What to do in Santorini for 2 Days

Santorini is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea and is one of the most popular holiday and honeymoon destinations in the world. The rugged terrain is home to its world-famous winding streets and bright white brick and blue-roofed buildings. 

Spending 48 hours in Santorini makes for the ideal break for a couple or a family, and in this article, we will explain how you can make the most of your time on this beautiful Greek island.

Where to Stay in Santorini

Despite its relatively small size, there are numerous hotels on the island, suitable for a range of budgets and travellers of all kinds. So whether you want to splash out on the fanciest hotel for your wedding night, or perhaps stay in something a little more budget-friendly, here are some of the best places to stay in Santorini:

Luxury: It doesn’t get much better than Grace Hotel when visiting Santorini. This cliffside resort offers stunning views of the sparkling Aegean Sea, and with many of the rooms having their very own pools, why not make your Santorini trip one to remember by staying at Grace Hotel?

Mid-range: Rocabella and Nimbus are two examples of mid-range hotels in Santorini – perfect for experiencing much of what luxury hotels have to offer without breaking the bank. 

Budget: For those opting to save on hotel prices, Soulis Hotel offers rooms from just €44 (£37) per night, while rooms at Porto Castello can be found from just €37 (£31) per night.

Boutique: Perfect for a getaway, Myst Boutique Hotel is one of the prettiest boutique hotels in Santorini.

Where to Eat in Santorini

Greek food is not just some of the tastiest in the world, but it also has the benefit of (generally) being incredibly healthy. Lots of lean white meat, fresh fish and olive oil are used in Greek cuisine, and the food on Santorini is no exception to this rule.

For a healthy and nutritious way to start off your day, a visit to Stolen Fruit is a must. Expect fresh fruits, Greek yoghurt, acai bowls, and a wide selection of juices and smoothies.

For seafood lovers, you simply have to go to Sunset Ammoudi – arguably the best seafood restaurant on the island. Situated right on the harbour, you can enjoy a fresh plate of calamari or huge, juicy king prawns from the very sea that they were caught in just hours earlier. 

Of course, no trip to Santorini is complete without a traditional Greek gyros – some of the best can be found at Elias Grill, a traditional Greek barbecue restaurant.

Mama’s Restaurant also offers traditional Greek favourites such as Santorinian salad alongside global dishes such as a range of pasta, steak, seafood and risotto, making it a perfect place to visit to try other cuisines rather than just Greek food.

Where to Get Your Culture Fix in Santorini

Taking a wander through Santorini’s narrow and winding streets is a culture fix in itself – it’s really like nowhere else on earth. Some of the best places to do this are in Oia and Fira.

There are also several castles in Santorini. Pyrgos Castle, situated in the village of Pyrgos is at one of the highest points of the island and offers stunning views – well worth a visit when in Santorini.

For an unforgettable experience, how about booking a helicopter tour of Santorini? With panoramic views over the whole island and the sparkling blue waters of the Aegean Sea below, this is one of the best ways to make memories on your Santorini visit.

A wine-tasting tour is another fantastic way to spend some time in Santorini. At Santo winery, you can take a tour of their vineyard, which has been in operation since 1947, followed by a wine-tasting session, and a look around the shop, so you can purchase a bottle of wine to take home with you.

You can also take a trip up to the Santorini Volcano – the islands themselves are technically classed as active volcanoes, although the last eruption was in the 1950s. Either way, being able to walk up a live volcano is certainly something to tick off a bucket list, so why not give it a go when you next visit Santorini?

Where to Drink in Santorini

Whether you want a quiet evening sipping on a cocktail watching the world-famous Santorini sunset or want to be up until the early hours partying the night away, there’s something for everyone when it comes to having a drink in Santorini.

PK Cocktail Bar offers some of the best views of the Aegean Sea from Santorini – as well as freshly made handcrafted cocktails, they also offer live music for guests to sit back and listen to.

Found on the rooftop of Panorama Boutique Hotel in Santorini, V Lounge is another idyllic cocktail bar – during the day, you can also get a coffee here, so it offers the best of both worlds.

For those wanting to spend some time partying until the early hours, a visit to Koo Club is a must – local DJs spinning all of their favourite tunes well into the morning is a given, as well as some of the most creative shots known to man. Another place to spend the night dancing away is in Town Club, which has been open and catering to Santorini’s party animals since 1980.

Best Beaches in Santorini

There are many beautiful beaches in Santorini, all of which have their own unique character and charm. Here are some of the best.

Red Beach: Probably the most famous beach in Santorini, Red Beach is named after the red rocks which provide the backdrop to the beach. The warm, clear waters make for perfect swimming conditions.

White Beach: Similar to Red Beach, White Beach is also named for the clear white cliffs which adorn the beach. Much more secluded and less well known than its red counterpart, White Beach is a hidden gem on Santorini.

Vylchada Beach: Tucked away on Santorini’s south coast, Vylchada Beach is one of the most unique-looking beaches in the world. Black volcanic rock mixed with white sand creates a salt-and-pepper effect all the way across this almost kilometre-long beach.

Monolithos Beach: For those beachgoers looking for somewhere to feel the sand in their toes, Monolithos Beach is the place to be. Only a short drive east of the airport, this beach is popular with families thanks to the many watersports activities on offer.

Eros Beach: A quiet and secluded spot, away from a lot of the busier areas of Santorini, Eros Beach is named after the Greek god of passionate love – which makes this beach perfect for a romantic day or evening together with a loved one.

48 Hours in Santorini: The Itinerary 

There’s no shortage of things to get up to during your 48 hours in Santorini – and there’s a lot more to the island than blue-roofed homes and gorgeous weather. Here is a 2-day itinerary of how to spend your time in Santorini:

Day 1

• Get your day off to a good start with a bowl of fresh Greek yoghurt – topped with even fresher fruits, and drizzled with honey. It’ll give you plenty of energy to start your first day in Santorini, the Greek way.
• If you only have two days in Santorini, you’ll want to make the most of the beautiful caldera. Take a boat tour of the caldera and see the top sights along the way, including stopping off at the Santorini Volcano and iconic blue-domed churches. We recommend booking a half-day tour and going in the morning. 
• Most boat tours will drop you off in Fira, so this is a good opportunity to explore the town and its narrow, winding streets. 
• For dinner, head over to a restaurant high in the hills of Santorini to witness the perfect sunset over the caldera. Stop by a cocktail bar on the way home for a quick nightcap before bed. PK Cocktail Bar is a favourite of ours. 
  
  

Day 2

• How about an acai bowl to start off your day, alongside a nice strong espresso? A healthy way to kick off your day, with the additional benefit of getting that all-important caffeine hit. 
• Hike from Oia to Fira to make the most of your 48 hours in Santorini. The beautiful town of Imperovigli is along the way, too. It’s exposed the whole way, so bring water, hats, and suncream. And start early!
• Stop for lunch along the way – some of the best gyros in Santorini can be found in small, independently-run cafes. Many of these places are found in the island’s famous winding streets. Authentic Greek gyros are best washed down with an ice-cold Greek lager, of course.
• It’s time for a well-deserved break – so why not head down to the beach for the afternoon? Take a few hours to top up your tan, or practice your snorkelling skills and see how much marine life you can see. 
• For dinner, why not head to a beachside restaurant and watch the sunset? Sample some of the beautiful seafood on offer, like fresh crab, or opt for a classic Greek salad, loaded with crumbly feta cheese, blushing cherry tomatoes and crisp lettuce. Sunsets in Santorini are some of the best in the world, so watching the sun go down with a cocktail in hand makes for the perfect end to 48 hours in Santorini.