April in Santorini Greece: A Complete Guide to visiting the island before summer crowds arrive, including what the weather is really like, what’s open in preseason, where to stay, and why April ended up being one of my favorite times to experience Santorini.

Santorini in April ended up being one of those trips that worked out exactly the way it was supposed to, even if it took six extra years to happen.

We had originally planned this island for my 50th birthday in June 2020, but well… the world had other plans ;0.

We finally rescheduled it for April 2026, and honestly, I wouldn’t change the timing for a second.

The island still had all of that dramatic beauty Santorini is famous for, but without the packed sidewalks, long restaurant waits, and shoulder-to-shoulder summer crowds.

Since we are not huge “sit on a beach chair for 8 hours” people anyway, the slower preseason pace was exactly our style.

The weather was perfect for wandering a handful of cliffside towns, lingering over long lunches, and soaking in those caldera views without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

If you’re someone who wants to experience Santorini before it turns into peak season chaos, I would choose April again in a heartbeat.

In a rush?

The Little Details

Maps

HOW TO USE THIS MAP:

Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers of the map and names of places included. You can click the check marks to hide or show the layers. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information from each point of interest.

If you click the little star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. To view the map on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the ‘menu’ button, go to ‘Saved’ on a computer and ‘You’ then ‘Saved’ on phone, click ‘Maps,’ and you will see this map on your list.

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How to Get To and From Santorini

Getting to Santorini is honestly much easier than I expected it to be :).

If you are coming from mainland Greece, flying simply makes the most sense timewise.

Santorini’s airport (JTR) is quite manageable compared to so many other chaotic European airports.

It has 4 gates split between Schengen and non-Schengen flights.

And if you have never heard the term Schengen before, it basically refers to a group of European countries that allow passport-free travel between them. So flights within places like Greece, France, Italy, and Spain are considered “domestic-ish” in terms of border control.

Since we were leaving Greece at the end of our trip on a British Airways flight to London, we departed from the non-Schengen side and the entire process felt surprisingly easy and low stress.

Just be aware if you are also leaving from a non-Schengen gate, you will have to go through passport control AFTER security so be sure to allow enough time for that ;0.

In April, there are usually dozens of daily flights into JTR from Athens alone, along with preseason routes from airlines like Aegean, Sky Express, Ryanair, EasyJet, British Airways, and Volotea depending on the week and where you are flying from.

If you are arriving by plane, I highly recommend pre-arranging transportation through your hotel because Santorini taxi lines can get surprisingly long even in preseason, although rental cars are also very popular if you plan to explore beyond your hotel area.

Flying into the islands is definitely the easiest way to start your trip, but once you are actually island hopping, ferries are usually far more practical because flying between islands often means routing all the way back through Athens first.

Santorini actually has two ferry ports: Athinios Port is the main commercial ferry port where almost all visitors arrive, while the Old Port below Fira is primarily used for cruise ship tenders and excursions.

We arrived at Athinios Port (also known as New Port or Thira Port) in Santorini by ferry from Paros on Blue Star Ferries, which was about a 2.5 hour journey.

Blue Star is considered the slower of the two major ferry companies in the Greek islands, but I specifically chose it because it has a reputation for being smoother with less chance of seasickness, and for someone who has chronic vertigo and gets motion sickness fairly easily, I have zero regrets (gotta love middle age – right??).

Our business class tickets booked the December before for our April 2026 trip were right around $100 total for the two of us and absolutely worth every penny for the quieter seating area and calmer atmosphere compared to standard economy.

We left our two large suitcases in the luggage racks down on the car deck without any issues at all and just carried our backpacks with important items like our passports upstairs with us.

My biggest ferry tip for first timers is to not panic when boarding and disembarking because it can feel wildly chaotic ;0.

Everyone lines up at once, people are rolling giant suitcases everywhere, and it looks much more stressful than it actually is.

For boarding: keep your ferry tickets handy (most commonly electronically from your phone), arrive earlier than you think you need to, and if you are prone to motion sickness at all, sit outside and look toward the horizon whenever possible.

(us boarding our Blue Star Ferry at the Naxos ferry port)

(prepping to disembark at Santorini ferry port (after some trucks and cars)

Getting a taxi at Athinios port can still be difficult even in April because multiple ferries often arrive at once, so we prearranged transportation through our hotel and had someone waiting right at the dock holding a sign with our name on it the second we walked off the ferry, which made the whole arrival feel so much easier.

10/10 recommend this method of transportation to your accomodations :).

