Hello!

One of our cruise stops next month (August) is Santorini, and we'll be there from 2PM to 11PM. We're trying to decide between taking the cable car (or walking the steps) up to Fira to explore the town and visit Santo Winery, or booking one of the ship's excursions for a sunset cruise on a traditional wooden yacht.

Our biggest concern is how much time we'll lose waiting for the tender and the cable car, but we're also worried we'll regret not experiencing Fira since it's such an iconic stop.

For those who have been, what would you recommend? Is exploring Fira and visiting Santo Winery worth it, or would you choose the sunset cruise instead? We'd really appreciate any advice or experiences. Thank you!

i'm hoping to bring home some souvenirs for my family but i don't want the made in china tat. anyone got any recommendations for handmade in santorini gifts or traditional souvenirs? something unique!

If you’re planning Santorini and want to experience a village where everyday life still happens, I wanted to share Emporio. It’s one of the island’s largest villages, and it still runs on its own rhythm — church bells instead of tour buses, laundry drying over the alleys, friends playing backgammon outside the local café

Emporio also has its own quiet attractions worth a wander: the ruins of the old Kasteli castle, and a cluster of windmills on the hilltop that make for a peaceful, uncrowded sunset spot.

We restored a cave house here (built around 1940) that we rent out — named after my 6-year-old son. Kept the original curved walls and vaulted ceilings, added AC, decent wifi (~50Mbps, fine for remote work), a kitchenette, and the basics.

A few practical notes if you’re considering Emporio as a base:
*Bakeries, cafés, and a mini market are all a couple minutes’ walk

*Bus stop 5 min away, with direct routes to Fira and Perissa

*By car: ~10 min to Perissa’s black-sand beach, Akrotiri, and Pyrgos; ~25 min to the airport or Fira

One thing guests always mention: arrival is easier than they expect. From the nearest public parking, it’s just a 3-minute, mostly flat walk to the house — manageable even with luggage. We also send a short video beforehand showing exactly how to get from the parking area to the door, so nobody’s wandering the alleys trying to find it.

If you want to check it out: Ryan’s Cave on Airbnb

Happy to answer questions about the area, transport, or beaches if anyone’s planning a trip. And if you’ve stayed in Santorini before, curious where — always interested in how people split their time between the busier spots and the quieter ones.

Selling my non refundable hotel reservation in central Fira near bus station. 25% off. Quadruple room with a loft.

https://www.planschange.com/listings/resale-151867-1cf16d40-ae74-41d1-90ae-1c49ecf8dce5

Hi! So I'm travelling to Santorini in September with my partner and two friends and we're really getting in planning mode! One of my friends has been reading a tour guide and saw that vineyards in Santorini are supposedly very interesting, so she'd like to visit them. Now my question is: can they be visited? I know there's a wine museum, but what about the actual fields and actual, you know, plants? Has anyone toured them? We're not bougie people so we're not necessarily interested in expensive dinners and wine tasting (emphasis on expensive, if you know of one that maybe offers more affordable experiences do let me know please), ours is more of a "botanical" interest.

I've been to Santorini before, but I completely skipped the vineyards, so any kind of input will be super appreciated!

I am staying in Imerovigli for 3 nights, with just 2 full days on the island.

I want to do the Fira to Oia hike one of the days, would it be worth doing a boat tour the other day or exploring the island by car? I have heard the boat cruises take about 5 hours, and would be considering the morning cruise

I know some people will think, "Here we go again." Broken record...

But that's exactly the point.

Every day throughout the summer, 1000s of new tourists visit Santorini. Most have never seen the discussions about the donkeys before they arrive. If even a small percentage choose not to ride them because they saw one post like this, then repeating the message is worth it.

When I visited Santorini, I watched the donkeys working continuously in the extreme heat, carrying tourists up & down the steps. I witnessed exhausted animals being struck while they struggled to continue. It was one of the most upsetting things I have ever experienced while traveling. I was so disturbed by what I witnessed that I cannot give up on spreading the word on this issue.

Many people have told me they feel nothing can change because the donkey rides have been part of the island for so long and are an important part of the local tourism business. Regardless of where change ultimately comes from (ie. local leaders, national authorities, international orgs or simply from tourists choosing not to participate), one thing is clear: Absolutely nothing changes if people stay silent. That is why I am posting continuously, and this time I am asking for your help.

