Are you planning a trip to Santorini in Greece for a few days, and want to make the most of your visit? This majestic Greek Island has some genuinely must-see attractions, and you don’t want to miss any of them. Let us show you the best 3-day itinerary in Santorini.
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How Expensive is Santorini?
I come from Australia, which is one of the most expensive countries on the planet. And many of the prices on Santorini made me blush because Santorini prices were considerably more than what we pay in Australia. The cost of a simple restaurant lunch can be ridiculously expensive. You can quickly drop 60 Euros for 3 people for a simple lunch.
Accommodation can be wildly expensive. We went for the best accommodation we could find at hugely discounted rates, and it cost us 1,579 Euros for 3 nights. You can, of course, find cheaper accommodation in a less exclusive location. In my opinion, Fira is the best place to stay in Santorini, as it’s generally less expensive than Oia.
Day tours around Santorini are expensive too, typically costing about 250-300 Euros for a half-day hour private tour. Thank goodness for the public bus system.
3 Day Santorini Itinerary
So this 3-day itinerary will give you 2 options – High End for those with a big budget, and Low End for those with a more modest budget.
Day 1 in Santorini
You should try to arrive on the Island as early as you can. It’s a relatively small island, so getting from the airport to your hotel should only take around half to one hour. Especially if you pre-arrange your airport transfer. I strongly recommend doing this.
Arriving nice and early will leave you plenty of time for some exploring on your first day. Depending on where you stay, the first day should be used to ‘get lost’. Go for a wander around your town, whether it be Fira or Oia.
These towns are a labyrinth of gorgeous hillside alleyways and lanes. Exploring these is one of the best things you can do in Santorini. Find the best place to catch the sunset.
Low End
While you are exploring, find a supermarket and stock up on a picnic pack. Google Maps will certainly point you in the right direction. Perhaps a bottle of wine and some crackers will hit the spot. Then proceed to your chosen place to watch the sunset and enjoy.
High End
There are literally hundreds of excellent restaurants scattered along the Caldera cliff face in both Fira and Oia. Find yourself a perfect restaurant, and make sure you are there an hour before sunset. If you can, book ahead during the afternoon to secure a lovely table along the front with premium views. Then enjoy one of the prettiest sunsets you’re ever likely to see.
Day 2 in Santorini
This is the day to get adventurous. Have a look around the Island and see some of the best sights.
Low End
Familiarise yourself with the Santorini public bus system. The fares are typically around 2 Euros per person per route. If you are staying in Fira, you’re in luck, because this is the central bus station and the public transport hub of the Island. You can get a bus to all the best Santorini attractions from here.
Your main choices are:
- Oia – the location of the famous blue-domed churches. And one of the best sunset viewing places on the Island.
- Akrotiri – An ancient settlement buried 500 years ago by a volcanic eruption. It’s also near the famous red beach.
- Perissa / Perivolos – A beachside settlement near the famous black beach.
- Kamari – Home of a seaside village loaded with dining options and the famous Kamari beach.
- Pyrgos – The former capital of Santorini. Now a preserved medieval settlement.
Hitting the best beaches in Santorini by bus is definitely one of the coolest things you could do during your stay. Or you might like to get a bit more historic and visit one of the old settlements. It’s all possible on the cheap with the public transport system on Santorini.
High End
You can avoid the public buses by taking a private tour, which will take you to any of the above attractions and more. Santorini tours usually visit the volcano and the local wineries, and basically, anywhere else you would like to go on this beautiful Island.
Book ahead on one of the sites like Get Your Guide. Or you could go to one of the local travel agencies, they are easy to find in Fira and Oia. Or just book your Santorini tours through the front desk of your accommodation.
Day 3
Time to go sailing! It’s easy to book a fantastic Santorini Cruise. Fira and Oia have loads of tour agencies in the main town centres, or you can just book through your accommodation font desk. This is one of the most popular of all the Santorini activities, so you will have no problem finding plenty of available Santorini boat trips.
Low End
Yes, there are some relatively cheap boat cruises available. These are large boats shared by lots of like-minded people. They will generally take you to one or two of the local beaches, and possible the hot springs out on one of the islands. Bring your bathers and be prepared for a fun day.
High End
Book a more exclusive sunset wine and dinner cruise on one of the luxury catamaran yachts. These are very popular, it would be wise to book ahead to avoid disappointment. They generally stop at more attractions than the low-end boats, and sunset cruises are of course the best ones to go for.
3 Days in Santorini
3 days in Santorini is a perfect amount of time, but it goes by so fast. There is actually quite a lot to do and see. And it is so beautiful that doing absolutely nothing is also a great option. We do hope you enjoy your time on Santorini, and like most visitors, you will be dreaming of the day you can return to this majestic Island.
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