Instagrammable Santorini: Where to Take the Best Photos

Santorini Photography guide: Best places to shoot, hidden spots for photography, best sunset spots, basic photography gear.

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Santorini is an amazing, dreamy destination. And it’s a great amusement park for both pro and amateur photographers.

Repeatedly traveling to the island allowed me to see those traditional postcard-spot places Santorini is famous for. But it also allowed me to discover hidden gems and infinite blue shades so perfect that they look unreal. If you are into photography or simply into plain beauty, check this Santorini photography guide

Where to Take Amazing Photos in Santorini

We’ve all been astonished by Santorini’s stunning landscape—its unique whitewashed landscape, rugged cliffs, and inspiring sunsets. 

As a photo aficionado and way too far from being nowhere near a pro photographer, nothing amazes me more than how easy it is to take the perfect picture in Santorini. 

Despite the beautiful landscape, which, of course, is key to a good composition, there’s certainly more to a perfect shot than just a nice view.

It’s a Matter of Light

After many visits to the island and checking thousands and thousands of shots once back home, I finally understood one thing: something that’s pretty unique to many islands of the Aegean and remarkable in Santorini. That one thing that many fail to mention is the quality of its light. 

For instance, the coastal village of Oia has a strong and powerful light. Here, the reflections define the different shapes according to the moments of the day.

While the light in Oia is cold and white during the morning, the atmosphere gets warmer at sunset and almost blurry and misty at dusk. Light makes Oia the location where brides come to have the perfect wedding picture. 

Whether you are an amateur photographer, like me, with all instinct and zero technique, or if you come to Santorini and take pride in your pictures on Instagram, let me help you find the best spots for those famous postcard shots of Santorini!

What Pictures to Take in Santorini… and Where

One thing is easy to notice in Oia: everyone is carrying around cameras in what seems to be a quest for the perfect picture. 

Everyone wants to find the Three Domes, and at 5 p.m., every tourist is on a quest for Oia’s castle to shoot the sunset (even when the sun sets nearly at half-past eight in summer!).

We all want to take home that exclusive postcard shot. However, finding the best angles or buildings is not always easy.

Looking for the Three Domes of Oia

To find this famous spot, walk along the main street of Oia, marble white and luminous, until you reach the Art Maison Aspaki Hotel. (Don’t get confused; there are two Art Maisons, one directly over the Blue Domes and the other near the Castle of Oia.)

You will find a tiny path going down towards the sea. As you look out over the Caldera, you’ll see the domes only from a lower level, so go down those steps.

Posh, expensive, and exclusive, Oia is a paradise for photo lovers. If you want a picture of the celebrated sunset, head to Oia early (finding a parking spot is hell!), set up your equipment and be patient.

I adored it in the early morning because that means fewer crowds and whiter light!

>> Essential things to do in Santorini in one day

Iconic Santorini: Blue-Domed Church

This iconic blue-domed church, perfectly matching the blue sky, has been the official face of Santorini in many publicity campaigns. When exploring Oia, you will likely see blue domes everywhere, but you will also feel frustrated that the angle is not always right.

Most domes are high up, and you might think there is no way to shoot down on them. But Santorini is an island to be over-explored, so never miss that spirit when looking for the perfect picture!

Walk down the main street facing the caldera, always the marble one, and take the alley next to the Minerali Jewelry store.

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Sunset Over the Caldera

Some amazing sunsets can be seen from Oia. Keep in mind that you won’t be alone; thousands of other tourists will be there, too. Get ready for the crowd and a reduced space to shoot.

Good sunset pictures are obtained from the old ruins of the Castle of Oia (don’t get confused with the Byzantine castle, another fortress in the area) at the end of the stairs that come up from Ammoudi.

The Castle of Oia is the best place to watch the sunset! Most of the old fortification, Oia, was destroyed due to the earthquake, and now only the ruins remain.

Windmills in Oia

There aren’t many windmills facing the caldera, but the nicest one can also be perfectly photographed from where you have set your camera ready for the sunset: the ruins of the Castle.

The two windmills are on the opposite tip of Oia, and its shape stands out perfectly in the scenery.

Once your photo tour is over it might be time to pamper the senses… taste the best of the local gastronomy in Oia. Go for one of the local beers and some Santorini fava, a staple of the local cuisine.

Finding the Colorful Domes of Fira

Chapels in Fira are not only white and blue but colorful and ravishing. Their yellows, oranges, and pinks also contrast perfectly against Santorini’s blue skies.

Going to Fira early in the morning is a great idea to get the best light and explore the empty paths freely. Otherwise, if you are ready to face the crowds, visit the village in the afternoon to see outstanding sunsets. I did both, and I don’t regret it.

Perissa Black Sand Beach

Perissa is a seaside village in the southeast. Famous for its wide black beach and extremely deep blue waters, it is best discovered and enjoyed during the low season.

Great photos are obtained with the sun setting. It does not directly go down at the horizon from this point. However, you will get reflections from the opposite side of the island, which creates a beautiful effect on photos.

For more blue domes, head to the end of the main road. The blue domes of Perissa have nothing to envy to the ones you can spot all over the island. The church, very close to the beach, is small but impressive.

The Red Beach

If you rent a car, reaching Red Beach (Kokkini Paralia, in the Akrotiri area) is fairly easy. Once you get to Akrotiri, walk along this red rocky path uphill next to the sea.

The striking beauty of red shades and rusty colors will amaze you. Always full of tourists, you will get the most of it during the lower season.

The best time to get a good photo of the red reflections is sunset when the hill lights get a stunning orange tint for a few minutes.

Great photos are taken both from the hill before the path descends towards the beach and from the Lighthouse of Akrotiri.

Imerovigli

Imerovigli is a small village between Oia and Fira. It is a beautiful small town, and its position allows for the most incredible view of the caldera on the island.

Sunsets are stunning and more peaceful than in Oia. If you feel like walking, you can reach Imerovigli from Thira (it would take you about half an hour) through the coastal hiking path.

Sunset here produces nice shades over the village in the caldera.

Pyrgos

Pyrgos is a traditional settlement offering impressive views of the rest of the island. The island’s former capital, traditional architecture, narrow paths, and tiny white houses and churches are there to make you experience the life of an authentic Greek village.

A visit during Good Friday is more than a good idea. Pyrgos is a great setting to get beautiful pictures of alleys and old constructions, like the castle and some of its churches.

Vothonas

Vothonas is six kilometers from Fira. It is built in a small and narrow valley, where traditional houses carved out of rocks can be seen. 

White and blue churches are stunning, and the view of the village is inspiring for photography but also just a walk.

My Equipment

My main camera is a Nikon D7200 with the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR, while my secondary camera is the more compact Nikon D5300 (great for video and its GPS) where I mount a very basic Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR. I sparingly use Adobe Lightroom to edit some of our photos.

Everything gets packed in my Lowepro Fastpack 250 II if I travel with both cameras or in the more comfortable Lowepro Passport Sling III with just one camera and no computer. 

Lately, and for shorter trips, I’ve been mounting the big lens (18-300) to the smaller D5300 with great results. But in Santorini, I always use both cameras and both lenses.

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