Pyrgos Car Hire

Guide of Pyrgos

Geography

Pyrgos is the highest settlement in Santorini, part of the Cyclades islands in Greece. It sits on the slopes of Mount Prophet Elias and offers sweeping 360-views across the whole of the mainland, caldera and turquoise sea.

Climate in Pyrgos

Santorini has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. Summer kicks off in June and lasts until September. The hottest month of the year is August with an average daily maximum temperature of 30°C. The coldest month of the year is January, with average low temperatures of 9°C. If you’re looking to avoid getting wet, August is the least rainy time of year to visit with an average of 0mm rainfall and 31 sunny days.

Culture

Pyrgos means “tower’ in Greek, an apt title for Santorini’s highest village. The Venetians built the fortified village in the 16th century AD to protect the island from pirates and invaders and quickly made it the island’s capital. When the Ottomans conquered the island, Pyrgos’s role shifted from fortress to place of exile for political dissidents. It also became a popular place of pilgrimage for Christians.

The town played an important role in World War II, though a devastating earthquake in 1956 severely damaged much of its older architecture. It was only when tourists started to flock here in the 1990s that serious restoration efforts kicked in and in 1995 the Greek government designated it a ‘protected settlement’ to preserve its authenticity.

Things To Do in Pyrgos

Visit one of the region’s best-preserved castles

The Kastelli (castle) is one of the best-preserved Venetian castles in the Cyclades. At its entrance is the beautiful Church of Agia Theodosia, and there are two further churches inside.

Explore postcard-perfect churches

Pyrgos alone is home to a staggering 36 churches, including some of the oldest on the island. Eisodia tis Theotokou is the largest and oldest in Pyrgos, dating back to the 16th century. The church of Aghia Triada, houses a small ecclesiastical museum with an impressive collection of 16th and 17th-century holy icons.

Take a trip to the Monastery of Profitis Elias

The Monastery of Profitas Elias sits at the summit of Mount Profitis Illias, just outside the village. It stretches nearly 567 metres above sea level, making it the highest point on the whole island. The monastery was built in 1711 and is an excellent example of Cycladic architecture, with its bell towers, churches and chapels. It’s worth the hard work to get to the top – the views are spectacular.

Hit the beach

Pyrgos’s hilltop location means there aren’t actually any beaches in the village, but there are several excellent stretches less than a 10-minute drive away. The famous black-sand Kamari Beach is one of the most popular on the island and offers excellent facilities, so you can spend the whole day here. Perivolos, renowned for its watersports and excellent seafood restaurants, is less than 15 minutes away.

Sip some wines at a vineyard

Two of the island’s most prestigious wineries are a short drive away from Pyrgos: Santo Wine and Hatzidakis winery. The former is well known for its picturesque terraced vines and fine wines, while the latter makes super Vinsanto and Aidani wine. You can easily book tours and tastings at both locations.

Eating Out in Pyrgos

In Pygros, you’ll find dozens of excellent restaurants and tavernas offering traditional homemade food at affordable prices. Local specialities include Tomato Gefthedes (tomato fritters, made with sweet tomatoes, zucchini and onions), Saganaki (fried cheese in filo pastry and honey) and fave me koukia (creamy mashed fava beans), best washed down with lots of local wine and topped off with an ouzo digestif.

Cava Alta is a real crowd-pleaser. This traditional taverna serves Mediterranean and Cycladic flavours, with mesmerizing views over the castle and belfries. But, for the best sunset views, head to Franco’s Cafe. The bar and restaurant serve up simple mezze dishes, accompanied by classical music and sweeping views.

Transport

Airport

Santorini has its own airport, the International Airport of Thira (JTR). The airport is served by dozens of domestic flights from mainland Greece, as well as intentional flights from the UK, France, Germany and beyond.The airport is located in Fira, Santorini’s capital, around 6km from Pyrgos. The drive takes just 10 minutes, or you could hop on a 20-minute bus.

Alternatively, you could fly to Athens International Airport, then pick up a ferry from the port of Piraeus. Ferries sail regularly and journey times average five hours.

Getting Around Pyrgos

Pyrgos is a small village and all of its main sights can be reached on foot. There’s a comprehensive bus network during the tourist season which offers a cheap and reliable service to most of the island’s towns and sights. There are also a few public boats that serve the surrounding islands.

However, if you’re planning on exploring more of Santorini and prefer not to rely on public transport, we recommend hiring a car for maximum flexibility. This is particularly advisable for travellers visiting off-season. A car will give you full freedom to explore, though make sure you leave plenty of time to find parking since finding a spot during the summertime can be tricky.