Santorini is among the most popular Greek islands, and it’s included here mostly as an example of what to expect from most of the dozens of popular holiday islands in the area. There are only about 15,000 year-round residents yet there are about 800 hotels, almost all of which are only open between April and October. The island has about 15 towns and villages, and hotels are found in various clusters on every corner.
Santorini is the most popular of the scores of Greek islands, and prices are similar (more or less) on all of them. Hotels in July and August can be a bit expensive, but otherwise prices here are quite reasonable for Europe and the Mediterranean.
As you’d expect, food and drinks with a view or on the sand can be pricey, so those on smaller budgets can save money by dining and drinking across the street.
| Population | 15,000 |
| Area | 15,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+2 |
| Currency | Euro |
| Airports | Santorini (Thira) National Airport (JTR) |
Hotels and hostels on Santorini start at very low prices and go way up into the stratosphere from there. In other words, this island, like many other Greek islands, caters to nearly every budget. Those staying on a shoestring will get small rooms with no views and uncomfortable beds, and they’ll be eating gyros or similar foods much of the time. If you want to splurge you can get good value and often great views at the same time.
Predictably, the peak season for hotels on Santorini is July and August, while prices are a bit lower in June and September. The lowest prices at most hotels are April, May, and October, as nearly all hotels close from November through March.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 15.79 - 63.16 |
| 23.16 - 94.74 |
| 21.05 - 117.89 |
| 33.68 - 147.37 |
| 126.32 - 343.16 |
Villa Michalis Doubles from €46/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central 3-star hotel in Santorini |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 14.74 - 21.05 |
Youth Hostel Anna Beds from €6/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central hostel in Santorini |
The main towns on Santorini are gorgeous and extremely photogenic, and the trick is to explore them when they aren’t overrun by cruise ship passengers or other tourists.
Again, most overnight visitors to the island simply come to relax in the sun during the day and enjoy a meal and drinks in the evening.
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museum of Prehistoric Thira | This popular but small museum has displays going back about 3,500 years or so. | Adults | 3.16 |
Local wine and beer tend to be quite cheap on Santorini, especially during the abundant happy hours.
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | Your hotel will probably include breakfast. If not there are a few budget choices usually not far away. | 4.21 - 6.32 |
| Budget lunch | Gyro shops are all over the place and usually the cheapest option. | 5.26 - 9.47 |
| Budget dinner | A sit-down meal in Santorini can be expensive if it comes with a view, but there are cheaper places as well. | 9.47 - 14.74 |
| .5 liter beer in a bar | Wine can often be found cheaper than beer, and happy hour specials bring the price down more. | 3.16 - 6.32 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to Fira | 9.47 - 14.74 |
| Public bus ride on Santorini | 1.05 - 2.11 |
| Cable car from port to Fira | 7.37 |
There are two ways that almost everyone uses to reach Santorini. Frequent high-speed ferries go between the Athens port of Piraeus in about 5 hours each way, and other ferries connect Santorini to other nearby and popular islands.
Santorini also has a busy airport with year-round flights from Athens and April through October flights from most larger airports all over Europe.
Santorini has public bus service, but it’s not known for being very helpful for visitors here for a short time.
There are plenty of private companies that run shuttles between the towns and attractions, and taxis as well.
You can take scheduled ferry/boat service between many of the port towns for some nice views at a reasonable price.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57 | 48 | 4.5 |
| February | 58 | 48 | 3.2 |
| March | 60 | 50 | 2.6 |
| April | 66 | 54 | 1.1 |
| May | 72 | 59 | 0.6 |
| June | 80 | 66 | 0.2 |
| July | 82 | 71 | 0.0 |
| August | 81 | 71 | 0.0 |
| September | 78 | 67 | 0.5 |
| October | 71 | 61 | 2.4 |
| November | 66 | 56 | 2.7 |
| December | 60 | 51 | 4.0 |
Santorini has a warm and very dry summer, and quite a pleasant spring and autumn for those looking for smaller crowds. The winter weather gets a bit wet, but the main challenge is that most hotels and shops are closed anyway.
| 21 Mar | 6:21am | 6:31pm |
| 21 Jun | 6:01AM | 8:40pm |
| 21 Sep | 7:05am | 7:17pm |
| 21 Dec | 7:26am | 5:07pm |