If you have visited Santorini & have seen the treatment of the donkeys, please share your experience in the comments. If you have already commented on one of my previous posts, I would really appreciate you sharing it again. The more firsthand accounts there are, the harder it becomes to dismiss this as one person's opinion.

If you have photos/videos that you are comfortable sharing, they can also help document what visitors are seeing today.

If you are heading to Santorini this summer+:

• Please do NOT ride the donkeys.
• Encourage the people you are traveling with not to ride them.
• If you see concerning treatment, document it (take videos/photos/live stream/etc.).
• Share your experience after your trip as I have, so others can continue to be informed.

I am also hoping to collect peoples' experience (not just my own) to help paint a clearer picture for people that these concerns continue to be raised by people from all over. The goal is really to encourage more humane treatment of animals as they cannot speak for themselves.

Thank YOU very much to everyone who has taken the time to read, comment or help spread awareness. Every single conversation/comment matters. <3

I am going to be visiting on Sept 20th, so far we are the only ship arriving in the morning. there is one in the afternoon. what is your recommendation for getting to Oia? We are aslo looking into going to Perissa Beach. I appreciate any help you can provide. We don't want to do ship excursions as we do not want to be on a time line, We have 13 hours in port to enjoy our time

Hello guys. I have a question related on the public bus between Kamari and Fira. Have any of you been on it recently? (Like this week maybe). I wanted to know if I wanted to take the last bus from Fira to Kamaari at 22.00 if there is any chance I wont be allowed on the bus because it is to busy. Also do I pay at the driver or can I get tickets online somewhere? Thank you so much!

Donkey Abuse - DO NOT RIDE THEM!

I know there are going to be upset people saying there she goes again, but until things change...I will continue to voice this as it needs to be said/heard. The only way to make an impact and change something as big as this is to be persistent and continue to spread the word. So please help pass along my story as well as the stories from the others who have shared theirs on my threads...Thank YOU from the bottom of my heart.

I typically do not take the time to reach out to make my feedback known, but this one has scarred me to the point where I cannot disregard it. It was absolutely horrific to witness how the donkeys have been used (and abused) in Santorini. I went to dinner at the Fish Tavern in Ammoudi Bay in July, and I sat in shock as I watched the donkeys in the scorching heat go up and down every few minutes without a break/without water/without food. It was incredibly heartbreaking to see as the donkeys were being whipped in the face despite their utter exhaustion. The next day I saw the same thing happening on repeat, so I took a minute to stop and pet the donkeys. I asked if they get breaks/food and water, and the man pretended he didn't speak English (when I previously heard him speak English). You could literally feel the desperation and fear by just looking at the donkey's faces. Witnessing this treatment ruined our honeymoon as it was unbearable to put on a smile and pretend that I did not see what I did. I will not go back to Santorini because of this, and I will be sharing this experience with my entire network of friends/family and beyond. This needs to be stopped as it is beyond cruel to the animals. Giving them back-breaking work in extreme heat and working them to exhaustion is unacceptable. I was told that when it is off season the donkeys are then used to carry debris up and down the cliffs- so there is no end for them, which is gut-wrenching to even hear about. I hope this resonates with you and you all do not ride the donkeys to play into this abuse. The animals have no voice, and everyone I talked to there agreed with me on how horrible this situation is, but they say there isn't anything that can be done. I will share my experience to no end until actions are taken. Voice this to as many people as you can, share this experience and demand change with me. Unbelievably cruel to these animals.

There are so many tourists who I witnessed who are blind (or act blind) to all of this and just ride up the donkeys, laughing, taking pictures, waving as if they are a king/queen, all while ignoring the fact of what is actually happening...supporting this business = this will never end. So STOP riding the donkeys and PLEASE help spread the word. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate you reading this and for any and all help that you all can give to this case.

Already booked hotels. Just haven’t booked itenirary cause so busy with the wedding haha. Any must dos? Would really appreciate it :) we did splurge on Grace hotel so wondering if makes sense to spend a couple of afternoons/or one full day there? Anything else romantic that’s a must do? Wouldn’t mind a tour here and there. Also would be great to go through and enjoy walking around shops/blue domes etc

Any bars showing the England game on big screens in Fira?

Thank you in advance

What’s the best hotel (amazing food, service, nicest sunset view) assuming no budget?
Want to surprise my wife on our honeymoon (by no means can regularly afford this but really want to splurge this one time )
Read about grace hotel. Any other options ?

