The Ultimate 3 Days in Santorini Itinerary

Get ready for this ultimate 3 days in Santorini itinerary!

Greece has many beautiful islands, and Santorini is for sure one of them. With its beautiful cliffs, cute towns, iconic white houses, cave-like hotels, amazing Greek food, and colorful flowers, it’s not hard to understand why this island is so popular. People from all around the world come to Greece to visit Santorini.

Santorini is an island you have to see with your own eyes at least once in your life. We had already seen many pictures of it, but it didn’t disappoint in real life.

Is 3 days in Santorini enough time on the island? We would say yes! It’s enough time to see the highlights of the island as the island isn’t super big and it’s easy to get around.

And we will share all the best things to do in this Santorini itinerary, so you can fully enjoy your vacation, or maybe even your Santorini honeymoon?

This Santorini itinerary also includes the best tips for when to visit Santorini, where to stay, how to get around, and where to eat the best Greek food.

Contents show

Best Time to go to Santorini

How Many Days in Santorini?

How to get to Santorini

Santorini Transportation

Moped / Scooter Rental Santorini

Santorini Budget

Where to Stay in Santorini?

3 days in Santorini: Best Things to do in Santorini

Santorini Map

Best Time to go to Santorini

When to visit Santorini is a very important question! If you are planning on visiting Santorini between November and April, it’s good to know that many hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and cafés will be closed.

But, visiting Santorini in winter also has its perks: it’s the moment to see Santorini without the crowds!

The best time to go to Santorini is during the months May-June and September-October. It’s not as busy yet on the island, and the prices aren’t at their peak yet.

July and August are by far the most popular months of the year, so be prepared for crowds and higher prices.

Santorini Weather

What’s the Santorini weather like? During the winter months, it can get quite cold in Santorini. Not snow and freezing temperatures cold, but around 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) cold.

Especially January and February bring cold weather, rain, and lots of wind. Still, it stays relatively warmer than most places in Europe.

If you like hot temperatures, no rain and lots of sun, the summer months (May-September) are perfect. Temperatures will go up to about 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit).

In April, it gets warmer and in October it gets colder! Those months are actually perfect if you like to go hiking in Santorini without high temperatures.

How Many Days in Santorini?

No matter if you spend 3 days in Santorini or a week in Santorini, you will fall in love with this beautiful island! But we would say 3 days is the minimum if you want to see all the highlights on the island. Santorini has a lot to offer.

Santorini isn’t a big island. You can drive from the northern part of the island to the southern part in just 45 minutes. That’s why it’s easy to see quite some places in a couple of days. Especially if you rent your own transportation (more about that later!).

If you just want to see the famous white houses, cliffs, and the famous sunset photo in Oia (pronunciation ‘ee-a’), one day can be enough too. But if you have the time, we recommend spending at least 3 days in Santorini.

And with our Santorini itinerary, you will make the most of your time in Santorini!

How to get to Santorini

Santorini attracts visitors from all around the world. In 2019, the island received more than 2 million tourists. And it has only a population of a little over 15,000 people!

Getting to Santorini isn’t difficult, especially not if you are living in Europe. It’s possible to get to the island by ferry, cruise, or airplane.

Santorini Airport

Santorini Airport (JTR) is an international airport with daily direct flights from mainland Greece and international destinations in Europe like Amsterdam, Stockholm, and Paris. There are also a few destinations outside of Europe that offer direct flights to Santorini.

The airport on Santorini is located on the east side of the island, and a taxi from the airport to the famous Oia takes about 25 minutes (costs should be around €35-€40/$42-$48). A taxi ride from Santorini airport to Fira takes about 10 minutes (costs should be around €20/$24).

It’s also possible to travel to and from the airport by public transportation. We will tell you more about that soon, so continue reading!

Santorini Ferry

Traveling by ferry in Greece is a very convenient way to get around. There are daily ferries going to and from Santorini to other islands (for example to Ios, Milos, and Mykonos) and to Athens on the mainland.

Note: in low season, there are fewer boats, so make sure to check the schedule in advance. During high season, it might also be a good idea to book tickets in advance, as they can sell out.

Some ferries are a bit slower and some are faster, depending on which one you book, but in general, they are a convenient way to get around.

