It’s also a nice way to break up your day if you’re not in the mood for sightseeing or hiking. There are also plenty of art galleries and boutique clothing stores if you’re looking for something more unique than a fridge magnet. You’ll find everything from handmade jewelry and ceramics to locally made beauty products, olive oils, and textiles. Oia might be small, but there are tons of shops on every corner to check out. P.S. You can read more about the different hotel options in my guide on Where to Stay in Santorini! If you’re trying to decide whether it’s worth the extra money, my vote is yes. Caldera-view rooms sell out fast, especially in peak season.

Watching the sunset from the water while sipping wine sounds like the ideal way to end a day in Santorini. It’s still a great experience, especially if it’s your first time in Santorini, but don’t feel like you have to fight the crowds every night. If you want a front-row spot, you’ll need to get there well in advance—sometimes over an hour early during peak season. If you want to catch a sunset in Oia from land (while not eating dinner), chances are you’ll end up at the castle ruins—it’s the most famous viewing spot on the island. Another incredible thing to do in Oia is have a sunset dinner (this also helps you avoid the crowds watching the sunset!).

The economy of the town declined in the early 20th century on account of wars, economic depression, and overexploitation of fish resources. However, the arrival of steam and the concentration of shipping at Piraeus caused the town's seagoing trade to collapse, and agriculture also diminished as increasing emigration took place, especially to Piraeus and Laurium. Excellent wine was produced in quantity in the hinterland and exported to France, amongst other places. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the town was a mariners' town that flourished as a result of seaborne trade throughout the Mediterranean, particularly as part of the trade route between Russia and Alexandria. However, Santorini remained under the Crispo family until 1566, passing then to Joseph Nasi and after he died in 1579 to the Ottoman Empire. Its residential keep, Goulas, is now in the oldest part of the town, on its southwestern edge. Under the da Corogna family, Agios Nikolaos Kastell (Καστέλι του Αγίου Νικολάου), also called Apanomeria (Απανωμερία), was one of five local citadels.

Hotels In Oia

On a short trip, you will get a first impression of the island on the western caldera rim. Gleaming white houses, volcanic landscapes and fantastic views of the caldera and all this without crowds. The Thirassia Island Manolas with its pretty village feels like it’s only a stone’s throw away from Oia, yet the two places are worlds apart. Kaiki boats run from Ammoudi several times a day during the season to the tranquil neighboring island of Thirassia (see #6). Alternatively, you can take the paved road, but parking at the port is limited. In the off-season, on the other hand, the fisherman’s nest seems deserted. The idyllic hamlet is impressively located below the red lava rock cliffs of Oia.

After the earthquake, the village redeveloped into an attractive tourist town of the Cyclades, and is known as a "picture perfect" town, which gets crowded with people during the summer season. Just keep in mind that most hotels will require some stairs, and you’ll want to double-check how far your room is from the main pathway if you’re bringing large luggage. The main car park “Oia Parking” is located at the entrance to the village coming from Tholos. If you’re looking to avoid crowds and relaxation is your main goal, check out the nearby Imerovigli. As you walk, you’ll quickly get a sense of how the village is laid out and where the main landmark spots are.

Things To Do In Oia, Santorini For First-time Visitors

Two of the neat mills are located right next to each other, the third is about 50 m behind them, all are privately owned. Remember that in summer there is a pilgrimage atmosphere in the alleys! Thirty years ago, the first tourists arrived and the village was successively rebuilt. It was not until the severe earthquake of 1956 that the castle was almost completely destroyed and large parts of the village were reduced to rubble. The popular Santorini Photo Spot you reach through the inconspicuous alley just before the Restaurant Pelekanos on the left. The Places of Worship »Resurrection of the Holy Lord« and »Agios Spyridon« are located in the Monastiri district, but are not easy to find. In the middle of the maze of alleys are the probably most popular churches in Greece, the so-called Oia Blue Domes, which have made Santorini and Oia famous worldwide. The main alley leads past a small park to the central plaza with the magnificent church »Panagia Akathistos Hymn«.

