How to Spend THREE Days in Santorini: The Best 3-Day Itinerary 

Ready to explore the magic of Santorini? Good, because we’ve put together the ultimate 3-day itinerary!

Santorini is one of the most famous islands in Greece, and I think it deserves every bit of hype that it gets. It’s a super special place, and 3 days is an ideal amount of time to soak it all in. 

I traveled to Santorini to test out and perfect this itinerary, so you can be sure that this guide is based on real experience. I had the most amazing time exploring the island, and now I’m going to share all of my insider tips with you so that you can make the most of every moment in Santorini!

Itinerary Overview

For this itinerary, I highly recommend staying in Fira, the island’s main town. It’s walkable with great shopping and lots of amenities, and the main bus hub is here. It’s also very pretty, and it offers those iconic whitewashed houses and caldera views that people come to Santorini for! I was really glad that I stayed here, as it was so convenient but also offered plenty of natural beauty and charm. 

Over three days, following this itinerary will give you a really well-rounded feel for Santorini. You’ll get to see all of the island’s classic postcard spots, get out on the water, enjoy some stunning sunsets, and indulge in plenty of great food and wine. Personally, I loved following this itinerary because I got to see a lot of Santorini, but I still had time to just chill out and take in its world-famous beauty. 

Day 1: See Santorini’s most iconic sights on this private tour, including Oia and Pyrgos, then spend the late afternoon walking along the caldera before enjoying dinner with a sunset view.

Day 2: Eat your way through Fira on this incredible food tour, then sip your way around your island in the evening with this sunset wine tour!

Day 3: Visit Akrotiri Archaeological Site and Red Beach in the morning, then enjoy a local lunch before heading out on this sunset catamaran cruise to round off your time in Santorini by swimming in the volcanic hot springs and gorgeous views from the water.

Getting Around Santorini

Staying in Fira makes it really easy to explore the island without breaking the bank. Santorini is a small island, but taxi rides here are crazy expensive (I’m talking €40 for a 10-minute trip!), so where you stay can make a big difference. 

The good news is that there’s a great bus system, and tickets cost just €2.20 per journey – bargain! However, it operates on a wheel-and-spoke system, meaning all routes go in and out of Fira. This can make journeys longer if you’re staying elsewhere, but if you’re based in Fira, it’s great! 

You pay for your tickets on the bus, and it’s cash only. It’s helpful to have exact change or small notes, but don’t stress too much because I found they were pretty good about making change.

The online schedules aren’t always accurate, so the best thing to do is snap a photo of the timetables at Fira bus station and refer to that during your trip. 

I found the buses were reliable, clean, and comfortable. And since Santorini is a small island, I was never on the bus for more than 20 minutes at a time! 

Renting scooters or ATVs is also popular in Santorini, but to be honest, buses and tours worked perfectly for this itinerary. I didn’t feel like I needed my own transport at all, and the roads are quite windy, so I was pretty glad I didn’t have to navigate them myself.

Day 1

Breakfast – Grab something near your hotel!

This morning’s tour includes hotel pickup, so either have breakfast at your hotel or grab something close by. I actually just grabbed a few supplies the night before from Caldera Market in the center of Fira.

Mid-day – See Santorini’s best sights on a private, customizable tour

For your first full day in Santorini, this private island highlights tour is definitely the way to go. Santorini may be small, but it’s more spread out than you might expect, and taxis are expensive, so a tour is definitely the easiest and most enjoyable way to see a lot in one day. I also learned so much about the island from my wonderful guide, Will!

I recommend booking the 6-hour option, as this gives you enough time to see the island’s main highlights without rushing. I wasn’t jazzed about the early start at the time, but it was 100% worth it because I got to explore Oia while it was still relatively quiet.

Oia is the whitewashed village at the northern tip of Santorini. It’s home to the island’s most iconic postcard spots, but that means it gets overrun with cruise visitors from mid-morning onwards. Will took me there first, which meant that I got to get some amazing photos without having to queue for them, and I could properly appreciate Oia’s beauty before it got crazy busy.

Since this is a private tour, you can tailor the route to suit you, but definitely make Oia your first stop! For this itinerary, I’d also suggest asking your guide to include Pyrgos, Prophet Elias Monastery, a black sand beach, and a winery. This way, you’ll get a really good overview of the island without overlapping too much with the rest of this itinerary!