(road from ferry port to top of caldera and Fira town)

How to Get Around Santorini

As I mentioned above, when we arrived at the ferry port, we had prearranged with our hotel for a driver to be waiting for us when we arrived.

And after that we continued using prearranged transportation through our hotel anytime we wanted to explore different parts of the island which we found to be far more relaxing than trying to rent a car and navigate those winding cliffside roads ourselves.

After dinner one night at Ammoudi Fish Tavern, we had the restaurant host arrange a private car back to our hotel for us. We genuinely loved chatting with our driver on the ride home and I won’t lie, that extra comfortable Mercedes sedan after a long dinner by the water felt pretty wonderful ;0.

If you do prefer having your own car, April is actually a great time to rent one since it’s less crowded, and you’ll find rental agencies right at both the airport and ferry terminal.

Best Time of Year to Visit Santorini

If you ask me the best time to visit Santorini, I’m probably always going to say spring shoulder season.

We went in April and honestly, it was exactly my speed: cool enough that I could walk those steep little pathways without melting, easy restaurant availability, and not a cruise ship crowd in sight.

The island felt calm and relaxed in a way I imagine is a little harder to find in the hot peak summer months.

That said, if your dream Greek island trip includes long beach days and swimming weather, I’ve read that September and early October are kind of the sweet spot: still warm enough for the beach but with fewer crowds than the middle of summer.

How Many Days You Need in Santorini

We arrived in Santorini from Naxos around 3pm and flew out three days later on a 5pm flight, which gave us about 2.5 solid days and 3 nights on the island.

For us, that was enough time to settle into the slower pace, wander the cliffside towns, and really get a feel for why people love Santorini so much.

That said, if we had planned to spend time exploring the beach towns or booked one of the famous catamaran cruises, I think 3 or 4 full days would have felt a little more comfortable and less rushed.

Santorini is one of those places where it’s easy to convince yourself you’ll just “relax,” but then suddenly you realize there are quite a few little corners of the island you still want to see ;0.

That said, my husband and I both agreed we will probably never go back to Santorini – but other islands like Crete or Milos might someday be a possibility :).

Money and Plug Details in Greece

In Greece, the currency is the Euro (€), and while most places accept credit and debit cards, it’s always handy to carry a small amount of cash for smaller establishments or tips.

It is recommended to use a BANK ATM machine once in the country you are traveling to to withdraw money out of your US (presumably) bank account. This is the least expensive way to handle bank fees and foreign exchange rates.

Be sure you are also using a credit card with zero foreign transaction fees as those can add up!!

Don’t forget to pack a Type C or F plug adapter (these are my favorites) for your electronics.

I won’t travel without this travel extension cord or this portable charger because nothing kills the travel vibe faster than a dead phone and no way to charge it!

Best Places to Stay in Santorini

Grace Hotel

We spent three nights at the Grace Hotel in Imerovigli, perched right in front of Skaros Rock, and it ended up being one of those stays where every little detail just felt thoughtfully handled before we even had to ask.

From the warm staff who somehow remembered exactly how we liked everything to the peaceful caldera views from sunrise to sunset, it made our time on Santorini feel effortless, restorative, and honestly pretty hard to leave behind ;0.

We also absolutely loved being away from the Oia crowds (little that they may have been in April 🤪), and after watching the sunsets from our room patio each evening, I can honestly say I would choose that peaceful caldera view over squeezing onto the famous Oia stairs any day.

It’s easy to see why Grace Hotel has earned recognition as one of the top luxury stays in Greece and consistently lands on “best hotels in the world” lists once you experience the level of service and setting for yourself.

Astra Suites

Just steps from Grace Hotel in Imerovigli is Astra Suites.

We walked past it several times and it looked every bit as stunning as where we stayed and is also an award-winning five-star property with the unreal caldera views Santorini is famous for.

Photos courtesy of Astra Suites Instagram

Canaves Epitome

If you want a luxury stay that feels peaceful without being far removed from the action, Canaves Epitome is a great option because it gives you a little more space and privacy while still being much closer to Oia than staying in Imerovigli which makes sunset dinners and wandering the shops incredibly easy.

Photos courtesy of Canaves Epitome Instagram

Katikies Santorini

If being right in the middle of Oia is more your style, Katikies Santorini has one of the best locations on the island for stepping straight into the heart of the restaurants, shops, and famous caldera views without needing to go far at all.

Made famous from multiple Instagram influencers posting about their stays here, it is another beautiful 5 star option on the island :).

Photos courtesy of Katikies Santorini

Best Places to Eat in Santorini

Ammoudi Fish Tavern

One of our favorite meals in Santorini ended up being at Ammoudi Fish Tavern, which my oldest daughter insisted we could not miss after she visited the island the year before.

