One of the most popular means of getting around the island is by moped or bicycle. Rental agencies can be found at the ports and in the business districts. Mountain bikes cost from 15€ per day from Moto Chris (tel. 22860/23-431), in Fira, and Moto Piazza (tel. 22860/71-055), in Oia. It`s a good idea to check the brakes and steering before you ride off. Mopeds cost about 25€ per day. Greek law now requires wearing a helmet, but not all agents supply the helmet. Also, don`t wear shorts or sandals; and get a phone number, in case of a breakdown.

Warning: Although narrow and winding, Santorini`s roads are in fairly good condition; it`s the drivers you must worry about. Local drivers take the roads at high speed and visiting drivers usually aren`t sure where they`re going.

The taxi station is just south of the main square. Always book ahead by phone (tel. 22860/22-555 or 22860/23-951) in high season! If you want a taxi for an excursion; be sure that you agree on the price before you set out. Prices are fixed for most point-to-point trips (Fira to Oia, for example). If you call for a taxi outside Fira, you`ll be charged a pickup fee of at least 2€ in addition to the driver`s fare from Fira to your pickup point. Bus service stops at midnight, so book a taxi in advance if you`ll need it late at night.

Note: Don`t be alarmed if the driver picks up another fare, this is usual, although the driver should ask first if it is OK.

Renting a car is an option to get around Santorini as it will provide the most freedom and comfort for travel. However, during the summer, the roads become very hectic since many drivers are visitors to the island and do not know their way around, while locals tend to drive at full speed. Car rentals typically run about €22 per day. Get a map if you intend to travel. But get a Greek language one as well as an English one as the Greek place names are more likely to correspond with the local road signs. And be aware that many maps can have little or no relation to the roads, especially in rural areas. Road edition maps are usually the most accurate.

Please Note: If you park in town or in a no-parking area, the police will remove your license plates, and you, not the car rental office, will have to pay a hefty fine to get them back! Free parking is available on the port`s north side, although it is usually full.

Warning: Drive with caution, especially at night, when you will undoubtedly be sharing the roads with motorists returning from an evening of drinking.

The currency of Greece is the Euro. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for euros upon arrival. The National Bank, which has an ATM, is located one block south of the main square near the taxi station. Bank hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm.

For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in Greece by clicking here.

English may be spoken at your hotel and in the tourist areas, but not everywhere. Greeks do have great regard for those that try to speak Greek so it is a good idea to learn a few phrases. We suggest you get a good English-Greek guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

Greek food comes in many shapes, forms and varieties to keep even the most demanding traveler satisfied! Santorini has its own culinary specilaties and food products. Don`t be afraid to sample the best each island has to offer.

A service charge of 15 percent is usually included in the bill, but if service is good, then it is customary to leave 10 percent.

Warning: Some of the restaurants on the caldera and near the cable car have been known to present menus without prices and then ridiculously overcharge for food and wine. If you are given a menu, make sure prices are listed.

Yes, but many find it bitter as it usually has a high mineral content.

Most villages have small markets where you can buy water and food and other household items. Greek pharmacies are usually excellent with a qualified doctor or medic on staff (who usually speaks some English), but medicines can be more expensive than at home.

Santorini`s beaches are not necessarily the best in the Cyclades, but the volcanic black and red sand is unique in these isles. Red Beach, White Beach and Black Beach, named for the color of the cliffs above them, lie in the southwest, and are usually less crowded than the more lively southeast trio of Perissa, Agios Georgios and Perivolos, which are best for nightlife and watersports like windsurfing and jet skiing. All three beaches have umbrellas and chairs to rent, cafes and tavernas. Kamari, a little over halfway down the east coast, has the largest beach on the island. It`s also the most developed, with plenty of hotels, restaurants, shops and clubs, but becomes unpleasantly overcrowded, especially in the summer. Family-friendly Monolithos is also striking, but for total seclusion, descend the cliffs to one of Oia`s smaller beaches and deep blue waters. Please visit our dedicated page on Santorini beaches for more information.

Please note: It is common for women to go topless on beaches. And while public nudity is illegal in Greece, every island has at least one beach where nudity is allowed.

Fira has the nightlife – all night! But as always, places that are hot one season are gone the next. Franco’s and Tropical are still the most famous places to start off the evening with sunset drinks on the caldera. Koo, with as many as five different bars, is the biggest disco. Kira Thira packs people in later in the day and throughout the night, and Tithora is popular with a young, heavy-drinking crowd. Kamari Beach also has a lot of disco bars, including Disco Dom, Mango`s, Yellow Donkey and Valentino`s. Perivolos, where the JoJo Beach Club was the place to be seen in 2011 as well as Sea Side, teem with beautiful people and sometimes movie stars.

With its rich history (and ties to the mythical Atlantis), its breathtaking sunsets and the unique landscape of its caldera and volcano there is more to Santorini than meets the eye. Santorini offers water sports like scuba diving and snorkeling, hiking and other activities as well as archaeological sites like Akrotiri and ancient Thira. We also recommend exploring the various smaller villages, churches (Santorini has over 1000), castles and museums or taking a boat trip to the island of Thirassia. In addition, local wine tastings are becoming increasingly popular.

There is no shortage of shopping opportunities on Santorini! A fantastic selection of fine jewelry can be found in Fira including gold worked in ancient Byzantine designs. And each island has a unique pottery style that reflects its individuality. In Santorini, potters like the bright shades of the setting sun. Hand-painted icons of Byzantine originals, weavings and embroideries as well as local wines are all good buys.

The best times to visit Santorini are April-May and September-October. During these times, the weather will be a bit milder (not as scorching hot during the day), and less crowded. The weather in the winter months (November – March) is not ideal (definitely not for swimming in the Mediterranean) and many businesses (tour operators, restaurants, and even some hotels/ accommodations) will be closed for the season, although this is beginning to change as more tourists are visiting during these months. Note that prime time/high season is between late June to early September, and hotel prices will naturally reflect that.

Note: If you are planning on visiting Santorini during high season, it`s best to book your accommodations at least 6-10 months in advance. Hotels book up extremely fast in this area of the world.

Yes, Santorini is relatively crime-free, but there are certain things you will want to be aware of. Rental scams can, and do occur, especially with agencies working only with motorbikes and ATVs. Using these types of vehicles is very common on Santorini and there are a lot of rental agencies. Some of them are will offer faulty motorbikes or ATVs for a lower price, but in case of an accident they will demand that the customer pay for the whole cost of the damage. They present their insurance as it being full insurance, but it is in fact, just basic.

Be aware of these rental agencies by observing them being aggressive towards tourists and offering much lower prices than others. employees in front of these types of agencies will be loud and ready to promise everything until the contract is signed. Make sure to check the vehicle before making any decisions, their vehicles are in many cases a bit dirty and old looking.

Also, be aware of the high number of stray dogs on (like most areas of Greece). While a majority of Santorini`s large dogs are friendly they have been known to follow large tourist groups, with some going as far as to follow hiking groups traveling from Fira to Oia. Pack activity is common and basic precautions involving stay or feral dogs should be followed should a pack form around your group.

In an emergency, dial tel. 112

Throughout the island of Santorini, there are pharmacies, clinics, a central hospital and doctors who are in private practice, where visitors can turn to for any issue or emergency that may occur during their vacation. There are also regional medical centers in the settlements of Pyrgos, Emporio and Oia as well as in the nearby island of Therasia.

The Hospital of Santorini is located in Karterados village since 2016 and is operated under the supervision and control of the Ministry of Health. The Emergency Department is on duty 24 hours a day, twelve months a year.