What does Santorini look like in wintertime? This is a question I get asked very often.
I know, it’s only September, but, the truth is winter is my favourite season here on the island! Why? Because the island returns back to me after so many months!
After the craziness of the busy season, Santorini slows down and can show its real soul. Some people might think that Santorini shuts down in winter but, it’s not anymore the reality.
I think that visiting Santorini in winter is a fascinating experience. So here we go with the 7 reasons why you should visit Santorini in winter.
1 – JUST A HANDFUL OF TOURISTS AROUND
Finally, it will be only you and very few people to watch the sunset in Oia and probably only you at the lighthouse.
No traffic jams anywhere and available parking slots in Fira! A real dream for me!
You can go from North to South in 30 min by car.
You can take those amazing pictures of the Caldera and Blue domes without queuing and without people photo-bombing in them.
2 – MEET THE HARDCORE LOCALS
You will hear people talking to each other only in Greek which means you will get the chance to meet the locals who live here all the year-round, like me! Drop me a line if you are coming!
People will be more keen to talk and they will be happy to spend some time with you, while in the summertime everyone runs up and down and too busy to stop and chat with you.
You will find some restaurants and cafes open, mainly around Fira/Kartherados/Messaria, so if you have always said that you wanted to eat and live like a local, this is the moment to take the risk!
3 – MILD TEMPERATURE AND BEAUTIFUL COLORS
Is Santorini cold in the wintertime? I would not say so even though it depends. Generally, the temperature of Santorini in winter does not go below 6 or 7 degrees. But it can be very windy and rainy some days.
That might not be the best if you are on holiday, but if you are looking for unique colours for your pictures, this is the price to pay: the light of Santorini in winter is stunning!
4 – THINGS TO DO IN SANTORINI IN WINTER
Worried to get bored? Wondering what to do in Santorini in winter? There is plenty to do! You can visit a winery and warm up with a wine tasting and discover this delicious tradition of the island.
Surprise surprise! You can swim too!! Really?! Yes!
The volcano is ”open” 12 months of the year and hopefully, it will be ”sleeping”… You can jump in the hot springs and experience a winter swim.
And if you don’t know what to do after dinner, you can attend the cinema in Kamari.
5 – LEARNING THE HISTORY OF AKROTIRI
This is also a safe activity on a rainy or windy day. You can visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri and the museum in Fira and learn about the first inhabitants of the island. It’s a beautiful (hi)story and you will be fascinated by the myth of Atlantis.
6 – DISCOVER THE ISLAND BY FOOT
There are still great days in winter and those are an opportunity to discover Santorini following its paths.
You can walk from Fira to Oia and see the Caldera at its highest splendour or you can contact Santorini by Foot and follow them on a little adventure.
7 – ONE DAY VISIT FROM ATHENS
It might sound odd but in wintertime, if you are staying in Athens, thanks to very cheap flights by Ryanair and Aegean Airlines, you can spend a full day in Santorini, landing early morning and leaving in the evening. This is a perfect small trip to take and in this case, I would recommend booking a private tour and in 6 hours you will get to discover the whole island. Ask Kathrin of Santorini Experts and she will come up with the ideal plan for you.
If these 7 reasons were not enough, you can always send me an email and I would be very happy to provide more!
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©Nicoletta Barbata/One Quarter Greek