We saved it as our reward after finishing the Fira to Oia hike and yes… we absolutely walked all 278 of those stairs down to the little bay below Oia. Worth every step.

We didn’t go at the restaurant’s most famous sunset reservation time but the views were still completely unreal with the fishing boats bobbing in the water and the cliffs towering above us.

The food was incredible too ~ simple fresh seafood, Greek salad, warm bread, cold drinks after that long hike… exactly what we wanted after spending the day on the trail.

It ended up being one of those meals where you sit there thinking, “okay this is why people fall so hard for Greece.”

Surupo Restaurant

After our very early Flytographer sunrise photo shoot in Oia, we were running on equal parts adrenaline and espresso by late afternoon ;0.

My husband also had a work call later that evening, so we wanted somewhere close to our hotel in Imerovigli instead of making a big dinner production out of it, and Surupo ended up being one of those unexpectedly perfect vacation meals.

The views over the caldera were absolutely incredible, but the vibe stayed relaxed and unfussy, which was exactly what we needed that night.

We ordered a mix of casual Greek dishes, everything was fresh and really flavorful, and it felt like the kind of place where you could linger for hours watching the sky change colors over Santorini without needing it to be overly fancy to feel special.

Varoulko Santorini

One of our favorite meals in Santorini ended up being at Varoulko at Grace Hotel, and honestly it felt like one of those evenings that reminds you why people splurge on a Michelin starred dinner in Greece in the first place.

The service was absolutely impeccable from the second we walked in ~ warm, polished, attentive without ever feeling stuffy ~ very much the same feeling we had throughout our stay at Grace.

And the food? Easily the fanciest and most delicious meal we had on the island.

Mes Amis Coffee Shop

After our early morning Flytographer photo shoot, our hotel concierge pointed us toward Mes Amis Coffee Shop for breakfast.

Sitting there with fresh squeezed orange juice, fresh pancakes, and the caldera slowly waking up after sunrise felt like the perfect slower-paced start to the day before the rest of the Oia tourists rolled in.

Other Recommendations

• Metaxi Mas
• Pitogyros Traditional Grill House
• The Athenian House
• Aktaion Restaurant
• Mia’s Restaurant

Top Things to See and Do in Santorini in Shoulder Season

Blue Church Domes of Oia

Seeing the famous blue church domes in Oia in person really is one of those “okay wow… this actually looks like the postcards” moments.

We met our Flytographer (a Santorini local) at 6:30am and basically had the ENTIRE area to ourselves, which felt almost impossible for Santorini.

Although I will say there was a rope and sign blocking one of the little paths and our photographer (again a local to Santorini!) casually had us step over it, so I think we may have been accessing a private or restricted viewpoint rather than the main public viewing area.

From what I’ve since read, those ropes and “no access” signs tend to go up to help control crowds and protect the narrow pathways around the churches and homes, especially once peak season hits and the crowds can overwhelm the small area ;0.

See my Google map above for where to take these iconic photos :).

{private area at 6:30am}

{public walkway at 8:30am}

Streets and Shops of Oia

One of the best parts of visiting Oia in April is actually getting to experience those dreamy whitewashed streets without shoulder-to-shoulder crowds everywhere you turn.

We wandered around with our Flytographer for about an hour at sunrise and then spent another hour just walking the quiet little lanes on our own until almost 9am with barely another person in sight.

And honestly, that alone made this preseason visit completely worth it ;0

~6:30am

~ 8:30am 😉

~ 3:45pm the next day

Fira to Oia Hike

Being that my husband and I love the outdoors, and especially hiking, one of our favorite memories from our two+ days in Santorini was doing the Fira to Oia walk.

We started right from our hotel in Imerovigli with water bottles and hotel umbrellas in hand (because it was drizzling when we left), fully prepared to turn around if the weather got really bad.

But the moody/cloudy skies ended up being perfect for the hike so that we didn’t spend the entire walk overheating in full sun like I imagine you would in summer ~ just another reason why April in Santorini Greece is the best (in my personal opinion that is!).

The full walk from Imerovigli all the way down to Ammoudi Bay (where we decided to walk to!) ended up being around 7 miles with roughly 1,200 feet of elevation gain once you add in all the ups, downs, and stairs along the caldera path.

We stopped constantly for photos the entire way and basically made a day of it :).

By the time we finally climbed down the 300-ish steps into Ammoudi Bay for a late lunch/early dinner, we were completely exhausted but in a good way!

