Looking for the best day trips from Santorini? We’ve made this blog post just for you, read more and find out!
Santorini is an exotic volcanic island positioned around 120 miles off the south of Greece. Its sunny weather and crystal clear waters make it one of the world’s well-known tourist destinations, which invites tourists from all over the world. Located along the volcanic slopes, the whitewashed houses add to the ideal backdrop of its natural scenery.
The island belongs to the Cyclades archipelago and has a rich history from the Bronze Age. It is an ideal gateway that is positioned away from the daily stress of city life.
From families to romantic couples looking for seclusion, a peaceful break from the hustles and bustles, and the monotony of city life, Santorini is an ideal escape for tourists. It has a lot of beaches and villages for tourists.
Here are some of the day trips from Santorini.
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Best Day Trips from Santorini: Islands & Excursions from Santorini (Greece)
Crete
Lies on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea between the Libyan Sea and the Sea of Crete, Crete is the largest Greek island in the south of the Peloponnese. This island is around 60km wide and 260km long. It has four prefectures, including Rethimno, Chania, Lasithi, and Heraklion.
Crete would surely be one of the favorites if there were a competition between Greek islands for beauty. Some tourists say Crete is the only heaven on earth. This view inspires you to plan your day trip from Santorini to Crete. With over 650,000 residents, Crete is not all about sea, sun, and sand. It is a distinct destination loaded with warmth, vitality, culture, hospitality, and excellent infrastructure.
A day trip to Crete from Santorini is known for its beaches and seas. The island is stretched from fertile plains of the coast to rugged hills and from bustling metro cities to serene and peaceful hillside villages.
Read also: Top 14 Things to do in Santorini
Mykonos
The cosmopolitan city of Mykonos is one of the widely recognized Greek islands and Mecca for travelers. It is among the most visited tourist islands in the Aegean.
Expect loud pubs and discos if you plan a day trip to Mykonos from Santorini. You can have an English breakfast, which includes some bacon, eggs, a few rolls of butter, and some costly merchandise. It is more expensive than the various islands in Greece.
The windmills here are dated back to the early 16th century. The island was a major producer of bread and wheat. It also has pleasant views of Little Venice and is one of the best places for a day trip from Santorini to Mykonos.
Where to stay in Mykonos: Find great deals and book from this link
Read also: Top 15 Best Beaches in Europe to Visit
Paros
The notable Cyclades Island, Paros, is flocked by tourists during summer who are heading to Santorini and Ios. This Greek island is located around Naxos, one of the well-known tourist holiday destinations. It is the second-largest island here, spread over 196 sq km, and its coastline is around 120km long.
It is centrally positioned around Ios, Naxos, Syros, and Sifnos. A lot of ferries stop first at Paros, heading to Santorini and Naxos. It stands third for being the most famous island of the group, followed by Santorini and Mykonos. It is known as one of the most idyllic islands in the Cyclades group. It has a lot of exquisite beaches and villages.
Also, visit the church of 100 doors, Panagia Ekatontapiliani in Parikia, closely located to the harbor, which is a monument dated back to the 4th century and rebuilt after a 1773 earthquake. Initially, it was built by the mother of St. Constantine, St. Helen.
Where to stay in Paros: Find great deals and book from this link
Read also: Top 9 Best Wine Countries in Europe
Are you planning your travels? Here’re my top travel resources!
I’m a serial planner both in life and in travel – I have bucket lists, things to do, see, and everything. So, I always love when my life is sorted easily using tools and resources that would make my general planning a little smoother and easier. Therefore, in my many years of traveling the world, I’ve seen myself returning to these travel resources repeatedly. And here I am, sharing my tips to make your life easy and breezy so you can stress less, travel heaps, and focus on the fun part of travel!
- Booking.com – I book all my hotels through this website and don’t honestly use anything else. They always have the best prices, in my opinion.
- Airbnb – If I’m traveling long-term to one destination, I book my flats through Airbnb.
- Skyscanner – The best place to find cheap flights on flexible dates. I use this a lot to score cheap flights within Europe!
