Hello everyone! As you can tell from the title, this post is all about what Santorini is really like in the summer – and how to prepare. I visited Santorini last July, and while I did love it, it definitely not exactly what I was expecting. On Instagram, Santorini and the other Greek islands always look picture perfect. The islands are beautiful, the sunsets are incredible and the architecture is stunning. This is all true, however, there are many aspects to Greece that aren’t as picture perfect as they appear online. After seeing a TikTok of Santorini on Instagram vs. Santorini in real life, I was compelled to write this article about what Greece, specifically Santorini, is really during peak tourist season. Please see the below TikToks to get an idea of what I’m going to write about!
As you can see from the videos, yes – the crowds are huge. But don’t get me wrong, I still recommend visiting the Greek Islands, even during peak tourist season. Would I go back to the Greek islands in July? Yes, absolutely. Do I think you should too, yes, for sure! However, there are definitely some things you should know before your trip (like maybe save Santorini for the fall if you don’t like crowds). I’ve mentioned many of these tips in my Ten things to know before visiting the Greek Islands in the summer post, but this article will go into much greater detail.
It’s going to be crowded
According to Santorini Dave, whose blog we relied on SO much throughout our trip, peak season in Greece is from mid-June to mid-September. So basically summer. In a few sentences Santorini Dave pretty much sums up the Santorini during peak season when he writes: “The high season in Greece falls in the summer months, a time where you’re likely to experience sweltering heat, the highest prices, and the biggest crowds; with what will seem like half of Europe vacationing alongside you.”
We visited Greece in mid-July. I knew it was going to be crowded, but I was not prepared for just how crowded. This is especially true in Santorini, and even more-so in the town of Oia. In the evenings, especially around sunset, you will be shoulder to shoulder with other tourists if you’re in Oia. It will even be difficult to find a place to watch the sunset as there will be people in front of you, next to you, trying to climb over you, etc – you get it.
There are definitely islands that are less crowded – and I highly recommend adding these to your itinerary. We visited Paros, which is still pretty touristy, but nowhere near as busy as Mykonos or Santorini. In fact, during the mornings and afternoons the island feels almost empty, which is perfect for taking photos and wandering around. For my next trip, I am planning to seek out some of the less-popular islands.
The crowds are definitely what makes Santorini in the summer not the best destination, in my opinion. The island is truly beautiful, but it’s hard to enjoy with so many people congregated on an island that is only 29 square miles.
That being said, if summer is the only time you can travel to Santorini, it is still possible to enjoy the beautiful scenery and take awesome photos.
Thira is less crowded than Oia
Oia is the beautiful portion of the island where you see all of the amazing Instagram photos of sunsets and white and blue buildings. While I do recommend visiting Oia, it is way more relaxed to stay in Thira and take the public bus to Oia to visit.
Thira is also super pretty, but it is way less crowded. It is an easier area to navigate without being overwhelmed by other tourists. I am super happy that we stayed in Thira. The bars in the area were fun and the nightlife was definitely something we enjoyed.
People will push you out of the way to get a spot on the public buses in Santorini
Okay, so this won’t happen all day long (most likely). But if you’re headed from Thira (one major town in Santorini) to Oia (the other major town) around sunset, be prepared to push your way onto a bus. There are, in theory, plenty of buses, but it’s often not clear where exactly they’re going, or when they’re leaving. There also aren’t any clearly marked areas to wait in line. Don’t be a pushover, and make sure you get a spot on the bus. You’ll need to be a little aggressive, but once you’re on the bus the ride isn’t so bad. Also, the buses are cheap, so that’s a plus!
Oh, also, be careful getting on/off the buses in Oia. There is a ton of traffic at night and the buses are kind of parked in the middle of the road. Of course, it’s dark out, and cars may have a hard time seeing you. We almost got hit by a car, but it was 1/2 our fault.
Plan activities outside of major tourist hubs
As I’ve mentioned, Thira and Oia are the two major towns in Santorini. In order to make the most of your time on the island, I recommend planning activities outside of these two major hubs. This will help you get out of the tourist centers and also see the natural beauty of the island. We booked an evening/sunset tour on a catamaran and it was wonderful! We were able to swim, eat and watch the sunset from the water instead of elbow to elbow with the rest of the island!
Activities like the catamaran tour really helped us enjoy the island to the fullest.
The ferries are not super reliable – and neither are the terminals
One good thing about visiting during the peak season is that there are tons of ferries traveling between islands multiple times per day. One not so great thing about this is that the ferry terminals, especially in Santorini, will be packed! I can’t even begin to describe how packed they will be. Additionally, your ferry probably won’t be on time (but still arrive early in case).
The ferry terminals aren’t always super packed, it really depends on the island, but every terminal we went to was basically just a little waiting room, and was not equipped for the number of people traveling.
When your ferry does arrive someone will yell out the ferry number, and masses of people will start running towards the ferry to find seats. Don’t worry – there are plenty of seats, even in the summer. However, get on quickly, because once the ferry is loaded it is on its way; often with the car entrance still trying to shut its door.
