Santorini is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, and for a good reason. Its sweeping and dramatic caldera views, breathtaking sunsets, and iconic blue domed churches have contributed to its reputation as a bucket list travel destination. However, while photos of Santorini on social media can make it appear to be a picture perfect destination, a lot of tourists are disappointed when they arrive and are greeted with crowds so packed they can hardly move. If you’re planning a trip to Greece and want to know how to avoid the crowds in Santorini, keep on reading for my best tips.
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1. Visit Santorini During the Shoulder Season
One of the first things to consider when trying to avoid the crowds in Santorini is the time of year you visit. Santorini’s high season runs from late June to August, since that’s when the temperatures are best for swimming and sunbathing. However, prices are also much higher, crowds can be unbearable, and restaurants book up far in advance.
While the island is mostly closed during the winter off season, if you travel to Santorini during the shoulder season, you can avoid a lot of the crowds. Late May/early June is a great time to visit before the crowds are as intense. Hotel prices are lower and the weather begins to warm up, with temperatures in the upper 60’s and low 70’s. Keep in mind that the Greek sun is quite strong, so upper 60’s on a sunny day can easily feel like 80 degrees! However, the sea will still be quite cold during this time, so while you can definitely sunbathe, jumping into the Aegean may be a bit of a shock!
The other best time to visit Santorini to avoid the crowds is September and early October. The weather is still great, the sea temperatures are still warm, and the crowds will be less intense compared to the summer. You’ll want to keep an eye on the ferry schedules in October as service will begin to decrease going into the low season, but early October is usually still fine.
2. Check the Cruise Ship Schedules for Santorini
If you’ve seen videos of cruise ship passengers in Santorini, then you know the crowds can be so intense it’s overwhelming. Some days may have multiple cruise ships docked, which can mean thousands of additional people in a small area. If you are island hopping, I’d recommend planning your days in Santorini around the cruise ship schedules.
Websites like Cruisemapper and CruiseTimeTables have the arrival and departure times for all cruise ships arriving in Santorini’s port. If you’re able to find days with fewer cruise ships docked it will mean way fewer people. You can also plan any excursions for the days when cruise ships are docked so you’ll be out and about in different parts of the island while the cruisers are exploring Oia.
3. Book a Hotel or Restaurant with a Sunset View
Some of the most intense crowds in Santorini are when people try to get a view of the iconic sunsets over the caldera. There’s a few main viewpoints so most people will flock to these spots. However, if you book a restaurant with a sunset view, you can avoid the hordes of people and enjoy the sunset views in a much more relaxed space. I’d also recommend a sunset cruise or sunset wine tasting! Our wine tasting ended with a breathtaking view of the sunset, and we didn’t have to fight against any crowds, so it was a great experience.
Many hotels also have sunset views of the caldera depending on the time of year. This is another great way to enjoy the famous sunsets in the privacy of your own balcony or patio, without any of the crowds.
4. Explore Oia Early to Avoid the Crowds
Getting up a bit earlier to explore can save you the stress of fighting the crowds in Santorini. We explored Oia right after our morning flight landed at 7am, and the streets were still peaceful with few crowds. A few hours later, we could definitely tell that it was starting to get more crowded in the streets, so we were glad we had an early start!
5. Book Semi-Private or Small Group Tours
Another way to avoid the crowds in Santorini is to book a semi-private or small group tour. This allows you to get a more personalized experience and avoid being herded like sheep in a huge group. While they are pricier than other excursions, we felt it was worth it for the more intimate and relaxing experience. Plus, since we went during shoulder season, our small group catamaran only had 4 other people on the boat so it almost felt like a private yacht experience!
Santorini is such a special place, and the views are absolutely worth it in my opinion. Hopefully you found these tips on how to avoid the crowds in Santorini helpful for when you plan your next trip to Greece!
Looking for more Greece recommendations? Check out some of our other posts from the blog!
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