Cheap holiday Santorini

When is the best time to go?

May, June and September to October are ideal: 22 to 28 degrees and far fewer crowds than in peak season. June is the smart month: full summer, but hotels are still noticeably cheaper than in July and August, when cruise ships fill Oia and Fira during the day. The sea is warmest in August and September. Out of season, from November to March, a large share of the hotels and restaurants close their doors.

The best places in Santorini

• Fira The capital on the rim of the caldera, with the island's bus hub, the most restaurants and the nightlife. A cable car descends to the old port.
• Oia The postcard village with the blue domes and Europe's most famous sunset. Expensive and busy during the day; early in the morning you have the lanes almost to yourself.
• Imerovigli & Firostefani The same caldera view as Oia but far quieter, right on the walking path between Fira and Oia. From the Skaros rock you can see the whole crater.
• Kamari & Perissa The black lava beaches on the east coast, with much cheaper hotels, beach clubs and tavernas. The rock of Ancient Thera towers above both villages.
• Pyrgos & the interior The former capital and highest village of the island, set among the vineyards. The best value on Santorini, with a sunset without the crowds.

Top 5 things to do in Santorini

• Caldera walk from Fira to Oia Ten kilometres along the crater rim via Firostefani and Imerovigli: the finest free view in Greece. Allow 3 to 4 hours and start early, as there is hardly any shade along the way.
• Akrotiri The Minoan town buried under volcanic ash around 1600 BC, the Pompeii of the Aegean. Fully covered and easy to walk; entry €20 (2026).
• Ancient Thera A ruined city high on the Mesa Vouno rock between Kamari and Perissa, with Greek, Roman and Byzantine remains side by side. Entry €10; closed on Wednesdays.
• Sunset without the crowds Everyone squeezes into Oia at sunset. Local alternative: the Akrotiri lighthouse or the castle of Pyrgos, with the same sun and a fraction of the audience.
• Wine tasting around Pyrgos and Megalochori On the volcanic soil the assyrtiko grape grows in coiled kouloura baskets close to the ground. Tastings at the wineries cost about €15 to 25 for three to five wines.

Flights + transport from the Netherlands

Transavia is the only airline flying direct from Schiphol to Santorini (JTR), from May to October in about 3 hours 25, roughly twice a week; book early, as seats are limited. There is no direct flight from Eindhoven: travel via Athens with a 45-minute domestic connection, or combine with the ferry from Piraeus. The airport is 6 kilometres from Fira. KTEL buses connect almost every village via Fira; a ride costs €2.20 to 2.80, paid in cash to the conductor, and there are no day passes. The cable car between Fira and the old port costs €6 per ride (2026).

What does a trip to Santorini cost?

Santorini is the most expensive island in Greece, but the differences on the island itself are huge: a caldera-view room easily costs €200 to 400 per night, while in Kamari, Perissa or Pyrgos you find a decent hotel from €60 to 90. Food: a gyros €5, a taverna meal €18 to 25. Stay outside the caldera villages and a week starts at about €650 per person including flights. Tip: combine 3 to 4 nights on Santorini with cheaper Crete or Athens.