One of the island’s main tourist draws, Santorini’s dramatic caldera is truly a must-see-once-in-your-life location. Including dinner, wine-tasting, off-the-beaten-track and photo-worthy spots, these are the best caldera views in Santorini.
With traditional villages, thriving viticulture, and a well-preserved archeological site (Akrotiri), Santorini is much more than its caldera. Yet, it’s the caldera that draws tourists to the island. These are some of the best places to take in that world-famous view.
Dinner With A Caldera View
Teetering on the cliffside across each of the three most popular villages and towns in Santorini – Oia, Fira and Imerovigli – these three restaurants curate some of the best dining experiences on the island.
Lure Restaurant at Mystique Hotel Santorini
Attention to the details that matter is everything at Lure. First, the restaurant’s unique contoured walls, which somehow stand out yet are entirely at home on the Santorini cliffside, their neutral tones blending into both the surrounding volcanic soils and reflecting Santorini’s traditional architecture. Then, the dishes – like shrimp with ouzo and oregano oil on a bed of perfectly whipped espuma, and lobster tails with carrot pappardelle, chervil, basil and sprinkled with purple edible flowers – each presented so artfully with contrasting, distinct flavours that pair perfectly. Even the menu design has been carefully thought through: it’s been created in collaboration with visual artist Tony Green (who has also worked with Vogue, Prada and Jacquemus) and his illustrations grace the pages. Overlooking Oia’s section of the caldera, and with Michelin-starred chef Thanos Feskos at the helm, Lure’s Cycladic-inspired dishes are prepared using zero-waste practices, through the use of extractions, fermentation and infusions.
La Colline restaurant at Villa Bordeaux hotel
Katie Silcox during a recent dinner at La Colline in Santorini
Have you ever tried a trademarked dessert? In the Volcano® dessert at La Colline, vanilla ice cream and strawberry sorbet are encased within a volcano-shaped creamy meringue topped with dry ice – and activated when a ‘red-fruit lava sauce’ is poured into the dessert-volcano’s caldera, mimicking the steam and bubbling that emerge from a live volcano’s vent. It’s really quite something to watch the culinary wizardry take place as you sit atop a real-life sunken caldera to eat it. Trademarked desserts aside, all the dishes – like sea bass ceviche with seaweed and a citrus marinade, and lamb confit with smoked aubergine – from the French-inspired kitchen led by chef Jerome Coustillas (formerly of Cap Eden Roc, Hotel Martinez, and private chef to the Prince of Morocco) are fresh, flavourful and beautifully plated, and accompanied by magical and uninterrupted panoramic views that stretch across the caldera horizon.
Varoulko Santorini at Grace Hotel Santorini
Led by Lefteris Lazarou, the first Greek chef to be awarded a Michelin star – back in 2002 at Santorini’s Athens-based sister restaurant, Varoulko Seaside – Varoulko Santorini comes with high expectations – and meets them all. On cliffside tables scattered between sea and pool, three- seven- or ten-course degustation menus showcase clever dishes, creatively curated for both taste and presentation. Seafood takes centre stage in dishes like crab with green apple, pickled ginger and fennel; scallops with seaweed, pickled grape and an almond emulsion; and crispy cod with a sevruga caviar sauce. The food might be exceptional, but so is the service and, of course, the views: in one of the most unique viewpoints on the island, dining here overlooks the caldera, yes, but also the jagged Skaros Rock, once home to a castle used to defend the island. As summer days turn into summer nights, it’s not uncommon for low-slung clouds to billow across the imposing rock and head inland, sweeping across you as you dine. Truly, one of the most special experiences imaginable.
Wine Tasting With A Caldera View
Santorini is known to produce some of the best wines in Greece, with around 40 grape varieties grown on the island in its volcanic terroir. This is where to taste them (with a view).
Venetsanos Winery
Come for the wine and stay for the views which, like everywhere else in this list, truly are some of the most beautiful in the world. Located on the outskirts of Megalachori village, this multi-level space was excavated into the cliffside rock, peers across the caldera, and was opened in 1947 by the Venetsanos family. It’s the first large-scale production winery in Santorini, with bottles exported globally. Explore the wine cellar, take part in a wine-tasting experience (paired with lunch, a tour or sunset) learn about the grape varieties this winery cultivates across their five hectares of island vineyards (assyrtiko, athiri, aidani, platani, mavrotragano and mandilaria) and then soak up the evening sky on the sunset terrace – locally produced glass of wine in hand.
