Best day trips from Santorini: 10 things to do

Volcano boat days, Thirassia, Akrotiri and Red Beach, wine villages, and ambitious Ios or Amorgos ferries — independent island loops from Santorini.

Santorini is a small island, so “day trips” here mean something slightly different than on the mainland: boat days out to the volcano and neighboring islets, half- or full-island loops by bus or rental vehicle, and the occasional ferry hop to a bigger island nearby. None of these routes are long by Greek standards, but the caldera’s geography — steep cliffside paths, winding roads, and a harbor accessible mainly by boat or cable car — shapes how each one works. This guide covers the independent (DIY) version of each trip. For boat and tour packages that handle the logistics for you, see the companion Santorini day trips with guided tours. Pair either approach with the Santorini destination guide for where to base yourself on the island.

How to day-trip independently from Santorini

A hired car or ATV earns its keep on Santorini, mainly for reaching the black-sand beaches on the south and east coasts, the quieter wine villages inland, and Akrotiri, none of which are quick on foot from Fira. Public buses run reasonably well along the main Fira–Oia–Kamari–Perissa corridors and are a fine, cheaper option if your day sticks to those towns, but service thins out to the more remote south-coast villages and stops earlier in the evening than you might expect. Anything involving the volcano, the neighboring islet of Thirassia, or a run to another island requires a boat — there is no road option. Book sunset-timed boat tours and catamaran cruises early in high season, since the best-timed departures sell out days ahead in July and August, and wear proper shoes for the caldera’s steep cliffside paths and the volcanic gravel underfoot at Nea Kameni.

• Book volcano boat trips and sunset catamaran cruises a few days ahead in July–August — the best-timed departures sell out first
• A rental ATV or small car is the easiest way to reach Red Beach, Perissa, Perivolos, and the inland wine villages in one day
• Buses cover Fira–Oia–Kamari–Perissa well, but check the last return time before heading to a smaller south-coast village
• Wear closed shoes with grip for the volcanic crater at Nea Kameni and the steep caldera-side paths near Fira and Oia

1. Nea Kameni volcano and hot springs

Small boats leave regularly from the old port below Fira (reachable by cable car, donkey, or a steep walk down the caldera path) and from Athinios port, reaching the volcanic islet of Nea Kameni in about 20–30 minutes. A short, dusty hike across the crater rim brings you to steaming vents and a close-up view of the youngest land in the Aegean, formed by eruptions as recent as the 1950s. Most boats continue on to the nearby hot springs, where a swim in the sulfur-tinted, mineral-warmed water just offshore is the reward for the walk — bring an old swimsuit, since the mineral color can stain fabric.

2. Thirassia island

Thirassia sits just across the caldera from Santorini and was once physically joined to it before the ancient eruption split the two apart. Local boats and some volcano-tour itineraries stop here, and a handful of ferries run direct from Santorini’s old port. The island has no real tourist infrastructure — a few tavernas around the small harbor at Korfos and a quiet hilltop village above — which is exactly the appeal: a genuinely undeveloped, low-key contrast to Santorini’s cliffside towns, best paired with a volcano or caldera boat day rather than visited alone.

3. Akrotiri archaeological site and Red Beach

Akrotiri, on the island’s southern tip, is a remarkably preserved Bronze Age settlement buried by the same eruption that shaped the modern caldera — a covered site with multi-story buildings and frescoes that earned it the nickname “the Minoan Pompeii.” Buses run from Fira, though a rental car or ATV makes the day easier since Red Beach, named for its dramatic rust-colored volcanic cliffs, is only a short drive or a hot 15–20 minute walk from the archaeological site’s parking area. Go early to beat both the midday heat and the tour-bus crowds at Red Beach.

4. Perissa and Perivolos black-sand beach day

Perissa and the adjoining Perivolos, on the southeast coast beneath the cliffs of Ancient Thera, are Santorini’s longest and most developed black-sand beaches, with a walkable strip of beach clubs, tavernas, and sunbeds running between the two. Buses from Fira take about 30 minutes and run frequently in high season, or drive down in 20 minutes with your own wheels. This is the easiest pure beach day on the island, and the volcanic sand genuinely gets hot underfoot by midday, so bring sandals for the walk down to the water.

