When Is The Best Time To Visit Santorini?

The best time to visit Santorini is during the Greek summer season of May to October. This is when the island receives long, clear, sunny days in which to explore the towns, beaches, vineyards and walking trails. Of course, the summer is also the time when prices rise and tourist numbers increase, so if you want to avoid the crowds, the shoulder season months of May/June and September/October are best.

May is the start of the island ferry season too, so if you're looking to combine your trip to Santorini with some of the other Greek islands, you'll want to visit during the months of May to October. Travelling out of this peak season means you have to stay on each island for around a week and bad weather could mean sailings are cancelled entirely.

Alternatively, if you want to travel to Santorini but don't want to pay peak prices, then you might want to consider visiting in winter. The Greek islands tend to have mild, relatively dry winters, and Santorini can be a great option for an out-of-season weekend break. This will allow you to have a much more peaceful trip, and with direct flights arriving from across Europe year-round, a winter holiday here is definitely doable!

In terms of temperatures, December, January and February are by far the coldest months with temperatures generally in the low teens (and occasionally dropping to single figures), whereas the shoulder season months of March, April, May, October and November tend to see temperatures between 14-21C. Summer temperatures rise throughout June, July and August, with daytime averages around the high 20s. June and September are fantastic months to travel as temperatures are slightly cooler but there's still almost no rainfall at all!

What Is There To Do In Santorini?

Unlike most Greek islands that are famed for their beaches, the volcanic island of Santorini is more about exploring the pristinely-beautiful towns that overlook the caldera. These white-washed towns are ideal for photography, with houses tumbling down the hillside offering incredible views. Two of the main towns are Fire and Oia, and you can even make a day out of visiting them both by following the walking trail between the two known as the Fira-Oia Hike. This walk can be quite challenging during the heat of the summer months, but if you prepare accordingly you can witness some pretty amazing viewpoints along the way!

Santorini is also known for being one of Greece's main winemaking regions, with the fertile volcanic soil aiding great grape production. The vineyards are also special in that the vines here grow in a basket-like formation to protect them from the elements of this windy island. It's therefore definitely worthwhile taking a visit to one of the island's wineries if you want to learn about the wine and try a tipple or two.

Being an island there are, of course, some beaches to explore. But unlike Greek islands like Rhodes or Naxos, these are not white sandy beaches but instead feature craggy coves, black sand and even red rock formations.

When you're not on the beach or snapping shots from the famous town of Oia, you might want to take a boat trip out on the caldera for a different view of the island, explore the smaller villages of Pyrgos and Imerovigli, or discover the churches of Prophet Elias and Agios Ioannis.

What should I know before visiting Santorini?

Over the past decade, Santorini has become one of the busiest islands in the Mediterranean with cruise ships arriving daily throughout the summer months. It's therefore worth pointing out that it might not give you the same laid-back island vibes you may receive elsewhere.

However, Santorini is popular for a reason. This jewel of the Cyclades is one of the best places in the world to watch the sun go down, with the blue domes of Oia and the colourful pastel-hued houses creating the perfect backdrop for a photo shoot. But get there early to stake out the best spot and be prepared to be standing there for a long time while you watch the beauty of the sky unfold before you.

It's also worth noting that Santorini is a relatively small island, so if you don't want to pay the high prices to stay in Oia you can easily stay elsewhere and rent a car or moped to get around. This will give you the freedom to discover the beaches on the other side of the island, visit the volcano and explore the vineyards.

Lastly, it's good to know that Santorini is more suited to a romantic getaway than it is a party weekend, so if you're planning to come to the Greek islands to dance the night away you may want to consider travelling to Mykonos or Ios instead.