Santorini in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Three days on the island will give you the opportunity to see amazing places like Fira or the sunsets in Oia. You will also have the opportunity to do interesting and fun activities such as taking a hike around the caldera to enjoy breathtaking views.

Another activity that is definitely one of the best things to see and do in Santorini, is to take a boat trip to see the island from the water and even visit the red beach, which is one of the most attractive places. In addition, three days will also be enough time to explore the island's vineyards and taste some of Santorini's most famous local wines.

The first day of your three-day Santorini itinerary will be quite exciting and filled with visits to some of the island's most famous sights. To begin with, you'll explore the capital, Fira, where you can lose yourself in its small, labyrinthine streets full of shops, restaurants and bars. From the town, you'll be able to admire the views and take plenty of photos of the caldera and the Aegean Sea.

After exploring Fira you'll head straight to Oia, which is one of the most picturesque places on the island, as well as being famous for its white and blue houses and unforgettable sunsets. To get there you can follow the coastal hiking route to the lighthouse. A great way to start the first day of your visit to Santorini on the right foot.

Getting to know the town of Fira and walking through the white streets and blue churches

To get your itinerary off to a good start, your first activity for this first day in Santorini will be a tour of Fira and its white streets with blue churches, starting at around 9:00. This time is perfect to avoid the crowds of tourists that tend to arrive later in the day.

As you walk through the streets of Fira, you will also have the opportunity to admire and take pictures of the views of the Aegean Sea. Most of the tourist activity in Fira revolves around the main street, where you'll find numerous restaurants and shops, so it's definitely a place you can't miss on your Santorini tour.

After spending a few hours walking around the village of Fira, at around 12:00 it's time to set off on the hiking route that links the villages of Fira to Oia. The distance from one village to the other is approximately 10 kilometres, which can be covered in about four hours at a leisurely pace. Along the way, you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views as you explore Santorini's caldera.

Enjoy a hearty lunch on the hiking trail

During the trekking route, you're bound to get hungry around 13:00 and of course you'll find a restaurant along the way. So you'll have the chance to enjoy Greek flavours somewhere between Fira and Oia. In fact, if you take a guided tour, your guide will give you recommendations on where to go for a good meal.

Watch the sunset from Oia

As you know, between Fira and Oia via the hiking route, it's a four-hour drive, so you'll be in Oia at approximately 17:00, which is plenty of time to enjoy the panoramic views as you explore Santorini's caldera. To enjoy the sunset in Oia you have to take into account the time of sunset, which can vary according to the season. In summer, sunset usually occurs around 20:00, while in winter the sun sets around 17:00.

In Oia in particular, there are several places where you can watch the sunset, one of the most famous being the castle of Oia. You can also watch the sunset from the Ammoudi Pass or by climbing up to the Profitis Ilias Monastery at the top of the mountain. If you want to enjoy the Oia sunset in summer, I recommend arriving at least an hour before sunset time to find a good spot from which to admire the spectacle.

Enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants overlooking the sea

Right after watching the sunset, you will probably already want to enjoy a nice dinner. That's why I recommend finding a restaurant with a sea view to end your day in Oia, a task that won't be too difficult considering there are many iconic restaurants where you can do just that. Another way to dine in style is to sign up for a sunset dinner cruise tour of Santorini.

Among the island's most iconic restaurants is the guesthouse restaurant, which offers a spectacular view of the Aegean Sea and the Oia sunset. A variety of Mediterranean dishes such as fresh fish, seafood and salads can be enjoyed on the premises. Continuing in the search for beautiful views, another restaurant you can visit is Ambrosia, where you will find a terrace with panoramic views of the caldera and typical Greek food.

But if at this point you want to try something other than Greek food, I recommend you to go and try the flavours offered by Lauda Restaurant, which is located on a beautiful outdoor terrace with spectacular views of the Aegean Sea and the sunset, and stands out for serving Italian food of the highest quality. After dinner you can use public transport to return to Fira if you are staying in the area. Buses usually run until after midnight, so you'll be able to get back safely.

For the second day of your Santorini itinerary you will visit Perissa beach, which is famous for its black volcanic sand. You will also have the opportunity to go wine tasting in the local wineries of Santorini.

And finally you will go to enjoy the hot springs at Kamari beach, known for its healing and therapeutic properties for the skin.

Visit Perissa beach

Your second day in Santorini will start with a visit to Perissa beach, which you will reach after having some breakfast. You'll be there at approximately 9:00 am to make the most of your time here. This place is mainly characterised by its long stretch of black volcanic sand and crystal clear waters.

Perissa is a very quiet and relaxing beach, so you will be able to enjoy the sun and the sea for a couple of hours, with the intention that you will be leaving this place at approximately 11:00, if you want you can stay a little longer and have lunch around 12:00 in the bars and restaurants near the beach area.

If you prefer not to eat inside the restaurants, I recommend you to join a nice picnic to enjoy on the beach. Sunscreen and a hat to protect you from the sun are a must, especially if you do this activity in summer, rather than including it among the best things to see and do in Santorini in winter.

