them arrive on cruise ships that dock for a single day, come ashore between nine and five, and are bussed between two villages. The same pattern applies at Dubrovnik, Venice, Capri and Mykonos. The island is not full; two streets in it are full, for seven hours.

The practical consequence is that the single most useful thing a visitor can do is shift their hours and their geography. Oia at seven in the morning is empty. Akrotiri at opening is quiet. The inland villages are quiet all day, every day, in every month. The same is true of the Cinque Terre, of Bali’s centre and east, and of most of the Caribbean’s interiors.

Where caps on the best islands in the world already exist. The Galapagos, Lord Howe, Fernando de Noronha and Komodo all limit numbers. Several Greek islands have introduced cruise-passenger caps and berth fees. Expect more of this rather than less.

Water is the real constraint. Most dry islands run on desalination or tankers. A pool and daily towel changes on an island with no rainfall between May and September carry a cost that is not on the bill.

Where the money goes. An all-inclusive resort on a leased island returns very little to the local economy. A family-run guesthouse, a village taverna and a local driver return almost all of it.

Stay longer, move less. The best single rule for the best islands in the world. Four nights on one island puts more into it and takes less out of you than one night on each of four.

Go in the shoulder. It spreads the season, keeps businesses open longer, and gets you a better trip. On the best islands in the world this is the rare choice that is better for everybody at once.

Island Hopping, and How It Actually Works

Half the appeal of an archipelago is moving between islands, and it is consistently harder and slower than people expect.

The Cyclades, Greece. The best-connected of the best islands in the world for independent travel. The best-connected archipelago in the world for independent travel. Fast catamarans and conventional ferries run daily in season along established lines, but islands on different lines may have no direct connection at all. Two islands in a week, three at most.

The Philippines. Ferries, bangka boats and a lot of domestic flights. Distances are large and schedules are approximate.

Croatia. Catamarans from Split and Dubrovnik, and the most rewarding sailing chain in Europe.

The Caribbean best islands in the world. Poorly connected except within the Grenadines and the French Antilles. Inter-island flights are frequently the only option and they are expensive.

The Balearics. Frequent ferries between Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, and a fast crossing from the mainland.

The Azores. Inter-island flights and seasonal ferries in the central group.

Indonesia. Everything from fast boats to multi-day liveaboards. Distances between Bali, Flores and Raja Ampat are continental.

The universal rules. Every hop costs half a day once you count checkout, port time and the crossing. Adjacent islands are frequently on different routes. Never book a crossing on the day of an international flight. And schedules thin dramatically outside the high season everywhere on the list of best islands in the world.

Best Islands in the World: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best islands in the world? It depends entirely on what you want: Santorini and Madeira for landscape, the Maldives and Seychelles for beaches, Raja Ampat and Palau for diving, Sicily and Crete for food and history, and the Faroes and Chiloe for solitude.

Which island is the most beautiful? On raw landscape, Santorini’s caldera, Lofoten, Palawan’s karst and Bora Bora’s lagoon are the four most commonly named, and they are beautiful in four completely different ways.

Which of the best islands in the world are cheapest? Naxos, Palawan, Sri Lanka, Lombok, Sao Miguel and the Greek North Aegean.

Which are the most expensive? The Maldives, Bora Bora, Mustique and private-island Seychelles, where there is no cheaper option on the island.

Which of the best islands in the world is best for a honeymoon? Santorini for landscape and food, the Maldives and Bora Bora for water, the Seychelles for both.

Which of the best islands in the world is best for diving? Raja Ampat, then Palau, Sipadan, Bonaire and the Galapagos.

Which is best for families? Naxos, Mallorca, Sardinia, Jersey and Vancouver Island.

Which is best for walking? Madeira, La Palma, Reunion, Corsica and the Faroe Islands.

When should I visit the best islands in the world? Shoulder season everywhere: May to June and September to October in the Mediterranean, December to April in the Caribbean and Maldives, November to April for South-East Asia’s Andaman coast.

How many islands should I visit in one trip? Two in a week and three at most, because every crossing costs half a day.

Are the famous islands ruined? No. They are concentrated. On almost every one of the best islands in the world, the crowd occupies two locations for seven hours a day, and the rest of the island is empty.

Which of the best islands in the world should I start with? Santorini, Mallorca, Sicily or Bali, all of which are well connected, well provisioned and forgiving of a first attempt.

Start With the Caldera

We are a local operator running private tours and transfers in our own vehicles on Santorini, which appears on almost every list of the best islands in the world and is the one on this page we can actually show you ourselves.

Tell us your dates and we will handle this island properly: the caldera villages at the right hour, Akrotiri before the coaches, the wineries at five, and the port or the airport when it is time to move on to the next one.

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

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

Every Village and Site on the Island

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

September 8, 2026 By Stelios Karamolegkos Leave a Comment

Santorini Boat Tour – Every Option, Honestly Compared

A santorini boat tour is the one thing on this island that changes what you understand about it, because the caldera is a drowned volcanic crater eleven kilometres across and up to four hundred metres deep and you cannot read its scale from the cliff. The standard route covers Nea Kameni, the hot springs at Palia Kameni and Thirasia in four to six hours; a semi-private catamaran runs five to seven with food and swimming stops. Boats run April to October, and you should book yours early in the trip rather than on the last day.

Sea excursions in Santorini

Santorini is one of the most beautiful islands in Greece and it is worth visiting at least once in your life! It is an island which can offer you amazing experiences and views that you will never forget in your life. If you are lucky enough to see the island you should also go on a sea excursion with Santorini Tours !

By sea excursions you get to see the island from a distance and admire the amazing scenery and volcanic remains! There are plenty of tours to choose from as we are offering a variety of sea excursions in Santorini! In this article, we are going to talk about the most important private tours that we believe everyone should take on!

Santorini Full day private tour

In this package, you will have the chance to roam around the island for approximately 8 hours and visit the most famous sights of Santorini! It is a great choice for people who are visiting the island for a couple of days and still want to experience the Greek island vibes. In half a day, you will be able to explore the whole island and you will have the next days to go for a swim and taste the local cuisine!

The full day private tour includes the following stops: Firostefani, Imerovigli, Oia, Profitis Ilias, Megalochori, Emporio, Akrotiri Archaeological Site, Black Beach, Red Beach, Venetsanos Winery

Santorini Volcano, Hot Waters & Thirasia

A wonderful route for the visitor to discover Nea Kameni (Volcano), the Hot Waters as well as the picturesque island of Thirassia. There should be time because the trip lasts about 5-6 hours. The start is from the ports of Ammoudi in Oia, Athinios, Gialos or Fira.

Hotels usually undertake to transport guests to the ports or this can be done by renting a car or even with the help of buses that exist on the island. The traditional boats are specially designed for all these excursions with bars, toilets and shading.

History of Nea Kameni

Nea Kameni is the most interesting geological point of the island. It is a small island in the center of the caldera which was created by the volcano. The inhabitants of Santorini refer to it as a “volcano” since the older ones remember the eruption around 1950 and tell various stories about how this small island prevailed which came out of the sea through the fire and the continuous trembling of the earth.

It is also called Nea Kaimeni and is the largest of the two volcanic islands of Santorini (the other is Palea Kameni), with an area of about 340 hectares and a highest point of 127 meters above sea level.

The island is visitable and one can walk on its surface and reach the crater from where vapors come out until today. Nea Kameni and Palea are areas included in the community network NATURA 2000.
The boat is directed to the island of Nea Kameni (Volcano) where there will be a stop on a small wooden pier where guests can be guided by the tour guide or walk alone with the help of a guide book. They will head to the dome of Georgios and near the fumes where high temperatures usually develop and there is difficulty due to the uphill.

You can take a tour of Santorini!

Santorini Exclusive shore private tour

A Santorini tour designed to give you an assortment of the most amazing features of the island. Within five hours, the excursion captures the essence of what the island is all about: soak up the romantic atmosphere of traditional villages such as Oia, visit marvellous locations and view glorious sunsets, admire the Cycladic architecture of Greek islands, swim in the crystal clear water and experience local wine tastings and other products.

This tour includes the following stops Mount Profitis Ilias, Pyrgos, Oia, Firostefani, Imerovigli, Megalochori, Black Beach, Venetsanos Winery.

Santorini Private personalized tour

In our constant effort to ameliorate our services and therefore maximize the customer experience and enjoyment, we are also able to offer specially designed customized tours, allowing Santorini visitors to design themselves the itinerary that best suits their character and needs: picturesque villages, breathtaking views ,culture and civilization, architecture, history, cuisine -wherever your interests may lie, there is a perfect itinerary awaiting you.

You can choose between the many different locations of the island as the tour can last up to 6 hours. The destinations and stops from which you can choose, can be found here: Oia, Firostefani, Imerovigli, Profitis Ilias , Pyrgos, Megalochori, Black Beach , Red Beach, Acrotiri Archaeological Site, Archaeological Museum of Fira, Prehistoric Museum of Fira, Ancient Fira, Venetsanos Winery, Estate Argyros Winery, Koutsogiannopoulos Wine Museum.

santorini boat tour: a catamaran inside the caldera below the cliff at Fira

General safety rules and tips for sea excursions in Santorini

Walking or being on a boat requires that you stay protected. Therefore, “protection measures” are required, which concern both the use of sunscreen, hat, sneakers and comfortable clothes, as well as the supply of water for those who want to add to their experiences a walk in one of the most important volcanoes on the planet.