We especially loved traveling with the slower ferry, as the big boat allowed us to sit on the open deck and enjoy the surrounding scenery. The fast boat only allowed us to sit inside.

Arriving in Santorini by Cruise

Another option is to arrive in Santorini by cruise! Island hopping in Greece is a popular thing to do, many people join a cruise to see multiple islands in a short time. But we don’t think this is the best way to see Santorini, as we believe you need to spend at least 3 days in Santorini to see all the highlights!

The old harbor of Santorini, in Fira, is used as a cruise port. From the port, you can take a cable car up to Fira.

Santorini Transportation

Santorini isn’t a big island. You can drive from the northern part of the island to the southern part in just 45 minutes.

That’s why it’s easy to see quite some places in a couple of days. Especially if you rent your own transportation, either a car, scooter, or an ATV.

But if you don’t want to drive yourself, there’s also a public bus driving on the island to the major places on Santorini.

Public Transportation Santorini

Getting around Santorini by bus is pretty easy and also a cheap option. A one-way ticket costs between €1.60-€2.50 ($1.90-$3), depending on the route.

The local buses on Santorini are called ‘KTEL Buses’ and they drive around the island the whole year-round. Fira, the capital city of Santorini, is the bus hub on the island.

All buses travel to and from Fira to other major places on the island like Oia, Akrotiri, Pyrgos, Imerovigli, and the airport. So if you are exploring the island by bus, Fira would be a good place to stay!

The buses on Santorini are air-conditioned and big. Find the Santorini bus schedule here. But, it might be best to check to schedule when arriving in Santorini, as the website is not always up to date.

Car Rental Santorini

If you can and want to drive yourself, we highly recommend getting your own transportation to see everything Santorini has to offer. We love the freedom of going everywhere we want and aren’t dependent on a bus schedule.

Car hire in Santorini is one of the options for getting your own transportation. On the island, you can find many places that offer car rental, for example at Santorini airport, at the Santorini port, and in the larger cities.

We do recommend renting a car in advance if you travel to Santorini during the high season. As otherwise there might not be any car available anymore.

Don’t forget to bring an international driver’s license if you are from outside Europe.

Below we will talk about two other rentals options in Santorini, scooter rental and ATV rental. The perks of a car is the AC that comes with the car and being less exposed to the sun. The downside is that during high season it can be difficult to park your car on the island.

Moped / Scooter Rental Santorini

Rent a bike in Santorini and easily go everywhere on the island! Depending on how many days you rent, you pay between €15 and €30 euros ($18-$36) a day for a motorbike/moped. The longer you are renting the motorbike, the more discount you will get.

We rented a motorbike in Fira for 4 days for €60 ($72). But this wasn’t during the high season.

It’s a fun way to get around the island by motorbike! And it’s easy to park the scooter everywhere you want. The roads on the island aren’t always the best, but in our opinion, they aren’t horrible either.

If you want to rent a scooter for two people, it might be good to know that a 50cc scooter might not be able to get you to the top of a steep mountain road. For a motorbike of 125cc and higher, you officially need a motorbike license.

It’s also often possible to arrange a different pick-up and drop-off location for the motorbike.

ATV Rental Santorini

Another fun to get around Santorini is by ATV/quad! ATVs are slightly more expensive than motorbikes, but in our opinion they are extra fun. And if you are with two people, an ATV might be the better option.

The prices of an ATV/quad are €30 to €40 ($36-$48) per day. The longer you are renting the ATV, the more discount you will get.

But make sure to be careful, as we heard quite some accidents happen while driving an ATV. Don’t go too fast in the curves. And always wear a helmet!

Santorini Taxi

If you want to spend the money, you can also travel around the island by taxi of course! And they are handy for transfers on the island, for example to the airport or to the port. You will find taxis on Santorini almost everywhere, or your hotel can call a taxi for you.

A taxi ride from the airport to the famous Oia takes about 25 minutes (costs should be around €35-€40/$42-$48). A taxi ride from Santorini airport to Fira takes about 10 minutes (costs should be around €20/$24). And a taxi ride from Fira to the port takes about 15 minutes and should cost around €25/$30.

There is no Uber or Lyft on the island.

Santorini Budget

Santorini is definitely not the cheapest Greek island, but in our eyes, it’s not super expensive either (Mykonos for example is more expensive). Of course, it also depends on when you go, as the prices of accommodation and flights are a lot more expensive in July and August.

