If you have read any of our posts you will have probably figured out two things. One being that we absolutely loved Greece and the second being that we really appreciate low-budget activities while we’re visiting a new place. Sometimes that means a hike or coastal walk and other times that simply means exploring a new area. Most people don’t immediately think of Santorini and think of free so here are 5 free things to do in Santorini!
The ferries between the islands can be a bit pricey (not to mention take a decent amount of time) and we realize on the Greek islands prices can be inflated in places. So our hope is that this post and our 5 Free Things to do in Mykonos post will shed light on all the affordable options you have while visiting Greece. It is amazing and absolutely worth it, even without chartering yachts and spending a ton of money!
1. Explore Fira
Fira is a town in the middle of the island on the Western side of Santorini. We found it to be much less crowded than Oia, the area on the northern tip of the island. Fira hosts many bars and restaurants as well as absolutely fantastic views of the Caldera. The contrast of the brown cliffs with the white buildings of Fira and nearby Firastefani and Imerovigli is like nothing else!
Even if you’re staying in a different part of the island, check out Fira even just for an afternoon. Walk through the small walkways or you can even walk down the many stairs down to the old port. Or if you don’t want to walk you can take the cable car and get incredible views for only a couple Euros. Beware it can get crowded when cruise ships are near!
2. Hike from Fira to Oia
The Hike from Fira to Oia was without a doubt our favorite thing we did while in Santorini. It was amazing! It took us about 5 hours starting in Fira, hiking out to Skaros Rock along the way and then ending in Oia. That does, however, include making a stop for lunch and also many stops to take a million pictures along the hike.
While there were a few people on the path when we started in Fira, the farther we went we really were on a path all by ourselves. The views along the way honestly were beautiful and we couldn’t stop taking pictures!
It is really easy to do a part of the hike if you’re not up for a couple hours trek. There are spots in Firastefani and Imerovigli where you can turn inland and catch a bus to Oia. Or you can choose to take the bus directly from one to the other. But we really felt like the journey was easily as rewarding and beautiful as actually getting to Oia.
If you’re not totally convinced be sure to check out our Complete Guide to the Fira to Oia Hike or if you are about to do it read our 10 Tips before Starting the Fira to Oia Hike for things we wish we knew before going!
3. Walk out to Skaros Rock
Skaros Rock is along the Fira to Oia Hike and can be done as a short detour. Even if you don’t want to hike for miles you can hike out to Skaros Rock and get unobstructed views of the Caldera. Looking back you get views of the south (Fira) and looking north to Oia.
To get out there you do have to hike down (and then back up) quite a few stairs and walk on uneven gravel so we definitely recommend sneakers.
4. Watch the Sunset in Oia
Oia is on the northern tip of Santorini looking out into the endless blue ocean. It also has some of the best sunsets in the world so it can definitely get crowded! However, regardless of the crowds it is absolutely worth going to see!
There are many locations within Oia that people flock to and can get really crowded. You can see in the picture above how many people there are watching with you! We would recommend getting there before sunset and getting a table at a restaurant (even just for a drink) or walking around a bit and finding a quieter, lesser known spot to avoid watching it with all your newest friends.
5. See the Blue-Dome Churches & Three Bells
The famous Blue-Dome churches are churches with blue roofs that you have probably seen in every picture of Greece. However, seeing them in person is pretty spectacular and worth it to check out. While there are other blue-roofed churches, the famous ones you’ve likely seen before happen to be in Oia so it’s easy to see before watching the sunset (#4 on this list). Just beware you might have to wait to get your photo-op!
It did take us a little while to actually find the Blue-Dome churches in Oia. While you feel like you can see the blue tops, it can be tricky to find the photo opportunity that you’re likely seeking because of the small, winding Greek walkways.
We have a full Photography Guide to Greece including exact locations to help you find both the iconic Blue-Dome Churches and the Three Bells!
The Three Bells are on the northern edge of Fira and if you look closely in the picture you can see the silhouette of Skaros Rock in the background. While seeing this spot at sunset is beautiful it is also doable to do while hiking the Fira to Oia Hike or while hiking to Skaros Rock.
Travel Truth: We made the mistake of (without realizing it) walking on someones property to get to the Three Bells. They were not too happy with us! You don’t have to do that as there is a public area (where this picture was taken) so don’t make our same mistake!
Did we miss any free or budget-friendly spots in Santorini? Let us know!
