Santorini’s steep pumice cliffs, deep-blue lagoon and bright white houses make it a joy to explore on foot. This private guided walk from Fira to Oia leads you along back roads and trails to some of the island’s panoramic viewpoints.
En route, you’ll get to visit the towns along the caldera, hear about the island’s history and geology, and be introduced to its flora and fauna. With an experienced private guide to lead you along the way, you’ll get a different perspective on this popular island.
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Fira at the start of the day to begin the walk to Oia.
Walking along the edge of the caldera, you’ll have the deep-blue lagoon on one side and a panorama of quintessential Mediterranean scenery on the other. Your guide will introduce you to the plants that survive in this arid climate and their traditional uses, fill you in on the history of the towns you’ll pass and point out panoramic lookouts along the way.
Fira is the island’s capital, and as you make your way through the jumble of whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches, your guide will draw your attention to buildings of interest. Fira gives way to Firostefani and, from there, you continue along the caldera edge to the handsome village of Imerovigli.
Imerovigli is perched just above Skaros Rock, a craggy peninsula once home to the first fortress on the island and now marked with a little church. From Imerovigli, the views sweep out across the lagoon and give you a full panorama of the caldera and the crescent-shaped island of Santorini in its entirety.
Continuing north of Imerovigli on a quieter section of the path, you’ll pass the Church of Profitis Ilias. Here you’ll take a break, have a snack and have time to go inside and see the ornate interior. From here, the path becomes more rugged in parts as you continue along the caldera edge toward Oia, a fashionable destination full of cafés, tavernas, art galleries and craft shops.
When you reach the village, you’ll follow the marble-lined path that leads directly into the heart of the town. Its hilltop setting, old Venetian fortress, blue-domed churches and whitewashed houses set against the azure sea are a rewarding sight at the end of your hike.
In Oia, you have some free time to relax over lunch (not included) and explore a little before being taken back to your hotel.
In total, the walk is roughly 10 km (6 miles) long and mostly level, with a few uphill sections along the way. The path varies widely throughout the hike. At times, you’ll be walking past the shops and restaurants of towns and villages before returning to more isolated roads and dirt paths in some areas.
There’s one portion of the hike where you need to walk along the main road for a few minutes, but most of the hike is along the scenic caldera with views far over the sea to the horizon in the distance.
As this is a private experience, the guide will walk at your pace, and plan to have you back at your hotel in Fira by mid-afternoon.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Greece specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Santorini private boat trip
Offering a new perspective on the island and its volcanic origins, this private, half-day catamaran tour around Santorini takes in arresting views of the caldera cliffs, hidden coves for swimming and snorkelling, and a sunset dinner on board.
Santorini wineries
With a wine-making tradition that stretches back thousands of years, Santorini is known for producing some of Greece’s finest labels. This private, half-day tour takes in two of the island’s wineries and offers an insight into the island’s unusual production methods.
You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tour below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.
