Santorini sunsets are on the bucket list of travellers across the world; hundreds of thousands of people flock to the little island every year to gather on the volcanic cliffs and marvel as the sun goes to sleep. And this is for excellent reason, pals! Sunset in Santorini is almost guaranteed to be stunning, with clouds rarely appearing in the sky and the island’s crescent shape providing the ideal vantage point to witness the magic. But where exactly are the best views in Santorini if you’re after a dazzling sunset?
From the hustle and bustle of the north of the island to the peaceful quiet of the south, here are my personal faves when it comes to sunset-spotting.
Travelling alone in Santorini? Here’s my guide to solo female travel in Greece.
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Sunset in Oía
When it comes to best views in Santorini, this is the most well-known of them all. In fact, type ‘best views in Santorini’ into google and I guarantee that Oía will be at the top of almost every list. The tiny village on the northernmost tip of the island is perfectly placed to witness every single second of sunset, with views across the whole caldera across to Nea Kamini, the volcanic island across the water. The village itself is classic postcard-Cyclades, with white houses and turquoise-domed churches stacked up and down the cliffs, and tiny steps and alleyways linking them all together.
But I’m going to be completely honest with you- I’ve been to Santorini several times, and tend to flee Oía just before sunset begins- because this place gets seriously crowded. (Especially at the castle which juts out into the sea with all of its 360º gloriousness.) Whilst the view from Oía is one of the best views in Santorini, the problem is that everyone knows about it. Having seen pictures and videos of crowds jostling for the best spot (and some individuals resorting to just hold their phones in the air, to take photos above the heads of the twenty people in front of them), I hold a deeply-set belief that this is not the place for me.
The only time I would chance it to stick around to watch the sunset in Oía is if I was either staying in one of Oía’s cliffside cave hotels, had booked to eat in a restaurant with a great view, or if it’s the middle of winter.
Some of the most popular restaurants with a sunset view in Oía include Black Rock, Ochre and the aptly named Sunsets. Wherever you go, book well in advance- the best tables book up fast.
For cave hotels in Oía, expect to pay anywhere from €150-500 a night, depending on the season. Look at Alexander’s Suites, or Dreams House. If you’re not fussed about having a hot tub or pool, but just want the sunset view, check out White Cave Villa on Airbnb.
See my detailed guide to exploring Oía over here!
Sunset in Fira
Fira is Santorini’s capital city, and the main hub of activity on the island. Located on the cliff-edge right in the centre of the island, the aesthetic is very similar to Oía, just with more bars and clubs- so if you want to find a party after the sun goes down, this is probably the place for you.
Like Oía, the main streets can get very crowded, so if you want to get a good spot in the centre of town, you’ll have to get there early. Likewise, book a restaurant table well in advance as the best views will be taken faster than the speed of light. It’s just how the hungry vulture-tourists roll around here, alas.
Whilst I can appreciate that plenty of people thrive on busy locations and being close to nightlife and fun times, I’m definitely less of a crowd kind of a gal. If you’re not fussed about being in the middle of all the action, it’s always far quieter on the streets along the outskirts of the town- either south of Fira and slightly lower down the cliffs where there are more hotels, or north towards Firostefani. Alternatively, head to the donkey steps which zigzag down to the Old Port. It’s lower down, but very pretty when the sun bathes everything, donkeys and all, in its rose gold glow.
For restaurants in Thira , look at Volcano Blue, or Argo, which have some of the best views in Santorini for sunset- or see what you stumble across, there are plenty to choose from.
My favourite things to do in Fira.
Pyrgos
The highest spot of the village of Pyrgos– which aptly translates to ‘tower’- is one of the best views in Santorini because from here you can see out towards not just the caldera, but the entire south of the island. This little village is far more traditional than Oía and Thira, but is still fairly accessible for tourists, with a selection of cafes and restaurants to head to after the sun goes down if you’re feeling peckish/parched.
If you’re on a tight budget in Santorini, Franco’s Cafe is a great place to go in Pyrgos at any time of the day or evening. The cafe is at the top of the castle, and is without a doubt my favourite restaurant with a view, with a chilled out atmosphere and delicious freshly-prepared food. As with any other restaurant on the island, book in advance if you want a table at sunset.
Whilst it’s definitely easier to reach Pyrgos if you have a car, buses do run between Fira and Pyrgos. Just ask the bus driver if the service runs via Pyrgos as the express service bypasses the village completely. Once you reach the village, just keep climbing upwards towards the castle. The ruins of Pyrgos Kallistis are at the very top, and it’s possible to climb over some parts of it to find the best spot for your sunset viewing party.
Although sunset in Pyrgos attracts a small crowd, it’s nowhere near as chaotic as in Thira and Oía and the atmosphere is very peaceful in comparison to all that madness lower down.
