During the summer of 2018, Layton and I cruised around the Northern Mediterranean. When we booked the itinerary of 20+ cities, Santorini was the ONE I was excited for the most. Over the past ten years, I saw so many incredible photos of Santorini, and countless people told me it was their favorite place in the world. I stepped foot on the island thinking I was about to experience heaven on Earth when in reality, it was hell 99% of the time. (Okay, maybe not exactly ‘hell’ but it was not enjoyable).
I’ll caveat my experience with the following: we were only there for one day. However, we rented a car and drove the entire island (something most people who stay for a week or more don’t do). We checked out what people say is the “best the island has to offer.” However, if those places were the best, I’m glad we came by cruise ship. I sincerely believe it would have been a waste of time if we spent more than those 12 hours on Santorini.
I realize this is a VERY unpopular opinion, but here are the reasons why I think Santorini is overrated and why you should NOT visit.
The ‘Archeological Sites’ Are Unimpressive
I know people might not think of Santorini for their archeological sites but when you Google ‘things to do in Santorini’ it’s always one of the top 10 activities.
A lot of archeologists and historians believe Santorini is the location of the infamous Atlantis. You would expect somewhere with that reputation to have cool archeological sites, but Santorini does not.
Ancient Thira and Akrotiri are it. Some say they are the most important prehistoric settlements of the Aegean. I seriously doubt it.
Ancient Thira looks like a pile of rocks. Akrotiri was obliterated in the second millennium BC, when the volcano, Thera, erupted. Similar to Pompeii, but much much much smaller, Akrotiri is in decent shape – meaning you can see crumbling houses and a few frescos. The citizens of Akrotiri saw the eruption coming and evacuated in a timely and orderly manner. This means there aren’t any human or valuable remains.
Overall, nothing archeological in Santorini compares to what you would see in Athens, Olympia, and Rhodes. Read all about my experience exploring the Greek island of Rhodes here: ‘What To See in Medieval Rhodes.’
There Are Few Beaches And They Are Terrible
Taking a dip in the beautiful Mediterranean water is on every Santorini visitor’s list, but it may be hard to find a great spot to do so.
We checked out the Red Beach, Perissa Black Sand Beach, and Kamari. These three are considered the “best” beaches on the island. Sadly, all three beaches were mediocre and crowded. I mean, if there are only a few beaches on the island, of course, they’re going to be busy.
Red Beach has red volcanic rocks as the beach, which is pretty but uncomfortable to walk or lay on. It is also one of the stops for tour groups, which means you can expect swarms of people coming and going every few minutes or so. This wouldn’t have been a huge problem if the beach was big enough to find some solitude; however, Red Beach is small with limited space.
Oh, and you also have to hike down rocky terrain just to get to the beach itself. Not comfortable when wearing sandals and not worth the effort.
Perissa is easier to get to but is covered in harsh black pebbles. These pebbles get super hot as the sun rises and seriously burn the hell out of your feet. I recommend wearing your shoes at all times. The beach itself is very big and long; however, if you find a place to lay your towel on the ground, the heat from the pebbles will burn your bum. The best option is to snag yourself a beach chair, but the seating is limited.
The only good thing about Perissa is that famous DJ’s occasionally come here to play, so there is a significant party atmosphere.
Last is Kamari. It is next to the airport and well organized for tourists (aka easy to get to). Obviously, this means it is by far the most crowded of all the beaches. Kamari has the nicest ‘sand’, but doesn’t offer much of a view. We stayed here for 5 minutes, ate a sandwich and left. So disappointing.
None of these beaches even held a candle to half of the other beaches we saw during our cruise. If you want to see a truly incredible Greek island beach, check out Myrtos Beach in Kefalonia.
The Cities Are Swarming With Tourists
The Insta-worthy white and blue painted town and cliffside views are cool. However, EVERYONE knows this. It is probably the reason most people visit Santorini in the first place. So expect the major cities such as Oia, Imerovigli, and Pyrgos Kallistis to be busy. And by busy, I mean brushing sweaty shoulders with your fellow tourist. Some wider streets offer a little bit more space (thank goodness!), but then you turn a corner and find yourself shuffling between narrow streets.
Along with the insanely busy streets, here are a few other things I’d rather not deal with. The shops hawk their “authentic” Greek goods to everyone walking by. Photographically challenged tourists block the way and take selfies around every corner. The streets are like mazes, so you continuously worry if the direction you’re going is correct. And the heat!!!! Just imagine you are walking along a narrow street, the sun is beating down on you, there’s no breeze, there’s no shade, and the reflection from the white, cliffside houses burns your eyes. That was the situation the entire time we explored Oia, Santorini.
Wandering around the Santorini towns was not what I would call a fun experience.
(It may not seem that busy here but this was taken when there was a break in the crowds along a wider street.)
