Spending 2 days in Santorini is an excellent choice because Santorini is one of Greece’s most spectacular islands. For many people, Santorini’s marvellous scenery is representative of the Greek islands. Did you know that Santorini is also home to some of the best Venetian architecture in Greece? The Venetians had a considerable influence here, and the island’s whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches make for incredible photo opportunities.
Visitors adore Santorini because of the plethora of restaurants, bars and shops in Fira. But it also has great hiking opportunities, unique beaches and archaeological history, not to mention idyllic and romantic sunsets from Oia. The island has a lot to see and do, so it is a good idea to create a Santorini itinerary. This article will show you the best ways to spend 2 days in Santorini.
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Table of Contents
Two Days in Santorini: Where to stay?
Canaves Oia Boutique Hotel: If you want to stay in a world-class hotel, visit the Canaves Oia Boutique Hotel. You’ll marvel at the incredible facilities, including a stunning outdoor pool with views, a gourmet restaurant, a wine cellar, and gorgeous Cycladic architecture. Perfect for your Santorini itinerary. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
Studios Apartments Kapetanios: If you want a hotel to soak in the gorgeous Greek summer sun, you’ll love the sun terrace at Studios Apartments Kapetanios. These apartments offer outstanding facilities, such as flat-screen TVs, balcony views, and private bathrooms. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
Costa Marina Villas: The Costa Marina Villas offer a fantastic location next to the central square of Fira. Visitors love the great rooms, including air conditioning, fridges, electric kettles, and free WiFi in all rooms, a superb, relaxing hotel for your Santorini 2 day itinerary. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
How to spend 2 days in Santorini, A detailed itinerary
Santorini in 2 days: Day One
Archaeological Site of Akrotiri
There’s no better way to start your 2 days in Santorini than visiting the heart of Santorini’s ancient history. Visitors love the ancient ruins of Akrotiri which date back to the bronze age. Akrotiri was a fishing and farming village that used to produce olives and grains.
However, because it was on the main trade route between Europe and the Middle East, the area prospered and became a wealthy port city. Volcanic ash destroyed the site, leading to the nickname ‘Greek Pompeii.’ The eruption was one of the largest eruptions in world history, leading to a 100-metre tsunami that destroyed much of Ancient Greece.
Red Beach
Your Santorini itinerary wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Red Beach. It is a marvellous beach with a spectacular red colour caused by the red and black volcanic rocks from the headlands.
As well as being one of the most unique beaches on the planet, it has many sunbeds and deckchairs that offer a place to relax or have a swim in the refreshing sea. Plus, there are some great snorkelling spots to check out!
Explore Emporio Village and Pyrgos Village
Emporio is the largest village of Santorini. It is in the southern part of the island and a must-see on your day 1 Santorini itinerary. The village is a classically quaint Greek village with cafes, bars, and houses.
You should also explore Pyrgos village which used to be the capital of Santorini. It is one of the best medieval settlements on the island and has an unspoiled charm. Visitors love the village’s excellent panoramic views, some of the island’s best scenery.
Better still, it isn’t one of the most touristic parts of the island, so you can enjoy a more subdued, less commercialized part of Santorini.
Sunset Catamaran Cruise
The Sunset Catamaran Cruise is an excellent five-hour cruise offering guests incredible scenery around the island. You’ll enjoy the barbeque supper with wine and the superb sunset. And be sure to jump in and snorkel around White Beach and Red Beach. You will also see the volcano and the hot springs.
The cruise includes photo stops at the Black Mountain, Indian Rock, and the Old Lighthouse.
Click here for more information and to book your cruise.
2 Days in Santorini: Day Two
Cruise the Volcano
A Santorini 2 day itinerary wouldn’t be complete without exploring the island’s incredible volcano. The cruise to the Volcano will take you to the Caldera Region so you can hike to the volcano. Plus, you’ll see Thirassia and Oia villages, with the chance to take a dip in the hot springs.
Click here for more information and to book your cruise.
If you are not interested in hiking to the volcano I suggest a wine tasting tour to the islands famous wineries.
Wine Tasting
Did you know that Santorini is famous for its wine? If you love wine tasting, you should try the Santorini Half-Day Wine Adventure Tour, you’ll love tasting the different grape varieties from some of the best wineries on the island.