Santo Wines
“View from Santo Winery, Santorini.” by Steven Christenson (aka Night Sky Guy), CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 / https://www.flickr.com/photos/steventheamusing/52508693891 / https://www.flickr.com/photos/steventheamusing/ / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en
This is the most popular winery in Santorini, with over 600,000 visitors passing through each year. Before you settle in, take the wine cellar tour and watch the 13-minute documentary film, together they give insight into Santorini’s viticulture history as well as share information about the island’s volcanic soils and dry-farming methods of production. But the star of the show is the large terrace, lined with tables for tasting – many facing out across the caldera (book these in advance during summer). The concept is quite simple: your server will bring you a wine flight based on your preferences, explaining the order you should try them in alongside information about each. Sparkling wine is on the rise in Greece, pioneered by Santo Wines and produced in both white and rosé forms (the white is 100% assyrtiko, and the rosé 80% assyrtiko, 20% mandilaria) – a good choice to add to your tasting. Last but not least, there’s a well-stocked wine shop and deli to stock up on your favourite bottles as well as popular Santorini-made produce like fava beans and tomato paste.
Off-the-beaten-track caldera views
Because, believe it or not, there are ways to escape the crowds in Santorini.
The Hike from Fira to Oia
While taxis can take you from Fira to Oia and back, and buses run frequently too, there’s also a hiking route – and this is, without doubt, the very best way to really experience Santorini’s caldera. At just over six miles long, you can walk it in around two-and-a-half hours, but we suggest leaving plenty more time to stop, sit, listen, and take in the stunning caldera views as you go. Some of the more popular places to take a break include the cliffside villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli, both towards the beginning of the trail and with plenty of restaurants and cafés for coffee and fuel. But as long as you have water (pack plenty), then stop anywhere along the trail – you can’t go wrong, or find a bad viewing point. The best place to start is Fira’s main square, which can feel a little tacky and over-touristy but soon gives way to nature – the true star of the Santorini show.
The Heart of Santorini and Agios Nicolas Church in Megalachori
Agios Nicolas Church in Megalachori, Santorini
The small, authentic village of Megalachori is a true showcase of Santorini’s ‘other side’. The side not created for tourists; the side that still feels real; the side where shops open – or don’t – at the owner’s own will; where locals spend hours playing backgammon in the streets; and where you can meander aimlessly, stopping in at family-run tavernas. From here it’s a small hike to Agios Nicolas church and the Heart of Santorini – the latter a natural rock formation that has formed in the shape of a heart (well, kind of, perhaps better described as a balloon). Whatever shape you see, the views from both stretch across Santorini’s slice of the Aegean, making them unique caldera photo spots. Neither are easy to find though – ask locals for directions who will point you towards the cliffside. Wear trainers.
Akrotiri Lighthouse
On the far southwestern tip of the island, Akrotiri Lighthouse may not have the history of the more famous Akrotiri archaeological site – just a 14 minute drive away – but it does have some of the most serene (read uncrowded) caldera sunset views you can find on the island. Built in 1892 this was one of the first ever lighthouses in Greece and is used, until this day, to help nearby ships navigate the waters. You can’t tour inside it, but it’s worth visiting for the panoramic views of the Aegean, surrounding islands, and boats bobbing in the water below. Accessible by car, there is a short walk from nearby parking spots – wear trainers or shoes that can handle uneven ground – as well as a taverna, Giorgaros, nearby (a five-minute walk). A sunset spent here is best paired with an afternoon visit to the nearby Bronze-age Akrotiri archaeological site, often called the ‘Pompeii of Greece’ as it was, like Pompeii, buried for thousands of years under volcanic ash. As a result of the ash’s protection, it’s one of the best-preserved sites in Greece, with small details still intact, from streets to wall frescos.
The Instagram-famous blue-domed church in Oia (done with a difference)
While Oia, and certainly this social-media-famous blue-domed church, are anything but off the beaten track (it’s probably the most photographed location on the entire island), there is a way to do it differently. As you’re walking through already-crowded Oia, you’ll come across an even busier spot, the small lane next to Mineralli, where people stand (not-so) patiently waiting in line. They’re queuing for ‘that photo spot’ – the one we’ve all seen countless times on Instagram and TikTok. But those in-the-know do it a bit differently. Plenty of restaurants in the area have a view of the domed church too; one of the best views is from Terpsi n Oia (also known as Blue Domes Restaurant Oia). Touristy? Yes. But it’s a good caldera photo spot minus the pressure of having to snap and run thanks to mounting crowds behind you. If you can’t find a table here, try Lotza, Pelekanos or Strogili.
FAQs about Santorini:
What is Santorini’s caldera?
Santorini’s caldera was formed by a huge volcano eruption thousands of years ago, which split the island into multiple pieces of land. Santorini is one of them and looks out across the (now Aegean Sea-filled) volcano crater, creating some of the most unique views in the world. Villages and towns like Oia and Fira tumble down Santorini’s steep cliffs.
When is the best time to visit Santorini?
The best time to visit Santorini is during shoulder season – May, June, September and October. During these months there are less crowds but the weather is still warm (between 20°C to 28°C). July and August are the most popular months to visit.
How do you get to Santorini?
You can get to Santorini by air or sea. Flights take approximately 45 minutes from Athens International Airport, and ferries take between 5 and 9 hours, with most departing from Piraeus Port.
What should I pack for Santorini?
These are the 16 items you need to pack for Santorini, according to Citizen Femme’s fashion features director. They include linen shorts, printed trousers, day-to-night dresses and a hat.
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