Popular Instagram Photos Locations Are Actually Blocked Off
Let’s say you understand to skip the beaches, archeological sites, or anywhere on the island except for your cliffside city of choice. Let’s also say you know you will have to fight the crowds to get that picture you saw on Instagram of the blue domes and white houses.
What you don’t know is that it is now illegal to get many of these famous pictures.
You see, the city is full of privately owned pieces of real estate. These owners don’t like it when you climb over their fences and onto their roofs, especially when it is on top of a church. When it was just a random model or two, it wasn’t a big deal. Now that it’s a few hundred tourists, the locals try to prevent people from trespassing and causing further property damage.
The only way to get any sort of iconic Instagram shots is if you stay at one of the most famous private cliffside villas or you ignore the local’s ‘Do Not Enter’/’Private Property’ signs and trespass. I’m not sure what happens if you get caught. Probably someone will just yell at you, but why be disrespectful and risk it?
The Rest Of The Island Is Ugly
Sure, the cities on the cliffs of Santorini overlooking the volcano and the Mediterranean Sea are beautiful. They offer amazing views, great food, fun bars, and expensive lodgings.
Now, I hate to say this, but the rest of the island is hideous. It looks like the New Mexico desert (not the White Sands, the crappy brush covered desert) with a few random trees in smaller towns. Full discloser, these towns are nothing like Oia – the postcard of Santorini. As you can see from the photo below, they are nothing special and not visually appealing.
My advice: Don’t rent a car. Don’t drive around the island. The roads are packed, and the views are terrible. Save your time and keep drinking at your cliffside villa.
In Conclusion
You should only visit Santorini if. . . .
You wish to do absolutely nothing for a few days while staying at a private, high-end cliffside villa. Not only will you have great views but you will get to enjoy them in privacy. You will also have the opportunity to walk around the cities in the evening and at night when most of the tourists from cruise ships leave the island.
OR
You want to take photos of the infamous white and blue churches, cliffside windmills, and colorful bougainvillea trees.
I don’t think either reason would be worth the amount of money it costs to visit and stay on the island. Instead, why not explore one of the other 200 inhabited and 6,000 uninhabited Greek islands that aren’t overrun with tourists?
Santorini is the perfect example of a place that, through social media and highly edited photos, has become one of the most famous and sought after travel destination in the world without actually providing anything other than a background for a photo.
If you’ve been to Santorini, what is your opinion of the island? Let me know in the comment below!
– Angie
The huge number of stray cats and dogs, all desperate for food and many ill/hurt, ruined our week of family holiday. As winter approaches and the island empties, they will suffer even more. If you care about pets, it’s not a good place to be..
Have to agree.
I couldn’t wait to leave Santorini. Took a boat tour and saw piles of plastic and garbage just rolling down into the ocean. Asked our tour guide and he said that there isn’t enough places to put the garbage!
It is a volcano so expected the moonscape to a certain extent. Beyond the views it is just not a nice place. I’ve seen nicer views and sunsets in many places around the world. I just do t get it.
I do think they should strongly consider reducing the number of tourists on the island. They are not really able to handle the number of people visiting which means more people are having a bad experience. Eventually the internet is going to turn on them and it will not longer be a place to visit.
Just finishing a full week in Santorini. While exploring the lovely sites and the beautiful hillside villages we could not avoid thinking what a different experience this would have been with a short time at hand, like coming from a cruise ship, and at a different time of the year, like August in the scorching sun.
We literally loved it, we took our time in different places, which were not very crowded, rented a car and explored the island in peace, went to some amazing restaurants, and met some very nice local and expat people.
We met a Danish gentleman who was here for the sixteenth time, proposed to his wife in Oia and named his daughter after this beautiful town.
The place is truly magical, just pick the right time and give it enough time, if you can afford it, otherwise, yes, probably better to avoid it.
Absolute joke. Rude people everywhere, crowds in late September, everything overpriced and not worth the money. Never coming back..
[…] somewhere with that reputation to have cool archeological sites, but Santorini does not,” states TheLovelyEscapist. There are only three small beaches: Red Beach, with red volcanic rocks, Perissa, with harsh black […]
Hi Angie, I’ve spoken to relatives who have visited Santorini and the majority have given it a thumbs down. Yes, the iconic primer white homes and hotels are there but everyone I know said they would never go back. They didn’t mention all the negatives that many of the above posts listed, they just said once was enough (either they were being diplomatic or they didn’t want to insinuate that it was a waste of money). I guess I should have gone when I was young (backpacking, youth hostel, etc.) when all the negative points of view didn’t matter. Just wine, women and song mattered. Ironically, I wouldn’t have been able to afford that too.
It’s true that every vacation destination isn’t what it used to be,, but Santorini is still beautiful with incredible views of the Santorini Caldera in the epic, blue Aegean Sea. The Greek people are wonderful there and throughout the islands. Take a good attitude and you will enjoy your visit.
