Santorini, Greece is a dream. White, sugar cube houses cascade toward the cerulean sea. Blue domed churches are perfectly perched along pathways. Sunsets are sublime and the drinks are always cold.
However, there are few things about Santorini that are surprising – and not being properly prepared can turn your dream trip into a bit of a nightmare.
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When Kris and I spent a week in Santorini, it was my second trip to the island…but it was his first. During our stay, it felt like Kris was constantly saying, “You didn’t tell me that” and “I wasn’t expecting this”.
I realized that maybe I – like millions of travelers before me – might have painted a picture of Santorini that was a bit rosier than the reality.
I’m not saying that it isn’t beautiful, because it absolutely is! But there is more to the island’s story than the pretty pictures that everyone posts.
Santorini Travel Tips: What To Know Before Visiting
We’re revealing a few of the hard truths about Santorini that are often glossed over (or ignored altogether).
We are not trying to dissuade you from visiting – it is a top destination for a reason! But with our Santorini travel tips, you can set realistic expectations for your trip.
#1 Toilet Paper Can’t Be Flushed
Alright, I’m getting this travel tip out of the way first – because it’s one of my biggest gripes with Santorini.
Toilet paper cannot be flushed down toilets – not in Santorini or anywhere else in Greece. The pipes are too small, the water pressure is too low and flushing toilet paper can quickly result in a clog.
So, if there is a sign that says ‘No Toilet Paper in Toilets’ – and there is always a sign – it’s not a weak translation. They literally mean it!
Instead, use the small waste basket next to the toilet. It’s gross and it feels archaic, but lots of things are old in Greece…sewage system included.
#2 Water Isn’t Potable
This travel tip for Santorini is a Need-To-Know: You can’t drink the water from the taps.
There are no freshwater sources, making the water undrinkable on the entire island. It’s not an elaborate scheme; drinking the tap water can make you sick.
They do treat seawater in a desalination plant – so what comes out of the tap is fine for showering and brushing your teeth. It’s just not quite clean enough to ingest. Plus, it’s noticeably salty, sometimes discolored and generally unpleasant.
What that means is that you need to drink bottled water. We checked to see if we could use a purifier or filter – but they are not recommended. So bottled water it is.
Many hotels provide as much water as you need, but ours didn’t. We needed to schlep large, 1.5 liters of water from the grocery store to our apartment almost daily.
It makes me shudder to think about the number of plastic bottles this mess creates. And what makes it even worse is that Santorini doesn’t even pretend to recycle.
#3 Elements are Strong
Don’t underestimate the weather in Santorini. When the sun shines, it bakes. When the wind blows, it howls. When the rain comes down, it pours.
Our springtime visit meant that we experienced them all within an hour! Regardless of what time of year you go, you will want to be prepared.
Our travel advice is this: Make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen – as it’s incredibly expensive on the island. We also recommend packing a good rain jacket that doubles as a windbreaker.
Beyond that, carefully consider what outfits to pack. Not only do you want clothing that helps you stay cool when it’s hot, but you might want to think twice about packing short, flowy skirts and loose tops!
#4 The Stairs are No Joke
One of the reasons Santorini is so mind-blowingly beautiful is its unique geography.
The most picturesque towns of Oia, Fira and Imerovigli are practically dripping from the rim of the caldera, creating the dazzling and iconic view that the island is known for.
But stacking accommodation, restaurants and shops on the slope of a volcano means that there are stairs. A lot of them. Like, a lot.
The constant ascent and descent can be a real struggle…even more so if you don’t pack the right shoes. And by that I mean trainers or walking sandals.
It’s not just for the stairs (some of which are sneaky one-step wonders that are easy to trip on), but also because the rock pavement is hard, hot and unforgiving.
Bonus tip for Santorini travelers: Add stairs to your pre-trip cardio workout! Navigating the lanes is a lot more enjoyable if you aren’t walking on shaky legs and gasping for air.