It is good to choose the cruise that suits you according to your tastes and financial status either in a group or privately with simple traditional style boats or with luxury boats. Excursions can be made in the morning to enjoy the wonderful waters and visit the volcano but also in the afternoon where you will admire the magnificent sunset.

Notes for sea excursions in Santorini

The specific route of the excursion concerns those who feel nauseous because it generally takes a little time.
It will be good for the guests to have with them glasses, hat, comfortable sports shoes.
At the volcano there is an entrance fee which is not included in the price of the cruise ticket.
Do not forget to wear comfortable clothes, wear a hat, pack your swimsuit and wear sneakers or sport shoes.
Sunscreen and sunglasses are a must in our excursions!
Bring your water bottle and light snacks!

Santorini is a wonderful island full of unique experiences such as clear blue waters, unique sunset, delicious traditional flavors, delicious Santorini wine. You can have a wonderful time with your family and friends and this holiday in Santorini will be unique. Trust Santorinitours.org for your excursions!

See more about Santorini tours:

Santorini Boat Tour: The Short Answer

A santorini boat tour is the one thing on this island that changes what you understand about it. The caldera is a drowned volcanic crater eleven kilometres across and up to four hundred metres deep, and you cannot read its scale from the top of the cliff. From the water the villages become a thin white line along a black wall fifteen hundred feet high, and the whole geology makes sense in about ten seconds.

Seven decisions cover almost every santorini boat tour on offer.

The standard trip. Nea Kameni’s crater, the hot springs at Palia Kameni, Thirasia for lunch, and a return along the caldera wall. Four to six hours.

The sunset santorini boat tour. The same route with a late departure and the sun going down beside the rim rather than behind it. Five to seven hours.

The south-coast version. Red Beach, White Beach and the Akrotiri lighthouse, swimming at beaches only reachable by sea. Three to five hours.

Santorini boat tour types. Large wooden caique for 40 to 80 euros a head, semi-private catamaran for 100 to 200, private charter from around 800 for the vessel.

When santorini boat tours run. April to October. Weather-dependent at both ends and through the July and August meltemi.

Where santorini boat tours start. The Old Port below Fira for the volcano trips, Vlychada and Ammoudi for the catamarans.

Book your santorini boat tour early in the stay. So a cancellation has somewhere to move to.

The Types of Boat, Compared

The single most useful thing to understand before booking a santorini boat tour is that “boat trip” covers four completely different products at four completely different prices, and most disappointment comes from booking the wrong one.

The large caique. The cheapest santorini boat tour. A traditional wooden vessel carrying sixty to a hundred and fifty people, running the volcano and hot springs route from the Old Port. Cheapest by a distance at 40 to 60 euros. Efficient, crowded, and on a schedule. This is the option if you want to walk the crater and swim in the springs and do not care about anything else.

The semi-private catamaran. The santorini boat tour most people should book. Eight to twenty people, five to six hours, with food cooked on board, drinks included, and two or three swimming stops. 100 to 200 euros a head. The best value on the island for what you get, and the version most people should book.

The private catamaran or yacht. The santorini boat tour where the route is genuinely yours. The same vessel, chartered for your group alone, typically from around 800 to 2,500 euros depending on the boat and the season. Sensible from about six people, and the only version where the route is genuinely yours.

The sailing boat. The slowest santorini boat tour. Smaller, quieter and actually under sail when the wind allows. Slower, which is the point.

The speedboat and RIB. Fast, small, and the option that covers the most coastline in the least time. Not comfortable in a swell.

The water taxi. Not a santorini boat tour at all. A twenty-minute crossing from Ammoudi to Armeni or from Perissa to Red Beach, at ten to twenty euros.

The submarine. Genuinely exists, from the Old Port, and takes you down to about thirty metres in the caldera. Forty-five minutes and a curiosity rather than a highlight.

Nea Kameni: Walking the Volcano

The black islet in the middle of the caldera is the first stop on almost every santorini boat tour, and it is not what most people expect.

Nea Kameni is new land. It has been building up out of the crater floor since the second century BC, in a sequence of eruptions of which the most recent was in 1950, and it is still an active volcanic system under continuous monitoring. There is no vegetation to speak of, no soil, and no shade — just black and rust-red lava, loose underfoot, with steam venting from fissures near the top.

Seven things to know before the volcano landing.

The walk. Twenty to thirty minutes up a graded path from the landing to the crater rim at about 130 metres, then a loop around the rim and back down. Total time ashore is usually an hour to an hour and a half.

The surface. Loose volcanic scree and rock. Trainers or walking shoes, not sandals, and certainly not flip-flops.

The heat. There is no shade anywhere on the islet and the black rock radiates. In July and August this walk at midday is genuinely hard work. Hat, water, sunscreen.

The entrance fee, not included in the santorini boat tour price. Nea Kameni is a protected geological park and there is a small fee, usually not included in the ticket price. Carry a few euros in cash.

What you see. The reason the santorini boat tour stops here: the crater itself, steam vents, sulphur staining on the rock, and — the actual reason to go up — a 360-degree view of the whole caldera from its centre, with Thira on one side, Thirasia on the other and the cliff wall rising all around you.

Who should skip it. Anybody with mobility difficulties, and anybody travelling with a toddler. Most operators are relaxed about people staying on board.

Palia Kameni and the Hot Springs

The second stop on the classic route, and the one people either love or find comical.

Palia Kameni is the older of the two central islets, and in a small bay on its side warm sulphurous water seeps up from below and stains the sea a rusty orange. Boats anchor in the bay outside the shallow water and you swim in — usually thirty to eighty metres, depending on where the skipper can safely stop.

Six things to know about the hot springs stop on a santorini boat tour.

The temperature. Warmer than the sea, not hot. Expect the low to mid twenties in the warmest pockets, and a distinct cold layer on the swim out. In April or October this is the warmest water you will find on any santorini boat tour.

The colour. Iron oxide, and it does stain. Wear an old swimsuit, and rinse it that evening rather than the next day.

The smell. Sulphur, faintly, which is the point.

The swim. The one demanding moment of the santorini boat tour: open water from the boat, without a ladder at the far end. Confident swimmers only, or stay aboard.

How long. Twenty to thirty minutes in the water on most itineraries.

Whether it is worth it. As a spa treatment, no. As the experience of swimming inside an active volcanic crater in orange water, yes.

Thirasia, the Island Across the Water

Thirasia is the western fragment of the original volcano, separated when the centre collapsed, and it is the closest thing to Santorini fifty years ago that exists.

About three hundred people live there. There is one main village, Manolas, on the rim two hundred metres above the water, and a small port at Korfos beneath it. There are no coaches, no jewellery shops, no cliff hotels and no crowds, and the ordinary Santorini experience of being one of several thousand people simply does not happen.

Getting up. Around two hundred and fifty steps from Korfos to Manolas, or a road, or a donkey. The steps take twenty minutes at a steady pace.

What is up there. A handful of tavernas with a view straight back across the caldera to Oia, a couple of churches, and a village that is genuinely lived in.

What is down at Korfos. Three or four fish tavernas on the water, which is where most santorini boat tour groups eat.

How long. Ninety minutes to two hours on most santorini boat tour itineraries, which is enough for the climb and lunch and not much else.

The alternative to a santorini boat tour. A public ferry runs from Athinios, and there is a small-boat service from Ammoudi. Going independently gives you a full day there, and it is one of the best days available on this island.

Why it matters. Standing in Manolas and looking back at Oia is the clearest possible demonstration of what the eruption did, and of what the island looked like before tourism.

The South Coast Route

The second major itinerary, and the one most people do not know exists. It runs along the southern coast rather than into the caldera, and it reaches beaches that have no road to them at all.

Eight stops on the south-coast santorini boat tour, none of them reachable by road.

Red Beach. Below the village of Akrotiri, under a cliff of oxidised red volcanic rock. The land approach has been closed repeatedly for rockfall, which makes arriving by sea both safer and considerably more impressive.

White Beach. Immediately west of it, under pale pumice cliffs, and reachable only by boat. Small, pebbled, and empty except for whoever else has sailed in.

Black Beach and the caves. The stretch between them, with sea caves cut into the soft volcanic rock and swim-throughs at the right sea state.

Indian Rock. A formation off the south coast that looks like a profile, and the standard photograph of this route.

The Akrotiri lighthouse from below. The southern tip, where the caldera meets open sea, and one of the few places on a santorini boat tour where you feel the swell change.

Mesa Pigadia. A small bay with a taverna, reachable by a rough track and mostly visited from the water.

Who this santorini boat tour suits. Swimmers and snorkellers. There is far more time in the water on this route than on the volcano one, and no walking at all.

Departure points. Vlychada marina and Akrotiri, both on the south coast, rather than the Old Port.

The Sunset Cruise

The most-booked santorini boat tour of all, and the one where the difference between operators matters most.

