Is Santorini Worth Visiting? Brutally Honest Pros and Cons

If you’re not new around here, you already know my thoughts about Santorini, Greece. I didn’t love it. Brian didn’t love it, either. 

My main gripe is that it felt so much less authentic than anywhere else in Greece. It felt like a place that was created for tourists, particularly cruise ship folks, who weren’t necessarily adding value to the place.

While I’m here to give you my honest feelings on a place, I’m not here to tell you NOT to go somewhere if your heart is set on a destination.

I just want you to approach these places with the right expectations. In the case of Santorini, you may want to lower them…or maybe you already know what to expect. I’ll share both sides of things with you here as far as whether Santorini is worth your time.

You should see Santorini once, maybe. 

I’m generally in the camp of seeing places at least once before making judgments about that destination. In the case of Santorini, my FOMO truly got the best of me.

I wanted to see if it was as pretty as the pictures, but I also wanted to see if it was as overtouristed as some say.

The thing is, many people LOVE this island, and a part of me even gets that. Anyway, I feel like starting with the positives is always best. 

Santorini is pretty.

You won’t need any filters here unless you’re cropping humans out of crowded scenery photos. The caldera views from Oia and Fira are great, especially at sunset, and those whitewashed buildings and blue domes are all real. 

Santorini is very photogenic. It’s not so photogenic that I’ll wait in line for photos, but I’d be lying if I said those colors aren’t vibrant. 

Fun fact: There are A LOT of good opportunities for photos in Santorini. Sure, some of the more iconic spots will have large crowds clamoring for the perfect shot, but the tier just below “perfect” is still great and comes with fewer tourists.

It has a nice wine scene.

Santorini has some great wines. It’s generally regarded as Greece’s most famous vine-growing island. Get out of Oia and Fira, Santorini’s main, most touristed towns, and into its wine country to ditch some of the people, too.

We had a nice time at Venetsanos Winery and Santo Wines, the more commercial of the two. The views were great, the wine was tasty, and the cheese boards were generous. 

Our visits were quite expensive, though. These were Napa prices, and I’ve complained about that quite a bit here.

I often suggest wines by the glass to save some cash in pricier wine regions, but those were expensive, too. Brian got a $16 glass of red wine, for example. He loved it, but he also loves $4 bottles of wine in France.

Note: Wine tours may offer a more budget-friendly approach to the island’s wine scene. This is the tour I was eyeing before we decided to DIY our wine tour. It comes with a meal, which I always love if the wine is flowing.

READ MORE: Sonoma is much easier to do on a budget, and it’s right next door to Napa. See how!

It’s a vibe.

Some may consider this a negative, but for many others, that’s why they’re here. They want that luxe cocktail at sunset with the caldera behind them. They want to sit in an infinity pool with the same.

That’s why it’s so popular for honeymooners who want to feel fancy. It is decidedly NOT my vibe (and it’s certainly not Brian’s), but people flock to this place for a reason, and it’s often thanks to that inexplicable vibe.

Santorini’s geology is cool.

The island was formed by a massive volcanic eruption around 1600 BCE. The big boom created the dramatic caldera that tourists like to drink around today and reshaped the landscape.

Fun fact: Today, you can see the layers of volcanic rock in the cliffs and hike an actual volcano at Nea Kameni. 

I’ll get into why this place isn’t a “beach” destination later, but the red and black sand beaches can be a draw for some. They’re a direct result of Santorini’s volcanic past.

For geology lovers, Santorini offers a unique chance to explore a landscape shaped by fire. That’s pretty cool.

You can ditch the tourists if you work for it.

Most of the cruise ship folks are dumped out in Fira, spending their time there and in Oia, especially at sunset. In fact, many ships depart quite late from Santorini to give cruisers the chance to catch a sunset here.

If you’re only here for a day or two, it may be tempting to just do as everyone else does and move en masse to the most touristy parts of the island. 

We were limited on time ourselves but decided to approach the two towns in a more aggressive way. We walked between them.

It’s about six miles from one to the other. You can start as most do in Fira and walk north for a sunset show in Oia, or be a rebel and do it the opposite way.

You’ll still get fantastic views along the way, and burn bonus calories from the added uphill climbing this way. 

I’ve already suggested checking out the island’s wine country for fewer tourists, too, but villages like Pyrgos and Emporio offer a look at Santorini that not many explore.

Santorini isn’t worth visiting for most.

If you’re planning your first trip to Greece, as we were, Santorini is super tempting. It shows up on almost every itinerary. Instagram tells you it’s beautiful. Your aunt Janet loved it when she visited 15 years ago.

