Places to Visit in Santorini: Multiple Stops, One Island

Greece has over 6,000 islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, but most people only visit a few. Santorini is usually at the top of the list. This volcanic island in the southern Cyclades features steep caldera cliffs, villages built into white pumice, and beaches with black and red pebbles instead of sand. Its landscape is the result of one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in history, and you can see signs of this unique geology all over the island.

There are many more places to visit in Santorini than just the famous Oia sunset. This guide highlights the best places to visit in Santorini, including caldera villages, beaches, ancient ruins, and the volcanic islands in the caldera.

What Makes Santorini Greece Worth Visiting?

The places to visit in Santorini, Greece, fall into five groups: villages along the caldera’s western cliffs, volcanic beaches on the south and east coasts, ancient ruins at the southern tip, a volcanic islet in the caldera’s centre, and a small fishing harbour below Oia.

The island is 28 km long; the main entry points are Santorini (Thira) Airport (JTR) and the port of Athinios.

What Can You See Around Oia Santorini and Imerovigli?

The villages along the caldera rim are the most photographed places to visit in Santorini. Each one sits on the western cliffs and has its own unique feel. Here are four villages you should know about before your holiday.

Here’s a quick overview:

1. Oia Santorini
2. Caldera Cliffs in Fira
3. Imerovigli
4. Pyrgos

Oia Santorini

Oia Santorini sits at the northern tip of the island and is the most internationally recognised village.

• The sunset viewpoint is at the ruins of a Venetian fortress at the cliff edge, known locally as Oia Castle; arrive at least one hour before sunset to secure a position
• Cave houses (yposkafa) are carved directly into the pumice cliff; narrow marble-paved paths connect the main street to lookout platforms and the small port of Amoudi Bay below
• Amoudi Bay is reached by approximately 214 steps down from the village edge; a steep descent but manageable in the early morning before the heat builds

Caldera Cliffs in Fira

Fira is the capital of Santorini; the Caldera Cliffs in Fira give the town its visual character and are the practical starting point for the island's most rewarding walk.

• A cable car (operational since 1979; runs every 20 minutes) connects Fira to the old port of Skala Fira, 220 metres below on the caldera water
• The Caldera Cliffs in Fira are the southern starting point of the paved cliff-path walking trail heading north toward Imerovigli and Oia, Santorini; the full route is approximately 9 km and takes 3 to 4 hours
• This walking path is often recommended as one of the best places to visit in Santorini if you want an active half-day.

Imerovigli

Imerovigli is the highest caldera-rim village at approximately 300 metres above sea level; quieter and less visited than Fira or Oia.

• Sits between Fira and Oia on the cliff path, giving the widest open views across the full caldera
• Skaros Rock, a volcanic headland projecting into the caldera, extends from the village edge; the hike to its tip takes approximately 20 minutes and gives 360-degree views of the caldera and the volcanic islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni below. 
• It’s best to visit early in the morning, one of the most peaceful places to visit in Santorini before the crowds arrive from Fira.

Pyrgos

Pyrgos is the island's highest traditional village, inland rather than on the caldera rim, at approximately 350 metres.

• It retains its medieval circular layout, built around a Venetian castle (kasteli) at the summit; the architecture here has barely changed since the 18th century
• Pyrgos is the centre of Santorini's wine production; the volcanic aspa soil produces the Assyrtiko grape, grown in distinctive basket-weave vines called kouloura to protect against the island's strong winds
• Several wineries near Pyrgos offer tastings and cellar tours. The village is a practical place to visit in Santorini that many visitors miss because they focus on the caldera towns.

What Makes Red Beach Santorini and Perissa Beach Stand Out?

The best places to visit in Santorini’s coastline offer everything from long black sand beaches to a small volcanic harbour below Oia. Here are three main coastal spots to consider.

Red Beach Santorini and Amoudi Bay

Red Beach Santorini and Amoudi Bay are on opposite ends of the island, but both reward the effort to reach them.