The premise is simple and genuinely good: the caldera faces west, so from the water you watch the sun go down beside the rim with the villages lit along the top of the cliff, rather than standing in a crowd on the cliff looking into the sun. It inverts the whole geometry of the island’s most famous view, and there is nobody else in the frame.

Seven things that separate a good sunset santorini boat tour from a cheap one.

The standard shape. Departure around three or four in the afternoon depending on the season, two or three swimming stops, dinner cooked on board, and the sunset from the water between Oia and Thirasia. Back in port ninety minutes after dark.

Semi-private. The santorini boat tour to book. Eight to twenty people, 130 to 200 euros a head with food and drink. The version to book.

Large boats. Sixty to a hundred passengers, cheaper, and the deck space per person is what you would expect.

Private charter. From around 1,000 to 2,500 for the vessel, which for eight people is comparable per head to a good semi-private and considerably better.

The food. Usually grilled on board — chicken, pork or fish, Greek salad, fava, tzatziki — with local wine and beer included. Quality varies enormously between operators and it is worth reading recent reviews rather than the brochure.

The timing problem. Sunset moves from half past eight in June to half past six in October. A cruise that leaves at three in October is back before nine; the same departure in June has you at sea until eleven.

What can go wrong. Wind. This is the trip most often cancelled, and operators generally rebook rather than refund on the day.

When Santorini Boat Tours Run, and When They Cancel

Every santorini boat tour is weather-dependent, and the pattern is predictable enough to plan around.

The santorini boat tour season. Roughly April to October. A few operators start in late March and a few run into early November, both weather permitting.

The meltemi. A strong dry northerly that blows across the Aegean from June to September, hardest in July and August, for two to four days at a stretch. It is the single largest cause of cancellations, it closes the exposed north and west coasts, and it makes the caldera choppy even though the rim shelters it.

Autumn and spring fronts. October to April, arriving with rain and southerlies. Less frequent than the meltemi and more disruptive when they come.

Which santorini boat tour actually gets cancelled. Small boats and catamarans first, large caiques second, and the fast ferries alongside them. A large wooden boat will sail in conditions that ground a twelve-metre catamaran.

How you find out. Usually the evening before or the morning of. Operators almost always offer a move to another day rather than a refund.

The planning rule. Book the santorini boat tour for the second or third day of your trip, never the last. That way a cancellation has somewhere to go.

Checking yourself. Any marine forecast for the central Aegean. Above about five on the Beaufort scale, expect small boats to stay in.

The caldera advantage. The crater is sheltered by its own rim, so volcano trips run in conditions that stop the south-coast and open-water routes.

The Caldera, and Why It Looks Like That

Every santorini boat tour is a tour of one thing: a hole in the sea where a mountain used to be. Knowing what happened to it turns four hours on a boat from a pleasant afternoon into the most interesting day of the trip.

Around 1600 BC, the volcano that occupied this position erupted with a force estimated at several times Krakatoa. It ejected tens of cubic kilometres of magma, and when the chamber beneath it emptied, the centre of the island collapsed into the void. What survived is the rim: the crescent of Thira that you are staying on, Thirasia opposite, and the small uninhabited islet of Aspronisi to the south-west. The gaps between them are where the wall failed and the sea poured in.

The water in the middle reaches four hundred metres in places, which is why cruise ships anchor rather than dock and why the caldera has no beaches on its inner side. The cliff you look up at from the deck is a vertical cross-section of the volcano’s whole history — bands of red and black lava from successive eruptions, layers of grey ash between them, and a thick white cap of pumice laid down by the final event. The white band at the top is thicker at the north end, which is why the cliff at Oia looks paler than the cliff at Akrotiri.

Nea Kameni and Palia Kameni in the centre are the volcano rebuilding itself. Palia Kameni first appeared above the water in AD 46 and Nea Kameni in 1707, and both have grown through repeated eruptions since, the last in 1950. On a santorini boat tour you land on rock that is younger than the United States.

The eruption also explains the archaeology on land. Akrotiri, on the southern part of the island, was a substantial Bronze Age town with two and three-storey houses, drainage, paved streets and painted walls. It was buried under metres of ash and preserved almost perfectly. There are no bodies and very little jewellery in the excavation, which suggests the population was warned by earthquakes and left before the eruption itself — and which has fed a hundred and fifty years of speculation connecting the site to Plato’s Atlantis.

What all of this means from the water is that the caldera is not scenery. It is the inside of a volcano, and the boat is sailing across the crater floor with the walls of it several hundred metres above the mast. That perspective is available nowhere else in Europe, and it is why a santorini boat tour is the one thing on this island we tell people not to skip.

A Day on a Semi-Private Catamaran, Hour by Hour

The semi-private catamaran is the version of a santorini boat tour that most people should book, and knowing the shape of the day in advance makes it considerably easier to plan around.

Pickup, around 14:30 for a sunset santorini boat tour. Most operators collect from your hotel by minibus. Confirm this at booking, because the ones that do not leave you finding your own way to Vlychada.

15:00, boarding at Vlychada marina. Shoes off, bags stowed, a safety briefing, and a drink in your hand within about ten minutes. Boats carry eight to twenty passengers plus two or three crew.

15:30, the south coast. Out past the wind-carved white cliffs at Vlychada, along the black volcanic coast, and around towards Akrotiri. The lighthouse from below is the first photograph of the day.

16:00, Red Beach and White Beach. The first swimming stop, usually anchored off White Beach where there is no land access at all. Thirty to forty minutes in the water, with snorkels and paddleboards on the better boats.

17:00, Indian Rock and the caves. A slow run along the southern cliffs, with a second swimming stop if the sea state allows.

18:00, dinner service. Grilled on board while under way — chicken or pork, sometimes fish, with Greek salad, fava, tzatziki, bread and local wine. On a good boat this is genuinely good food; on a cheap one it is a barbecue.

19:30, into the caldera. Around the southern tip and north along the inside of the crater wall, past Akrotiri, Athinios and the cliff below Fira, with the villages appearing along the top.

20:30, the sunset. The reason this santorini boat tour exists. Held between Oia and Thirasia, engines off, with the sun going down beside the rim rather than behind it. This is the reason the trip exists.

21:30, back in port. Salted, sunburnt and generally quiet, with the minibus waiting.

The seasonal shift. These times are June. In October everything moves two hours earlier, because sunset does.

Private Charter: What You Actually Get

A private santorini boat tour costs three to five times a semi-private seat and is not three to five times better. It is better in four specific ways, and whether those matter depends entirely on the group.

The first is the route. On a shared catamaran the itinerary is fixed, because eighteen people have to be back for a minibus. On a charter you can stay an hour longer at White Beach, skip the volcano because you did it yesterday, run north to Ammoudi instead of south, or anchor somewhere quiet and simply not move. Skippers here know the coast intimately and will build a day around whatever you actually want, which is the single largest difference.

The second is timing. Chartered boats can leave at seven in the morning, which no shared boat does, and the caldera at that hour is empty, glassy and entirely different. A dawn charter is the least-known good idea on this island.

The third is space. Eighteen people on a twelve-metre catamaran is comfortable; six people on the same boat is a different vessel. The trampolines at the bow, which everybody wants, stop being contested.

The fourth is privacy, which matters for proposals, anniversaries, families with small children and anybody who would rather not spend five hours making conversation with strangers.

The arithmetic. A semi-private sunset cruise at 160 euros a head costs 960 for six people. A private charter of the same class of boat runs 1,200 to 1,800 for the vessel. For six the gap is small; for two it is enormous; for ten the charter is cheaper.

What is included. Skipper and crew, fuel, food and drink on most charters, snorkelling gear, and usually paddleboards. Confirm the food, because some charters price it separately.

What to ask before booking a private santorini boat tour. Boat length and passenger capacity, whether the price includes food and drink, whether transfers are included, what happens in a cancellation, and whether the skipper speaks your language.

When to book a private santorini boat tour. Months ahead for July and August; a week or two in the shoulder season.

Santorini Boat Tours by Season

The same santorini boat tour is four different experiences across the season, and the differences are larger than the brochures suggest.

April. Santorini boat tours restart, and the sea is 17 to 18 degrees. Swimming stops are brief and bracing, and the hot springs are the one genuinely comfortable swim of the day. Very few passengers, the island still green above the cliff, and cancellations from spring fronts. The cheapest month on the water.

May. The best value month for a santorini boat tour. The sea reaches 19 to 21 by the end of the month, the weather stabilises, and the boats are running full schedules with half-full decks. Sunset at eight, then half past. Arguably the best value month for a boat day.

June. Sea at 22 to 24 and santorini boat tour departures at their latest, the longest days of the year, and the meltemi beginning. Departures at their latest, and the caldera at its clearest before the summer haze.

July and August. Sea at 24 to 26, and everything booked. Decks are full, the popular boats sell out a fortnight ahead, and the meltemi cancels small vessels for two to four days at a stretch. Book early in your stay, and expect the volcano walk to be genuinely hot.

September. The warmest sea of the year at 25 to 26, the crowd thinning from the second week, and the wind easing. The strongest month overall for a santorini boat tour.