And very happy we had already planned to taxi back to Grace Hotel afterward ;0.

Skaros Rock

Another great little hike in Imerovigli is the walk out to Skaros Rock where the views are absolutely worth it.

Just don’t let Google Maps fool you into thinking this is a quick and easy little .5 mile stroll ;0 because by the time we made it all the way down to the Holy Church of Panagia Theoskepasi and climbed back up to our hotel, I counted at least 500 steps… and honestly it may have been more.

April made the entire walk extra though with all of the green hillsides and flowers blooming everywhere against those bright white buildings and blue water views.

Plus its the perfect place to get a view of what Imerovigli (and Grace Hotel) looks like resting on the cliff :).

Imerovigli Viewpoint

One quick stop that is worth mentioning if you are staying in Imerovigli or Fira is the Imerovigli viewpoint overlooking the caldera.

I wouldn’t make a special trip all the way from Oia just for this spot alone, but if you are already nearby, or doing the full Oia to Fira hike, it’s an easy little detour with some really beautiful caldera views that feel a bit quieter than the more crowded photo stops around Oia.

Ammoudi Bay

Ammoudi Bay was one of those places we mostly visited because we had earned lunch after finishing the Fira to Oia hike ;0.

We walked the 300+ steps down from Oia completely starving and pretty much made a beeline straight to Ammoudi Fish Tavern, but we still spent a little time taking photos along the water, watching the fishing boats come and go, and wondering where everyone was headed to out on the sea.

In April, the water is usually still too cold for swimming for most visitors, so the bay feels more relaxed than it probably does in peak summer, and if you’re not up for those stairs back up to Oia, there are donkeys available for around 10–20 euro per person.

We skipped that part, although judging by the amount of donkey poop on the steps, plenty of people definitely don’t ;0.

It’s also a really beautiful sunset spot if you want views without squeezing shoulder-to-shoulder into the main Oia crowds.

Fira

Fira is basically the heartbeat of Santorini ~ the island’s busy little capital perched dramatically along the caldera.

You’ll find the main shopping area here along with restaurants, little side streets to wander, and of course – volcano views…

On the day we left Santorini, we had a late afternoon flight so we spent the afternoon walking the portion of the Oia to Fira trail that we missed the day before when we walked from our hotel in Imerovigli to Oia on the trail.

We only had time for a small glimpse of Fira before heading to the airport, but walking along the top of the rim with the caldera views the entire way honestly felt like the perfect sendoff from Santorini ;0.

Flytographer Photo Shoot

One thing I never skip when I travel now is booking a Flytographer photo shoot.

It has honestly become my favorite souvenir because the only thing I really want to bring home is beautiful photos of me and my husband (or whoever I’m traveling with!) instead of another random trinket that ends up in a drawer.

In Santorini, we met our photographer in Oia at 6:30 in the morning for sunrise and there were literally ZERO crowds… like not another person in sight.

Honestly, we absolutely loved having a reason to wake up before the sun on vacation which is not typically something we willingly or easily do while traveling ;0

And if you’ve ever asked a stranger to take your photo only to end up with one blurry shot and half your head cut off, you already understand why this is worth it.

It also takes the pressure off trying to get the “perfect” selfie the entire trip because you know you’ll come home with at minimum a dozen gorgeous professional photos you’ll actually want to print and keep.

You can save $25 on your first Flytographer photo shoot or gift card purchase when you use my link here 🙂.

fyi – you have to work REALLY REALLY HARD to not walk away from this experience with a new friend in a new country :)!

Red or Black Sand Beaches

One thing to know about Santorini in April is that beach days look a little different than they do in the middle of summer :).

It was more the kind of weather where you throw on a light sweater, walk along the dramatic rocky shoreline, take in those crazy volcanic views, and maybe stop for lunch by the water rather than actually laying out on the sand or swimming (unless you are far braver than me ;0).

With only 2.5 days on the island, we ended up spending most of our time exploring the cliffside villages and caldera views, so we never made it over to Santorini’s most famous beaches but had we added one extra day, Red Beach absolutely would have been on the list.

We might have even rented a car for the day to visit both beaches and Akrotiri Archaelogical Site…

From all my research, Perivolos Beach and the clubs in that area would have fit into our vibe of travel the closest, if we were to have picked a beach to spend an afternoon at that is :).

See my Google map above for location of all the best beaches in Santorini plus a couple of recommended beach clubs ~ which are actually open in April ;).

Akrotiri Archeological Site Museum

If you have even a little interest in history, the Akrotiri Archeological Site Museum would be worth adding to your Santorini plans.