#5 Crowds are Intense
It’s no secret that Santorini can get crowded, but most tourists aren’t prepared for the intensity of it. Narrow lanes, iconic viewpoints and top photo spots are absolutely heaving with people.
The height of the congestion comes during the summer months and on days when mega cruise ships are in port.
But even during our springtime visit, we got swept up in thick, swarming crowds when exploring Oia and Fira. I like my personal space, but we were shuffling shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers.
To make matters worse, everyone in the crowd is angling for the exact same picture-perfect photo.
We stood in queues while people shamelessly snapped countless pictures. One girl even completed an outfit change before allowing the next person in line to take their turn!
We found the best way to avoid the overcrowding was by sightseeing early in the morning and avoiding the entire northern end of the island altogether on days when big cruise ships were in port.
#6 Traffic is Endless
Forget the idea of an idyllic and serene island; Santorini is a busy place…and it’s not just the foot traffic.
The roads present a constant stream of vehicles: cars, vans, city buses, tour buses, trucks, ATVS, motorbikes. Add in the noxious fumes and swirling dust and it’s downright unpleasant.
During our trip, the road traffic was ever-present and sometimes bumper-to-bumper.
Thankfully, we never got behind the wheel. We left the driving to the brave city bus drivers and simply sat back and took in the scenery.
#7 Authenticity is Lacking
Santorini is beautiful…but it’s far from authentic. If you look closely, you will probably notice that a lot of it is outright fake.
Oia especially suffers from the Disneyland Effect. Sure, there is a crumbling, ancient castle and historic windmills, but the rest is a shiny veneer aimed to attract tourist dollars.
The hotels, the restaurants, the shops – all of it – are designed for modern tourists and have little to do with Greek culture.
On the flip side, if you step away from the carefully curated quarters, it’s kind of a mess. Broken sidewalks, roadside trash, half-finished buildings
That said, there are still charming spots that are a lot more real than Oia and Fira.
One of our best tips for traveling to Santorini is to seek out the places that will give you a glimpse of real Cyclades life – like the villages of Pyrgos, Megalochori and Karterados.
#8 It Can Be Incredibly Expensive
Greece has long maintained a reputation of being an affordable place to visit – with the exception of Santorini Island. It can cost a bundle to visit this little slice of paradise.
We noticed that the biggest offender was the price of food and drinks at restaurants. Not only were the costs high, but the food – and sometimes the experience – was mediocre, at best.
As budget-conscious travelers, we had to put our skills to the test to plan a budget trip to Santorini. We share what we did – and exactly how much we spent – in this video.
#9 Shoulder Season is Strange
We have long been shoulder season travelers – and we purposely planned our Santorini trip for late April.
It’s a time of year when the island is less expensive, less crowded and less hot. We’ll take finicky weather over blazing heat any day!
But visiting Santorini right before the summer season made us feel like guests that irritatingly arrived too early for the party.
The locals all seemed to be scrambling to get ready…and we often felt like we were in the way.
Despite the warm weather and plenty of visitors, pools were still empty. At restaurants, waitstaff were still being trained.
Construction and remodeling projects were constant. Restaurants and shops had varied hours (that no one bothered to update online).
Rather than getting a glimpse at local life, we got a full behind-the-scenes adventure. So, our top advice for traveling to Santorini outside the summer season is to just roll with it!
#10 It’s Absolutely Worth It
Despite its downsides, Santorini is still 100% worth visiting – and we say that without hesitation. The architecture is stunning. The sunsets are spectacular. The position is unparalleled.
While our Santorini advice might read like a record of grievances, it’s really more of a ‘good to know’ checklist designed to help you realistically set your expectations.
It’s the list Kris wishes he had read before our trip – and hopefully it helps you best prepare for your Santorini travels!
We have a lot more Santorini tips to share. Be sure to read these Greece trip planning guides!
- 3 Days in Santorini
- Santorini on a Budget
- 2 Weeks in Greece
Start planning your trip to Greece! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want additional advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!
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