October. The last full month of santorini boat tour schedules. Sea still at 23 to 24, golden light, small groups, and sunset at half past six so the whole day shifts earlier. Operators start winding down from the third week.

November to March. Almost nothing runs. A handful of operators take private charters on calm days, and the public ferry to Thirasia continues.

Snorkelling and What Is Under the Water

The swimming stops are half of any santorini boat tour, and the underwater landscape here is unlike anywhere else in Greece because it is the same volcanic rock you can see above the waterline.

Expect black lava boulders, vertical rock walls dropping into deep blue, sea caves and swim-throughs on the south coast, and visibility that regularly reaches twenty to thirty metres because there is no river silt anywhere in the Cyclades. What you will not find is coral or the density of fish life of a tropical reef — this is a temperate sea, and the interest is geological rather than biological.

What you will see. Bream, sea bass, damselfish, wrasse, the occasional grouper in deeper water, sea urchins in quantity on the rocks, and octopus if you know what to look for in the crevices.

Where it is best. White Beach and the caves on the south coast, the rocks off Mesa Pigadia, and the northern bays near Ammoudi and Armeni.

The hot springs are not snorkelling. Visibility drops to nothing in the discoloured water, and there is little to see.

Sea urchins. The one genuine hazard. They are on every rock and the spines break off in the skin. Never put a foot down blind on a rocky entry.

Water shoes. Worth having for the rocky stops, and unnecessary if you are only getting in off the boat.

Gear. Masks and snorkels come with most catamarans. Bring your own if you are particular about fit.

Diving instead of a santorini boat tour. Several operators run dives at the same sites, including a wreck at Adiavatos and the caldera walls, which drop far deeper than any recreational limit.

Where the Boats Leave From

Departure point matters more than most people realise, because getting to it can add an hour to the day.

Seven departure points, and getting to the wrong one costs an hour.

The Old Port of Fira. At the bottom of the caldera cliff below Fira, reached by cable car, by 588 steps or by donkey. Almost all volcano and hot springs trips leave from here. The cable car takes three minutes and holds a queue of up to an hour at peak; allow far more time than you think.

Ammoudi Bay. Below Oia, three hundred steps down or a short drive. Small boats, water taxis to Thirasia and Armeni, and some sunset departures.

Vlychada marina. The easiest santorini boat tour departure on the island. On the south coast, twenty minutes from Fira by road, with parking. Most catamarans leave from here, and it is the easiest departure point on the island.

Akrotiri and Caldera Beach. South-coast departures for the Red Beach and White Beach route.

Athinios. The commercial port. Ferries rather than tours, plus the public boat to Thirasia.

Perissa and Perivolos. Small boats and water taxis along the south-east coast.

The santorini boat tour transfer question. Most semi-private catamarans include hotel pickup, and the large caiques generally do not. Check before booking, because a taxi to Vlychada at seven in the evening is not something to improvise.

What a Santorini Boat Tour Costs

Eleven prices, in euros, for every class of santorini boat tour.

Large caique, volcano and hot springs, 4 hours. 40 to 60 euros a head, food not included.

Large caique, volcano, springs and Thirasia, 6 to 7 hours. 55 to 90 euros, lunch usually extra.

Semi-private catamaran, day cruise, 5 to 6 hours. 100 to 180 euros with food and drink.

Semi-private catamaran, sunset cruise. 130 to 200 euros with food and drink.

Private catamaran charter, half day. From around 800 to 1,400 for the vessel.

Private catamaran charter, full day or sunset. 1,200 to 2,500 for the vessel.

Sailing yacht, private. Similar to a catamaran, and slower.

Speedboat, private. 500 to 1,200 for a half day, seating six to eight.

Water taxi. 10 to 25 euros a person, one way.

Nea Kameni entrance. A few euros in cash, usually not included.

The santorini boat tour arithmetic. Two people are better off on a semi-private catamaran. Six or more are usually better off chartering the same vessel privately, and the per-head figure comes out close.

What to Bring

Eleven things to put in the bag for a santorini boat tour.

Shoes with grip. Nea Kameni is loose volcanic rock and the deck is wet. Trainers for the walk, and bare feet or deck shoes on board.

An old swimsuit. The hot springs stain, permanently.

A towel. Provided on most catamarans and rarely on the large caiques.

Sunscreen, high factor. Reflected light off the water on a santorini boat tour burns people who never burn on land.

A hat that will not blow off. Or a cord.

A light windproof layer. It is ten degrees cooler on the water at sunset than it was on the cliff at six.

Water. Included on catamarans; bring your own on the caiques.

Cash. For the Nea Kameni fee and for anything bought on board.

Seasickness tablets. Taken an hour before, not when you start to feel it. The caldera is usually calm and the south coast is not.

A dry bag or case for the phone. Swimming stops mean getting in and out of a moving boat.

What to leave behind on a santorini boat tour. Wheeled luggage, heels, anything white, and any expectation of shade.

Sailing, Fishing and the Other Ways Onto the Water

Not everything on the water is a santorini boat tour in the standard sense, and several of the alternatives are better for particular people.

Eight alternatives, several of them better than a standard santorini boat tour for particular people.

Sailing proper. A monohull or catamaran actually under sail, with the engines off, is a slower and quieter day than the standard cruise. It depends entirely on wind: too little and you motor, too much and you do not go. Ask the operator directly whether they sail or motor, because most “sailing tours” are motoring tours with a mast.

Fishing trips instead of a santorini boat tour. Small local boats run half-day trips from Vlychada, Perissa and Ammoudi, usually with a fisherman rather than a tour company. Hand lines and rods, whatever is running that week, and the catch cooked for you afterwards on the better ones. Four to six people maximum, and a completely different day from a catamaran.

Water taxis. Not a santorini boat tour. The Ammoudi to Armeni crossing, the Perissa to Red Beach run, and the small boat to Thirasia. Ten to twenty-five euros, twenty minutes, and the cheapest way to get on the water at all.

The public ferry to Thirasia. From Athinios, several times a week, at a fraction of any tour price. It gives you a full day on the quiet side of the caldera rather than ninety minutes.

The submarine. From the Old Port, forty-five minutes, down to around thirty metres inside the caldera. A curiosity, good for children, and not a substitute for a santorini boat tour.

Sea kayaking instead of a santorini boat tour. Guided half days along the south coast, into caves and small bays that no larger vessel reaches. Physically demanding and the closest you get to the rock.

Speedboat charter. Six to eight people, half a day, and the most coastline covered per hour. Uncomfortable in any swell.

Jet skis and towed toys. Available at Perissa, Perivolos and Kamari, and unrelated to the caldera.

Safety, Rules and the Practical Side

Almost every santorini boat tour runs without incident, and the handful of things that go wrong are the same handful every season.

The port authority decides. Sailings are cancelled by the Hellenic Coast Guard, not by the operator, when wind exceeds the threshold for that class of vessel. There is no appeal and no operator is being difficult with you.

Licensing. Greek passenger boats carry a passenger certificate specifying capacity and area of operation. Reputable operators display it. If a boat looks overloaded, it probably is.

Life jackets. Carried for every passenger by law, and not usually worn. Ask for one if you are a weak swimmer, particularly for the hot springs swim.

The hot springs swim is open water. Thirty to eighty metres from a moving boat, with no ladder at the far end and a current in some conditions. Anybody who is not a confident swimmer should stay aboard, and nobody will mind.

Nea Kameni is a geological park. There is a small entrance fee, usually in cash, and marked paths that exist because the ground either side of them is unstable.

Alcohol. Included on most santorini boat tour catamarans and drunk in quantity on some. A swimming stop after four drinks is where the actual danger on these trips lies.

Sun. Reflected off the water, with no shade on a foredeck, for five hours. This is the most common thing to ruin the following day.

Children. Fine on catamarans and shared caiques. Check the minimum age with the operator for RIBs and speedboats.

Insurance. Operators carry passenger liability. Your own travel policy should cover water activities, which some do not by default.

Seasickness. The caldera is sheltered and usually flat. The south coast and the open water beyond the rim are not. Take tablets an hour before boarding.

Where the Boat Day Belongs in the Trip

Where the boat day sits in the trip matters as much as which boat you take, and the same santorini boat tour works very differently depending on the day you put it on.

Never book a santorini boat tour for the last day. The rule that matters more than any other. Wind cancels boats with a few hours’ notice, and on the last day there is nowhere to move it to.

Never on the arrival day. Flights are delayed, ferries are late, and the boat leaves on time.

Day two or three of a five-day trip. The right slot for a santorini boat tour. The right answer. Early enough to have a fallback, late enough that you have seen the caldera from above first — which makes seeing it from below far more striking.

After the caldera rim, before the archaeology. Walk the rim on day one, take the boat on day two, and do Akrotiri afterwards. The eruption story then runs in the right order: you see the crater, then the town it buried.

On a two-day trip. Choose. Either the boat or Akrotiri and the wineries, not both.

A santorini boat tour on a three-day trip. The boat on day three, with days one and two on land, is the standard shape and it works.

With children. Put it in the middle of the trip, after they have adjusted to the heat and before they are tired of sightseeing.

The morning after. Schedule nothing demanding. Five hours of sun, salt and swimming takes more out of people than they expect.