- SafetyWing – Always travel insured! Never leave your home country without one. It is worth the extra money, I promise you!
- GetYourGuide – Hands-down, the best place to find cool and unique tours if you don’t feel like winging it, and go straight to a local expert. I use this a lot in new destinations to get acquainted with the area!
- My Pretty Wild World Travel Diary (coming soon) – A book you can write down your travel plans, create itineraries, track down your budget, and dot down memories along the way! A handy book you can keep and read later to revisit memory lane.
- Pretty Wild World Travel Planning Printables (coming soon) – Are you a nut like me when it comes to planning? Yes? Good. My travel planning resource in one zip file is an easy-to-use printable planner that comes with tips that helps you plan your travels during the planning stage, a pre-flight checklist, an itinerary planner, and so on.
Ios
The Greek island of Ios belongs to the group of Cyclades Islands in the south of Greece. It is located only a quick ferry ride from Santorini. It is the best choice for day trips from Santorini and even an extended holiday. Ios has become an island that has something for tourists of all ages over the past couple of years. It was a party island for many years. But today, there is much more to please tourists of all ages.
In various surveys, it has always been voted for having some of the top 10 European beaches, with turquoise coastlines and sandy beaches spread over 75 km. Typically, Ios has Cycladic architecture as it houses whitewashed complexes perched well on hills and dotted across the valleys. You can still find the bustling nightlife in Ios, something you will not see on other islands. Unlike package resorts, the nightlife here is focused on only one place, Hora.
It has a very cosmopolitan nightlife, which is still traditional. The main square is the meeting point here. Hora is a serene and tranquil Greek village where locals play backgammon and chat in cafes. If nightlife is not your cup of tea, Chora is peaceful and exciting when you visit in the early evening and awash with jewelry and clothing stores, great restaurants, and souvlaki shops.
The Port of Yialos is a great place to get rid of the crowd during the evening. Getting it is also very easy on your trips from Santorini, Greece. You can visit various places on other beaches through regular ferries and buses, where you can explore the peaceful areas and skip the crowds. It has something to offer for people of all age groups. This island is gorgeous and provides an unmatched experience to tourists.
Where to stay in Ios: Find great deals and book from this link
Read also: Islands in Europe: Top 10 Best Island Holidays in Europe to Visit
Naxos
Naxos is the most fertile and largest island in the Cyclades. Agriculture is the primary source of its revenue rather than tourism. Hora is the central town here, also known as Naxos Town, with most of the restaurants and shops visited by tourists.
Along the coast, a lot of beach communities extend from Hora. Portara is the most sought-after landmark of Naxos. It is an iconic landmark built in the 6th century BC gated on the Palatia islet in Naxos harbor.
It is famous for its exotic beaches, where you can enjoy kite surfing and windsurfing. Most of the island’s West Coast is sandy and long with azure and crystal clear waters. It has a great interior with different villages and valleys easily accessible by road.
Where to stay in Naxos: Find great deals and book from this link
Read also: Secret Destinations: Top 13 Natural Wonders of Europe You Must Visit
Anafi
Anafi is still untouched by mass tourism, unlike its volcanic sibling. If you get there, you will not find dazzling nightlife. It is the best place for a laid-back holiday. Legends had it that Anafi was created by Apollo, an ancient god, as a gift to Jason, due to which an alternative derivation has emerged.
It is the ultimate place for recreation instead of being a place for sightseeing. There is not much to explore here, but it still has a few destinations worth visiting.
The Zoodchou Pigis Monastery, on the east of the island, is a serene and small monastery devoted to the Virgin Mary. A road links the monastery and Hora. When heading to the monastery, Kastelli is an ancient and pre-historic settlement, with just a few ruins left here. It still has great views of the sea.
Where to stay in Anafi: Find great deals and book from this link
Read also: Summer in Europe: Top 14 Best Summer Destinations in Europe
Hold up! Have you thought about the importance of travel insurance?
