High quality Santorini, Greece holiday attractions right now? If you want to enjoy magnificent viewpoints of the island and the caldera, you should hike from Fira to Oia. A 9-km long marked trail on the edge of the caldera connects the 2 cities. You will stop many times to take beautiful pictures, as the view is just breathtaking! It’s clearly one of Santorini’s best points of interest. This marked trail isn’t really difficult, even if the weather can get really hot on sunny days. So, it’s better to hike in the morning or at the end of the day. You can for example plan your walk to arrive in Oia for the sunset. From Fira, you will reach Oia in about 2 hours. You should however plan a bit more time, as you will for sure stop a few times on the way to enjoy the panorama and take pictures. Find extra details at https://santorini-more.com/oia/.
Oia is a place with a long and rich history. The turn of the century is considered to be the time of the peak of its prosperity, and its economy was largely based on maritime trade – many owners of merchant ships lived in Oia. The village was built on a steep slope descending into the sea from the caldera. Oia is dominated by architecture typical of the entire Cyclades abounding in white houses, sometimes with a light blue finish (roofs, frames, shutters). What distinguishes the architecture at Oia is the fact that some of the buildings are painted in other colors – e.g. orange or salmon. The whole, against the backdrop of a raw, volcanic landscape creates a unique mosaic of colors.
The Museum of Prehistoric Thira displays finds from Akrotiri archaeological site in a modern white building located close to the 1950s Mitropolis church in Fira. One of the top tourist attractions is the Blue Monkeys wall fresco. Other ancient artworks on display include marble figurines, painted ceramics, tools, and weapons. Pyrgos was Santorini’s capital before Fira took over in 1800. The tiny village of Pyrgos, located in the middle of Santorini, is made up of whitewashed Cycladic cottages built around the ruins of a medieval hilltop castle. Previously a sleepy, all-but-forgotten town, Pyrgos has, since 2004, started to cater to upmarket tourism with the opening of several small, chic restaurants and boutique hotels.
How many days to visit Santorini? Ideally, you should spend at least 3 days in Santorini. You can visit Fira and Oia on your 1st day, then explore the rest of the island, go on a tour, or relax at the beach during the next 2 days. Here are my recommended Santorini itineraries depending on the duration of your stay. If you don’t feel like walking too much, you can take a guided bus tour. You need to book it in advance here. During the day, you will visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri, then stop at the Red Beach and discover the village of Emporio. You will also swim in Perissa, taste wines and admire the sunset in Oia. This excursion is a great way to discover the best of Santorini in only 1 day!
Oia is known for its famed sunsets that attract tourists from around the world. Located on the northern tip of Santorini, 12 kilometers up the coast from Fira, Ia (Oia) is a picture-perfect village of whitewashed houses, several of which have been converted into chic little boutique hotels with infinity pools, overlooking the caldera. Like Fira, it lives from tourism, but caters to a more upmarket clientele. From Ammoudi Bay, steep paths zigzag up to the town where you’ll find a row of waterfront seafood eateries, many with alfresco dining. Oia can be reached by local KTEL bus or by walking the trail along the cliffs high above the caldera (allow three hours from Fira). Discover more info at santorini-more.com.