Santorini is one of those places that is almost impossible to get wrong. Almost. After a few trips and a lot of conversations with other travellers, we noticed the same slip-ups coming up again and again. None of them will ruin your holiday, but avoiding them will make it a lot smoother.
Here are the seven we hear about most, and what we would do instead.
1. Staying in Oia for the whole trip
Oia is beautiful, and expensive, and busy. Spending every night there means paying top prices and fighting the sunset crowds daily. We prefer basing ourselves in Imerovigli or Fira for part of the stay and visiting Oia in the early morning, when the streets are quiet and the light is soft.
2. Expecting sandy white beaches
Santorini is volcanic, so its beaches are black, red and dramatic rather than soft and white. If you arrive picturing the Caribbean you will be disappointed. Arrive picturing something stranger and more interesting, like the red cliffs above Red Beach, and you will love it.
3. Only planning for the sunset
Everyone chases the Oia sunset, which means everyone is in the same spot at the same time. The sunrise over the caldera is just as lovely and you will likely have it to yourself. Some of our best mornings started before six.
4. Renting a car you will struggle to park
The island is small and the roads near the villages are narrow and chaotic. A smaller car, or even a quad for a day, is far easier to manage than a big rental. In the main towns you are often better off on foot anyway.
5. Underestimating how much walking there is
The caldera villages are built into cliffs, which means steps. Lots of steps. Comfortable shoes matter more here than almost anywhere, and that clifftop restaurant with the amazing view usually comes with a climb.
6. Booking a caldera-view room without checking the walk to it
Those dreamy cave hotels are stunning, but some are reached by long staircases with no lift and no vehicle access. If you travel with heavy luggage or tired knees, read the fine print before you book.
7. Trying to see the whole island in one day
Santorini rewards a slower pace. Cramming the caldera, the beaches, a winery and a boat trip into a single day leaves you exhausted and the island half-seen. Pick two or three things and actually enjoy them.
Avoid these and the island does the rest. If you want the shortcuts without the trial and error, our Santorini Travel Map marks the quiet viewpoints, the beaches worth the drive and the spots we keep going back to, all inside Google Maps on your phone.
