Santorini
The most dramatic of the Greek islands - whitewashed towns clinging to the rim of a flooded volcanic caldera, famous for blue domes and the world's most photographed sunsets.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
Santorini is the most dramatic of all the Greek islands, the rim of a vast volcanic caldera flooded by the sea, its cliffs topped by dazzling white towns that spill toward the blue. The villages of Fira and Oia, with their blue-domed churches, cave houses and terraces, gaze over the crater, and the sunset from Oia is among the most famous and photographed in the world.
What you actually see
- Oia and its sunset - the cliff-top village and the world-famous sunset.
- Fira - the capital town clinging to the caldera rim.
- The blue domes - the whitewashed churches with blue cupolas.
- The caldera and volcano - the flooded crater and boat trips to the volcanic islets.
When to go
Late spring and early autumn for warm weather without the peak crush; July and August are hot, mobbed and expensive. The Oia sunset draws huge crowds, so arrive early for a spot.
Honest expectations
It is extremely popular and dear, so in peak summer the caldera towns are jammed and the famous Oia sunset a scrum; late spring or early autumn are far better. Its beauty is the caldera views rather than the beaches, which are volcanic and ordinary. Cruise days bring huge crowds.
Nearby
The other Cyclades islands, including Mykonos and Naxos, are reachable by ferry; Crete lies to the south.
What to pack for Santorini
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
