Greece › Santorini › Fira-Oia Walk Route
By Santorini Dave
See Also
- Best Hotels in Santorini
- Best Places to Stay in Santorini
- Best Things to Do in Santorini
- Santorini Walking Tours
The Fira to Oia hike is incredible. A tour is not mandatory but the Fira-Oia Path with Giannis is well worth the cost.
Fira-Oia Hike & Walking Tours
- I recently had someone tell me (and this person was a passionate hiker) that the Fira to Oia hike wasn’t just the best hike on Santorini. It was the best hike they’d ever done in their life. Be prepared for awesome.
- The Fira-Oia Path is the best walking tour from Fira to Oia. Highly recommended. (Includes hotel pick up and drop off.)
- The walk between Fira and Oia is tricky in parts but doable by anyone in decent shape.
- Buy water before starting the walk – there are a few places to buy snacks and drinks along the way but they’re easy to miss and not always open early in the morning.
- Avocado Restaurant is the best mid-point stop along the route. It’s open for lunch (not all restaurants are), very casual, and delicious. Reservations for lunch are usually not necessary.
The Best Tours Along The Santorini Caldera
The hike between Fira and Oia follows the rim of the caldera. The views are stunning. It’s easy to do the hike without a guide but a walking tour can make it more interesting.
- Fira-Oia Walking Tour – The hike from Fira to Oia is incredible and this tour makes it even better. (3 to 5 hours)
- Santorini Food & Walking Tour – Start in Firostefani and walk downhill to Fira with at least 7 stops for street food, local beer, wine, raki, Santorini cheeses, cold cuts, olive oil, bakery treats and traditional sweets. (4 hours)
The Fira to Oia Hike
- The Fira-Oia Hike is the single best thing to do in Santorini – with a Santorini boat tour being a close second. The hike takes you along the caldera cliff and through the villages of Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, and Oia.
- The hike takes between 3 and 5 hours depending on how fast you walk and how often you stop. If you do a side trip to Skaros Rock it will add at least an hour.
- The hiking trail from Fira to Oia is just under 10.5km (6.5 miles). Part of the path is similar to a sidewalk, parts are cobblestone, and parts are a dirt path. There is a good climb in both directions.
- Elevation along the route: Oia 130 meters; Imerovigli 350 meters (the highest point on the hike); Fira 270 meters. These elevations are a little deceiving. The climb from Oia to Imerovigli is long and gradual so you don’t notice it as much. The climb from Fira to Imerovigli is short and steep.
- Best Walking Tour on the Trail: Fira Walking & Food Tour – Eat, drink, and walk along the Santorini caldera from Firostefani to Fira. It’s a short walk (about 15 minutes) with magical views and all downhill. Great food and wine too.
- In summer, start early. It gets hot by 11am.
- Buy water the day before as there won’t be much open if you start early in the morning. There are places to buy drinks along the way but it’s much easier to begin the trip with water and not have to worry about finding an open market.
- Most 7 year-olds would have no trouble completing the walk in terms of difficulty (i.e. the quality of the path) but it is a very long walk for anyone under 10.
- Do not take a baby stroller on the hike.
- A very strong mountain biker could do the route on a bike but it’s not meant for cyclists, there are few bike rentals on Santorini, and it would be disruptive to those on foot even if you had your own bike. Basically, no you can’t do the trail on a bike.
- It’s easy to get a little lost on the walk. But it’s hard to get really lost. Most of the time you can see the next town or landmark up ahead on the caldera cliff and if you’re walking in that direction you’re going to get there (eventually).
- There are small shops to buy water and snacks in Firostefani and Imerovigli (assuming they’ve opened for the day).
- Between Imerovigli and Oia there are two shops/cafes but they aren’t always open.
There are signs along the path with arrows and distances but they’re infrequent and not always helpful.
Snacks and water are sometimes for sale along the route, but I wouldn’t depend upon it.
