Santorini is a dream vacation for families, kids, honeymooners, and friends alike. The typical white houses against the backdrop of the beautiful caldera in the Aegean Sea is a sight to behold. In this blog, I will explain a detailed itinerary of how to spend 4 days in Santorini .
Santorini was our first stop in our Greek vacation for our honeymoon. We flew to Santorini from Athens after a short layover. I researched very well before visiting because Santorini could be a very expensive destination if you do not plan well.
Santorini (originally Thira) is a volcanic island in Greece located in the Aegean Sea. It has its very own active volcano. In fact, it is famous amongst tourists for its breath-taking views, pretty sunsets, and stunning landscapes. In short, every little corner in Santorini is naturally beautiful and photogenic.
Best time to visit
Santorini is flocked with tourists in the summer months of July and August. Naturally, the prices of hotels and flights are sky rocketed during this time.
In winter, it could be very chilly and hard to explore, especially in the open areas. Also, most of the hotels and restaurants are closed. The best time to visit would be the months of June and September because the weather is mild and it is way less crowded.
I would suggest you to book the flights and hotels way ahead to avoid paying a hefty price any time of the year. All you need are 4 days in Santorini to explore the entire island on your own.
Getting there
Most of the flights to Santorini fly via Athens. It is a short 45-minute flight from Athens and we used Volotea Airlines. There are connections throughout the day.
Budget Tip: Instead of buying a direct trip to Santorini, you could buy your tickets separately for each Island. For instance, there are several local Greek airlines that fly from Athens to Santorini for as cheap as 15 Euros one way. Ferries are also available, but they are time-consuming.
Budget Tip: If you request your hotel or Airbnb in advance, they will arrange a taxi for you at a good price. Public transport is infrequent from the Airport.
You may also like: Acropolis in Greece – The Ultimate Tour Guide
Our Santorini Itinerary
DAY 1 - Arriving in Oia
We arrived in Santorini at 6:30 in the evening but it was still sunny. The airport was tiny and cute, and our driver was waiting for us right outside. Eventually, the way to our Airbnb was a very scenic narrow street by the sea which took us 20 minutes to reach. Our driver told us the same street travelled all around the Island.
Our Airbnb was located in the northern part of the island near the Oia area which, incidentally, is the hippest place of Santorini. It hosts all the famous shops and restaurants.
Our Airbnb had a wonderful balcony where we enjoyed the sunset that day and eventually, every evening of our stay. After a long day, we just got ourselves some takeaway dinner and decided to call it a day.
DAY 2 - exploring fira and oia
After a good night’s rest, followed by a heavy breakfast, we could not be more excited to head out to start our 4 days in Santorini.
We had heard a lot about the hike from Fira, the modern capital of Santorini, to Oia. As a matter of fact, that was one of the first things on our agenda. Firstly, we took a bus from Oia to Fira and walked around the tiny beautiful streets with several tiny shops before starting the hike.
There are a few eateries around so feel free to charge up your batteries with the amazing food. However, we decided to skip lunch as it would’ve definitely slowed us down because we were still full with the heavy breakfast.
Tip: In Greece do not even bother carrying your fancy shoes because they will tear and be a pain the entire time. Instead, opt for good old sneakers. There are steps and cobbled stones in every corner.
Tip: Carry water everywhere in Greece because the shops sometimes have strange timings. You don’t want to get dehydrated.
Hike from Fira to Oia
The trail down the hike was a particularly beautiful journey that I will never forget for many reasons. For instance, the trails are very clearly marked, and it has breath-taking views of the caldera. And most importantly, you could see the sea from the cliffs on the left and the wonderful array of blue and white buildings on the right.
Tip: The hike from Fira to Oia is beautiful and well planned but there are a lot of loose gravel and some dangerous cliffs. So be careful at all times.
We passed through the villages of Firostefani, Imerovigli, and some more. Next, we passed beautiful hotels, churches and at one point, felt like we were the only people there. Please note, it is a hike of around 10 km that can be navigated on your own and is absolutely a must-have experience if you are in Santorini.
Just breathe in the views and the salty sea breeze. Take rest stops at the empty churches, take plenty of pictures but also take a moment to enjoy the views. Pictures follow.
After the hike, we were very tired and definitely hungry so we decided to have an early dinner. Incidentally, we had heard about this restaurant called Roka in Oia.
So, we climbed several steps and got lost in several alleys before spotting this gem. However, there was waiting for about 20 minutes before we got a table. But this only got us more excited and hungrier. Amazing hospitality, food, and ambiance followed this.
