How to Spend 4 Days on The Greek Island of Santorini
Santorini is the ultimate Greek island experience, especially for first time visitors to Greece. If you Google Greece, loads of pictures of Santorini, specifically Oia flood the screen. This must-visit destination is somewhere most of us dream of experiencing, but it does come with a heavy price-tag and a lot of crowds, so you have to know how to travel here the right way!
Santorini is an incredible Greek island that was formed into its iconic crescent shape from a massive volcanic eruption in 1600BC. The caldera is well-known for its white-washed houses in the villages of Oia and Fira, built right along the cliff edges of the island. Santorini has an airport, with connecting flights available from many European countries, and also has a small port, making it accessible and easy to get to.
The island is small enough to explore over a few days, but it can get super busy, so sticking to a good plan and itinerary is key to really enjoy your time in Santorini. You can also extend or shorten your time here, depending on the time you have available. This is the exact itinerary my husband and I followed while we stayed in Santorini, and we absolutely loved our time here. Save this for your upcoming trip to Santorini, because I know it’ll make your time on this gorgeous Greek Island one you’ll always remember.
Day One: Arrival and Beach Day
Take a taxi from the port or airport to your accommodation on the island. We used Santo Perla and our driver was super friendly and knowledgeable about the island. We stayed in Perissa while we visited Santorini and found it to be quieter, cheaper and more relaxing than the bigger towns of Fira and Oia, plus there is a beautiful black-sand beach in Perissa with clear, turquoise water. Santorini is small enough to easily catch a bus between the towns, and it takes around 30 minutes to get to Fira from Perissa, so if you’re willing to try something a little different and book your accommodation outside of Oia, I would definitely recommend Perissa.
Here are some highly rated accommodation options in Perissa:
When you’ve unpacked and settled in, spend the rest of the day relaxing at by the pool, or even better, at the beach in Perissa. If you’re looking for some lunch or a sweet treat, there is a small family bakery in the area called Santa Irini, which serves the best bougatsa (a delicious Greek custard-filled pastry) in Santorini, in our opinion. An afternoon coffee and bougatsa became one of our favourite daily activities during our time in Greece!
Day Two: Boat Trip
Day two of your time in Santorini will be spent exploring the caldera and surrounding volcanic islands by boat. This boat tour on GetYourGuide comes highly rated and was one of the best activities we did during our visit to Greece. You’ll be collected and dropped back off at your hotel, so there’s no added stress arranging transport to the port, however, the bus ride down to the port has lots of winding roads, so motion sickness tablets may be needed for more than just the boat!
The boat will depart from Athinios port and will cruise around Santorini, as you take in the views of the dramatic cliffs and beautiful white-washed houses. The boat will sail towards Nea Kameni Island, which is home to an active volcano, although it is currently dormant. You’ll have the option to stay on the boat and take in the glorious Greek sunshine, or go for a guided walk on the island up to the volcano. The black volcanic rocks of the island are fascinating to see, especially against the vibrant blue of the Aegean Sea. The next stop is Palia Kameni, where you can swim in volcanic hot springs just off the island. The water has a red-brown colour because of the high levels of iron and sulphur found here, so make sure to wear dark swimwear that won’t get stained.
The boat tour ends off enjoying the sunset with a casual, but yummy, buffet dinner, as well as a traditional Greek dance around the boat deck, where all guests are invited to join in, of course! Opa! This was my favourite part of the day and the sunset we saw while sailing along the Aegean Sea will always be a special travel memory that we will never forget.
Day Three: Scooter Rental or Bus Trip to Explore Oia and Fira
Oia is the postcard picture of Santorini, and is probably the most famous village of the Greek Islands. With gorgeous white-washed homes perched right on the steep cliffs, the iconic blue-domed churches scattered around the small village and scenic narrow streets lined with boutique stores and restaurants, Oia is known for luxury, incredible views and picturesque accommodation and is a must-visit for anyone staying in Santorini. Oia does come with a lot of crowds, especially from the cruise ships that dock at the port every day, but it is a beautiful village that’s definitely worth exploring.
Fira is the main town of Santorini, and is just as beautiful as Oia, but is quieter and more spread out. Like Oia, Fira also sits dramatically along the cliff edge and is also filled with gorgeous white-washed houses and domed churches, but the streets feel calmer and less touristy and prices are more reasonable here. This side of Santorini is well known for its incredible sunsets and I can definitely recommend ending the evening off with a meal in Fira watching the sunset from one of the many restaurants that line the cliff edge, as it was one of the best sunsets I’ve ever experienced.
You’ll be visiting both of these beautiful destinations on day three of your time in Santorini, either by driving a scooter or ATV rental to get there, or by taking the bus. During our visit to Santorini in September 2024, scooter and ATV rentals in Perissa were 80 Euros per day, which is definitely not cheap, but will allow you to get to Oia from Perissa in 45 minutes. A cheaper, but more time-consuming alternative to hiring transportation is to take the bus from Perissa into Fira and then another bus from Fira to get to Oia. The tickets were 2 Euros per person per journey in 2024, and the journey takes around 45 minutes to an hour. You can ask your accommodation where the local bus stop is and they will gladly help you. You’ll need to pay in cash for your ticket on the bus. Fira is the main bus station on the island, so you’ll need to stop there and change busses on your way to and from Oia.
I’d also recommend adding in a stop along your route from Perissa to Fira at the little village of Pyrgos. This hidden gem is a quiet local village that the cruise ship tourists in Oia don’t know about and has gorgeous blue-domed churches, amazing sea views and alleys lined with local shops, tavernas and bakeries. Pyrgos is a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of Oia and Fira and will give you an authentically local Santorini experience, with space to explore at your own pace.
Day Four: Early Morning Beach Time and Departure
This Santorini itinerary packs a lot of activities into a short amount of time, so on your last day on the island, have a slow and relaxed morning packing up and checking out of your accommodation. Make sure you get in an early morning swim and some beach time in the morning sun, before enjoying some breakfast at a local café. Corner Food & Drinks opens at 8.30am every morning and serves crepes, brunch and omelettes.
Book a taxi ahead of time to collect you from the restaurant and take you to the ferry port or airport to wait for your departure. It might be a good idea to purchase some snacks and drinks from a bakery before leaving to make sure you have something to eat while you wait for your ferry or flight.
Santorini is a gorgeous Greek island filled with incredible architecture, laid-back vibes and sunsets that you’ll never forget. The locals will welcome you like family and the food is always fresh, flavourful and served with love. Greece is a country full of history, sunshine, amazing food and friendly locals, and when you plan your visit the right way, you’ll find the charm of Santorini definitely hasn’t faded with its popularity with tourists. Santorini is a definite must-visit place on your next Greek Island vacation and I hope you’ll love your experience here just as much as we did!
