If you only have one day in Santorini, I’d definitely recommend going for a small group tour instead of the bus tour we took. We started from the cruise ship at 9 am and went straight to a wine tasting. Now, I don’t know about you, but tasting wine at 10 am just didn’t sound appealing to me! So, I skipped it and spent my time snapping beautiful pictures instead. My fellow travelers weren’t too impressed with the wine either, so it seems like I didn’t miss much 🙂 Thankfully, our next stop was Oia (pronounced Eeya) before it got too crowded. I absolutely loved this area of Santorini and can’t wait to spend a couple of days there in May with my sister! It was so charming that we decided to skip shopping and enjoy coffee at a bistro overlooking the stunning town and sea—much better than the winery experience! Another reason why staying longer than a day is ideal is because they say the sunsets here are some of the most beautiful in the world, and unfortunately, our cruise ship left before we could see it 🙁 Our last stop on the tour was Fira, which felt steeper and more touristy compared to Oia. This is where our cruise ship docked as well. And yes, here’s where those famous donkeys come into play; they take folks down that steep path to the sea! However, there’s also a gondola that seemed safer and more humane, so we opted for that after checking out some jewelry shops in Fira. They really do have lovely stores there! Although we didn’t experience it ourselves, friends mentioned Fira has more bars and restaurants than Oia—making it livelier overall. Personally though, I preferred Oia because it felt cleaner, less crowded—and not quite as steep! Just a note: Our tour guide strongly advised against taking taxis on the island since they can be super expensive! It’s best to stick with planned trips or just walk around. Plus, it’s worth mentioning that many donkeys aren’t treated well here—so supporting them isn’t ideal either!
The Beautiful famous blue domes of Santorini
-Elle
For a suggested one day itinerary
Start with breakfast in Fira overlooking the beautiful ocean and explore some of the streets. Then visit the Archaeological Museum of Thera and view the caldera. Then head to the a winery for a tasting or there is an archeological site in Akrotiri if you prefer. Have lunch at Dmitris Taverna in Ammoudi Bay. After lunch head to Oia to explore the shops. Finally, Watch the sunset from a restaurant like Ombra or Athenian House. A perfect day!