The tour offers a selection of 12 different wines from the island. But you’ll also get to enjoy some of the island’s best local cheeses and snacks. You’ll even get wine tasting tips from an English-speaking wine expert.
Click here for more information and to book a wine tasting tour.
Explore Fira
If you have 2 days in Santorini, you’ll want to explore Fira. It is the capital of Santorini, and the area offers fantastic shopping, eating, and drinking. You’ll also love the incredible views from Fira.
One of the main attractions in Fira is the Museum of Prehistoric Thera. The museum is opposite the bus station and shows visitors incredible excavations from Akrotiri, such as paintings, ceramics, and the notorious glowing gold ibex figurine.
Explore Oia
Oia is the most famous village in Santorini; it is a must-see on a Santorini itinerary. Visitors love the hills’ incredible views, offering fantastic scenery of the white buildings and the Aegean Sea.
But Oia isn’t just beautiful Greek architecture. You’ll find the majestic Amoudi Bay offering crystal blue waters, cliff jumping spots, and even excellent bars and restaurants to relax in once you’ve swum.
Watch the Sunset in Oia
Oia is famous for the most incredible sunsets in Greece. Have you ever seen the pictures of the sunset over Santorini? Chances are that it was in Oia. It is a phenomenal way to end your 2 days in Santorini itinerary.
Practical Information for your 2 day Santorini Itinerary
When is the time to visit Santorini
Santorini is very busy during peak season. It’s a world-class travel hotspot, so it gets super crowded between June and August. If the crowds don’t bother you, and you like hot weather, you’ll enjoy visiting at this time of the year.
Alternatively, if you visit in either May or September and October, you’ll avoid the big crowds and still get some hot weather. Temperatures average 26°C during this period. You won’t need to bring your winter coat, and it will be more bearable than peak season. Plus, the sea is warmer and offers better swimming opportunities.
Alternatively, if you want to avoid the crowds and the cruise ships altogether and you are not interested in swimming, winter is a great time to visit Santorini.
How to Get From Santorini Airport to Fira and Oia
Santorini Airport to Fira
Getting from Santorini Airport to Fira is relatively easy because it is only 7km. There are various options, including a taxi, a bus, and hire a car. The fastest but most expensive option is to take a cab. It takes around 25 minutes, but you’ll pay upwards of 30 euros.
Alternatively, you can catch the bus, but it will take around 80 minutes, including an hour’s waiting time. In the summer months, that will get frustrating. But it is only 1.70 euros, perfect for those on a budget.
Santorini Airport to Oia
The distance between Santorini Airport and Oia is around 16km. You can catch the shared shuttle bus, and the journey takes approximately 45-minutes. It is the cheapest option at about 15 euros, but it might be a long journey depending on how many stops need to happen along the way.
Alternatively, you can catch a taxi, but the fare starts at around 50 euros and is way more expensive than the shuttle bus. However, the journey will take approximately 12-minutes, around half of the time it takes on the shuttle bus.
Lastly, you can get to Oia by bus but you will need first to get to Fira where you will change bus to Oia.
My recommendation is a private transfer. Welcome Pickups are an excellent way to arrive in Santorini. You’ll get a personal taxi driver, with only a 20-minute gap between transfers, offering an efficient way to get to your accommodation from Santorini Airport.
Click here for more information and to book your private transfer.
How to get around Santorini
If you’re spending 2 days in Santorini, you’ll want to get around fast. So let’s look at some of the best options.
Hire a Car: Hiring a car is effortless in Santorini. It gives you unlimited freedom to explore the island without having to worry about catching a bus or taxi. However, traffic can be massive during peak season, and you might struggle to find spaces to park during these months.
But the island is small, the largest drive you’ll take is 30 to 35-minutes. Therefore, it is probably the best option if you want to experience the best of the island on a 2 day Santorini itinerary.
Bus: Santorini does have an extensive bus system. The main benefits are not worrying about driving, parking, and the bus is super cheap.
However, buses can be infrequent to the smaller towns. If you’re on a Santorini for 2 days, you’ll probably be waiting around too much. Ideally, you want to get about fast and see as much as you can.
Taxis: Taxis are an excellent way to get around the island. They are fast, efficient, and take away the stress of driving or the annoyance of waiting for buses. However, they can be costly during peak season. You must make sure that the taxi meter is on, and never pay more than 25 euros for a journey, otherwise, your driver is overcharging you.
Unfortunately, there are no UBER or Lyft in Santorini.