Stacey Travels✨
@stacey_travels
Travelling to Santorini in 2026
Aug 8, 2026
Santorini is still absolutely worth experiencing — but I think the biggest mistake is planning the island around the same handful of viewpoints you see everywhere online. The famous caldera villages are spectacular, but they can also be extremely busy. If you’re coming for three or four days, I’d treat the caldera as one part of the trip rather than the entire trip. What worked best for me was deliberately building time around when I visited places, not just where. The busiest areas were noticeably different early in the morning and later in the evening. After dark, the caldera took on a completely different atmosphere — quieter, cooler and much more enjoyable to simply walk around. I’d also leave more time than you think for getting around. Santorini looks small on a map, but the roads, traffic and steep walks can make short distances surprisingly time-consuming. And don’t assume that everything worth doing is sitting directly on the caldera. Some of my favourite experiences were down at the water, away from the postcard views above.
Pass it on
Don't miss
Ammoudi Bay for seafood. It’s worth making the effort to get down to the bay, particularly if you can combine it with a meal beside the water. The setting is spectacular, but the seafood is what made the experience stick with me.
Worth knowing
Timing matters almost as much as location. If your itinerary has the major caldera spots packed into the middle of every day, you’re likely to experience Santorini at its busiest. Shift some of your exploring to early morning and evening and you’ll get a different experience.
Best time
Early morning for exploring. Evening for atmosphere. I’d use the middle of the day for slower activities, lunch or getting somewhere less crowded rather than trying to fight your way through the busiest parts of Oia and Fira.
Watch out
The walk down to Ammoudi Bay is steeper and harder than it looks. And getting to the swimming area once you’re down there isn’t particularly intuitive. Don’t treat it like a quick stroll from Oia — wear proper footwear and allow yourself time to work out where you’re going.
What surprised me
How much better Santorini felt when I stopped chasing the postcard version of it. The caldera views are incredible, but they’re also the part of the island everyone else is there to see.
Would I go back?
Yes — but I’d plan it around experiences rather than landmarks. Santorini still has the ability to completely justify the hype. I’d just give myself more freedom to get away from the obvious route next time.