Almost everywhere on the island, you can pay with a credit card or a Maestro card. So you don’t really need to carry (a lot of) cash with you.

What’s the budget you need for Santorini?

• Accommodation €25-€500 per night ($30-$600)

If you want to stay in Oia in a luxury hotel, you easily pay (more than) €500/$600 a night for two people. But in comparison, we stayed at a great hotel for €25/$30 a night for two people in the capital city Fira (during low season). And it’s also possible to stay in a hostel if you want a cheap option.

• Meals €15-€30 per person ($18-$36)
• Transport €10-€50 a day ($12-$60)
• Activities €5-€150 per activity ($6-$180)

Is tipping expected in Greece? In Greece, tipping is customary but is definitely not obligatory.

Where to Stay in Santorini?

Depending on your budget and what you are looking for, there are many options of places to stay on the island. The western side of the island is most popular among tourists. Towns to stay in, on this side of the island, are for example: the famous Oia, the capital city Fira, and Imerovigli.

Fira is a great place to stay on the island, as it’s centrally located, and all the buses travel from here. But we get that some people really want to stay in the famous Oia! Though, Imerovigli also has amazing hotels with the best swimming pools and views to stay at.

On the East side of the island, you can find some beach towns that are great to stay at. Often the prices for accommodation are cheaper here, and you are close to the (black sand) beaches. Popular places to stay at are the towns Perissa and Kamari.

Below we will tell you about some of the best hotels in Santorini.

Best Santorini Hotels

From budget, mid-range to luxury hotels, you can find them all on Santorini. And you can truly go as crazy as you want. Because some hotels are extremely luxurious, offering stunning views, unique swimming pools, and the best service.

But luckily there are options for every budget.

Luxury Santorini Hotels

Art Maisons Oia Castle: Stay in Oia and enjoy Santorini’s amazing sunset from your own swimming pool! Art Maisons Oia has amazing suites, offers the best service, and you have amazing postcard views from the hotel. One of the absolute best places to stay on the island.

Cavo Tagoo Santorini: One of the most famous places to stay on the island: Cavo Tagoo Santorini. Dreams come true here! This hotel has an amazing infinity swimming pool with a bar and every suite also has its own pool or hot tub. Including stunning views. Cavo Tagoo Santorini isn’t located in Oia, but in the town 15 minutes away called  Imerovigli. But if you need a transfer or anything, the staff is ready to help you with everything you need.

Trieris Villa & Suites: Located in the center of Santorini – in Fira – you can stay at Trieris Villa & Suites. The location of the villas and suites is perfect as you have many restaurants, shops, and bars within walking distance. But you probably want to spend some time at your amazing suite too. Stay in a cave suite and truly enjoy Santorini from your own cave-style jacuzzi. The hotel offers panoramic Aegean Sea and caldera views.

Good to know: Caldera means volcanic crater and the half-moon shape bay of Santorini is the center of the caldera! You’ll see ‘caldera view’ advertised everywhere in Santorini.

Mid-Range Santorini Hotels

Santorini Sky: Santorini Sky has two locations on Santorini. One is in Pyrgos and the other in Elias. We stayed at both locations and loved both a lot. The Elias location is more like a resort and has more villas. While The Pyrgos location is smaller, but we loved the view from our hot tub here – overseeing the northern part of the island. Perfect for sunrise and sunset. We do recommend having your own transportation to get here.

Hotel Thireas: Hotel Thireas is a hotel located in the heart of Fira and offers amazing views over the sea, caldera, and the town Fira. Every room has its own balcony and the hotel has a shared swimming pool to take a dip in and relax at. Or book a room with a hot tub!

Budget Santorini Hotels

Fira Livin Cave Room: we stayed here in Fira for two nights, and it is a perfect budget place to stay! They have cave rooms, but don’t expect a cave room like the luxurious hotels have. The location is convenient in Fira, many shops and restaurants are nearby, the bus stop is a 10-minute walk, and if you want to rent a scooter you can do so around the corner. We paid only €25/$30 a night for two people, but we see the prices are a lot higher during the busier months.

Laokasti Villas: If you want to stay in Oia and if you are on a budget, then Laokasti is a great choice. Especially if you still want to enjoy a bit of luxury with a swimming pool. The pool area is a relaxing and peaceful oasis. And the location of Laokasti Villas is perfect, at the start of Oia town and a short walk away from the bus station.