How to Book, and What to Check First

Booking a santorini boat tour is the one part of a trip here where the difference between two listings that look identical is enormous, and there are eight things worth establishing before paying.

Passenger numbers, not boat size. “Semi-private” is a marketing term with no fixed meaning. It can be eight people or twenty-four, on the same twelve-metre hull. Ask for the maximum passenger count and the boat length, and work out the square metres per person yourself.

Whether food and drink are included, and what they are. On a good catamaran the crew grill on board and it is a proper meal. On a cheap one it is a cold plate handed round. Recent photographs in reviews tell you more than any description.

Whether hotel transfers are included. Vlychada is twenty minutes from Fira and forty from Oia, and finding a taxi at ten at night on this island is not a plan. Most catamarans include a minibus; most large caiques do not.

The exact departure point. Old Port, Vlychada, Ammoudi, Akrotiri and Perissa are all used, and the difference between them is up to an hour of your day.

The cancellation policy. Wind cancels boats. Establish before booking whether you get a refund, a credit or a move to another day, and whether that decision is made the evening before or the morning of.

Whether the volcano entrance fee is included. Usually it is not. It is small and it is cash.

The actual route. Some volcano trips include Thirasia and some do not. Some sunset cruises go into the caldera and some stay on the south coast. The words “sunset cruise” cover both.

How far ahead to book. July and August: two to three weeks for a semi-private, longer for a charter. May, June, September and October: two or three days. April: on the day.

Booking direct with the operator is generally cheaper than through a platform, and platforms are generally easier to cancel. If it is your only boat day and the forecast is uncertain, the flexible option is worth the margin.

The View From the Water, Village by Village

Half of a santorini boat tour is spent looking up at the island, and knowing what you are looking at makes the transit between stops the best part of the day rather than the gap between the swims.

Vlychada. The starting point for most santorini boat tour catamarans, with a small marina under cliffs of pale pumice carved by wind into shapes that look deliberately sculpted. Nothing else on the island looks like it.

Akrotiri and the lighthouse. The southern tip, where the caldera rim ends and the open Aegean begins. You feel the swell change here on almost every crossing.

Red Beach. A cliff of oxidised iron-rich lava, deep rust against black sand and blue water. From the sea it is far more impressive than from the viewpoint above it.

White Beach. Pale pumice cliffs immediately west, with no land access at all, which is the reason to arrive by boat.

Athinios. The commercial port, cut into the cliff, with a switchback road climbing away from it. The clearest illustration of how vertical this island is.

The cliff below Fira. Fifteen hundred feet of stratified rock with the cable car running down it and the town balanced on top. The single most photographed stretch of the caldera from the water.

The Old Port. A cluster of buildings at the base of the cliff, reached by 588 steps and a mule track, and looking from the sea like something that should not be there.

Skaros Rock. The headland below Imerovigli, which carried the island’s medieval capital until earthquakes destroyed it. From the water you can still make out the terracing.

Oia and Ammoudi. The northern tip, with red cliffs dropping into a small harbour and the village stacked above. The classic sunset foreground on a santorini boat tour.

Thirasia. The far wall, with Manolas along the top of it and Korfos at the water. The clearest demonstration of what the collapse actually did.

Is a Santorini Boat Tour Worth It?

Every activity on this island has a case against it, and the honest version for a santorini boat tour is worth stating.

The case against: it costs more than anything else you will do here, it takes most of a day, the hot springs are lukewarm and orange rather than the spa people imagine, the volcano walk is an hour of loose black rock in full sun, the large boats are crowded, and if the wind gets up it will not run at all.

All of that is true. And the case for it is simply that the caldera is the reason the island exists, it is four hundred metres deep, and there is no other way to be inside it. The villages that look like the whole of Santorini from above become a thin white line along the top of a wall you have to lean back to see. Nea Kameni is rock that did not exist when the Parthenon was built. Thirasia is what this island was before 1970. And the sunset from the water, with the engines off between Oia and the far rim, is better than the same sunset from a terrace with three thousand people on it.

People who come back from a boat day disappointed almost always booked the wrong version of it: the cheapest sunset cruise on the largest boat, or a volcano trip in August at midday with sandals on. People who book a semi-private catamaran in June or September, on the second day of their trip, with a hat and an old swimsuit, come back saying it was the best day of the holiday. That is a solvable problem, and everything above is how to solve it.

Santorini Boat Tours Against the Alternatives

A boat day costs more than anything else on the island and takes most of a day, so it is worth setting a santorini boat tour against the other ways of spending the same money and the same hours.

Against a private land tour. A full day with a driver covers Akrotiri, the lighthouse, a winery, an inland village and a beach, at a comparable price for a group of four. The land day covers more of the island; the santorini boat tour covers the thing the island is made of. On a trip of three days or more, do both. On a two-day trip, the land day is the better first choice for a first visit.

A santorini boat tour against a wine tour. A winery afternoon costs a fraction of a boat day and takes four hours. It is the better value and the smaller experience. They also combine well: a boat on one day and a tasting on the next is the standard shape of a good three-day itinerary here.

Against a helicopter or a small plane. Fifteen to twenty minutes over the caldera at several hundred euros a head. Spectacular, brief, and it gives the aerial view that a santorini boat tour cannot. Almost nobody does both.

A santorini boat tour against a beach day. Free, or the price of two sunbeds. If what you want is to be in the sea, Perissa and Vlychada deliver it at a twentieth of the cost. What they do not deliver is the volcano, the springs and Thirasia.

Against a day on another island. A ferry to Ios or Naxos costs a similar amount and a longer day, and gives you a different island rather than a different view of this one. On a trip of five nights or fewer, the boat wins comfortably.

Against doing nothing. Underrated, and genuinely the right answer for one day of any trip longer than four nights. Just not the day the sea is flat and the boats are running.

The honest ranking. If you can do only one paid activity on this island, take a santorini boat tour into the caldera. If you can do two, add Akrotiri with a driver. If you can do three, add a winery in the late afternoon. Everything after that is preference.

Twelve Things Nobody Tells You About a Santorini Boat Tour

The cable car queue is the real schedule risk. Not the boat. Allow an hour for it at peak if you are leaving from the Old Port.

The large caiques are not slow. They are heavy, which means they are stable, which is why they sail when the catamarans do not.

The volcano fee is cash and it is at the landing. Nobody takes a card on Nea Kameni.

The hot springs swim is longer than it looks. The bay is shallow and the boat cannot come close, so the swim is thirty to eighty metres each way.

Thirasia lunch is better than it needs to be. The tavernas at Korfos cook for locals as much as for the boats.

The best photograph of the day is not the sunset. It is the caldera wall from below, in the hour before it, with the villages catching the light along the top.

Deck space is what you are paying for. On a sunset santorini boat tour, the price difference between operators is almost entirely square metres per passenger.

Motion sickness starts below deck. Stay outside, look at the horizon, and do not go and lie down in the cabin.

The wind drops in the evening. A choppy afternoon is often a glassy sunset, and skippers know this even when the forecast does not show it.

You will be colder than you expect on the way back. Wet, moving, after dark, with a breeze. One layer solves it.

Alcohol is included and unlimited on some boats. That is a feature for some groups and a warning for others, particularly if there are swimming stops after the drinks start.

The crew do the work of the day. Two or three people cooking, anchoring, briefing and driving for six hours. Tipping is not obligatory and it is noticed.

Which Santorini Boat Tour to Choose

Nine travellers, and the santorini boat tour each of them should book.

First visit, three days or fewer. The volcano, hot springs and Thirasia route on a large caique. Cheap, efficient, and it covers the three things you came to see.

First visit, four days or more. A semi-private catamaran day cruise. More time in the water, better food, and a fraction of the people.

Couples and honeymoons. A semi-private sunset catamaran, or a private charter if the budget allows.

Families with children. A semi-private day catamaran with swimming stops. The hot springs are the highlight; the volcano walk is manageable from about seven years old.

Swimmers and snorkellers. The south-coast route to Red Beach, White Beach and the caves, which is almost entirely about the water.

Groups of six or more. A private charter. The per-head cost is comparable to a good semi-private and the day is yours.

Cruise passengers. A short volcano santorini boat tour from the Old Port, which is where you are tendered anyway.

Photographers. A sunset charter, because the villages lit along the top of the caldera wall from the water is the shot nobody else has.

Anybody prone to seasickness. A large caique inside the caldera, on a calm forecast, and nothing on the south coast.

Common Mistakes

Nine ways to get a santorini boat tour wrong.

Booking for the last day. The single most common and most expensive mistake. Wind cancels boats and you need somewhere to move to.

Wearing sandals for Nea Kameni. Loose volcanic scree on a graded path. People turn ankles on this every day of the season.

A new swimsuit in the hot springs. The iron oxide does not come out.

Underestimating the cable car queue. Up to an hour at the Old Port at peak. If your santorini boat tour leaves at ten, be at the cable car at nine.

Assuming lunch is included. On the large caiques it usually is not.

Booking the cheapest sunset cruise. Deck space per person is the whole product on a sunset trip, and it is what the price difference buys.