- From June to September return buses between Oia and Fira will be busy in the afternoon and taxis difficult to find. A good option is to grab a taxi or take a bus in the morning (before your walk starts) and then walk back to your starting point.
- If you enter “Fira to Oia” into Google Maps and then click the walk icon, the route you get will take the most direct route that misses some of the best views. If you’re walking on the road (with cars) you’re doing it wrong. You should be on a footpath almost all of the way. The main exception is between Oia and Imerovigli when you need to walk along the road for a short stretch.
- If you’re on a Santorini cruise and want to do the Fira-Oia hike: You’ll be tendered ashore at the old port below Fira and then you’ll either walk up or cable car up to Fira. From there you can just start walking as you’re already on the main path. When you get to Oia you can either bus or taxi back to Fira, and then back down by foot or cable car to the port to return to your ship. You’ll need at least 5 hours onshore to do the hike.
- Good restaurants to stop at on the Fira to Oia walk are Avocado in Imerovigli (open lunch and dinner) and Cafe Galini in Firostefani (open breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
Map of Fira-Oia Hike
Fira to Oia Walk – Tips
The “start” of the path begins in the square beside Hotel Atlantis in Fira.
Then start walking north. You might make a few wrong turns as you try to get out of Fira. But there are a couple of signs and you’ll figure it out. (In general, go up, not down, as you’re starting out from Fira.) Keep moving north towards Skaros Rock (the big hump of rock you see there to the left).
This is the main square/main street of Fira. If you use Google Maps it might start you from this spot and send you walking north along the main road. But you don’t want to be here. You want to be on the caldera footpath 100 meters to the west.
The path out of Fira starts with a steep climb before you reach the next village (Firostefani), then it levels out for a bit.
As you turn the corner that marks the divide between Fira and Firostefani, you can now see Skaros Rock clearly, and Oia in the far distance.
There are often a few fruit sellers along the way. This one is in Firostefani.
The view as you enter Firostefani over Belvedere Suites (highly recommended) looking north towards Oia.
Direction posts in Firostefani showing the distances south to Fira (10 minutes) and north to Imerovigli (15 minutes) and Oia (2 hours, 45 minutes).
In Imerovigli there is a fork in the path at Blue Note restaurant. The 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. But go left for caldera views, 5 star hotels, and an (optional) visit to Skaros Rock.
If you go right you’ll come upon some makeshift directions that point you into town. These are probably made by shop owners who want walkers to go through town and spend money.
When you turn left (at Blue Note) you’ll see the Church of Anastasi. Walk onto the patio area for great views then continue to the right to keep going to Skaros Rock and Oia.
Skaros Rock. It’s a beautiful walk out to Skaros Rock but this will add at least an hour to your hike (and lots of steps up and down). Getting out there and back to the path is farther than it looks.
If you do decide to go to Skaros Rock this is where you turn off (down to the left). Stay to the right to continue to Oia. This is the only access path for Skaros Rock so you’d take this one even if walking Oia to Fira.
The walk out to Skaros Rock.
The view of Imerovigli looking back towards the village from Skaros Rock.
The view of Oia from Skaros Rock (looking north).
The view of Fira from Skaros Rock (looking south).
The path as you continue north through Imerovigli (after the turn-off for Skaros Rock). Here you’ll pass some of the top hotels on the island: Grace, Astra, and Sophia Suites.
If you’re walking from Oia to Fira this is the route that takes you to Skaros Rock (as you enter Imerovigli from the north) and is more scenic. If you want to visit a market (for water, snacks) in Imerovigli take the path to the left of Avaton hotel and not this one that sticks to the caldera.
The same fork in the path (as above) but back a little bit. Go left to enter Imerovigli and find a market or restaurant. Go right to get the best views and/or visit Skaros Rock.
The path as you leave Imerovigli heading north towards Oia.
Oia is visible in the distance but it’s still a good hour’s walk away.
The path passes a handful of hotels as it leaves Imerovigli. This is West East Hotel.
