After two nights in Athens, my friend and I were so excited to take the ferry to the Greek island, Santorini. We chose to stay in Fira, the capital of Santorini, due to the accommodation options and proximity to different activities. Fira is absolutely stunning – the landscape and the sunsets are unforgettable. There are also great restaurants and a fun nightlife. I hope you enjoy this guide to Fira, Santorini!
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at Hotel Leta – a budget friendly hotel in the Old Town. Hotel Leta has a little pool and a cute rooftop balcony. I would recommend this hotel if you are on a budget, but the best hotels are those with rooms facing the ocean. Obviously, those hotels are very expensive! Maybe one day…
WHERE TO EAT
There are tons of great restaurant options in Fira ranging from cheap eats to fine dining.
For cheap eats, Lucky’s Souvlakis is a popular spot. Pelican Kipos is perfect for lunch and has outdoor seating in a lovely garden setting. For dinner, there are several restaurants facing the ocean with amazing sunset views, such as Parea Tavern, Argo, Idol, Naoussa, and Volcano Blue.
WHAT TO DO
Hikes
The most popular thing to do when staying in Fira is to walk around the village and hike to the neighbouring towns. The most popular hikes are to Imerovigli and Oia. The views are incredible!
Fish Pedicure
At the time of our trip to Greece, fish pedicures were all the rage and my friend and I were determined to see if we could handle it. We got our fish pedicure at Kissingfish. It was a unique and ticklish experience!
Santorini Cable Car
Fira has a cable car that connects the Old Port to the Old Town of Fira. You can ride the cable car to enjoy the amazing views!
Wineries
Santorini is known as a wine region and winery tours are a popular activity. Santo Wines, Venetsanos Winery, and Gavalas Winery are all great wineries to visit.
Beaches
Santorini beaches are composed of volcanic sand and pebbles. Although they are not the best beaches in Greece, they are unique and beautiful. We had a great day relaxing and swimming at Perissa Black Sand Beach. Some other popular Santorini beaches are Red Beach, Kamari Beach, Perivolos Beach, and Monolithos Beach.
Day Trips
Fira is a great base to explore the rest of Santorini due to its location. The most popular day trip from Fira is to the infamously picturesque town, Oia. To read my blog post, “A Day Trip to Oia,” click here.
Some other popular day trips are to Akrotiri (an archaeological site of a prehistoric city), and Santorini’s three volcanic islands; Thirasia Island, Nea Kameni, and Palia Kameni.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to Fira, Santorini!
