Day Trips

Santorini's most famous village sits at the island's northern tip — a maze of whitewashed lanes, blue-domed churches and boutiques along the caldera rim, ending at the ruined castle where crowds gather for the sunset. A half-day from Perissa by bus via Fira, by car, or on an organised sunset tour.

The island capital perches on the edge of the caldera, its white houses spilling down the cliff above the old port. Come for the caldera views, the archaeological and prehistoric-Thera museums, the shops and bars, and the cable car down to the water. Fira is the hub of the island's bus network, a short ride from Perissa.

The classic Santorini boat trip crosses the caldera to Nea Kameni, the black volcanic islet at its centre, for a walk up to the crater, then anchors off Palea Kameni to swim in its warm sulphur springs. Many cruises carry on to the little island of Thirassia and finish with the sunset seen from the water. Boats leave from the island's caldera ports rather than Perissa itself.

On the island's southern tip, the Minoan town of Akrotiri — buried by the Bronze-Age eruption and often called the 'Greek Pompeii' — lies preserved under a modern shelter, with streets and painted houses still standing. The dramatic Red Beach, backed by rust-coloured cliffs, is a short walk away. Reachable from Perissa by bus via Fira, by car, or on a guided tour.