The bus stop beside (the fantastic) Cavo Tagoo Hotel (about 15 minutes walk north of Imerovigli). Get off here if you want to do a shorter walk. This is roughly half-way between Oia and Fira and you can walk south towards Fira (1 hour or more), or north towards Oia (90 minutes or more).
The path in this section is actually a small road as you pass the hotels (West-East, Rocabella, Cavo Tagoo, Santorini Princess) of northern Imerovigli.
Looking back (south) towards Imerovigli and Skaros Rock as we’re moving north.
And a little farther as the road turns to gravel and then to a path.
Cafe Monopati beside Pantheon Villas. Usually open but I wouldn’t count on it.
The route keeps going to Oia. To the left, there is a detour to the small Church of San Antonio down the cliff.
As you approach the church of Ekklisia Profitis Ilias there is a fork in the path. The left side sticks close to the caldera. The path along the caldera is a little trickier while the right side is a better quality path but less scenic. If you have young kids do the less scenic route. There is an unmarked washroom at the church but it’s often locked so don’t count on it.
The route to Oia when you take the caldera-side of the fork.
The caldera side of the fork is much more scenic but the path is tricky with lots of loose gravel.
The view as you descend on the caldera side above San Antonio Hotel and Aenaon Villas. Both excellent if you’re looking for hotels with peace, quiet, and solitude.
If you’re walking Oia to Fira: This is the fork (in front of San Antonio hotel) between the two paths as you approach from Oia. To the left is the easier, better quality path. To the right is the trickier more-scenic path along the caldera.
There is a 5 minute stretch from San Antonio hotel to the snack shop (below) where there is no path and you’ll need to walk on the road. It feels a little risky but locals know to look out for walkers. Just be quick and watch for cars. In the morning it’s usually very quiet.
There is a snack shop (not always open) as you rejoin the path and leave the road-portion of the walk behind. Oia is up that winding path to the left.
The path goes up again as you get closer to Oia.
To the left of Oia is the island of Thirassia.
Then back down as Oia comes into view. Almost there!
Entering Oia and heading towards town.
If you’re walking from Oia to Fira this is where the path really begins – take the footpath to the right of the market and walk along the caldera. If you’re walking from Fira to Oia this is the first market you’ll come upon as you enter Oia.
There is a small stretch as you enter Oia where there is no path and you’ll need to walk on the road for a minute or two. Traffic moves slowly here, so not a big concern.
Lioyerma pool in Oia. A good place to finish the walk. You can use the pool as long as you buy a drink or some food. Also has great sunset views.
The view of Imerovigli from Oia, with Fira the clump of white buildings to the far right. It’s a good feeling knowing you just walked that entire way.
Lotza Cafe in Oia is a good stop for drinks and snacks. Sit here and look out on the caldera. You’ll have a pretty good view of your entire route along the caldera’s edge. (And the baklava is great.)
Keep walking through Oia and descend to Ammoudi Bay where you’ll find 4 or 5 really good seafood restaurants. After you eat, restaurant staff will call a taxi for you that will take you all the way back to Fira.
If you turn to the left (from the Ammoudi Bay restaurants) and walk along the sea path for 5 minutes you’ll arrive at a great swimming spot where you can jump from the ledges. Super refreshing after a long walk. Imerovigli is visible in the distance.
I'm Santorini Dave. I started this site in 2011 with a short article on tips for visiting Santorini with kids. We're now a small team of writers and researchers dedicated to providing the best travel content on the internet. We focus on 
Hi Dave and Team,
We did the hike from Fira to Oia in April 2024! Your instructions, pictures and directions were spot on. We only lost our way once and only for about 20m near Skaros Rock. We are so grateful for your detailed instructions and helpful tips. This hike was truly one of the best hikes we’ve done to date and your website and instructions played a big part!
Poorna
Thank you. We try to make it as helpful as possible. That’s great to hear.
Considering coming in the first two weeks of February. What is the weather like? How should we prep for the hike? Is there transportation operating for a ride back after the hike? Are hotels/restaurants open? Your blog is really informative.
