10 of the Best Things to Do in Oia Santorini, Greece
This guide to the best things to do in Oia Santorini, Greece, includes where to watch the sunset, swim in the bay, and find the best pools with a view.
The white-washed village of Oia on the northern tip of Santorini graces many a postcard depicting the idyllic Greek Island look. So it’s no wonder some of the best things to do in Oia Santorini happen simply by wandering up and down the stone-paved alleys, enjoying the town’s skyline cascading down the cliffside toward the caldera sea.
In turn, tons of vacationers flock here for the famous sunsets, hotel pools glistening under the hot summer sun, and Instagram-worthy photo sessions by the iconic blue church domes. If you’re wondering what to do in Oia Santorini on a cruise stop or island holiday, this guide will clue you into the top attractions and experiences in the town.
If you have a few days here, be sure to check out these 2 days in Santorini and 3 days in Santorini itineraries for more things to do in Santorini outside the village, like a red sand beach and ancient archeological ruins. Keep reading for our favorite Oia Santorini bucket list.
10 of the Best Things to Do in Oia Santorini
These are some of the top things to do in Oia Santorini on vacation. Don’t miss the tips for where to watch the Santorini sunset without crowds!
Hike From Fira to Oia
The Fira to Oia hike connects two of Santorini’s most popular towns, the first being its capital. You can start the nearly 7-mile excursion at either end, though the views walking toward Oia from the hills just outside are hard to beat.
If you’re arriving on a cruise, the tender boats will drop you off at the old port just below Fira, where you’ll have to take a donkey or cable car up the cliff to town. Otherwise, you can drive, take a cab, or hop on the bus to ride to Fira to start your hike from there.
The path changes from stone streets and sidewalks to loose earth as you wander outside the towns along the way. Starting in Fira, a hub of shops, entertainment, dining and museums, the trail winds up to Firostefani on the outskirts before climbing to quiet Imerovigli, the highest town along the route. From here, you can take a side trip out and back to the ruins on Skaros Rock jutting into the caldera, which will add an hour or so on to the trip.
Outside Imerovigli, it’s all open views as you continue northwest, with a few white painted churches and an occasional snack vendor along the way. The tiny white dots of Oia grow larger as you approach the village, with some incredible lookouts along the final elevations before the decline down into the town.
The trail is fairly easy to follow, as you just walk northeast and can see your destination most of the time. A few signposts along the way help hikers navigate through the more confusing alleys through the towns. If you’re visiting in summer, be sure to get an early morning start, as the excursion can take anywhere from two to five hours and the midday heat is intense.
This hike was one of my favorite things to do in Oia Santorini!
Sail on a Santorini Boat Tour
While the views from the cliffsides are hard to beat, a Santorini boat trip in the Aegean Sea is one of the best things to do near Oia and offers a different perspective of the villages built into the island. Catamarans take guests on half or full-day excursions to colorful beaches, volcanic hot springs, and the quiet island of Thirassia across the caldera from Santorini.
Stand Atop Castle Ruins
When you’re looking for things to do in Santorini, you definitely don’t want to miss the castle in Oia. Dating to around the 1400s, the castle of Agios Nikolaos served as a fort and lookout during the era of pirates. It fell into ruins from earthquakes, notably one in the 1950s when much of it collapsed into the sea.
Today, the remains host an observation platform with some of the best lookouts of Oia, as you can see both sides of the village and the entire caldera coastline of Santorini from where it juts out into the sea. As such, it’s extremely popular around sunset, when tourists crowd here to capture the perfect shot of the colorful show. In fact, catching the sunset from here is one of the top Oia things to do on many a bucket list.
Shop for Souvenirs
Shopping is one of the top things to do in Oia Santorini on a day trip. Up and down the narrow alleys and along the main sidewalk pathway through town, you’ll see many Oia shops selling everything from kitschy trinkets to fine jewelry. It’s a great place to do some souvenir shopping while enjoying the views and soaking up the village’s buzzing atmosphere.
While there’s plenty of postcards and magnets, you’ll also find art galleries, clothing boutiques and handicraft stores with Greek-made items. From home goods like painted pottery and carved wooden utensils to cotton tunics and leather sandals, there are plenty of ways to empty the wallet.
Lounge Poolside
One of the best Santorini experiences is hanging poolside under the warm sun with a view of the caldera. And plenty of Oia hotels have this luxury on-site, with glistening pools built into the cliffsides.
Those visiting Santorini on a cruise excursion or staying at a budget hotel will have to get creative, though. Enter the Lioyerma Cafe Pool Bar, on the far western end of town near the picturesque windmills. The pool is free to use, but you’ll need to buy some food or drinks to hang out here.
Watch the Santorini Sunset
Nothing beats a Santorini sunset — the island is famous for them. Depending on exactly where you’re stationed come twilight, you’ll see it dipping behind islands and a horizon of the sea.
The Oia sunset is one of the most popular things to do in Santorini, which also means it gets a bit crowded. But it certainly is a must-do at least once while vacationing here.
Many travelers hang out at the castle ruins lookout, where the sunset colors make a colorful backdrop behind the white skyline. But, if you don’t want to be shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers, you might have to get creative and find your own spot along the streets of Oia where there’s a clear view.
Outside of town, places like Imerovigli and Fira offer stunning sunset panoramas of the islands in the middle of the caldera. The Akrotiri Lighthouse on the opposite tip of the island also has clear vistas.
Visit a Bookstore
Bibliophiles will be in heaven at Oia’s darling little literary gem, Atlantis Books. Down a run of stairs, the cave-like space packs bookshelves and piles of novels into every nook and cranny, with inspirational quotes and notes painted here and there on the walls.
The bookshop sells both new and used selections in a handful of languages, as well as some rare and collector items, like a hundreds-of-years-old bible found in a shipwreck. Even if you don’t have the budget for a first edition, it’s a great spot to pick out a unique souvenir — perhaps your favorite fiction in Greek?
On a rooftop deck above the shop, a cozy seating nook and used bookshelf invite some quiet reading time with sea breezes. And the view from up top is pretty photo-worthy, too. This was one of my favorite things to do in Oia that I just stumbled upon.
Swim in Amoudi Bay
If you’re looking for things to do in Oia Santorini on the water, you don’t want to miss Amoudi Bay. A couple of hundred steps down the cliffs from Oia, the waters of the caldera fill the bay, appearing almost turquoise washing over the shallow rocks. With boats bobbing in the water and a handful of breezy eateries serving up fresh seafood, it’s the perfect place to escape the bustle of the village above.
Swimming in the clear water here is a popular Santorini activity, as is cliff jumping from the rock island just offshore. If you visit in the afternoon, stay for a different view of the Oia sunset from down below.
Take a Santorini Photo Tour
Let’s face it, one of the top reasons to visit Oia is to see those postcard-perfect white buildings, the iconic windmills, and some blue-domed churches. The fairytale setting calls to many a traveler, and when you get here, you’re certainly going to want to take a million pictures to remember it all.
That’s why one of the best things to do in Oia Santorini is to embark on a photo tour of the village. You can certainly wander around on your own in search of epic vistas — a few of the famous ones will have lines of tourists waiting for their turn to snap — and it won’t be difficult to find some amazing spots.
Wander the Alleys and Stairs
While Oia can get quite crowded thanks to its idyllic setting, it’s possible to find some spots away from the buzz by getting lost along the narrow alleys and stone stairways. Since most tourists hang out along the main shopping street and around the castle ruins, you can walk up, down, or beyond these spots to discover some hidden gems and small cafes.
Keep in mind, though it might look like a Disney village, there are private residences here so don’t go traipsing on someone’s property for a photo (many physically mark their homes with the word “private,” so it’s clearly a problem).
As you wander, look for all the painted churches, pop into the Maritime Museum, and scout out a place to watch the sunset without the crowds. Just walking around this pristine town is one of the best things to do in Oia Santorini!
