Is Santorini Worth It? 10 Reasons to Think Twice Before Skipping It
So, you’re mapping out your Greece itinerary and wondering – is Santorini worth it? You’ve got a lot you want to see, and want to make sure you’re spending your time wisely – I get it. I recently took my first trip to Greece and actively tried to avoid adding Santorini to my itinerary!
I assumed it’d be too crowded and overrated. Fortunately for me, the travel Gods had other plans. As my overarching Greece itinerary took shape, Santorini was the most reasonable point of entry into the country for me.
Unexpectedly, I was pleasantly surprised.
Is Santorini worth it or overhyped?
Even as I was snobbishly turning my nose up and not thinking Santorini worth the hype, a part of me acknowledged that there must be some reason it’s SUCH a popular destination.
Is Santorini worth visiting? The short answer is yes. In this post, I’ll share my top reasons why and how to really enjoy what Santorini has to offer.
What’s so special about Santorini?
It begins with the way it was formed. In 1600 BCE, a tremendous volcanic eruption completely transformed the island’s shape into what it is today.
After that, it wasn’t until the 1970s that Santorini began to rise to fame among tourists due to its unique geological formation, stunning views, aesthetic architecture and delicious wine (thanks to the volcanic soil).
Top 10 reasons Santorini is worth it and how to actually enjoy it
Because of its immense popularity, nowadays Santorini can appear like a tourist’s playground from afar. In reality, it is still an actual, historic island that many people have called home for years and years.
My intention, when I realized I’d be going to Santorini after all, was to get off the beaten path a bit and to learn about the island beyond what’s portrayed on social media.
1. There’s more to it than Oia
If you’ve ever seen a famous Santorini sunset photo, chances are it was taken from Oia. Over the years, Oia has emerged as perhaps the most popular part of Santorini to stay on and explore.
So much so, that there is now at least one famous photo spot where people begin lining up first thing in the morning. The crowd crush peaks at sunset as everyone clamors to see (and photograph) that same famous view for themselves.
I initially decided to skip Oia completely.
Because I had a free morning on the day of my afternoon departure, I ultimately did go see what all the fuss was about. I took the first, early morning bus from Fira to Oia. The streets were still calm as none of the shops or restaurants were open yet – it was about 7 or 8am.
I snapped some photos and videos from a popular photo spot, and then headed off to explore. Sunrise added to the already beautiful sights. It’s true, Oia is charming and offers some spectacular views.
But the same can be said of other parts of both Santorini as well as other Cycladic islands. There’s so much more to Santorini than meets the eye online.
Did you know there’s a beach there that looks like Mars? Or that there are ruins, wineries, traditional villages and several different beaches to explore?
You can build whatever kind of 2. It’s possible to avoid the crowds if you want
If the thought of non-stop rubbing shoulders with strangers and squeezing past people repels you from Santorini, you should know that doesn’t have to be your reality. Like me, you could deprioritize Oia and instead visit the less frequented towns on the island. Head to Pyrgos and Megalochori instead for a much quieter yet still gorgeous scene. Both are accessible by bus, which is how I got there, and have fantastic restaurants as well. If you plan to rent a car on the island, you could also comfortably stay wherever you’d like on the island thereby avoiding the most tourist-heavy areas. I myself stayed in Fira, the capital, because it’s where the main bus station is and that was my main mode of transportation. Another way to beat the crowds is to go off season. I went to Santorini in October. It was still bustling, everything was open and it was hot – a great alternative to visiting in peak summer season. One of the main reasons to visit a destination like Santorini is to see the beauty of it with your own two eyes. There’s a reason some places seem overhyped. Often, the hype is valid. From the moment I landed on Santorini, this place I’d actively tried to avoid, I felt excitement build within me. Even as I took the bus through the parts of Santorini we don’t really see online (there are a lot of brown, underdeveloped areas!), I could see the appeal. It only got better once I arrived in Fira, settled in at my caldera-view hotel, and unintentionally wound up hiking part of the Fira-Oia cliffside trail. There’s a reason Santorini captures so many hearts Stepping off the bus in Oia, everyone immediately headed to the iconic ‘3 Domes Viewpoint’ photo spot. There was already a line, and I knew I didn’t want to join it. I can’t recall how many professional photo shoots I saw going on that morning. I overheard one telling their clients she was booked back-to-back for the entire day. As someone who has booked my own photo shoots on travels, I have nothing against that. It’s fun! And I even understand why so many of them take place in Oia. But perhaps the most surprising thing I learned in Santorini was that those whitewashed, blue-domed churches? They’re everywhere. Not