Often called the “Pompeii of the Aegean,” it’s an incredibly well-preserved ancient Minoan settlement that was buried in volcanic ash thousands of years ago.

It’s typically open daily from around 8am–8pm in high season, though April hours can be a little shorter depending on the week, so definitely double check before you go.

We didn’t make it here on this trip either, but if we had added a third full day on Santorini, this would have paired perfectly with exploring a couple of the island’s beaches.

I actually think this might have been the one day where renting a car would have made the most sense too ;0

Santo Wines

If you have an extra day or two in Santorini, Santo Wines is one spot that kept coming up in my research ~ but a place we did not make it to ourselves…

I’ve read more than once that the wine itself may not be the most memorable part of the visit, but the caldera views are the kind that make you forget all about that once you’re sitting there watching the sun drop into the Aegean.

Reservations are a good idea, especially around sunset.

Santo Wines is typically open from spring through late fall, with April being one of the first months of the season when everything is up and running again.

Wine flights and tastings vary depending on what you choose, but expect to pay roughly €25–€45 per person for a tasting experience in 2026.

Before you go, double-check current opening hours on their website since schedules can shift a bit in the shoulder season.

What to Wear in Greece in April

One thing I really loved about visiting Greece in April was that the weather felt comfortable enough to enjoy being outside all day without the intense summer heat.

During our trip, highs were mostly in the low to mid 60’s, which honestly ended up being perfect for sightseeing, wandering little village streets, and even hiking without melting by lunchtime.

I mainly lived in sundresses layered with a sweater, or light pants with simple tops :).

I always wear my favorite cooling shorties underneath the dresses to stay comfy while walking around all day ~ no chafing, no fuss.

We did run into a few chillier days and a couple stretches of rain, so I was glad I packed a light jacket instead of assuming Greece would automatically be hot and sunny every day.

April weather in Greece definitely feels more “spring in Europe” than full-on beach vacation weather, and honestly, that’s part of what made the trip so enjoyable for us.

Our Greece 10 Day Itinerary Overview

DAY 1 | Fly San Diego to Athens on British Airways via London

DAY 2 | Arrive in Athens 12am | Stay 3 nights at Hotel Grande Bretagne

DAY 3 | Athens: Acropolis, Walk around Plaka and Monastiraki, Dinner at Dopios Athens

DAY 4 | Athens: Monument to the Unknown Soldier, National Garden, Panathenaic Stadium, Dinner at Ergon House

DAY 5 | Fly Athens to Naxos via Olympic Airlines (8:50a-9:35a) | Stay 4 nights at 18 Grapes Hotel | Walk around Agia Prokopios | Dinner at 18 Grapes Hotel

DAY 6 | Naxos: Tour with Naxos Premium: Temple of Demeter, Pottery Limpertas Manolis, Monastery of Fotodoti, Chalki, Aperianthos then walk around Old Town Naxos and Temple of Apollo | Dinner at Paloma in Naxos Town

DAY 7 | Day trip from Naxos to Paros via SeaJet Ferry

DAY 8 | Naxos: Walk around Agios Prokopios | Dinner at Del Mar Cafe

DAY 9 | Blue Star Ferry from Naxos to Santorini 1p-3:30p | Stay 3 nights at Grace Hotel

DAY 10 | Santorini: Flytographer photo shoot in Oia 6:30am, walk around Oia, return to Grace Hotel in Imerovigli via taxi and walk to Imerovigli viewpoint, then dinner at Surupo.

DAY 11 | Santorini: Hike Fira to Oia Cliff Trail, dinner at Ammoudi’s Fish Market

DAY 12 | Santorini: Hike to Skaros Rock | PM: fly Santorini to London on British Airways 5p-7:20p | Stay 2 nights at Claridge’s Hotel

DAY 13 | London: Lunch at Mercato Mayfair, Walk to Bond Street and then Denmark Street/Goodwin’s Court, Dinner at Devonshire Pub

DAY 14 | Fly London to San Diego via British Airways 11:30a-2:50p

I hope you found this April in Santorini: A Complete Guide post helpful in planning your own Greek Island adventure :).

There’s something really special about finally seeing those whitewashed villages and blue domes in person after years of seeing them online and realizing… yes, it really is that beautiful.

My husband and I both absolutely loved finally visiting this iconic island in April, and I truly can’t imagine a better first impression of Santorini. The cooler temperatures, lighter crowds, and slower pace made it feel relaxed, beautiful, and still every bit as unforgettable as you hope it will be ;0.

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I want to make some memories.

~Mamma Mia

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