The Perfect 3 Days in Santorini Itinerary for First-Timers

Santorini may be a small island, but there’s plenty to see beyond the famous blue domes and sunset views! With three days, you’ll have enough time to explore Oia, Fira, and Imerovigli, visit some of the island’s beaches, and take a boat trip around the caldera without rushing through everything.

This 3 day Santorini itinerary covers the island’s main highlights while still leaving time to enjoy the views, restaurants, and slower pace that make Santorini so special. If you’re visiting for the first time, this Santorini itinerary will help you make the most of your time!

Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.

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Overview of Your Santorini 3 Day Itinerary

Below you can see a breakdown of your 3 days in Santorini, which includes every part of this Greek paradise that you absolutely can’t miss during a vacation here. No matter where you choose to stay on the island, you’ll have an excellent time.

Each day, you’ll have some traditional Greek food for either lunch or dinner and travel to some fantastic attractions filled with rich culture and interesting history.

Breakdown of your 3 days in Santorini

• Day 1: Sunrise at Oia Castle, explore Oia, grab coffee and breakfast at one of the cafes, Ammoudi Bay, have a traditional Greek lunch, go on a sunset cruise
• Day 2: Hike (or drive) from Oia to Fira, Imerovigli, Skaros Rock, Three Bells of Fira, Museum of Prehistoric Thira, Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, grab lunch in Fira, go on a wine tour
• Day 3: Pyrgos, Profiti Ilias Monastery, Perissa Black Sand Beach, Red Beach, Akrotiri Archaeological Site, Akrotiri Lighthouse, sunset at Fira, have dinner with a view

Map for your Santorini itinerary

Below you can find a customized map that includes all the locations you’re going to visit on this Santorini itinerary.

I marked your 3 days in Santorini with different colors – I used blue for the first day, green for the second day, and red for the third day, so you can easily see which places you’re going to visit each day.

How to use this map: This map is fully interactive, so you can move around, zoom in/zoom out, and click on the icons. If you want to see a larger map, click on the bracket in the upper right corner. To see more details and the different layers, click on the tab in the upper left corner. If you want to save it for later, click on the star icon next to the name of the map. Then simply open Google Maps either on your desktop or phone, go to ‘Saved’/’Maps’, and open the map whenever you need it.

Day 1

Watch the sunrise at Oia Castle

One of the best things you can do in Santorini is to catch the sunrise at Oia Castle. The castle dates back to Greece’s Renaissance times and was commonly used as a place of safety from incoming pirates.

Unfortunately, most of the castle got destroyed during an earthquake and only a part of the old watchtower survived. So don’t expect a normal castle, you will only see the ruins of it.

However, the castle is still worth visiting, especially for the panorama! It’s definitely one of the most impressive views you’ll see on the island.

Although Oia Castle is one of the best sunset spots in Santorini, unfortunately, it’s not really possible to enjoy the sunset here due to the massive crowds.

So if you want to truly enjoy the views, go for sunrise! This way you can have the castle all to yourself and you can explore Oia afterward without the crowds.

Explore Oia and find the best photography spots

As Oia is one of the most popular places in Santorini, it usually gets insanely crowded during the day. That’s why it’s a great idea to start your day early so you can explore the town while most of the tourists are still sleeping!

If you want to take some amazing pictures for your Instagram or family album, this is the best time to do.

Oia is kind of like a maze and it’s easy to get lost on the narrow streets. This is not a bad thing at all as this way you can stumble upon some really great hidden gems in the town!

But if you want to make sure you find every famous spot and make your life easier, you should turn on the satellite view on your Google Maps. Trust me, it’s a lot easier to navigate with the satellite view!

These are some of the places you can’t miss in Oia:

• Blue domes viewpoint
• Three domes of Santorini
• Oia Castle
• Church of Panagia Akathistos Hymn
• Kastro Oia Houses
• Main Street of Oia
• Windmills of Oia

If you want to know more about these places and find out the exact location of each spot, make sure to check my guide about the best Santorini Instagram spots and the best blue domes of Santorini!

Grab coffee and breakfast at one of the cafes

After taking some fantastic photos to help you remember your trip, you’ve probably worked up an appetite. It’s time for a tasty breakfast and delicious Greek coffee!

Whether you’re in the mood for an acai bowl or something a little heartier, there’s a cafe that’s perfect for you. You will find many different cafes in Oia, so you can’t really go wrong.