Skipping the volcano because of the walk. Nobody minds if you stay on the boat, and the view from the crater rim is the reason people go.

Not checking the departure point. Vlychada is twenty minutes from Fira by road; the Old Port is a cable car ride and a queue.

Expecting sailing. Most “sailing” catamarans motor most of the way, because the schedule requires it.

Santorini Boat Tour: Frequently Asked Questions

Is a santorini boat tour worth it? It is the single best thing to do on this island. The caldera cannot be understood from the rim, and the volcano, the hot springs and Thirasia are only reachable by sea.

Which santorini boat tour is best? A semi-private catamaran for most people, and the large caique to the volcano and hot springs if the budget or the schedule is tight.

How long does a santorini boat tour take? Four to six hours for the standard volcano route, five to seven for a catamaran day or sunset cruise.

What does a santorini boat tour cost? 40 to 60 euros a head on a large caique, 100 to 200 on a semi-private catamaran, and from around 800 for a private charter.

Where do santorini boat tours leave from? The Old Port below Fira for the volcano trips, Vlychada marina for most catamarans, and Ammoudi for small boats and water taxis.

Can you swim in the hot springs? Yes, by swimming from the boat into the bay at Palia Kameni. Warm rather than hot, and the water stains swimwear orange.

Is the volcano walk on a santorini boat tour hard? Twenty to thirty minutes up loose volcanic rock with no shade. Manageable for most people in proper shoes, and hard work at midday in August.

When do santorini boat tours run? Roughly April to October, weather permitting at both ends and through the summer meltemi.

What happens if it is cancelled? Operators almost always offer another day rather than a refund, which is why you should never book a santorini boat tour for the last day of your trip.

Do I need to book a santorini boat tour ahead? In July and August, yes, particularly for semi-private catamarans. In the shoulder months a day or two is enough.

Is there a private santorini boat tour option? Yes, and from about six people the per-head cost is comparable to a good semi-private.

Can you get to Thirasia without a tour? Yes, on the public ferry from Athinios or a small boat from Ammoudi, and a full independent day there is one of the best on the island.

Get on the Water Properly

We are a local operator running private tours and transfers in our own vehicles, and the part of a santorini boat tour we handle is the part that usually goes wrong: getting you to Vlychada, Ammoudi or the cable car at the right hour, and collecting you afterwards when you are salted, sunburnt and disinclined to walk.

Tell us your dates and we will build the land days around the boat day, and handle the transfers 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.

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 8, 2026 By Stelios Karamolegkos Leave a Comment

5 days in Santorini: Everything you must see

Known around the world and one of the most famous tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, Santorini is a dream vacation for many. Five days may not be enough to get to know it from end to end, but they are capable of giving a complete picture of the island, which is dominated by the volcano and the impressive caldera.

The beautiful villages, some hanging on the edge of the cliff and others built in a unique way inland, the cave houses of traditional architecture, the churches, the unique wine that this very special land produces.

But also its very special beaches, make Santorini an ideal destination that combines both the rest and the comfort of the holidays, as well as the acquaintance with the new, the different. The prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri, an archaeological site of unique value for all of humanity, is also a tourist attraction.

Five days in Santorini are ideal to visit its most popular villages, to see up close its impressive sights and its very special beaches, but also to visit both the volcano and Akrotiri.

The villages

Thira or Fira

Fira is the established name for the capital of Santorini, the official name is Thira. Today it is the largest settlement, it is located in the middle, on the “eyebrow” of the caldera and gathers not only most of the services, but also the visitors. Below the village, at sea level, is Gialos, the old port of Santorini.

Throughout the year, Fira is bustling with life, as the vast majority of shops remain open. Supermarkets, grocery stores, shops, banks and public services are located around the central square of the city, Theotokopoulos Square, while travel agencies, hotels and rooms for rent, restaurants and bars can be found in almost every alley, especially in the caldera.

In the capital of Santorini are the seats of both the Orthodox and Catholic churches of the island. You can take a Santorini exclusive shore private tour with us.

Oia

Oia of Santorini is the most famous settlement of the island, known throughout the world for its unique sunset, when the sun sinks into the blue sea behind the volcano… It is built in the northernmost part of the caldera and preserves unchanged the traditional Cycladic, and especially theraiki, architecture, the traditional caves and captains’ houses, the houses of the island’s shipwrights.

Imerovigli

At the highest point of the caldera, Imerovigli has been standing since the Byzantine era, gazing at the impressive volcano from a height of about 300 meters from the sea. Today it is one of the most developed tourist spots in Santorini, with high-quality hotels, restaurants and other shops, which welcome tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year.

The view of the sunset from Imerovigli is unique and many recommend the village for romantic holidays. A special place for the village is the Castle of Skaros, the old Kasteli which for several centuries was the capital of the island. You can take a tour of Santorini!

Pyrgos

One of the largest villages of Santorini, Pyrgos is built in the southern part of the island, at the foot of Prophet Ilias and at a distance of 10 kilometers from Fira. The view from the village to the whole of Santorini is magnificent, while the old castle, which is preserved to this day in very good condition, is uniquely decorated on the night of Good Friday, during the procession of the Epitaph. Inside and outside the castle of Pyrgos there are a total of about 48 churches and chapels.

Emporio

Emporio of Santorini is the most populous settlement of the island and is located approximately 12 kilometers south of Fira, near Akrotiri, at the foot of Prophet Ilias. The traditional Kasteli of Emporio is preserved to this day in very good condition, just like the medieval Goulas.

The old Primary School, built in 1900 with a donation from Andreas Sygrou, is still considered a sight to see, while just outside the village is the famous beach of Perissa, one of the most popular in Santorini. Even from afar, facing the village, the visitor sees the ornate bell tower of Panagia Messiani, located inside the castle.

Akrotiri

Akrotiri of Santorini is known because of the great discovery of the prehistoric settlement. The modern settlement is built on the southern tip of the island, very close to one of the most famous beaches of Santorini, the Red Beach.

It is characterized by Kastelli, the medieval castle at its highest point and has excellent tourist infrastructure, from tourist accommodation, to cafes, restaurants and water sports. One of the areas that the visitor deserves to see is Balos or Palos, a small bay just outside the village.

Volcano

There is no other island in the world like Santorini and its uniqueness is mainly due to the volcano. It is one of the most important in the world, it was born from the sea and significantly influenced the geological form of the entire Eastern Mediterranean – of course also the human life and activity in the area.

When the locals say volcano today, they mean the small island of Nea Kameni, in the center of the almost circular perimeter formed by Santorini, Thirasia and Aspronisi. In Nea Kameni, after all, one can see vapors emitting steam from the bowels of the earth, while only about 60 years ago, its most recent soils were formed, during the 1950 eruption.

Right next to it, Palaia Kameni is the island that was formed about 2,000 years ago, during the 47 AD eruption. Both islets of the volcano can be visited and one can even walk on them and reach the steams of Nea Kameni or swim in the warm waters of Palaia, where sulfur is released, coloring them yellowish.

5 Days in Santorini: The Itinerary at a Glance

The villages, the volcano and Akrotiri described above are the building blocks. Here we put them together into a day-by-day plan. Five days in Santorini is, in our experience, the ideal length: enough to see the whole island without rushing and still leave time to rest.

5 days in Santorini: the shape of the plan. Each day focuses on one area, so you spend your time exploring rather than driving back and forth.

Day one: Fira and the caldera rim. The capital, its museums and the walk north to Firostefani and Imerovigli.

Day two: Oia. The village at its quietest in the morning, Ammoudi at lunchtime and the famous sunset.

Day three: the sea. The volcano, the hot springs and Thirassia by boat.

Day four: the south. Akrotiri, the Red Beach, Megalochori, a winery and the lighthouse at sunset.

Day five: the south-east. Pyrgos, Profitis Ilias, Emporio, Ancient Thera and a beach afternoon at Perissa or Kamari.

5 days in Santorini: flexibility. The boat day sits in the middle so it can move if the wind rises, and each day has a slower alternative for when you need a rest.

Day One: Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli

The first of your 5 days in Santorini starts at the centre. Fira, described above as the island’s capital, is the best place to get your bearings.

5 days in Santorini, day one: morning. Coffee on the caldera edge, then the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral and the quieter Catholic quarter on the hill above.

The museums. The Museum of Prehistoric Thera shows the wall paintings and finds from Akrotiri, a perfect introduction before your visit to the site on day four.

Lunch. Choose a street behind the caldera for a simpler, cheaper taverna, and save the view for later.

5 days in Santorini, day one: afternoon. Walk north along the paved rim path to Firostefani and Imerovigli, around an hour at an easy pace, with views across the whole caldera.

Skaros Rock. From Imerovigli, a stepped path leads to the rock that once held the island’s medieval castle, as mentioned above. Allow an hour for the round trip.

Sunset. Watch it from Imerovigli, high on the rim, where it is calmer than in Oia.

5 days in Santorini, day one: evening. Dinner in Firostefani or Fira, followed by a walk along the lit caldera promenade.

Day Two: A Full Day in Oia

Most visitors see Oia only at sunset. With 5 days in Santorini, you can give it a whole day and see it at its best.

