Santorini forms part of the Cyclades group of Islands and can be reached by either air travel or ferry.

Flights to Santorini

There are frequent flights from the UK to Santorini during the peak season May to October. Flights are much reduced from the UK out of season.

Check flight availability to Santorini with Easyjet.

If you’re travelling from elsewhere in Europe then connecting directly from Athens and travelling by air on Aegean Airlines would likely be your quickest route. This is a pricier option than taking a ferry but will get you there more quickly. During the more popular summer months, the airline operates regular flights between the various islands and Athens.

Tip: Be sure to book your air ticket months in advance, these routes are very popular and to stand a chance of bagging a good fare, you’d definitely need to book ahead.

Take the ferry to Santorini

Considering a Greek island-hopping adventure? If you’re travelling from, say, Athens to Mykonos and then Mykonos to Santorini, you can do so quite easily by ferry. There are a number of different ferry operators that run these routes, connecting to islands near Santorini including Ios, Naxos and Paros and more.

Schedules are limited during the off-peak periods but during the summer months, these operators kick into high gear, offering regular and daily departures.

Tip: If you plan to travel by ferry, then compare websites such as AFerry, Ferryhopper or Letsferry. These are comparative websites that allow you to view all available fares and schedules on one site, as well as allowing you to book your tickets online too.

We recommend pre-booking a private transfer to make your journey stress-free. There is no taxi rank at the airport and only 25 taxis serve the whole of the island so prices reflect this. Payment is usually in cash by euros. Check private transfer rates and availability which don’t cost that much more and are a pleasant, stress-free way to begin or end you trip.

If you’re flying out of Santorini make sure to get to the airport well ahead of time. To say Santorini airport is chaotic is somewhat of an understatement. We were honestly not sure that we were actually going to make our flight, and we got there more than an hour beforehand.

There are always long queues for check-in and space is at a premium. Once you’ve checked in there’s very little seating and you may find yourself queuing outside for long periods of time in hot sun to board your flight. (We did for 50-minutes).

From November through to March, Santorini sees a massive decline in tourist numbers. These are not the best months to visit since the weather conditions and availability of activities and experiences may limit what you can see and do. Many bars, restaurants and accommodations don’t open until April/May.

From May through to early-October, when the charter flights operate, the island buzzes with activity. July and August are extremely busy and crowded during the peak of summer.

As such, I would recommend you consider visiting either May through mid-June or mid-September through October to make the most of your stay and to best avoid the over-zealous throngs of tourists that descend upon the island.

The best places to stay in Santorini are the towns of Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani. These towns are located along the caldera cliff on the western side of the island. They all overlook the volcano and caldera and consequently have fabulous sunset vistas. On the downside there are no beaches nearby and they are more expensive than the beach towns on the other side of the island.

Everyone will have different accommodation requirements depending on interests and budget. This guide to Santorini includes some insights which might help you decide where to stay during your trip.

Tip. With all Santorini hotels be sure to check which side of the island your room overlooks. It may state sea view but it might not necessarily be a caldera sea view.

Fira (Thira) is the capital of Santorini and the biggest and most cosmopolitan town on the island. There are plenty of restaurants, bars and boutique shops.

Fira is also where the cruise ships dock at the old port at the bottom of the cliff. This means at times it can be overrun with tourists, especially when there are more than one or two cruise ships in port. There can sometimes be as many as five or six.

A cliff walk pathway runs through Fira so ensure that your room doesn’t look onto the path for privacy from passers by.

Oia is Santorini’s best known town for sunsets but because of that it has its drawbacks. Every evening crowds of people arrive in Oia to catch the sun going down. Oia has a good range of high end restaurants and shops. It’s also the most expensive town on the island for accommodation. Admittedly there are some absolutely fabulous places to stay – think boutique cave hotels with private plunge pools overlooking Santorini caldera. If you have the budget or it’s a special occasion then go for it. Oia is located at one end of Santorini so it’s not central if you want to easily explore the whole of the island.

We opted to stay in Imerovigli and absolutely loved it. It’s within easy walking distance (20 mins) to all the nightlife and activity of Fira and also has incredible views out over Santorini caldera. It’s far less crowded in Imerovigli and quieter than Fira or Oia. Imerovigli also has some of the most beautiful hotels in Santorini although they do come at a price.

When in Santorini you have to head to Oia and see the sun dip below the horizon at least once. It’s what people go to Santorini for. Head there early, find yourself a prime spot and just enjoy. You’ll need to book in advance if you want a meal with your view.