I visited in August 2023. It was just a short low fare flight for us so no biggie. My impressions about crowds, heat and schmalziness were similar to yours and on top of that it was pricey for Greece. but I blamed myself. I mean it’s the peak season and I’m on Greece’s most instagrammable peace of real estate.
There were things we did like, eg sunset walks on cliffs in Imerovigli and Pyrgos was actually not that crowded.
Anyway, been there, done that, got the tshirt (they actually did have great tshirts). Oh and the local beer Lazy Donkey is exquisite,. And I would never have expected to find decent beer in Greece (brewed by an American guy I hear).
On the other hand I hope your advice to “stay in your cliffside residence and drink” was a joke lol. You can do better than that for sure!
To add to the extreme disappointment I felt when encountering all things listed by you and others, we spent half of our 4 hour allotted time on Santorini standing in line for the cable car. Our only other option to get off the island was the 700 steep downhill steps. I thought I would pass out from the heat and crush of people waiting in a line that snaked its way through the Main Street of town. People continually cut in the line, causing yelling matches, and further misery. Wish I would have stayed on the cruise ship!!
I have just been to Santorini, what a total disappointment. The landscape is barren, with rubbish strewn everywhere on all the vacant dusty blocks of land. and for some reason I expected to see white buildings with blue domes everywhere, but alas we had to go to Oia to see these. Its totally crowded in the small lanes and you need to be fit to walk up and down all those uneven steps. I stayed in Kamari which I found very pleasant and not overcrowded. I travelled by public bus everywhere which was very cheap. But I would never recommend Santorini to anyone.
I would recommend that you do not even consider Santorini as a one-day stopover from a cruise. Just a week ago, our cruise ship docked at Santorini where you have to be ferried ashore by tender boats. There are two small docks on shore. But, four other cruise ships anchored at the same time totalling up to 9000 passengers. To get from one dock to the top of the cliff, they have built a cable car ( funicular ). It can handle approximately 600 passengers per hour. If only half of the tourists land at that dock, in addition to a stiff uphill walk to the cable car station, do the math. 600 per hour into 4500 passengers/tourists. That means upwards of a 7-hour wait to go up and return, Our cruise directors shot us an excuse of the sea being too rough for the tenders so all onshore cruises were cancelled. But strange how the tenders were cancelled if you had a tour booked but, the tenders still ran if you wanted to go ashore unescorted and do your own thing. And rough? I have seen bigger waves in a bathtub. It was a beautiful day. If you do get to the top of the funicular, be prepared for a healthy hour walking to a place where you can take a picture of the one or two blue domes but, you will have to do it from a parking lot as you cannot get close enough to get the “iconic” photos. Just not worth the time, effort or the chance that you will pay to go and then get stuck on your ship anyway.
Thank you, I thought we were the only people to really dislike Santorini, but you didn’t mention in your article the cruelty to the poor donkeys who are beaten and made to carry overweight lazy tourist up very steep hills, absolutely heartbreaking. Also the flies and the very strong winds, not the gentle breeze as so often said in holiday brochures, there is no shelter from the sun as the winds are to high to put up parasols and the food is not good.
We went to lake Garda earlier this year and it is so beautiful that we are going back there, we will never come here again.
I completely agree with every word you wrote. Sadly, Santorini is/was our last stop on 3 wonderful weeks of island hopping and we have another day here (3 days total) and I already wish I could board the ferry and get out of here. Horrible, dirty beaches, trash everywhere you look, Fira chaotic, crowded, full of touristic shops all offering the same junk. And, to make a bad situation worse, we stopped yesterday for about 30 minutes to take a quick swim at Perissa Beach only to return to our rental car which had been broken in to. Cash, credit card carefully removed from a wallet (thief didn’t take the wallet) tucked away in compartment of backpack, which was tucked away in bottom part of car. We didn’t even realise we had been robbed (still had wallet) until a few hours later when we wanted to pay for dinner and realised 400 euros and cards were not there. Unfortunately by the time we closed the cards the thief had already charged 503 euros at a bar in Perissa. Come here for a stopover, look at the beautiful view of the caldera and then move on to one of the other beautiful Greek islands.
Outside of Oia in Santorini there are a myriad of exceptional wineries not to be missed! The volcanic terroir is home to impressively old vineyards, some of which contain vines that are over 400 years old – a rarity in the world of wine. Be sure to try the island’s specialty, assyrtiko- a racy and refreshing white wine.
It’s awful. I will never return. People on social media don’t share the truth about Santorini. I admire your honesty about the place. If you’re considering a trip to Santorini, save yourself a lot of money and disappointment. Go somewhere else.
I will never return. Yes amazing sunset but truly the rubbish rolling into the sea. The lack of infrastructure is appalling. Truly tax the cruise peeps $1 each. Surely that would be enough to have a recycle facility. Sadness me that my kids will never see how beautiful the Greek islands are because of greed and poor government management. You cant keep taking bottled water onto an island and have no way of disposing of it. im so sad for this place.