Well, things have changed, Janet. Unless you’re some Greek island completionist, there are other, better options that are less expensive, less crowded, and just as good a time as Santorini. Let’s get into the ugly now.

Santorini is overcrowded and overtouristed. 

The island is busy year-round, but it’s particularly busy during high season and around cruise ship schedules. If you’re booking far in advance, you may not get to avoid all of the ships that come into port here, but you can ditch some of the tourists in the off-season.

The thing is, Greece overall isn’t as accessible in the off-season. All of the ferries won’t be running, and you may be limited in choice as far as excursions, restaurants, and accommodations.

I was told late spring, just before summer hits, was best. We visited at the end of May and into the start of June, so still riding the shoulder, and it was still incredibly thick with people across the island.

Even without the tourists, though, this place still feels different than other spots we visited in Greece. It’s as if you’re on a sound stage made to look like Greece. High-end hotels, Instagrammable cafés, and souvenir shops dominate the most popular areas.

I get it. Much of the island’s economy revolves around visitors. But the island has seemed to lose much of its soul as a result. 

It’s expensive.

Santorini is by far the most expensive place we visited in Greece, for no reason other than it’s heavily touristed. What you’re paying for isn’t any better, either. The food isn’t better. Easy access to wine doesn’t make it any cheaper. 

You can still find reasonable accommodations if you stay outside the main tourist centers, but then you have to deal with getting yourself around the island.

Rideshare is exorbitant, there are only a handful of cabs on the island, and the public transit system is a real hoot. You can rent a car or an ATV, but that’ll cost you, too. Your money is better spent elsewhere.

Santorini isn’t walkable.

Walking is our favorite when it comes to how we like to travel. It’s a great way to check out a new place at your own pace, and getting those steps in means I feel better about indulging later on. 

While much of Europe is quite walkable, Santorini takes an approach that resembles what we’d expect from the rural United States. Outside of the main tourist centers, sidewalks are either nonexistent or slivers of pavement dangerously close to the road.

Blind curves, walking through thick brush, and adding mileage to your journey to avoid walking along a highway are all the norm.

Note: The public transportation here sucks, too. I read so many blogs heralding the joy of riding the public buses here, but in reality, they’re unreliable, limited, and inefficient. 

Unless you’re in Fira, the main bus hub on the island, you’ll likely have the blessed experience of waving down every bus you see until you land on the one you need. It’s a mess, and only funny in hindsight.

READ MORE: Love a walkable city? People love hating on Paris, but that city is made for walking.

Santorini isn’t a beach island.

We weren’t here for the beach anyway, but if you’re thinking you’ll have a good time sunbathing here, you’ll be disappointed. Despite being surrounded by the sea, Santorini isn’t a beach destination. 

Its volcanic origins mean you won’t find soft white sand and turquoise shallows here. Instead, the beaches are made of black or red volcanic pebbles and sand. It’s all striking to look at, but uncomfortable for lounging or swimming. 

It can be dangerous, too. The water gets deep quickly, and the shorelines can be rocky. If you’re looking for classic beach days with long stretches of sand and calm swimming, you should seek out islands like Naxos, Paros, or Crete instead.

It’s a great example of Instagram vs. reality.

Online, Santorini is all sweeping views, empty alleys, and golden-hour perfection. In-person, those same spots are jam-packed with tourists, and the island’s iconic blue-domed churches are either fenced off or swarmed by photo-seekers.

This island is pretty, but many of the “prettiest” spots are heavily curated for photos. I’m talking restaurants with swing seats and photo assistance at sunset points. 

The polished, dreamy version you see online sets unrealistic expectations and brings even MORE people here, which means even more commercialization and higher prices.

Go to Santorini or don’t. It’s really your call.

I’m not here to tell you NOT to go to Santorini if it’s been your bucket list dream destination all of your life. I am telling you to temper those expectations, especially if you can’t hang with big crowds and big prices.

I’d like to think that Santorini takes a swing back to something more authentic at some point, as I’m not sure how much further it can go in tempting tourists here. It’s already all-in on the cruisers and has created a Greek fantasyland. I wish it nothing but the best!

Traveling elsewhere in Greece? Read these next:

• How to Hike to Crete’s Katholiko Bay
• Tips for Renting a Car in Crete
• Steal This Itinerary for One Day in Chania
• Should You Visit Crete’s Knossos Palace?

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• Plan an Incredible Long Weekend in Kraków
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