Fira to Oia

Santorini, Greece

Santorini, known since ancient times as Thira, is one of the most beautiful islands in the world – located in the southernmost part of the Greek Cyclades, the island sits amid the sparkling azure waters of the Aegean, where black and red hued cliffs soar out of the sea-drowned volcanic crater, topped by whitewashed buildings, many dotted with sapphire blue domes, in a postcard perfect landscape.

Sightseeing, dining, shopping, wine tasting, and relaxing are among the amazing options available to travelers lucky enough to visit Santorini, but explorers with an adventurous side know that the hike from Fira to Oia is the single best thing to do on Santorini.

Santorini’s commercial development is found mainly on the island’s west side along the caldera-edge clifftops - beautiful from both above and below, there are several ways to admire the vertigo-inducing views from land or sea.

Hikers, will of course, take advantage of the dizzying views from land along this spectacular path – but first you must decide from which point you would like to begin your journey.

Fira to Oia or Oia to Fira? The hike can be done in either direction, but most hikers choose to walk from Fira to Oia (us included) for several reasons – not least among them is the elevation profile, the hike is less of an uphill battle when hiked in this direction, and ending your hike in Oia puts you in the sunset capital of the world at just the right time to take in the show.

If you’re staying anywhere other than Fira, the island’s busy capital, you’ll have to arrange for transportation to the city – we took a taxi from Oia to the unofficial official starting point of the hike, the Hotel Atlantis.

Once in Fira, face the water and turn right - you will see Oia in the distance and this will not change for the entire hike. As you begin the hike, when you are given an option, choose to go up the hill – in general, go up, not down, as you’re starting out from Fira. Keep moving north towards Skaros Rock - the tower of rock you see located oceanside.

Fira spreads north into two villages – Firostefani and Imerovigli. Firostefani is about a 15-minute, somewhat steep climb from Fira, and then the walk levels out a bit as you approach Imerovigli, the highest point on the caldera edge at 1,148ft above sea level – Imerovigli is about a 30-minute walk from Fira.

In Imerovigli there is a fork in the path at Blue Note restaurant - signs will encourage you to go to the right, this is a less scenic route that goes through town. Go this way if you need water or snacks from a market - go left for caldera views, 5-star hotels, and an excursion to Skaros Rock.

Skaros Rock, a large volcanic rock outcropping found jutting out into the caldera of Santorini, is located adjacent to the village of Imerovigli.

Skaros is known for its hiking trail that provides jaw-dropping views of the sea and of the cliffs of Santorini – to add this excursion to your walk, simply follow the trail leading out from Agios Georgios Church. Adding this landmark to your route will set you back an extra hour or so, but the views are so worth the added time – we highly recommend incorporating Skaros Rock into your hiking plans!

After returning from Skaros Rock, continue walking through the village. Once you leave Imerovigli on your way to Oia, the buildings become fewer and far between and the path becomes more of a cobblestone road – the hike gradually gains some elevation, allowing you to see both sides of the island from the lofty vantage point.

The path then carries on uphill to the Church of Prophet Ilias – as you approach Profitis Ilias Church you reach another fork in the path. If you take a right the footing is better but you will miss out on the caldera views. If you can handle a little loose gravel, then we highly recommend following the left-hand fork – to take this option continue heading uphill towards the church, passing under a bridge formed by trees.

Sweeping views of the caldera, the sparkling blue Aegean, and the whitewashed buildings of Oia in the distance abound as you head downhill along this wilder section of the trek – as you descend, you will eventually see a sprawling hotel complex perched along the caldera’s edge. This is the San Antonio Hotel – when you reach the hotel grounds, you will leave the dirt path for a brief “detour” along the main road.

The walk along the road takes less than ten minutes, ending at a little roadside snack shop – the shop is usually open during the high season. It was open when we hiked in late September.

Just behind the snack shop, you will leave the road and rejoin the gravel path – climbing uphill along a winding trail heading back towards the caldera.

The Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin, or High Cross (Psilos Stavros), sits perched atop the last hill before you begin your descent into Oia – rest awhile here and enjoy the views of Oia and Thirassia just off the coast. Your final destination lies just ahead.

One final, somewhat gravelly, descent places you in the picturesque village of Oia – explore the many paths that wind through the colorful buildings as you make your way to a perfect spot to watch the sunset and celebrate your accomplishment! There’s nothing better than marking a spectacular hike off the bucket list!