3 days in Santorini: Best Things to do in Santorini

3 days in Santorini is enough time to see the highlights of the island. And no matter which location and hotel you pick to stay in Santorini, you will have an amazing time!

Our Santorini itinerary includes every part and all the highlights of this Greek paradise. Things that you absolutely have to see during your trip! Including the best places to eat delicious Greek food.

Below, you can read a breakdown of every day of your 3 days in Santorini itinerary.

Day 1 of Your Santorini Itinerary

What’s a better place to start than Oia?! Oia is a village in Santorini and is the place you’ve seen in pictures before. Because when you see a picture of Santorini, it’s often of Oia.

Oia is located in the north part of the island, and it is the most famous village on the island. It can’t be missed on your 3 days in Santorini itinerary! Visiting Oia is one of the top things to do in Santorini.

• Explore Oia

As Oia (pronunciation ‘ee-a’) is such a popular village on the island, it can get very crowded here (especially during sunset). The streets of Oia are pedestrian-only and can be very small, therefore it feels even busier!

We recommend starting the day early if you do want to see Oia without many other tourists (it’s so worth it!). Bring your camera with you and take those Instagrammable pictures you want to show everybody.

Do you want to know what the best Santorini photo spots are? Make sure to read our Santorini photography blog.

Wander around Oia and get lost is our best advice! Enter Oia from the café Passaggio and you will be right at the start of the village.

Oia feels a bit like a maze with all its small streets and hidden pathways. While getting lost, you will stumble upon the prettiest places and viewpoints.

Every street is so picturesque, it’s never boring, and always a surprise what you will find. We fell in love with the iconic white houses, narrow streets, blue domes, and cozy taverns.

Must visit spots include Oia’s main street Nikolaou Nomikou, Oia Castle, the famous blue domes, and the main church of Oia Panagia Platsani.

Later in the morning or afternoon, we highly recommend visiting the shops if you want to bring something home!

At many shops, you will see the more standard souvenirs like magnets, but if you walk further, you will also find local shops selling pottery and other local crafts.

• Enjoy Lunch With a View

After all the exploring and wandering around the streets of Oia it’s time to get some rest! If you want something to eat or just some drinks, there are a few cafés and restaurants that a perfect.

And what’s better than enjoying food, drinks, and an amazing view at the same time?

The restaurant Strogili is one of those amazing places! Make sure to head to the very top of the restaurant for a panoramic view.

Looking for something sweet to eat? Melenio Café is a café perfect for baklava or other sweet treats. Their terrace overlooks the beautiful blue domes of Oia and the sea. Lotza is another restaurant that offers amazing views!

Looking for something low-key? We ate delicious pita falafel at Pitogyros Traditional Grill House.

Greece has lots of amazing food you should try. Read our popular food in Greece article to read which dishes you have to eat when visiting Greece!

• Visit Ammoudi Bay

Ammoudi Bay is a small bay and port below Oia. The bay is incredibly beautiful, the water is super clear, the surrounding cliffs are stunning, and the bay is full of cozy restaurants lined along the sea. It’s a must-visit during your 3 days in Santorini itinerary!

To get to the bay, you can either walk down from Oia via the steps, go with your own transport or get a taxi. The 300 steps down (& up) might be a bit much if you don’t like to hike or sweaty, but luckily there’s a big road (around Oia) that goes there too.

Please don’t ride donkeys/mules up and down, as many people say they are not treated well.

Ammoudi Bay is the starting point for many boat tours, so if you are interested in visiting the volcano, hot springs, or go on a sunset sailing tour, that’s possible from here.

It’s also possible to swim at Ammoudi Bay. We saw many people chilling, swimming, and cliff jumping when you follow the little path along the cliffs.

End the afternoon with an early dinner at Ammoudi Bay (so you are finished in time for sunset!). Ammoudi Bay is especially the place to be for seafood lovers!

• Enjoy Sunset From Oia Castle

Sunsets are amazing in Santorini, and Oia is one of the best places to see the sunset. Seeing sunset is one of the must things to do in Santorini, so obviously, it gets packed this time of day.

Oia Castle is one of the most famous spots to go to for sunset. Don’t expect a big castle or something, as there are only ruins left after an earthquake destroyed it.