Buses run less frequently in February but there will certainly be buses running between Oia and Fira, probably hourly. Plenty of hotels and restaurants open to keep you housed and fed. For weather, I would prepare for anything. It could be windy, wet, and cool. It could be warm and sunny. I like to wear multiple layers in such weather, so you can handle anything.
Beautiful but challenging hike, especially the down hill areas over the pebbles and small stones. Walked the Fira to Oia leg on October 21, 2023. Enjoyed it very much but unfortunately I lost a gold wedding band somewhere on the trail. If anyone finds it I’d appreciate they’re responding. Thank you
Thanks for the guide Dave. We did the walk this morning. Left Fira 6:40 arrived Oia 9:00. It was stunning and quiet. Wouldn’t want to do it with a crowd!
Nick Merritt
Thanks for all the great information. Can you start the hike in Firostefani? If so, where could I get on the trail there?
Assuming you’ll take the bus to Firostefani, walk west (towards the caldera) from the bus stop. It’s a one-minute walk and you can’t miss the path.
Dave – Just got back from Santorini and doing “the hike”. WOW! We also did the 588 stairs going up to the trail from the cruise port since the cable car line was 1.5 hours long. Your hike guide and things to look for were spot on and extremely helpful. Took about 3 hours to go the 6 miles from Fira to Oia, stopping to rest and take pictures. We ate at the 518 Cafe in Oia with a gorgeous view of the caldera, then jumped on the bus back to Fira. So glad we found your website before we went. Thank you! Rick Haywood
Fantastic! Great to hear. Thanks.
Thanks Dave, I found this guide super helpful. I just did the walk today and it was amazing. I left Fira at around 9am, I stopped at a 24hr bakery on the main street for some coffee/ snacks, which was delightful! I’d recommend that time as it was shaded and there was a nice breeze most the way, (maybe it was just really cloudy today?) ideal walking conditions anyway. For the time and effort that goes into this walk the return is massive! Beautiful scenery 99% of the time and overall it isn’t very difficult, definitely a bit of effort needed but manageable. I’m so happy I did it! Spent the day at the public pool at far end of the town, paying €10 for a bed and the facilities/ food/drinks is just perfect! I’m waiting on the sunset which I hear is magical from here and then I’ll grab a bus back to Fira! Oh what a perfect day (so far)!
Ciara
Awesome. Thanks for sharing.
I am making a trip in August and can’t wait to do this hike! Once we are in Ammoudi Bay we are planning to swim out to the island to cliff jump. We plan on doing the hike with backpacks to carry water, snacks, towels, phones, wallets, etc. Is there a safe place to leave our belongings when we make the swim to the island? Thank you!
No, there is no good place to leave your stuff as you go for a swim. I stash it and keep an eye on it as best as possible. I’ve never had a problem, but I never bring valuables.
Leaving in 2 weeks and plan to do this hike from Fira to Oia. We were thinking of doing a morning hike and either taking a dip in the Ammoudi Bay as suggested right after and then do lunch nearby or lunch, then swim. Either way – will we need to bring our own towels on the hike or is there service on the beach? Will it be frowned upon to eat at a restaurant having just taken a dip in the bay? Trying to plan what to bring on the hike and what order we should do things when we get to Oia. Thanks!
No towel service at Ammoudi but it will be fine to eat at Ammoudi restaurants after swimming. I love eating there after a refreshing swim.
Hi Dave,
We are staying at Annio Flats in Imerovigli in May, Would you suggest getting a bus to Fira and starting the walk from there or just starting the walk from our hotel to Skaros rock and on to Oia? Would we miss much by not starting in Fira?
I believe the hiking route goes right past our hotel?
Many Thanks,
Tom
I would start walking from your hotel north towards Oia. The walk between Fira and Imerovigli is great but I suspect you’ll take this walk in many times on separate occasions (walking to dinner or down to Fira for some shopping).
