Best Day Trips from Santorini

By the Klemio team · Updated June 7, 2026

Santorini is small, but its day trips are not equal. Some are simple Fira bus runs. Some are boat days. A few only work when the ferry schedule gives you a clean same-day return.

Treat Fira as the transport hub. Most KTEL bus routes run through Fira, Athinios is the main ferry port, and caldera boats may leave from the Old Port below Fira, Athinios, or Ammoudi depending on the route.

My verdict: do one volcano or Thirassia boat day, one proper archaeology day, and only add another island if you are willing to let ferry times control the day.

1. 1

   Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni

   about 15 to 30 min by boat to Nea Kameni on many caldera routes

   This is the Santorini boat day I would pick first. Nea Kameni puts you on the volcanic island inside the caldera, so the island's shape starts to make sense under your feet. Most routes also stop near Palea Kameni for a swim in warm, mineral-stained water. The catch is simple: it is exposed, dusty, and fairly managed. Go for the geology and the caldera angles, not a lazy beach mood.

   Getting there: Use a caldera boat trip leaving from the Old Port below Fira, Athinios, or Ammoudi, depending on the operator and season. Confirm the departure point before you pay, because the Old Port, Athinios, and Ammoudi are completely different logistics.

   Best for: First-timers who want the volcano story, boat time, and caldera views in one day.

   Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni guide
   
2. 2

   Thirassia

   about 10 to 15 min by local boat from Ammoudi to Riva, longer on a caldera cruise

   Thirassia is the day I would choose when Santorini starts to feel too polished. From Manolas you look back at Oia and Fira, which flips the famous view around and makes the main island feel a little absurd. It is quieter, rougher around the edges, and slower. That is not a flaw. That is the reason to go.

   Getting there: Take the small local boat from Ammoudi Bay to Riva when the current timetable is running. Summer usually brings a few daily crossings, while off-season service can be thin, so check before building a day around it. From Riva, go up to Manolas by foot or local transport if available. The easier but less independent version is a volcano and Thirassia boat excursion.

   Best for: Slow walkers, long lunches, and anyone who wants a break from Santorini's stage-managed side.

   

3. 3

   Akrotiri and Red Beach

   about 20 to 30 min by KTEL bus from Fira to Akrotiri, then extra time to Red Beach

   Akrotiri is the strongest cultural day trip on the island. The Bronze Age town was preserved under volcanic ash, and the streets and building remains make the eruption feel specific instead of mythic. Red Beach nearby is dramatic, but I would treat it as a look-and-photo stop. The access is rough, rockfall warnings are real, and the beach can feel tight once people settle in.

   Getting there: Take the KTEL bus from Fira toward Akrotiri, or drive. Visit the archaeological site first, then continue by road toward Red Beach and walk the final rough section only if conditions look sensible. From Oia or Imerovigli, expect to change buses in Fira. Archaeological site hours change by season and closures can happen, so check the official schedule before going.

   Best for: History first, photos second, swimming only if the sea, path, and cliff area look safe.

   Akrotiri and Red Beach guide
   
4. 4

   Ancient Thera, Kamari, and Perissa

   about 20 to 40 min by bus from Fira to Kamari or Perissa, then a steep walk or road transfer to Mesa Vouno

   Ancient Thera is less immediately readable than Akrotiri, but the setting is better. The ruins sit high on Mesa Vouno between Kamari and Perissa, with sea on both sides and wind doing half the storytelling. Pair it with a black-sand beach afterward. The downside is the access. In heat, strong wind, or midday sun, this is work, not a casual wander.

   Getting there: Take a KTEL bus from Fira to Kamari or Perissa. From Kamari, use a taxi or transfer up the access road if available, or walk. From Perissa, the route is a steep footpath. Check the site's current opening pattern before climbing up, because this is not a place you can count on entering late in the day.

   Best for: Travelers who like ruins with a view and do not mind earning the best part.

   Ancient Thera, Kamari, and Perissa guide
   
5. 5

   Oia, Imerovigli, and the Caldera Walk

   about 10 to 35 min by bus from Fira to rim villages, or about 3 to 5 hr for the full Fira to Oia walk

   Oia is crowded, and it is still worth seeing once. The trick is to avoid making sunset there your whole personality for the day. The better version is the caldera rim: Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, Skaros Rock, then onward to Oia if your legs are still in the conversation. The views are huge, but the walk gives them pacing.

   Getting there: Walk north from Fira along the caldera path, detouring to Skaros Rock from Imerovigli if the path and weather are good. Return by KTEL bus from Oia to Fira. Bring water, especially after Imerovigli, where useful stops become less dependable.

   Best for: Big views, walkers, photographers, and people who want Oia without giving Oia the whole day.

   Oia, Imerovigli, and the Caldera Walk guide
   
6. 6

   Ios

   about 35 min to 1 hr 50 min by ferry from Athinios, depending on the vessel

   Ios is the island hop I would try before Naxos if you only have one day. It is close enough to work when ferries line up, Chora has a proper Cycladic feel without Santorini's constant posing, and Mylopotas gives you the sandy beach day Santorini does not really deliver. Its party reputation is earned, but daytime Ios is more useful than that label suggests.

   Getting there: Take a direct ferry from Santorini's Athinios port to Ios, then use the local bus or a taxi to Chora and Mylopotas. Do not wing the return. Only go when the same-day ferry schedule gives you enough time ashore and enough margin back at Athinios.

   Best for: Beach time, a different Cycladic town, and the simplest serious island hop in high season.

   

7. 7

   Naxos Town

   about 1 hr to 2 hr 30 min by ferry from Athinios

   Naxos is the stretch pick. The port is close to the old town, the Portara, lanes, cafes, and nearby swimming, so a focused day can work. Still, Naxos is a real island, not a side quest, and a day trip only skims it. I would do it for a taste of a more lived-in Cycladic island. I would not do it if watching the clock annoys you.

   Getting there: Take a direct Santorini to Naxos ferry from Athinios and keep the day tight: Naxos Town, the Portara, and a nearby beach if the timing allows. Same-day returns vary by season, so check live ferry times before committing.

   Best for: Travelers who want a proper town, better beach options, and do not mind a ferry-shaped day.

   

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