Just left Santorini for Ios and I was beginning to think it was me…old and jaded but no. Ios is everything Santorini isn’t. Can’t say any more than I totally agree with every word you’ve written here!
I went to Santorini in 2018 for a week. My experience in Oia was horrible – I literally got shoved and pushed by the public in Oia – the most famous village in Santorini. Staying in a luxury resort at Firostefani was blissful as you mentioned. And we were there only for a night. Then we moved on to Perissa and stayed at a guest house in the side lane. This was more peaceful than the rest of Santorini. We walked almost 15km every day and went to 5 or 6 villages. And found peace at Pyrgos! So, if people stick to Oia and Fira – They huge disappointment. But, staying in villages outside the tourist hotspots, still can be better.
But your experience at Santorini is much similar to what happened to me in Hallstatt (2022)- I wonder why I wasted my time there. People ruin places in the name of “Tourism and Social Media”
The hike from Fira to Oia is incredible! We stayed in Fira at a hotel with a pool and an amazing view for $250 after taxes and fees. Had a terrific meal for a reasonable price with more views to die for right down the street. Everyone from the bus driver to the barber (I really needed a trim!) were very friendly. The next morning we paid 35 euro to have our gear shuttled to our Oia room so we could hike light. Crazy good views nonstop!. Got to our Oia room and it also had an incredible view with a private outdoor soaking tub for $306 after tax (2 night min). Streets were crowded (late may) but as expected for a place so desired with cruise ships nearby. Obviously a place you don’t come to for beaches but who comes here not knowing that other than people that don’t do any pre trip research. I wouldn’t rent a car to drive around the island, it’s got your typical arid landscape drawbacks when the blue water isn’t in the background. But guess what, it’s a small island so the blue water is in the background 99.9% of the time. Stay a few days in santorini, you won’t regret it!
The hike is dreadful. Whoever thinks otherwise hasn’t been to New Zealand, Canada, French Alps, Scotland etc etc
A dusty, potholed track lined by litter, used condoms,, animal faeces with a view of ‘private villas’ on one side and sheer cliffs with garbage at the shore on the other. The start and finish points are Fira and Oia which have already been described. The rest of the island is like a public landfill site. Bus stations were a shambles, service staff universally rude (not the bus drivers though) and food worse than average.
I feel heard and validated reading this!
I’m currently in Santorini on my 3rd evening out of 4. Spent 2 nights in Imerovigli – nice little cave with a view. To be honest, I have been to better more authentic and less busy places. It IS pretty on that side of the island. The views are beautiful but it has been ruined by the sheer influx of tourists.
Don’t get me started on the food – what is this madness? I thought Greek food was amazing? I thought the first night I had just picked a bad place to eat but my bad luck seems to be following around the island.
Also, I’m really cheesed off about the cost of food here? And Coffee? I live in London and this place is way more expensive. I almost wouldn’t mind but the quality is poor.
This is not what I wanted my 1st Greek experience to be like….:-(
I went to Santorini about 25 years ago, when there were NO hotels, and over 350 churches. It was as pure Greek as you can get. Now, it is a Tourist Greece, and really not a place to go to experience real Greece.. I have been to many islands in the Aegean, From Halki, Tilos, Symi, Lipsi etc, and they are all more Greek than any other places, and most have been untouched by tourism to the degree what you see IS Greece as it was and still should be.
Popular Instagram Photos Locations Are Actually Blocked Off! No way I’m going.
!
10000 percent agree. Huge waste and disappointment.
Nice overview. I am in santorino now. It is pretty where I am. But I liked the beach and pool better at our Mykonos location.
First thing I smelled pop of donkey. Santroni is very bad place and very crowded. Local people are very rude. Don’t be fooled to waste your money and time for blue domes and white narrow streets
It really seems bizarre to me that you say ‘there are no good places to get Instagram shots’. Are you genuinely travelling to go and get Instagram shots so that you can show other people that you’ve been somewhere?
You also miss the ONLY main point here. The real reason not to go to Santorini is that it is it is an absolute dump. A classic example of development going untapped in favour of greed. The island is a shitehole in the same way as most of Thailand now is, covered with ill thought out and half finished building projects.
Wish I’d read this before spending a small fortune for a weeks holiday here.
It captures the real Santorini perfectly. The other thing to mention is that drinks everywhere (at least in Fira) are ridiculously expensive compared to other islands and European destinations. Eg €40 for 2 cocktails and a coke!!! Cheaper cocktails seem to have no alcohol in them. In addition to this, I agree the average service is surly and like they’re doing you a favour! Not a pleasant experience.
Save it for a day trip if that. Santorini does Greece no favours – it’s hospitality is poor in comparison to other islands.
