Santorini Itinerary in a Day

Santorini, one of the jewels in the crown of evocative Greece, an island that has captivated all those who have stepped onto its soil and swum in its limpid waters, mesmerised by a dreamlike sunset! Not for nothing has it been called the Pearl of the Aegean! One day is not a lot, but you will still be able to discover the beauty of this island, immerse yourself in its wonderful atmosphere and enjoy breathtaking views!

Are you ready to go? Here is the Santorini itinerary in one day!
SEE ALSO: What to see in Santorini

One-day itinerary in Santorini

If you are visiting Santorini in a day, 99% of the time it is because you are taking a spectacular cruise. In this case you will most likely dock at the Old Harbor, so start your day in Thira, the island's main town.
Take advantage of the morning to wander the streets of Thira. Afterwards, head to the nearby village of Firostefani, considered the 'roof of the island'. For lunch, head to Imerovigli, another spectacular village situated on a cliff overlooking the warm islands of Santorini.

After lunch, we recommend a bus ride to Oia, one of the most famous resorts on Santorini! Here you have several options: you can relax on the beach in Ammoudi Bay or stroll through the streets of the resort and visit the world-famous Atlantis Books bookshop.

In case you have to board the cruise ship, your itinerary unfortunately ends here. But if, on the other hand, you have the opportunity to stop for dinner or for the night, we recommend ending the day right in Oia, one of the best spots on the island to watch the sunset!

• Morning: Thira (free), Firostefani and Imerovigli (free)

• Afternoon: Oia (free)

• Evening: Oia (free)

• Distance travelled: 11.3 km

• Where to eat: Lunch at Le Moustache Caldera Pool Lounge & Restaurant, Imerovigli (Get directions) / Dinner at Ammoudi Fish Tavern, Ammoudi Bay, Santorini (Get directions)

First time in Santorini? To optimise your time and get a first impression of the city, we recommend booking a small group catamaran cruise or a scenic bus tour with sunset in Oia.

Below we detail the main stops on our itinerary.

1 - Thira

Your day will begin in Thira, or Fira, the island's capital. If you reach Santorini by sea, the first attraction you can visit is the old marina. From here, you can ascend to the centre of the resort on foot via the Karavolades Stairs, or by the more comfortable Santorini Cable Car, which offers wonderful sea views! TheUpper Station is located at Ipapantis 10 (€6.00 one way).

Once you arrive in the centre of Thira, you should stroll through its narrow streets, houses built in pumice stone, white roofs and blue doors. You will find yourself in the midst of a riot of colour, movement, tradition and modernity. Visit the town's central square, Theotokopoulou Square, a meeting point for tourists and locals alike, and then admire from above the great Caldera, the island's number one natural attraction! This is the vast basin that was formed when the magma chamber of Santorini's volcano collapsed over 10,000 years ago - a unique sight!

Have a coffee with a view at Volkan on the Rocks: as soon as you get up to Thira by cable car, take the opportunity to have a coffee or a refreshing drink at this popular café with a wonderful view over the whole of the Caldera, thanks to the large panoramic terrace! Get directions

2 - Firostefani and Imerovigli

Photo by Mstyslav Chernov. After strolling around Thira, in just 5 min on foot along the path overlooking the Caldera, you reach the beautiful Firostefani, called the 'roof of the island'. Urbanistically, it is still part of Thira, but it has its own characteristics and is the place from which to admire the most beautiful views of the island; in fact, it is Santorini's natural viewing terrace par excellence.

By now it's lunchtime, so it's just a 20-minute walk to the nearby village of Imerovigli, a quaint traditional village. Here you will find some of the most luxurious hotels on the island. Here you can visit the ruins of the fortress of Skaros and the chapel of Panagia Theoskepasti, from where you can admire a marvellous view of the Caldera of Santorini and the entire sea.

Stop here for lunch: as two of the places with the best views on the island, Firostefani and Imerovigli have some of the most beautiful views! We recommend stopping for lunch at Le Moustache Caldera Pool Lounge & Restaurant, a wonderful restaurant with a large terrace and incredible views. Get directions

3 - Oia

Photo by Pedro Szekely. Immediately after lunch, it is time to reach Oia, one of the most famous resorts on the island. From Imerovigli you can reach it quickly by bus with the'Fira-Oia via Firostefani and Imerovigli' line. In summer, buses run about every 30 min and it takes on average 15-20 min to cover this route.

