Top Things to Do in Santorini While Solo Traveling

Santorini is one of those places that feels almost unreal, with the whitewashed villages, blue-domed churches, and sunsets for days. Whether you’re exploring solo or traveling with friends, this island has something for everyone. Here are the top things to do in Santorini that will make your trip unforgettable.

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1. See the Blue Domes and Watch the Sunset in Oia 

The blue domes in Santorini are one of the most photographed things in the world. The contrast of the deep blue along the white buildings is amazing. There are a few places for photographs along the way through Oia. People line up to get their pictures so make sure you go early to get the best light and skip the lines. It made it easy for me to find someone to take help my pics, because sometimes solo traveling can be challenging, even with a tripod. The cruise ships usually come in around 10:00am, so try to get there earlier than that if you can. I went on a Sunday morning at about 8:30 and there weren’t very many people. You’ll find the classic view just a short walk from Oia Castle with the Aegean Sea behind you.

There are also photographers and companies that can do professional photos with the blue domes too. The advantage there is they have better access to tops of buildings for the photos, depending on what you’re looking for. Staying at a hotel on the cliff next to the blue domes might be worth it as well. 

Oia is famous for its sunsets. On my first night in Oia, I went to the center of the city to watch the sunset and people were lining up along cliffs near the tower. And restaurants near the cliffs were packed. The ambience with all the people was fantastic. Everyone was watching intently as the sun dipped below the sea.

It’s a different experience when you are watching the sunset around a group of people. Everyone clapped after the sunset, which made the experience even more unforgettable.  It made me feel included, even though I was solo traveling. I stayed after the sun set to see the orange and pink colors fill the sky. The white villages look different with the colors bouncing off them.

If you’re not into the crowds, but want to be in Oia, you can always opt for a sunset cruise. Watching the cliffs from the water while the sky turns colors is just as memorable, I’m sure. Make sure you go early if you’re going to the center as parking was difficult when I arrived. I definitely parked illegally and hoped my car didn’t get towed. It was a little stressful, but I didn’t want to miss the sunset.

2. Explore Fira, the Heart of Santorini

Fira is the island’s capital and where a lot of the action happens. I chose to stay in Fira because it was a little cheaper than Oia and I rented a car so I figured it would be easy to get around the island while traveling solo. I liked staying in Fira. It was full of good restaurants, gelato (you all know I am always looking for the best), and shops. The city was full of people and it was nice to just be in the mix of things. I had dinner on a cliff restaurant my first night to watch the sunset from the Fira side of things. It was beautiful, but didn’t have the magic that Oia does. Maybe because the crowds weren’t there anticipating the sunset.

Fira is where the boats and cruises dock. This is where you can take the cable car or take a steep walk down the path to the dock. The path was closed when I was there so I had to take the cable car, but I was definitely not disappointed.  This is where I took my boat cruise from and make sure you’re early because the dock was jammed with people. It was well organized though and I had no problem finding the right boat.

3. Take a Boat Tour

One of the best decisions I made was taking a catamaran tour.  It was a great solo group tour. Our first stop on the tour was a hike up the active volcano on Nea Kameni. It wasn’t a very difficult hike as I went to the top of the crater. Along the way I could see the smoke from the volcanic rock which was very interesting. The view from the top of the island was beautiful. Our guide was great as well, giving us useful information along the way. 

Next we stopped at Palea Kameni, which is famous for its therapeutic hot springs. I will admit that the hot springs weren’t especially hot to me or compared to others I have experienced, but it was still fun to go in the water and see the island from a different perspective. The water was a little chilly since I went in September, but I didn’t let that stop me from jumping off the boat anyway.

Our last stop was the island of Thirassia. It was a small island, for me not worth the stop. I would skip it. There were a few restaurants to eat at if you were hungry, but not much else. Be aware that getting to the top of the island was a difficult hike (at least for me), especially since we had already hiked earlier in the day and there were only a few more shops and restaurants to stop in at the top.

Then we cruised along the shore of Santorini. It was amazing to see Santorini from the water. You can really see the volcanic island from a different perspective. It was layered with colors of deep red and black on all sides. The color of the water was also a bright blue color. 

4. Visit the Traditional Village of Pyrgos

If you want to see a quieter, more local side of Santorini, you could stop in Pyrgos. It’s a small hilltop village with cute little alleys, old churches and great views of the island. It definitely feels more authentic than the other towns I visited.  I went in the afternoon, but it started raining so I didn’t stay a long time. There were definitely less tourists and I always enjoy exploring when cities are quiet, but I opted for a relaxing afternoon back near my hotel instead of walking around in the rain.

