Oia is a pedestrian-only village, so you won’t be driving inside the town. While most people pair Mykonos and Santorini, I recommend checking out a lesser-known island like Milos or Paros. However, if you are staying in Oia, you’ll be able to tackle most of the things on this list over the course of a few days while still enjoying other parts of the island too. This will give you time to wander through the town, have lunch with a view, and then make your way down to Ammoudi Bay for swimming and dinner at sunset! If you’re not staying in Oia, you should dedicate at least one full day to exploring the entire village. Most rental shops are located in Fira, but you’ll also find a few in Oia. While it is a bit pricey, this private winery tour includes tastings at 3 different local wineries throughout Santorini, as well as transportation, entrance fees, and snacks!
A set of 300 steps allows you to get to Ammoudi directly from Oia's Castle, although the village can also be reached by car. Straight out of a postcard, Oia is certainly the most picturesque village in Santorini – some may even claim it is the prettiest one in Greece! Hundreds of people gather every evening to watch the sun setting above the Aegean Sea and capture the most beautiful sunset in Greece. Oia, pronounced Ia, is the most visited village in Santorini and the second largest after Fira, the island's capital town. At this time the town is crowded with people to watch the spectacle, when the white houses and the caldera catch all the colours of the setting sun for a few seconds. Also traded in the town are agricultural products like honey, wine, capers, and fava beans.
We unfortunately didn’t do a sunset cruise on Santorini since we already had a boat day planned on Milos, and I really regret it! After boarding the boat, you’ll get to visit the famous Red Beach for swimming and snorkeling (gear is included) and then sail around the Santorini coastline. If you do decide to go, you can also wander around to less-packed destinations near the castle ruins for similar views without the crowds! From here, you’ll get an unobstructed view of the sun dipping into the sea, with the white buildings and windmills lighting up in golden hour glow. Plus, the view of Oia right after sunset with the twinkling lights along the caldera is simply magical. We had an incredible dinner at Sunset Ammoudi right on the water’s edge, complete with fresh grilled octopus (a staple), calamari, and traditional Greek wine!
If you don’t get there early enough, however, you can expect to wait up to two hours for a selfie. The churches are located directly on the crater rim and especially at sunrise and in the late afternoon hours they offer a terrific photo motif! In summer, the tourist rush to Oia is correspondingly large and you will only find tranquility in the early morning hours. Therefore, if you pay a visit in July or August, it is recommended to park your car at the very beginning of the village. However, note that it might be hard to find a parking spot during the high season. It offers the opportunity to walk alongside massive volcanic cliffs and enjoy a breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea and the caldera. Its location is the reason it constitutes one of the most popular places to watch the sunset in the entire Aegean Sea.
By Rental Car To Oia
The two-story captains' houses built on the highest part of the village adrian portelli casino app are a reminder of the village's former affluence. The Ancient Greek Oia was one of the two harbours of ancient Thera and was located in the southeast of the island, where Kamari is now. This name still occurs locally as Pano Meria, and the inhabitants are still called Apanomerites (Απανωμερίτες). Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part of the municipality of Santorini, of which it is a municipal unit. I hope you find some inspiration for your next trip on my page! Lana is on a mission to show people you can still travel the world and cross items off your bucket list while working a traditional 9-5 job. Now that you know all the incredible things to do in Oia, make sure to check out my guide on How to Get to Milos to continue planning your Greek Island vacation!
#3 Oia Sunset At Kastro
In 1976 the town was included in the programme for preservation and development of traditional settlements of the Greek National Tourism Organisation under Aris Konstantinidis. There is a ferry connection to Therasia from the harbour village of Ormos Ammoudi (Όρμος Αμμουδιού; also spelled Amoudi) to the west. The small fishing village of Ormos Armeni (Όρμος Αρμένης) lies below Oia to the south and is reached via steps. Oia is a scenic village on the north west edge of the Santorini island within the Cyclades. The epicentre of the strongest aftershock (magnitude 7.2) was located off the northern coast of Santorini.
Unda Food Concept – Small restaurant located on the northern edge of the village with newly interpreted Greek dishes at star level. Cocoon Bar– Trendy restaurant-snack bar not far from the Oia main car park. Many an artist and freelancer has already emigrated from Oia, completely unnerved, and moved to Thirassia’s main town Manolas resettled. In summer, you can stop at one of the taverns or walk along the pier. Once you’ve made it through the narrow alleys filled with crowds, you’ll be able to marvel at three white windmills. If you stop by in the morning hours or for a siesta, you can enjoy the panorama relatively undisturbed.