Santorini in One Day: A Day Trip Itinerary
This Santorini itinerary enables you to see the capital town Fira, the world-famous Oia and the black sand beach of Kamari in one day.
Suppose you’re making a day trip to Santorini from another island, a cruise stop, or you only have limited time to explore this beautiful island. In that case, you may be looking at how much you can fit into visiting Santorini in one day.
Each day trip to Santorini will be slightly different depending on which island you’re coming from due to the differing ferry schedules giving different amounts of time on the island.
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MAP: Santorini, Greece Location
The island of Santorini is located in the Cyclades islands, close by to the islands of Ios, Sikinos, Folegandros and Amorgos. The island is served by many ferries passing through the Cyclades. Many fast ferries pass by Santorini, such as the high-speed ferry to Crete.
Is a Day Trip to Santorini Worth It?
In my opinion, a day trip to Santorini is definitely worth-it. If you have more time to spare, it is worth staying in Santorini, even if it’s for a short time. The island should be high on your European bucket list.
Ensure that the ferry schedules allow for a reasonable amount of time on the island. You will need at least 5 hours and much more if possible. If you can, arrive in Santorini in the morning and stay until sunset.
Use the search bar below to check if the ferry schedules work during your dates:
A day trip to Santorini can either be done independently by catching buses or arranging your own transfers OR as part of an organised bus tour around the island. This post covers precisely how to make an independent day trip to Santorini. Guided trips to Santorini can be booked on Get Your Guide here.
Santorni 1 Day Itinerary
If you’re going on a day trip to Santorini, or you have just one day in Santorini, we’ve got you covered with this fantastic itinerary!
Morning: Arrive in Santorini and travel to Oia via Fira
When planning your trip to Greece, you can book your ferry tickets online through Ferry Hopper. Ferries to Santorini often get booked up, so make sure you book in advance.
If you arrive in Santorini by ferry, you’ll arrive at Santorini’s new port, also known as Athinios port, backed with massive cliffs. Your first stop is Oia, world-famous for its cliffside villas, the best in the world sunset.
The cheapest and most efficient way of getting to Oia from Santorini’s new port is by bus. To do this, you’ll have to change buses in Fira, Santorini’s central bus hub.
How to get from Athinos port to Oia
- Take the bus to Fira. Buses are run by KTEL and meet each ferry. The bus will cost €2.30 and take 20 minutes. Once you’re in Fira, change buses to get to Oia. Buses from Fira to Oia run every 30 minutes in high season and take 30 minutes to reach Oia. The trip will cost you €1.60. Click here to view bus timetables for your dates.
- To reach Oia fast, you can book a private transfer in advance to save the bus change. Welcome Pickups offers a great experience and safety to its travellers.- Local English-speaking drivers- Flat, pre-paid fee- Flight monitoring for delays- 24/7 Customer support + free cancellation
Arriving into Santorini by Cruise Ship: How to Get from Santorini Old Port to Fira
If you’re arriving in Santorini on a cruise, you’ll have less distance to travel as the old port (cruise ship port) is in Fira. To reach Fira from Santorini old port, you have three options:
- Take the cable car up to Fira. A ticket cost €6 each way and more if you plan on bringing luggage. You can check schedules and prices here.
- Walk up the 580 steps from Santorini old port to Fira.
- Take a donkey ride up the steps. A ride will cost around €8
Oia
Oia is located in the far North of the island. It’s the village often pictured in images of Santorini all over the word. The town features picturesque Cycladic style blue-domed churches and white stone buildings. Oia hangs off the edge of the island’s caldera, giving fabulous views out to sea and making the area a photographer’s paradise.
Top things to do in Oia, Santorini
Take in the view – The view of Oia’s caldera is the most famous in Greece. You could spend hours taking it in. To reach the view from the bus stop, follow the winding steps and lanes uphill, and you’ll come to a shopping street with fabulous caldera views.
See how many blue churches you can find – The blue dome on top of the whitewashed Cycladic churches is an icon. Churches make up quite a bit of the postcard shots of Oia. There are so many to be explored near the caldera and deep into the village.
Watch the Sunset – The sunset in Oia is one of the world’s most famous. The views out into the caldera and how the sun reflects onto the whitewashed buildings are definitely something you’ll remember forever. To do this, you’ll need to stay overnight in Santorini. You can either travel by bus or join an organised sunset tour.
Shop for souvenirs around the winding streets – I always find Greece the perfect place to buy souvenirs, from local delicacies of wine, greek herbs and ouzo to homemade pottery and crafts. You’ll definitely find some excellent gifts.
Bus from Oia to Kamari via Fira
First, to reach Kamari from Oia, take the bus back to Fira. The journey will take 30 minutes – with stunning views along the way and cost €1.60. Once in Fira, change buses to Kamari.
Buses from Fira to Kamari often meet the bus coming from Oia. You shouldn’t have to wait more than 15 minutes. The bus from Fira to Kamari takes 20 minutes and cost €1.60.