• Red Beach Santorini is a 400-metre beach on the southwestern coast; the red-black volcanic cliffs tower directly above it, giving the beach its colour; accessible by a 10-minute boat ride from the small jetty near Akrotiri village; the cliff path is at risk of rockfall, and access is restricted at times; always verify current access at the official website of Visit Greece before visiting
• Amoudi Bay sits directly below Oia, Santorini, reached by 214 steps from the village; four tavernas serve fresh octopus, grilled fish, and seafood from outdoor seating on the waterfront; flat volcanic rocks at the water's edge are used for swimming and jumping into clear caldera water
• Amoudi Bay is one of the great places to visit in Santorini, Greece, for lunch and a swim if you don’t want to spend the whole day at the beach.

Perissa Beach and Kamari Beach

Perissa Beach and Kamari Beach are the two longest beaches on the island, separated by the central rock of Mesa Vouno.

• Perissa Beach runs approximately 7 km on the southeastern coast; black volcanic sand; the village behind it has a high concentration of casual dining and beach bars; access is easy from the southern road
• Kamari Beach sits on the other side of Mesa Vouno from Perissa Beach, facing east; it is 5 km long and considered the more organised of the two; the waterfront road is pedestrianised; the Santorini airport runway runs alongside the northern end, which means few aircraft pass overhead during arrivals
• You can travel between Kamari Beach and Perissa Beach by boat shuttle or by driving around Mesa Vouno, which is about 15 km by road. If you walk through the archaeological site at the top of the rock, it takes about 45 to 60 minutes.

What Can You Experience at Akrotiri and Nea Kameni?

Two of the most unique places to visit in Santorini are neither villages nor beaches. One is a Bronze Age city buried under volcanic ash, and the other is an active volcano in the middle of the caldera that you can walk across.

Here’s a quick overview:

1. Akrotiri
2. Nea Kameni

Akrotiri

Akrotiri is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Aegean.

• A preserved Bronze Age city buried under volcanic ash during the Minoan eruption approximately 3,600 years ago (around 1600 BCE); it predates Pompeii by more than 1,000 years
• The entire excavation is covered by a large protective shelter; visitors walk through on a raised boardwalk with full shelter from sun and rain; an entry fee applies; open Tuesday to Sunday (confirm current hours and fees at odysseus.culture.gr before visiting)
• Excavations began in 1967 under archaeologist Spyridon Marinatos; the site contains multi-storey buildings, drainage systems, and fresco paintings; some frescoes are now displayed in the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira
• Akrotiri is located at the southwestern tip of the island, approximately 12 km from Fira by road; it sits near Red Beach, Santorini, and both can be covered in the same half-day visit

Nea Kameni

Nea Kameni is the active volcanic islet in the centre of the Santorini caldera.

• Formed by successive eruptions between 1707 and 1950; it is one of the youngest geological formations in the Aegean
• Accessible by boat from Fira's old port (Skala Fira) and from Amoudi Bay below Oia, Santorini, on organised caldera tours
• The walk from the boat landing to the Georgios crater takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes on marked volcanic trails; the terrain is reddish-brown and lunar; sulphur gases are still released at the crater
• Most caldera boat tours also stop at Palea Kameni, the older volcanic islet nearby, where the sea turns warm and orange from volcanic mineral runoff
• Most Nea Kameni tours include a swim in the thermal waters, making this one of the most unusual places to visit in Santorini for anyone looking for both adventure and history.

Final Takeaway

The places to visit in Santorini offer more than most people expect. Start with Oia, Santorini, and the Caldera Cliffs in Fira, then cover Imerovigli and Pyrgos for a quieter experience. The coast is covered by Red Beach, Santorini, Amoudi Bay, Perissa Beach, and Kamari Beach. Akrotiri is a major Bronze Age site, and Nea Kameni lets you visit an active volcano just a short boat ride away. With all these best places to visit in Santorini, you can easily fill a week with new experiences every day.

If you’re planning a holiday to Santorini or anywhere in Greece and want a custom itinerary, Holiday Tribe’s holiday advisors can help you plan every detail.