Santorini is many people’s dream destination, and it is the most famous island to visit in Greece. Here are all the things you need to know before you see the famous Santorini sunset!

When Should You Visit Santorini

Since it is the most popular island in Greece, you will want to avoid July and August if possible. The best time to visit most Greek islands is September, but for Santorini, I would say later in September is best as it will be less crowded and not as hot. If you can’t go then, I suggest May, as it is just starting to wake from its winter slumber.

Remember that not everything will be open if you decide to come in the off-season, such as in March or November. Making hotel arrangements need to be done in advance and confirmed. You will also want to do the same with flights or ferries. The ferries do run in the winter but less often, and cancellations due to weather do happen, so keep that in mind.

Where to Stay in Santorini

There are many villages to stay in while in Santorini, Greece. The two most popular are Oia and Fira. Oia is where most people gather to watch the sunset. Fira is the capital. Of those two, I would choose Fira. It has a bit more space so it won’t feel as crowded and the main bus stop is there making it great for taking public transport. It also offers way more parking than Oia.

Click here to book a hotel in Oia or Fira.

Personally, I would pick another village entirely, such as Imvorgeili or Pyrgos. With Imovrgili, you still get a caldera view and aren’t far from Oia and Fira. Villages like Pyrgos are great if you are going to rent a car and want a less touristy feel.

Looking for a traditional Santorini Cave House? Stay at Demeter Cave House in Pyrgos.

How to Get to Santorini

Santorini is far from Athens, so keep that in mind when scheduling your travel to Greece. You have two options from Athens. You can fly or take the ferry. Flying from Athens is about 45 minutes. The flights run all year round.

The other option is to take the ferry. Ferries to Santorini island run from Piraeus, and during the high season also run from Rafina. The fast ferry to Santorini is about 5 hours, and the slow one is 8 hours. The fast ferries are okay but not for you if you get seasick easily. 

Book your ferry ticket to Santorini here.

I like to fly to Santorini as I don’t like the fast ferry. Also, there are only a few islands you can fly to Santorini from, such as Crete and Rhodes, so do your research if you need to make a quick connection.

What is the Weather Like in Santorini

Not only are July and August the busiest time of year in Santorini, but also the hottest. And it will feel even hotter again, the white houses that are reflecting the sun onto you. The volcanic beach sand will burn, so wear beach shoes!

Again, September is not as hot. But October and May are the best if you want warmth but not scorching. You might even have some cool nights then, which will be most welcome. Remember that you may have some days of rain in October, but it usually doesn’t last long.

How to Get Around Santorini

Santorini is best seen by renting a car. There are public buses, but all go to Fira first before heading to their next destination, meaning you will need to switch. In the high season, they are very crowded and may be standing room only. There aren’t many taxis on the island despite its popularity. 

If you can’t rent a car, book your taxi in advance to pick you up from the airport or ferry terminal. Your hotel may be able to do this for you. If not, I recommend using a taxi service called Welcome Pickups. You book them in advance, and they have an English-speaking driver for waiting for you with a sign.

If you decide to use the bus, here is the current Santorini bus schedule. Remember that not all stops are listed, so if it doesn’t list each stop, ask at the ticket office or the bus driver. The complete schedule will be posted at the Fira bus station.

Where Should I Watch the Sunset in Santorini

As I mentioned earlier, most people go to Oia to watch the sunset. Most specifically, Oia Castle. If you have several nights in Santorini, this is worth doing at least once. It will be crowded, so my tip is to walk part of the way down the old donkey trail under the castle. You will have fewer people and an unobstructed view, albeit a bit smelly. Totally worth it to have more space and the perfect sunset shot.

After that night, go to almost any west-facing village, and you will have a great sunset view. Pyrgos village is the highest point, so it is one of the best places to catch it from. Plus, on a clear day, you can see all the way to Crete from Pyrgos.

Book Restaurants in Advance

Given Santorini’s popularity, many of the more famous restaurants in Santorini will be booked well in advance. This is especially true if they have a sunset view. Once you have locked in travel days and hotels, booking restaurants is your next step. 

Two restaurants you should definitely make reservations for if you plan on going are Ammoudi Fish Tavern and Metaxi Mas.

