Santorini island hopping (The only guide you’ll ever need)

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Fact: Santorini is famous for its beautiful landscape, volcano, dramatic caldera, and luxurious hotels.

But, there’s more than that!

Its perfect position makes Santorini island hopping a must experience to have!

More specifically, Santorini is located in the heart of the Aegean sea. Thus, it is just a short ferry ride away from the most popular Cycladic islands, such as Mykonos and Paros. Can you think of anything better than Santorini island hopping?

Keep reading to discover the most popular island-hopping routes from Santorini!

Are you ready to sail?

Why Santorini is the perfect base for island hopping

fira santorini

Santorini is the most romantic destination in the Aegean! It is an impressive island with picturesque hilltop villages and amazing red and black sandy beaches. It owes its scenery to many years of volcanic activity.

Santorini has a modern tourist infrastructure and unique natural scenery. It never fails to amaze visitors from all around the world! Millions of visitors visit it every year to experience the magical sunset at Oia and marvel at the view from the caldera!

It’s easy to get to Santorini! One can reach it either by ferry from Piraeus port or by flight from Athens airport and airports of other countries. After, visitors can ferry hop to the islands nearby to continue their holidays. This is the best way to have an unforgettable Cycladic experience!

From Santorini to Crete

chania crete

To start with, a very interesting and convenient island-hopping route is from Santorini to Crete. Crete the largest and one of the most beautiful Greek islands.

These two islands have totally different landscapes and history. Nevertheless, they are both stunning! Santorini, with its volcanic formations and dreamy sunset views, is ideal for romantic and relaxing holidays. On the other side, Crete is perfect for relaxing at nice beaches, hiking in the mountains, visiting museums, and exploring historical sites.

The most important historical site in Crete is the Minoan Palace of Knossos. It is truly impressive! It was found almost intact, buried under the volcanic ash of Thera volcanic eruption. Today, millions of tourists visit it every year!

The regions of Heraklion and Chania are the most popular places in Crete. However, a drive around the island will bring you to many secluded spots that offer total privacy.

Did you know that Crete is famous for its gastronomy?

From Santorini to Mykonos

mykonos greece

Santorini to Mykonos is probably the most popular island-hopping route in Greece!

Santorini and Mykonos are wildly famous Greek islands. Young people and first-time visitors seem to love it. After all, how couldn’t they?

In fact, Mykonos is renowned for its wild party culture! In Mykonos, there are lots of beautiful beaches with cool beach bars that turn into party scenes.

The traditional architecture of Mykonos, which is characterized by whitewashed houses and narrow alleys, is also worth exploring.

From Santorini to Amorgos

amorgos island

Amorgos is situated on the southeastern side of the Cyclades. Undoubtedly, it is an island of great natural beauty.

What are the island’s standouts?

The sandy beaches, the mesmerizing deep blue sea, and the traditional architecture. Significantly, Amorgos is also widely known as the filming location of the classic movie “The Big Blue” by Luc Besson.

Take a walk around scenic villages… Have an adventure on the several hiking trails throughout the island… Enjoy spectacular views from the Monastery of Hozoviotissa, which is built on the top of a hill, overlooking the Aegean Sea.

From Santorini to Ios

ios greece

Ios is one of the most popular destinations of the Cyclades. Arguably, it is an amazing island with golden sandy beaches and emerald waters.

Ios attracts travelers of all ages! This is because it has both secluded spots to swim and lively beaches for endless partying. Ios combines the traditional characteristics of Cycladic architecture with natural beauty and modern entertainment.

The most picturesque village of Ios is Chora. Chora -among others- has narrow paved streets and offers breathtaking views. It’s a must-visit!

It’s very easy to get from Santorini to Ios, as there are daily ferries in the summer. A trip from Santorini to Ios lasts for 40 minutes to 1 hour and a half, depending on the type of the vessel.

From Santorini to Milos

Only 2 hours from Santorini by ferry lies the wonderful island of Milos, famous for its unique volcanic landscape.

The charming and relaxing atmosphere of Milos makes it an ideal destination for couples and families. The lunar landscape of Sarakiniko… The exotic beaches with natural underwater caves, such as Kleftiko… The traditional fishing villages, like Klima… They all make this island unique!

From Santorini to Folegandros

As for the unspoiled island of Folegandros, it is easily accessible from Santorini. It boasts a wild natural beauty and has beautiful scenery.  What’s more, Folegandros has a relaxing atmosphere, away from the crowds. Amazing, right?

The most picturesque spot in Folegandros is Chora. On a hill above Chora stands the white church of Panagia. It is the most beautiful site on the island!

As for the beaches in Folegandros, only a few of them are organized. However, the rest of them are secluded, thus ideal for those who seek privacy.

From Santorini to Anafi

Anafi is a wonderful, small island on the southeastern part of the Cyclades. It is famous for its amazing landscape and friendly atmosphere. Santorini is directly connected by ferry to Anafi about three times per week.

Visit the island of Anafi to swim in isolated, naturist beaches… Enjoy spectacular views over the Aegean Sea from the slopes of Chora… Anafi offers a whole heap of experiences!

Anafi retains its traditional character. Thus, it is not at all developed in terms of tourism. It is ideal for private holidays in Greece!

From Santorini to Paros, Naxos, and Koufonisia

Another fantastic choice is to island-hop from Santorini to Paros, Naxos, and Koufonisia.

This is an exciting tour, which gives visitors the chance to explore all these islands at once.

Hop next to Paros! Paros is a beautiful island with a cosmopolitan atmosphere in the Cyclades. It is renowned for its fun nightlife and amazing villages, like Naoussa and Parikia.

As for Paros beaches, they are mostly sandy and organized, ideal for windsurfing and kite.

Naxos is our next stop!

Naxos is a wonderful island! It stands out for its fantastic beaches and the traditional villages in the countryside. It is a must-visit Greek island.

The last stop of the tour is the tiny Koufonisia island. Surprisingly, Koufonisia is a quiet place with exotic beaches, which one can reach by foot or bike.

Do you have another island-hopping vacation in mind? Let us organize it for you!

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