10 Best Things to Do in Fira – Is it Worth Visiting it?

Are you looking for what to do in Fira, Santorini? Here are the ten best ones and many other tips 😉

Fira is Santorini’s capital and the biggest, busiest and most cosmopolitan city on the island.

It has a great combination of natural beauty and social activities, with plenty of restaurants, cafes & bars, important museums, many boutiques, souvenir shops, entertainment venues and lively nightlife. To top it all, Fira is located in the very centre of Santorini and everything is close by.

In Fira, you can find whitewashed villas, blue-domed churches, cave-style hotels with terraces and infinity pools on the edge of the cliff that provide astonishing views of the Aegean Sea.

I do like Fira, although it’s quite commercial and touristy, it’s totally worth visiting.

During my second visit to Santorini, I decided to stay in Fira for a few nights and explore this part of the island a bit more. There are several interesting things to do in Fira and I compiled a list of the ten best ones below.

10 Best Things to Do in Fira Santorini

1 – Watch the sunset

A visit to Santorini cannot be completed without watching the sunset!

Of course, one of the best things to do in Fira is to take in this glorious spectacle.

The island claims to have the most beautiful sunset in the world. And it might just be true.

Sunset in Santorini is like a cult event and every day, visitors and locals alike stop and watch it.

You can see it from the main street, bars, restaurants, viewpoints and even from your hotel if you’re staying in a hotel with a sunset view.

The most popular place in Fira to watch the famous Santorini sunset is the promenade near the Orthodox Cathedral.

But if you want to grab a drink while taking in the sunset, my recommendations are Café del Mar (fancy and a bit pricey though – don’t mistake it for Café del Mar e Sol in Perivolos), PK Cocktail Bar and Argo Restaurant.

No matter where you go, this spectacle of nature will not disappoint you. I guarantee you!!

• Book your next Greece vacation here!

2 – Go shopping

Being Santorini’s capital and the largest town on the island, Fira has a plethora of hotels, restaurants and shops, as well as exciting nightlife.

With a great variety of boutiques, souvenir and gift shops, jewellery stores, bookshops and also the largest shopping centre on the island, you’ll feel very tempted to go shopping.

The stores are everywhere in town and some of them even provide splendid views of the blue Aegean Sea.

You can buy some clothing for yourself or as a gift, beach accessories, such as hats and sunglasses, handmade bags, watches, designer jewels, magnets, soaps made of olive oil or black lava and many other things.

Some of the best boutiques in Fira are: Bazaar, Ilias Lalaounis, The White Santorini and Ammos.

• Are you also into fashion? Check my What to Wear in Santorini post here

3 – Walk the path from Fira to Oia

Fira is easily accessible from the airport, ferry terminal and other Santorini towns.

In fact, there is a 10 km hiking trail connecting the villages of Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia. My suggestion is to walk only from Fira to Imerovigli. This part is very pleasant, much shorter, 3 Km (35 min walk), and interesting.

After Imerovigli, there isn’t that much to see and there are some hills and unpaved parts of the path until you get to the scenic Oia.

You’ll pass by numerous hotels, restaurants, picturesque houses and churches along the way.

The path provides impressive caldera vistas, especially from Fira to Firostefani, where you face the caldera constantly.

I love walking this hiking trail and it’s one of my favourite things to do in Fira.

• Don’t miss: Best Things to Do in Santorini

4 – Go exploring

While in Fira, you must take advantage of its central location and explore Santorini’s top beaches and towns.

Some of the villages that you can’t miss are Oia (the most picturesque and famous) and Imerovigli (my most beloved). If you want to go off the beaten track, the best option is Pyrgos, a very pretty and non-touristy village.

The beaches to put on your list are: Perissa and Kamari Beach (Santorini’s best beaches), Red Beach (the most exotic) and Vlychada (my favourite).

From Fira, everything is quickly reachable, whether you decide to go on foot, to Firostefani and Imerovigli for example, by boat to Oia, or catch a bus at the terminal in Fira to go to the other villages.