One of my personal favorites is Melenio Cafe. They have a beautiful terrace overlooking the famous blue domes and the sea and their baklava is seriously to die for!

Another favorite of mine is Thalami. Located on the caldera in the heart of Oia, this restaurant also has an amazing terrace overlooking the caldera and the sea and they also serve delicious breakfast dishes.

Visit Ammoudi Bay

The next stop during your 3 days in Santorini is one of the most breathtaking locations in the area: Ammoudi Bay. The water here is incredibly blue, and there are bright red cliff faces everywhere you look. 

Hiking down to Ammoudi Bay is definitely one of the best things to do in Oia but make sure to wear comfy shoes as you have to tackle around 270 steps to get down (and then to get back up).

But trust me, it’s incredibly worth it! You can watch the boats come in and out of the bay and just relax in a truly picturesque location.

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you can even go cliff jumping! Just be sure to stay safe if you choose to.

Have a traditional Greek lunch

After relaxing a bit, it’s time for an authentic Greek lunch. Luckily, there are quite a few places to choose from to grab a meal during your first day.

The first option is to wander around Ammoudi Bay and try one of the fish restaurants. The most popular in this area is the Ammoudi Fish Tavern. They serve incredibly fresh and tasty seafood and they also have an extensive list of wines.

Not to mention the picture-perfect views! Please note that this is a high-end restaurant so prices here can be a bit expensive.

If you would rather stay on the budget side, you can try authentic Greek gyros at Pitogyros in Oia. It’s popular, so you might need to wait in line a little bit but trust me, it’s absolutely worth it!

Go on a sunset cruise

A sunset catamaran cruise is easily one of the best experiences to include in your Santorini itinerary. You’ll get to see the island’s cliffs and volcanic landscape from the water while visiting places that are difficult to reach from land.

I recommend this premium small-group catamaran cruise. The five-hour route takes you past Red Beach, White Beach, the Venetian Lighthouse, and the caldera, with stops for swimming and snorkeling at Mesa Pigadia and the volcanic hot springs.

A barbecue meal, open bar, snorkeling equipment, towels, and hotel transfers are all included. Make sure to choose the afternoon departure so you can finish the cruise watching the sunset from the water near Oia.

Day 2

Explore Imerovigli

Start your second day in Imerovigli, a beautiful clifftop village overlooking the caldera. Although it’s located between Oia and Fira, it tends to be much quieter than both, making it a lovely place to explore without the biggest crowds.

Imerovigli is known for its luxury hotels, excellent restaurants, and incredible caldera views. It’s also one of the best areas to stay in Santorini for honeymooners.

While you’re here, make sure to visit the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord, also known as Anastasi Church. Its blue dome, whitewashed bell tower, and flowering bougainvillea make it one of the most beautiful photography spots in Imerovigli.

If you haven’t had breakfast yet, stop at Confetti Dessert Boutique for coffee, cakes, or one of their delicious breakfast dishes before continuing to Skaros Rock.

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Hike to Skaros Rock

If you’re feeling adventurous, make sure to check out Skaros Rock which is one of the most scenic spots in all of Santorini. Skaros used to be one of the most important fortresses that were built in Santorini in the 15th century.

Unfortunately, most of the fortress was destroyed during the earthquakes and nowadays you can only see the ruins of it.

There is a well-established hiking trail connecting Skaros Rock with Imerovigli, starting at Agios Georgios Chapel. The hike is not that long, only 600 meters one way, but you have to tackle hundreds of stairs during the trail which makes it pretty challenging.

Also, after one point, the trail basically turns into a small rock-climbing so definitely wear proper gear if you decide to attempt it (meaning at least sneakers and pants).

Even if you decide not to climb up on top of the rock (aka skipping the rock-climbing section), you’ll still get amazing views during your hike.

It’s also worth hiking down all the way to Mother of Lord Theoskepasti Holy Orthodox Church while you’re at Skaros Rock, which is the cutest little chapel with the best views. All in all, you will need to budget around 1.5 hours for Skaros Rock.

Visit the Three Bells of Fira

Next, make your way toward Fira and stop at the Three Bells of Fira along the way. Despite its name, this iconic blue-domed church is actually located in Firostefani, between Imerovigli and Fira.

Built in the 18th century, the church is officially known as the Catholic Church of the Dormition. Its bright blue dome, white bell tower, and caldera backdrop have made it one of the most photographed churches in Santorini.