5 days in Santorini, day two: early morning. Arrive early, before the tour groups. The marble main street, the blue domes and the captains’ houses are calm and beautifully lit.

The castle. The ruins at the western tip of the village, the classic sunset spot, are almost empty in the morning.

The Maritime Museum. A small museum in a restored mansion tells the story of Oia’s sea captains and shipowners.

5 days in Santorini, day two: Ammoudi. Walk down the steps to the small harbour below Oia, as described above, for a seafood lunch by the water. Strong swimmers can follow the path to the islet of Agios Nikolaos for a swim in deep, clear water.

Rest. Take a break in the afternoon heat, back at your hotel or in a quiet café.

The sunset. Return to the castle area at least an hour before sunset in summer, or book a west-facing table for dinner.

5 days in Santorini, day two: getting back. Transport out of Oia after sunset is the bottleneck of the day. Pre-book a transfer, or have a late dinner and leave once the crowds have gone.

Day Three: The Volcano, the Hot Springs and Thirassia

The volcano, as the article says above, is the reason Santorini is unlike any other island. Day three of your 5 days in Santorini is spent on the water.

5 days in Santorini, day three: the boat. Classic excursions leave in the morning from the Old Port below Fira, from Athinios or from Ammoudi, returning in the late afternoon.

Nea Kameni. A path climbs across black lava to the crater area, around an hour up and down. Wear closed shoes and carry water; there is no shade.

Palea Kameni. The boat anchors in a bay where you swim to warm, iron-rich springs. Wear old swimwear, as the water can leave stains.

5 days in Santorini, day three: Thirassia. Lunch at a fish taverna in Korfos, the small harbour, and if time allows, the climb to Manolas for the view back across the caldera.

The alternative. A catamaran cruise from the south coast, with swimming stops at the Red and White beaches and a meal on board, suits those who prefer comfort to hiking.

5 days in Santorini, day three: the evening. After a day in the sun, keep it simple: dinner near your hotel and an early night.

If the wind blows. Swap day three with day four or five.

Day Four: Akrotiri, the South and Wine

The south of the island holds its greatest archaeological site, some of its most dramatic scenery and many of its wineries. Day four of your 5 days in Santorini brings them together.

5 days in Santorini, day four: Akrotiri. Arrive at opening time. The Bronze Age town is covered by a large roof, so it is comfortable even in summer, and a guide brings its houses, streets and drainage system to life.

The Red Beach. A short drive away, the red volcanic cliff is one of the island’s most striking sights. Access to the beach is sometimes restricted because of rockfalls, so view it from the path if signs advise.

Lunch by the sea. Fish tavernas on the south coast, near Akrotiri or at Vlychada, make an easy stop.

5 days in Santorini, day four: Megalochori. A traditional village of mansions, wine cellars and a small square, perfect for an afternoon stroll.

A winery. Taste Assyrtiko and Vinsanto, and see the low basket-trained vines that protect the grapes from the wind.

5 days in Santorini, day four: the lighthouse. End at the Akrotiri Lighthouse for a sunset over the open sea, with the whole caldera behind you.

Day Five: Pyrgos, Emporio, Ancient Thera and the Beach

The last of your 5 days in Santorini explores the villages and mountains of the south-east, then slows down on the beach.

5 days in Santorini, day five: Pyrgos. Start early in Pyrgos, as described above, walking up its circular lanes to the top of the old castle for views over the whole island.

Profitis Ilias. Drive or walk up to the island’s highest point and its monastery, with the Cyclades on the horizon on a clear day.

5 days in Santorini, day five: Emporio. Explore the medieval kasteli, a maze of narrow passages and tall houses built as a defensive wall, and look for the old windmills above the village.

Ancient Thera. If you still have energy, visit the ruined city on the ridge above Kamari, with its theatre, temples and views over both coasts. Check opening hours before you go.

The beach. Spend the afternoon at Perissa, Perivolos or Kamari, with a swim and a drink by the sea.

5 days in Santorini, day five: the last evening. A farewell dinner in a village taverna, or a final sunset from the top of Pyrgos.

Five Sunsets, Five Places

One of the pleasures of a longer stay is seeing the sunset from a different place each evening. These are our five sunset spots for 5 days in Santorini.

5 days in Santorini, sunset one: Imerovigli. High on the caldera rim, with Skaros Rock in the foreground.

Sunset two: Oia. The island’s most famous view, from the castle ruins at the western tip of the village.

Sunset three: from the sea. If your boat day includes a sunset cruise, you watch from the water, away from every crowd.

5 days in Santorini, sunset four: the Akrotiri Lighthouse. The sun sinks into the open sea beyond the cliffs.

Sunset five: Pyrgos. From the top of the village, the whole island glows in the evening light.

Timing. Arrive early at every viewpoint in summer, and bring a light layer; the wind cools the evening quickly.

5 days in Santorini: the sunset dinner. Book one of the five evenings at a restaurant with a west-facing view.

A Slower Version of the Plan

Not everyone wants a full programme every day. This is how to spend 5 days in Santorini at a relaxed pace.

5 days in Santorini at a slow pace: day one. Fira and a short walk to Firostefani, with a long lunch and the sunset from the rim.

Day two. A beach day at Perivolos or Kamari, with nothing else planned.

Day three. A catamaran cruise with swimming and a meal on board.

5 days in Santorini at a slow pace: day four. Akrotiri in the morning and a long winery lunch in the afternoon.

Day five. Oia in the morning, a rest in the afternoon and a final sunset dinner.

What you give up. Ancient Thera, Profitis Ilias and the longer walks. They make good reasons to come back.

5 days in Santorini at a slow pace: who it suits. Honeymooners, families with young children and anyone who needs a genuine rest.

A Walker’s Version of the Five Days

For active travellers, the island offers some of the best walking in the Cyclades. This version of 5 days in Santorini puts the trails first.

5 days in Santorini on foot: day one. The full caldera walk from Fira to Oia, around ten kilometres, ending with the sunset at the castle.

Day two. Skaros Rock in the morning and a slow afternoon in Imerovigli and Firostefani.

Day three. The volcano walk on Nea Kameni, then a swim at the hot springs.

5 days in Santorini on foot: day four. Profitis Ilias from Pyrgos, then along the ridge to Ancient Thera and down to Kamari or Perissa.

Day five. Akrotiri, the path to the Red Beach viewpoint and the lighthouse at sunset.

When to go. Spring and autumn are ideal. In summer, walk only in the early morning.

5 days in Santorini on foot: what to carry. Water, sun protection, a windproof layer and shoes with good grip.

5 Days in Santorini for Couples

Santorini is one of the world’s great romantic destinations. These are our suggestions for couples spending 5 days in Santorini.

5 days in Santorini for couples: the base. Imerovigli or Firostefani, on the caldera rim but quieter than Oia and Fira.

Sunrise in Oia. The village at dawn is peaceful and romantic, and ideal for photographs together.

A private boat. A private or small-group cruise at sunset avoids the busy excursion boats.

5 days in Santorini for couples: dinners. Book one special caldera-view dinner well in advance, and balance it with simpler village tavernas.

Wine. A tasting at a winery with a view, or a private wine tour with transport.

Quiet sunsets. Imerovigli, Pyrgos and the lighthouse offer beauty without the crowds.

5 days in Santorini for couples: a free afternoon. Leave time each day for doing nothing on a terrace with a view.

5 Days in Santorini with Children

Families need more rest, more swimming and fewer steps. This is how we adapt 5 days in Santorini for families.

5 days in Santorini with children: the base. Kamari or Perissa, near the beach and with easy access for strollers, rather than a cliffside hotel with many steps.

The volcano. Most children love walking on a real volcano. Choose a morning boat to avoid the heat.

Akrotiri. Shaded and easy to walk, with a story of a buried town that fascinates many children.

5 days in Santorini with children: beach days. At least two afternoons at the beach, with beach shoes for the hot dark sand.

Fira and Oia. Visit early in the day, before the crowds and heat. Hold small children’s hands near the cliff edges.

Evenings. An early sunset, an ice cream and an early dinner suit most young families.

5 days in Santorini with children: skip. The long caldera walk to Oia and Ancient Thera are tiring for small children in summer.

Where to Stay for Five Days

Five nights gives you a real choice of base, and even the option of splitting your stay. These are our suggestions for 5 days in Santorini.

5 days in Santorini: Fira. The most practical base, at the centre of the bus network and close to the Old Port, with restaurants and nightlife on the doorstep.

Firostefani and Imerovigli. Quieter, with some of the best caldera views and an easy walk to Fira.

Oia. Beautiful mornings and evenings, but far from the south of the island and crowded at sunset.

5 days in Santorini: Kamari and Perissa. Beach bases with better value, ideal for families and anyone who wants to swim every day.

Inland villages. Pyrgos, Megalochori and Karterados offer character and quiet, best with a car or private tours.

5 days in Santorini: a split stay. Two nights on the caldera and three by the beach is a popular combination, giving you views and swimming without long daily drives.

Steps and access. Many caldera hotels have long flights of steps. Check before booking if mobility or luggage is a concern.

Getting Around During Your Stay

How you travel between the villages shapes each day. These are the options for 5 days in Santorini.