I’ve never wanted to go to Santorini, and now we’ve been invited to a wedding! My luck… I was planning to only stay there for 4 days… what can I do while being there? Also I’m from Mallorca so them beaches look like absolute trash to me and I won’t be going in them.
I was also thinking since I go all the way to Greece, is the 4 days interrail ferry pass for the Greek islands worth it? Like to travel around the islands the days before starting in Atenas? Or are all the islands as ugly as this? (Remember I come from Mallorca, you can Google beaches like Es trend, playa de Muro o cala na Clara). Don’t know what to do 😭
Wish I’d read this article before I went this May. Spent 2 weeks on 4 islands, starting at Mykonos, then Naxos, Ios and finished in Santorini. We stayed in a beautiful hotel in Perissa which saved the week, but did not like the beach at all. Completely agree with all your points. Everyone raves about Santorini but someone has done a massive PR job on it! We were so underwhelmed. Fira was horrible, filthy streets and so busy with cruise guests, hated it. Wish I had booked the trip the other way round so we ended up in Mykonos for a week, much prettier island. Absolutely loved Naxos and Ios and will go back. Hoping to visit Paros and Naxos next time. We have property in Spain and the white washed villages there are so much nicer than Oia.
Agree. Found this article by googling Santorini is a shithole. I reckon if people come it should be for one day/night max. Shocked what a dump it is. Wish I went to another island.
I agree wholeheartedly. I stayed here for 4 days. I am leaving a day early and not getting my money back at my hotel bc I must take a direct flight out bc they lost my luggage for 2 days at Athens airport ( yes with apple tags). I will go one further and say skip the whole county unless you only care about instagram photos like my kids do. If you care about people, and strolls, and restaurants that don’t gauge you $500 for a lobster then go to Italy instead. It was better all around. And by all means, never stay at any ADRONIS property. I paid for 7 people here and they were rude, the rooms are grosser than gross,, the pictures are misleading. My pool is 1/3 the size of the internet surrounded by a ditch you would see in Compton with people who can walk by between me and view. Wish I found your advice sooner.
Please, utter rubbish. Try Tilos, or Lipsi, they have not changed in over 500 years. Amazing food, limited tourists, no building over 2 floors high. To put all of Greece into the same bag as Santorini is beyond ignorance!
I agree. Sooo ugly except in places. I was really shocked!! So sad about the animals. I heard that. I stayed in Oia and did nothing else. It was stunning there and had an instinct not to do anything else, just relax. Glad I did! Your article was very vindicating. I did enjoy my time here but it’s one and done. By the way, I took the bus here from the airport and I have NEVER been treated so poorly by bus drivers. I’ve travelled to India etc and am used to very rough and tumble bus experiences but the drivers I met did not give a rat’s A about the passengers. At the bus stop in Fira a bus almost ran over people backing up. All in a day’s work I guess. And where was that Greek friendliness everyone raves about?! I’ll donate to the animal rescue group. Where can I find them?
Oh no, I’m thinking of going and now I have read this article. 😞
I could not agree more. I was in Santorini 20 years ago for my honeymoon and I could not wait to leave….. it was so boring and there was absolutely nothing to do. We werethere in April so we were not even dealing with crowds and tourists. I was so happy we were only there for two days and spent the bulk of our time in amazing Mykonos. I have no desire to ever return to Santorini
Well done for writing an honest review. I think Santorini is a little nicer than you suggest, but to be fair, there isn’t a lot to do there, and it is very, very crowded. I also wouldn’t describe Santorini as authentic Greece (try fabulous Naxos, lovely Paros, amazing Crete of course, or Kefalonia, which is beautiful and also has the most wonderful food), but Greece is a tourist country, so it’s no wonder places have been changed by the tourist industry.
I can’t agree with you about the archaeological site of Akrotiri. It is well worth visiting and there’s lots to see, if archaeology is your thing. It’s just a short bus journey from Fira. Well, everywhere is a short bus journey from Fira, given the size of the island…
We’re heading back for 3 days in Santorini in May (which will be enough), before going to wonderful Naxos (5 days) and Syros, (3 days), then leaving Greece via Mykonos (just 1 day there because it’s stupidly expensive). I definitely wouldn’t stay in Santorini for too long, but I do recommend it as a short stopping point in a holiday around the islands.
Omg what a ridiculous article and comments.. yeah if you go to santorini in fking august it’s gonna be hell. I was there like a week ago and it was much calmer and enjoyable. You don’t go to santorini for the beaches. There are 2-3 that are worth visiting but santorini is for the views. And the door to the two churches was literally open. You don’t go to santorini for exploring or for archaeological sites. You go to see fira immerovigli and oia. And relax while enjoying caldera. That’s why you go there for 2-3 days. And that’s why you don’t go there in June July or august. Maybe you should become a smarter traveler before writing such a stupid article.
Damn, you’re right. I should become a smarter traveler. Thank you so much for your helpful insight!
