Santorini Travel Guide｜Avoid Pitfalls on Your First Visit

1⃣ When is the best time to visit? 1) Want to swim in the sea: May to October, with the warmest sea from June to September. 2) Want to avoid crowds: May to June and September to October, good weather, fewer people, and prices are not as high as peak season. 2⃣ Where is the best place to stay? 1) Fira: The bus hub with the most shops and restaurants, highly recommended for first-timers. 2) Oia: The classic "blue domes + sunset," hotels are expensive but perfect for photos, ideal for honeymoons. 3) Perissa/Kamari Black Sand Beach: Beach resort vibe, hotels offer great value, perfect for sea lovers. 3⃣ How to spend 3 days and 2 nights? 1) Day 1 Arrival + Fira Arrive at noon, check into the hotel, and explore Fira town in the afternoon. In the evening, find a restaurant overlooking the caldera to enjoy dinner and watch the sunset. 2) Day 2 South Island + Oia Sunset Morning: Visit Akrotiri archaeological site + view and photograph the Red Beach from a distance (be cautious of cliff safety). Noon: Lunch at Perissa/Kamari Black Sand Beach + relax on the beach chairs. Afternoon/Evening: Head to Oia early to secure a good spot for the sunset, take photos of the blue-domed churches and windmills. 3) Day 3 Free activities + Departure In the morning, take more photos of the hotel’s infinity pool and buy souvenirs. Allow enough time to get to the port/airport, as travel and queues can be long during peak season. 4⃣ How to get there from Athens? 1) Plane: About 45–50 minutes, best if you’re short on time. 2) High-speed ferry: About 4.5–5 hours, depart in the morning and arrive at noon. 3) Regular ferry: 7–8 hours, suitable for overnight trips, relax and arrive on the island rested. 5⃣ Must-visit/Must-photograph list 📸 1) Oia sunset + blue-domed churches + windmills. 2) Fira–Imerovigli cliff path, for panoramic views of the entire caldera sea. 3) Red Beach and Black Beach (distant views + seaside cafes are enough, very photogenic). 4) Visit a winery to see volcanic grapevines and taste a glass of Assyrtiko white wine. 7⃣ Tips (to avoid pitfalls) 1) Red Beach has rockfall risks, don’t stay close to the cliffs for long. 2) The island bus is cheap but crowded in peak season; if budget allows, consider a combination of car rental and walking. 3) Check cruise ship docking days in advance; Oia and the cable car get especially crowded on those days, so try to avoid peak times.