Hi Dave, is it a definite that we can get a cab after eating at Ammoudi Bay? I heard that there are only 20 + cabs in Santorini? Can you share how much will the cab fare be if we are going back to Fira? Or is there a bus station near Ammoudi Bay to take a bus back to Fira? Thanks!
A definite? No. Likely? Yes. I find it hard to get a taxi anywhere in Santorini. If you get one it will be 20€ to 25€ to get to Fira. There is no bus stop near Ammoudi. The closest is up in Oia. Lots of steps but not really that far away. Maybe a 15 minute walk from Ammoudi.
Indeed VERY useful information. Thank you for taking the time to write it. One question: do you know if there are any stray dogs in this route? Since you seem like an experienced hiker, any advice if a pack of them attacks me?
I have never encountered a single stray dog on the hike. There are a few dogs that wander around the towns but they’re typically friendly and never run in packs.
Hi Dave. Thank you for this information!!! I’ll be taking a cruise this coming September and one of our stops is Santorini and I’m excited to take this hike. I’m a solo traveler and want to try tackling it on my own. We’re scheduled to be docked from 12pm – 8pm on the 22nd; a Sunday. Sounds like a lot of time but not so much perhaps, if I’m to go on this little adventure. What are your recommendations?
Yes, it’s easy to do on your own and I think you should have plenty of time. You’ll probably take the cable car up to Fira. When you reach the top and exit the cable-car building turn right towards the caldera and then right again when you reach the caldera. You’re then on the path to Oia. It starts by going uphill for about 10 minutes (for this section, stick to the caldera edge and don’t take any paths that lead away from the cliff). If you’re in decent shape you should make it to Oia in 2.5 or 3 hours. You could stop for lunch in Firostefani or Imerovigli and still have plenty of time. Once in Oia hop on the bus back to Fira (there’s only one bus so you can’t take the wrong one) or get a taxi (near the bus stop). The line-up back down in the cable car is often very long. If you’re short on time just run down the stairs to the cruise port.
Hi Dave.
Thank you so much for mapping out this hiking trail. We will be cruise ship passengers in June and I want to at least make the hike out to Skaros rock (unless you have a different recommendation for about a 2-hour hike roundtrip from Fira). Is there a specific landmark to guide our way out of Fira? I am concerned about getting lost on our way out of town.
Thank you so much for any advice.
Jen
From the cable car you want to head north-northwest and pass Cafe Irini. On the next turn you’ll pass Volkan On The Rocks and turn north, from there you can’t really go wrong (well, at least until you reach Imerovigli).
Hi Dave – I will be coming to Santorini on a cruise on May 14. We do not dock until 12. My husband and I are both 30 and are regular hikers so I am not worried about the time as much. Last I checked we were the only cruise in port that day, but I have read a lot of horror stories of the large lines/crowds because of cruises. Any other suggestions you would give? Would it make more sense for us to do Fira to Oia or vice versa? Thanks for all the information you have provided!!
I would do the hike from Oia to Fira then you know you’re true time constraints as you walk back. As opposed to worry about catching a bus or taxi back – and trying to guess how long that will take. If you’re short on time don’t wait for the cable car, just keep walking down the stairs in Fira, to the Old Port below.
Does the hike from Fira-Oia use the same path/trail as Oia-Fira? Is one path more uphill than the other? We will be travelling with 2 children (ages 8, 12) in late December.
Yes, same path. Oia to Fira is more uphill – but there’s a lot of up and down in both directions and I find the difference is hard to notice.
I completed the walk with my daughter in mid-July. It was truly beautiful and we used Dave’s photos as kind of a scavenger hunt to find our way. It was great!! I misstepped at the second small café and broke my foot (just a hairline fracture, but still) so I was in a good deal of pain for the hardest part of the hike – the rough part that climbed to the little church at the top, and then down to Oia. All in all, though I would definitely say it was doable with, yes, plenty of water and good shoes, and even on a broken bone. Thanks, Dave, these tips were invaluable.