The famous viewpoint is located above the church rather than directly beside it. Follow the road uphill behind the church to see the classic view of the blue dome, three bells, caldera, and surrounding islands.

Explore Fira

Continue to Fira, the lively capital of Santorini. From the Three Bells of Fira, you can follow the scenic caldera path into the center in around 10 to 15 minutes. The walk offers beautiful views over Fira and the sea along the way.

Once you arrive, spend some time wandering through the narrow streets, browsing the shops, and enjoying the caldera views. Fira is one of the busiest places on the island, but it’s also a great spot to learn more about Santorini’s history.

If you’re interested in visiting a museum, stop at the Museum of Prehistoric Thira. Its collection includes pottery, frescoes, tools, and other artifacts discovered at Akrotiri and elsewhere on the island, offering a fascinating look at life in ancient Santorini.

Another place worth visiting is the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral. This impressive whitewashed church is beautiful from the outside, while the interior features colorful frescoes, elaborate artwork, and a large chandelier.

Before your wine tour, stop for lunch in Fira. Magma City Cafe and Fanari are two of my favorite options, with Fanari being particularly lovely if you want to enjoy your meal overlooking the caldera.

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Join a sunset wine tour

There is no better way to end the second day of your Santorini 3 day itinerary than going on a wine tour! The vineyards in Greece are unlike any other, especially in Santorini!

I recommend booking this small-group Santorini wine tour and choosing the sunset option. During the four-hour tour, you’ll visit three wineries, learn about Santorini’s unique grape-growing and winemaking traditions, and taste at least 12 local wines, including Assyrtiko and Vinsanto.

The tastings are accompanied by local cheese, tapas, and other small bites. The final stop is Santo Wines, where you can enjoy your last tasting while watching the sunset over the caldera.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you won’t need to worry about transportation after the wine tastings.

Day 3

For your third day on this Santorini itinerary, it’s time to go out and explore the rest of the island. Keep in mind that in order to visit all the places on the itinerary for this day, you’ll have to rent a car or an ATV to explore the island.

Pyrgos

First, head to Pyrgos. The charming little village of Pyrgos is located in the foothills of Mount Profitis Ilias, 7.5 km south of Fira. It’s the largest preserved village on Santorini and was once the island’s capital.

Pyrgos is often overlooked by tourists and not many people actually make it there so it has a much more relaxed vibe than the northern part of the island. Take the time to wander around the streets and drop by some of the cutest souvenir shops!

One of the must-visit sights in Pyrgos is Pyrgos Castle. Although the castle got seriously damaged in an earthquake in 1956, it’s still worth visiting, mainly due to its amazing location.

Sitting on a hilltop, the castle offers an insanely beautiful panoramic view of the island and the shimmering sea.

You can also find many typical white churches with blue domes in Pyrgos. Two of the most beautiful ones are Saint George Church which is located close to Pyrgos Castle, and Agios Nikolaos Theotokaki which is situated in the heart of the town.

Profiti Ilias Monastery

Next, make your way to the Profiti Ilias Monastery. Situated on the summit of Mount Profitis Ilias, the Monastery of Profitis Ilias is one of the oldest churches on the island.

It’s roughly 3 km away from the village of Pyrgos and since it’s located on the highest point of the island, it offers a breathtaking view of Santorini.

You can drive all the way up to the top where you will find many parking spots. The monastery is completely free to visit.

Perissa Black Sand Beach

Your 3 days in Santorini wouldn’t be complete without seeing at least one of the black sand beaches on the island!

Perissa Black Sand Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island, and, just like its name suggests, is covered in gorgeous black sand that really makes the color of the ocean pop.

Be careful if you walk on the sand barefoot because it can get very hot in the sun and might burn your feet if you’re not paying attention!

If you could use a little coffee and cake break, stop by Chocolat Creperie-Cafe. This colorful little cafe serves the best pancakes and waffles and their coffee is amazing as well.

Red Beach

Now it’s time to head to another iconic beach. The Red Beach has red sand and huge red cliffs, which makes it extremely unique in comparison to other beaches on the island. It’s red because of the nearby volcanic rock. When you visit, be on the watch for landslides from the cliff faces!

Akrotiri Archaeological Site

Next up on this Santorini itinerary is another historical site that can’t be missed. The Akrotiri Archaeological Site allows visitors to walk through an old Greek settlement that was destroyed and covered in ash from a volcano in the 16th century. 