However, I do recommend that you hire a car while in Santorini. It’s easier, much more convenient and it is not expensive. But do it in advance, please! You can hire your car online here at no extra cost for you.

• Read next: Best Places to Stay in Santorini

5 – Enjoy Fira’s nightlife

One of the best things to do in Fira at night is to enjoy its bustling nightlife.

You can go for a drink with friends or a party like there is no tomorrow listening to reggaeton and the big hits of the moment.

Murphys, Town Club, The Highlander and Two Brothers are the best bars in Fira. The first three provide you with loud music, dance floors and bartop dancing; the last and smaller one only has tables and chairs and is more appropriate if you prefer drinking and chatting.

The clubs in Fira have stunning cosy outdoor areas that are perfect for hot nights.

The best ones are Koo Club and Enigma. Koo has three outdoor bars where you can relax under the stars and palm trees and it’s the ideal place for honeymooners.

On the other hand, Enigma, built in a stylish Cycladic building, has more of a “proper club” vibe with an impressive lighting system and should appeal more to singles and groups of friends.

Most of them are free and the drinks are reasonably priced. 

While in Fira, you should definitely go out at least once and enjoy the hottest nightlife in Santorini.

PS.: Most bars in Fira are open only from March to October.

• You may also like: How to Get to Santorini From Athens, Mykonos, London, USA…

6 – Admire the sweeping views

Located at the western edge of the island, atop a 220m (722ft) cliff, Fira provides stunning views of the two volcanic islands, the deep blue sparkling Aegean Sea, and other Santorini villages.

From Fira, you can take in the dramatic Santorini landscape, from Cape Akrotiri to northern Cape Ag. Nikolaos, and also Thirassia Island.

And there are plenty of places where you can appreciate the superb vistas in Fira, from the main square to the cable car, cafes, bars, restaurants, streets and even from your balcony, in case you’re lucky enough to stay at one of the hotels with a caldera view.

For me, the most beautiful views are from the north of Fira, towards Firostefani. They are completely unobstructed and you’re just across the two volcanic islands, Palaia Kameni and Nea Kameni, at the centre of Santorini caldera.

• Read next: 10 Best Things to Do in Oia

7 – Try the delicious Greek cuisine

With so many restaurants serving delicious dishes, you just can’t leave Fira without tasting Greek cuisine.

If Greek salad, Souvlaki, Gyro, Moussaka and Honey Baklava sound delicious, imagine consuming them overlooking the blue waters of the Aegean Sea and admiring the astonishing caldera view.

If you’d ask me about the best restaurants in Fira, I’d recommend: Naoussa, Argo, Nikolas Tavern, Volkan on the Rocks, and Lucky’s Souvlaki. Reservations are highly recommended, especially during the summer.

I love Moussaka, sliced aubergine with minced beef in a creamy bechamel sauce, and every time I’m in Greece I have some.

• You may also like: Best Things to Do in Rhodes

8 – Visit the Prehistoric Thera Museum

One of the most popular things to do in Fira among history lovers is to visit one of the most important museums in Greece.

Located in the heart of Fira, close to the bus terminal, the Museum of Prehistoric Thera reveals treasures and the evolution of the old civilization of the Cycladic Islands.

The exhibition is structured in four different units, from the history of research at Thera to the heyday of the city at Akrotiri (mature Late Cycladic I Period, 17th century BC).

The two-story building houses some extraordinary pieces from the excavations at Akrotiri, Potamos and other parts of the island, and the collection includes pottery from the Neolithic to the Middle Cycladic period, marble figurines, metal artefacts, etc.

The museum is very small, yet interesting. It’s a good option for a cloudy day and the visit won’t take more than one hour.

It’s open daily, except Tuesdays. Book your guided tour here.

• Looking for some inspiration? Here are 10 Pictures to Inspire You to Visit Astypalaia

9 – Take the cable car

To deal with the increasing number of ships and tourists arriving in Santorini since the 1970s, a cable car was built between 1980 and 1982 to connect the old port to the capital.

The journey takes around 3min, each way, and provides amazing views from another perspective of the stunning caldera.

