How to Plan the Best 2 Days in Santorini Greece Itinerary
Plan an unforgettable 2 days in Santorini, Greece, with this guide to the best village, views and red sand beaches.
Turquoise waves splashing onto red-sand beaches, whitewashed villages built into cliffsides, ancient ruins of temples and towns — it’s possible to see it all with just two days in Santorini.
If you’re planning a weekend Santorini getaway or just have a short stay here while island hopping in Greece, this Santorini 2 day itinerary will help you make the most of your time.
We’ve included the best things to do in Santorini in 2 days, from sightseeing in Oia to hiking volcanic ridges to sunset sailing in the caldera. Plus, there are options for how to divvy up your time, so you can pick the activities that appeal most to you.
Keep reading for an action-packed 2 day Santorini itinerary or check out this 3 days in Santorini guide if you have a little more time.
How to Spend 2 Days in Santorini Itinerary
Use this 2 day Santorini itinerary to maximize your short visit to the Greek island. We’ve packed in hiking, beach trips, white-washed villages, and sunset views.
Day 1 — Santorini Villages Sightseeing
While you can find picturesque villages all over the island, the caldera coast of the northern end has some of the prettiest — built into the cliffs and painted in white with pops of blue. You can easily fit a little sightseeing in the three towns below into just one day of your weekend in Santorini since they’re only a few miles from each other.
Buses run between Fira and Oia with a stop in Imerovigli, and taxis are rather inexpensive given the short distance. Self-driving in a rental is also an option, though parking can be tricky, especially in busy Oia.
The most epic way to travel between these spots is by walking. A hiking path of just under 7 miles connects the three, weaving through the stone streets in towns and tracing dirt and gravel paths up and down ridges in either direction. The wide-open views of both sides of the island as you wander outside the villages is worth the time it takes to make the trip (about 3 to 5 hours depending on fitness level and stops).
Fira
Cliffside Fira (or Thera) is the first stop for many visitors to the island, sitting just above the cruise tender landing and not far from the airport and ferry docks. It’s also the capital of the island, filled with Greek restaurants, souvenir stores and whitewashed hotels with a view.
Aside from shopping, eating and sightseeing, the city hosts a handful of galleries and museums, including the Museum of Prehistoric Thera and the Archeological Museum, both full of ancient artifacts from Santorini’s ruins. You’ll definitely want to make a stop here during your 2 days in Santorini.
Imerovigli
Serene Imerovigli manages to avoid much of the tourist bustle thanks to a smaller share of commerce, though plenty of traditional white villas spill down the cliffs here. It’s the highest town on the northern end of Santorini, so it offers unparalleled vistas toward Oia and Fira on either end and the island-dotted caldera below.
One of the best things to do in Imerovigli is to wander the narrow white alleys with their stone streets in search of church bells, blooming bougainvillea and open lookouts.
You can also hike to Skaros Rock from here. Jutting out to a point from the village, this peninsula-like strip of land holds the remains of an old fortress and a flat-topped rock to climb.
Oia
One of the most popular places to go on a short Santorini itinerary, Oia’s skyline pops with picturesque windmills, blue-domed churches and layers of cubed hotels and apartments painted white. In the center of town, stone streets host pristine storefronts selling breezy Greek clothing, handcrafted jewelry and sandals, ceramics and plenty of kitschy souvenirs.
Among the top things to see in Oia are the Byzantine Castle ruins, with a scenic platform that draws big crowds come sunset, and Amoudi Bay, a little hub of breezy cafes and bobbing boats down on the sea and backed by high cliffs. The Santorini sunset is perhaps the most popular event, though, as tourists line every lookout point to snap photos of the changing colors.
Day 2 — Santorini Boat Trip or Road Trip
For the second of your 2 days in Santorini, get out and explore the rest of the island on a self-drive Santorini road trip or a guided Santorini tour. You’ll visit black and red sand beaches, ancient ruins, and pretty white villages on hillsides.