Angie – just left Santorini yesterday. You are spot on. Views breathtaking and worth seeing, so worth going if you just want to chill in your cliffside room taking it in. But very expensive!
Thanks for your impressions – now I don’t feel lonely with mine ???? One more aspect I would add – local people are terribly spoiled by tourism… I understand – they are tired of tourists, but still… I’ve never seen such a rude behavior. It looks like this island is tired of tourism, but at the same time can’t live without it, as there is no alternative for easy incomes. Santorini is my bigest disappointment and my bigest NO 🙁
I appreciated the article and was searching online for affirmation not to include overcrowded Santorini…….but I had to laugh when at the end of the article she decided to post the same stunning photos with her perfect colorful dress overlooking the best photo ops without a lot of tourists around. LOL so she is saying not worth coming and getting these pics BUT I did it and have them to enjoy and show others.
I’m a travel photographer, so no matter what, I am going to try to capture the beauty of a location. But I wrote this post to share the truth behind those all too perfect photos. I also did not trespass for any of these photos.
I visited santorini for 3 days in 2017 with my wife. We seriously panicked after the first day because we realised it was possibly the sh1ttest place we had ever visited, and we still had 2 days to fill. We still talk about it to this day. The place is awful on every level. The food is crap, the island (aside the view) its butt ugly. We agree with everything in thy article.
Hi from Lucia in Switzerland, I just agree so much with all your details and the reasons for your conclusion. Not to mention the rubbish all over and the abandoned negcleted cats and dogs and suffering donkeys. Local rescuers and volunteers from many European countries and the USA just confirm what we animal helpers know since many years based on onsite-aid, direct contact with rescuers and the coordiantion of almost daily SOS-calls from compassionate tourists wanting to save or adopt a stray. Of course, Corona with zero leftovers from restaurants/hotels contributed to unseen suffering after the “normal” hunger in winter (when the island is devoid of people except for old, poor and animal loving ones). Please tell the world to not go there and why. And maybe you feel like adding that the local communities (except for Oia) are not only zero help in terms of cooperation with local rescuers for a better stray managment including sterilisation-rehab-rescue and above all adoption-support but are A) blocking all efforts and B) looking down on their own Greek people who reduce and prevent animal suffering giving their last cent and C) are backing a StateVet that is totally against improvements, refusing any solution finding to the extent of delaying every single issue whatever it may be: He is an remains the owner of every stray on Santorini and none of them should ever get help, food and certainly not be adopted. Santorini tourists should know all these before cat and dog lovers go there. And all should refrain from donkey riding,, always. Best wishes for finding better places with less ignorant people and thanks for telling the world.
I think most people who come to Santorini think there are hundreds of those blue domed houses with white walls. Then they find out that there are only 2-3 and it’s a zoo, with people jostling to take pictures for their Instagram. Santorini, in terms of natural beauty, is no better than the Pacific Coast in California, imo.
I could not agree more. I had to stay two nights to get a flight back from going to another island and I absolutely hated it. Touristy hell hole.
I wish I’d read your article before I’d already booked my tickets. We’ve got a week there.
You will love it there, don’t you worry!
Great article! Santorini is the island for people who have never seen any other part of Greece (nor have heard of any other place in the country). The beaches in every other part of Greece are better and the archaeological sites in the rest of the country are much better too. But if a bunch of people want to be basic and go there because one of their friends did, then they deserve the crowds and so-so experience. It helps to keep the nicer parts of Greece less crowded!
I want to go there for the geology. It sounds like you did not have any interest in that so I don’t know if you can say anything about that aspect. But I definitely might be better off going during the off season.
Cannot agree more. This is the same as those claiming they have been to the US and only go to Disneyland in FLorida. Shame, so many more beautiful islands in the Aegean.
We are currently enjoying the amazing Caldera view from our cave house. This has been the highlight of being on Santorini for the three nights and two days we have been here.
I cannot agree more with everything you have said about Santorini. We also hired a car for one day as we wanted to make sure we saw as much as we could. It is not an attractive island. We were so surprised and disappointed.
It was also a wake up call to see how many people are so caught up with image and posing for the perfect photo. Numerous times seeing women yelling at husbands for not getting the best photo of them looking so ridiculous posing. The photo shoots…..omg seriously. We even saw a little girl about 10yo dressed in a long hot pink satin dress sweating for a photo shoot with her mum. Poor child.
However on the second day we caught the bus to Fira early in the morning and did the hike to Oia. This was amazing and I’m so glad we did it. In the afternoon we went down to Ammoudi and swam and my husband and daughter jumped from the little island cliffs that we had watched people jump from at our accommodation. It was a fantastic second and last day.
Thank you so much for sharing your views of Santorini and experiences! Definitely would have loved to do a hike from Fira to Oia, and swim at Ammoudi. So happy you’ve been enjoying your stay.