Sunset at Skaros Rock
If you’re up for a little hike, Skaros Rock is a stunning place to watch the sunset in Santorini. The rocky outcrop sticks out into the sea from the village of Imerovigli, which is itself very walkable from Fira, and like many a rocky outcrop in Santorini is home to some good old fashioned castle ruins. (Which are probably quite easy to miss if you’re not the observant type; they really do blend in to the scenery.)
The path is narrow and rocky in some places, but the reward of the climb when you reach the rock is well worth it. If you carry on hiking to the far side of Skaros and down a winding pathway, there’s a blue-domed church hidden from view of the mainland. An altogether incredibly peaceful location. I only visited Skaros in the day, but would suggest if you’re hiking to Skaros to watch the sunset that you bring a torch or a well-charged phone with you. The path isn’t lit, and also isn’t the most stable .
Sunset at the Profitis Ilias Monastery
Oía might be the most well-known place to watch the sunset in Santorini, but the monastery of Profitis Ilias is surely the most awe-inspiring. Built at the very top of the highest point on the island, from here you have 360º views to soak in every single part of this glorious place. The monastery itself is inaccessible but there are other churches and chapels around it to have a peek at.
You can also pretty much guarantee that there will be no crowds for this Santorini sunset, as there aren’t too many people willing to hike (or even drive) all the way up the 565m to the top, especially in the sweltering heat of summer. If you’re hiking up to the monastery, follow the road out of Pyrgos and keep on heading upwards through the vineyards of knotted grapevines. You can’t really miss it.
Watch a video of the sunset here.
Sunset from the sea
Whilst I have witnessed sunset in Santorini from the sea, it’s been from the cruise ship that I was working on. To sail away from the caldera into the setting sun was absolutely magical. But, do I actually agree with cruise ships going to Santorini?
No my friends, no I do not. Don’t do it, people!
I do realise this is perhaps a tad hypocritical considering I actually work on one of these beasts, but like the city of Venice, which recently banned them from entering their canals, there are some places in the world that cruise ships just shouldn’t call at. Santorini is certainly one of them. The island is struggling to cope with the amount of visitors it receives already, and cruise ship passengers massively contribute to the struggle.
A better experience for watching the sunset in Santorini, would surely be to watch it from a catamaran or sailing boat. Am I right or am I right!? Most of these boat tours leave from one of the small ports and provide a delicious dinner to accompany one of the best views in Santorini. It’s a classic tourist experience for sure, but one that’s probably worth it.
Find a list of catamaran and boat tours here.
Sunset at Akrotiri Lighthouse
The lighthouse at Akrotiri is on the southernmost point of Santorini, and from here you can see all the way around the inner curve of the island. Technically this 19th century lighthouse is quite far out of the village of Akrotiri; to get to it will take about an hour on foot- and a lot less by car or moped.
Whilst it’s not possible to go inside the lighthouse, this is one of those places that you visit for the view alone, and it’s a world away from the craziness of the north of Santorini. That’s not to say that you’ll be completely alone- Akrotiri is becoming more and more well-known as one of the best places to watch the sunset in Santorini, so there always tends to be at least a small cluster of other visitors there as the sun goes down.
Sunset at Santo Wines
Santo Wines is probably the most famous winery in Santorini, not least of all because it offers such an incredible view along the cliffs towards Fira and Oía. The winery holds wine tours throughout the day and evening (which have to be booked in advance), but there are also wine tastings (and full meals) available in their restaurant overlooking the caldera. During the day it tends to be fairly quiet, but like other restaurants and bars in Santorini, they fill up quickly as it gets closer to sundown, so if you want to come for the sunset view, book in advance.
Sunset at Ammoudi Bay
Ammoudi Bay is the little port at the foot of the red cliffs of Oía, and it makes a great alternative to the streets of the village higher up for watching the sunset. The tavernas along the front also have some of the freshest fish on the island, and are generally a more relaxed affair than the glossy restaurants of Oía. Combine the sea-level sunset view across to the island of Thirassia and the sound of the turquoise sea lapping almost at your actual feet, Ammoudi Bay is a true recipe for success. I ate at Dimitri’s Taverna and loved it, but Sunset and the Ammoudi Fish Tavern are also popular spots.
Wherever you decide to watch the sunset in Santorini, you’re almost guaranteed to be dazzled. (You’d have to be crazy not to be). These are only a handful of the best views in Santorini; there are thousands more waiting for people to stumble across them. The island is paradise, and it may be tourist-filled in the height of summer, but you can see why. Still, I’d definitely recommend going in spring or autumn to avoid some of the crazy crowds and enjoy sunset in a relaxed fashion as opposed to a frantic one.
Enjoy the moment, try not to treat it like a ride at Disneyland, and don’t get too caught up trying to get a decent photo of it. When it comes to sunsets, a picture will never ever ever be as breathtaking as the real thing.
Doing the island-hopping thing?
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