Itinerary of Santorini and its surroundings in 7 days

Santorini is one of the most beautiful pearls of Greece and part of the Cyclades archipelago. It is famous for its ancient origins, for its breathtaking views of the sea and the caldera and for its typical narrow streets and white houses with cobalt blue doors and windows. In a week there are so many attractions you can visit in this magnificent place: you will pass by the highlights of its past (such as Akrotiri), the most characteristic beaches (Red Beach and White Beach) and you will adore the magnificent views from the island's most prominent spots, such as the one you can admire from The heart of Santorini, a natural rock in the shape of a heart.
Here is the itinerary of Santorini and its surroundings in 7 days.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Santorini

Day 1: Fira and Imerovigli

Devote your first day in Santorini to visiting its capital: Fira. Absolutely charming with its small white houses, it offers postcard-perfect scenery with its caldera. You could start by visiting the Folklore Museum, a must-see if you want to get to know the true soul of the island: it is housed in a cave house built in 1861 and is an old cellar that recreates a dwelling from the past. It is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The second stop is the Archaeological Museum, which is only a 10-minute walk away, filled with curious historical artefacts such as a 480 kg volcanic rock. Open every day, except Tuesdays, from 8.30am to 4pm.
Finally from here, walk up about two minutes to the beautiful Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist, built in 1823 and featuring the colours white, blue and cream. The church is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

After lunch at the Salt & Pepper restaurant, where you can enjoy grilled meat and an excellent Greek salad (cost about €12.00), you may want to head north to the small town of Imerovigli, the 'balcony of the Aegean', a 10-minute drive away. You can also reach the destination on foot or rent a bike (from €5.00 per day).
It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to immerse yourself in the little houses built around the volcano's caldera, the narrow streets of the village and reach the Skaros fortress (always accessible), built by the island's Venetians and the perfect place to take refuge from pirate attacks. As sunset approaches, it is a must to go to the Chapel of Panagia Theoskepasti, perched on the cliff overlooking the Skaros fortress. It can be reached either on foot in 40 minutes or by taking a bus (€1.80). Characteristic is the white church with its blue domes, a wonderful sight overlooking the Aegean Sea.

For the evening then head back to the centre and head to The Athenian House restaurant for dinner, where you can enjoy Greek cuisine with good wine from €35 per person.

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 14 km

• Places visited: Folklore Museum (€5.00), Archaeological Museum (€2.00), Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist; Imerovigli (free), Skaros Fortress (free), Panagia Theoskepasti Chapel (free)

• Daily fee: €60.00

• Where to eat: Lunch at Salt and Pepper(Get directions), Dinner at The Athenian House(Get directions)

Day 2: Oia

Oia is a chic resort on Santorini, originally a traditional and simple village, now a renowned place full of luxury hotels that are very special as they were made out of ancient Greek houses.

The village of Oia is best explored on foot, starting with the spectacular classical Greek-style church of Panagia Platsani, from which you can enjoy a splendid panorama as you are in the north of the island of Santorini. Then lose yourself in its streets, admiring the beautiful views and panoramas of the sea and taking lots of photos.

For your lunch, you could head to Ammoudi, which is about a 600-metre walk towards the beach, then stop at Dimitri Ammoudi Taverna, where you can sample some excellent seafood linguine while sitting a stone's throw from the sea for about €25 per person.
After lunch, it would be perfect to spend the first part of your afternoon at the pebble beach of Ammoudi, accessible on foot via 300 steps or with a rented scooter (from €5.00); the beach is truly spectacular and unique with its red hues and clear water. In the late afternoon you can walk up to the ruins of Oia Castle: from here you can enjoy a unique sunset of many colours ranging from yellow to blue, the distance is 14 minutes on foot. Then admire theAtlantis Book, one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, open daily from 14:00 to 20:00. What strikes you is the location, the irony of the signs, the hints given on small signs or the history in stages of the bookshop depicted on the ceiling.

For your dinner, you could enjoy a nice plate of moussaka or calamari at Kastro Oia Houses, an excellent restaurant with a beautiful view of the sea near the ruins for about €25.00.

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 2.1 km

• Places visited: Panagia Platsani church (free), Atlantis Book (free), Ammoudi (free), Oia Castle (free)

• Daily expense: €50.00

• Where to eat: Lunch at Dimitri Ammoudi Taverna(Get directions), Dinner at Kastro Oia Houses(Get directions)

Day 3: Akrotiri

Devote your third day in Santorini to discovering the prehistoric city of Akrotiri; it was an important village in ancient times, however unfortunately in 1627 BC it suffered damage from a violent eruption and then ash and lava buried everything. In 1957, it was finally unearthed by the Greek archaeologist Spyridon Marinatos and, by removing dust and ash, unique artefacts and evidence of that time, such as vases, frescoes, furniture and other everyday objects, were found. Spend the morning wandering the streets of the town and visit the Prehistoric Town of Akrotiri, accessible daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

At the end of your visit to Akrotiri, go for lunch at Asterias, an excellent Greek restaurant that offers excellent soups with mussels, clams, prawns and shrimps for a menu costing around €35.00.
Dedicate your afternoon to visiting the surrounding beaches to explore with a rented vehicle such as a scooter. You could start with Red Beach, a beach created in ancient times by the erosion of the mountain behind it, thus taking on the typical reddish colour of those rocks.
The other beach not to be missed is White Beach. Small and uncrowded for those who like quiet places, it is characterised by coarse black sand and large pebbles; this bay is perfect for snorkelling!
For sunset, take a 13-minute drive (car or scooter) to the famous Akrotiri lighthouse: it offers breathtaking scenery, especially at this time of day where you can venture along the cliff between lava rocks and thyme plants illuminated by the purple hues of sunset.