Walking through the site is truly eye-opening and will give you an exclusive and unique look into Greece’s ancient history that you probably didn’t expect to see on an island like Santorini.

Akrotiri Lighthouse

This 19th-century lighthouse is one of the country’s first lighthouses, which makes it pretty unique! It’s located pretty high up and offers breathtaking views from every inch, including down to the beautiful blue water.

Although the sunset is pretty magical at the lighthouse, since this is your last evening in Santorini, I would recommend going back to Fira to see the sunset there. But it’s completely up to you!

Sunset at Fira

In case you don’t want to stay at the lighthouse for sunset, head back to Fira and be prepared for one of the most beautiful sunsets you’ll ever see!

You can either choose to sit down at one of the restaurants or bars overlooking the caldera or just simply find a spot along the walls to watch the sun go down. Both offer an incredible experience!

One of my favorite spots to watch the sunset in Fira is Franco’s Bar. In recent years, they’ve been rebranded and now they function more like a restaurant than a bar but the view is still epic. As a bonus, now you can even have a delicious dinner with these views!

Useful Info for Visiting Santorini

Where to stay in Santorini

If you’re visiting Santorini for the first time, you might feel a bit overwhelmed when it comes to deciding actually where to stay in Santorini. The island has basically two different sides with many towns to stay in, so you need to pay attention to which one you choose.

The caldera towns are located on the western side of Santorini and this is undoubtedly the favorite part of tourists visiting Santorini. The most popular towns in this part include Oia, Fira, Imerovigli and Firostefani.

The beach towns are situated in the eastern part of the island and if you’re looking to save some money, it can be a great choice to stay at one of them. The most popular beach towns are Kamari and Perissa, where you can find beautiful black sand beaches.

If you’re interested in knowing more about each town with detailed descriptions, pros and cons, and hotel recommendations, make sure to check out my in-depth guide about the best places to stay in Santorini!

In case you’re looking for a quick solution, you can check my top recommendations below.

• Luxury: Villa Bordeaux
• Mid-Range: Kaleidoscope Cave Houses
• Budget: Stelios Rooms

How to get to Santorini

The easiest way to get to Santorini is by taking a flight. Thira Airport (JTR) is located on the east side of the island and you can always find numerous direct flights from bigger European cities, especially in the summer period.

Another option for getting to Santorini is by taking a ferry. From mid-March until the end of September, you can find numerous direct ferries connecting Santorini with many other Greek islands and Athens on the mainland.

If you’re traveling off-season, you can still find daily ferries from Athens, Naxos, and Paros to Santorini all year round. It takes around 5-7 hours to reach Santorini from Athens, and 2-3 hours from Paros and Naxos.

Usually, there are more ferry operator companies on the same route with various prices and duration. I recommend using Ferryscanner to compare ferries and check the schedules.

Best time to visit Santorini

The high season in Santorini runs from late June to early September. As you can imagine, the island is full of tourists during this season and the prices are at their peak.

The weather is usually hot and sunny, which makes it perfect for relaxing at the beach. If you are more into sightseeing or hiking or if you don’t tolerate the crowds too well, I would recommend avoiding the high season.

Visiting Santorini in the shoulder season, typically in May-June or September-October is a great choice. You can still easily reach the island as the direct flights and ferries are still in operation. All of the hotels and restaurants are open, the prices are better, and there are fewer tourists on the island.

How to get around in Santorini

If you want to follow my 3 day Santorini itinerary and explore the whole island, not just the main tourist hubs, then you’re going to need to rent either a car or an ATV.

This is the most convenient and easiest way to get around Santorini and since the island is not so big and the roads are in great condition, it’s fairly easy to drive in Santorini.

Having a car or an ATV will give you the freedom to explore the island at your own pace and stop wherever you like, which is really important.

Although you can find local buses in Santorini, I wouldn’t recommend using them. They are not so reliable and if you’re staying outside of Fira (the main hub of the bus system), you’re going to have a hard time getting around.

As for the rentals, I recommend checking Discover Cars where you can compare various car rental options in Santorini. There are many pick-up and drop-off locations across Santorini such as Santorini Airport, Santorini Port, Fira, and Perissa.

I would suggest renting a car at Santorini Airport as it is very easy to reach from any part of the island. Moreover, you can find 10 different companies operating at the airport so you can get the best deals there.

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