The Santorini Guide, Written by People Who Live Here
Villages, beaches, wineries, restaurants. Local advice from Marinakis Tours, working out of Fira since 2000.
Why People Keep Coming Back to Santorini
Around 1600 BC, the volcano under Santorini blew its top and left the crescent of island you see today. The caldera cliff drops about 300 metres straight into the sea. The whitewashed villages along its rim look like they're about to slide off.
The sunsets are famous for good reason. But Santorini is also Minoan ruins from 1600 BC, Assyrtiko vines grown in coiled baskets, beaches in red, black and white, and a food scene that holds its own against anywhere in the Med.
We've been showing people around since 2000. This guide is the short version of what we tell our guests in the van.
The Villages, Where to Stay and What Each Is For
Oia is for sunsets and photos. Fira is for nightlife and convenience. Imerovigli is for quiet. Pyrgos is for hilltop dinners. Here's how to pick.
Oia
The one in every photograph. Blue domes, white houses stacked down the cliff, sunsets so loud they applaud. Boutiques, galleries, fine dining, and the famous windmills at the end of the path. Stay here for the views; eat elsewhere for the prices.
Fira
Fira sits on the highest part of the rim. It's where the cable car, the buses, the late-night bars and most of the agencies (ours included) live. Best base if you want to do everything and not rely on taxis.
Imerovigli
Higher than Fira, calmer than Oia. The view of Skaros rock from the cliff path is the one you'll remember. Mostly small luxury hotels and a handful of restaurants. Good for honeymooners and anyone who'd rather read a book than queue for a photo.
Pyrgos
A fortified village built around a Venetian castle in the centre of the island. Narrow lanes, old tavernas, and 360° views from the top that include both coasts. Selene and a few others up here serve some of the best food on the island.
Megalochori
Old Cycladic houses, hidden courtyards full of bougainvillea, and walking distance to several of the best wineries, Venetsanos, Gavalas, Boutari. Smaller crowds than the rim villages.
Akrotiri
Home to the Akrotiri archaeological site, the Minoan town buried by the eruption, often called the Pompeii of the Aegean. Also the Venetian castle ruin and the Red Beach. Lighthouse at the southern tip is worth the drive.
The Beaches, Red, Black and White
Forget golden sand. Santorini's coastline is volcanic, which means the beaches come in colours you don't see anywhere else in Greece.
Volcanic · PebbleRed Beach
Crimson volcanic cliffs dropping straight into turquoise water, right next to the Akrotiri archaeological site. Small, pebbly, and the most photographed beach on the island. Get there early in summer.
Black Sand · OrganisedKamari Beach
The longest organised black-sand beach on Santorini. Blue Flag, sunbeds, watersports, and a 2-km promenade lined with tavernas and bars. Easy for families.
Black Sand · OrganisedPerissa Beach
A long stretch of black sand under the Mesa Vouno cliff. Quieter than Kamari, more bohemian, with good fish tavernas right on the water.
Volcanic · SecludedVlychada Beach
White volcanic cliffs carved by wind into shapes that look almost sculpted. Uncrowded, with a small marina and one of the better seafood spots (Theros) at the far end.
Volcanic · Boat AccessWhite Beach
Only reachable by boat from Red Beach. Tall white pumice cliffs, clear water, no crowds. Worth the 5-minute boat ride.
Wine, Food and Where to Eat
From basket-trained Assyrtiko vineyards to candlelit caldera tables and €10 fava in a Pyrgos courtyard, the food scene is one of the reasons you'll want to come back.
🍷 The Wines
Assyrtiko is the grape that put Santorini on the wine map. It's grown in coiled baskets close to the ground (the kouloura method, used here for around 3,000 years) and produces a dry, mineral white that pairs naturally with grilled fish. Don't leave without trying Vinsanto, the amber dessert wine made from sun-dried grapes and aged for years in oak.
Explore Wine Tours →🍽️ The Dining
Fine dining on the rim, family tavernas in the villages, both are worth your time. Order fava (yellow split pea purée), tomatokeftedes (cherry-tomato fritters made from the island's famously sweet tomatoes), white aubergine, and whatever fish came in that morning. Caldera-edge restaurants will book up two weeks ahead in July and August.
Ask Us for Recommendations →Things We Send People To
These are the experiences our guests message us about afterwards. A short list, not an exhaustive one.
Helicopter Tours
PremiumSee the full caldera arc, the Nea Kameni crater and Oia from the air. 10 minutes is enough to gasp; 60 covers the whole island.
Wine Tasting
From €100Visit Santorini's best volcanic wineries. Taste Assyrtiko, Vinsanto and more.
Catamaran Cruises
From €100Sail the caldera with BBQ lunch, open bar and sunset views from Oia.
Lost Atlantis Museum
Adults €15Interactive myth experience. Adults €15.
Getting Around Santorini
✈️ From the Airport (JTR)
Santorini Airport (JTR) is small and gets busy in summer. Shared transfers start at €30, private at €40, both to anywhere on the island.
🚢 From Athinios Port
Athinios Port is at the bottom of a winding switchback road below the cliff. Our drivers meet you at the dock. Shared from €35, private from €50.
🚌 Around the Island
Roads are narrow and parking in Oia or Fira during peak hours is rough. Most of our guests find a private transfer or a guided tour easier than renting a car.
Insider Tips, From Santorinians
Where to Watch the Sunset
Oia Castle is packed an hour before sunset and stays that way. Try the Imerovigli terrace, the cliff path between Fira and Firostefani, or watch it from a catamaran deck instead. Ask us, we'll send you to our quiet spot.
When to Go
May, June, late September and October: warm weather, half the crowds, lower prices. July and August: peak heat, peak prices, peak everything. Book at least two weeks ahead in summer.
What to Bring
Shoes with grip, the marble paths get slippery, especially the steps down to the Old Port. A light layer for evenings on the cliff. Sunscreen and a hat. Swimwear under your clothes if you're heading to a beach later.
Money and Tipping
Cards work almost everywhere. Tipping isn't expected, but rounding up or leaving 5–10% is appreciated. Keep €20–50 in cash for beach kiosks, small tavernas and the donkey path.
Photography
Best light is the hour before sunset and the half-hour after. The Oia blue domes are best from the path above the Monastery, not from the castle. We can point you to the right spot.
Book the Big Things Early
Helicopter flights, catamaran cruises and the wine tours all sell out in summer. Two weeks ahead is the safe window; four if you want a specific date.
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