For dinner, you might opt to stop for a sit-down meal at the tables of the Giorgaros Taverna, a family-run trattoria serving fresh fish such as grilled octopus at inexpensive prices (from €18.00).

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 12 km

• Places visited: Prehistoric Town of Akrotiri (€12.00), Red Beach (free), White Beach (free), Akrotiri Lighthouse (free)

• Daily expense: €65.00

• Where to eat: Lunch at Asterias(Get directions), Dinner at Taverna Giorgaros(Get directions)

Day 4: Pyrgos and Kamari Beach

Photo by Tango7174. Pyrgos is a very old village built in the 15th century by some Venetians who inhabited the island: it is characterised by peculiar winding, labyrinth-like paths. Start your visit here right away by visiting the Monastery of the Prophet Elijah, which is located 4 km from Pyrgos and can be reached by vehicle. It is open to the public and includes a small church and a garden with a vegetable garden, located at a height of 560 metres, and offers a magnificent view of the entire island of Santorini. It is accessible every day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Return to the centre in just 10 minutes and explore the medieval castle of Pyrgos, with its church of Agia Theodosia located near the entrance, and inside the walls the Theotokou church built in the 10th century.
The square in front of the castle entrance was called Ypsilos Kafenes, a place where aristocrats used to have coffee. The next stop is theWinery Art Gallery. Admission to this gallery, built entirely in pumice rock, is free of charge and is open daily from 11am to 7pm.

When it's time for lunch, it's just an 8-minute walk to The Chatíri-at Kostas tavern, where you will feel like you are eating the traditional dishes prepared by Greek grandmothers, such as the famous Pastitsio for about €20 per person.
In the afternoon, drive to Kamari, a distinctive black beach divided from Perissa Beach (to the south) by the large rock Mesa Vouno. This is a very quiet and less crowded location than Oia, and you could take the opportunity to relax under your parasol while sipping a cool drink. This beach, about 2 km long, is especially favoured by families with children and is well equipped for various activities, from water sports to diving.

For the evening, this location is perfect for shopping (there are plenty of shops and boutiques of all kinds) and strolling along the promenade, especially at sunset time. Dine at the Elia restaurant, a very refined place where you can enjoy excellent dishes from €18.00 per person

At a glance:

• Distance travelled: 9.5 km

• Places visited: Monastery of the Prophet Elijah (free), Pyrgos Castle (free), Theotokou Church (free), Art Space Museum Winery Art Gallery (free), Kamari Beach (free)

• Daily expense: €40.00

• Where to eat: Lunch at The Chatíri-at Kostas(Get directions), Dinner at Elia (Get directions)

Day 5: Megalochori and Heart of Santorini

Photos by Klearchos Kapoutsis. Dedicate this day to Megalochori, a small village on the west coast, specifically between the villages of Pyrgos and Akrotiri: it is famous for being the largest wine production centre on the entire island. The most famous landscape related to this destination is certainly the one in which, at harvest time, the roofs of the houses are completely covered with grapes that are left to ripen in the sun.

Dedicating yourself to this pretty location, start byexploring the centre of the village, you will come across the bell tower of Megalochori, shaped like a white and beige arch and with its traditional sky-blue inserts. Next, if you want an innovative cultural experience, take advantage of a tour at Symposion by la Ponta, a very traditional wine cellar where you can taste local wines to the musical accompaniment of a local musician (from €10.00).

When lunchtime arrives, stop at Raki, a very special little restaurant (tables are made out of wine barrels), just a 2-minute walk from the winery; you pay about €17.00 per person. Strolling through the small alleys of this delightful centre you find the Panagia ton Eisodion, a typical Greek church with a spectacular blue and gold interior.
Next, a 15-minute walk via the Epar.Od. Firon-Ormou Perissis, you will discover one of the most romantic places in the place and a favourite with lovers: we are talking about the rock known as'The Heart of Santorini', a heart-shaped rock facing the sea and perfect for secluding yourself in a place where the only noise you will hear is that of the wind. A few dozen metres away is the Chapel of Agios Nikoloas, built on the side of the caldera and a small Orthodox church reached after a very steep flight of steps.

Having experienced the moment of sunset, return to the centre of the village and enjoy dinner at the Tzanakis restaurant (menu from €20.00), with excellent dishes.

