A volcanic island in the Aegean: whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches on the caldera rim in Oia and Fira, world-famous sunsets, black and red beaches, Akrotiri — a city buried in ash in the 17th century BC — boat trips to the volcano and wines from volcanic soil. Best for couples, rest and photography; with children, the black-sand beaches and boat trips are the highlights. Mykonos is about 2 hours away by fast ferry. There are no direct flights from Mongolia — connect via Frankfurt, Istanbul or Athens. Mongolian citizens need a Schengen visa; the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar (VFS Global) handles Greek visas on Greece's behalf. An earthquake swarm in February 2025 led to a state of emergency, but the island has operated normally since March 2025.
🛂 Visa: Visa required · 90 days✈ Flight: 16h☀ Best months: May, June, September, October
#sunsets#caldera#volcano#black-sand beaches#wine#Schengen visa
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: May, June, September, October.
Things to see (12)
🧸 for kids
Oia village and sunset
CityFree24 hours; sunset about 20:30 in summer, about 18:45 in October
Santorini's icon: white houses, blue-domed churches and windmills on the caldera rim. Watching the sunset from the old castle ruins (Kastro) is the island's main event — in summer thousands of people claim their spot 1–2 hours ahead. Come early in the morning for empty photos; to escape the evening crush, book a terrace table ahead. The lanes are marble and stepped, which is hard going with a pushchair.
NatureFree; Fira cable car €10 one way (ages 6–12 €5), luggage €5Path 24 hours; cable car about 6:30–23:00 in summer, stops in strong wind
Travel guide
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goGreece has no embassy in Mongolia — the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar takes Greek visa applications through VFS Global. On Santorini, summer hotels fill very early.+
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Schengen visa: German Embassy (VFS Global)
If Greece is your main destination, the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar issues the visa on Greece's behalf. VFS Global takes the applications on the embassy premises, and you book the appointment online. The fee is €90 (ages 6–11 €45, under 6 free) plus a 100,000₮ VFS service fee. Medical insurance of at least €30,000 is mandatory.
Tip: Apply between 6 months and 4 weeks before travel — attach your hotel and ferry/flight bookings.
May–June and September–October are best: warm, swimmable and less crowded. July–August are the busiest and priciest, with strong meltemi winds. From November to March many hotels, restaurants and boat trips are closed. Book caldera-view hotels in Oia or Imerovigli months ahead.
In early 2025 thousands of earthquakes struck between Santorini and Amorgos; the Greek government declared a state of emergency from 6 February to 3 March, and many people left temporarily. After activity declined, schools and services reopened and the island operates normally. Check Greek Civil Protection news before you travel.
🛬Landing and reaching your hotelFlights land at Santorini airport (JTR) near Kamari, southeast of Fira; ferries arrive at Athinios port.+
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From the airport
The airport is about 6 km from Fira. KTEL buses run to Fira; pay the driver in cash, about €2–2.50. Taxis are very scarce on the island and summer queues are long — a transfer booked through your hotel is the reliable option.
Ferries dock at Athinios below the caldera cliffs, and a steep switchback road climbs from there. KTEL buses meet the ferries and run to Fira (about €2.50–3.10); for Oia, change in Fira. Traffic jams when ships arrive, so book a transfer ahead.
Tip: Cruise ships tender at Fira's Old Port — a different port from Athinios.
If your phone supports eSIM, buy and install a travel eSIM from Airalo, Holafly or similar before you leave: it works as soon as you land in Frankfurt, Istanbul or Athens. Pick a Europe-wide plan and it works in your connecting city too.
Tip: Download Santorini in Google Maps for offline use — signal drops on mountain roads.
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Greek prepaid SIM
Buy a SIM at a Cosmote, Vodafone or Nova store with your passport — registration is required by law. The operators have stores in Fira, and SIMs are also sold in Athens airport arrivals. Cosmote has the widest coverage on the islands.
🚇Getting around the islandEvery bus leaves from the central station in Fira — to go between villages you usually change there.+
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KTEL buses
Buses run from Fira to Oia, Kamari, Perissa, Akrotiri, the airport and Athinios. Tickets cost about €2–3, cash only, from the driver. Service is frequent in summer, but evening buses back from Oia fill up, and winter service is thin.
