Is Santorini worth visiting? 7 surprising things to consider

“Is Santorini worth visiting?” is the question we asked ourselves most often when planning our Cyclades island hopping honeymoon.

It’s one of the most popular destinations in Greece for good reason: famous blue domes that are only outshone by the sparkling sea, transformative sunsets and the freshest food that’ll leave you craving more. But with the hype comes high hopes and there are definitely things I wish I’d known – and some I was glad we researched – to help us make the most of every day.

So, if you asked me “is Santorini worth visiting?” again, I’d honestly say yes – but with some considerations, the right expectations and a bit of smart planning.

Here are 7 things that will help shape your experience, for better or worse.

1. There are only a couple of blue domes in Oia

Let’s address the biggest Instagram myth first and one thing that genuinely surprised me when we arrived in Santorini. Those iconic blue domed churches synonymous with Santorini? Turns out there are just three in Oia, concentrated in a very small area that everyone wants ‘the shot’ of.

Sure, they’re absolutely beautiful and definitely worth seeing, but if you want to stand any chance of seeing them without queuing for a person-less shot, you have two options.

Either arrive in Oia super early – for example, the tranquil-looking photo above is time stamped on my phone at 08:30am – or choose another hotspot. The tiny villages of Pyrgos and Megalochori actually boasted just as many and even better, they’re visible without fighting your way through the crowds.

Despite this, Santorini is worth visiting and it’s still magical – especially if it’s one of your first trips to Greece – but I’d always rather know what to expect up front!

2. Cruise ship schedules matter more than you think

This is one of the most underrated pieces of Santorini planning advice and I can’t stress it enough.

When a cruise ship docks – and on busy summer days, there can be multiple ships that each hold thousands of passengers – Fira and Oia can go from busy to overwhelming within the space of a couple of hours. Cable car queues in Fira’s port can be relentless and the tiny streets, shops and restaurants fill up fast.

Tipped off by my parents who visited Santorini the year before us, we checked the public cruise ship timetables and timed our visits when less ships were in port. We still didn’t make it to Fira before the boat arrived, so it was verging on too busy when we arrived mid-morning, but it definitely helped us with our visit to Oia.

If you can’t fully avoid a bulk of ships in port, I’d recommend planning the most popular sightseeing spots for early morning before passengers disembark, or late afternoon when day-trippers start heading back.

3. Leave more time than you expect for island-hopping ferries

We really enjoyed using the ferries to get around the Cyclades, but a couple of tips will make your journey much smoother.

Firstly, there are two ports on Santorini: the main Athinios (Thira) port for passenger ferries, and the Old Port which serves cruise ships and excursion boats. Don’t get them confused or you could be in for a stressful time!

Then, it’s essential to know that Athinios Port is at the end of a 2-mile winding road from the hilltop. At peak times, particularly in summer, traffic is incredibly slow moving so leave plenty of time for your journey – don’t trust the Google Maps journey time. It’s a fine balance, as the port is small and waiting in the heat among thousands of passengers also isn’t fun. Your accommodation may be able to recommend the best timings to get you there without a hitch.

I’d also recommend booking ahead, especially in peak season, which can save you the headache of queuing or possibly not getting a spot on the ferry you want. We booked all our connections on Ferryhopper, which makes it super easy to compare times and prices, and you get your tickets digitally that way too.

Looking for inspiration? You can find our full honeymoon itinerary on my article: Two week Cyclades island hopping itinerary.

4. You can watch the sunset from almost anywhere

Oia’s sunset over the calendar is famous for good reason, as are the crowds that gather for it.

What surprised me is how many equally spectacular spots there are across the island with a fraction of the people. Imerovigli and Firostefani – the village between Fira and Imerovigli – sits right on the caldera’s edge with a much quieter feel and breathtaking views.

We stayed in Pyrgos (the benefits of which I’ve already spoken about in my 4 day Santorini itinerary) and as you head up the castle, the whole island opens up before your eyes.

If you’re set on watching it from Oia, arrive early to claim a good spot or book your preferred bar/restaurant ahead of time. Another popular option is a Santorini sunset sailing cruise – one of the few things I think we really missed out on during our time there!

A totally different experience to fighting for a patch of wall and you get the added bonus of seeing the island from the sea.

5. Where you stay will shape your entire experience

I can’t overstate how much your choice of base matters in Santorini. While the island is small, different villages have different personalities – and very different price tags!

The most popular spots are unsurprisingly iconic but expensive Oia, Fira – central and lively, but heavily impacted by cruise ship visitors – and Imerovigli, the highly-recommended village with a luxury reputation that would have been our second choice.

As I mentioned above, the choice of central, hilltop Pyrgos was absolutely perfect for us with fewer crowds, easy car access and great food options within walking distance. We absolutely loved our stay at new apartment, On the Square’s Suite with Heated Tub, with a beautifully spacious room, plunge pool and patio for sunbathing.

To see everywhere we stayed in on our Greek island hopping trip, I’ve put together this handy map!

If you prefer to be nearer a beach, Perissa is a great choice too, although you don’t get the same sunset views on this side of the island. Megalochori is stunning, but probably a little too quiet unless you’re seeking total escapism!

Having said that, my next point means that no matter where you stay, you’re still in for an amazing trip to Santorini.

6. Santorini is surprisingly small

Roughly 18km from top to bottom, Santorini is very manageable to get round – especially with a hire car. We really enjoyed having the flexibility to explore at our own pace as this allowed us to avoid the busier spots..

Given the number of visitors Santorini gets each year, I was surprised to see just how tiny the island is but in a good way. Instead of spending hours in the searing heat hopping from place to place, everything is easily within reach and it’s simple to check out all the spots you need.

7. If you’re short on time, you don’t even need a full week

Who can ever have enough of Greek architecture, dolmades and lazy days in the sun? But, if you truly only have a long weekend to see Santorini, you can still have an incredible trip.

With the island being so small and main sights concentrated, you wouldn’t necessarily run out of things to do in a week, that length of time is definitely more suited to travellers who want a couple of days to flop on a sun lounger or with plenty of tours to tick off their list.

Four days was the perfect amount of time for us before bouncing to the nearby islands and it’s something I’d highly recommend if you want to spend a longer time in Greece, without the risk of getting *whispers*, bored.

Depending on your travel style, Paros is a fantastic complement for wonderful food, great beaches and a more relaxed pace. Otherwise, Naxos is was another highlight in the Cyclades: laid-back and affordable with beautiful beaches and a brilliant hiking scene.

Check back soon for my full comparison of Naxos vs Paros, or in the meantime, my practical tips for Cyclades island hopping might come in handy.

Summary: is Santorini worth visiting?

The question of whether Santorini is worth visiting really comes down to one thing: expectations. The views are spectacular, the food exceptional and when you stumble on that postcard-perfect image, it absolutely stays with you.

However, it undeniably has its downsides too vs other islands in the Cyclades: it’s busy, can be expensive and doesn’t always match reality. The romance factor is undeniable but honestly, I found that to be the same across the all the Cyclades islands we visited.

If you’re on more of a budget, Santorini isn’t off the cards but I’d also encourage you to look at some other islands too – as an alternative or even splitting up your trip. I’m always a huge fan of a multi-centre trip to get some variety!

My full article on how to plan a Greek island hopping trip on a budget may help you out here.

The main takeaway from this piece? Plan smart and Santorini will absolutely deliver!

Laura x