Santorini, Greece Travel Community

Santorini advice anyone? Should we hit the beaches or the town?

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knicks_fan87

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Hey, does anyone have any advice about what to do in Santorini? My wife is more of a beach type of girl, but I really like hitting the town and getting to know the locals (and seeing the architecture like in this pic). What do you all recommend for Santorini?

santorini1.png
 
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Hitting the local areas is best especially in the Summer when its really busy!

My favorite beach is Kamara Beach:

kamara-beach1-720x540.jpg

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I think you could definitely do both - go to the beach by day - hit the town at night. Depending on how long you stay, you could also take some time to see the sites and maybe visit some of the beaches at night. The beaches are unique on Santorini because of the volcanic activity. I agree with Nick that Kamara Beach is one of the best on the island. There are also beach bars scattered throughout the island so you can get some nightlife AND see the beach at the same time. Chilli's has beach loungers and you can lounge with a cocktail sitting by the water during the day - best of both worlds!
 
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As I'm sure you know Santorini is known for its beautiful mountainside and architecture. The beaches are really great, especially the pink and white beaches. It's really unlike anything I've seen before…but there are excellent beaches everywhere in the world, especially in Greece. So it really depends on where else you're going for your trip, if you're hitting another beach destination, I would say skip the beaches in Santorini and enjoy the beautiful views and sunsets.
 
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I went to Santorini years ago with my ex boyfriend, and I love the beaches!! The pink sand was so unique and luxurious and I would love to go again. Maybe try and hit the beaches and the town! Especially because both of you need to be happy and enjoy your trip!
 
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Personally I don't go to Santorini for the beaches, although it's cool to see the pink and black beaches at least once. There are far better islands for beach lovers. Santorini has so much to explore from the vineyards to ruins to the efestio (lava). I'd spend your days exploring, eating and drinking in Santorini then take a ferry to Mykonos, Paros or Naxos for some amazing beach time!
 
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My favorite memories of Santorini was walking around in the town. The streets are so small and island like, and there are some really great authentic stores to go shopping and get a taste of Greek fashion and handywork. Avoid the more touristy areas, like the streets with the Gucci and Louis Vuitton stores. That's not what Greece is really about.
 
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I totally agree, you definitely need a mix of both. And you would really be missing out on a huge part of Santorini, if you didn't visit the volcano.

Nea-Kameni-Santorini-720x479.jpg
 
Honestly in my opinion Santorini is not the best place for beaches, if you really want some great beaches, I would head to Zakynthos and service or Skopelos.
 
If you are visiting any other greek islands and you have limited time in Santorini i would skip the beaches and hit the town(oia.fira.pyrgos). Santorini being a volcanic island is not famous for the beaches but the caldera views will blow your mind.
 
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Is May a Good Month for Santorini?

I’m considering a trip to Santorini and would love some firsthand insight on visiting in May.

I’m hoping for a balance between pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and a more authentic feel of the island before peak summer tourism takes over. I’ve read that May can be warm but not too hot, with flowers still in bloom and restaurants starting to fully open for the season, but I’m curious how this plays out in reality. Does the island still feel calm, or is it already busy with cruise traffic? That's my main concern.

If you’ve visited Santorini in May, I’d love to hear what stood out, both the pros and any drawbacks you noticed.

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I’d also love to know if there’s a big difference between domestic and international departures. Is it worth paying extra for a direct flight, or are the Athens connections smooth enough? Any first-hand details would really help me plan ahead for next year’s trip.

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For those who have been recently, how much walking did you actually do? Did you find that you still needed buses, taxis, or a rental car most days? I’d especially love to hear from anyone who stayed around Fira or Imerovigli and explored from there.

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I’ve been to Santorini quite a few times over the years, but somehow I’ve never done any real hiking there. On my next trip, I’d love to change that and experience the island from a different perspective.

The obvious choice seems to be the Fira-to-Oia hike, but I’d love to hear from people who have actually done it. How difficult is it, how long did it take you, and what time of day would you recommend starting? Are there particular sections of the trail that are especially scenic?

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