Santorini is a mesmerising Volcanic island in the Aegean Sea, known for its stunning landscapes, picturesque villages, and beautiful churches with stunning sunset views. We stayed in Perissa Beach but wanted to explore the rest of the island, so we booked a day tour that showcased the essence of Santorini – the Villages & Churches Day Tour with Sunset View.
If you’re interested in taking a tour around Santorini, this Santorini Village and Sunset Tour will take you through some of the most charming villages on the island, including Pyrgos and Mesa Gonia, and allow you to witness the world-famous sunset from the iconic village of Oia.
HOW TO BOOK & COST
You can book the Villages & Churches Sunset Tour here. It costs 60 USD/person, and includes transport to and from your hotel.
TOUR ITINERARY
Our tour began at 2 pm, with a minibus tour that picked us up near our hotel in Perissa Beach. The minibus drove us to the tour group head office in Kamari, where we switched to a bigger bus and took off for our first stop, Panagia Episkop.
PANAGIA EPISKOPI
Our first stop was at Panagia Episkopi, a historical Byzantine church dating back to the 11th century, making it one of the oldest churches on the island. We got to admire the church’s traditional Cycladic architecture and nice views.
Inside the church was very small, but had lots of well preserved religious icons and frescoes, that provided insight into the history of the island.
Panagia Episkopi holds significant religious importance for the local community and serves as an active place of worship to this day. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and religious ceremonies and festivals are celebrated here throughout the year.
MESA GONIA
Our next stop was Mesa Gonia, a traditional village located in the centre of the island. Mesa Gonia provided a glimpse into the quieter and more traditional side of Santorini, away from the tourist areas.
The village had a very relaxed atmosphere, allowing us to experience the local lifestyle and wander around the charming alleyways, old houses, and beautiful churches.
PYRGOS
Our 3rd stop was Pyrgos, a traditional village perched on a hilltop with panoramic views of the island. The village has traditional Cycladic architecture, featuring white-washed houses, narrow cobblestone streets, and blue-domed churches. It is much less crowded than the world famous Oia, but has that iconic Santorini feel to it. There were little cafes and shops that we could browse through to buy any local souvenirs.
OIA & THE SUNSET
Our final stop was the village of Oia, the highlight of the tour and one of the most famous sunset spots in the world. Perched on the cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea, Oia is one of the most recognisable places in Santorini, characterised by its charming white-washed houses with blue-domed roofs, narrow cobblestone streets, and stunning panoramic views of the caldera and the deep blue waters below.
We spent a few hours wandering through the narrow streets filled with boutique shops, art galleries, and traditional tavernas.
In the evening, we made our way to the west side of the village and found ourselves a spot for sunset. It was absolutely PACKED, but we managed to snag a good spot on some stairs to watch the beautiful sunset.
AFTER SUNSET
We were instructed to meet at 9:10 pm at the parking lot to be picked up by the tour bus to take us home. We thought we had plenty of time, but due to the popularity of Oia for sunset, hundreds of other people were also trying to navigate the narrow streets to get back out to the parking lot. It took us over 20 minutes to reach the parking lot and we almost missed our bus, so make sure you plan enough time to reach your pickup destination!
THINGS TO KNOW
- Wear comfortable walking shoes as you’ll be exploring villages on foot.
- Carry sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water to stay hydrated throughout the tour.
- Bring your camera to capture the picturesque villages and the spectacular sunset in Oia.
- Respect the local culture and traditions when visiting churches or sacred sites.
Villages & Churches Tour was one of our highlights of our time in Santorini. We got to experience the best of Santorini’s beauty, culture, and history, and witness one of the most famous sunsets in the world!
To check out our full Santorini gallery, click here!