The Best Things to Do in and Around Oia, Santorini

Find a perch among the ruins, and trace the sun’s arc as it dips below the horizon. The ruins of this Venetian castle – only the watchtower is still intact – provide the perfect vantage point to take in the golden hour. Be warned: if you’re after peaceful serenity, you won’t find it here. To avoid the crowds, you’ll need to seek out a space lower down the hillside, or book a table at one of many restaurants with a similar view.

Forget swim-up bars – how about some swim-up seafood? Descend the 300 steps down from Oia to the distinctive, bulbous red cliffs of Ammoudi Bay. Fish tavernas line the waterside, serving the day’s catch including fresh octopus; look for lines of them drying in the sun. Head beyond the harbour, and follow the trail along the rocks to reach a favourite sheltered swim spot. Protected from swells by a small island and surrounded by clear, aqua blue waters, it’s the perfect spot to cool off.

For those that believe Kindles are inherently flawed because you can’t bend the pages down to mark your spot, behold, a magical book emporium awaits. Located in Oia, the floor-to-ceiling shelves of Atlantis Books positively groan with the sheer number of books in English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Chinese and, of course, Greek. Founded by a bunch of university graduates from Cyprus, England and the US, who drove from England in 2004 to open its doors, the group “found a dog and a cat, an empty building, drank some whiskey and signed a lease.” Today, it’s something of a Santorini institution.

Fruity, yet bursting with minerality. When you sip a glass of Domaine Sigalas wine, you’re really tasting Santorini itself. Grapes grown by this winery just outside of Oia benefit from a terroir unique to the island. Old vines of native Greek grapes (Assyrtiko, Athiri and Aidani for white grapes, Mandilaria and Mavrotragano for red grapes) grow from volcanic soils in intense sunshine, cooled by salt-rich sea breezes. Book a tasting on the patio beneath vine-covered pergolas, and beat the crowds to an Oia sunset view.

Santorini’s three blue domes are some of the island’s most photographed features – that is if you discount influencers draped precariously over the edge of infinity pools. While the church domes stand out on Oia’s skyline, it can be a little tricky to find the best spot to photograph them. From Oia’s main square, walk towards the Bulgari shop sign, follow the path downwards towards a brown door, and then follow the path down from there. Voilà.

Pack your hiking boots, stamina and a whole lot of water. Santorini is not exactly known for being flat, as you’ll discover on this 10km (6mi) journey to Fira. The path passes through the villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli; climbing high above the caldera, you’ll be rewarded with far-reaching views across the island. However, take the route in the direction from Fira to Oia and you are guaranteed both more downhill sections of the walk, and impressive views of Oia as you descend. Start early in the morning to avoid the heat.

Bite into the hot, fried goodness of feta, red onion, flour and, of course, tomatoes, seasoned with mint, oregano and parsley. This uniquely Santorinian dish is perhaps best done by Kyprida, a hidden gem that serves up authentic Greek and Mediterranean fare, made using fresh organic ingredients. Book the roof terrace for, again, a less-crowded version of those famous sunset views, accompanied by comforting home-cooked cuisine.

Choose an adjective. Nay, pick a few. Tranquil, unspoilt, quaint, back-in-time. Each one can be used to describe this small island, often referred to as Santorini’s little – and less discovered – sister. Separated from Santorini by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, and relatively untouched by tourism, Therasia is now home to only a few hundred people. However, it has the same beautiful architecture and natural beauty. Catch the ferry to the main town of Manolas, and stop for a cold glass of wine at one of the waterside tavernas, topped by windmills.