7 Best Things to do in Oia, Santorini
Looking to explore the iconic village of Oia Santorini? Here you’ll find stunning sunsets and charming streets that will create an unforgettable Greek islands vacation! If you’re planning a trip to this picturesque Greek island, you’ll want to make the most of your visit by discovering the best things to do in Oia, Santorini. From exploring its iconic white-washed buildings and vibrant blue domes to tasting some famous Santorini wine and soaking up the breathtaking views, Oia offers many bucket list experiences that cater to every traveler. In this Santorini travel guide, I’ll highlight top attractions, hidden gems, and must-see spots to ensure your time in Santorini is the ultimate bucket list adventure. If you’re planning a trip to Greece, here are some must do things during your time Oia, Santorini!
Santorini is actually a pretty large island with several different villages. When you think of Santorini, you probably picture Oia. Oia Village is the most photographed area in Santorini due to its blue domes, domed churches, and iconic sunsets. If you’re visiting Santorini, you need to spend at least one day exploring the iconic village of Oia. I personally loved staying in Oia due to its walkability and endless amount of luxury hotels, shops, and restaurants.
Table of Contents
Things to know before visiting Oia, Santorini
When to Visit: The best time to visit the island of Santorini is May-October for the best weather. Crowds and prices tend to increase June-August
Where to Stay: Allure Breeze Suites, Mystique, Canaves Oia Suites, Olvos Luxury Suites, Charisma Suites, Old Castle Oia
What to Pack: Click Here for my full Greek Islands packing list!
Now, let’s dive into the best things to do in Oia, Santorini!
1. Take a Catamaran Cruise
One of the best things to do on your trip to Santorini is to hop on a catamaran and see Santorini from the Aegean Sea. There’s nothing quite like seeing the massive cliffs of the caldera from below and looking up at the village of Oia nestled high into the cliffs.
Catamaran cruise tours are a perfect way to spend the day or even take a sunset cruise to experience some of the best sunsets in the world! Prices for catamaran cruises in Oia vary, but you can typically expect to spend somewhere around $100 per person.
2. Watch the Sunset
A trip to Santorini is not complete without seeing a Santorini sunset. Santorini is known for its incredible sunsets and Oia is the prime spot on the island for watching them. Travelers and locals come from around the island every night to watch the sunset over the caldera in Oia. If you’re looking for the best sunset view in Oia, head over to Castle of Oia. This is the #1 spot in Oia to see the sunset. Since it’s so popular, the locals recommended getting there at least 45 minutes early to secure your spot. If you want to make it a full evening, make dinner reservations at one of the many restaurants in Oia for after sunset to finish the night!
3. Shopping & Exploring the Streets
One thing about Oia is that it’s known for its upscale boutiques and cute cafes. While in Oia, make sure to take some time getting lost in the streets and taking in all the white-washed buildings, churches, and shops. This is a great time to do some shopping, pick out some souvenirs, and grab a cappuccino.
Tip: When walking around Oia, be prepared for a lot of stairs and uneven streets. Because of this, you’ll want to make sure to wear comfortable shoes for walking. CLICK HERE to see my favorite shoes for traveling!
Also Read: 3-Day Santorini, Greece Itinerary
4. Flying Dress Photoshoot
The flying dress photoshoots may be one of the most popular things to do in Oia, Santorini. If you’re not a photographer, this is a great way to get those iconic Santorini photos. When you hire a local photographer to do a shoot, they typically can take you places to get the perfect Instagram photo that you wouldn’t be able to go when taking photos on your own. The photoshoots are typically done early in the mornings to avoid the crowds but there’s also sunset photoshoots you can book as well!
5. Castle of Oia
Going to the Castle of Oia is an absolute must thing to do in Oia. Oia Castle is the ruins of Venetian Agios Nikolaos Castle which was built back in the 15th century as an observation point to protect the island from pirates. Now the castle is one of the top things to do in Santorini because it offers the best view of Oia.
