How to Spend 48 Hours in Santorini, Greece

Hi guys! The first stop on our 10-day Greece vacation is Santorini. We had heard so much about Santorini, specifically how beautiful it is, and we knew that we had to visit the island! There is so much to do, see and eat on the island, and in this post we will be sharing our guide for how to spend 48 hours in Santorini, Greece.

After flying overnight from NYC to Athens we hopped on a small propeller plane over to Santorini. The flight was only 45 minutes and we were able to get here much quicker than taking a ferry. 48 hours is a short amount of time, but we found that it was perfect for us to be able be able to sightsee, explore, and even fit in an evening sunset boat cruise. We highly recommend adding Santorini to your Greek vacation itinerary – especially if you’re visiting during the off season. However, be aware that it is extremely touristy if you stay in either Fira (like we did), or Oia. Especially in the evening hours, the streets will be packed with tourists. But, that being said, it is a beautiful island filled with amazing food, sites and people. 

• 

• 

• 

Exchange Rate

We were lucky that during this trip the euro and the dollar were almost at par (100 euros = 112 dollars). Because of this, we didn’t have to worry too much about converting prices. As of July 2021 the exchange rate is 100 euros = 119 dollars. We found that Santorini can easily be done on a budget, but it can also make for lavish destination for those looking for a more luxury vacation. There is really something for everyone at every price point. In this guide we tried to include a little of everything.

Sleep

In Santorini we stayed at the Asterolithos Hotel in the center of Fira. The hotel is cute and comfortable – but not luxurious. It is also in an extremely central location which was perfect for walking around the town and for getting to shops, bars and restaurants. We were also about a two minute walk from the main bus station so we could easily travel to Oia (about 25 minutes by public bus). Overall I would recommend the hotel. For a three-person room in mid-July the price was around $150 a night. This was cheaper than many of the other hotels in the area. One last thing to note is that their website is pretty difficult to navigate – so just a heads up when you’re checking it out.

Although we enjoyed our hotel, and the location was great, there are tons of other amazing options in Santorini. On our next trip I really want to check out Astro Palace, Mythical Blue Luxury Suits, and Charisma Suites!

Below are hotel recommendations at a variety of price points! Keep in mind, the nightly rates are significantly cheaper in the Fall and Winter. Summer prices will often be much higher. Also, staying in Fira is often cheaper than staying in Oia.

Budget Hotel Recommendations

• Galatia Villas – Located in Fira, 10 minute walk to town center
• Ifestos Villa – located in Fira, 5 minute walk to town center
• Sweet Pop – located in Fira town

Mid-Range Hotel Recommendations

• Santorini Palace – located in Fira, 10 minute walk to town center
• Altemar Suites – located in Fira, 5 minute walk to town center
• Daedalus Hotel – located in Fira, 8 minute walk to town center

Luxury Hotel Recommendations

• Porto Fira Suites – located in Fira town
• Aressana Spa Hotel and Suites – located in Fira town (much more affordable after peak season)
• Caldera Premium Villas – located in Oia (very affordable in the off season)
• Old Castle Oia – located in Oia

For more hotel options all around Santorini, check out the map below!

Booking.com

Eats

Kaffeine

For a cup of coffee and a light breakfast or snack I recommend checking out Kaffeine in central Fira. The shop is cute, modern and has outdoor seating on a patio. The coffee was great and relatively inexpensive. All coffee drinks on the menu ranged from $1-$3 (with the euro to dollar conversion). If you’re from the U.S. then you understand the popularity of iced-coffee, and Kaffeine had a variety of iced-coffee drinks. They also had a nice assortment of pastries and sandwiches to accompany your coffee as well. 

• 

• 

• 

5 Senses Fresh

If you’re looking for a healthy breakfast or afternoon snack then check out 5 Senses Fresh juice and smoothie bar in Fira. The juices and smoothies are delicious and they’re all made with fresh fruits and vegetables. I had one of their green juices, Leyla had a green smoothie and Maggie chose a ginger shot. All of the drinks were delicious and were the perfect healthy snack after an afternoon of exploring Santorini.

• 

• 

• 

Assyrtico

We had a delicious breakfast at Assyrtico in Fira. The restaurant is super cute and the green and white decor makes it feel like you’re in a garden. We went on a Saturday morning around 10am and the service was quick. The food was also delicious, I highly recommend the Strapatsada (scrambled eggs with feta and tomato). Definitely add this to your list!

• 

• 

Lucky’s Souvlakis

If you’re looking for a cheap, quick lunch we have two recommendations. The first is Lucky’s Souvlakis, in Fira, for Gyros. Margaret had the chicken gyro and Leyla ordered the lamb, they both said that they were super tasty. The restaurant is small and has seating at the bar, but we ordered ours to go and ate them on the porch of our hotel room. The prices are unbeatable, with the gyros costing between $2.5-$3.