A rental car is the easiest way to explore freely; an International Driving Permit is required. Roads are narrow and parking in Oia and Fira is very scarce. ATV (quad) crashes are common — with children, choose a car. Taxis are few, so book ahead.
Tip: Insurance won't cover you if your licence isn't valid for the vehicle.
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Ferries
To Piraeus a high-speed ferry takes about 5 hours (from about €90) and a conventional ferry about 8 hours (from about €46–60). Mykonos is about 2 hours by fast ferry. On meltemi days ferries can be delayed or cancelled — turn on Ferryhopper alerts.
Hotels, restaurants and shops take cards; buses, the volcano island fee, some tavernas and water taxis are cash only. Fira and Oia have bank ATMs; independent ATMs charge high fees. Santorini is one of the most expensive places in Greece — caldera-view restaurants cost more.
Tip: If the ATM offers to charge you in tögrög, say no — choose euros.
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Climate resilience fee
Greece charges a fee per room, per night. April–October: 1–2-star hotels €2, 3-star €5, 4-star €10, 5-star €15, short-term rentals (Airbnb) €8. November–March: €0.50, €1.50, €3, €4, and €2 for rentals. It is usually collected separately at the property.
Cruise passengers landing on Santorini or Mykonos pay €20 per person from June to September and €12 in April–May and October, added to the fare. Non-EU visitors get a Tax Free form in the shop and reclaim VAT at the airport where they leave the EU.
🍜FoodThe dry volcanic soil gives small but intensely flavoured crops: cherry tomatoes, white aubergines, fava split peas and Assyrtiko wine.+
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What to eat
Santorini fava (yellow split-pea purée), tomatokeftedes (tomato fritters), fresh fish and seafood, gyros and souvlaki. Children love gyros, yoghurt with honey and loukoumades.
Tip: Caldera-view restaurants are pricey — tavernas in Pyrgos, Megalochori, Perissa and Kamari are cheaper and better.
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Wine and meal times
Assyrtiko white and sweet Vinsanto are the island's pride, and winery tastings are a classic. Greeks eat dinner late; terrace restaurants fill at sunset, so book a table ahead.
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Groceries and water
There are supermarkets around Fira, Karterados and Perissa; small shops in Oia and Imerovigli are expensive. The island's tap water is desalinated, so most people drink bottled water.
Police, ambulance and fire all answer on 112 — free, 24 hours, across the EU, even from a phone without a SIM. During earthquakes or wildfires 112 sends alerts to phones — follow the instructions. The island hospital is small, and serious patients are flown to Athens.
Don't climb over railings or onto roofs for photos on the caldera rim. Respect closures at rockfall-prone spots such as Red Beach. In an earthquake, take cover under a table, go out into the open once the shaking stops, and move from the shore to higher ground.
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Heat and the Mongolian Embassy
The summer sun is strong and shade is scarce — carry a hat, water and sunscreen, and don't walk at midday. Mongolia has no embassy in Greece; if you lose your passport, report it to the police and contact the Embassy of Mongolia in Sofia (Bulgaria), which covers Greece.
The white houses of Oia and Fira are homes and hotels — climbing on roofs and terraces for photos or peering through doors is forbidden. Orthodox churches may refuse entry with bare shoulders or knees — carry a light scarf.
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Animals and nature
Don't ride donkeys up the Fira steps — the heavy loads and heat make the animals suffer; take the cable car or walk. Taking stones from the volcano island or leaving the path is forbidden. Leave no litter on the beaches.
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Everyday contact
Say 'Kalimera' (morning) or 'Kalispera' (evening) entering a shop or taverna and 'Efharisto' when leaving. Showing an open palm towards someone is an insult. Greeks say 'ne' for yes and 'ohi' for no.
📱Useful apps+
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Transport
Use Ferryhopper for ferry tickets, timetables and cancellations, and the Aegean app for flights. Island bus timetables are on the KTEL Santorini site; Google Maps handles driving well.
Buy Akrotiri and Ancient Thera tickets on the official hhticket.gr and cable car tickets on its own site. Google Translate's camera mode translates Greek menus and signs on the spot.
Meltemi winds can delay ferries and sometimes flights, so spending a night in Athens before your international flight home is the safe choice. Santorini airport is small and crowded in summer — arrive early and book your transfer ahead.