Santorini Isn’t Just For Couples

Yes, it is a romantic destination, but there is plenty to do for the solo traveler and the group of friends. So if this is your dream and you aren’t a couple, go! Both times I have gone, I have been solo. Greece is safe and welcoming to all travelers, and then you can do what you want when you want. Meaning you can take a nap at 2 in the heat of the day or get up early to hike the Fira to Oia hike if you want!

A Few Practical Tips to Keep in Mind

What I have mentioned so far and the most important things to know before you book, but here are a few practical things you should also know before you arrive.

You can’t drink the water on the Greek islands. It won’t make you really sick if you do, but it might give you an upset tummy. You can use it to make hot drinks such as tea or coffee and wash fruits off but don’t drink it. Grab some bottles of water. Your hotel will likely have a few for you to get started with.

You can’t flush toilet paper in most places in Greece, including Santorini. The pipes are old and small. There will be a covered trash can with a liner next to the toilet. Don’t worry about this; the Greeks are totally used to it, and it will not smell!! I promise.

There are tons of stairs in Santorini. If you have mobility issues, this may not be the island for you. Some are steep, and some are not. Some are even marble. Go slow and hang onto the walls if needed.

Santorini is expensive, especially in the high season. Your biggest expense will be your hotel. Book early and plan ahead. If you can’t afford a caldera view every night, book it for one night and move to a less expensive hotel. If you can, go in May or October, as prices will be lower for hotels and some transportation. 

Most of the beaches are not sandy and are volcanic rocks or sand. You need to remember that Santorini, Greece is an active volcano, and what you see is the top of the volcano. This means the beaches aren’t sandy and don’t slope into the sea. There is one sandy beach, but the red beach and black beach are rock and volcanic sand. You need to wear shoes on the beach to not burn them!

Most of all, enjoy it! 

If you need ideas of what to do on your Santorini vacation, I have an ebook for sale that include 1, 3 and 5-day itineraries.

Easter is the highlight of the Orthodox calendar in Greece. It ranks above Christmas and is one of the few days a year that ferries don’t run. However, the Easter celebrations don’t just happen on Easter Sunday! It is a week-long event, and there is usually an event every day of the Holy Week.

Tinos is one of the best places to experience Greek Orthodox Easter. This is due to the Shrine of the Panagia Evangelistria (Our Lady of Tinos) and the church associated with it. Orthodox pilgrims come here to see the Icon of Mary found during the Greek Revolution of 1821. Pilgrims make their way from the port on their knees up a hill and into the church. You can see a carpet on the street for this purpose.

Easter in Tinos

Holy Monday

As mentioned before, the entire week up to Easter Sunday, things are happening in Tinos. Holy Monday is a service to celebrate Joseph the Patriarch. While some Greeks will be participating in some fasting during all of Lent, this is the week when many are very strict about fasting. Check with your hotel during Holy Week, as they can tell you all the events happening in Tinos town for the week.

Holy Tuesday

Also known as Great Tuesday, today is the day on Tinos the locals make a sweet Easter Pie made of unsalted cheese called tsimpito. Your hotel may have some with breakfast, but if not, check out one of the local bakeries to taste this local treat.

Holy Wednesday or Great Wednesday

Wednesday is dedicated to the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with myrrh. In many churches, the anointing of the sick. Sick does not necessarily mean physically sick, and many will have themselves anointed in preparation for the receiving of communion on Thursday.

Holy Thursday

Thursday is the day that Easter Eggs are dyed in Greece. The eggs are usually dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ. In addition, Greeks will bake Tsoureki, a sweet bread that will be eaten on Easter Sunday. The dyed eggs may be placed in the center of the Tsoureki. If you are lucky, your hotel will have some red Easter eggs for you to take.

Holy Friday or Megali Paraskevi

Holy Friday is one of the bigger celebrations of the week. In the morning, women will gather to decorate the epitaph with fresh flowers. Around noon people will go to see Christ’s body that has been placed in the epitaph.