5. Kamari beach and the Ancient Thera hike

Kamari, on the same southeast coast as Perissa but a short drive or bus ride further north, pairs a similar black-sand beach and promenade with one of the island’s best short hikes: a steep trail up Mesa Vouno mountain to the ruins of Ancient Thera, a Hellenistic-era hilltop city with sweeping views back down over both Kamari and Perissa. Start the hike early to avoid the worst of the midday sun on the exposed, shadeless climb, then reward yourself with a swim and lunch back at beach level.

6. Wine route: Pyrgos, Megalochori, and the island’s wineries

Santorini’s volcanic soil produces genuinely distinctive wines, especially the crisp, mineral Assyrtiko whites grown in low, basket-shaped vines that wrap along the ground to shield the grapes from island winds. A self-driven loop through the hillside villages of Pyrgos and Megalochori — both quieter and less crowded than Fira or Oia, with their own castle ruins and narrow lanes — strung between two or three wineries for tastings makes for an easy, unhurried inland day that skips the caldera-view crowds entirely. A car or ATV is close to essential here, since the wineries sit spread out across the island’s interior with limited bus service between them.

7. Oia full day from a Fira base

If you are staying in or near Fira, a full day in Oia is an easy, low-effort trip: buses run frequently along the caldera-edge road in about 30 minutes, or a taxi covers the same distance faster at a higher price. Oia’s blue-domed churches and whitewashed lanes are Santorini’s most photographed corner, and while the town gets genuinely crowded for its famous sunset, arriving well before midday lets you explore the quieter lanes, the small Maritime Museum, and Ammoudi Bay’s cliffside seafood tavernas before the evening rush.

8. Ios or Amorgos ferry day (ambitious)

High-speed ferries connect Santorini to nearby Cycladic islands, and a day trip to Ios (roughly 30–45 minutes each way) or the further, quieter Amorgos (around 1.5–2 hours each way) is possible for travelers who want a taste of another island without an overnight stay. This is genuinely ambitious as a single day, especially for Amorgos — check the return schedule carefully before booking, since a missed last ferry means an unplanned overnight, and Ios in particular suits a beach-and-harbor-town pace rather than a packed sightseeing list.

9. Anafi (long and quiet)

Anafi, a small, sparsely populated island a couple of hours by ferry from Santorini, is for travelers chasing genuine quiet rather than convenience — a handful of beaches, one real village, and a hilltop monastery with almost no crowds. Ferry frequency is limited and schedules shift seasonally, so this only works as a day trip on the right sailing days; confirm both outbound and return times before committing, since there is no fallback transport off the island.

10. Catamaran caldera cruise: booking it yourself vs a package

A caldera cruise by catamaran or sailboat — typically combining a stop at the volcano, the hot springs, Thirassia, and a sunset viewing from the water — can be booked independently through local operators at the old port, usually at a lower price than a bundled package, but with less certainty about boat quality, group size, and what is actually included (some independent operators skip meals or charge extra for snorkeling gear). If you would rather compare vetted options with clear inclusions and reviews before paying, the guided version below makes that easier.

Self-drive vs guided day trips

Choose DIY with a rental ATV or car for Akrotiri and Red Beach, Perissa and Perivolos, Kamari and Ancient Thera, and the wine route through Pyrgos and Megalochori — all straightforward with your own wheels and light on crowds outside peak hours. Buses alone work well for a Fira-to-Oia day. Lean toward a guided or packaged boat trip for the volcano and hot springs, Thirassia, and any catamaran caldera cruise, where a set boat, timed stops, and often food and snorkeling gear included beat sorting out independent boat operators at the old port. Treat Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi as special cases that depend entirely on the day’s ferry schedule. If you are building a longer visit, see the 3-day Santorini itineraries for how these routes fit around a fuller stay, and pair either approach with the Santorini destination guide for where to stay.