Is Santorini, Greece overrated?
Santorini’s cliffside towns, sunsets, and unique landscape make it a one-of-a-kind island you have to see to believe.
Introduction:
I had the opportunity to spend a day in Santorini, Greece while on a Norwegian Cruise Line European cruise in September 2024 (this post is not sponsored by the cruise line). For such a long time, I have heard people speaking (online and to me in-person) about how because of how popular Santorini is, it’s overrated and there are other Greek islands to visit instead.
However, what makes Santorini so unique is its rugged landscape, caused by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC. Therefore, Santorini sits on top of a caldera of an active volcano (the last eruption was in 1950). This, along with the magnificent views you see all over the island as well as the picturesque villages and remarkable sunsets make Santorini unlike any other island in the world. While other Greek islands are worth visiting, Santorini is not overrated. I will explain why you should spend at least a day visiting Santorini, while also showing you in photos what you can see in person.
In this post, I’ll be covering:
• How to get to the island on a cruise ship versus flying
• Taking a ferry to the island
• Highlights to see on Santorini
• How to get around the island
• Visiting Santorini for a day: how it saves you $$$
How to get to the island:
Because Santorini is so popular, there is an airport on the island (IATA code: JTR). Buses run to and from the island’s capital, Fira, within 20 minutes. Because I was visiting the island on a cruise, I was never at the airport. However, I have read online that it is very small but has been modernized since it opened in 1972. All airlines that operate flights to and from Santorini fly seasonally, except for flights to and from Athens via Aegean Airlines, Greece’s flag carrier.
If you visit the island while on a cruise, your ship will tender near the island, and everyone who wishes to go onto the island will get there on tender boats. When you get to the pier, you will have the option to take a cable car up to Fira. The cable car costs 6€ one way for adults and 3€ one way for children. You also have the option to walk up to Fira, which is about 600 steps, or ride a donkey up to Fira from the pier. I suggest using the cable car instead of these other options because it is much faster. You will have to wait in line for the cable car (during the summer months, wait times are much longer than usual), and each cable car can only hold up to six people. Thankfully, the staff are very efficient. Fortunately, I did not have to wait long. If you visit Santorini on a cruise, remember to give yourself enough time to wait in line for the cable car to return to the pier and take a tender boat back to your ship before your ship is scheduled to leave.
Of course, if you see Santorini on an excursion through your cruise line, you will not have to remember this because your guide will bring everyone in your group back to the cable cars in time to return to the ship.
I took this image from my cruise ship at night. You can see the zig-zag route of riding a donkey/walking up to the island, and to the left is the cable car route.
© The Ultimate Vacation Guide
Taking a ferry to the island:
Santorini has two ports: one at Fira and the other at Athinios. The Athinios port, also known as Thira port, is the new port of Santorini and is located on the west side of the island with ferry connections to and from Piraeus (Athens), Mykonos, Ios, Paros, Milos, and more. Athinois port (Thira port) is also closest to the airport and has rental car services close by, ideal for traveling within Santorini (Direct Ferries). The duration of your ferry ranges from only 35 minutes (from the island of Ios) to over 4 hours (from the Dodecanese islands), depending on what island you are coming from (Direct Ferries).
Highlights to see:
Santorini is a beautiful island with so much to see. Even though I was only there for one day, I managed to go north from Fira and see Oia and then go south to Perívolos beach. I covered the entire island in one day! Even if you are there for one day like I was, you will be able to go around the entire island if you wish.
Here are some highlights to see on Santorini:
• Amazing views wherever you look!
• Three bells of Fira
• Town of Oia, where people say the sunset is beautiful
• The Santorini caldera and caldera wall, with different views from different parts of the island
• Kamari Beach, a black sand beach
• Perívolos Beach, a black sand beach just south of Kamari beach
• Red Beach (Kokkini Paralia), a volcanic sand beach with red cliffs
• Akrotiri archeological site
• Ancient Thera archeological museum (only accessible by hiking), where you will see amazing views of the island and ocean
• Wine tastings/tours and the Santorini Wine Museum
• Hiking, especially the northward Fira to Oia Walk (6 miles/9.6 km one way)
While I did not see/visit all of these highlights, I was still able to see so much, and hope to go back one day.
Here are some photos I took when I visited Santorini:
The famous Three Bells of Fira
© The Ultimate Vacation Guide
Perívolos Beach, a black sand beach with calm waves
© The Ultimate Vacation Guide
Santorini seen from Oia, with a nice view of the caldera wall
© The Ultimate Vacation Guide
Santorini seen from Oia
© The Ultimate Vacation Guide
The height of the island’s towns and villages on top of the caldera with a view of the Aegean Sea
© The Ultimate Vacation Guide
View of Santorini’s caldera wall, with cruise ships seen to the right
© The Ultimate Vacation Guide
How to get around the island:
The way I traveled around the island was by taxi, which I think is the easiest way. Of course, it will not be cheap, especially if you see the entire island like I did with my brother. It cost us over 150€ to take a taxi throughout the island, but it was very convenient. After taking the cable car up to the island, you can look for locals advertising their taxi services, which is what I did. My brother and I were able to use the same taxi service and the same driver throughout our day on the island. We were driven from Fira to Oia, and after walking around Oia, we called the driver who then started driving to pick us up, where we asked to be driven to see Perívolos beach. We did the same thing after visiting Perívolos beach when we were driven back to Fira.
Save money by visiting for one day:
Because of Santorini’s location, we (rightfully) think it will be very expensive to visit. While this is true, visiting the island for one day is always an option and is a much more affordable alternative to visiting for several days. Arriving on the island by ferry from another Greek island is likely cheaper than flying, depending on what time of year you plan to visit Santorini (it is much more expensive to fly during the summer months) and where you are flying from (flying from Athens is usually cheaper than flying directly from other European countries). I won’t deny that paying for taxis, food, and some attractions will add up, but it won’t cost you nearly as much money as it would if you were to stay on the island for a couple of days. If you want to visit Santorini without spending a fortune, try to plan your visit for one day only. I guarantee it will save you money and you will still be able to see what you want!
Conclusions:
Overall, I highly recommend visiting Santorini. Being on the island for one day will give you ample time to see the entire island. If you realize you want to see and do more than you can fit into one day, then consider staying for longer. Yes, the island is arguably the most popular Greek island to visit, but it’s the most popular for a reason. The stunning sunsets, black and red sand beaches, blue domes, and cliffside villages make it worth visiting. Make sure to take the cable car as it is the fastest way to get to the island from the pier if arriving by cruise ship or ferry. Ferries operate between Santorini and other Greek islands, which is (in my opinion) more hassle-free compared to flying between Greek islands. The beauty of this island is unlike any other. If you visit one day, don’t forget to visit Oia, a black and/or red sand beach, and the famous three bells of Fira!
Source:
Direct Ferries, https://www.directferries.co.uk/santorini.htm#:~:text=Ferries%20to%20Santorini%20are%20currently,Cyclades%20Islands%20all%20year%20round.