This tour has thousands of glowing reviews and books up quickly during the summer, so take advantage of the free cancellation policy and lock it in early. For me, it was the perfect way to get my bearings and see a huge amount of the island in one day.

Late Afternoon – Stroll along the Caldera Path

If you opt for the 8 am tour, you’ll be dropped off back at your hotel around 4 pm. Now, if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably want a bit of downtime before heading out again! Chill for an hour or so, and then when you’re ready, get ready for a stunning (and very leisurely) stroll.

The Caldera Path is the walking route that follows the edge of Santorini’s volcanic cliffs. It runs from Fira to Oia, but it also passes through the scenic villages of Firestefani and Imerovigli along the way. The full hike is around 15 kilometers (9 miles) long and takes about 3 hours one-way. 

However, since we’ve had a busy day thus far and already been to Oia, I don’t think it’s necessary to walk the entire thing! Instead, I suggest that you do what I did and focus on enjoying a shorter section of the Caldera Path this afternoon. The views are absolutely incredible the entire way, so I promise, you won’t be missing out!

I walked from the Fira viewpoint to Imerovigli and then turned back, which came to about 5 kilometers (3 miles) in total, according to my Strava. It’s not difficult, but it is up and down, with lots of cobbles, so take it slow. It took me just over an hour and a half with lots of photo stops along the way, plus some delicious gelato. I also saw a ton of cute cats lounging in the sun! 

It can also get windy along the caldera, so I’d bring a light layer or wear a linen shirt to protect you from the wind and sun. During summer, sunset isn’t until around 8:30 pm, so you should have enough time to rest after the tour, enjoy this walk, and then head for dinner with a caldera view afterward.

Dinner – Aris

For dinner, head to Aris in Fira. It’s right on the caldera path, so you could even head straight here after your walk! The sunset views from here are absolutely gorgeous, and the food is incredible.

I went as a solo traveler and had a lovely experience, but this would also be a really romantic spot if you’re visiting Santorini as a couple! I ordered seared tuna with grilled vegetables, and it was delicious. 

My waiter also gave me a glass of wine on the house, and then brought over a tiny thimble of sweet dessert wine at the end of the meal. When you’re traveling alone, little gestures like that mean a lot! 

I didn’t need a reservation for Aris, but I visited Santorini in May. If you’re going in July and August, which is the height of the summer season, I’d definitely book ahead just to be safe.

Dessert – Emfasis Gelato

After dinner, take a little wander around Fira before heading back to your hotel. The town has a pleasantly lively vibe in the evening, and I loved exploring the narrow shopping streets once the cruise ship crowds had cleared out. 

On your way back, stop at Emfasis Gelato for something sweet. They serve gelato, crepes, and bubble waffles. The waffles smelled way too good to resist when I walked past – I had no choice but to indulge!

They have pre-made options, but I decided to build my own. I went for strawberry and Kinder Bueno, and it was just incredible. After caldera views, a lovely dinner, and a bubble waffle, I went to bed feeling very happy indeed!

Related Read: If you’re continuing your travels in Greece after Santorini, make sure you check out our 18 favorite things to do in the entire country here!

Day 2

Morning – Food tour

This food tour was my favorite thing I did in Santorini. I can’t say enough good things about it!

But before I try, let’s get the logistics out of the way. Book this tour for 10 am, so that it will serve as both breakfast and lunch today, and do it well in advance. This food tour is super popular and fills up fast – and with good reason, I might add! 

The tour starts in Firostefani, which is about a 15-minute walk from Fira if you take the road route, or you can hop on the bus if you prefer. This tour was awesome because I got to try so many different Greek foods and Santorini specialties without having to plan it all myself. But as amazing as the food was, what really made this tour special was my guide, Lena.

Lena was incredible. She had blue hair, the warmest personality, and so many funny stories about her childhood, her family, and her 28 years working as a guide in Santorini. I’ve done a lot of tours with a lot of great guides, but honestly, none as amazing as Lena. She was one of a kind, and she made me laugh so much.

We started at a traditional coffee house in Firostefani and gradually moved along the caldera back to Fira. Along the way, we also stopped in an open-air restaurant where we had creamy fava and local beer with an epic view, and we also got to do an olive oil tasting and learn how to identify the good stuff back home! 

I also loved the fact that we went to a sit-down restaurant for a family-style lunch with wine, and finished up at a local cafe for yummy loukoumades (Greek doughnuts). 

