Outdoors · Santorini · Greece
5 best outdoor things to do in Santorini
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hartmut Inerle, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Fira to Oia caldera hike, Volcano and hot springs boat trip and Amoudi Bay. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 12–15 hours across 5 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 12–15 hours
- Areas
- Imerovigli, Nea Kameni and Oia
Outdoors in Santorini
Nature · Imerovigli
1.Fira to Oia caldera hike
Start early in the morning, wear proper shoes and carry plenty of water; there is no shade after Imerovigli. Return to Fira by bus.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
- Free
- Photo spot
Island · Nea Kameni
2.Volcano and hot springs boat trip
Wear old swimwear for the hot springs; the reddish water can stain fabric.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
Waterfront · Oia
3.Amoudi Bay
Book a waterside table for an early dinner and walk back up before dark, or take a taxi.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Free
Beach · Akrotiri
4.Red Beach
Follow the signs and any closures; the viewpoint above gives the best photographs anyway.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Photo spot
- Nature
- Free
Beach · Perissa and Perivolos
5.Perissa Beach
Wear sandals: the dark sand gets extremely hot by midday.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Imerovigli | Fira to Oia caldera hike | 3–4 hours |
| Nea Kameni | Volcano and hot springs boat trip | Half a day |
| Oia | Amoudi Bay | 2 hours |
| Akrotiri | Red Beach | 30 minutes |
| Perissa and Perivolos | Perissa Beach | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 4 free, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Fira to Oia caldera hike; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Imerovigli): Fira to Oia caldera hike, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Nea Kameni): Volcano and hot springs boat trip, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Oia and Akrotiri): Amoudi Bay → Red Beach, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Perissa and Perivolos): Perissa Beach, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- May: highs of 23°C (73°F), about 2 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm, sunny and green, ideal for the Fira–Oia hike; the sea is cool but swimmable by the end of the month.
- September: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 1 rainy days, very busy crowds. Still hot, with a warm sea and the grape harvest; crowds remain heavy, especially on cruise-ship days.
- June: highs of 27°C (81°F), about 1 rainy days, very busy crowds. Hot and dry with long evenings; beaches and boat trips are in full swing and caldera villages are busy.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Imerovigli — The highest point of the caldera rim, with Skaros Rock and cliff-hung honeymoon hotels
- Oia — Whitewashed cave houses and windmills on the island's northern tip, famous for sunsets
- Perissa and Perivolos — Long black-sand beach on the south coast, with beach bars and budget stays
More of Santorini
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Santorini?
Fira to Oia caldera hike. The path along the caldera rim from Fira to Oia is about 10 km, passing through Firostefani and Imerovigli before turning into a rough trail with climbs over the headlands.
+Which of these are free in Santorini?
Fira to Oia caldera hike, Amoudi Bay, Red Beach and Perissa Beach.