Overview
One of the most beautiful tourist destinations I've seen in recent years. It really hasn't become this famous for nothing. We had the chance to visit on a day trip as part of our cruise. The moment I saw it from the top deck after we docked, I knew we were somewhere extraordinary. The views are absolutely stunning.
Getting There
But here's the thing, arriving by sea is an absolute ordeal. First, if you haven't booked an extra tour, cruise ships drop you at the entry point to Fira. When we arrived, there were at least 1,000 people queuing for the cable car. The cable car takes 36 people per trip (6 cabins of 6) and a one-way ride takes about 5 minutes. You do the math on the waiting time.
So we decided, against all warnings, to take the stairs instead of waiting. The stairs themselves are very doable, but that's not the real problem. It's 2023, and they're still using donkeys. The stairs are literally covered in dung. An absolutely disgraceful situation, that the entry to Greece's most popular island is this, is just incomprehensible. Put in five more cable cars so tourists aren't humiliated. Or build a couple more exit points and move the donkeys or the people. I've never seen anything this absurd in my life.
The island's roads are generally quite rough; renting a car could also be a hassle. We used taxis throughout. A bit pricey, usually 30-40 EUR one way, but since we only used them three times all day, it wasn't too bad. Uber works on the island but sometimes quoted higher than taxis, so check both.
What to See
The wine region of Pyrgos was very enjoyable. I'd recommend Santo Wines for the view and Boutari Winery for the quality. Walking between the two also treats you to magnificent scenery. Fira was decent but a bit run-down. Oia, on the other hand, is genuinely beautiful. The sunsets draw enormous crowds, your best bet is to grab a seat at one of the sunset-view restaurants rather than fighting through the free viewpoints. Oia was probably the most crowded place I've seen after Alacati. But the atmosphere is absolutely wonderful. We were quite undecided about going before the trip, but afterward we could only say we're so glad we did.
Tips & Advice
At 8:30 PM the cable car queue was completely empty. Once all the cruise ships leave, peace is restored. Let this be a recorded tip for anyone doing a day trip like us.
A place that absolutely belongs on any bucket list.