10 Best Things To Do In Santorini

Santorini rises from the Aegean like a half-sung lullaby shaped by fire, salt, and time. The island is a crescent of quiet miracles: cliffside homes sketched in white and blue, churches with domes that look like sky-bound eyes, and sunsets that drip from the hands of the gods. Every path, stairwell, and breeze carries a sense of longing and beauty. It’s the kind of place that feels like a memory the moment you arrive.

You’ll hear her name whispered in travel dreams and honeymoon plans, in postcards and wine labels, but Santorini is more than just the pictures. She’s the scent of lemon in the wind – the light dancing on the water. And the best way to meet her is through experience. After a boat ride, a cliff walk, and a golden afternoon, she’ll enter your soul and stay with you forever.

Sail the Caldera

To understand Santorini, you must see her from the sea. We love Spiridakos Sailing Cruises for their catamaran journeys around the caldera’s rim. The island’s volcanic past is revealed through its jagged cliffs and hidden coves. 

Their semi-private sunset tour will take you on a dreamy voyage past Red Beach, White Beach, and the volcanic islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni. Then, you can swim in warm sulfur springs, snorkel in crystalline waters, and toast the evening with a glass of local wine as the sun dips into the sea.

The boat also glides silently beneath the cliffs of Oia, a place where everything will feel suspended: your worries, your schedule, the whole world. With meals cooked onboard, warm hospitality, and soft Aegean breezes at your back, the experience will feel like more than a tour. It will become a memory in your mind, stitched together in sunlight and sea foam.

Watch the Sunset from Oia’s Castle Ruins

The light in Santorini lingers, thick and gold, before giving way to dusk. The most coveted spot to enjoy this daily miracle is at the Byzantine Castle Ruins in Oia. As the sun lowers over the caldera, the village flushes pink and amber, the rooftops glow, and the sea opens its arms to embrace the last of the day.

We should tell you that the crowds gather early, pressed shoulder to shoulder along the walls, holding their breath for the final shimmer. But, even with company, the moment still feels intimate. (Stick around for the applause, as well.) When the light fades and the streets begin to empty, Santorini will still be whispering to you in the hush of footsteps and quietly clinking glasses.

Dine Cliffside at Metaxi Mas

If those clinking glasses put you in the mood for a meal, we have to tell ya: no visit to Santorini is complete without a visit to Metaxi Mas. Tucked into the village of Exo Gonia, Metaxi Mas sits pretty as a picture in a restored stone building with a terrace overlooking fields and sea. 

Their dishes draw from both Cretan and Santorinian traditions, so you can look forward to fava with caramelized onions, tender lamb in lemon sauce, and baked white cheese drizzled with honey. We recommend making a reservation (and arriving ready to eat). As night falls and the candles flicker, you’ll taste the island in every bite. 

Taste the Island at Santo Wines

Another dazzling delight for the senses is the island’s local wine. Santorini’s soil is tough – it’s volcanic, wind-swept, and dry. Yet, surprisingly, out of this raw earth grows something extraordinary. 

One of our favorite wineries is Santo Wines. It’s perched on a caldera cliff near Pyrgos, and you can sample the island’s most celebrated vintages while gazing out at the blue below. Their Assyrtiko, in particular, is crisp and mineral-rich, offering a taste of sunbaked vines and sea air.

You can book a tasting flight and sip your way through their white, rosé, and sweet Vinsanto while nibbling on local cheeses and tomato paste. As the sun begins to set, the terrace will turn gold and the wine will warm your heart. In a place shaped by fire, it’s amazing how much softness you can still feel throughout all these cliffs.