Do the crowds feel better if actually staying in Santorini?

[auroracoor1]

The last time I was in Santorini, it was off a cruise ship. There were other cruise ships that had ported that day, so the place was a zoo. I didn't even really like it!

Does Santorini feel different if you're actually staying there at least for a few nights, or is it always that crowded?

There was a long line to the cable car, a crushing crowd at sunsets, and in some shops, I couldn't even really walk through - there were too many people! Everyone was nice though, despite that.

 

[Deborah]

Santorini definitely is better once the cruise ships have left, but it’s still an incredibly popular destination. Sunset venues and the cliffs will always be “crowded” unless you go in the “off-season” - which is getting harder to identify with the attempt to make it a year-round destination. Since it’s an expensive island from the air fare to the hotel prices, I would definitely recommend several days in addition to your travel days, so that you can really appreciate all that Santorini has to offer - which is a lot! Unless you truly want a luxury hotel, I would stay in a hotel away from the cliffs. For example, the Hotel Arassana is located right next to the Cathedral - close enough, but not too close. Get up early to take a walk from Fira to Oia at sunrise to see the beauty of the Caldera without the crowds. To escape the mid-day crowds, you could also take what is a very interesting boat trip around the Caldera to the hot springs, volcano, Therasia, and Oia.

 

[auroracoor1]

Santorini definitely is better once the cruise ships have left, but it’s still an incredibly popular destination. Sunset venues and the cliffs will always be “crowded” unless you go in the “off-season” - which is getting harder to identify with the attempt to make it a year-round destination. Since it’s an expensive island from the air fare to the hotel prices, I would definitely recommend several days in addition to your travel days, so that you can really appreciate all that Santorini has to offer - which is a lot! Unless you truly want a luxury hotel, I would stay in a hotel away from the cliffs. For example, the Hotel Arassana is located right next to the Cathedral - close enough, but not too close. Get up early to take a walk from Fira to Oia at sunrise to see the beauty of the Caldera without the crowds. To escape the mid-day crowds, you could also take what is a very interesting boat trip around the Caldera to the hot springs, volcano, Therasia, and Oia.

I had a feeling that once the ships leave it's a lot more relaxing! I think you're right, next time I go I will stay for at least a few days! I'll look up Hotel Arassana. Thank you so much for your thoughts.

 

[k_tsoukalas]

When I was just there, my cruise ship stayed a lot longer than the rest. I am not sure why - maybe because it was smaller? I have to say that once the larger ships left, the island had a much different feel. First of all, when there, we toured around the whole island. The places that feel busiest are Oia and Fira. So, if you get away from those places, even when the ships are there, it feels a lot better. Oia was actually pretty relaxing after most of the large ships left.