Santorini 4-day Itinerary – Best things to see and do

This Santorini 4-day itinerary is a part of our broader Cyclades Islands travel guide. We recommend you check it out for the best travel tips and the most accurate information about the archipelago, regarding transportation, hotels and restaurants for the islands of Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and Milos.

Santorini 4-Day Itinerary – What to see and do in 96 hours

Considered the most popular island in all of Greece, Santorini has slowly grown to become one of the greatest summer destinations in Europe, receiving around 2 million visitors every year. Lured in by the fabulous sunsets in Oia, the spectacular views over the volcanic caldera, good food and age-old archaeological ruins, it’s certainly not hard to understand why the island is so popular to begin with.

That being said, if you’re on your way to Greece and looking for what to see and do in Santorini in 4 days, we want to leave you with a detailed Santorini 4-day itinerary, complete with all the tourist landmarks and points of interest you don’t want to miss.

Santorini 4-Day Itinerary – Day 1: The Trail between Fira and Oia

If you’ve done any kind of research about Santorini, then you surely know by now just how popular the sunset over Oia really is, with several thousand people gathering every single Summer night to watch this remarkable moment. As such, and so that Santorini can welcome you in the most memorable way possible, you will be witnessing the legendary sunset on your very first day in the island.

Be that as it may, your itinerary will start in Fira, the largest and most important town in Santorini. As the capital, it’s a perfect display of the traditional cycladic architecture you can expect to find in the archipelago, with its historic core filled with small whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches and lovely narrow streets. On the way, make sure to visit the Archaeological Museum (2€), the Theotokopoulo Square, the Saint John the Baptist Cathedral or the Three Bells of Fira, with the latter standing out as one of the most photographed places in town.

After finishing your stroll through Fira, then you are ready to start the ever-popular Caldera Trail, which links Fira to the village of Oia. This trail will take you through the dramatic cliffs of a giant caldera, the result of an extremely violent eruption which basically tore off a huge chunk of the island about 3600 years ago. While following this path, you’ll get to enjoy some of the best views in all of Greece, all while having the opportunity to sneak into some traditional villages which haven’t yet been affected by mass tourism (according to the standards of Santorini). One such example is the tiny town of Imerovigli, where you can visit the Agios Theodoros Church and the Rock of Skaros, a great viewpoint where an ancient fortress used to lie.

After walking for about 2 hours (10km), you will finally make it to Oia, the most popular village in Santorini. With the day slowly heading towards its end, try to find a nice place along the town’s overcrowded lanes and watch one of the most sought-after sunsets in the planet.

First day wrap-up:

• Fira (Archaeological Museum, Theotokopoulo Square, Saint John the Baptist Cathedral and Three Bells of Fira)
• Imerovigli
• Agios Theodoros Church
• Rock of Skaros
• Sunset in Oia

Cheap restaurant suggestions in Fira and Oia:

• Falafeland (falafel – Fira)
• Why Not! Souvlaki (souvlaki – Fira)
• Yogi – Gyro (gyros – Fira)
• Nick The Grill (grilled meat and gyros – Fira)
• Obelix Psitopoleio (grilled meat and gyros – Fira)
• Koulourades Santorini (bakery/bagels – Fira)
• PitoGyros Traditional Grill House (gyros – Oia)
• Nikos Place Gril House (grilled meat and gyros – Oia)
• Edwin (pizzeria – Oia)
• Piatsa Souvlaki Grill House (souvlaki – Oia)

Santorini 4-Day Itinerary – Day 2: The Lost City of Akrotiri and the Aegean Sea

After a first day of intense physical activity, you’ll have a far more relaxed follow-up the next morning, as you’ll kick things off with a short walk along Megalochori, a super-tiny and traditional village that barely sees any tourists at all, especially when compared to the likes of Fira and Oia.

Afterwards, head south until you find the Akrotiri Archaeological Site (12€), formed by the ruins of a city founded over 5000 years ago, which that was left hidden under volcanic ashes for almost 3 millennia after a huge eruption. These ashes helped preserve a lot of the buildings, paintings and frescoes onsite, earning it a flattering comparison to the legendary Italian city of Pompeii.

