Perfect Santorini Itinerary for 3-6 days

Note : This Santorini itinerary can be fit into 3 days to a week.

Santorini is a very small island situated in Greece which is famous for its unique architecture and everything with feta Cheese (hehehe). If you are visiting Greece in future, then don’t forget to include my Santorini itinerary as it is going to hypnotize you with its breathtaking sunsets.

Well, it is no secret that Santorini is the beach lover’s paradise and known for the world’s most beautiful sunsets. Santorini is tagged as one of the most romantic places on earth. Because this incredibly beautiful place can transform the least romantic couple to Rose and Jack from “Titanic”. I am sure many of you must have seen this picturesque Island in movies, songs, videos, wallpapers, postcards or calendars as this place has been filmed in-numerous times.

Table of content:

• My travel Bucket list story as a child
• Why to visit Santorini
• What to Pack for Santorini
• Best time to travel to Santorini
• How to reach to Santorini
• Where to Stay in Santorini
• Travel around in Santorini
• Santorini Itinerary
• Where to eat cheap
• Things to do or Day Tours

My travel Bucket list story as a child

Let me share my childhood story about Santorini.

My dad used to bring the wall hanging calendars every year (typical 90’s thing in India) with beautiful sceneries on every page. Me and my sister used to get so excited to scroll through the calendar pages and then mark the ones which we liked the most with our name. Next year we used to remove the calendar off the wall and then cut our favorite pictures from it and paste them on our diaries with the date so we can remember and hopefully visit them after growing up.

I still remember that I pasted a picture of Santorini in my diary while having no idea that which part of the world it even existed. The reason that Santorini got stuck in my head, is because of its unique blue domes with white gleaming houses and crystal-clear water. I feel proud that I had Santorini in my first ever bucket list as a child and I am thankful to God for the opportunity to experience this one & only heavenly beauty on earth.

If you are already impressed by the pictures and my story, then do consider spending at least 3 days in Santorini for the most dreamy and awe-inspiring experience. I have listed down everything you need to know about travelling to Santorini. Hence, you don’t need to scroll through different blogs and videos as you will get everything in this meticulously curated perfect itinerary for Santorini.

Why to visit Santorini

Santorini is a perfect beach destination with its beautiful white caved houses close to the Aegean blue sea, with mesmerising view of the sunset which brings out tourists along with locals every evening. Charm of this Island is not only the incredible beauty of caldera (volcanic crater) but also the delicious Greek seafood especially from local tavernas (like Amoudi Bay) where they serve the fresh catches of the day just few inches right from the ocean. There will be plenty of picture-perfect locations in Santorini which you will never get bored of.

The reason why you must travel to Santorini is because of its clean and shimmery beach water with white sand, red sand and black sand. And, if that’s not enough then let me take you to the Santorini’s detailed itinerary which covers the best of Santorini in 3-4 days.

What to Pack for Santorini

Sunglasses, Hat, Scarf, swimwear, Footwear, Dress, Beach towel, Sunscreen, Waterproof Bag and Camera.

Best time to visit Santorini

Best season is from April- May & Sept-Oct due to mild weather. Remember June-Aug is prime season with higher rates and maximum crowd. Winter (Nov- Mar) is not good for Mediterranean Island as many hotels & restaurants are closed during this season.

How to Reach Santorini

Ever since I have watched TITANIC, my dream was to travel to another country by ship. That is why, we booked a cruise ticket with 1 Night stay in a private room, to get to Santorini from Turkey.

By plane You can book your flight tickets from Skyscanner or Kiwi for best deals, insurance and ideal routes. It’s a short flight from Athens to Santorini (Airport name is Thira) for about 45-50 mins with very affordable prices and the fastest way to reach.

By Ferry The most popular way to get to Santorini is by taking a ferry. Although, the only issue is that the ferries don’t run everyday like planes and routes are limited. The famous operators are Hellenic Seaways, Blue Star, Seajets. You can book the seats on the operators sites or through available aggregator sites. We booked on Hellenic Seaways site as the Blue Star was not available on those dates.