5. Relax at the Unique Beaches

Santorini’s beaches are so different from anywhere else in Greece. The Red Beach is dramatic, getting its color from the volcanic rock which creates rusty cliffs and the contrasting deep blue water. Perissa and Kamari beaches have black sand and clear water. They are starkly different from Red Beach. It’s worth it to see all 3 so you can see the differences in all the beaches. 

I didn’t swim at the beaches, only in the hot springs on my boat tour, but even in September there were plenty of people swimming so I wouldn’t let the weather scare you away.

Looking for another beach destination? Check out my post on Costa Rica here. Costa Rica has its own magic that needs to be seen in person at least once in your life too.

6. Discover Ancient Akrotiri and the Lighthouse Views

Akrotiri is an ancient Minoan settlement that was buried by volcanic ash around 1600 BC. It’s similar to a Greek version of Pompeii. After exploring the ruins, you can drive to the Akrotiri Lighthouse, one of the quietest and most scenic viewpoints on the island. The cliffs there are beautiful, and it’s a perfect alternative to Oia for sunset.

7. Hike from Fira to Oia

The trail between Fira and Oia winds along the caldera edge, and every turn has another beautiful view. It’s about 10 km, so start early in the morning, bring water, and take your time. I opted not to do the hike  myself as I wanted a few days to relax because Santorini was my last stop of month-long travels and I wanted to take it easy before flying back the next day.

8. Try Traditional Greek Dishes

No trip is complete without trying the food. Make sure you try Santorini’s specialties- tomatokeftedes (tomato fritters), the fava puree, and some fresh seafood. If you can, eat at a tavern with caldera views and relax with a glass of wine.

Every meal I had was good, some more flavorful than others so make sure you do some research to find a highly rated restaurant. There are people standing outside the restaurants to lure you in so, the first restaurant I ate in was good, but nothing special. The view from the cliffs was amazing though, so it made up for the good, but not amazing food.

Check out some food tour options below.

9. Visit a Local Winery

Santorini’s volcanic soil gives its wines a distinct flavor. Visit a local winery like Santo Wines or Venetsanos for a tasting overlooking the caldera. Don’t miss the island’s signature white wine, Assyrtiko. I’m not a big wine drinker and I don’t know the difference from great wines as opposed to others, so this stop is definitely for people who enjoy wine with dinner.

10. Capture the Island’s Magic 

Santorini is one of the most photogenic places I’ve ever visited. It reminded me of being in Cordoba, Spain where every street is lined with flowers (check out the post here). I loved wandering early in the morning when the streets were still quiet and the light was soft. Whether you’re taking photos of the blue-domed churches in Oia, checking out the views in Fira, or the black sand beaches, every corner is a different view, great for photos spots everywhere.

Recommendations:

I would recommend renting a car as it’s the easiest way to get around the island. It takes about an hour to get around the entire island, so it’s not extremely large, but big enough that you have plenty to do. Just keep in mind the roads are small and most were very curvy. A little scary for me.

I would not rent a car from the port like I did, it wasn’t a super reputable company. I would wait until you’re more inland to find a place to rent from. The car I got was in rough shape. That’s good I guess, if anything were to  happen, but the gas tank wouldn’t even open and the very sweet man at the gas station had to pry it open with a screwdriver. Make sure to check the gas level too, as I had to stop right after leaving the port because I didn’t look.

I feel like if I can drive in Greece alone, I can do anything! It was a scary experience, not many guard rails, small roads, and lots of curves,  but I got around the island safely.

Santorini was a great, last stop for me. Good food, good weather (only one day of rain) and friendly locals. I loved it.  

For other island get aways, check out my posts on Croatia or Thailand. Great food, beautiful scenery and friendly locals.

Final Tips: 

• Santorini can get crowded in summer, so if you can, visit in May, early June, or September. You’ll still get the sunshine and views, without the crowds. September was perfect for me. 
• Rent a car to get around. While the island is small, public transport doesn’t come frequently so you would have to schedule your days accordingly.
• Things are affordable and the stores and restaurants appreciate if you pay in cash rather than card. The fees are high for the shop owners when you use a card.
• Greek is the official language, but almost everyone I came across spoke English.
• Solo traveling here was easy, safe, and I loved it.

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