But it offers beautiful views. Make sure to come early if you want to have a good sunset spot on the castle wall.

Another option is to walk a bit down the steps to Ammoudi Bay and sit on the side of the hill! If you want to see the sunset from the water, we recommend booking a sunset tour.

Day 2 of Your Santorini Itinerary

After a day in Oia, it’s time to see more of the island! Visiting Imerovigli and Fira are on today’s planning. And if you like wine, we recommend ending the day with a wine tour.

Fira is the capital city of the island and is the bus transfer hub of Santorini. All buses travel to and from Fira to other major places on the island. Fira is also the place where all cruise ships dock at the island.

Imerovigli actually looks a lot like Oia, but it’s way less visited! The town is located in between Fira and Oia, and a great place to explore and take pictures in.

• Hike from Oia to Fira

If you like hiking, then the hike from Oia to Fira is a must during your 3 days in Santorini! The 10.5 kilometers (6.5 miles) scenic hiking trail along the cliffs is beautiful. On the way, you will walk through multiple villages and get to enjoy beautiful views.

To avoid the mid-day heat and sun, it’s best to hike in the early morning (especially during the summer months). The hiking trail is for pedestrians only and is well maintained.

It will take you between 3-5 hours to complete the hike, depending on your pace and how many stops you make. It’s not a difficult hike, but there are some height differences.

If you don’t want to hike, no problem at all! Just make your way to Imerovigli with your own transport, by public transportation or taxi.

• Explore Imerovigli

Like Oia, Imerovigli also has iconic white houses, blue domes, churches, amazing viewpoints, high-end restaurants, and bars! Plus, here you can find many amazing luxurious hotels too with swimming pools overlooking the ocean, caldera, and the beautiful rock formation of Skaros. The city is often overlooked and that’s a pity!

If you walk from Oia to Fira, you will pass Imerovigli. The town is located on the highest cliff side point. Wander around and stumble upon picturesque spots. We’ve included quite some locations in Imerovigli in our Santorini photo spots post.

There are two easy ways to enter the town. Either turn right when you’re in front of the coffee place ‘Street Coffee’, or go up and pass by ‘Confetti Dessert Boutique’. Once you’re walking on the ‘seaside’ of the town, the roads are easy to follow.

One of the best things to do in Imerovigli is hiking up Skaros Rock, which is located in front of Imerovigli. It’s a large rock formation in the ocean that overlooks the area.

From the rock, you have a great view of both sides of the island, and of the caldera! If you like a challenge, hiking Skaros Rock is something for you.

Sadly, an earthquake destroyed a castle that was located on Skaros Rock. You can still find some ruins there. The hike to the top takes about an hour!

The hike isn’t difficult, but it includes many stairs, which makes it a bit challenging. But the views from the top is definitely worth it!

Another option is to take the path left of the mountain. Which brings you to the backside of Skaros Rock and a pretty white church overlooking the sea (which is actually a great sunset spot). This hike is a lot easier.

• Enjoy Lunch in Firostefani

Firostefani is a small town with laid-back vibes, in between Imerovigli and Fira. It’s just a short walk from Imerovigli, so we recommend you to walk here. It’s an enjoyable walk, only going downhill.

There are many wonderful restaurants located on the cliff that are perfect for lunch on the way to Fira. We highly recommend the restaurant Galini, which is a bit higher-end but lovely!

No Name Grill is perfect if you are looking for something a bit more low-key. The prices here are great and the food super delicious! Especially if you want to eat seafood.

Are you looking for something more traditional? Head to Mama Thira Tavern!

• Visit Fira

From Firostefani it’s an easy walk further down to Fira. On the way, make sure to visit the Three Bells of Fira, an iconic blue-domed church with sea views. You can see the roof from the parking lot above the church.

When walking further down to Fira you will pass a cable car. The starting point is the old harbor, which is now only used by big cruise ships.

There’s also a road going up and down from the old harbor, which tourists often only use with donkeys. And like we said before, please don’t use the donkeys for transport.

Within 10-15 minutes from the Three Bells of Fira you will reach the city center of Fira – if you walk along the cliffside.

It’s a beautiful road along the cliffs and coast with great views of Fira. Of course, you can also drive this part on the main road if you don’t want to hike, but we highly recommend walking the pedestrian road.