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 2.9 km

• Places visited: Megalochori (free), Megalochori bell tower (free), Symposion by la pota (from €10.00), Panagia ton Eisodion (free), The heart of Santorini (free), Chapel of Agios Nikoloas (free)

• Daily expenditure: €50.00

• Where to eat: Lunch at Raki(Get directions), Dinner at Tzanakis(Get directions)

Day 6: Ios Island

Dedicate this day to discovering theisland of Ios, a small paradise in the Cyclades Archipelago: the island can be reached from Santorini either by ferry, which takes 2 hours (€12.00), or by fast ferry, which costs an average of €29.00 and takes 30 minutes, both departing from Fira. We recommend that you book your place in advance.

Having landed on Ios, you find yourself in the town of Chora, one of the most beautiful historic centres of island Greece, which appears to be a rocky, almost untidy conglomerate where the white colour of its houses always prevails. Not to be missed here is the Ekklisia Panagia Gremiotissa, which, together with two other sacred sites in the immediate vicinity, is a small church overlooking the island and the small village.
Hire a scooter (average €15.00 for a day), then head to Ormos Beach, a paradisiacal beach where you can relax and have a cool drink in one of the waterfront cafés.

Have lunch at Sousana's, a small Greek restaurant serving excellent traditional Greek dishes such as Moussaka, for about €15 per person.
In the afternoon, move on to Mylopotas Beach, a very large and spacious beach where you can also rent a parasol or play on the beach and in the sea. After a few hours of relaxation, in the latter part of the afternoon, move to the nearby FarOut Beach Club where you can have an aperitif (from €8.00) and enjoy the sunset.

Return to Chora with your scooter in 6 minutes and have dinner at Hellenic Social Ios, eating a full meal for about €20.00 per person. Be sure to catch the ferry at 20:55 to return to Santorini, the last available of the day.

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 7.4 km

• Places visited: Chora (free), Ekklisia Panagia Gremiotissa (free), Ormos Beach (free), Mylopotas Beach (free), FarOut Beach Club (free, €8.00 aperitif)

• Daily expenditure: €90.00

• Where to eat: Lunch at Sousana's(Get directions), Dinner at Hellenic Social Ios(Get directions)

Day 7: Nea Kameni Islands, Palia Kameni and Therasia

Your last day is dedicated to discovering the islands in the immediate vicinity, Nea Kameni, Palia Kameni and Therasia. You can visit them on one of the many volcanic island tours that depart daily from the port of Athinios.

You will arrive by boat at the first stop, the island of Nea Kameni, where you will have to walk and, following the only path, you will reach the crater of the active volcano in about five minutes. After a brief exploration of the island and a swim in the natural thermal waters located in the nearby Palea Kameni, return to the boat.

The boat will head towards the island of Therasia, specifically landing in the village of Riva, where you will go to Agistri Restaurant, the most picturesque tavern on the entire island with prices around €18.00 per person.
After visiting the nearby church of Aghia Irini (a 10-minute walk from the restaurant), spend the afternoon exploring the island and heading to the small village of Manolas, which is a 30-minute walk away. It has the typical appearance of Santorini's seaside towns and among the sights not to be missed is the church of Aghios Kostantinos, very small but quaint; also quite charming is the small fishing harbour that seems to have stood still in time.

Before sunset return to Riva where the boat will be waiting for you to take you back to the Port of Santorini; you could then dine at Spartacos, a small pizzeria (average cost per person €13.00).

In summary:

• Distance covered: tour duration of 8 hours

• Places visited: Nea Kameni, Palia Kameni with thermal water bath, Therasia, Riva, Manolas (tour cost €28.00 per person)

• Daily expenditure: €60.00

• Where to eat: Lunch at Agistri Restaurant (Get directions), Dinner at Spartacos (Get directions)

How much does a week in Santorini cost

NB: The prices in the table above are per person.

Santorini is avery fashionable island and very popular with tourists, the months between June and August are the most popular and also very hot, so it is advisable to bring light, comfortable clothes and avoid long stretches in the sun, preferring to travel by car or, better still, by scooter.

Finally, as this is a very expensive destination, especially in summer, it is highly recommended to book your holiday well in advance in order to save on flight and accommodation prices (at least 6 months in advance).

• Cheap flights: from €80.00 - see offers

• Where to stay: Hotels and b&b's from €50.00 per room - see offers

• Total cost for one week, including flights: from €860.00 per person

Before you go: useful tips

• When to visit Santorini: late April to June and then September. Temperatures are pleasant and suitable for swimming in the sea, and there's no summer crowds - find out more

• Getting there: direct flights from several Italian cities. Santorini airport is connected to the capital Fira by the public bus company KTEL (€1.70). By taxi, however, you will not pay less than €20.00

• Where to stay: the capital Fira is perfect for variety and is famous for its nightlife, Imerovigli is calmer and more relaxing. Perissa is perfect for low-cost stays especially in high season

• Getting around: the best way is by car or scooter. You can also get around by cable car, on foot, or in a unique way by riding a donkey or mule to reach the highest points of the island - find out more