Thanks for the feedback.
Just completed the Fira to Oia hike and disagree with the assessment that a 7-year old could complete. We are regular hikers/walkers and were challenged by the elevation changes, heat, and unstable ground in spots. Would definitely recommend real hiking boots/shoes and not running or other casual tennis shoes/sandals. There is very little shade between Imerovigli and Oia. Bring plenty of water and snacks.
Thanks for the great feedback. I will stick by my point that most 7-year-olds will be able to handle the walk without a problem. But it is a long walk and yes, little shade between Oia and Imerovigli (great point – I’ll have to add that info above). I am no great hiker but often do the walk in crocs without any trouble. Thanks again.
Hi Dave, for someone who will be traveling solo, what advice would you give if I get lost on the Oia-Fira hike? Thinking of taking the bus from Fira to Oia to see the sunset and then hike back. But I’m afraid of what to do if I get lost and it gets dark. Thanks for your help!
I would not recommend walking the hike in the dark (and since it will be after the sunset, it will obviously be dark). I’m sure for some audacious types they would think nothing of hiking the path in the dark. But posting on a forum for tips on how to be adventurous and a little crazy – that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
Just done hiking the route from #Fira to #Oia in less than 2 hrs. A must-do for all. Thank you, Dave, for the excellent tips and suggestions: they have proven to be very accurate.
Great. I’m glad it was helpful.
Thank you for your wonderful site and advice.
Do we need hiking boots to avoid knee injury or a pair of running shoes is enough?
I can only say what works for me and I usually wear running shoes or Crocs.
I just completed the hike with my two parents who are both 73 years old. We did it in three hours on the dot. Dave thank you very much for your tips and this site, we feel comfortable using this page as a guide. Thanks again!
Great! Good to hear.
We just got back from a cruise that included Santorini. The trip was for my 40th birthday and my wife is 34. While we are by no means in amazing shape, I did want to share that we felt that the description from Dave underestimates the effort that will be needed to get from one end to the other. We did Thira to Oia and at the end of the 3-3.5 hours that it took (mind you the temps were in the low 70’s by midday), we were dying and my wife was wishing that it was over.
So be prepared to spend some time, take your time, take some water and be ready to be tired. The other thing that we found disappointing…not necessarily from Dave but from other sites…is that Oia is not the quaint little art town that it is painted to be. Most of what we found were higher-end named clothing boutiques and jewelry shops. We were hoping to buy some paintings but none were to be found
Thanks for the feedback. Yes, it’s a good hike. As I mention above: 10.5 km (6.5 miles). That’s like walking from the Freedom Tower to the north edge of Central Park (with a good climb). If that sounded easy going into it then yes, you’d be surprised. But I appreciate hearing your experience and I’ll leave this message up so others will know it’s a significant undertaking for some. Also, it’s easy to stop half-way in Imerovigli (or just north of Imerovigli near Cavo Tagoo hotel) and take the bus back to the start or forward to the end.
Hi Dave! Maybe I missed it but how long does this hike take from Fira to Oia? We have been following all of your recommendations and we are staying at Aria Suites. So excited!
Thank you
Joanie
At a brisk pace you could get from Fira to Oia in 2 hours. But for me and most people with stops for sightseeing and rest it’s probably 3 to 4 hours.
Thanks for your postings , this is wonderful and very helpful. We are a family of 4 (2 kids aged 9 and 4) and want to do the hike. After reading everything we thought we could do Fira to Imerovigli as we have kids. Would you recommend Fira to Imerovigli or vice-a versa or should we go till Cava Tagoo and take the bus back or take a bus to Imerovigli and go downhill to Fira given the age of the kids. We are staying in Fira.
I would take the bus to Imerovigli and walk down to Fira.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I just did this hike yesterday and your instructions were so extremely helpful. I’m sure I would have made it to Oia without them, but I would have been confused so many times and it would taken a lot longer.
The hike was amazing and I highly recommend it. Although, it is challenging.