• 

• 

• 

Falafeland

The other lunch option is Falafeland also in Fira. It is perfect for vegans and vegetarians. The sandwiches are delicious and this restaurant has ample indoor and outdoor seating. The prices of sandwiches at FafaleLand are super reasonable, around $4-$6. They come in small and large sizes and the service is quick and efficient. 

• 

• 

• 

Sunset

For a dinner with a beautiful view of the ocean, and sunset, we highly recommend Sunset in Oia. To get to this restaurant you will have to walk down a hillside (or more like a small mountain) but it is absolutely worth it. Just be sure to wear sneakers as the steps can be slippery. Down by the water side you’ll find quite a few restaurants, but Sunset had, in our opinion, the best menu with the most options. The food was delicious. We ordered a variety of appetizers, salads and seafood to try, and we were very happy with all of the dishes. The baked eggplant in a clay pot is a must if you visit Sunset. 

This all being said, Sunset has mixed reviews on Trip Advisor. We had a great time during our visit, and we certainly recommend it.

• 

• 

Drinks

Two Brothers

Santorini has tons of bars and nightlife. After two days we are by no means experts on the best bars or clubs. However, after numerous recommendations from friends and locals we decided to check out Two Brothers bar in Fira. This is definitely not a spot where locals go, but if you’re looking for a place to hangout and grab a few drinks at night with a U.S. college bar feel then this is the place for you. The drinks are cheap, about $3-$5 for wine and beer $7ish for cocktails and mixed drinks. If you are a solo traveller and hoping to meet other travelers, this would be a great place to do so! Most everyone in the bar was under 30. The music was loud and upbeat and the place was packed. If you’re looking for a more low-key, quiet bar I would recommend trying elsewhere.

Murphy’s Bar

After Two Brothers we stopped at Murphy’s Bar, also in Fira. Although Murphy’s offered a larger indoor space, as well as outdoor seating, the drinks were significantly more expensive, at $30 for three beers. The crowd was similar in the two bars, mostly 20-30 year old travelers. The inside of the bar is decorated like a pirate ship, which was cool. It is definitely a fun place to hangout, but again, it is a bit of a tourist trap and also expensive compared to other bars in the area.

• 

• 

Adventures

Sunset Cruise

Because we only had one full day in Santorini we only scheduled one planned activity, a sunset cruise. This is a super fun and unique experience in Santorini! We chose this cruise as it would allow us to see multiple parts of the island, such as the red beach, the white beach, the Caldera (made from volcanic eruptions). Additionally, we were also able to see the sunset from the water.

We booked the cruise through getyourguide.com. They picked us up right near our hotel at 2pm, since we opted for the sunset cruise. The whole process was really easy, and the bus transfers were well organized. The cruise lasted for 5 hours and was $184 (including pick up and drop off). The entire excursion was from 2pm-10pm as the pick-up and drop-off process was a little lengthy from Fira, about 1 hour each way.

This activity was on the pricier side. But we decided it was worth it, as it included dinner. We were able to see multiple sites that we otherwise would not have had time to visit. Dinner on the boat was amazing. We were not expecting to have great food and we were super surprised. There were a ton of traditional Greek options (lots of vegetarian options) as well as pasta and salads. There was really something for everyone. Drinks (wine, beer and sodas) were also included in the price. 

• 

• 

• 

The boat was really lovely and had shaded areas to relax and eat after spending the afternoon swimming in the sun. The crew were all so friendly and helpful, as were the other guests on board. We had a beautiful, enjoyable afternoon. If you have a free afternoon in Santorini and would like to have the opportunity to swim, spend time outside, see the beaches of Santorini, meet other travelers and see the famous sunset from Oia, then this cruise is for you! 

• 

• 

Click here if you’re interested in booking the cruise.

Wander the Street and Take Photos

Besides our boat cruise we were able to fill the rest of our time wandering the streets, shopping in the little stores and sampling the local food and desserts. Santorini is such a photogenic place that it’s hard to walk more than three feet without taking a photo. If you enjoy photography you could easily keep yourself busy for days solely taking photos of the beautiful island.

The signage in both Oia and Fira is amazing. We never got lost. Even though the streets are small and windy we were always able to find our way.

• 

• 

• 

---

We had a wonderful 48 hours in Santorini and we are super happy we added it to our Greece itinerary. For us, two days was the perfect amount of time for a first trip to the island. It is a popular tourist destination, and with good reason, it is definitely a beautiful place to visit. I hope this guide will help you enjoy your time in Santorini as well!

If you enjoyed this post, we super appreciate you sharing it with others! For more Greek guides and itineraries, check out our guide for 48 hours in Paros, itinerary for 72 hours in Mykonos, and recommendations for how to spend 36 hours in Athens!

♡Kate

Note: This post includes affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.