Finally, your afternoon will be purely dedicated to some good, old R&R! Just lay down your towel at the famous Red Beach – so called after the lively color of its surrounding cliffs – and take a few hours to simply relax and swim in the waters of the Aegean Sea. Once you’re ready, just flag a local bus and make your way back to your base.

Second day wrap-up:

• Megalochori
• Akrotiri Archaeological Site
• Red Beach

Cheap restaurant suggestions in Akrotiri and Megalochori:

• Tavern Geromanolis (Greek traditional – Megalochori)
• Tavern Tzanakis (Greek traditional – Megalochori)
• Kantouni (Greek traditional – between Megalochori and Pyrgos)
• The Cave of Stolidas (fish – Akrotiri)
• Peirasmos (grilled meat and gyros – Akrotiri)

Santorini 4-Day Itinerary – Day 3: From the Mountains of Pyrgos to the Golden Sands of Perissa

Your third day in Santorini will be the perfect combination between the best things you have experienced so far. Yes, there will be historic villages and long hikes, as it was on the first day; but also beach-time and archaeological ruins – it’s all about balancing things out!

Without further ado, you’ll make your way to Pyrgos, the island’s former capital and its main inland urban center. Things are far more relaxed around here, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore all the local landmarks, such as the Castle of Pyrgos, an old Venetian fortress. In the village’s surroundings, make sure to climb all the way up to the Prophet Elias Monastery, the highest point in all of Santorini, with jaw-dropping views to match.

On your way down, stop by the village of Emporio, which despite being the biggest in the island (village, not town), it still remains rather untouched by tourism. While you’re there, visit the Emporio Castle and the Goulas Tower. Just keep going down and walking towards the coast, and you will eventually reach the Perissa Beach, one of the very best in Santorini, and quite popular among visitors for its long stretch of black sand.

After a few hours basking under the sun and swimming your problems away, it’s time to get back on the road and cap things off at the Archaeological Site of Ancient Thera (6€), a city originally founded on the 8^th century BC. Nowadays, it’s possible to walk along the marked paths and see the ruins of former temples, forums, marketplaces, bath houses and even private residences. Though not as important as its counterpart in Akrotiri, it is nevertheless a mandatory stop for those interested in the history of the island.

Third day wrap-up:

• Pyrgos
• Castle of Pyrgos
• Prophet Elias Monastery
• Emporio Castle
• Goulas Tower
• Perissa Beach
• Archaeological Site of Ancient Thera

Cheap restaurant suggestions in Pyrgos and Perissa:

• Ta Postalia tou Aigaiou (Greek traditional – Pyrgos)
• Kantouni (Greek traditional – between Megalochori and Pyrgos)
• Mythos (Greek traditional – Pyrgos)
• Santa Irini Bakery (bakery – Perissa)
• Mama’s Food (Greek traditional – Perissa)
• Grandma’s Recipes (Greek traditional – Perissa)

Santorini 4-Day Itinerary – Day 4: The Volcano of Santorini and the Island of Thirassia

Finally, you’ll bid farewell to Santorini with a visit to the remaining islands of this group. Although most visitors usually think the term “Santorini” refers to a single piece of land, the truth is that there are 6 different islands forming their very own archipelago of sorts.

Therefore, and so that you can explore some of the other Santorini islands, we recommend hiring a boat tour. You can choose between the half-day or the full-day versions, with the former leading you into Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, two deserted islands formed by yet another eruption of the local volcano. When visiting Nea Kameni, you can actually climb to the volcanic crater and walk a marked trail around it, while in Palea Kameni it is possible to soak in thermal waters, geologically warmed by the hot water springs in the soil.

As for the full-day version, and besides these two exact same stops, the boat will also take you all the way to the island of Thirassia, where you’ll be given plenty of time to explore the local villages, have lunch and enjoy some time at the beach. Overall, and regardless of your choice, a boat tour is the perfect way to end your adventure in Santorini.

Recommended Tours:

• Full-Day tour through the islands of Nea Kameni, Palea Kameni and Thirassia
• Half-Day tour through the islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni

Fourth day wrap-up:

• Boat Tour
• Nea Kameni
• Palea Kameni
• Thirassia