Photo: Gleb Simonov on Wikimedia Commons
The 3-day plan, rearranged for 5 days: every place stays and a few more are added, and each day keeps to one part of town.
Dishes the travel guides name for this place, and the restaurants they list for them.
A split-pea puree, usually served warm, topped with olive oil, lemon, and occasionally chopped onions or capers.
Fritters of tomato slices in a batter of bell peppers, onions, mint, and herbs, deep fried in olive oil.
A sweeter, less seedy aubergine from the island, now rare and often served as a puree.
From Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Listings are what the guides list, not a ranking, and places change, so check before you go. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, via Wikimedia Commons.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
The capital of the island, perched on the rim of the caldera with the sea far below. Go early, when the lanes are empty and the shops are still closed, and look out over the old volcano and the water.
Go when Early morning, before the shops open and the lanes fill.
Local tip The streets along the edge are the quiet ones. A cable car, a path of steps and a road all link the town to the old port below, so pick the way that suits your legs.
A blue-domed church with a row of bells above the caldera, one of the most photographed views on the island. It stands on the path between Fira and Firostefani.
Go when Morning, when the light on the blue dome is soft.
Local tip A famous view of the church and its bells against the caldera. You pass it on the way from Fira to Imerovigli, so no detour is needed.
Santorini is known for yellow split-pea fava, creamy and served with capers and onion, and for small fried tomato fritters. A light lunch for a walking day.
Local tip Look for a small taverna in Firostefani or Imerovigli, a short step from the path.
A small museum in Fira with pottery, sculpture and finds from the ancient city on the island. A cool, quiet hour in the middle of the day.
Go when Midday, when you want shade and a quiet hour.
Local tip A small museum in Fira with pottery and finds from the ancient city. A good rainy-day stop. Check ahead for opening days.
A museum in Fira that holds wall paintings and objects from the Bronze Age town at Akrotiri. A good partner to a visit to the site.
Go when Afternoon, as a pair with Akrotiri or on a rainy day.
Local tip Wall paintings and objects from Akrotiri are shown here. Read it before or after the site to picture the town. Check ahead for opening days.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
The gentlest stretch of the long clifftop walk. It runs north from Fira past the blue-domed church of the Three Bells and the quiet lanes of Firostefani to Imerovigli. Take it slowly, with the caldera on one side.
Go when Late morning or the end of the afternoon, with a hat and water. Avoid the hottest hours.
Local tip Do only this stretch. The whole walk to Oia is roughly ten kilometers and long, hot and uneven, so take a bus or taxi for the rest.
A rocky point on the caldera edge below Imerovigli, once the site of a medieval fortress, now a few ruins. A narrow path leads out to it with views in both directions. Wear shoes with a grip.
Go when Late afternoon, when the light on the cliffs turns golden.
Local tip The path is narrow with steps and drops, so go slowly and keep to the marked way. It is a short walk, but not a place to rush.
A quiet village on the highest point of the caldera rim, with paved paths along the edge. A calmer sunset than Oia, with fewer people and a long view over the sea and the volcano.
Go when Sunset, from a spot on the edge of the path.
Local tip Many people walk here from Fira for the sunset. Find a seat along the edge half an hour early, and wander the back lanes while you wait.
Grilled fish, lamb and the island’s white wines suit the evening. Eat after the sky goes dark, when the crowds thin and the lights come on across the caldera.
Local tip Book ahead for a table with a view, and ask for a time just after sunset.
Hours change, so check before you go.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
The most famous village on the island, a white and blue maze on the cliff with old captains’ houses and quiet corners. Be there at the first hour, before the day-trippers, and keep the main lane for later.
Go when The first hour of the day, and again once the day-trippers have left.
Local tip The main lane is packed at midday, so use the quieter side lanes at the start of the morning. Keep your voice down near the houses, since people live here.
