10 Awesome Things to Do in Fira (Thera), Santorini for First-Timers

10 Best Things to Do in Fira

1. Visit the Three Bells of Fira

One of the most iconic places in Fira and one that I highly recommend you make your way to visit first when you arrive in Fira is the Three Bells of Fira, located on the northern side of the town and can easily be reached on foot from the city center.

The history behind the bells is linked to the devastating earthquake of 1956 that destroyed much of Santorini. These bells are the only remaining parts of the Evangelistria Church that were destroyed in the quake.

This is the place where people get that iconic photos of three blue-domed bell towers set against the beautiful blue Aegean Sea and a volcano looming behind. The place is so popular for photos, it has turned into the symbol of Fira and is a great place to start your exploration of this city.

2. Admire the View of Fira and the Volcano from the Caldera Walkway

While you make your way to the Three Bells of Fira, you will be walking on the Caldera Walkway that hugs along the cliffside, passing through all the beautiful whitewashed houses of Santorini as the walkway climbs up and over the caldera.

Be sure to turn back and admire the view of Fira and all the cliffside houses you will see from the walkway as you ascend up to the Three Bells of Fira.

From here, you can see all the domed churches and whitewashed houses of Fira as well as all the other towns and the surroundings of the southern part of Santorini in its entirety. It really is quite a sight to behold so don't forget to snap some photos from here. Definitely one of the best things to do in Fira.

3. Check Out the Catholic Church of Saint Stylianos

On your way back down to the city center, you will be passing the Catholic Church of Saint Stylianos which is one of the most iconic structures in Fira that you can see across town with its striking dome-shaped roof towering over most of Fira.

Built on the edge of the cliff, overlooking the caldera, the church offers a great view over Fira as well as a quiet place to hide away from the crowds of Santorini and the incredibly dry heat of summer of Greece.

The church, as well as its clock tower, are painted in a mix of yellow, white, and greyish blue, which make for an incredibly eye-catching exterior. The interior is also beautifully decorated with frescoes that are unique to Santorini. I highly recommend you check out the inside of the church while you explore Fira.

4. Go Down Santorini Old Port

Santorini Old Port or Gialos is the old port of Fira located just below the town itself that was used as the main commercial port of the entire island until only a few decades ago when the city was converted into a tourist attraction and the port moved way down the island to where it is today.

After the move, the port had also been converted into a tourist attraction with a variety of restaurants, shops, and cafes you can indulge yourself in while being close to the water. Most of the boat tours leaving from Fira also depart from here. For tours, you can do in Fira, be sure to browse through available activities here.

To reach Gialos, you can either descend a steep set of stairs or take a cable car from Fira Cable Car Station. The cable car offers a breathtaking ride down to the port, providing stunning views of the caldera and the Aegean Sea. The ride costs around 6 EUR per person one-way and they run every 10 - 20 minutes.

5. Check Out the Interior of Candlemas Holy Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral

Right on the southern edge of the city, you will find the Candlemas Holy Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, a large Greek Orthodox cathedral known for its beautiful Byzantine architecture, stunning frescoes, and intricate mosaics.

The history of the Cathedral dates back to the 19th century when the original church was built on the site. However, it was destroyed by the earthquake of 1956 and was subsequently rebuilt into its current form you see today.

The cathedral is completely painted white from the outside, fitting in perfectly with all the whitewashed houses and structures of Santorini. It is located right in the pedestrian area which makes it one of the most accessible tourist attractions here.

The interior of the church is also covered in colorful frescoes depicting stories from the bible which are typically found in most Eastern Orthodox churches and it is worth checking out while you are in Fira. The cathedral is open to visitors year-round and it is free to enter.

6. Hang Out at Fira Main Square

If you are looking for a place for lunch, you can also check out Fira Main Square, a bustling town square surrounded by all kinds of restaurants and cafes you can indulge yourself in.

Unlike Oia where everything is overcommercialized and outrageously overpriced, in Fira, you can find a ton of restaurants of all budget ranges from cheap street food places selling gyros for a few EUR to proper fancy restaurants serving seafood dishes, etc., and most of them are located around this square.

It is probably one of the liveliest and most vibrant spots in the city, with a variety of street performers and artists giving their all as people gather around the square to socialize and hang out with one another. If you are looking for a nice place to hang out for lunch or dinner, be sure to check out Fira Main Square.

7. Shop For Souvenirs in Fira

While you are in Fira, be sure to check out some of the souvenir shops along Ipapantis Street which is a pedestrian street lined with shops selling all kinds of unique souvenirs you can only get here.

From handmade trinkets and handicrafts to paintings by local artists and figurines of locals wearing traditional dresses, there are a ton of awesome-looking items you can buy here.

If you are looking for a place to shop around for some souvenirs for your loved ones at home, be sure to spend some time and stroll around Ipapantis Street and check out these unique souvenir shops in Fira.

8. Walk to Imerovigli

If you are looking for something active to do, you can also walk further from the Three Bells of Fira and make your way to Imerovigli, another beautiful cliffside town up north.

Along the caldera walkway, you can reach Imerovigli from Fira in about 30 minutes on foot which shouldn't be too difficult if you start your day early to avoid the hottest time of the day. There are no shades along the way so be sure to cover yourself in sunscreens and pack water before the walk.

Once you are in Imerovigli, you can check out some of its most interesting attractions like the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord where you will be able to get a better view of Santorini coastline, Skaros Venetian Fortress, a fortress built by the Venetians in the 13th Century on a cliffside, or you can hike to the top of Skaros Rock for an even more incredible view of Santorini.

All in all, there are many awesome places to visit in Imerovigli and if you have half a day to spare in Fira, be sure to make your way to the cliffside town and hike Skaros Rock.

