Oia is the most picturesque town of Santorini (and probably Greece). It has always been considered a tranquil and serene place, where the main attraction is basically the sunset, but there are more things to do in Oia.
- BEST THING TO DO IN OIA:All-Inclusive Luxury Catamaran Small Group Cruise
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THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT OIA
- Oia is a small, picturesque village 25 minutes drive from the capital of Santorini, Fira.
- Oia has the best views of the famous Santorini sunset, with uninterrupted views of the volcano and the caldera.
- Oia gets extremely busy and packed between (and including) May and October, between 5 pm and 9 pm, as it’s sunset time and people are trying to get a good spot to watch the sunset with a beer or glass of wine in their hands.
- The famous Ammoudi Bay is the bay under Oia, and a path can take you there. DO NOT TAKE ANY DONKEY THAT MAY BE OFFERED THERE! These animals are abused by their owners.
- If you hop on a private Santorini Boat Tour, you could end up in Ammoudi Bay (ask for the detailed route before boarding the boat). Most Santorini Boat tours operate between mid-April and the end of October.
- You can book the famous Spiridakos Boat Tour instantly. Spiridakos and his crew have decades of experience on Santorini boat tours and are renowned for them.
- Oia is famous for its artistic vibes; many galleries and private boutiques add to that vibe. My advice is not just to visit the shops, but to try to buy something if you like it, as this supports the locals and the artists.
- There are no wineries in Oia. The famous Santo Wines winery is outside Pyrgos and Fira towns. The winery closest to Oia is Sigalas Domaine.
- There is no nightlife in Oia, and it’s like this for a reason: locals (and probably the nearby hotels)do not want to disturb the vibes.
- The best website to book a tour is Get Your Guide. It has hundreds of available tours that you can book online.
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🚕 Book Your Driver (Taxi) directly with booking.com’s large and safe platform of available certified driversSo, without further ado, let’s see the best things to do in Oia:
Watch the Sunset from Oia Castle
Depending on the season, you will be around lots of people trying to take pictures and videos of the most famous sunset in the world. But even under those circumstances, it is a magical experience. If you tick that box, I highly suggest you watch the sunset from Franco’s Cafe at Pyrgos Village or the Prophet Elias hill.
Catamaran Cruise with Meals and Drinks (Spiridakos Cruise)
There are cheap cruises, but they usually depart from Athinios port and are on bigger boats. My preference has always been the cruises that the awesome team at Spiridakos Cruises is doing, with decades of experience on Santorini.
Visit the famous Blue Domes Church of Oia.
At this stage, you would have probably seen pictures of these magnificent blue domes everywhere. To make your life easier, click this link below to see their exact location on Google Maps.
The famous Blue Domes Chruch is here on Google Maps.
It is not difficult to find the blue domes. There is no ticket to anything, and you are free to take as many pictures as you want.
If you are lucky, you may even find the church open and visit it as well, but that is not guaranteed. Obviously, if you try to find them around sunset time, the area will probably be packed with people, but it will be pretty much empty if you visit it in the morning or at any other time.Visit the Santorini Maritime Museum
Hike the path between Oia and Fira
If you are into hiking or want to get moving while on the island, then hiking the path between Oia and Fira is the best way to explore the island differently while enjoying some of the most stunning views of the island. The path itself is quite easy and it will take you 4.5-5 hours to reach the end of it, but you need to be prepared for high temperatures in the summer (between May-October), so my advice would be to do it as early morning as possible. This link provides all the information about the hike itself but if you prefer to do it with a local guide who knows exactly where the good spots are, then this Caldera Trail Guided Hike Private Tour is the best one on the island.
Visit the famous Atlantis Bookstore
Atlantis Books has been an institution of passion, love, and craziness for books, literature, and poetry in Oia since 2002. Please make no mistake: this is one of the cutest bookshops in the world, and it has become one of the top tourist attractions in Oia.
This is a booklover’s paradise with writings all over the walls and thousands of interesting and handpicked books. This little gem has been named one of the best bookstores in the world by National Geographic, and its terrace has hosted readings, film festivals, and story times for kids. However, its future is uncertain as Covid-19 has hit the shop financially, and it now opens irregularly in the summer only.
Visit an Oia Art Gallery or Jewellery Shop
Oia is home to some of Greece’s best art galleries and jewellery shops. There is a certain vibe to all of them, and even though they are quite expensive (don’t forget where you are…) you may eventually find some little gems like Mnemossyne or Ak Galleries or Mati Art Gallery that have some stunning exhibitions or items to buy.