It’s a convenient method of transport, saving time and energy for those who arrive in Santorini by cruise ship or wish to take a volcano tour (a must-do experience).

At the old port, you can also take a boat to Oia and visit the old market.

The one-way ticket costs 6 euros for adults and 3 for children, and the cable car is open every day of the week (time and frequency vary according to the season).

If you don’t want to take the cable car both ways, you can ride a donkey or, if you don’t approve of that, you can take the 587 steps down (and keep your step count up).

• Read next: Best Things to Do in Crete

10 – Find beautiful churches

Santorini has dozens of churches, and their blue domes are iconic images of the island. But not all churches were created equal!

The Orthodox and Catholic churches in Santorini have different architectural styles, colours, bell towers and types of crosses.

With over 600 temples, monasteries, churches, chapels, etc on the island, I have no doubt you’ll fall in love with at least some of them.

The most notorious church in Fira is the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, located at the main square. It was built in 1827 and reconstructed after the destructive 1956 earthquake. Both exterior and interior are imposing, with elaborate arches, a staggering bell tower, beautiful frescoes and mosaic flooring. It is entirely whitewashed, including the dome, and it’s open to the public.

One of my favourite churches in Fira is the outstanding Catholic Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. This graceful cathedral has an elegant combination of pale blue, grey and beige colours, and an elegant clocktower. It’s open daily from 10h to 13h and 17h to 20h.

Another beautiful church in Santorini is the Catholic Church of St. Stylianos located on the walkway to Firostefani. It’s a little church, closed to visitors, but is very colourful and picturesque. It was love at first sight!

Make sure to visit some of these churches when you’re in Fira.

This is my suggestion of what to do in Fira and I bet you will find some more. And if you do, please leave a comment below 😉

Safe travels and enjoy Greece.

More posts that you should not miss:

• 7 Reviews Santorini Hotels for All Budgets
• Where to Stay in Imerovigli
• Santorini Sunset Timelapse Video
• 15 Reasons To Visit Rhodes
• Best Things to Do in Lindos
• Rhodes’s Best Beaches
• Where to Stay in Rhodes

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Planning a Trip to Fira, Santorini

Where is Santorini?

Santorini is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 120 mi southeast of Greece’s mainland (check the map here).

How to get to Santorini?

There are only two ways to get to Santorini: by boat or airplane.

∗ There are ferryboats connecting Santorini to other Greek islands. The most common routes from/to are: Athens, Crete and Mykonos.

From and to Athens: the conventional ferry takes around from 6h to 8h and the high-speed one takes between 4h to 5h. I recommend that you buy your tickets online in advance.

You can check prices and timetables here.

∗ By airplane: there is an international airport in Santorini that receives flights from Athens during the whole year, and international flights during the high season.

The companies that operate from Athens to Santorini airport are: Aegean Air, Ryan Air and Volotea (only in high season).

You can book your shared arrival transfer from Santorini National Airport to your hotel or cruise port with a discount here; and your Private Departure Transfer: Santorini Hotels to Airport or Ferry Port here from US$ 39.

Best time to go to Santorini?

The best time to visit Santorini is from May to September when the sun is shining, the temperatures are high and the chances of rain are minimal.

To avoid crowds pick the months of May and September, and no worries because the weather in Santorini is still good at this time of the year.

Where to stay in Fira, Santorini?

I stayed at San Giorgio and if you’re looking for hotels in Fira, I can also recommend:

• Budget: Antonia Apartments, Costa Marina Villas, Pelican Hotel and Kavalari Hotel.
• Great value for money: Evgenia Villas & Suites, Oasis Hotel and Hotel Thireas
• Luxury: Anteliz Suites, Athina Luxury Suites, Aria Suites and Cosmopolitan Suites

Santorini Tours that I Recommend

There are several companies offering tours in Santorini. I recommend booking your tour online in advance with Viator, a TripAdvisor company or Get Your Guide, which offers many different tours.

Some interesting Santorini tours are:

• Santorini Full-Day Sightseeing Tour and Santorini Volcano Cruise Including Hot Springs, Thirasia and Oia Sunset

More tour options with Get Your Guide

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