Check them out on Facebook before reserving a table. (No, they are not paying me for advertising.)
Thus, we ended the first of our 4 days in Santorini on a perfect note.
DAY 3 - Exploring the beaches in Santorini
This was going to be a relaxed day at the beach. Therefore, we took a bus from Oia to Perissa beach. The road from Oia to Perissa was wonderful with lots of colorful houses and scenery on either side of the road. The roads were a bit bumpy, but our driver took us through those hilly terrains like a breeze.
After we reached, a wonderful beach welcomed us. Firstly, we took a dip in the water, followed by, some brunch, and several snacks in between. Later, we walked to the nearby Perivalos beach. The beach is a long stretch of black lava sand with emerald blue seawater. The contrast is almost unbelievable, and the water is crystal clear.
The beaches here, are all very clean and beautiful. Also, there are plenty of restaurants on the beach serving cocktails, seafood, fruits, and other delicacies. To sum up, it is perfect for a lazy day at the beach. We ended up spending the entire day at the beach.
We got back to Oia with the same bus later in the evening. After that, we ended up having some Thai food at the corner of our Airbnb since we had been eyeing this place since we arrived. The food was absolutely delicious and cheap. Check out their website.
Finally, this ended our day on a high note.
DAY 4 - Discovering Oia and Ammoudi Bay
We had kept the last day of our 4 days in Santorini to explore the neighbourhood on our own. We had to find our why Oia district was the Tourist’s favourite. For instance, Oia has innumerable alleyways and cobbled streets with the most colorful shops you have ever seen in your lives. In addition, there are viewpoints from where you can enjoy views of the sea and innumerable restaurants in all budgets.
Ammoudi Bay
We walked into the alleys and followed the path to Ammoudi Bay. Incidentally, Ammoudi Bay is located at the bottom of the cliff and several steps below Oia. Naturally, it was a challenging way down the cobbled steps, that ended up taking us there.
After enjoying a couple of hours at the bay with drinks followed by a swim, we climbed back up totally exhausted.
Tip: There are donkeys at the top and the bottom of the stairs to take you through the stairs. Surprisingly, it is a popular mode of transport in Santorini. You can take them at your own risk. 🙂
Sunset at Oia
Lastly, we wanted to catch the famous stunning sunset from the Oia Castle. However, it tends to get really crowded by the time it happens. So, we decided to be early and chose a spot to enjoy some Gyros and Cocktails.
After a while, the sun started to set. The sunset was absolutely breathtaking and will be forever inscribed in our memories. After the sunset, we picked up plenty of Souvenirs and headed to Roka for the last dinner of our 4 days in Santorini.
Budget Tip: Souvenirs in Santorini could be too pricey. In case, you are also visiting Crete, Naxos or Athens, I would suggest you buy them from there instead. Although, you should get yourself at least one thing from Santorini. Anything that is blue and white.
The next morning, we were headed to the Island of Naxos. We took another taxi ride through the beautiful coastline to get our Ferry at the Port. To sum up, our 4 days in Santorini was the most magical honeymoon we could have asked for.
What to eat
There are different kinds of restaurants in the Oia district and in Fira. However, the restaurants are usually expensive.
You may not be able to find any restaurants in the smaller villages. So carry some snacks with you at all times. Do look at the timings of the restaurants for visiting.
Budget Tip: Food in Greece can be overwhelmingly expensive. For example, take a hit of at least 100 Euros for a decent meal with drinks. Instead, I would suggest you have your breakfast and one other meal from the Supermarkets or make your own meal with supplies from Supermarkets. On the other hand, have one meal in the day at a restaurant to fully enjoy it. As a result, you avoid paying a fortune for food.
Where to stay
Fira and Oia are the two hippest places for staying in Santorini in a budget. In addition, there are also several hotels and resorts on the route from Fira to Oia with private jacuzzis and sea views. Of course, they are extremely pricey.
Activities and Budget
Must Do
- Enjoy the authentic Greek Gyros.
- Buy a souvenir from one of the many beautiful shops.
- Witness at least one sunset from Oia.
- Take a picture with your partner at the romantic Oia Village.
Unique Experience
- There are several hidden beaches across the island. Hunt for them on your own and find your private paradise in Santorini.
- Take the hike from Fira to Oia.
- Visit the tiny hidden churches across Santorini and find their history.
- Take a donkey ride to Ammodi Bay.
Budget
Hotel or Airbnb: 120 Euros and above per night.
Food: 100 Euros for a meal with drinks for two persons.
Other expenses: 50-100 Euros per day per person.
One Response