Santorini is overrated AF. Go to Paros Island, Ios & Milos. Tourist trap is an understatement for this island. Parikia on Paros Island is where it’s at. Currently touring the islands, staying in Santorini as I write this.
Thanks for sharing your opinion.Although some points are true ie Santorini doesnt have the nicest beaches when compared to other Greek islands, but I also think the beaches are unique because they are the way they are due to the Volcano.I have been to Santorini 3 times and I would go back in a heartbeat. Oia is overcrowded for watching the sunset but you can see the sunset from Imerovigli and Firostefani where the sunset is just as beautiful.I also agree that staying in a luxury hotel is a must because you truly get to experience the island the way you are supposed to. Also lots of wineries to explore with captivating views all around the island.
I’m sorry you didn’t have a good experience in Santorini but coming from someone who is from Greece, Santorini has become a tourist trap. 10-20 years ago it wasn’t like this at all. Ever since it got popular on Instagram it has been totally ruined. But what gets to me is that some people go to this island with very high expectations and it doesn’t meet their expectations and then they say that all of Greece is hideous and is not worth going to when in fact, this isn’t true because it is not even a quarter of Greece’s culture and beauty. If you visit Greece again i suggest going to Santorini or Mykonos in less popular months such as May, September, etc. Or going to less popular islands such as Syros, Tinos, Crete, Spetses, etc. (Syros is the best island by far in my opinion you should totally consider it.)
It’s better to seek a location based on hobbies, arts, history, and passions. I’ve traveled to lots of places based on where my mind wandered and took. It wasn’t based on sharing the experience with others nor for the business of social media. In fact internet didn’t exist for the years in much of my travels, and it was the best years for the exact reasons you expressed here. There are tons of places still we can roam that aren’t Instagram-destinations. And like before the age of internet and social media, it takes a bit of passion and depth in sinking our eyes into history books or other references.
P.S. It isn’t so much the number of people today as much as it’s the lack of manners. Crowded places were fine 25 years ago, but today, it’s just riddled with folks who are loud, littered, abnoxious, messy, greedy, and selfish. It may be one in 20 or even 50, but when we have 5000 in a spot, that small percentage is still a very big number enough to ruin things for many.
I can also say the same for many destinations in Japan. It just really bad because what the Japanese had valued as places of sanctuary, peace, and prayers, for locals are now overrun with foreigners who can’t shift their manners between amusement parks and 2200 year old temples.
very refreshing post. Thanks for the honesty. Can’t wait for the next one.
Hi from Uruguay
Flo
I visited Santorini in 2018 in September and actually had a great time! Oia was not crowded at all during the day and we were able to explore without crowds! It only started getting crowded at sunset! I am not sure where everyone was hiding, but oh my, suddeny hundreds of people appeared. I agree with you on the beaches, nothing special there. But we did a catamaran sailing trip which was very nice! We also went to some great restaurants! Overall, I loved Santorini! I guess when you go by ship u automatically get the crowds. I guess its better to go when the busy summer season is over.
100% my experience as well. spent 4 lovely days in October, had amazing food, amazing views, hiked from Oia to Fira, rode a 4-wheeler around to wineries for a day and took one of the catamaran trips which was also wonderful. We did our research and knew we weren’t going there for the beaches and we found plenty of stunning places to take pictures. Fira, when the cruise ships docked, was the worst place. But we loved it. Would explore other islands before returning, just for variety, but wouldn’t turn down another trip
Thanks for sharing ???? I went to Santorini back in 2014 and I think it was a few less tourists then. Nevertheless I feel you. Although it was very emotional for me finally seeing Santorini through my own eyes, watching the sun set in Oia and dreaming with my eyes open beyond the massive Caldera, the other parts of the island and also the beaches are pretty boring. Also the island isn’t Greece for me compared to all the other pretty places around one of my favorite country. We spent there 5 days in a small hotels and it was awesome, but I wouldn’t recommend to stay there too long, to expect too much and to spend too much. Better visit one of the other Greek islands. My favorites so far: Antiparos, Paros, Koufonisi, Crete…… Love, V.
I agree with everything you have written. But I personally knew what I was getting myself into before going there. I just went for two nights, stayed in a luxurious property with private pool and of course visited the main attractions in Oia. I took all insta cliche pictures and that was it. I would never go there if I wanted to have true cultural experience, beach time, or swim in the sea. There are other islands for that. I think it is a common knowledge in Europe and people go there just to see the prettiness of coastal architecture and they don’t hope for much more.
Bizarre that you think you can give advice on a place that you rushed about for a day. The fact that you complain about no breeze shows your lack of knowledge on Santorini. You didn’t get to experience the walks around the island where you get the chance to take the Instagram photo that you so desperately crave without having to wait for a crowd of others to get through. Genuinely amazed someone can think they can gather enough insight on a place they spent so little time on
It’s not advice Darren, it’s my opinion and experience, which I (as well as everyone else) is entitled to. I’m genuinely amazed you think it’s bizzare for me to have an opinion.