Like Oia, Fira is also a popular destination in Santorini. Fira has lots to offer and there are many restaurants here and shops.

Some spots to explore in Fira are the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, Saint Minas Holy Orthodox Church, and the Museum of Prehistoric Thira, if you want to learn about Santorini’s history.

Definitely wander around the narrow backstreets to find some hidden gems!

Looking for a place to eat in Fira? We recommend FalafeLAND for delicious (vegan) falafel, Argo Restaurant for local food with a view, Pelican Kipos for food and a glass of wine, and Salt and Pepper for authentic Greek food.

• Go on a Wine Tour

Greece is famous for its wines, it’s actually one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world! And one of the first wine-producing places in Europe. Santorini has over 15 wineries on the island. It’s a popular destination for wine lovers.

So we highly recommend adding a wine tour to your 3 days in Santorini itinerary. And we think it would be an excellent end of your second day!

If you want to visit a winery yourself, that’s possible, but if you book a tour you will be able to see more wineries much quicker.

A sunset wine tour of a couple of hours is perfect to try some assyrtiko wine of Santorini. The wine is delicious and has a unique taste. Which you will taste during the tour.

Plus, you will see how the grapes are grown, as they need to be protected against Santorini’s strong winds.

If you have more time, there are also tours of >4 hours, which bring you to even more vineyards on the island.

Day 3 of Your Santorini Itinerary

Time for the last day of your 3 days in Santorini! This day is a mix of exploring the best Santorini beaches and exploring some cute towns. Now you will get to see the rest of the island and its highlights.

For today, it’s best if you rent your own transportation, otherwise it won’t be possible to visit every spot (especially timewise). Also, the public bus won’t make its way to every spot.

• Visit The Santorini Beaches

Santorini isn’t a Greek island that’s famous for its beaches, but there are still some beaches on the island that are perfect to visit and to relax on!

Greek islands like Mykonos, Milos, and Crete are more famous for their beaches and beach clubs.

Below we will tell you about our favorite beaches on the island. You can pick yourself which one you want to visit during your 3 days in Santorini.

Santorini Red Beach

In the south part of Santorini, you can find a very unique beach, as this beach has red sand and is surrounded by beautiful red cliffs. Hence the name Red Beach! The red color of the sand comes from the red volcanic cliffs, it’s a beautiful place.

Red Beach is located close to the village Akrotiri and the ancient site of Akrotiri. The Akrotiri Archaeological Site is one of two major archeological sites on the island.

Here you can walk through an ancient Greek settlement. It will give you a unique sight of Greece’s ancient history. Good to know: there’s a roof above the archaeological site to protect it (+ protect you against the sun!).

After passing the village of Akrotiri and the archeological site, you will reach a parking lot and a small chapel. From there you can walk to a viewpoint of Red Beach and the beach itself.

Sarakiniko beach in Milos is amazing to go to as well, if you love unique beaches!

It’s good to know that you should be careful walking to Red Beach, as there’s a danger of falling rocks and landslides, which many signs will tell you too. The 5-minute hike isn’t difficult, but just be careful (visiting the beach itself is at your own risk!).

We enjoyed swimming in the sea at Red Beach, and there were quite some other people sunbathing here and enjoying a swim. It’s a great beach to see, take pictures of, maybe go for a short swim and go to the next spot again

Another option is to visit Red Beach with a boat tour! You can also take a boat taxi to Red Beach, White Beach, and Black Beach – the three beaches of Akrotiri.

Kamari Beach

Looking for a beach to relax on during your 3 days in Santorini? Then add Kamari beach to your Santorini Itinerary.

Kamari beach is a long black sand/pebbled beach on the South East coast of Santorini, close to the airport. The beach is of volcanic origin, therefore the black sand! Well, it’s more a combination of black sand and black pebbles. Make sure to wear food wear on the beach as the black sand and pebbles can get really hot!

The beach has many sunbeds to lay on, and restaurants, and bars to get you everything you need. Some feel a bit more upscale than others, but there’s something for everyone.

We recommend Elias Grill if you are looking for something low-key! It has great (vegetarian) food. And otherwise, you can find many great places at the beach itself!

Kamari Beach is also the perfect beach if you want to get active. Banana boat rides, water skiing, wakeboarding, mini-golf, it’s all possible here.

