Greece › Santorini › Museums › Tomato Industrial Museum
Updated: March 19, 2025
By Santorini Dave
The Tomato Industrial Museum gives interesting insight on the important history of cherry tomatoes on Santorini, and the unique cultivation of this crop in the island’s harsh volcanic soil.
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The cherry-sized tomato is a signature product of Santorini and has been cultivated since the late 19th century. The island’s harsh volcanic soil and arid climate give it a unique sweetness and flavor.
The Tomato Industrial Museum, housed within the warehouses and canning facilities of the famous D. Nomikos company, offers a journey into Santorini’s industrial past. Visitors can explore the old machinery, and watch video accounts of of the real people who once worked in the plant. Audio guides allow visitors to experience the museum at their own pace, providing great insight on the cultivation and canning processes, plus the history of the company and surrounding area.
Recently, the museum has added a cool augmented/virtual reality component to some of their displays, allowing visitors to see and hear what the factory would have been like in its heyday, and how the various machinery operated.
There’s an interesting gift shop on site for purchases of tomato and tomato-themed products, and one museum warehouse features rotating art and photography exhibits from local artists – and sometimes workshops and cooking classes. (Check the website to see what’s on.)
Several tavernas and cafes are within walking distance at the Vlychada Marina, including the excellent Kiria Roula’s. Most offer a menu of seafood, though meat and vegetable options are also available.
Tomato Industrial Museum Hours and Information
- Season: April to November.
- Hours: May to October open 10am to 6pm. Closed on Mondays. Last tour offered at 5:30pm.
- Website: santoriniartsfactory.gr
- Location: Vlychada, Santorini 847 00
- Telephone: +30 228 608 5141
- Email: info@santoriniartsfactory.gr
- Admission Fee: Adults – €12. Children 8-18 years old, students, and seniors (65+) – €10. Children up to 7 years old – free.
- Parking: Plenty of street parking around the museum, and the Vlychada Marina parking lot is very nearby.
- Bus: Bus available from Fira – but it’s a long walk from the bus stop to the museum. Ask the driver to stop at Nostos Studios in Perivolos (it’s a 25-minute walk from here).
Tomato Industrial Museum
The Tomato Industrial Museum is open from May through October. (Closed Mondays.)
The old factory’s smokestack rises above the museum’s large central courtyard.
Handheld audio guides allow visitors to experience the museum’s exhibits at their own pace.
The exhibits also include informative photo and video displays.
One warehouse building is used as an exhibition space for rotating art shows.
There’s a small cafe on site that serves drinks and snacks, and offers samples of tomato paste and homemade tomato jam.
The museum gift shop sells a large variety of tomato-based and tomato-themed products.
You can even label and seal your own can to take home as a souvenir.
There’s plenty of parking on the street in front of the museum, and a parking lot at the end of the road near the Vlychada Marina.
If driving to the Tomato Museum, turn here off the road to Perissa.
If taking the bus to the Tomato Museum get off here in Perivolos. It’s about a 25 minute walk from this stop. It’s a long walk with little around, but doable.
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