Where to Watch the Sunset in Santorini: Oia vs. Fira
People often say that the Greek Island of Santorini offers up some of the best sunsets in the world.
And, as someone who can never see enough pretty sunsets, I was looking forward to visiting Santorini for this reason alone.
Watching the sun dip into the Aegean is most popular from the cliff-top village of Oia — the one with all those windmills and blue-domed churches that you see on postcards. But I was curious as to whether this really was the best spot to watch the sun set on Santorini, or if it was simply the one everybody knew about and therefore flocked to.
And so I give you: my Santorini Sunset Smackdown, in which I will compare watching the sun set in Oia and Fira.
Santorini sunset: Oia vs. Fira
Fira
Fira is the largest town on Santorini, and is also the first introduction many travelers get to this Greek island. Santorini's ferry and cruise ports are located in Fira — along with many hotels and restaurants. Fira isn't known for its sunsets, and yet you can still catch some pretty great ones from this end of the island.
Oia
The village of Oia is located on the northwestern end of Santorini. The village is THE place to go if you're looking to snap photos of traditional Greek buildings — especially those blue-domed churches.
Built up on top of Santorini's rust-red cliffs, Oia offers up a perfect vantage point from which to watch the sun set beyond Ammoudi Bay.
Getting there
Since many people choose to stay in Fira on Santorini, getting to a sunset spot there is quite easy — you can simply use your feet to get to the best vantage point in town. You'll have to head to the top of the donkey trail (through the narrow and twisty streets) and then simply find a spot along the low wall. If you happen to be staying elsewhere on Santorini, taking a bus is your best bet to get to Fira.
To get to Oia‘s best viewpoints, a bus or rental car is required (and then a bit of walking). The ride/drive will take roughly half an hour from Fira, and you'll have to time it right to make it for sunset.
Smackdown winner: Fira, for the convenience
Tally: Fira — 1 Oia — 0
The sunset crowds
Oia gets quite crowded leading up to the predicted sunset time, and you most likely will have to jockey for position in order to score one of the prime spots. The good news is that as long as you can see the water, you'll still get a fantastic show. I watched the sunset from the Oia donkey trail and thought it was lovely (if perhaps a bit smelly).
Conversely, the crowds in Fira are only a fraction of the size of those you'll find on the other end of the island. I saw a lovely sunset in Fira and only had to compete with perhaps 2 dozen people for my view. This is surprising considering that you basically have the same view out over the ocean in Fira as in Oia.
Smackdown winner: Fira, because you don't have to compete so much
Tally: Fira — 2 Oia — 0
The Santorini sunset views
Speaking of the views…
As hinted at above, you really can't go wrong in Oia. Whether you are on the donkey trail, at a terrace restaurant, or standing up by the windmill, you will get a stunning view. Take note of how the sunset here makes the cliffs (and even the buildings) look like they are on fire.
In Fira, you won't spot any windmills or blue-domed churches — but you can still look out over the stair-stepped buildings of the town and the volcanic caldera.
Smackdown winner: Oia, because you just can't beat those views
Tally: Fira — 2 Oia — 1
The Santorini sunset winner
I suppose, based on the numbers, that Fira would actually win in the Sunset Smackdown. You still get great sunset views in this town, but without the huge crowds that gather each evening in Oia.
But, to be honest, I would still suggest braving those crowds to witness an Oia sunset.
Watching a sunset in Oia is such an iconic, bucket-list-type experience that I wouldn't counsel anyone to skip it just because of the crowds. There's a reason that these sunsets are world-famous, after all — they truly are breathtaking.
READ NEXT: Greek Islands Guide: Things to Do in Santorini
So tell me — where would YOU rather catch a sunset on Santorini?
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*Note: I visited Santorini as part of a complimentary Greek Islands tour from Intrepid Travel through my partnership with them. All opinions, though, as always are entirely my own.
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
That was a very to the point article, if I am allowed to add my 2 cents in it, there is a santorini weather guide article that includes all months off the year and it even has information on how many days it could be possible to enjoy the sunset every month based on historical statistical weather data. https://www.visitgreece.com.gr/en/members/travel-blog/item/622-santorini-weather-guide.html
Thanks, Amanda!
