Cyclades, Greece
Santorini Travel Guide
The Oia sunset, the caldera and volcanic beaches — a 2-day route through Santorini's white-and-blue villages and unmatched views.
Currency
EUR €
Visa
A Schengen visa is required for many non-EU nationalities (ETIAS planned). Check your passport's specific requirements.
Best Season
April–June and September–October
Airport
JTR
Frames from the City
How to spend 2 days in Santorini
Day 1
Caldera villages
- 🏘️
Fira
neighbourhoodThe island's capital; white houses on the caldera edge, shops and restaurants.
- 🌳
Fira–Oia caldera walk
parkA ~3h clifftop trail with the island's finest views (cool in the morning).
- 🌅
Oia
viewBlue-domed churches and windmills; the world's most famous sunset (claim a spot early).
- 🍝
Ammoudi Bay
foodThe fishing harbour below Oia; walk down the steps for fresh seafood.
Day 2
Volcano & beach
- 🌅
Volcano & hot-spring boat
viewA walk on Nea Kameni plus a swim in a thermal cove; a sailing tour.
- 🏛️
Ancient Akrotiri
historyA Minoan 'Aegean Pompeii' preserved under volcanic ash.
- 🌅
Red Beach
viewVolcanic red cliffs and a beach; near Akrotiri.
- 🏘️
Pyrgos village
neighbourhoodThe island's highest traditional village; a castle, fewer tourists, an alternative sunset.
This is a sample itinerary. Create a personalized plan around your own dates, budget and interests.
Create my Santorini plan→How much does a trip to Santorini cost per person?
€35–60/day (hostel/room, gyros/souvlaki, free beaches)
€65–110/day (3★ hotel or a guesthouse, taverna meals, museum tickets)
€130–280/day (a boutique hotel or villa, fine dining, a private boat tour)
Estimated daily spend (food, local transport, museums — excluding accommodation). Flights and hotels are calculated separately.
Do you need a visa?
Greece: A Schengen visa is required for many non-EU nationalities (ETIAS planned). Check your passport's specific requirements..
Visa and transit rules can change; confirm the official consulate information before you travel.
When to go?
April–June and September–October (mild weather, fewer crowds).
Meze culture is central — tzatziki, taramasalata, dolma, saganaki. Souvlaki and gyros are the street-food classics, and the islands offer fresh seafood (octopus, calamari, sea bream). Dinner starts late (9–11pm). Bread and water arrive automatically and are added to the bill (€1–2). Frappé (Greek iced coffee) is drunk at any hour.
Greece with a Turkish passport: visa & transit status
Visa status
A Schengen visa is required for many non-EU nationalities (ETIAS planned). Check your passport's specific requirements.. Official source for the current visa regime applied to Turkish citizens: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Transit / connection
An airport transit visa (ATV) may be needed via Schengen.
Some Schengen countries (Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain…) require Turkish citizens to hold an airport transit visa (type A / ATV) when connecting to a destination OUTSIDE Schengen.
Exemption: A valid Schengen visa (in some countries a valid US/Canada visa or residence permit) exempts you from the ATV. If your destination is itself in Schengen you will already hold a Schengen visa, so this connection is not a problem.
Official source: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu
Last updated: September 2026. Visa and transit rules can change — before you apply or buy a ticket, confirm on mfa.gov.tr and with the relevant consulate.
Create your plan on this route→Airport
JTR
How to get to Santorini
International flights typically connect via IST.
On the mainland the KTEL bus network is extensive and affordable, and there is a train between Athens and Thessaloniki (5.5h). For the islands, ferries run from the ports of Piraeus and Rafina (BlueStar, SeaJets, Hellenic Seaways). In summer, inter-island flights (Aegean, Sky Express) are fast but pricey. Within cities there is a metro in Athens and Thessaloniki; on the islands, car/scooter rental or the local bus.
Plan your flights and itinerary together→- 01
In summer (June–September), book island ferry tickets weeks ahead — last-minute is hard.
- 02
Cover your shoulders and knees in churches; sacred sites like Mount Athos have strict rules.
- 03
The 'meltemi' wind can blow on the islands through July and August, and ferries can be cancelled.
- 04
For the Acropolis and popular museums, the combined ticket (a 5-site pass) is the best value.
- 05
Greek time is flexible — a 15–30 minute delay at restaurants and at the start of events is normal.
Free · 2 minutes
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