Also, about the wind…I never said Santorini doesn’t have wind. Lol. Just that the town of Oia, when I went, didn’t in the streets. No wind, made walking around town so hot that it was unbearable.
I visited Greece for the first time in 2011. Was super excited before I left thinking it would be the highlight of my trip. Once I left, I thought it was completely over rated but thought it was because I had explored so much of Europe that I was comparing it to the other places. After that trip the craze of social media and Instagram took off and I saw all these great pics of Santorini. I had opportunity to go back and again was not pleased. The positive side is at least I’ve been fortunate enough to visit and was able to make my own decision but every one that’s gone with me has said the same thing – Greece is ehh. Lol but I feel the same about Venice and Paris. Glad someone else feels the same way because everyone thinks I’m nuts that such a “beautiful” place I give it such bad reviews lol.
Although I haven’t been in Santorini (which is still part of my bucket list) but I was able to visit 4 other islands for the same price if i would’ve stayed in Santorini for a couple nights. I was able to be in far less crowded places and visit private beaches! There’s more to Greece than just Santorini.
Thank you for your honesty!! I love your blog! Definitely will keep all this info in mind!!
I totally agree with you! Two summers ago I visited Greece for the first time with my now husband. He is a born and raised Greek! He suggested to visit some Greek islands. Obviously I insisted that we should go to Santorini and after a lot of conversations he agreed. Only for 2 days! I thought he was crazy and I even got mad at him for limiting my time in Santorini!!! But he definitely knew better!!! I hateeed it. Too turistic, expensive, crowded, beaches are not beautiful! Greece has so many islands that offer a paradise! Great authentic cusine, nicest people, cristal clear waters, beautifully architecture and history. Just do better reserch and for less than half of the cost you will have the vacation of your life! But stay away from Santorini and Mikonos just trust me and my Greek husband!
Thank you so much for sharing Joha! I totally agree that there are so many other islands that have more to offer. Which islands would you or your husband recommend visiting instead?? I’d definitely love to go back and explore some other Greek islands. . .just not Santorini. 🙂
I enjoy that you keep it real. I am going in may…but for two nights and we splurged for an Airbnb with a cave pool where we plan to spend most of our time.
It’s funny you mention the cave pool because that’s actually the one that came to mind when I was writing about luxury accomodations. The views from that place I’m sure will be incredible! You’ll have a great time, and apparenty May isn’t nearly as busy as the summer months.
I totally agree with a lot of these points. The only reason I LOVED santorini was that we didn’t come via cruise and stayed at such a luxury place for our honeymoon. It’s one of the nicest hotels I’ve ever stayed at in my life. We would wake up at 5/6 whenever sunrise was and walk the peaceful streets and took some amazing photos and had the city to ourselves. Then we would come back for breakfast and a swim at the hotel and then head back out for early dinner and sunset It was so wonderful but sooooo crowded and hot and not enjoyable doing the day walking through the main streets
Ah yes! I think the luxury accomodations are the only way anyone could possibly enjoy Santorini. What sort of activities did you do during the day? Also, do you have any advice for people interested in going?
Aw that sucks! It looks so dreamy on Insta, but that’s good to know! What island would you recommend instead?? Thanks!
I haven’t been to too many Greek islands but I loved Rhodes and Kefalonia! I’ve also had some other people recommend Milos, Syros, Mykonos, Corfu, Zakynthos, and Hydra.
I’ve never been, but tbh it’s not even high on my “visit” list because….there doesn’t seem to be much to do. And I don’t even like the beach. So I’d just get bored and cranky hahah
Oh no! I’m headed here in a month (only a two day stay before heading to other destinations). Since it will be early May and we are purposely staying in Imerovigli and not Oía so I’m hoping it won’t be AS crowded. Fingers crossed!
@melissablanco_15
Someone who frequently visits told me that early May is a good time to go for less crowds since it’s right before summer vacation! I’m sure it’ll be much better than my experience, but definitely go with the right expectations. 🙂 I also didn’t talk about this but they have some wineries you can visit near Imerovigli. If you’re into that, you could make it a half-day activity.
Wow! This is interesting. I have been wondering this about Santorini for some time because I always see beautiful photos… and yet no one ever says anything about what to do there, expect that the crowds suck. I’ve never heard of a good walking tour, interesting museum, archeology site, or anything like that and I guess it’s because they’re not there! I would hesitate to visit for a day as part of a larger cruise, but it doesn’t seem like somewhere worth going as a destination in and of itself.
Yeah, I definitely don’t think it’s worth going to for a long period of time, and I’m surprised that a few people who have commented agree. Obviously the views are beautiful but the crowds truly ruin the entire atmosphere and experience. Probably the best solution is to go during low-season or not at all.