Leave the Schengen area no later than the date on your visa — EES records your exit day automatically, and an overstay will hurt your next application. Validate Tax Free goods before check-in at the airport where you leave the EU (Athens or Frankfurt).
AI answer: double-check anything beyond our researched facts with an official source.
From the main town of Fira through Firostefani and Imerovigli (Skaros Rock) to Oia, the path follows the caldera rim for about 10 km, 3–4 hours — the best views of the sea and the volcano. Start early: there is almost no shade, so carry water and a hat, and take the bus back. From Fira to the Old Port it is 588 steps or 3 minutes by cable car. Animal-welfare groups advise against donkey rides — heavy loads and heat harm the animals.
Culture€20; reduced €10; 3-day combined ticket for Akrotiri, Ancient Thera and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera €15Usually 8:00–19:00/20:00 (Mon, Thu 8:30–15:30); closes earlier from October
A Minoan-era town buried in ash by the 17th-century BC eruption: two-storey houses, streets and pottery are well preserved under a large roof, so it is comfortable even in the heat. Children enjoy the story of how a whole town was buried. The famous wall paintings are in the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira.
BeachFree; boat from Akrotiri harbour about €5–8Footpath usually closed; view from the lookout
A small beach beneath red volcanic cliffs. It has been closed many times because of rockfalls — the 2025 earthquakes caused a large collapse, and the footpath remains closed. Respect the closure signs and photograph it from the viewpoint, or see it from the sea by boat. Don't take children under the cliffs.
BeachBeach free; sunbeds and umbrellas about €10–3024 hours; beach cafés and sunbeds May–October
Long black volcanic-sand beaches on the east coast: calm, shallow water, sunbeds, tavernas and water sports — the best choice for families with children. The black sand gets very hot by day, so bring water shoes. Kamari and Perissa are separated by the Mesa Vouno headland and linked by boat or by the mountain path via Ancient Thera.
NatureTour €30–55; Nea Kameni fee about €5 in cashDaily April–October, from the Old Port and Athinios
Land on Nea Kameni, the young volcanic island in the middle of the caldera that last erupted in 1950, and walk about an hour to the steaming crater. Then jump from the boat near Palea Kameni and swim into the warm, iron-orange springs. Children love it, but the path is rocky and hot — wear trainers and carry water.
FoodTastings about €20–50 (depending on the flight)Usually daily April–October 10:00 until sunset
Santorini is known for Assyrtiko white wine and sweet Vinsanto from vines trained into baskets in volcanic soil. Tasting while the sun sets over the caldera from the terrace of Santo Wines near Pyrgos or the 1947 Venetsanos winery in Megalochori is a classic. For adults; book a table ahead.
A medieval hilltop village with a Venetian castle in the centre of the island — narrow lanes, many small churches and far calmer than Oia or Fira. From the top you see the whole island on both sides; a good place for a sunset with fewer people.
A Dorian, Hellenistic and Roman town dating from the 9th century BC, 360 m up Mesa Vouno above Kamari and Perissa — ruins of a theatre, temples and agora. Drive the switchback road from Kamari or hike up in about 45 minutes. There is no shade, so go in the morning.
FoodFree; fish restaurants €25–50 per personTavernas usually April–October 12:00–23:00
A tiny fishing harbour under red cliffs below Oia: seaside fish tavernas and swimming out to the islet of Agios Nikolaos. It is about 300 steps down from Oia (hard work coming back up). Cliff jumping is dangerous — keep children away from the edge.
RelaxShared cruise about €120–160 per person (with food and drinks)April–October; day and sunset cruises about 5 hours
Leave from Vlychada or Amoudi, stop to swim at Red Beach, White Beach and the hot springs, eat a barbecue on board and watch the Oia sunset from the sea — away from the crowds. Suits families with children too. On meltemi days it can be rough or cancelled.
CultureSantorini–Mykonos fast ferry €75–90 one way; Delos boat €25 return, site €20Ferries several times a day March–November; Delos boats daily in season
Mykonos is about 2 hours away by fast ferry: Little Venice with houses right on the water, the Kato Mili windmills, white lanes and nightlife. From Mykonos a 30-minute boat ride reaches Delos, a UNESCO site — the ancient sacred city said to be Apollo's birthplace. Combine the two islands over 2–3 nights and fly back to Athens from Mykonos.