Gary Turco
Good to hear. Glad it was helpful.
Hiking in Late September
Hello, I was wondering if you can recommend a half way point where we can park our car for the hike? I do not want to miss anything and would like to see OIA or the sunset or is it possible to end up at Amoudi Bay?
Thanks,
Carole
Take the bus to Cavo Tagoo (the next stop after Imerovigli). That’s about half-way between Fira and Oia and will give you about a 75 minute walk to get to Oia. And yes, you can continue to Ammoudi Bay to eat dinner and watch the sunset. But do make reservations and be prepared to walk all the way back up to Oia as you won’t be getting a taxi right after sunset.
Hi Dave, my husband and I are visiting in December. Is this hike ok to do at that time? And do you have any other suggestions (food/sights) for us when we visit in December? Thanks!
Diane
As long as it’s not too rainy it will be fine. Akrotiri is also great in December (it’s covered). Lots to do as long as it’s not too wet (which, with a bit of luck, it shouldn’t be).
This is superb, thank you for it!
My husband and I are driving a rental car and don’t want to do the full hike as we’ll need to take a bus back to get the car. Where would you recommend we start (in the direction Fira-Oia, with parking spaces), and end (where there are buses available for us to take a bus back)? We are looking to about 30mins-1hr hike.
Thank you so much! Michelle
Walk from Fira to Cavo Tagoo – 15 minutes north of Imerovigli. If you want your walk to be mostly downhill bus to Cavo Tagoo then walk south to Fira. Be sure to stay to the right as you enter Imerovigli (from the north) to get the best views.
Dave,
We just finished the hike from Fira to Oia and are currently tapped in from Mezzo having coffee and breakfast. Your site, pictures and all, was amazingly accurate and helpful. Just a note to say “thank you” for he help. We never felt uncomfortable with the trail or where to go. Amazing views and photo ops. We were saying you should print this and market it to all of the resorts! We would have certainly purchased it. Thanks again.
Matt and Amanda, NY, USA
Thanks. Glad it was helpful. Have fun.
HI! We will be staying at the Astra Suites for our Honeymoon in late September and definitely want to do this hike one morning. Would you recommend us taking a bus to Fira and starting the hike there? We like the idea of ending it at Ammoudi Bay, but I wasn’t sure what would be the better option as it seems Imerovigli is in the middle.
Also, would you recommend the Ammoudi Taverna after the hike for lunch?
Thanks so much!
Courtney
If it was me, I’d just start heading north from Astra. Ending with lunch in Ammoudi is a great idea (and adds a little length to the hike). I’m sure you’ll end up walking into Fira (from Astra) a few times so no need to do it as part of the hike. Unless you want to have the experience of doing the whole hike in one go.
Hi Dave,
Thanks for a great review and tips on the caldera hike.
I want to know if it is ok for us to hike to Oia from Fira at 3pm in August and still manage to reach Oia for the sunset view. I will hiking with my wife and 2 kids age 9 and 12.
Thanks,
Amir
Time-wise you will make it. But that is the peak of the day’s temperatures so you could be very very hot. If you’re committed to it, I’d suggest taking the bus to Imerovigli and starting your walk from there as Fira to Imerovigli is all up hill. There will still be plenty of up and down and there is almost no shade from Imerovigli to Oia, but at least it will be a shorter walk.
Just started planning our Athens and Santorini trip for the first week in November of this year. We live on the coast of Maine in the USA and hike in our national park. Stamina is not the problem, but a definite fear of heights is….had lots of trouble in Yosemite, California, USA. Will I be far enough away from the ledge to feel safe? I really want to do this hike. Our hotel (Astra Suites, chosen as one of your recommendations) is very close the Skaros Rock path. One thought would be to go one way one morning and the other on the next. Would that be feasible? Thank you for the wonderful informative website. Better than TripAdvisor! Rachael Sharp
While the walk is definitely close to the edge it generally doesn’t edge right up to the cliff. The part where there is a large drop along the pathside is where it splits north of Imerovigli (near the church) … so just take the path to the right (as you’re going to Oia) and avoid the path along the caldera. The two paths rejoin each other near San Antonio Suites.
