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The Best Time To Visit Santorini

Having just spent 3 days in Santorini in winter, I’m a huge proponent of visiting Santorini during the off-season to avoid the crowds and get the entire island largely to yourself. Sure, a lot of the island will be closed up, but you’ll avoid those hot summer days and massive crowds. If you’d like to snap photos without hoards of tourists or enjoy a peaceful island getaway with unobstructed, gorgeous Santorini sunset views and cool days around 70 degrees, then winter is the best time of year to visit Santorini. But no matter what time of year you visit, Santorini is gorgeous. Only have time for 1 day in Santorini? Don’t worry, it’s still doable, especially if you visit in the off-season.

Santorini is widely regarded as one of the best Islands to visit around the world. And while summer is a popular time for the island, winter in Santorini is mild with few rainy days and beautiful, blue skies. Granted it’s not the best time for relaxing on the island’s White Sand Beach, Santorini is still perfect in winter. Santorini has a lot more to offer than beaches anyway. There are plenty of things to do to fill your time, and yes, with some careful planning, you can have a fantastic, accessible holiday.

Why Visit Santorini?

If you’re looking to do some island hopping in the Greek islands, Santorini is a must-visit destination. It’s one of the most romantic vacations in Greece. From those famous blue domes and iconic cave houses to the black sand beaches and sunset views over the Castle of Oia, Santorini is even more beautiful than the photos you’ve seen. There are plenty of attractions and activities as well as some truly amazing hotels in Santorini, including some great places to stay in Santorini without a car. Plus, the food… my goodness the food is spectacular!

Santorini is a pretty chill island. If you’re looking for Greek Islands with a party atmosphere, there are better choices, like Mykonos, Kos, Paros, and others. If you are looking to experience the vibes of several of the Greek Islands, it’s easy enough to build out a two week island hopping itinerary in Greece.

This travel guide will give you even more reasons to plan a 3-day Santorini Itinerary and see this gorgeous island yourself.

Is Santorini Wheelchair Accessible?

Santorini’s stairs and rocky terrain can make it difficult for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues. But it is possible to see a lot of the island and have a wonderful time with a little planning. For each of the Santorini activities I list below, I’ve added accessibility info.

There are a lot of amazing places to stay in Santorini. When it comes to hotels a lot of the older hotels operating out of historic buildings are required to conform to the original architecture, meaning there will likely be a ton of stairs. Newer hotels are decidedly more accessible. They are required by law to have a small percentage of wheelchair-accessible rooms, elevators, and ramps if they’re over a certain number of rooms. If you require an accessible room I highly recommend booking well in advance as rooms are limited and sell out quickly. Below are some of the top wheelchair-accessible hotels in Santorini.

Santo Pure (non-caldera, Oia)

Bellonias Villas (Kamari Beach)

West East Suites (caldera, Imerovigli by Skaros Rock)

Aeifos Boutique Hotel (caldera, Imerovigli by Skaros Rock)

Of course, even getting to your hotel from the airport or port can be difficult. I recommend avoiding taxis which are usually just someone’s car with a taxi sign affixed to the top. On my trip, I booked a taxi and was surprised to be thrown into it with three strangers at the airport. It was a very uncomfortable ride, to say the least.

There there is a wheelchair-accessible transfer service on the island. Karavas Travel has wheelchair-accessible vans with ramps. Wheelchair users are able to board the van and travel without having to leave their chairs. They’re available for transfers to and from the port/airport as well as for general island transport.

Facts About Santorini

Santorini Population: 15,500 people

Santorini Winter Weather: Low to mid-60s, with little rain

Santorini Currency; The Euro

Is 3 Days Enough in Santorini?

Santorini is a relatively small island. At only 30 square miles it’s easy to explore in a short amount of time.

If you’re visiting Santorini in the off-season (mid-October through the winter months) you will have the island largely to yourself and will find it easy to snatch up one of those gorgeous cave hotels. Three days will give you plenty of time to experience the island highlights. Even in the summer months during peak season, three days in Santorini is plenty, though you should plan your itinerary in advance as things like boat tours and wine tours book up fast in the peak season.

If you’re just coming to the island to relax and enjoy the gorgeous views and sunny days, three days is also the perfect amount of time year-round.

How to Get to Santorini

If you’ve followed my Greece travel blog adventures, you’ll know I did a whole post on how to get from Athens to Santorini. Long story short, you can either fly or take the ferry. Though in the winter your ferry options may be more limited so flying may be preferable. If you’re looking to save money and don’t mind taking a little more time, the ferry will be the better option.

If you’re interested in taking the ferry, you can purchase tickets below from Blue Star Ferry:

Looking to get to Santorini from Crete? Here’s how to get from Chania to Santorini.

Another option when visiting Santorini is to come on one of the many cruise ships that visit the island.

What to Do In Santorini in Winter

You may have heard that many of the shops and restaurants close during the Santorini winter. While this is true, there are still plenty of shops that remain open and several places to eat and buy groceries. Most of the restaurants open in Mid-April and close in Mid-October. But don’t let that scare you off of visiting Santorini in winter. The pros of doing so far outweigh the cons and you can still find plenty of things to do in Santorini in winter.

Wine Tasting

Santorini receives very little rain and has year-round great weather, making it an ideal place for wine. If you fancy a little boozy afternoon, Santorini wine tours are a great option. There are several wheelchair-accessible wineries in Santorini.