Honestly, if I could do anything in Santorini again, it would be this food tour! It was a blast, and I ate so much good food that I wouldn’t have tried otherwise.

Late afternoon – Go wine tasting at sunset

The food tour wraps up somewhere between 2 and 2:30 pm, so head back to your hotel to relax before you’re picked up for tonight’s sunset wine tour. I also changed clothes as I feel like wine tasting is a good excuse to dress up just a little!

I was picked up just after 4 pm by my driver and guide, Davide. He was very knowledgeable about wine, but he was also very funny and sassy, so going tasting with him was great fun. 

One of my favorite things about this tour was how different the three wineries were from one another. The first one was right on the water, so we enjoyed gorgeous sea views, while the second one was housed in a former open-air cinema. And we definitely ended on a high note, as we got to watch a spectacular Santorini sunset from a clifftop winery! 

We got snacks at each winery, which ranged from Greek meatballs and Russian salad bruschetta to cheese and charcuterie, so there was plenty of variety. All of the food actually added up to a full dinner over the course of the evening, so I didn’t need to eat afterward.

I also loved the fact that this was a small group tour. We really bonded over all of the food and wine, so most of us headed out for another drink together after Davide dropped us back in Fira. I’m not at all surprised that this tour has 1,700+ 5-star reviews!

Day 3

Breakfast – LukuMum

Your third and final day in Santorini deserves a decent breakfast, so kick things off with breakfast at LukuMum in Fira. This was one of the stops on the food tour, and I loved it so much that I came back! But instead of loukoumades, this time I went for one of their breakfast combo deals, which included Greek yogurt with fruit, mini croissants, and the best freshly squeezed orange juice that I’ve ever had.

LukuMum is also super convenient for today’s itinerary, as it’s a 3-minute walk from the Fira bus station. It opens at 6 am, which is useful because many breakfast places in Santorini don’t open until later. But don’t worry, you don’t need to get here that early! I recommend heading here at around 8 am so that you’ve got plenty of time to eat before catching the 9 am bus to Akrotiri. 

Morning – Akrotiri Archaeological Site

After breakfast, head to Fira bus station and catch the bus to Akrotiri, which is just about 20 minutes away. I recommend aiming for the 9 am bus (or the closest one, depending on the exact schedule) so that you have plenty of time to visit the archaeological site, see Red Beach, grab lunch, and get back to Fira before your catamaran pickup later on.

Akrotiri Archaeological Site is one of the most important historical sites in the Aegean, and it’s a really interesting place to visit if you want to learn about Santorini’s ancient history. Entry costs €20, and I just bought my ticket when I arrived, but you can also purchase e-tickets before you go. This might be a good idea if you’re visiting in July or August! 

The site is covered and easy to walk through, so it’s a good morning stop, even if the weather is hot. I recommend downloading the Hellenic Heritage app before you go, as it includes a free audio tour for Akrotiri. If you do the full audio tour, you’ll probably spend around 1.5 hours here, but you don’t have to do the whole thing. I just listened to the parts that interested me most and spent about 45 minutes here.

Late Morning – Red Beach 

Once you’ve finished exploring Akrotiri, head on over to Santorini’s striking Red Beach! It’s just a 12-minute walk from the ruins site, and when you’re almost there, you’ll see a sign warning you not to go any further. You’ll also see that most people ignore this and climb over the hill to the beach anyway! 

Red Beach isn’t really a swimming beach because the seabed is sharp and rocky. However, the good news is that this afternoon’s boat tour will bring you back here for a swim stop that doesn’t require you to brave the rocks! So for now, I’d treat Red Beach as more of a quick sightseeing stop than a place to spend hours lounging. 

The beach itself is really striking, with dramatic red cliffs and dark volcanic sand, so it’s definitely worth seeing it up close this morning, especially as Akrotiri is so close by. It’s an excellent photo stop and an iconic part of the island, so it’s nice to be able to say you’ve set foot here, even if you don’t stay for long!

Lunch – Periasmos

After visiting Red Beach, head to Periasmos for lunch. It’s on the way back to the bus stop, and I actually didn’t plan on stopping here, but it just smelled too good to resist! The owner was outside grilling meat, and he even let me try a slice before I sat down to eat. 