5 days in Santorini: arriving. The airport is close to Fira and Kamari. Ferries dock at Athinios, below the cliffs in the south-west, where the road up is congested when ships arrive. Pre-book your transfer.

Buses. Cheap, but crowded in summer and centred on Fira, so journeys between villages take time.

Taxis. Scarce for the number of visitors, with long queues after sunset in Oia.

5 days in Santorini: car hire for two days. A car is most useful on days four and five in the south. For days one and two, walking and short transfers are easier than parking in Fira and Oia.

Quad bikes. Popular but involved in many accidents. Choose a car if you are inexperienced.

Private tours. A driver-guide on the busiest days lets you see more, with no worries about parking or timing.

5 days in Santorini: departing. Allow extra time for the drive to the airport or Athinios on your last day.

The Best Time for Five Days on the Island

The same plan feels very different in May, August and October. This is how the season affects 5 days in Santorini.

5 days in Santorini in spring. April and May bring green hillsides and mild temperatures, ideal for walking. The sea is still cool, so swap some beach time for villages and wineries.

Summer. June to August has everything open and the warmest sea, but also the most heat, crowds and highest prices. Start early and rest at midday.

5 days in Santorini in autumn. September and October bring warm sea, softer heat and fewer crowds, the best balance for this itinerary. See our page on September and October in Santorini.

Winter. From November to March many hotels, restaurants and boats close. Focus on the villages, Akrotiri, the museums and walks.

5 days in Santorini: sunset times. Sunset moves from around 20:45 in late June to about 18:30 in late October. Plan each evening around it.

Cruise days. Check the cruise calendar and plan Fira and Oia for the quieter hours on busy ship days.

Five Days of Local Food

Food is one of the pleasures of a longer stay. With 5 days in Santorini, you can taste most of the island’s specialities.

5 days in Santorini: fava. The island’s creamy yellow split-pea purée, served with olive oil, onion and capers.

Tomatokeftedes. Tomato fritters made with the small, intense Santorini cherry tomato.

White aubergine. A sweet local variety, often grilled or baked.

5 days in Santorini: seafood. Fresh fish in Ammoudi on day two, at Korfos on Thirassia on day three and on the south coast on day four. Check the price per kilo before ordering.

Wine. Assyrtiko with meals and Vinsanto with dessert, plus a winery visit on day four.

Where to eat. One special caldera-view dinner, and village tavernas the rest of the time for better food at fairer prices.

5 days in Santorini: street food. A gyros or souvlaki in Fira is the cheapest good lunch on the island.

Budgeting for Five Days

Santorini has a reputation for high prices, but careful choices make a big difference. This is how to plan the cost of 5 days in Santorini.

5 days in Santorini: accommodation. The biggest cost. Caldera-view rooms cost far more than rooms in Kamari, Perissa or the inland villages.

Free experiences. The caldera walk, the villages, churches, public beaches and sunsets from public viewpoints cost nothing.

Where to spend. The boat trip, Akrotiri, a winery tasting and one special dinner give the best value.

5 days in Santorini: hidden costs. Sunbeds, the volcano landing fee, cable car tickets and late-night taxis add up quickly.

Season. Spring and autumn prices are much lower than in July and August.

Private tours. For groups and families, a private tour can cost less per person than taxis and car hire combined.

5 days in Santorini: food. Mixing tavernas, bakeries and street food with one or two special meals keeps costs reasonable.

What to Book Before You Arrive

In high season, the best options sell out. These are the bookings to make before your 5 days in Santorini.

5 days in Santorini: accommodation. The best-located hotels fill months ahead in summer.

The boat trip. Reserve day three early, with a fallback date in case of wind.

Transfers. Airport and port transfers avoid long taxi queues.

5 days in Santorini: sunset dinners. West-facing tables in Oia, Imerovigli and Fira are the first to go.

Private tours. Days four and five work well as private tours, best booked in advance in July and August.

Wine tastings. Popular wineries limit numbers; book your day-four tasting ahead.

5 days in Santorini: leave room. Keep at least one afternoon unplanned for rest or a change of plan.

Packing and Practical Tips

A few simple preparations make a longer stay much easier. These are our practical tips for 5 days in Santorini.

5 days in Santorini: shoes. Comfortable walking shoes with grip for the caldera path, the volcano and the village steps, plus sandals for the beach.

Sun protection. A hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen. The sun is strong from spring to autumn.

Layers. A light jacket or sweater for windy evenings and boat trips.

5 days in Santorini: swimwear. Two sets, including an old one for the iron-rich hot springs.

Water. Carry a refillable bottle, especially on walks and at archaeological sites.

Money. Cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for small tavernas, kiosks and buses.

5 days in Santorini: dress for churches. Cover shoulders and knees when visiting churches and monasteries.

Travel insurance. Recommended, with medical cover and protection against delays and cancellations.

Mistakes to Avoid

A few common mistakes can spoil a good trip. Avoid these and your 5 days in Santorini will run smoothly.

5 days in Santorini: crossing the island repeatedly. Keep each day in one area to avoid hours in traffic.

Arriving late for the Oia sunset. The best spots fill early. Arrive an hour ahead in summer, or choose another viewpoint.

Walking up from the Old Port at midday. The steps face the sun. Walk down and ride the cable car up.

5 days in Santorini: riding the mules. The mules’ welfare has been widely criticised. Walk or take the cable car instead.

Ignoring the wind. Keep the boat day flexible.

Standing near cliff edges. Many viewpoints have no railings.

5 days in Santorini: overplanning. Leave time to linger. The best moments are often unplanned.

If You Can Stay a Sixth Day

Five days covers the island well. If you can add one more, these are the best ways to extend your 5 days in Santorini.

5 days in Santorini, plus one: a full day on Thirassia. Take a small boat from Ammoudi and explore the quiet island at your own pace, with lunch in Korfos and the view from Manolas.

A cooking class. Learn to make fava, tomato fritters and other local dishes, then eat them with island wine.

The cave villages. Vothonas, Karterados and Mesaria, with houses and churches cut into the soft volcanic rock.

5 days in Santorini, plus one: a second winery. Compare a large, modern winery with a small family estate.

Kayaking. A guided sea-kayak trip along the south coast, past sea caves and quiet coves.

A lazy day. Simply do nothing: a beach, a book and a long lunch.

5 days in Santorini, plus one: see more. Our page on the must-see places in Santorini lists more ideas.

5 Days in Santorini: Daily Checklist

Keep this short checklist handy to make sure nothing important slips through.

5 days in Santorini, day one checklist. Coffee on the rim in Fira, the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, the walk to Imerovigli, Skaros Rock and the sunset from the caldera.

Day two checklist. Oia at dawn, the castle, the Maritime Museum, lunch in Ammoudi, an afternoon rest and the Oia sunset.

Day three checklist. The boat, the crater of Nea Kameni, the hot springs off Palea Kameni and lunch on Thirassia.

5 days in Santorini, day four checklist. Akrotiri at opening time, the Red Beach viewpoint, Megalochori, a winery and the lighthouse.

Day five checklist. Pyrgos, Profitis Ilias, Emporio, Ancient Thera and a final swim at Perissa or Kamari.

Every day. Water, sun protection, good shoes and a light layer for the evening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are 5 days in Santorini too many?

No. Five days lets you see the whole island at a comfortable pace, with time for beaches and rest. Many visitors wish they had stayed longer.

What is the best order for five days?

Fira and the caldera first, Oia on day two, the boat in the middle, and the south and south-east on the last two days.

Should I rent a car?

For days four and five, yes, or book private tours. For the caldera villages, walking and short transfers are easier.

Can I combine Santorini with another island?

Yes, but with five days we recommend staying on Santorini. A shorter stay suits an island-hopping trip better.

What if I only have three days?

See our page on what to do in Santorini in three days for a shorter plan.

With Santorini Tours. We plan private days across your 5 days in Santorini, timed around the crowds, the weather and the sunset. Contact us to plan your visit.

SANTORINI TOURS

Foinikia

Akrotiri

Karterados

Vothonas

The secret beaches of Santorini

Red Beach

Thirasia

Enjoy the imposing view of Manolas

Where to stay in Santorini

More Secret Spots of Santorini

Mesaria and Its Mansions

Panagia Episkopi in Episkopi Gonia

The Kasteli of Emporio

Megalochori

Akrotiri Village and Its Castle

Vlychada and the Tomato Museum

Baxedes and the North Coast

Armeni Bay Below Oia

Skaros Rock and the Chapel of Theoskepasti

Profitis Ilias and the Ridge

The Hidden Lanes of Pyrgos

The Path to Ancient Thera from Perissa

Hidden Wineries and Old Canavas

Quiet Corners of Fira

Imerovigli Beyond the Hotels

Oia’s Quiet Corners

Secret Sunset Spots

Secret Spots on the Water

Where Locals Eat

Hidden Spots for Photographers

Secret Spots Out of Season

A Day of Secret Spots

How to Keep the Secret Spots Special

Secret Spots of Santorini by Area

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best secret spots of Santorini?

Are there quiet beaches in Santorini?

Can I find a quiet sunset?

Do I need a car to reach the secret spots of Santorini?

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