Remember this: anything can happen. Travel is fun, but your health is more important; thus, I always, always, always recommend getting insured during the duration of your trip. I have benefitted from having one multiple times, and it has been covered for thousands of euros!
The latest one is not necessarily “health” related – it was during the peak of the unspeakable terrible C that consumed the world. I was living in Vietnam when I received an email from SafetyWing (my travel insurance) that if I want they’ll fly be back home to Finland as the world goes through a global emergency alert. I flew back fully covered, and dealing with SafetyWing was a breeze despite the roar of people in contact with them trying to get back home.
I can’t highly recommend them enough. Otherwise, I rarely get sick; hence I don’t always need to head to a hospital, but knowing that I have travel insurance makes me feel safe at the very least.
Read my post about why you should get travel insurance for more information. Otherwise, you can get a free quote from SafetyWing – they’re the best, in my opinion.
Rhodes
One of the most fertile and largest Greek Islands, Rhodes, is one of the most frequented tourist attractions. It combines archeological sites, beaches, and an extensive medieval town. It is known to have a suitable climate and usually receives sunny and mild weather. Usually, it is known as one of the Dodecanese.
It has a prolific rock rose named the Island of Roses. Most modern scholars still confuse its ancient theory that its name is derived from a rose. The northern coast of the island is known for its bustling tourist resorts. It has a slower, simpler pace of living and offers tranquil beaches.
Where to stay in Rhodes: Find great deals and book from this link
Read the full blog post: Top 10 Things to do in Rhodes
Folegandros
Are you looking for a serene and spectacular Greek Island where you can escape from the holidaymakers and package tours? Folegandros is the best place to go. It is less about package tourism, mainstream tourist-friendly amenities, and wide roads and more for those looking for an island where they can find peace and seclusion.
You can’t find organized water sports, wild nightlife, and discos here, and you will never be disappointed. After all, the lack of nightlife doesn’t mean a lack of excellent cafes and restaurants on a quiet island. Walk through the hills in peace, and smell the wild thyme, a range of vivid wildflowers, and oregano in the spring.
There is nothing better on this island than tasting some good wine and having a Nice meal. The cuisines here are not gentrified yet like on its nearby islands. Getting here is also easy: you can take the Flying Cat III ferry to arrive 45 minutes from Santorini.
Where to stay in Folegandros: Find great deals and book from this link
Read also: Best Road Trips in Europe: Top 15 European Road Trip Ideas
Heraklion
It is the capital of Crete, the largest Greek island and the principal city here. The archeological museum of Heraklion holds the ruins of the Minoan empire, a 3000 years old civilization that grew around the Minotaur fame, the legendary palace of Knossos, and a well-preserved Venetian wall, Byzantine churches, and the 15th-century fortress.
It receives a mild and favorable Mediterranean climate. It receives hot and dry summer with clear skies. The seasonal breezes often relieve dry and warm days. Here, winters have little rain and are mild, with rare frosts.
Where to stay in Heraklion: Find great deals and book from this link
Read also: Top 20 Cheap European Holiday Destinations and Countries to Visit
What are my favorite travel must-haves?
As a frequent traveler, I’ve learned a lot throughout my years of travel, and there are five items that I always carry with me regardless of where I go and how long the trip is. Here are my five travel must-haves!
- Warm packable jacket – I always carry a light jacket, even when heading to warm countries. There hasn’t been a time I never used it, especially in airports and planes.
- Transparent toiletry bag – I often bring a carry-on if I’m only traveling within Europe for a few days. Life is so much easier to go through security checks with a transparent toiletry bag.
- Kindle Paperwhite – I love a good read and always take my Kindle everywhere. It keeps me entertained during long flights and waiting times.
- Powerbank – I don’t know how I could travel without one! Having a power bank saved me a ton since I carry a lot of electronic devices with me.
- Travel Adapter – I never leave my luggage without a travel adapter! I carry one with me all the time. It is just one of that travel-must haves that doesn’t hurt to have in your bag at all times.
Where to stay in Santorini
Booking.comTours to do in Santorini
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