Just a quick comment to say thank you for creating this post! We did the walk this morning and your pictures and tips really helped!
Fran
Great. Glad it was helpful.
Hi Dave, We will be visiting Santorini end of June and are very keen to do this walk from Fira to Oia – it looks incredible! We will however have a 2 year old toddler in tow who my husband is fairly used to carrying on his back (we live in Cape Town and do some hiking). Do you think the walk would be suitable for us to do with our son in a hiking backpack? Thanks so much and great page by the way!
Tarryn
Shouldn’t be a problem.
This may be a silly question but can you do the hike the opposite way? from Oia to Fira?
Tiffany
Yes.
Hello! I’m sorry if you addressed this and I missed it, but what clothes/shoes do you recommend? Do we need to wear hiking clothes or can we do shorts and comfy sandals (basic vacation clothes)? Thank you!
Anna
Depends on your age and fitness as much as anything. If you’re in your 20s and in good shape you could wear almost anything and be fine. If you’re in your 50s/60s and don’t do a lot of 10km hikes then wear good walking/athletic shoes. Layers are always good as temp can change a fair bit with breeze or clouds.
Hi,
Your website and information is really helping me, especially as I am nervous travelling abroad. The walk from Fira to Oia.
The Google Map link you posted seems to look more inland than on the edge of the Caldera on what I have seen in your photos. Could you check your link and confirm it is correct. I looked at it from Google Earth perspective.
Many Thanks,
Janine
I double checked and the map is right. That’s the caldera path. There are buildings (hotels, mainly) below the path and on the map that can look like there’s land between the path and the edge – but for the most part, the path goes along the edge and the buildings are below. (As I said above, if you enter Fira to Oia in Google Maps the default route does go inland in parts, but my link above does show the most scenic route.)
Thank you so much for posting this – so informative.
Do you think the views are better hiking from Fira to Oia, or Oia to Fira, or the same? We are staying in Oia so just wanted to decide if we should taxi it to Fira and hike back to Oia, or vice versa. Seems like Fira to Oia may be the better route in case we are hungry, and sweaty. Thanks so much!
There is not a big difference in terms of view between one direction and the other. Yes, you will notice different things depending on your direction but one is not better than the other. The route does seem a little more intuitive and easy to follow going Fira to Oia than the other way, but once again, not a large difference. Hiking Fira to Oia will give you cafes, markets, and bathroom breaks (if you stop at a restaurant) over the first third of your walk. Going Oia to Fira will allow you same stops over the final third of your walk – not sure what you consider better.
I will be arriving Santorini early morning like 6 or 7. Was planning to join some tours for hiking. But I want to ask for your advice if you believe we can do hiking without a tour. Our Airbnb is in Oia, and which way would you suggest us to start and end ? Thanks so much for your help. Judy
You definitely do not need a tour to do the Fira-Oia hike. (But if you want companionship and to meet some people then go for it.) I slightly prefer walking Fira to Oia but there is not a big difference. You could check in at your Airbnb, then take the bus to Fira (that way you won’t have to bus during the busier afternoon). From the bus station walk straight to the caldera then turn right and start walking north. That said, if you’re anything like me, when you set your bags down in Oia after a long flight or ferry the last thing you’ll want to do is get on another bus right away. In that case just start walking from Oia and worry about the bus later – it will all work out anyway you do it.
We are an older couple who can’t walk for very long distances. We could probably manage for 50 to 60 minutes of walking on good path. We’d love to do some of the walk. What would you suggest?
Thanks,
Mark and Michelle
Take a bus or taxi to Imerovigli and start the walk from there to Fira. It’s pretty much all flat or downhill going from Imerovigli, through Firostefani, to Fira. Views are wonderful and path is in pretty good condition – though still plenty of loose gravel and far from perfect.