The castle is the most popular sunset point on the island but is really worth a visit any time of day to take in the breathtaking views of Oia, the caldera, and the Aegean Sea!
6. Ammoudi Bay
Ammoudi Bay is one of the best things to do in Oia and also one of the best places to visit in Santorini for fresh seafood! Ammoudi Bay is a small fishing port located at the bottom of the cliffs of Oia. It is best known for its seafood restaurants, sunsets, and stunning red cliffs. Ammoudi Bay grew in popularity after being featured in the movie Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2!
To get to Ammoudi Bay from Oia, you’ll have to take a long walk down the 300 steps from the top of the cliffs down to the sea. Alternatively, you can grab a taxi in Oia and have them drive you down the back roads and drop you off at the bottom. Please DO NOT ride the donkeys down the steps as this is not an ethical tourism practice.
The two most popular restaurants at Ammoudi Bay are Sunset Ammoudi and Ammoudi Fish Tavern. The restaurants here are pricey but definitely worth the splurge! I personally went to Sunset Ammoudi and loved the food. I went around 3 pm and did not need a reservation. If you’re planning to go for sunset and want a table by the water, it’s best to book a table online before you go!
7. Three Blue Domes Viewpoint
A trip to Santorini isn’t complete without seeing the iconic blue domes in Oia. Santorini has many blue domes, but the three blue domes viewpoint is the most photographed spot for the blue domes and a must see when in Oia. The domes are easy to find by typing in “Three Blue Domes Viewpoint” into Google Maps on your phone. If you want to beat the crowds and get that perfect Santorini Instagram photo, I recommend going early. Around sunrise if possible. For the photos above, I arrived around 8 am and there was already a line of about 10 people. This was also in May which is shoulder season in Santorini, so Oia was not as crowded during this time.
What Else to Know?
Now that you know all the best things to do in Oia, Santorini I’ll give you a few more tips to make the most of your time in Oia.
If you’re trying to plan the best day to visit Oia on your Santorini trip, I recommend looking up the cruise ship schedules. Being one of the most visited islands in Greece, Santorini is a popular cruise port. When the ships come in, Santorini becomes extremely crowded and Oia is the most popular village for cruise passengers to visit. If you don’t like crowds, I highly recommend staying out of Oia during the afternoons on days when there are cruise ships.
If you want to avoid the crowds, I recommend waking up early and exploring Oia in the mornings. During this time, the streets are nice and peaceful and you’ll also avoid the heat! Once the crowds arrive in the afternoons, head to the pool or a beach club and then come back once the ships have left in the late afternoon/evening!
Lastly, be sure to indulge in all the Greek cuisine! Greek food is one of the best parts of traveling to Greece and luckily there is no shortage of restaurants and authentic Greek food in Oia. One of my favorite places in Oia was Pitogryos. Pitogryos is a Greek Grill tucked away in one of the alleyways in Oia and is known for having the best gyros in Santorini! Restaurants in Oia can be pricey, and I found Pitogyros to be a pretty affordable option!
FAQ
Is it worth going to Oia in Santorini?
Visiting Oia on your trip to Santorini is a must! If you are not staying in Oia, try to make the trip early in the morning so you can explore Oia without the cruise ship crowds!
What is Oia, Santorini known for?
Oia is known for being the most popular and most photographed village in Santorini due to its location on the island and white-washed buildings, famous blue domes, and domed churches.
Is Fira or Oia better?
Fira and Oia are two of the most popular villages in Santorini and both are worth a visit! If you are coming to Santorini on a cruise ship, you will likely arrive to the island in Fira. If you are looking at hotels in Santorini, Oia will likely be more expensive than Fira.
How to get to Santorini?
There are a few different ways to get to Santorini: ferry and flight. If you are coming from another island such as Mykonos, it will be more cost-effective to take the ferry. If you are coming from Athens, I recommend taking a flight to save time! There are ferries available from Athens to Santorini but will take more time.
