Greek Island Santorini – 3 Day Budget Friendly Itinerary

Santorini was the first stop for the island-hopping part of our 14-day vacation in Greece, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania. As a backpacker, we focused on having the most experience while minimizing the cost. While Santorini gave us a luxurious impression, we ultimately found that it is possible to travel on budget. In that, please find our story about Greek Island Santorini – 3 Day Budget Friendly Itinerary.

Arrival At THIRA Port – Santorini

Travelling from Athens, we took a cruise from Athens Piraeus Port to Santorini. You may find the ferry information booking available on the public website. After an exhilarating 8-hour cruise, we finally set foot on this one of the most IGable islands in the world.

Public Transportation To Fira

The most economical way to reach Fira is via the local bus by Ktel. In gnereal, the local bus from the port to Fira would match the daily schedule of the ferry. Once off the ferry we instantly spotted the bus and it only cost us around 2 EUR for a ride to Fira.

Antonia Hotel Via Booking.com

We booked a 2-night stay at Antonia Hotel on booking.com with USD 138 for 3 persons in total. It turned out that the hotel delivered a lot more than what we expected. First, the room was very spacious with a cozy pantry and well-equipped kitchen. Second, it has a very nice mini-swimming pool surrounded by the pictures of Santorini. Finally, the hotel owner even serve you with tea or coffee at the reception area personally.  It was a very satisfying experience that we gave the hotel a 9/10 score on booking.com afterward.

The Fira Main Square

Once we had settled into our comfortable accommodations, we began our visit in the Fira Main Square . We spent some time visiting different souvenir shops as well as supermarkets nearby. Amongst the supermarkets, there is one called Fira market. Based on the quality and the price, it serves as a good supplement station for our budget-travel itinerary.

Discovering Fira

Passing the square area, we proceeded to the coastal area of Fira by heading to the north. There, we met the first cliff view of Santorini followed by the Three Bells of Fira. As we continue to go north, the breathtaking views vary from iconic churches to natural landscapes. With this backdrop, every picture we took I would say is a piece of art in this environment. Walking for around an hour, we recharged at a local restaurant called Jimmy Souvlaki Santorini Imerovigli for a quick meal.

To our surprise, the gyros made by the restaurant were outstanding. Specifically, the gyros were freshly made with juicy tender meat and crispy fries wrapped in the warm pita.

The Nightview Of Fira

As the sun started to set, we made our way back to the central area of Fira for dinner. The landscapes of Santorini took on a whole new level of beauty after dark. We took a seafood platter and a lamb cuisine for dinner to call for the day.

Day 2: Exploring Oia

Before sunrise, we took the earliest Ktel bus to Oia at 7 AM. Being in Oia early, the tourists have not arrived and it felt like we had it all to ourselves. We took advantage of the early hour and snapped some wonderful photos near the Church of Panagia Akathistos Hymn. The exterior of the church, adorned with Greek flags, a charming blue dome, and church bells, created a beautiful backdrop for our pre-wedding shots.

The Castle of Oia

Although not as famous as the three blue domes, we found the view of Oia Castle most beautiful in Oia. Perched on the cliffs, the castle offered panoramic vistas of the mesmerizing azure Aegean Sea and the houses of Oia near the cliff. The best part was that we didn’t have to wait in long queues to capture the perfect shot.

The Three Blue Domes

Subsequently, we made our way to Ammoudi Bay, the Windmill of Oia, with the viewpoint over three blue domes as our final destination. Despite being early, we still had to wait around 15 minutes for photo. After some casual gyros, we returned to Fira by bus.

Returning To Fira

Returning to Fira in the afternoon, we still had some reserve for our energy. In that, we decided to walk to Santorini Old Harbor through the Karavolades Stairs. The road has lots of donkeys and also offers tourist options for a paid donkey ride. Beacuse of that, this path also a pungent smell. Thus, I would recommend taking the cable car for a more pleasant experience.

The Santorini Old Harbor is also quite scenic and the on-boarding point for some boat tours. Also, there is a small souvenir shop near the corner with the best price in Fira.

Day 3: Sunrise In Fira & Departure To Mykonos

We started our day very early in the last morning in Santorini for the sunrise. On our bus ride to Oia on day 2, we discovered a very nice spot for sunrise. There we could see a blue dome church merged with pink clouds during the sunrise. Betting that it would be a hidden gem, we departed at around 6:30 AM and managed to locate the spot just in time. And we had all the scenes for ourselves. It was like stepping into a portrait of orange clouds with a classic Santorini blue domed church and the sunrise. It is the best sight we had in Santorini !

Final Visit In Fira

After the portrait-like sunrise, we still had around 5 hours before departing to Mykonos. As the weather was extremely nice with sunshine, we explored Fira once again. Going to some icons we hadn’t covered and exercising at a local park, after that we ended our journey with a final meal at Jimmy Souvlaki. The taste of their gyros still lingers in my mind, even today!

Wrapping Up The Greek Island Santorini – 3 Day Budget Friendly Itinerary

Throughout the 3 days, we were able to see most of the must-visit landmarks in both Fira and Oia, creating cherished memories. The hospitality of our hotel, the breathtaking pre-wedding photos captured in Oia, the mouthwatering gyros from Jimmy Souvlaki, the hidden gem of the sunrise spot—each discovery added a special touch to our trip. These experiences have become precious moments that I will carry with me throughout my life.

I hope you find my sharing useful, and I summarized our itinerary below for your next annual leaves’ reference.

Greek Island Santorini – 3 Day Budget Friendly Itinerary