How Big is Santorini? - Everything you need to know
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Santorini, also known as Thira, is a highly sought-after tourist destination. It boasts breathtaking beaches, rocky cliffs, exclusive hotels, scenic hiking trails, wild natural beauty, and volcanic terrain, making it a paradise on earth for visitors. Santorini Island is one of the best places to visit in Europe.
This island is situated in the Aegean Sea, 150 km/93 miles south of Mykonos Island and 200 km/124 miles southeast of Athens, covering 76 square kilometers. It is the 62nd-largest island in the Mediterranean.
If you’re looking for a perfect summer vacation spot, consider visiting Santorini. In this article, we’ll delve into more details to better understand what this enchanting place is all about.
View of Santorini from Satelite
How long and wide is Santorini?
To drive from the northern end of Santorini (Oia) to the southern end (Akrotiri) takes about 45 minutes. The island is 16 km/10 miles long and 2-5 km/1-3 miles wide. The population is 5,500. Walking around the island’s towns is a great way to explore the compact, winding roads of the island.
How long it takes to drive around Santorini?
Driving around Santorini in a car takes 40 to 50 minutes while taking a bus takes more than an hour. Walking from one end of the island to the other will take 3 to 5 hours. Therefore, I recommend renting a car for a fun and enjoyable way to explore Santorini.
Santorini is smaller than Mykonos by about 10%. Santorini’s area is 76.2 sq km, and Mykonos’s area is 85.5 sq km. Mykonos is known for its beautiful views from the hills, windmills with historical significance, and high-end seafood restaurants. It is located 150 km/ 93 miles north of Santorini and 150 km/ 93 miles south of Athens, with a population of 12,500. Mykonos is 15 km/9 miles wide and 10 km/6 miles long.
How big is Santorini compared to Corfu?
Corfu, which has a total area of 610.9 sq km and a population of 102,071, is a Greek island with its capital located in Corfu town. Compared to Santorini, Corfu is six times larger in size and has around seven times more inhabitants.
How big is Santorini compared to Malta?
Santorini is actually much larger than Malta, a small island in Southern Europe in the Mediterranean Sea. Meanwhile, Santorini is situated in the Aegean Sea in North East Europe. Malta covers a total area of 225.31 sq km and has a population of approximately 442,725.
How big is Santorini compared to Crete?
Santorini is much smaller than Crete. Crete is actually the biggest island located in Greece and is situated in the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital is Heraklion, while its total area is 8,450 sq km. The island has a total population of 634,930.
Note: You can compare Santorini with other countries or islands here.
Santorini’s biggest cities
Here are some of the largest towns to visit on the beautiful island of Santorini.
Fira
Fira is the capital of Santorini and a big town. Although there are no beaches in Fira, you can explore the hilly area and visit luxurious hotels, restaurants, and museums. Another must-visit spot is the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church.
Oia is a beautiful village known for its stunning sunsets, charming whitewashed houses, and iconic blue dome churches. In addition to its natural beauty, Oia also offers a variety of restaurants, hotels, and bars. So if you’re looking for the perfect spot to enjoy a cup of coffee while watching the sunset, Oia is the place for you.
Perissa is situated south of Mesa Vouno mountain and is believed to be the location of the ancient city Elefsina. Its blue waters, beaches, and black lava sand attract many tourists.
The Akrotiri boasts picturesque countryside with blue-domed churches providing a stunning sunset view. Additionally, its southern coastline features beaches with black, white, and red sands. Finally, don’t forget to visit the famous archaeological site of Akrotiri.
Archaeological site of Akrotiri
Pyrgos
This village is located south of Fira on the island of Santorini. It boasts a unique architectural view and has many restaurants with rooftop seating.
Pyrgos Kallistis Santorini
Kamari
Kamari village is a beautiful tiny village located on the southeastern coast of Santorini, near Fira. It boasts modern infrastructure and stunning countryside and sea views.
Bottom Line
Although Santorini is not the largest Greek island, it is widely considered the most beautiful. Despite its smaller size, it is still easy to navigate and explore. If you’re planning a couple’s trip, Santorini is an excellent choice. Instead of researching other options, pack your bags and confidently head to Santorini.
Traveling to 🇬🇷 Greece soon?
I recommend these travel resources for Greece that I personally use:
🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Greece. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!
✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Greece, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.
🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.
🚙 Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer from the airport and beetween destinations with Welcome Pickups. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.
🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Greece, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.
🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Greece. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.
📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.
☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.
Santorini is a small Greek island that measures approximately 16km in length and 12km at its widest point. Its total area is approximately 76.19 km², and it takes around 40 minutes to drive from one end of the island to the other.
To travel in Santorini, the most convenient modes of transportation are walking and using the bus. Exploring the small coastal towns on foot is effortless while using the bus is a better option for moving between towns. Fira is the capital city with KTEL bus routes that connect to various places on the main island.
One of Santorini’s best experiences is walking from Fira to Oia. You can hike on the rim of a caldera, visit the towns of Imerovigli, Firostefani, Oia, and Fira, and admire the stunning views of the islands.
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