An excellent post. Love your site; just subscribed. I’ve quoted you and used one of your photos here: http://athousandflights.com/mate-santorini/
So glad I stumbled across your blog looking for Santorini sunset info. I will be in Santorini on a cruise ship and luckily we are in port until 10 pm. We will see the sunset from Fira only for the convenience of getting back to the ship with time to spare. In all my research I know that I will be back to Santorini some day for a lengthier stay. I look forward to reading more of your travel stories
Sunset in Fira is still beautiful – enjoy your cruise!
I agree that you just have to experience both. I actually enjoyed the sunset in Fira a little more. It was redder, rounder and more charming. But Oia’s sunset is undeniably set at Santorini’s most scenic backdrop so it has that as upper hand.
I would definitely recommend seeing both!
[…] This was at 1PM and I looked at all the cafes on the cliff with the tables and chairs facing west and came to the profound realization that this must be the best place in the world to watch the sunset. How I wish I could stay a little bit longer. A good read on the following link Santorini Sunsets […]
[…] sunset and sunrise schedule. Here are the Best Spots to see Santorini Sunsets. What you need to know about the Business of Sunsets. Santorini Sunset Insider […]
Hi my cruise ship departs Santorini (Fira) at 8pm on 9th August. Do you think we will be able to see the sunset from the cruise ship as we depart. Do you think it will be as good a view from sea as it is from land?
Yes, you should be able to see it from the ship! You obviously won’t be able to get all the windmills and buildings in a shot with the setting sun, but it still should be a pretty nice view!
I enjoyed reading your blog and added your link on
https://wontyoustaywithme.wordpress.com/2015/12/16/santorini-is-a-hiking-and-walking-paradise/
[…] (FYI, I came across this post about Oia vs Fira sunset. It’s really funny.. and true. You can read that here) […]
Love this post 🙂
I’ve spent a bit of time looking at different view points in Oia but I would definitely love to spend time in Fira to get a different perspective of the sun hitting the white buildings.
Jess
It was definitely nice to see it from both places!
[…] Our boat charter ended with watching the sun set opposite Oia. Watching the sunset on this end of Santorini is incredibly popular. You can book places on sunset cruises, as well, if you’d like to kill two birds with one stone. (Though, as I mention in another post, sunsets from other parts of the island are just as pretty.) […]
We’ll be visiting Santorini this September and after reading your post, I guess we’ll have to chech out the sunset in Oia as well as in Fira 🙂 Looks like both are stunning places…
It’s definitely worth going to both places if you have the time!
Just loved ALL your photos! Going to Santorini in September and can’t wait! Can you advise does Fira or Oia have good nightlife and if so which one rocks the most?
Santorini in September is fantastic!!
I would assume that both Fira and Oia would have nightlife, but you might find more in Fira. Note, though, that September is getting into “low” season, so some places may be closed already! I’m not much of a partier myself, so I can’t say I checked out the club scene on Santorini at all!
Great pictures! My favorite place is at Santo Wines, in Pyrgos.
I’m pretty sure some of the people I was traveling with tried some Santo wine!
Wow. This looks like a great place. love the photos. thanks for sharing
Yes it’s really beautiful!
That first photo of the sailboat needs to be hanging on a wall! Beautiful!
I’m planning to do just that once I have an apartment again, Laura!
I love your fourth image, Amanda! Interesting to the pros and cons about each location for sunset-worshippers too!
Thanks, Liv! Glad you liked the post!
Your analysis was spot on – I have seen the sunsets at both places and while Fira is more convenient and less crowded, there is nothing like the sunset in Oia. It is definitely worth braving the crowds. Your photos are beautiful – you captured some great colors!
Thanks, Birdget! I loved both sunsets, and this post was the best way for me to share both of them!
I would love to check out Oia because those sunsets look amazing! Although my favorite picture is the one you took in Fira, looking over the town. All those pink hues cast on the buildings are beautiful!