9. Go On a Sunset Cruise

One of the best things you can do in Santorini is to witness the beautiful sunset here and there is no better way to do it than to go on a sunset cruise.

There are several sunset cruises you can choose from, most of which will include an open bar with unlimited drinks, freshly cooked dinner, and swimming and snorkeling times at the White and Read Beaches.

You will be taken aboard a luxury catamaran to experience the famous Santorini sunset right below the village of Oia, away from the crazy crowds that often gather around the viewpoint in Oia at sunset.

If you are looking for a nice relaxing evening as you explore the beautiful coastline of Santorini, be sure to go on an organized sunset cruise tour. You can browse for available tours here. Definitely one of the best things to do in Fira so be sure not to miss it.

10. Visit Oia

Last but not least, if you have a day to spare in Fira, you can spend half a day exploring the beautiful town of Oia, the famous Santorini village where you will find the highest concentration of white-washed houses, windmills, domed churches built along cliffsides on the island.

Oia is extremely crowded all the time and there is just no way to avoid it unless you are willing to visit early in the morning. For the best viewpoint, I highly recommend you power through the crowd and get yourself Oia Lookout Viewpoint on the tip of the peninsula.

This is where you will have the best view over the whitewashed houses as well as the Oia coastline. There are also fewer people here as most of them are still stuck in the crowded streets of Oia.

To get to Oia from Fira, you can catch the KTEL local buses that connect the towns of the island together. The bus from Fira to Oia runs between 6:50 AM to 9:20 PM every day, essentially running every 30 minutes to 1 hour.

The drive usually takes about 25 minutes passing through Imerovigli which is also a place I recommend you visit, so you can also use the same bus if you do not want to walk. The ticket should cost about 2 EUR per person. The bus leaves from the main bus station in Fira.

You can also hike from Fira to Oia which can take more than 3 hours to get to. Only do it if you know what your are getting yourself into. There are many hiking guides you can follow if you wish to hike from Fira to Oia. Be sure to pack enough water for the hike!

How to get to Fira, Santorini?

There are 2 ways to reach Santorini. The easiest and most convenient way is to fly into Santorini from Athens. You can easily reach Athens by flying into Athens Airport (ATH) via airlines like Wizz and Ryanair and then flying directly to Santorini Airport.

From the airport, you should be able to catch a shuttle bus service that will take you to Fira in 20 minutes. You can also go by private transfer if you have a lot of luggage. This is the most efficient way to get to Santorini and I highly recommend you go with this if you do not want to deal with the hassle of traveling by ferry.

Taking the ferry to Santorini is another option. From Athens Airport, you can catch the direct bus numbered X96 straight to the Port of Pireas where most of the ferries to the Cyclades leaves from.

From the Port of Pireas, you can catch the ferry operated by Blue Star Ferries, Seajets, and other operators that run between 7 AM to 5:30 PM every day.

Seajets ferries are speed ferries that are faster and more expensive with the price of around 80 EUR per person and it will only take about 5 hours to reach Santorini.

Blue Star Ferries, on the other hand, is a slow ferry service that offers a cheaper ticket option costing around 58 EUR but the journey can take almost 7.5 hours and can often be delayed. If you want to go with this route, you will be asked if you want to book a seat for an additional cost.

Here's a tip for you, when you book a ticket on the Blue Star Ferries, you will have the option to reserve a seat. For a 7.5 hours journey like this, I highly recommend you do it or you will be scrambling, trying to find a place to sit which is definitely not fun for such a long trip. I ended up sitting on the stairway as the airplane-style seats were all occupied. Don't cheap out like me and get a reserved seat with your ticket!

You can book the ferry ticket here for your trip from Athens to Santorini and vice versa. If you are traveling during the summer months, I highly recommend you book the ferry in advance to get the best seats.

Once you arrive in Santorini Port, you should be able to catch a bus at 3:15 PM that will take you to Fira in 20 minutes. There are 3 buses per day at 12 PM, 12:30 PM, and 3:15 PM every day, all aligned to the ferry schedule, so you should have no trouble getting to Fira from the port. The bus ticket should cost about 2.5 EUR.

For the best things to do in Athens, check out:13 Best Things to Do in Athens

Further Reading for Greece

I hope you found this Greece travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Greece, here is a selection of articles you might like:

• For a complete itinerary of Greece, check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Greece Itinerary.
• Most journeys in Greece begin in Athens. For a complete travel guide to the capital city of Greece, check out: 13 Best Things to Do in Athens.
• One of the best day trips you can make from Athens is to go visit Delphi, an ancient Greek sanctuary that was considered to be the center of the world by the ancient Greeks. To visit this historical site, check out our Complete Guide to Backpacking Delphi.
• Have 3 days but want to see the Greek Islands? Check out this itinerary: 3 Days Backpacking Greek Islands Itinerary.
• Looking for things to do in Thessaloniki? Check out: 16 Best Things To Do In Thessaloniki.
• My favorite place out of all of Greece is Meteora, with its incredible towering rock formations and stunning monasteries perched atop. If you plan to visit Meteora, be sure to check out: A Complete Guide to Backpacking Meteora.
• Want to explore the Greek Islands but not sure where to base yourself? Naxos is the best island for that. Here are the 10 Best Things To Do In Naxos.
• Renowned for its picturesque streets and crystal-clear water, Mykonos is another great island to visit in Greece. Here are the 8 Best Things to do in Mykonos.
• One of the most interesting islands in the Cyclades you shouldn't miss is Delos, home to stunning ruins of an ancient Greek city of Commerce. Want to visit Delos? Check out the Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Delos.
• Want to visit Santorini but not sure where to begin? Check out our 3-Day Backpacking Santorini Itinerary.
• Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
• To see all the articles about Greece, visit the Greece Travel Guide page.
• Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
• Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
• Or, if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Southern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.