Or, you can use the day to sail around the caldera and enjoy the views of the island from below. Santorini boat tours combine sightseeing, swimming, snorkeling and sunsets into one epic outing.
Road Trip
Given its petite size, Santorini is easy to explore in just a day, as long as you don’t linger too long at any one beach. Checking out the ruins will fill up more time, so you might want to pick from just one if you really want to delve into the history and still have time for other activities.
For black sand beaches, head to Perissa, Kamari or Perivolos, all along the east coast of the island and with tourist amenities (like umbrella and chair rentals) and cafes nearby. The dark shade of the rocks at these spots is thanks to the volcanic landscape.
Red Beach is on the southern peninsula. It’s a bit more of a rustic setting, with a short hike down to the seaside, but the views of contrasting turquoise sea against sheer red cliffs and sand make it worth the small effort.
The two most notable collections of ruins on the island are Ancient Thera and Akrotiri. The first ancient town dates to around the 8th century BC, with the remains of markets and temples located on Mesa Vouno Mountain on the east coast — you can hike up from the beaches at Perissa and Kamari.
The latter, Akrotiri, is on the south end and preserves a Bronze Age settlement struck and stuck in time by a volcanic eruption. It’s only a mile or so from Red Beach.
If you drive to the tip of the far southwestern peninsula of Santorini, you’ll find yourself at the Akrotiri Lighthouse from the 1800s. From here you can see miles of island coastline and watch the sunset over the sea if you stay late enough.
Island Tour
You can also arrange custom private tours to visit the places you’re most interested in with a local guide who will give you some perspective on the island’s culture and history.
Boat Ride
Catamarans take guests to volcanic hot springs in the caldera, colorful beaches along the coast, and the little island of Thirassia across from Santorini.
Santorini Travel Tips
Use these tips to help plan your 2 days in Santorini itinerary. We’ve included ideas for where to stay, what to pack, and more.
How to Get to Santorini
Unless you’re on a cruise or sailing trip, the best ways to get to Santorini are by ferry or flight. Flights to Santorini from Athens are somewhat frequent and take less than an hour, so you can buy tickets to the larger city if they’re cheaper and hop over from there. Ferries between Athens’ Piraeus port and Santorini take at least 5 hours. There also ferries to and from Santorini and nearby islands like Naxos, Milos, Mykonos and Crete.
If you’re spending some time on the mainland, too, check out these guides for 1 day in Athens and 2 days in Athens.
Where to Stay in Santorini
This guide to where to stay on Santorini breaks down the different villages and beaches so you can pick just the right place to stay. We highly recommend the caldera side for the best views, but you can find dreamy villas and whitewashed hotels all over the island.
How Many Days in Santorini?
Is 2 days in Santorini enough? Even with just 1 day in Santorini, you’ll be able to see the famous cliffside villages, taste some Greek dishes, and either hike or visit a beach.
Spending 2 days in Santorini allows enough time to do a quick tour around the island, sightsee in a couple of villages, and spend an afternoon on the beach or on a boat. If you want to take it slow, you should add a third day to your Santorini weekend to relax poolside at your villa and stroll around the nearby towns.
How to Avoid the Crowds in Santorini
Santorini is no doubt one of the most popular Greek Islands to visit, and well-known spots like Oia can get a bit cramped. The best ways to skirt the crowds are to visit outside the summer season, avoid Oia on heavy cruise days (check the schedule here) and around sunset, stay in quieter Imerovigli if you want caldera views, and check out other parts of the island that aren’t Oia and Fira (try cute inland villages like Megalochori and Pyrgos).
Santorini Packing Tips
Use this Greece packing guide to make sure you bring the right clothes and gear for your island vacation. It will help you figure out what the weather will be like and the types of activities to pack for.
Santorini Travel Guides
These travel guides will help you plan your trip to Santorini. Click on the images to read more and purchase on Amazon.