Hatzidakis Winery: Located in Pyrgos, the parking, restroom, and all facilities are accessible by wheelchair. You can take a guided tour of the facilities with all tasting appointments.

Santo Wines: Also located in Pygos, the parking lot, wine bar, deli shop, entrance, tasting area, and restrooms are wheelchair accessible. The tasting area also offers some gorgeous caldera views. However, the restaurant and winery production areas are not accessible due to stairs.

Estate Argyros: Located in Episkopi Gonia, Estate Argyros is entirely wheelchair accessible including the wine tasting room, production area, vineyards, and parking areas.

Vassaltis Vineyards: Located in Vourvoulos, visitors should know the tasting room is accessible by wheelchair but the path from the parking area to the tasting room is cobbled which may be difficult for some. The restaurant is wheelchair-accessible but reservations are recommended.

I also recommend the Wheelchair-Accessible Santorini Sunset Wine Tour.

Wine not your thing? Try the Wheelchair-Accessible Santorini Brewery Tour With Beer Tasting and Optional Meal.

Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral

The Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral is Santorini’s most recognizable church. The beautiful building is a great spot for snapping photos. I will warn you, and I can’t believe I have to say this, but there are signs up everywhere asking people not to climb on holy buildings. Yet I repeatedly saw tourists doing so. Please don’t climb on the churches. Stick to taking your photos on the ground.

Address: Ipapantis, Thira 847 00, Greece

Oia Castle

The Oia Castle sunset views cannot be beaten. Seeing the remains of this 15th-century Venetian fort is one of the top things to do in Oia and on the island as a whole. This is also the best viewing point on the island for that romantic Greek sunset. Although, word of warning, there is no wheelchair-accessible path to get there. On day 2 of my trip, I braved the stairs and made my way down the hill. Getting down wasn’t as much of an issue as making the climb back up with little daylight. If you have chronic pain or mobility issues that worsen when climbing stairs, I would urge you to view the castle from the above walkway and skip the climb down the hill.

To get the best views book your stay at Art Maison Oia Castle.

Address:

Akrotiri Archaeological Site

Believe it or not, the Akrotiri Archaeological site is one of the most accessible parts of Santorini. It’s also one of the island’s most important cultural locations. When you visit, you do so under shelter in a climate-controlled area with wide wood-planked walkways and ramps throughout the facility. If you book a tour, a guide will walk you through the site and explain the history of Santorini, including the volcanic eruption that lead to the formation of the island. There are also self-guided audio tours available.

I recommend the Wheelchair-Accessible Akrotiri Prehistoric City Guided Tour

Address: Thera 847 00, Greece

Fira to Oia Hike

If you’re physically up to a great hike, there’s none better than the Fira to Oia hike. This 10km long hike takes you through Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, Finikia, and Oia. The trail offers stunning views and isn’t difficult or dangerous. But it may be too strenuous for those with mobility issues.

Even if you aren’t up for a hike, I highly recommend visiting Fira the capital of Santorini.

Perivolos and Perissa Beach Santorini

While winter is hardly the best time to hang out on the black sand beach, or take a dip in the sea at Perivolos and Perissa beaches, it’s still a good time to take a stroll down the accessible walkways located alongside the sea. There will even be a few shops open to do some souvenir shopping or grab a bite to eat.

Tours of Santorini

If you want to relax and let someone else do the driving, and not have to hike up hills, purchasing a private tour can be an excellent option. There are a few wheelchair-accessible tour companies in Santorini. This is also a great option for those with mobility issues as these tours avoid the island’s many, many stairs, hills, and cobblestone paths.

Karavas (the transportation company recommended above) offers a wonderful 5-hour Private Wheelchair Accessible Santorini Tour. Customizable stops include places like Oia and its breathtaking caldera views, the village of Megalochori, The Museum of Ancient Thera, wine tasting, a volcanic black sand beach, and the Archaeological site at Akrotiri.

Another great company for touring Santorini, Santorini Experts, offers a 4-hour Private tour featuring panoramic views of Santorini. The tour is wheelchair accessible and specifically designed to bypass the island’s many steps. Highlights of the tour include the black sand beaches of Akrotiri, a winery visit, views from the villages of Oia and Firostefani, and other mountaintop views.

The final company offering wheelchair accessible tours of the island is Disabled Access Travel, offering a 5-hour private tour of Santorini. Highlights include the village of Megalochori, visits to the cliff towns of Fira and Oia, and optional add ons for the Museum of Prehistoric Thera and Ammoudi Bay.

Kamari Beach

If you’re visiting outside of the winter season and want to enjoy the beach, Kamari beach has a mechanical sea-access ramp to carry wheelchair users from the sandy beach into the sea. If you’re visiting in winter, it’s still a pretty area to stroll by and appreciate the seaside views.

Only You can Choose The Best Time To Go To Santorini

There really is no one best time to go to Santorini Greece. But I hope I’ve done a good job of convincing you of the benefits of visiting in winter. A lot of travel guides will try to sell you on the benefits of visiting in the peak months, but in order to make your Greece travel plans with ease and accessibility, I highly recommend booking three days in Santorini in winter. Unless you’re a beach bum who wants to soak up the sun, the Santorini weather is spectacular in fall/ winter. I found it very much akin to the weather in Los Angeles or San Diego at that time of year, sunny, free from rain, and temperatures in the 60s. Booking tours and excursions is also far easier during the off-season and you’ll be able to snap much better photographs.