Every summer, Santorini teems with tourists. And there’s a good reason for that. Quite simply, there’s no place like it on earth. Thousands of years ago, an ancient, giant volcano blew out the middle of a once-existing island here, creating a caldera. Today, whitewashed villages cling to the top of the caldera’s towering black walls.
“Santorini is honestly one of those rare places that feels like a dream,” says Thanassis Papetanas, general manager of Canaves Collection hotels, who has lived and worked on the island for almost two decades. Everyone should see this place at least once. During the high season, Santorini gets crowded. Drawn by the island’s truly unique volcanic splendor, people crowd the cable car and the black sand beaches, and especially the sunset vantage points by the blue domes in the village of Oia, perched up on the northern tip.
A visit to this beautiful place doesn’t need to be an exercise in frustration. Constant queues and crammed streets aren’t a foregone conclusion. While encountering large numbers of other visitors will be unavoidable, you can still steer clear of the throngs. After consulting with experts—and visiting the island eight times—here are the five best ways to tour Santorini without the crowds.
