Personally, I think you definitely need to visit Oia if you're in Santorini, but the larger question is whether that's where you stay. Oia has a LOT going for it… sitting on the edge of an extinct volcano, the town's many cliffside buildings all offer gorgeous views of the deep-blue ocean.
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Personally, I think you definitely need to visit Oia if you're in Santorini, but the larger question is whether that's where you stay. Oia has a LOT going for it… sitting on the edge of an extinct volcano, the town's many cliffside buildings all offer gorgeous views of the deep-blue ocean.
It has become globally famous for its authentic Cycladic beauty, whitewashed houses, labyrinth-like alleys, and amazing hotels, even though the number one thing Oia is renowned for is its magical sunset.
Fira vs Oia – SummaryFira is the isalnd's capital and the livelier village of the two with much more nightlife and shopping. Oia is the more luxurious village with romantic restaurants and high-end shopping.
Oia is typically thought to be the more beautiful and romantic town on the island. I stayed there on my honeymoon and wouldn't have changed it. It was amazing at night to see all of hte people from the island come to the area around my hotel to see the sunset - when this was the view I had from my bed.
Description: Oia, pronounced Ia, is the most famous of all villages of Santorini. It is world-known for its quiet life and the fantastic sunset. It constitutes the most beautiful and picturesque village of Santorini.
The hike between Fira and Oia follows the rim of the caldera. The views are stunning. It's easy to do the hike without a guide but a walking tour can make it more interesting.
Escape Oia and Fira.Get out of these hot spots and head to the lesser-known parts of the island: Emborio, Finikia, Colombo Beach, and Pyrgos all showcase the charm of Santorini without the packs of people.
Oia also has numerous restored churches, including perhaps the most notable of them – Panagia church. To find your way around this amazing town and to explore its attractions at your own pace, take this self-guided walking tour and enjoy yourself!
Watching the stunning sunsets is a requisite activity in Oia. And though you could really stop just about anywhere to see it, the most popular place to watch the sun go down is at the castle. It provides a sweeping view of the ocean, speckled with other Greek Islands.
Santorini is the top tourist destination in Greece and is world-famous for its unique natural beauty. The caldera with the white villages on top, the sunken volcano, and the charming sunset make it a popular place for vacation. In brief, we recommend staying 3 to 5 days in order to visit as many places as possible.
The quickest way to get from Oia (Station) to Fira is to taxi which costs €35 - €50 and takes 12 min. Is there a direct bus between Oia (Station) and Fira? Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Oia and arriving at Fira. Services depart hourly, and operate every day.
There is no appreciable difference in prices between the two villages. There are youth hostels in both, inexpensive rooms without a caldera view, and hotels ranging in price per night from 50 euro up to 1400 euro. Both Fira and Oia offer fine gourmet dining as well as restaurants that are more for the budget traveller.
Don't stay in Oia or TheraOia and Thera (also known as Fira) are the biggest towns in Santorini, and the site of most of the hotels and other places to stay. Thera/Fira is also where the cruise ship passengers unload, and Oia is where everyone goes to watch the sunset.
Celestia Grand in SantoriniYou can see the 5 original villas with private pools in the foreground: Sapphire (where the Kardashians stayed), Artemis, Aphrodite, Iantha, Erotas. There are now 2 more villas, the Junior Villa and the Superior Honeymoon Villa.
If you don't want to spend too much on accommodation, you can easily find economical hotels in Santorini in the Kamari, Perissa, Perivolos, and Karterados regions. The hotels located on the Caldera side are more lavish and expensive.