Perissa Beach

Another long black sand beach on the South East coast is Perissa beach. This beach is also perfect for some relaxing! It’s a less upscale compared to Kamari beach, and it feels more traditional.

There are also sunbeds and umbrellas to rent on Perissa beach and if you are looking for food and drinks, there are many restaurants and bars situated on the other side of the street.

Both Perissa beach and Kamari beach are long beaches, but as Perissa beach is the longer one, it feels less crowded here. Perissa beach is a bit cheaper, also for accommodation, and therefore attracts many young people.

• Explore More Cute Santorini Villages

Of course, you already visited some villages on the northern side of Santorini. But besides Oia, Imerovigli, and Fira, there are some other cute, less visited, villages elsewhere on the island that you should add to your 3 days in Santorini itinerary.

Pyrgos and Megalochori are two of those Santorini villages!

Pyrgos

Pyrgos is the highest village of Santorini, and it provides amazing panoramic viewpoints of both sides of the island. The village is (still) untouched by mass tourism and you can feel this while walking through the narrow picturesque streets. It’s more local and the pace of life is more relaxed.

Wander around, visit the churches, shop for some souvenirs, and walk to Castelli of Pyrgos for an amazing view! Have food and drinks at either Kantouni or Brusco. Both places are wonderful and cozy!

Pyrgos is only 10 minutes away from the new harbor and 7.5 kilometers (4.6 miles) south of Fira. And close to Pyrgos you can find Santo Winery. If you didn’t do a wine tasting earlier, perhaps this might be a good time! The winery is located on the edge of a cliff and has the best views over the sea.

One of the locations of Santorini Sky is located in Pyrgos. We loved staying here, especially as the view from our hot tub was perfect for both sunset and sunrise!

Megalochori

Megalochori is a very picturesque village on the southwest side of the island. The village dates back to the 17th century and is home to cute streets with cobbled paths, old cave houses with wooden doors, historical mansions, and of course iconic white houses and churches with blue domes.

Not to miss is the traditional main square of the village. Here you can find taverns and cafés perfect for a cup of coffee. And make sure to spot the beautiful bell tower nearby.

In our eyes, Megalochori is one of the absolute hidden gems of the island! And a wonderful stop to add to your 3 days in Santorini itinerary.

More Top Things to do in Santorini

Are there more things to do in Santorini?! Yes!

You’ve seen all the absolute highlights of the island by now, but in case you want to add some activities to your 3 days in Santorini itinerary or replace some, we got you covered.

• Go to the Open Air Cinema in Kamari

Going to the cinema is probably not the first thing you think when going on a holiday. But you might change your mind when you see Cine Kamari!

Cine Kamari is one of the best open-air cinemas in Europe and shows new popular English movies, with Greek subtitles. The open-air cinema is located in Kamari, which is located about a 10-minute drive from Fira, and is open from May through October.

• Sunset Wine & Dine Experience

Looking for something super romantic to do during your holiday? Or your Santorini honeymoon? Then don’t look further.

Santorini Sky made a sky dome on top of the mountain, 610 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level. Sit romantically in the dome while seeing the sun going down in the ocean while enjoying a drink and perhaps some food too! And after the sun went down, the dome will lighten up, making it even more romantic.

• Visit Ancient Thera

Earlier in this post, we talked about the archeological site of Akrotiri, but there’s a second archeological site on the island: Ancient Thera.

The ancient city is located on the Mesa Vouno mountain. A winding road starting at Kamari brings you to the ancient city. It was quite an adventure going up the mountain by motorbike!

If you don’t want to drive there, there are special mini buses going to the top during high season. And there are multiple footpaths going up from both sides of the mountain.

On the mountain, there are still the remains of Ancient Thera, like a theater, temples, and a church. And while walking there you get to enjoy the amazing view!

• Drink Santorini’s Donkey Beer

Not only has Santorini vineyards, it also has its own brewery! The Santorini Brewing Company is still very young, but you can find its beers all around the island already. It’s the only brewery on the island.

So if you are into beers, we recommend trying the Yellow Donkey, Red Donkey, Crazy Donkey, or White donkey from the Santorini Brewing Company.

Santorini Map

Enjoy your 3 days in Santorini and this Santorini Itinerary! Do you have any questions?  Drop them below or send us a message.

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