Take a wine tasting tour of Santorini's local wineries

After leaving Perissa beach at around 11:00, you'll head to one of Santorini's wine cellars for a good tasting of the island's best wines. This tour can start around midday or in the afternoon. If you want to take a tour of the island's most famous wineries to sample their wine production, you will need to spend between 2 and 4 hours on the tour, although the duration may vary from winery to winery.

During this type of tour you will visit a traditional or family-run winery where you will be offered a more authentic perspective of wine production in Santorini. Expert guides can also provide interesting information about the history and culture of wine on the island.

Visiting Santorini's hot springs at Kamari Beach

Assuming it takes you about four hours to complete the wine tour and during which you can enjoy the different flavours of Santorini for lunch, around 15:00 is a good time to start your visit to the hot springs at Kamari beach.

From 15:00 onwards the wind starts to blow less strongly and feels much more pleasant. These times may vary depending on weather conditions but in general, the hot springs at Kamari are known for their therapeutic properties, which are beneficial for the skin. The best thing about this tour is that you will be able to relax during your trip to Santorini.

I recommend you spend about three to four hours to enjoy the benefits of these waters, especially as it is usually a bit warm and you will probably not want to leave.

Near the beach of Kamari, you will find restaurants, bars and souvenir shops, so you can eat some dinner or have a drink after your visit to the hot springs. At the end of this tour you can continue to your hotel or accommodation to rest and get up early to continue your three-day itinerary in Santorini.

Your third day of your Santorini itinerary will start early with a visit to Red Beach, which is famous for its spectacular red cliffs and crystal clear waters. You'll also visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri, which is a well-preserved prehistoric settlement and in the middle of the experience you'll try some good food at one of the quaint seaside restaurants in Amoudi Bay.

At the end of the day you will have the opportunity to take a walk along the bay to enjoy the views of the island and the sea. All in all this is a day full of cultural and natural activities, amidst which you will have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the beauty of the island.

Visit Red Beach

Start the day with some good Greek food and then head out to enjoy the unique scenery of Red Beach, where you can take lots of pictures of the red cliffs and enjoy the crystal clear waters. This activity is going to start around 9:00, to take advantage of the small amount of tourists during this time.

After knowing this, you have to keep in mind that the walk to the beach can be challenging because it involves a short hike over loose and slippery rocks. But once you get there, all the effort will be worth it when you see the red cliffs that decorate the landscape.

I recommend spending about three hours to enjoy the sun and the water. You should also bring comfortable shoes and swimwear, as well as sunscreen and towels. You should bear in mind that it is not advisable to swim in this beach because it can be dangerous due to the currents. There are even several restaurants and bars nearby if you want to enjoy a drink or a quick meal.

Visiting the ancient archaeological site of Akrotiri

After enjoying the red beach, it will be time for you to continue your third day tour of Santorini, which will continue with a visit to the archaeological site of Akrotiri, located less than 2 km away, a city buried by volcanic ash and discovered in the 1960s. I recommend arriving at the Akrotiri archaeological site around 12:00 and having some lunch outside the complex before entering.

Here you will have the opportunity to learn about the architecture and the daily life of the ancient inhabitants of the island. It is also considered to be the most important Late Bronze Age settlement in the Aegean region.

It will take you just over two hours to visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri, where you will not only be able to explore the ruins, but also learn about the history of the city buried by volcanic ash. One thing I recommend about this visit is that you take a guided tour where your guide will tell you all the details about the history and importance of this place.

Visiting the Museum of Prehistory of Thera

After visiting the archaeological site of Akrotiri, I recommend you to visit the Museum of Prehistory of Thera, which you will enter around 14:00 and which is located about 20 minutes from Akrotiri. Also, exploring this place is ideal for after visiting the archaeological site as it will give you an insight into the history and culture of the island.

Inside this museum you will find an impressive collection of artefacts from the Bronze Age, from around the 3rd millennium BC to Late Antiquity. You will have the opportunity to take a close look at the everyday objects used by the ancient inhabitants of the island, as well as learn about their rituals and beliefs. Cooking utensils, pottery, jewellery and agricultural tools are just some of the objects you will see on site, which will give you a clear idea of what life on the island was like thousands of years ago.

You can stay for up to three hours in this museum to see the whole place and its collections. You will leave around 17:00 to continue to the coastal area of Amoudi Bay which is the last place you will visit during this third and last day of your Santorini itinerary.

Enjoy dinner at one of Amoudi Bay's seaside restaurants

Just after leaving the Museum of Prehistory, you can go and enjoy dinner at one of the seaside restaurants in Amoudi Bay, but not before taking a nice walk around the coast. As you will arrive around 17:00 or a little later, you will have the opportunity to walk around the area and then have a bite to eat around 19:00, when the sun goes down and the atmosphere becomes cooler and more pleasant.

During the whole experience you will have the opportunity to enjoy wonderful views and beautiful landscapes. One of the things you will like most about dining here is that you will be able to taste fresh seafood as a main part of almost every dish. But you will also be able to taste different typical dishes of the Greek cuisine.

After two more hours enjoying the dinner, you can return to your hotel or accommodation to rest and go back home the next day. I recommend that you make a reservation well in advance for transfers from Santorini harbour.

This activity completes your three day itinerary around the island of Santorini and some of the most incredible sights to see in this dream place.