In the evening is the funeral of Christ. In Tinos, and in many places in Greece, the epitaph is taken on men’s shoulders and walked through the village with a band playing funeral music. Several churches in Tinos town will parade theirs in town and then meet along the way, eventually taking the biers’ to the port area. Then a service is given by the priests. One epitaph from the Church of Saint Nicholas is taken down to Kalamia beach. The priest will enter the water to give prayers for seamen.

If you attend this event, wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to stand for many hours. Following the epitaphs from the main church can get crowded as it enters the narrow alleys in Tinos town. If crowds are not your thing, you can skip that part and head down to the port to secure a good spot.

Holy Saturday

Saturday is the first Resurrection, and you will hear “Christos Anesti” greetings between Greeks. If you want to respond, you say, “Alithos Anesti,” after someone says, “Christos Anesti.” Christos Anesti means, “Christ is Risen” and the response is “Truly He is Risen.”

There is usually a service in the morning and in the evening on Saturday. You will probably see and hear fireworks on Saturday for a while. Churches vie to be the loudest. Almost as if it’s a competition for the celebration.

Saturday night is also when the Great Fire arrives from Israel. In Tinos, it arrives by boat late in the evening. I was lucky enough to be at the port when this happened. Police accompany the fire up to the Panagia Evangelistria like royalty. Everyone gathers in the churchyard, anxiously awaiting the fire to be passed to them. Afterward, people carefully carry home their fire home, intending to keep it alight as long as possible.

Easter Sunday

The smell of roasting lamb is likely to wake you on Sunday. Families gather and spend the day eating. It is a good day to walk around and see what the Greeks are up to. There will be services and more celebrations today, but most people spend it with family. Find a restaurant to have some roast lamb at and enjoy the day.

One thing to note is that the ferry doesn’t run on Easter Sunday, so if you need to be somewhere on Sunday, you will need to leave on Saturday. The ferry on Monday was also very crowded, with people sitting on the floor. Make sure to book a seat reservation, so this doesn’t happen to you!

Orthodox Easter 2023

Orthodox Easter in 2023 will be on April 16. If you are planning on coming to Tinos for Easter or anywhere in Greece, you must book for Easter well in advance. Most Greeks will head to their home island or village for some or all of the week for Easter, so hotels and ferries book up quickly.

Also, remember that April and May are not the high tourist season, so hotels, ferries and restaurants may not be fully open. Your selection will be less. For some restaurants, I recommend making a reservation a day or two before, especially if you are with a large group.

In 2024, Orthodox Easter will be May 5, and in 2025 it will be April 20.

Things to Do in Tinos

Tinos has plenty to see outside of the Easter celebrations. However, the island isn’t fully open for tourists, so some things may be quiet. It is a good opportunity to visit the mountain villages as they are stunningly beautiful. You may need to rent a car at Easter since Tinos’s bus service is limited. A few highlights worth mentioning are the giant boulders in Volax, the dovecotes around the islands, Kolymbithra beach, visiting local artists and Panormos village.

Weather in Tinos for Easter

Spring in Greece can be warm but can also be cold and wet. Tinos also is famous for its winds. When I was there, the days were warm, and the nights were cold. Fortunately, I experienced very little wind, but it can happen and will make you feel colder. My advice is to bring layers. You might even want shorts for the days if Easter is later in the season.

Where to Stay in Tinos

There are so many beautiful villages to see in Tinos, and each will have some celebrations during Easter. However, many big celebrations and processions happen in Tinos town, where the ferry arrives. This is also the location of the Panagia Evagelistra. I recommend you stay in Tinos town and rent a car to explore the island during the day.

Poseidonio Hotel

Poseidonio Hotel is right in the center of Tinos town and about a 10-minute walk to the Panagia Evagelistra. The hotel has some renovated rooms that are very nice. They served breakfast and had a schedule of all the Easter activities. If you book early enough, you may be able to get a port-facing view so you can see the sea!

Book the Poseiodonio Hotel for Easter

Vincenzo Family Rooms

If you seek to be in a quieter part of Tinos Town, I recommend the Vincenzo Family Rooms. This family-run hotel is just a few minutes from the main area of town and offers incredible service. Bring your swimsuit, as they have a jacuzzi in the courtyard which will be nice on the cooler days of April or May.

Book the Vincenzo Family Rooms for Easter