This is a family-run restaurant, and the staff were so sweet and friendly. I went for the chicken gyros, and it tasted every bit as good as it smelled. Plus, the portion was huge! The service was fast, too, which is perfect for today.

I caught the 1:20 pm bus back from Akrotiri to Fira. Of course, you’ll want to double-check the schedule beforehand, but getting a bus back at around this time will make sure you’re back at your hotel well before pickup for the cruise, without having to rush around.

Afternoon and evening – Enjoy a sunset catamaran cruise 

If you ask me, there’s only one way to round off an epic trip to Santorini, and that’s with this sunset catamaran cruise! It’s so much fun, and it includes hotel pickup to make life easy, plus dinner and drinks.

The official start time is 3:30 pm, but my pickup time was almost an hour before that, so I’ve factored this into the itinerary. You’ll also want to wear your swimmers and bring a light layer, as it can get chilly later on, but you don’t need a towel as they’re provided on board.

One important tip, though: don’t wear light-coloured swimwear if you’re planning to get in the volcanic springs. The water can stain your swimsuit, so darker colors are definitely safer!

At the port, my group and I met our guide, Julia, who was absolutely lovely. She made us all feel welcome, and then we were off, cruising along Santorini’s gorgeous and dramatic coastline. We stopped for a swim at Red Beach, admired White Beach, and stopped at the volcanic hot springs – although I have to be honest, they were not hot! The water was a lovely color, though, and Julia hosed us off with warm water afterward.

For dinner, the crew served a buffet of spaghetti, delicious grilled chicken, and fresh salad, along with some local wine – always a welcome treat! Finally, we watched the most incredible sunset from the boat. In fact, it was so beautiful that everyone clapped afterward. It sounds cheesy, but it was cute in the moment. This was truly the perfect way to round off my time in Santorini!

Related Read: If you’re looking for more activities to put on your itinerary, have a look at our favorite things to do here!

Where to Stay in Santorini, Greece

Now that you’ve got the perfect Santorini itinerary sorted, it’s time to find a great place to stay. As I said earlier, this itinerary is based in Fira, which will be the most convenient option. Choosing the right accommodation can make all the difference to your trip, so to help you out, I’ve listed the top options for every budget range below!

Luxury – $$$

If you want a luxury stay in Fira, Orama Hotel & Spa is the perfect choice. It actually feels more like a resort than a hotel, and it’s perched right along the caldera, so you couldn’t ask for a better location! There’s a seasonal outdoor pool, a pool bar, a fitness center, and spa treatments available, so it’s a great option if you want a little bit of pampering during your trip.

Rooms here start at around €300 per night during peak season, including free cancellation and a top-rated breakfast. Book your stay here!

Mid-range – $$

Loizos Stylish Residences is a great mid-range option in Fira, just a short walk from the town center. It offers a range of modern rooms and apartments, some with kitchenettes, balconies, and even private hot tubs! There’s also an outdoor pool to enjoy, which you’ll definitely be grateful for because Santorini gets pretty warm during the summer months. All in all, this is a comfortable, convenient, and relatively affordable base for exploring Santorini.

Prices usually start between €140 and €200 per night. You can book this stay on Booking.com!

Budget – $

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly stay in Fira, Anessis is a great choice. I stayed here and found it clean, comfortable, and really convenient, especially for this itinerary.

Anessis is right near the bus station and only about a 5-minute walk from the hustle and bustle of Fira, so it was super easy to get around the island. At the same time, it was quiet at night, which I really appreciated.

The property is small, friendly, and locally owned, which I loved. The staff was really helpful, and there’s also a pool, which is always a bonus. It’s not on the caldera, but I still had an ocean view from my room!

Rooms start from around €100 per night, but they book up quickly, so lock in ASAP! You can reserve your room here on Booking.com!

For more options, see all of the hotels in Santorini here!

Related Read: To learn more about the best areas and hotels to stay in, look at our detailed Where to Stay in Santorini guide!

Thanks for reading!

Santorini truly lives up to the hype, and I hope this 3-day itinerary helps you make the most of your time on the island. I followed this exact plan and felt it offered a great mix of famous sights, local gems, and time to relax. From exploring postcard-perfect Oia to swimming at Red Beach and watching the sunset from a clifftop winery, I had so many unforgettable experiences here, and I just know that you will, too!

If you’re continuing your travels near Greece, don’t miss our other Europe blogs here. Or check out some of our favorites below to help you plan the rest of your adventure!

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