Neither is a bad choice! (And you’ll find those pink hues in Oia, too!)
Man, these pictures are making me miss Greece so much.
The islands are so easy to fall in love with! (And definitely easy to miss.)
Love this post! I can’t get over that first picture. Thanks for sharing.
Happy travels 🙂
Thanks, Lauren! I love that first photo, too. Definitely going to hang it up on my wall once I have walls of my own again!
The fact that it can be so much cheaper to visit other Greek islands is the main reason I’ve not yet made it to Santorini. But I’m wondering whether I need to stop being such a cheapskate and just go. I need some of that sunset therapy!
I would definitely tell you to at least consider it. Santorini really wasn’t all THAT much more expensive than some of the other islands I visited (though it’s worth noting that I went to Greece at the end of the tourist season). And those sunsets are so worth it!
Your photos are breathtaking! I love the one of the sailboat, and the one of Oia with the white houses all on the hillside. Just gorgeous. Ok, I have to admit that the best sunsets I’ve ever seen are right in my own backyard, in Tucson, Arizona, but I could do this just for the backdrops that go along with the mesmerizing sunsets. Never saw a sailboat on the ocean in Tucson.. I’m putting this on my bucket list of destinations 🙂
I can imagine that you get some great sunsets in Arizona! I’ve seen a couple out that way myself that were really beautiful. But yes… definitely no sailboats out in the Southwest!
Wow, what an amazing place! I don’t think I would mind going to either Oia OR Fira to watch the sunset! For scientific travel research purposes, I may have to try them both…
Hahaha, yes. For “scientific” purposes, you’ll definitely have to try them both out!
Great post comparing the two! Sunsets are always one of the things I look most forward to especially if I’m traveling somewhere more exotic. I’d have to go with Oia-as you intimated it’s something you always hear about doing.
I really look forward to sunsets, too. I can never get enough!
There really is no bad place to watch the sunset in Santorini! I did enjoy it from Oia once, and you’re right, it’s totally worth getting over there. I took a volcano tour which ended in Oia for the sunset, great day. My hotel was in Fira, and all I had to do was walk across the street and sit on the wall on the other side to watch the sunset from there, which I did the other 3 nights I was in Santorini. Gorgeous!
It’s good that you got to see it from both places too, Ali!
We liked Imerovigli, which is between Oia and Fira best for sunset. No crowds! Gorgeous sunset photos, BTW!
Good to know! I’ll keep that one in mind for next time.
Oh my gosh! This is gorgeous… Santorini oozes out such mesmeric sunsets! Simply breathtaking!
There’s a reason why people tell you that Santorini has some of the best sunsets in the world – I think it does!
Definitely love how you captured the sunset! Would have to say I’m more of a sunset person than a sunrise person so i definitely love this entry!
Same here, Hannah! I mean, sunsets can be amazing, too. But I can be grumpy if you wake me up too early… haha.
I loved watching the Oia sunset. My friends and I rented ATVs in Fira and enjoyed the ride to Oia and the view is absolutely goregous in Oia. It wasn’t too crowded when I visited in May and there were some cute stray dogs watching the sunset with us too.
It wasn’t as crowded in Oia in September as it could have been, either (though there were still lots of people). Loved it anyway, though!
These photos are ridiculously pretty. Even though you can’t see the actual sunset, photo #8 is pretty because of the pink hues. Well done!
Thanks, Patti! Now imagine how much prettier they were in real life!
Greece is way up high on my list, but we are waiting until we can travel in the spring. We own a B&B and the only time we can travel is from November to February. I don’t want to visit Greece in the winter so I am waiting. Not so patiently! ;o)
Just keep being patient, Patti! Visiting in the spring will be lovely, I’m sure.
Love this post! Spent some time in santorini a few summers ago, and the sunsets were absolutely gorgeous. I have to say though, i really loved the sunsets in Imerovigli the best! Hope you got to experience at least one! 🙂
I kind of feel like sunsets on Santorini are probably all amazing, no matter where you are!