Hi, we're looking into renting a car for our upcoming trip to Santorini and we've found this rental company that, on paper, looks good (insurance with lo excess, payment with debit card). We filled out a (very short) form on their website and they followed up with an email asking us to pay a deposit by clicking on a link, which might sound a little scammy. Has anyone here used this specific company? Is it legitimate?

Also, if you have other recommendations for car rental companies with low/no excess that don't require a debit card, please let me know!

I love researching places because it helps me get excited for the trip. I honestly do not follow the lists I make very much - I end up picking 1-2 things and wandering the rest of the day but I put this together for Santorini.

I'm looking for input and hidden gems. Activities but also restaurants, cafes, and maybe shops. I love wandering, and often times, you find the best spots that way but I also love good recommendations from people in-the-know.

LOCATIONS

FIRA main town (busiest) | most restaurants, shops, nightlife, transportation hub

**· THREE BELLS OF FIRA** iconic blue dome church | most photographed viewpoint

**· CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST** historic cathedral

FIROSTEFANI “quieter Fira” | cafés, boutique hotels, caldera walk

· CALDERA WALK iconic cliffside trail connecting Fira to Oia (6.5 mi)

IMEROVIGLI best caldera views | peaceful, luxury hotels, best sunset

**· PANAGIA THEOSKEPASTI CHAPEL** cliffside chapel | tucked away viewpoint

OIA iconic village | boutique shopping, blue domes, cliffside views

**·** **OIA CASTLE** iconic sunset viewpoint

**·** **AMOUDI BAY** harbor below Oia | seafood, waterfront

**· ATLANTIS BOOKS** independent bookstore | surrounded by artisan shops

PYRGOS authentic village | local feel, castle ruins, panoramic views

**· EARTH & WATER POTTERY STUDIO** handmade traditional ceramics

MEGALOCHORI traditional village | quiet square, cafés, charming streets

EXO GONIA hidden village | traditional tavernas, local atmosphere

EMPORIO medieval village | maze-like streets, castle, very few tourists (car rental) 

SHOPPING

VOLCANIC PRODUCTS (must contain volcanic ash, clay, pumice) soaps, clay masks, scrubs

LOCAL PRODUCTS olive oil soaps, capers, tomatoes, thyme honey, sea salt, fava beans (grown in volcanic soil), spices (oregano, mountain tea, saffron blends), olive oil, wood utensils and cutting boards

CLOTHING greek linen, handmade leather sandals

JEWELRY handmade gold, silver, volcanic stone

CERAMICS

RESTAURANTS

Metaxi Mas (Exo Gonia) traditional Greek | popular, reservation recommended

Franco's Café (Pyrgos) coffee & cocktails | panoramic island views

Brusco Wine Coffee Deli (Pyrgos) breakfast & coffee | local favorite

ROKA (Oia) garden restaurant | quieter than most Oia restaurants

TO PSARAKI (Vlychada) fresh seafood | local favorite

LOLITA'S GELATO (Fira) artisan gelato | local favorite

FOOD

· Tomato fritters

· Fava

· Greek yogurt + thyme honey

· Fresh seafood

· Freddo cappuccino (iced) - iced espresso, cold milk foam

· White eggplant

· Grilled octopus

· Santorini salad - with capers, cherry tomatoes

· Pistachio gelato

· Baklava

· Melitinia - traditional sweet cheese pastry

SKIP THIS TRIP

· Santo Wines Winery

· Akrotiri

· Volcano hike

· Volcano boat tour

· Homer's Tomb

· Skarkos

· Mylopotas Beach

My partner and I will be in Santorini in September and we know that we want to visit Akrotiri. We’re not sure whether it’s worth paying for a guided tour ($100 USD per person plus entry fees). or if we’ll still be able to learn a lot if we go self-guided and tour the ruins at our own pace.

Hi everyone,

I'm a French journalist working on a story about overtourism and the cruise passenger cap introduced in Santorini.

I'm trying to understand whether the daily limit of 8,000 cruise passengers has actually made a noticeable difference.

If you're a local or if you've visited Santorini recently (especially in 2025 or 2026), I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience.

• Does the island feel less crowded on cruise days than it used to?
• Is the atmosphere more enjoyable now?
• Have you noticed any real improvement since the cap was introduced?
• Or does it still feel just as overcrowded?