From Thira Airport to Santorini (Cheapest Way)

• Fira. Being the capital of Santorini, it’s only 25 minutes by bus with total fare €1.70.
• Oia. It is actually two bus-rides as there is no direct bus to Oia, so you can change Bus from Fira and get to Oia with same fare € 1.70.

How to travel around in Santorini

To get the best of Santorini sights, it’s best to rent an ATV (four wheel bike) as we also hired one to explore the island of  Santorini without having any limitation of time.

Where to Stay

• Fira (beautiful village famous for shopping, clubbing and nightlife)
• Oia (Most Expensive and most romantic town in Santorini)
• Imerovigli (located along the western cliff, known for best views)
• Firostefani (cute small town overlooking the Nea Kameni volcano)
• Kamari (Conveniently located to explore the entire island)
• Perissa (Santorini’s famed black beach with cheaper accommodation)

Book your accommodations by clicking on these links to get lowest prices Booking.com, Agoda, or AirBnB.

Santorini Itinerary

Oh My God! I can’t believe I have landed on the dreamiest & fairytale-looked place. Now who would wait to see those beautiful caved white houses and small postcard looking towns, at least I won’t. I am a very impatient person and as some people suggest keeping the best place/attraction for the end of your trip, I do exactly the opposite. Therefore, on my first day I visited all the most beautiful towns in Santorini so if I get spare time (at all) I can visit them one more time before leaving which eventually I did.

If you have read my cape town itinerary, you must have known that I am a relaxed traveller. That means, I keep extra days and plenty of time in hand and not just run through my checklist. I was in Santorini for a week and I spent my entire week walking around and exploring all these small towns and beaches all over again because I was madly in love with Santorini. But, I have designed this Santorini itinerary for 3-4 days to cover all the major places

Day 1: Most-Stunning Attractions

1. Firostefani
2. The Blue Domes of Imerovigli
3. Skaros Rock
4. Oia’s Iconic Architecture & Oia Castle
5. Atlantis Books
6. Ammoudi Bay

Day 2 Beaches & Authentic Villages

1. Red Beach & white Beach
2. Akrotiri Lighthouse & Archaeological Site
3. Vlychada
4. Emporio
5. Megalochori (Traditional village from 17th century)

Day 3 Picture Perfect Location

1. Three Bells of Fira(Virgin Mary Orthodox church) & Megaro Gizi
2. Pyrgos Kallistis (Santorini of the past)
3. Karterdos
4. Kamari Beach & Paralia Kamari
5. Ancient Thira
6. Perissa Beach (black sand beach)

Day 4 Off the Beaten Path

1. Thirassia (half day tour)
2. Palea Kameni, Hot spring dip
3. Santo Wines Winery (best for romantic sunset viewing)
4. Sunset Boat Cruise

Where to eat cheap In Santorini

Frankly, I am crazy about cheese and baked stuff. Therefore, I always prefer bakery food plus its always fresh, healthy, cost effective, filling and easy to carry. You can find a local bakery around your neighborhood to get delicious greek local food. Also, get some take away if visiting any beach as there is no option for food or water at all at some beaches.

My favorite Greek street food was the mouthwatering souvlaki(4-6€), spanakopita and gyro(2-4 €).

Things to Do

Watch Sunset | Hike the trail | Caldera Volcanic Island Tour | Visit Winery | Sailing | Relax on the Beach | Sunset Boat Cruise | Try Seafood at Ammoudi Bay | Fish Spa in Oia | Island Hopping |

Apart from Santorini Itinerary, you can also read a more detailed post on the best fun things to do in Santorini. Also, you may want to know about the most delicious foods that you must try to eat in Santorini . I hope these posts help you plan your travel the best way possible.

Last Thought

As an adult I would definitely recommend visiting this place but only with your partner as this is the most romantic Island you will ever experience. No kidding, even the most unromantic person on the planet can turn into the most romantic human ever possible. Frankly I saw old couples ( 70+) holding hands and getting romantic in Santorini because of its extremely magical vibes.