Oia is most famous for being one of the most beautiful vantage points for watching the sunset! There are plenty of places to enjoy an aperitif while admiring the sun going down behind the sea. But that's not all: you should know that this village is home to one of the 10 most famous and beautiful bookshops in the world according to'The Guardian'! Here you can visitAtlantis Books, a bookshop housed in a dream location, with aphorisms written on the walls! Also, if you feel like it, this is the right place to enjoy some sea! You can reach the beautiful Ammoudi Bay by descending the grand Oia steps, which will take you down to the sea. In short, in Oia you can spend the whole afternoon among various activities, we leave you free to choose the ones that suit you best!

Plan your evening and travel arrangements: depending on your return schedule, you may want to watch the sunset and spend the evening right in Oia. There is no shortage of clubs and nightlife. If, on the other hand, you are travelling on a cruise and need to return to Thira, here you can take the Thira-Oia line that will take you directly back to the centre of Thira, where you can return to the Old Harbour to embark.

Activities and ideas for alternative itineraries

If you have visited the destination before
and this time you just want to enjoy the sea, then you can join a catamaran tour along the coast (duration 5h), or an organised cruise to the volcanic islands (duration 9h), or simply relax at one of the most famous beaches: Red Beach, Kamari Beach or Perissa Beach!

History lovers might prefer to visit Akrotiri, where the archaeological site ofAncient Thera is located (€6.00). If you love nature, you could tackle the Thira-Oia trek, walking along the Caldera (well-marked path, duration 2 h 30 min).

Finally, you may not know it, but Santorini is famous for its wine. It offers numerous wineries, including the famous Santo Wines, where you could treat yourself to a visit with wine tasting

Here are some ideas for alternative itineraries.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Santorini: guide with practical tips about the city

• Family city tour: morning walk between Thira and Imerovigli. Afternoon at the beach in Oia and visit to the Atlantis Bookshop. Evening Thira

• Tour of free attractions: morning Thira, Firostefani and Imerovigli. Afternoon relaxation at the black Perissa Beach. Sunset and evening in Oia

• Day at archaeological sites: morning Thira and visit to the site of Akrotiri. Afternoon visit to Ancient Thera. Evening Thira

• Relaxing day at the beach: morning arrival in Thira, walk through town and transfer to one of the island's beaches (to be chosen at your leisure). Highly recommended is the famous Re Beach, near Akrotiri. Evening Imerovigli

Itinerary between land and sea: morning visit to Thira, Firostefani and Imerovigli. Afternoon catamaran cruise (3.30 pm, duration 5 h). Evening Oia

Discovering the volcanic islands: day cruise to the volcanic islands of Santorini with hot springs (9h). Final stop in Oia and evening in Thira

Food and wine tour: morning Thira, Firostefani and Imerovigli with a stop at Santo Wines. Afternoon tasting tour (3.30 pm, duration 4 h). Evening Oia

Before leaving: useful tips

1. Gettingaround: the best option, if you only visit the main places on the island, is to use the city buses, which run more frequently in summer - find out here

2. How toget there by sea: if you arrive by sea from another Greek island, your boat will dock at the port of Atninios (8 km from Thira and 10 km from Akrotiri). There are numerous routes between Santorini and the other Greek islands - find out here

3. How to get there by cruise: if you arrive by cruise, the ship will drop you off at Thira's Old Harbour, which you can reach by cable car. It can take a long time to get to the top, so arm yourself with patience.

4. Don't hire a car: this would generally be a good way to get around the island, but the timings are too long. For a one-day visit, it is not worth wasting hours in line to pick up/drop off your vehicle.

5. Organise your backpack: with one day at your disposal, it is better to travel light. Put the bare essentials in your backpack, so towel, water and a change of clothes

6. Consider a bus tour: if you prefer a general panoramic tour of the island, the best option is to join a bus tour, ideal for one day, ending with the sunset in Oia. Info and costs here