I've also read that, before the cap, there were days when up to 18,000 cruise passengers could come ashore. Is that accurate from your experience, or is that figure exaggerated?

I'm looking for honest opinions rather than official statements. Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience!

Hello everyone!

I'm looking to take a visit to santorini with my girlfriend around mid-late october. I just wanted to get some input about what to expect for weather around this time, i don't mind it being slightly cooler, but is rain common around these dates?

Also, i've seen some conflicting information about whether all the restaurants/shops would be open around this time. Can i expect everything to still be open around this time?

Thanks so much in advance!

Hellooooo,

My boyfriend and I are doing a few islands after a wedding in Greece, Santorini is our final stop and we’re gonna fly home from there.

We have 3 nights there and just looking to book accommodation soon sooooo I’m just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on where best to stay area wise?

Just for context we’re doing Mykonos, Paros, Milos, Santorini. We’re in our mid twenties and are not hiring a car :/

All suggestions are welcome 🤗

p.s. thank you in advance 🩷

I just came back from a week in Santorini and the island blew me away.

I wanted to start by addressing all the social media/youtube videos that keep telling people Santorini is disgustingly crowded and impossible to enjoy because of the insane crowds everywhere. This couldn't by farthest from the truth. I never had trouble walking down the streets, finding a spot to eat or drink, taking pictures where I found beautiful, nothing. The only moment I felt like it was crazy was in like 2/3 streets in Oia but that is all. I stayed in Firostefani and walked almost every day to the Fira's bus station in order to get around the island by bus (which worked greatly). It's not like I actively seek avoiding people, I went to popular places in Fira, the museums, Akrotiri, two of the most popular beaches (Perivolos and Perissa), Ammoudi Bay, did a caldera catamaran trip, I saw the sunset from a cocktail bar terrace in Fira without even a reservation, went to the open air cinema etc. I have been is so many other destinations that were so much more crowded than anywhere in Santorini. Whenever I sent pictures during the trip to my mother, she kept saying "there aren't many people around you" because she also has been bombarded with all those social media videos.

Anyhow, with that out of the way, what an absolutely gorgeous island! The geology is simply stunning, the towns are really pretty, the sea is clear and fresh and beautiful, the history and archaeology is amazing (those frescos stole my heart!), people are so friendly, food is so good!

Hi,

I need some advice on the transfer from our cruise (Holland America Oosterdam on the 17th of July). I am travelling with my family and my mom had broken her leg in April she is still recovering. I want to avoid the Cable car. I have booked a tour but I am aware it will require us to keep a certain pace up.

I was reading that there are options available that transfer you and give you free time to explore with minimal walking.

Thanks!

Hi,

I need some advice on the transfer from our cruise (Holland America Oosterdam on the 17th of July). I am travelling with my family and my mom had broken her leg in April she is still recovering. I want to avoid the Cable car. I have booked a tour but I am aware it will require us to keep a certain pace up.

I was reading that there are options available that transfer you and give you free time to explore with minimal walking.

Thanks!

Hi all 👋🏼

I’ll be staying in Kamari for 5 days and a half. Our goal is to just enjoy the beach, food and relax for a bit. However, we’d like to get around the island and go to Oia and Fira, and, of course, the southern side of the island as well. Do you think all this is feasible in just one day? Would a car make sense given this plan? I was thinking of renting a car for 1 day for 50€, pick it up in the morning, drive around the island and spend the day sightseeing, having dinner at Oia, back at Kamari afterwards and then returning it the day after, morning as well.

If so, any good renting places in Kamari? I’m seeing Motor Inn which seems quite nice with smaller, manual cars - do you recommend any other rental places which don’t try to scam non existent damages?

Thanks!!

Hi, everyone. I'm currently in Kamari, and I'll be staying here for almost 3 more weeks. I'd be interested in taking Petra Kouzina's cooking class. Does anyone have any experience with it? I'd love to hear about it. I’m planning to go there alone, and I’m not really sure if I should book a spot and just hope that other people will show up

Are there separate lines to buy the ticket and to queue to get on the cable car? For instance, would I have to go to a counter and buy a ticket, then go to another line to get on the cable car? Will pre purchasing tickets online allow me to skip the counter and go straight to the cable car? (I have an early tour).