There will be tons of traffic headed to the ferry terminal – leave early
In Santorini, even though your ferry will probably be running late, leave early to get to the terminal. From Thira, the port in Athinios is only about 5 miles away. However, there will be a ton of traffic and the drive can take around 45 minutes before you’re finally down the hill and at the port.
If you visit Santorini in the summer, only stay for a day or two
I get it, Santorini is regarded by tons of people as one of the most amazing places on Earth. I feel like the island has the potential to live up to that stereotype, just not in the summer. However, due to all of the hype, if you feel like you really must see Santorini during your trip, definitely go, but don’t stay for long. Trust me on this one, one full day (or two max) during the summer will be enough time for you to see everything you want to see on the island.
Check out our Santorini itinerary post for ideas on how to spend your short stay on the island.
In conclusion:
Having said all of this, I still recommend visiting Greece in the summer. Visit Athens, and definitely visit some of the islands, but, it is totally okay to skip Santorini and save it for the low season. Personally, I’m happy I visited Santorini. I enjoyed it and I would have felt like I missed something if I would have skipped it. However, now I know that while Santorini is amazing, there are other islands that offer a similar experience.
I’m planning to try to visit Santorini during the off-season, so I will update you on how that experience is, in comparison to the summer.
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Let me know your favorite Greek Island in the comments below.
Great post. And I absolutely agree. Santorini is a beautiful spot but the crowds can make things a little less enjoyable for sure.
I wish I was able to make it to Santorini!
Very nice post.
I went to Santorini for my honeymoon and talk about people pushing you out of the way… wow! What a fight to watch a sunset in one of the popular spots, I thought one of the girls was going to hit me and basically for no reason. Next day we decided to watch the sunset from the water; we don’t like fights. But Santorini is gorgeous and I can’t wait to visit again.
The description of the crowd and how people rush to get spots even on the bus is why I decided to visit Santorini in October, it’s still crowded but way more enjoyable than it’d have been in the summer!
I kinda figured that a place this popular would be this busy. I know that a lot of people get up super early to get some great shots without the people in, and it can look like it’s in the middle of the day. Thank you for telling some truths. I still want to go, but might be thinking more about timing than anything
Thank you for the options to skip the crowds! I will keep Thira and your post on hand when I get to Santorini!
I will definitely keep Thira in mind when I get to visit Santorini. I’m even considering visiting it now when the crowds are smaller (thank you covid) but not sure yet. The sunset photos look so beautiful you really would have no idea how many people are there fighting for it! Great post, thanks for sharing!
Gosh this is so useful! I just chanced upon another post on how to avoid crowds in Santorini earlier in the day – and this about ties it all up perfectly! Thank you for the honest insight – definitely allowing me to shape my itinerary a little more realistically (and absolutely avoiding summer!)
Wow those crowds are crazy! I knew Santorini would be busy during the peak season but it is mad how different the place looks in photographs! I always try and avoid travelling during peak seasons when possible. I think the fact that places are quieter and cheaper when you travel in spring or autumn. I’d love to visit Santorini, but will definitely keep your guide to hand when booking as a reminder! Thanks!
Wowzaa, I would get some major anxiety looking at those crowds. Thank you for sharing. We will look into visiting Santorini in non summer months. 🙂 We are glad that you guys were still able to have a great time. Nothing worse than leaving a city feeling like you didnt get to enjoy it fully.
Love your authentic review to help manage expectations. We visited Greece in July a few years ago, but did not make it to the islands. It was crowded on the mainland as well, but manageable.
The islands on Greece are incredible! I totally agree that it’s better sometimes to explore less touristic place and come back when it’s not too crowded. Greece offers so much to see that you can come multiple times.
Santorini is seriously such a gorgeous place. I visited in summertime as well! It was so crowded. Next time I will for sure plan things outside of the tourist hubs.
I’m really enjoying these more honest reviews of popular destinations (I read about Bali earlier today). It’s refreshing to see what places are really like vs. what Insta shows you. Living in a tourist hot spot myself, I know it’s not all picturesque beauty all the time.
I have always wanted to visit Santorini, as it looks like a truly beautiful place. This is such a great guide – it’s making me want to hop on a flight immediately! And the photos!! Gorgeous.
I haven’t made it to Santorini yet so this will really come in handy. I prefer to travel off-season to avoid the larger crowds.
Thanks for all the tips! I’ll probably try to avoid visiting Greece in the summer. I’m hoping to go sometime in the fall.
Wow, Summer sure gets busy. I’m going to make sure to avoid Summer time in Greece. HAHA But one day, I really do hope to visit Santorini and the surrounding islands. It is a dream!
It is slightly mad to see how busy Santorini is now! I looooved visiting there, but it was around 15 years ago, so it was not too busy at all back then. Still, I’d like to go back and show my husband. I really like the idea of the evening/sunset tour on a catamaran. That looks sooo fun!