Oia Travel Essentials
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Ideal duration: 1 - 2 Days
Best Time: July to Aug Read More
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"Greece's Most Photogenic Village"
Oia Tourism
Oia is a beautiful coastal town, located on a cliff overlooking the fascinating caldera and the island of Thirassia, on the northwest side of Santorini, about 12 km from the capital Fira. The town is famous for its magical sunsets in the caldera, whitewashed-blue domed houses, traditional architecture and dramatic views of caldera cliffs reflecting the pink and purple hues as the sun moves towards the west.
As the beautiful town of Oia is pretty expensive, for people who choose to stay here, it is more of a luxury, romantic getaway with marvellous views of the caldera on one side and beautiful sunsets on the other. For others who choose to stay elsewhere, the town offers some of the best viewpoints with world-famous sunset views and some cosy cafes, restaurants and shops worth visiting while exploring bougainvillaea-covered labyrinthine alleys on foot. Pretty windmills with traditional households sitting on the water and little blue-roofed chapels in quiet-hidden alleys attract huge crowds that keep narrow alleys of the town flooded during the day.
With limited options to explore, Oia has Ammoudi bay, just 300 steps down the hill, giving a perfect fishing village vibe. There is also a 3-5 hour hike between Oia and Fira, which is a must-do with the most sublime views Caldera has to offer, which can be done either on foot, by a cable car or on a muleÍs back.
Must Know Before You Travel to Oia
Oia is a pedestrian-only town; however, to connect it with other parts of Santorini, a frequent bus facility, rental ATV, and car service are available.
The only parking lot is available at the entrance of the village, which fills fast with big vehicles and rented cabs.
Oia consists of plenty of steps. Hence, it is not wheelchair or stroller-friendly.
Sunset Viewing:
The best way to watch the sunset without crowds is to get a table at a restaurant with a sunset view. One can expect to reserve such tables at least 2-3 days in advance.
If interested in viewing sunset from one of the free spots, arrive at least 3-4 hours in advance.
Restrooms:
There is only one public restroom in Oia, located next to the bus station.
All the cafes, restaurants, taverns, or pubs in Oia have restrooms, which one can use if they buy something.
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General Tips
Restaurants, Cafes, and shops are open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Many restaurants with views or even some fancy places need a reservation for the table.
There are plenty of gyro and mezze places where you can have meals, in case you don't get a table in restaurants.
Being labelled as a romantic getaway, Oia doesn’t offer much to night owls.
Almost no clubs and pubs operate through the night, and even the restaurants, cafes and stores close maximum by 11:00 PM.
Ditching the Crowds:
Visit Oia in the early morning, before 9:00 AM, to avoid crowds. Also, there is a very limited area for people to spread out on major viewpoints, so there is a huge crowd during sunset. However, it is still worth experiencing.
Recommended Clothing:
Avoid synthetic fabrics and prefer flowing, airy pants or jumpsuits over dresses; shorts over skirts due to the windy weather of the Greek islands. Prefer comfortable flats with good soles, being mindful of the island's rugged landscape and cobbled streets. Some portions of Oia's main street and steps to Ammoudi Bay are slippery.
Suggested Itinerary for Oia
Day 2: Do the Oia-Fira walk and take an island tour that covers Kamari and Perissa beach, Akrotiri Archaeological site, and Profitis Ilias. Try to choose a ropeway to Ois on the way back to have beautiful sunset views on the way.
With more days on hand, one can explore the nearby islands of Mykonos, Naxos and Paros.
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How to Reach Oia
How to Reach Overview
- Taxi: Approximately 30-40 euros.
- Bus: Budget-friendly option, around 2-5 euros. Check local schedules for timings.
From Santorini Port to Oia:
- Taxi: About 30 euros, may vary.
- Bus: Take a bus to Fira, then transfer to another bus to Oia. More economical but takes longer.
From Santorini Airport or Port to Oia with ATV:
- Rent an ATV online from websites like www.santorini-rentme.com; these can deliver ATVs to airports or ports, where one can go through all the formalities and documentation and use the vehicle.
General Tips:
- Renting a car offers flexibility; prices vary based on agency, car type, and rental duration.
- Verify current prices and transportation schedules closer to your travel date for accuracy.
- Google maps can be misleading sometimes.
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