Hiking from Fira to Oia, Santorini
What’s the best thing to do in Santorini, you ask?
Well I have so many fantastic memories from my trip to Greece, but one of my most favorite… is hiking.
When we set out making an itinerary for the Greek Islands, including the relaxing and remote island of Santorini, hiking wasn’t the first thing that came to mind.
But the hiking trail from Fira to Oia is the #1 “Thing to Do in Santorini” on Tripadvisor.
To put it simply, it’s BREATHTAKING. It’s no normal hike through mountains or wilderness. It’s a beautiful trail along the entire coastline. Seven miles of gorgeous coastal views. So gorgeous you forget you’re even hiking…
The Ultimate Hike from Fira to Oia
Starting out at our little Bed & Breakfast in Fira, the Anatoli Hotel, we asked our hostess to point us in the right direction. (Side note, highly recommend staying at the Anatoli in Santorini! Lia was so sweet and super accommodating, she made us feel like her own daughters!).
This amazing view is what we looked at the entire time. Not too bad, huh?
You’ll reach a point along your hike where you can take a left and follow the trail down and around a huge piece of land. This is Skaros Rock, and it looks like exactly that. A huge piece of rock. But there’s some pretty cool caves and a little white church built on top of it that are worth exploring. Take the detour and explore Skaros.
Then, finally, signs for Oia!
After seven miles and 3.5 hours, we made it to Oia and rewarded ourselves with an oceanside view and some stuffed grape leaves. There are plenty of restaurants, shops and blue-capped churches in this cute little town.
A few parting tips:
- Try to start your hike as early as possible in the day (like right after breakfast) so you make it to Oia by afternoon and aren’t hiking when the sun is at its highest.
- The trail itself isn’t too difficult. Even if you’re not an experienced hiker, as long as you have decent shoes and can tolerate a little sweat, then you’ll have no problem taking this walk.
- Go at your own pace… You’ve got nothing but time and photo ops on your hands!
- If you stay the whole day in Oia and don’t feel like hiking back (no judgement, 14 miles in one day is a lot) you can take the bus back to Fira and give your legs a break.
If you’re up for a little workout and down for the amazing scenery, hike the coastline of Santorini and make your way from Fira to Oia by lunchtime. Trust me! It’s certainly my best thing to do in Santorini, and hopefully it’ll be yours.
Want more Greece inspiration? Check out this episode of Unmapped: