Nomikos Street, the settlement's main commercial street and busiest spot. Many of them are located at the pedestrian N. Hosting almost as many pools as the number of available units in it, Andronis Luxury Suites complex appears as a small independent citadel inside the traditional village of Oia. Aspaki Exclusive Hotel is located in the center of the picturesque settlement of Oia. We offer the best prices and our service is rated Rent your car with us The village is situated above an impressive cliff overlooking the volcano and the island of Thirassia. The town also has numerous restored churches, including Panagia church; some were built in memory of sailors. In defiance, in Oia, they painted their entire housing complex in white with domes, giving the village an effective white perspective and elegance.
Make sure to check out my post on How Many Days in Santorini for a full breakdown of what to plan based on your travel style. Some areas I highly recommend checking out are the black sand beaches, Kamari and Perissa, the red sand beach, Akrotiri Lighthouse, and Santo Wines! Some places may ask for an international driver’s permit, depending on what you’re renting. There are several little gelato shops tucked along the main paths. Lastly, those wanting to visit several wineries in one day should visit a winery tour like this one. This award-winning winery has both an indoor tasting room and an outdoor patio where you can sample delicious Greek wine. (You can also do this on Milos if you don’t have time in Santorini). Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, it’s worth stopping in just to soak up the vibe.
Below is a map of Oia to help you get better acquainted with the town and the spots on this list of things to do! I still think Oia is worth visiting despite the crowds, but more on that later! Its whitewashed buildings, blue-domed churches, and narrow walkways perched along the edge of the caldera have made it one of the most iconic spots in all of Greece. As mentioned, Oia sits at the northern tip of Santorini (see map below) and is hands-down the most photographed town on the island. So what is there actually to do in Oia besides take in the incredible views of the sea and pretend you’re in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? But don’t let the size fool you, Oia is packed with charm and more things to do than you’d expect!
A lot of people only visit Oia for a few hours to catch the sunset, or see it during the middle of the day in the peak of cruise crowds. They are located directly opposite the Londsa Castle and from here you can enjoy a no less spectacular sunset. Onwards, more and more people flock to the small town, including many cruise tourists and it is difficult to find a free parking space around Oia. Alternatively, you can switch to the low season, because from October to April far fewer people make the pilgrimage to the village of 500 inhabitants. You may leave your vehicle there and enjoy long walks along the village's paths. A car parking area at the entrance makes the village easy to approach. The village's diverse culinary scene features restaurants at a adrian portelli casino scenic location, where you can savor a gourmet dinner on a terrace while gazing at the sea and the sunset.
Recommendations For Oia Restaurants
A set of 300 steps allows you to get to Ammoudi directly from Oia's Castle, although the village can also be reached by car. Straight out of a postcard, Oia is certainly the most picturesque village in Santorini – some may even claim it is the prettiest one in Greece! Hundreds of people gather every evening to watch the sun setting above the Aegean Sea and capture the most beautiful sunset in Greece. Oia, pronounced Ia, is the most visited village in Santorini and the second largest after Fira, the island's capital town. At this time the town is crowded with people to watch the spectacle, when the white houses and the caldera catch all the colours of the setting sun for a few seconds. Also traded in the town are agricultural products like honey, wine, capers, and fava beans.
#5 Watch The Sunset From The Castle Ruins
Two of the neat mills are located right next to each other, the third is about 50 m behind them, all are privately owned. Remember that in summer there is a pilgrimage atmosphere in the alleys! Thirty years ago, the first tourists arrived and the village was successively rebuilt. It was not until the severe earthquake of 1956 that the castle was almost completely destroyed and large parts of the village were reduced to rubble. The popular Santorini Photo Spot you reach through the inconspicuous alley just before the Restaurant Pelekanos on the left. The Places of Worship »Resurrection of the Holy Lord« and »Agios Spyridon« are located in the Monastiri district, but are not easy to find. In the middle of the maze of alleys are the probably most popular churches in Greece, the so-called Oia Blue Domes, which have made Santorini and Oia famous worldwide. The main alley leads past a small park to the central plaza with the magnificent church »Panagia Akathistos Hymn«.
#8 Guided Oia Tours & Excursions
In 1976 the town was included in the programme for preservation and development of traditional settlements of the Greek National Tourism Organisation under Aris Konstantinidis. There is a ferry connection to Therasia from the harbour village of Ormos Ammoudi (Όρμος Αμμουδιού; also spelled Amoudi) to the west. The small fishing village of Ormos Armeni (Όρμος Αρμένης) lies below Oia to the south and is reached via steps. Oia is a scenic village on the north west edge of the Santorini island within the Cyclades. The epicentre of the strongest aftershock (magnitude 7.2) was located off the northern coast of Santorini.
Hotels In Oia
I am eyeing the rooms at Maregio Suites for our next trip! Although it was a little hot during the daytime, lounging in the evening with a glass of wine while looking out at the ocean and whitewashed buildings was such a dream!!! Our room at Kaleidoscope Cave Houses had a private jacuzzi on the balcony, and it ended up being one of our favorite parts of the trip. Many hotels offer private jacuzzis or plunge pools in your room, while others will have a shared infinity pool for all hotel guests. We got ours to-go, but as mentioned above, they have an incredible view of the caldera and ocean where you can enjoy your sweet treats and coffee! You will probably notice this cafe as you walk through Oia. If you’re a coffee lover, you have to try a Freddo cappuccino while in Greece!