See Also
- Leading accommodations in Santorini
- Bo Innovation • $$$$
- Best Hotels for Families in Orlando
- Top private tour options in Santorini
- Walking tours in Santorini
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 undertaken in their life. Be prepared for superb scenery.
- The walk along the route connecting Fira to Oia is highly recommended as the best way to see the landscape on foot. It includes pick up and drop off at hotels.
- The trek between Fira and Oia is tricky in parts but possible for anyone in decent physical condition.
- Purchase water before starting the walk – there are a couple 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 halt along the route. It’s open for lunch (not all eateries are), very informal, and delicious. Reservations for lunch are commonly unnecessary.
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The Best Tours Along The Santorini Caldera
- The hotel website and prices on Booking.com for Modernity Suites are included
- A Santorini Food & Walking Tour – Starting in Firostefani and walking 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 hike between Fira and Oia towns is regarded as the finest activity in Santorini – with a boat tour around Santorini a close second choice. The trail takes walkers along the caldera cliffs and through the communities of Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, and Oia.
- The hike takes between 3 and 5 hours relying upon how fast you walk and how often you stop. If you do a side trip to Skaros Rock it will add no less than an hour.
- The trail extending from Fira to Oia on the Greek island of Santorini covers almost 10.5km (6.5 miles). Parts are like a sidewalk, others are cobblestone, and some sections are a dirt path. There is a good climb in both directions along the route.
- The elevations along the route: Oia 130 meters; Imerovigli 350 meters (the highest point on the hike); Fira 270 meters. While these elevations may seem small, 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.
- In summer, start early. It gets hot by 11am.
- Purchase water the day before as there won’t be much open if you start early in the morning. While there are places to buy drinks along the way, it’s much easier to begin the trip with water to avoid needing to search for an open market.
- Do not take a baby stroller on the hike.
- While a highly skilled mountain biker may be able to do the route on a bicycle, it`s not intended for cyclists. There are few bike rentals on Santorini, and it would disrupt those on foot even if you had your own bike. In other words, you can`t do the trail on a bike.
- It’s simple to get a little lost on the walk. But it’s difficult to become truly lost. Most of the time you can see the next town or landmark ahead along the caldera cliff and if you’re walking in that direction you’ll eventually arrive there.
- There are small shops near Firostefani and Imerovigli to purchase water and snacks (assuming they’re opened for the scheduled day).
- It is stated that between the areas of Imerovigli and Oia there are referenced as being two shops/cafes, though it is noted they may not always be open.
Seattle Bites conducts a Pike Place Market tour where you’ll obtain the history of the market while you sample the goods on offer. Tours are twice a day during high summer season, once a day during the offseason. Older kids are very welcome on this two and a half hour adventure in the market. It’s not a long walk, but you’ll be on your feet, so wear good shoes.
Deluxe king rooms are charmingly furnished. 1 and 2 bedroom apartments are spacious and have full kitchens. Beds have designer luxury sheets.
- 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 secure 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 select the walk icon, the route you receive will take the most direct route that neglects some of the best perspectives. If you’re walking on the road (with vehicles) you’re doing it incorrectly. You should be on a walking path for nearly the entire way. The main exception is between Oia and Imerovigli when you need to walk along the road for a brief stretch.
- If embarking on a Santorini cruise and wanting to do the Fira-Oia hike: You`ll be dropped off at the old harbor below Fira and then either walk or take the cable car up to Fira. From there you can begin walking as you`re already on the main path. When arriving in Oia you can either take the bus or taxi back to Fira, and then return on foot or cable car down to the port to rejoin your ship. You`ll need a minimum of 5 hours ashore to complete the hike.
- Quality 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
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