JTR International Airport is served several times a week in summer by Düsseldorf, Munich and Frankfurt (including Eurowings, Lufthansa). Nice shared terrace for guests to sunset, fair prices and friendly host. Exclusive hotel with caldera views and rooms in the typical style of the Cyclades islands, as well as cave houses, some with whirlpool. Chic 4-star boutique hotel on the edge of the caldera with great views. With a terrace including caldera view, you still pay €200 per night for the stylish suites, even in the low season. Alternatively, we recommend a stay in the coastal town of Paradisos, 5 minutes away. In Oia there are numerous holiday apartments and tasteful hotels. Popular at sunset and despite the location still fair prices.

A lot of people only visit Oia for a few hours to catch the sunset, or see it during the middle of the day in the peak of cruise crowds. They are located directly opposite the Londsa Castle and from here you can enjoy a no less spectacular sunset. Onwards, more and more people flock to the small town, including many cruise tourists and it is difficult to find a free parking space around Oia. Alternatively, you can switch to the low season, because from October to April far fewer people make the pilgrimage to the village of 500 inhabitants. You may leave your vehicle there and enjoy long walks along the village's paths. A car parking area at the entrance makes the village easy to approach. The village's diverse culinary scene features restaurants at a scenic location, where you can savor a gourmet dinner on a terrace while gazing at the sea and the sunset.

One of the most recognisable buildings in the town is an old windmill, which often appears on postcards. Many of the yposkafa spitia (υπόσκαφα σπίτια), simple seamen's houses on the edge of the caldera, became guest-houses, hotels, and restaurants. The main street in the town, in the central square, is the main trekking path, which is cobbled, called the "Nikolaou Nomikou", which goes up the hill winding round the caldera. The village is located on top of a hill, at about 150 m (500 ft) elevation, and known as the "Eagles nest" from where Palia and Nea Kameni volcanoes are seen, and also the island of Therasia. If you’re planning to explore the rest of the island, you could rent an ATV or scooter for a day or two, but it’s not necessary for enjoying Oia itself.

#2 Take Photos At Sunrise (not Sunset!)

A set of 300 steps allows you to get to Ammoudi directly from Oia's Castle, although the village can also be reached by car. Straight out of a postcard, Oia is certainly the most picturesque village in Santorini – some may even claim it is the prettiest one in Greece! Hundreds of people gather every evening to watch the sun setting above the Aegean Sea and capture the most beautiful sunset in Greece. Oia, pronounced Ia, is the most visited village in Santorini and the second largest after Fira, the island's capital town. At this time the town is crowded with people to watch the spectacle, when the white houses and the caldera catch all the colours of the setting sun for a few seconds. Also traded in the town are agricultural products like honey, wine, capers, and fava beans.

#5 Watch The Sunset From The Castle Ruins

We unfortunately didn’t do a sunset cruise on Santorini since we already had a boat day planned on Milos, and I really regret it! After boarding the boat, you’ll get to visit the famous Red Beach for swimming and snorkeling (gear is included) and then sail around the Santorini coastline. If you do decide to go, you can also wander around to less-packed destinations near the castle ruins for similar views without the crowds! From here, you’ll get an unobstructed view of the sun dipping into the sea, with the white buildings and windmills lighting up in golden hour glow. Plus, the view of Oia right after sunset with the twinkling lights along the caldera is simply magical. We had an incredible dinner at Sunset Ammoudi right on the water’s edge, complete with fresh grilled octopus (a staple), calamari, and traditional Greek wine!

Morning Cruise, Winery Tour And Sunset In Oia Village

When we were there, we made the call to skip the sunset crowds one evening and instead wake up early the next day to take our photos at sunrise. You’ll start to notice where the prettiest viewpoints are, which shops you want to come back to, and which cafes or restaurants you might want to try later in your trip. This is my personal favorite way to start any trip, by exploring the neighborhood around your hotel. One of the best ways to start your time in Oia is by simply walking through the village! We were central enough to most restaurants and photo spots but still far enough away from the crowds around the castle. Those moments are what made me really appreciate Oia (not elbowing my way through crowds after sunset). And yes, that popularity has led to crowds, and a lot of them. Keep reading to discover why this postcard village should be on your Greek Islands bucket list!

Even in summer, large parts of the beach section are deserted here, as there is no operator. Popular with local youths, who daringly jump from rocks into the sea here. From Manolas, however, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Santorini caldera. The many steps to the upper village of adrian portelli online pokies Manolas are a deterrent. The port of Korfos is also well visited in summer, but most tourists do not get beyond the jetty.