Walk Around Fira, the Capital of Santorini

This area is a popping spot for tourists, but it still has a lot to offer! There are tons of good restaurants and shops selling typical knick knacks to wine and handmade dresses. This is where our hotel was located and I thought it was the perfect spot as we could easily get to whatever we needed within walking distance. You will encounter many merchants trying to rent you scooters and pull you into stores but remember you're not obligated to buy anything! 

Spend the Evening & Watch the Sunset in Oia

If you want to see the blue roofs, those are in Oia! It's one of the most beautiful spots in Santorini, but it is very popular. A local told me that during the busy season and when cruise ships are in port you can barely walk around. Fortunately, I was there before busy season so even though we were not the only tourists, we had no issues getting through some of the tighter walkways and getting those iconic photos! Stay for the sunset as seeing it while surrounded by the caldera is truly remarkable.

Akrotiri Archeological Site

I had no idea what this was until I started looking things up to do while in Santorini & I can't believe this spot isn't more famous! Akrotiri is essentially Greece's version of Pompeii only it's 2000 YEARS OLDER! The whole excavation site is protected indoors while you walk along platforms above. Seeing a 4000 year old city that had technology such as toilets inside one's home was fascinating. It's about €12 to get in or you can buy a combo ticket for €15 which includes two more museums on the island. Getting here was a bit tricky and make sure if you're driving to specifically put the archeological site into the GPS as the city is also called Akrotiri. There is a private parking lot!

Lost Atlantis Experience - Interactive Museum

A lot of museums hold art or old artifacts, but how many explore the myths of ancient cities? If you're interested in the Lost City of Atlantis (or were a huge fan of the animated film like myself) this is a really cool place to see! It dives into the history surrounding how it was described by Plato, the only one to write about this myth we have record of. It goes in to explain how Santorini's geomorphology is almost identical to how Atlantis would have been shaped like and ties in real history and science to support the theory. Highly recommend this as it's the only museum in the world about Atlantis! It's also only about 15 minutes from the Akrotiri site!

Try the Combo Deal at Lucky's Souvlakis

This is oldest souvlaki spot on the island! It was recommended to me by a friend who visited before, but a local told me there are better places to go (of course after I already ate there). Personally, I liked this spot! It's good for a quick and easy meal for two and the owner was super friendly. You can grab their combo for two pork gyros, fries, and a drink for €12! There isn't a ton of seating inside, and if you're there during high tourist season, then good luck.

Have a Drink at Lux Bar for Happy Hour

Located in Fira, this is a fun bar to just sit down and have a glass of wine! Greece is known for white wine so go ahead and get the bartender's recommendation. A glass at happy hour was €6.

Pelican Kipos Cafe & Wine Restaurant

Located in the capital of Fira, this is a great spot for any meal of the day! However, we came here twice for breakfast and once for dessert. They have a brunch menu with "Greek Style Scrambled Eggs" that were absolutely to die for! No, they were not stereotypical Greek style, but they did have tomatoes, pork, and cheese! It came with a little side salad and was absolutely fabulous with a side of bread. We also tried their waffles, which they serve all day, as an evening dessert loaded with strawberries, bananas, nutella, and ice cream. Not very Greek, but they're huge & quite indulgent. Staff were incredibly kind and the restaurant itself is beautiful.

Get a Pork Gyro at Yogi Gyro

This was the top spot recommended to us for gyros in Fira. However, don't fret, they do have vegetarian options but I can't speak to their quality. The way it works is you order and the counter and then give your ticket to the guy at the prep counter so he'll add it to the lineup to make your order. We ordered two pork gyros to start off with the basics and I wasn't sure how high my hopes were going to be as these were also ONLY €3.70 each! Well have no fear because they were delicious! The meat is super juicy. It's also unique in the fact their pita is yellow instead of white. We noticed other people were getting "the spice" on theirs which we didn't ask for the first time. However, we decided to order one more to share and got it this time. Highly recommend!! It's not spicy, just seasoning but it does make a difference. We visited this spot one other time and also tried their pork skewer which was awesome! This is a VERY affordable meal option and doesn't skimp on quality!

Get a Lamb Gyro at PitaGram

This spot is in the original location of "Nick the Grill", which closed, and was recommended to us by a local and is two doors down from Yogi Gyro. I tried their lamb pita as all the others I've had to this point were pork (since it's the traditional meat used) & oh my word. This was the BEST lamb gyro I've EVER had! I regret not taking a photo before eating it. The flavor and spices that radiated off the meat were immaculate. For only €5 I was incredibly impressed but also depressed because I probably won't find another one like it back home. Seriously check this spot out!

Enjoy Home-cooked Greek Cuisine at Porto Bello

Located not far from the Akrotiri archeological site this spot is cute and cozy and serves a mix of traditional Santorini and international cuisine. Of course I ordered off the Greek menu! I ordered the lamb cooked in a clay pot (I looked for the menu of this place to find the right name everywhere and it's nowhere to be found) with vegetables and feta cheese! It's simple but super yummy!

Have Dinner at Thalami

This spot is located in Oia and was recommended by our hotel. It's right by the Caldera so expect higher prices, but you can't actually see the view. Regardless, this place was phenomenal! I ordered the grilled octopus while my boyfriend ordered the lobster with pasta. The grilled octopus was INCREDIBLE! This was my second time having it as the first one I ordered was in Crete, and despite being the same dish there was a clear difference in the quality. The outside was crispy on the suckers giving it a crunch while the inside was soft and buttery. Truly worth every penny and probably one of my favorite meals on my entire trip. The lobster pasta was obscene and I say that because the plate it came out on was TWICE the size of my head! It had an entire lobster (spiny NOT Maine) and a heaping pile of tomato pasta. I tried this and it was really good! For the size you could easily share this between two people. However, I would still pick the octopus over the lobster as I thought it was the better dish. If you're coming after 6pm you might need a reservation as it was getting slammed after we left and this was on a Monday.

Excursion to the Volcanic Islands & Hot Springs

Santorini, is actually located on a volcano! Don't worry the last time it erupted was 1950. However, that means there are some amazing formations you can hike up. It's also home to a "hot spring", known as Nea Kamanei or "the volcano", which sits at the base of one of the volcanic islands and is filled with materials known for their therapeutic properties. The best way to see these is through a tour company & it was truly an amazing day! I'll warn you, because no one warned me but when you jump off the ship into the ocean to swim to the hot spring (the ships can't dock too close) the water, at least in April, is absolutely freezing. It does increase as you get to spring, which is orange! I would say it was lukewarm, rather than hot, but significantly warmer than the surrounding water.

How to Get Around?

Rental Car! Santorini has busses but it's a small island and taxis are very expensive. There's no Uber either! Parking is free pretty much everywhere. I only saw one paid parking lot the whole time and it was in Oia, but we got free street parking. A car will give you the ultimate flexibility to see what you want and on your schedule. I was able to rent one from the port and return it at the airport. Just be careful as the roads are thin and not all places are well lit at night. Greece drives on the right side of the road.

Where to Stay?

Petros Villa! This in an adorable little hotel in the heart of Fira, the capital of Santorini. The owner was incredibly sweet and very accommodating. We were able to check-in at 11am even though check-in didn't start until 2pm. She gave us a bunch of recommendations for what to do on the island which is how was found some of the best spots!

This page contains affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. Your support is appreciated!