Once you’ve arrived at Kamari, simply turn left from the bus station and walk down the shopping street. This will take you to the sea.
Kamari
The star attraction of Kamari is the beautiful black sand beach. The beach is wide and long, boasting many amenities like water sports, rows of sun loungers and plenty of tavernas.
Top things to do in Kamari, Santorini
Food with a view – The street running alongside Kamari beach is packed with a massive variety of tavernas and cafes. Take your pick and enjoy some excellent local cuisine.
Enjoy some time on Kamari beach – Being a black sand beach, Kamari beach is a somewhat different experience from other beaches in Greece. The beach is formed of volcanic pebbles and backed with high cliffs. Even if you just put out a towel for an hour – it’s definitely an experience you won’t forget.
Take a dip – After all the sightseeing, why not cool down with a dip in the sea?
Souvenir shopping – The road from the bus stop to Kamari beachfront is lined with hundreds of souvenir shops. Prices a cheaper than elsewhere in Santorini, so grab a bargain!
Bus from Kamari back to Fira + Exploring Fira
Fira is the capital of Santorini, so there’s plenty to do here. The bus from Kamari to Fira will cost €1.60 and take 20 minutes. If you’re short on time, an absolute must do is to see the caldera views in Fira old town.
I recommend getting ice cream to keep you cool and take in the views. Alternatively, you could grab a bite to eat or a cocktail from one of the cliffside bars. Simply walk all the way uphill, and you’ll reach the caldera.
Fira
Bus from Fira back to Santorini New Port
Buses from Fira to Santorini port usually meet the ferries. Schedules are released each week and posted on the board at the bus station. The bus will cost €2.30 and take 20 minutes. Alternatively, you could book a private transfer from Fira to the new port to meet your ferry.
Once at the port, there are plenty of snack shops and cafes if you have a wait.
Now it’s time to say goodbye to Santorini after a fabulous day trip. Safe travels!
Staying overnight in Santorini | Best places to stay
Our Recommendation: Anessis Apartments, Fira
We chose to stay at the Anessis Apartments for 2 nights as part of our travels around Greece this summer. Anessis is just a minute’s walk away from Fira’s bus station, where buses run all over the island. You can also walk to the centre of Fira within 5-10 minutes for the fantastic caldera views and sunset.
The apartments are suitable for most traveller types, especially couples and families. Rooms sleep 2-3 adults + kids, depending on the room chosen. We had a fantastic experience staying with a baby. The triple rooms often come with a lovely ground-floor outside area with views across the island and an impressive sunrise in the morning.
Other fantastic places to stay in Santorini include Perivelos, Oia and Fira. You’ll find fantastic hotels, some even with private pools! Make sure you book in advance as accommodation in Santorini often sells out.
Other Things To Do in Santorini
Which Island Can I take a Day Trip to Santorini From?
A day trip to Santorini from Ios
Ferries from Santorini to Ios range between €7-48 one way. Most ferries are run by SEAJETS and DIONISIS SOLOMUS.
Journey times can be as little as 35 minutes or as long as 1 hour, 50 minutes. You’ll most likely take each journey with a different ferry company. View the latest schedules and prices for your dates here.
View our in-depth guide on the best places to stay in Ios for families here
One Day Trip to Santorini from Crete
Many tour companies all over Crete offer guided day trips to Santorini on high-speed ferries. Some tours even run from Rethymno and Chania. You can view the tours available below.
For an independent day trip from Crete to Santorini, you’ll most likely need to go from the port of Heraklion. Fast ferries can be as quick as 1 hour, 45 minutes. However, it may be best to stay in Santorini overnight.
Day Trip to Santorini from Mykonos
Ferries from Mykonos to Santorini can take as little as 2 hours, 5 minutes with Seajets. Ferries leave for Santorini around 10:00 AM.
However, due to the popularity of both islands and the route being one of the most travelled by island hoppers, tickets can be as much as €66.
The return ferry schedule times mean you wouldn’t have enough time to explore Santorini on a day trip. You may want to think about staying overnight in Santorini or visiting Santorini as part of an organised tour from Mykonos. You can see the tours available below:
Day trip to Santorini from Naxos
Ferries from Naxos to Santorini can take as little as 1 hour, 30 minutes (€42) with SeaJets or 2 hours, 15 minutes (€20) with Blue Star.
Expect to reach Santorini around 12:15 PM. Returning ferries leave around 15:30, so you may want to consider staying overnight in Santorini or visiting as part of an organised tour where you’ll have more time to explore the island.
More ferries may become available in the high season, making it possible to visit Naxos on an independent day trip.
Day trip to Santorini from Paros
Ferris from Santorini to Paros takes around 2 hours with Seajets (€46) or 3 hours, and 15 minutes with BlueStar (€21).
Ferry schedules don’t provide enough time to make a 1-day trip to Santorini, although you would have plenty of time if you stayed 1 night in Santorini. You can view accommodation for your dates here.
Below are several organised tours where it would be possible to visit Santorini in one day:
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