A tiny fishing harbor at the foot of the cliff below Oia, reached by a long flight of steps. Rocks to swim from, small boats and a calm place for a long lunch by the water.
Go when Late morning, with time for a swim and a slow lunch.
Local tip The steps down are long, and the climb back up is the hard part. A taxi or a bus from the top is the easy way out, so plan for it.
The little harbor below Oia is known for fresh grilled fish, octopus and calamari, eaten at tables beside the water. Make lunch the long meal of the day.
Local tip Ask what came in that morning, and take your time after the meal.
Hours change, so check before you go.
The ruins of a small castle at the western tip of the village, the best-known place on the island to watch the sun go down. Come early for a spot, or stay for the glow after the crowd leaves.
Go when Sunset, though it fills early. Arrive well ahead, or come back after the glow for a quieter hour.
Local tip For a different view of the evening, a sunset boat trip on the caldera is a good option. Book ahead and ask the boat where it will be at sunset.
For the special evening, book a table in Oia for after the sunset. Order slowly: local fish, grilled vegetables, a cold white wine from the island.
Local tip Book ahead, and keep the timing loose so you are not rushing from the sunset.
Hours change, so check before you go.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
The ruins of a classical city on a high ridge above the east coast, with streets, temples and a wide view of the sea. Bring water and check ahead for opening times.
Go when Morning, before the hill gets hot.
Local tip The ruins sit on a high ridge above the coast, reached by a steep road and then a walk. Bring water and a hat. Check ahead for opening times.
A relaxed beach town on the east coast, with a long black-pebble beach below a steep rock and a promenade behind it. A calm place for a swim and an early supper.
Go when Late afternoon, when the sun is lower.
Local tip A long black-pebble beach under a steep rock, with a promenade behind it. A relaxed place for a swim and an early supper.
A hillside village of narrow lanes, small churches and a ruined castle at the top, with views over the whole island. Quiet in the evening, and a good place to watch the sun go down without the crowd.
Go when Late afternoon into the evening, when the lanes are quiet and the light is soft.
Local tip Climb up the lanes to the castle at the top. West of the village, the road along the caldera edge passes vineyards, and some wineries welcome visitors for a tasting. Check ahead.
The village has small restaurants in old houses and on rooftops, serving home-style dishes and local wine. A quiet dinner without the crowds of the cliffside towns.
Local tip Walk the lanes before you choose, and eat after the sunset.
Hours change, so check before you go.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A Bronze Age town buried by the volcano around thirty-six hundred years ago, kept under a large roof. Walk the streets and look at the two-story houses. Go early and check ahead for the visiting rules.
Go when First thing in the morning, when it is cooler and the walkways are quiet.
Local tip It is a covered site, so the shade and the paths are easy. Read the signs as you walk, since the houses are the point. Check ahead for visiting rules.
A small beach under tall red and black cliffs, a short walk from the car park along a rough path. Check ahead whether the path and the beach are open, since access can change.
Go when Midday or early afternoon, when the cliffs are lit.
Local tip The cliffs above the sand can drop rock, and access has been restricted at times. Check ahead, follow any signs and keep away from the base of the cliff.
A simple lunch near the sea: tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and feta, grilled fish and a cold drink. The sweet cherry tomatoes of the island are a local pride.
Local tip Eat at a small place close to the beach, and keep the afternoon free for a swim.
It covers 5 days in Santorini, planned for late September. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for couples. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 0.9 to 4.2 kilometers between its stops, and 8.7 kilometers in all across 5 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
7 days in Naxos and ParosAbout 70 km awayAn easy add-on
5 days in Mykonos and DelosAbout 110 km away
9 days in CreteAbout 140 km awayOther guides with a page about Santorini. Each one opens in a new tab.
WikivoyageSantorini, the free travel guide
Rick StevesSantorini travel guideTime OutThings to do in SantoriniPhoto: Tango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo by Jesse Paul on Unsplash · Photo: TomasEE, CC BY 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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