only in Santorini, either. They were ubiquitous across multiple Cycladic islands I visited. In retrospect, duh. That is the Cycladic architectural style. But because of the popularity of one or two main photo spots in Oia, I assumed scarcity where it doesn’t actually exist. Maybe that viewpoint offers the picture perfect 3 domes in one shot or whatever. But, who’s to say what makes a picture perfect? How do you think views like those become popularized in the first place? What’s to prevent you from finding your own unique, equally impressive backdrop? Do we all really need the exact same photo as some sort of I’ve-been-there-too proof? The ease, freedom and contentment I felt by not putting an ounce of pressure on myself to line up at 3 Domes Viewpoint for a photo definitely contributed positively to my experience of Santorini. So remember, you don’t have to stand in line for photos on your vacation either. Is Santorini expensive as people say it is? It really depends, as it does in most places, on what kind of trip you want to have. 💲Eating at nicer restaurants with a view or grabbing a cocktail with a view, etc – yes. This can get pricey. Grabbing a gyros to-go? Less so. 💲Staying at a luxury hotel in Oia with caldera view and private pool? Expensive. Booking a simpler hotel in a less popular area. Less so. 💲Hiring a private driver to escort you around the island? Convenient, but expensive. Taking the bus for 2 euros in every direction? Far less so. Based on your travel style, preferences and budget you can find a way to curate your ideal Santorini trip. If ever you’re nervous about how much you might spend on a trip, budget it out. One way to be able to travel more to places you want to go to is to cost out your ideal itinerary, stay, activities and then save up for it if you need to! One of my biggest turn offs for visiting Santorini before I went was a video I saw on social media about how packed full of people it was – especially during sunset. Once it turned out I’d be going, I made it my mission to set myself up for a stunning yet private sunset view. I spent a lot of time researching to find a fairly affordable hotel with caldera view (not the same thing as sea view) and landed on this one. It was amazing coming back to my hotel after a day of exploring to enjoy the sunset in peace. Even if you don’t stay there, there was a restaurant right next door called Naoussa that looked like another great option. Essentially, you don’t have to view the sunset from Oia. I took mine in from my hotel in Fira. I’ve also heard sunsets from Pyrgos are beautiful. Sunsets are free, and there are so many different viewpoints. Challenge yourself to discover one off the heavily beaten path. Another reason to visit Santorini is that it’s fairly easy to do so. As I mentioned, I was able to take a direct flight in from Rome. Next, I took a ferry to Sifnos. Not every Greek island has both an airport and ferry port, which opens up a lot of options. I definitely understand that when you have limited vacation days, every second counts. But you don’t need more than a couple days to explore Santorini. Of course, you can do and see more with more days but they’re not necessary. I saw enough to satisfy me during my two full days and one morning. But I also spent time on leisurely breakfasts, and afternoon rest sessions at my hotel when the sun became too much for me. Based on that, I’d say even with one full day you could enjoy this iconic destination. Chances are when you think about Santorini you picture blue domes, sunsets over the sea and white buildings along cliffs. Did you know there is also an archaeological site called Akrotiri? You can visit this excavation site of an ancient Minoan civilization. You can also visit the ruins of the 15th century Byzantine Castle of St. Nicholas and hike up to Ancient Thera. If you’re more of a history buff than a beach bum, rest assured there’ll be something of interest here for you as well. If you’re into wine, add that to your list of reasons to consider visiting Santorini. There are a variety of wineries where you can go for tastings of local wines courtesy of the the island’s volcanic soil. Book a tour or book your own experiences directly with the wineries. One of the most popular ones you’re sure to come across is Santo Wines in Pyrgos. If you’re on the fence about going to Santorini, I say just go for it. Keep an open mind, look into all the island has to offer that you might not have realized and plan an experience that caters to your travel style. While tourism is a big help to Santorini’s economy, be aware that there are downsides for locals as well. If you do decide to visit this super popular place, remember to be respectful of the island and its inhabitants. Follow any requests you see on signs about areas to avoid – often people ignore these for the sake of getting their perfect photo. Don’t be that person. Clean up after yourself and don’t litter. Support small businesses when you can. If possible, go during the off-peak season. Who knows, perhaps you’ll end up loving dreamy Santorini.
3. It’s not its fault it’s so beautiful
4. There are enough blue domes to go around
5. Spend as much as you’d like
6. Sunsets are free and plentiful
7. It’s well connected
8. You don’t need a ton of time
9. Interesting history
10. Good wine
Final verdict: Is Santorini worth it?
