Login
Facebook
YouTube
WhatsApp
Twitter
Places to visit near Santorini offer more than just a change of scenery. Santorini is striking, but once you step off its coast, you find quieter islands with cobbled lanes, local-run cafés, and beaches without rows of umbrellas. Each nearby island gives you ancient ruins without ticket lines, hiking trails with sea views, or small harbours where boats outnumber people. Most places sit just one or two hours away by ferry. From the white alleys of Ios to the dramatic cliffs of Amorgos, these destinations give you a richer view of the Cyclades.
Top 10 Places To Visit Near Santorini
These places to visit near Santorini are close enough for short trips but different enough to feel like a real escape. Each island has its rhythm, history, and coastline worth exploring.
1. Ios
Photo: Sven Hansche / Shutterstock
Ios is the most laid-back yet among lively places to visit near Santorini, known for its traditional Cycladic charm mixed with a youthful buzz. You arrive by ferry at the port of Gialos, and a short drive uphill takes you to Chora, a whitewashed town built like an amphitheatre. The old windmills at the top overlook narrow alleys filled with bakeries, cafés, and quiet chapels. You can walk to the tomb of Homer, perched on the northern edge, or spend time at Manganari Beach, where the shallow turquoise water makes it ideal for long swims. Ios is also known for its sunset views from Panagia Gremiotissa Church.
Distance From Santorini: 54.1 km
Timings: 7 AM – 8:30 PM (ferry)
Cost: €20 – 40 / ₹1,800 – 3,600
Major Attractions: Chora Village, Manganari Beach, Skarkos archaeological site
2. Folegandros
Photo: Lefteris Papaulakis / Shutterstock / Image For Representation Only
Folegandros stands out among the places to see near Santorini for its quiet cliffs, minimal crowds, and stark natural beauty. The ferry docks at Karavostasis, a small harbour with crystal-clear water and traditional tavernas. A winding road leads you to Chora, perched dramatically on a high cliff. The town is traffic-free, and you can walk through its cobbled squares and bougainvillaea-draped homes without distraction. The Church of Panagia, sitting on a ridge above Chora, offers panoramic views over the Aegean. You can hike up in the evening when the light softens the rock and sea. Agali Beach is one of the easiest beaches to reach, while others like Livadaki and Katergo require a boat or a hike.
Distance From Santorini: 64.3 km
Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM (ferry)
Cost: €30 – 45 / ₹2,700 – 4,000
Major Attractions: Kastro, Church of Panagia, Agali Beach
3. Anafi
Photo: feelmytravel / Shutterstock
Anafi is one of the least crowded tourist attractions near Santorini, drawing you in with its raw landscape and slow pace. The ferry arrives at Agios Nikolaos port, and from there, a steep road leads up to Chora, the island’s only main village. Built on a slope, Chora has cube-shaped houses, quiet courtyards, and alleyways lined with local bakeries and small tavernas that stay open even when the streets are empty. One of the island’s highlights is Kalamos, a massive monolith that rises sharply on the eastern coast. You can hike to the top or visit the Monastery of Panagia Kalamiotissa at its base. Roukounas Beach stretches wide and is free from development, perfect for quiet sunbathing or swimming.
Distance From Santorini: 69.1 km
Cost: €20 – 35 / ₹1,800 – 3,150
Major Attractions: Kalamos rock, Roukounas Beach, Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi
4. Naxos
Photo: Boivin Nicolas / Shutterstock
Naxos is the largest and most fertile among the places to visit near Santorini, offering a mix of ancient ruins, long beaches, and hillside villages. You arrive at the port of Naxos Town, also called Chora, where the iconic Portara, an unfinished temple doorway from the sixth century BCE, sits on a small islet linked to the harbour. Just a short walk from the dock, the town opens into a maze of Venetian alleys leading up to a medieval castle built by the Dukes of Naxos. Inland villages like Halki and Apeiranthos are surrounded by olive groves and Byzantine churches, giving you a completely different experience from the coast.
Distance From Santorini: 104.1 km
Cost: €35 – 60 / ₹3,100 – 5,400
Major Attractions: Portara, Temple of Demeter, Agios Prokopios Beach
5. Paros
Paros stands out among the places to visit near Santorini for its blend of coastal scenery, ancient monuments, and energetic local life. Ferries dock at Parikia, the main port town, where you enter a historic quarter filled with stone-paved lanes, arched walkways, and traditional houses that wrap around the old market area. A short walk from the port takes you to the Church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani, a 4th-century Byzantine basilica known for its marble work and religious significance. The northern village of Naoussa is where you find a more upscale scene of boutique stores, stylish restaurants, and a Venetian harbour with boats anchored beside the ruins of a sea fortress.
Distance From Santorini: 140.2 km
Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM (ferry)
Cost: €35 – 55 / ₹3,100 – 5,000
Major Attractions: Naoussa village, Kolymbithres Beach, Church of 100 Doors
6. Mykonos
Photo: Balate.Dorin / Shutterstock
Mykonos ranks high among the attractions near Santorini for its mix of Cycladic architecture, coastal views, and busy entertainment districts. Ferries dock at Tourlos, just outside Mykonos Town. From there, you can walk into the old quarter, where the streets form a tight maze lined with flat-roofed homes, wooden shutters, and brightly painted balconies. One of the most recognisable areas is Little Venice, where buildings are built right at the edge of the water. Just a short walk away are the iconic windmills of Kato Mili, offering clear views across the bay.
Distance From Santorini: 152.8 km
Cost: €50 – 75 / ₹4,500 – 6,800
Major Attractions: Little Venice, Paradise Beach, Windmills of Kato Mili
7. Amorgos
Photo: imagIN.gr photography / Shutterstock
Amorgos is one of the least commercialised places to visit near Santorini, with high cliffs, whitewashed hamlets, and walking trails that lead straight to the sea. Ferries stop at either Katapola or Aegiali. Katapola lies along a curved bay and has a small row of waterfront tavernas, minimarkets, and bakeries that stay open into the evening. From here, a short drive takes you up to Chora, a hillside village where the streets twist through stone homes and windmills. One of the most remarkable sites on the island is the Monastery of Hozoviotissa, built into the face of a cliff 300 metres above the sea. Reaching it requires a steep climb, but the view makes the effort worth it.
Distance From Santorini: 93.1 km
Cost: €30 – 50 / ₹2,700 – 4,500
Major Attractions: Monastery of Hozoviotissa, Agia Anna Beach, Katapola village
8. Milos
Milos is among the most visually unique places to visit near Santorini, shaped by volcanic activity that left behind cliffs, caves, and lunar-like shorelines. You arrive at the port of Adamas, a central hub with cafés, car rentals, and direct access to most parts of the island. One of the most famous spots is Sarakiniko Beach, known for its white volcanic rock formations that slope directly into the Aegean. It is easy to reach by road and feels like walking across a moonscape. For something quieter, head to Firopotamos or Agios Ioannis, both hidden beaches with clear water and fewer crowds.
Cost: €45 – 70 / ₹4,000 – 6,300
Major Attractions: Sarakiniko Beach, Kleftiko caves, Ancient Theatre
9. Crete
Crete is the largest Greek island and one of the most historically layered places to visit near Santorini. High-speed ferries arrive at Heraklion, a busy port city that blends ancient ruins with a working harbour. Just outside the city is the Palace of Knossos, once the centre of the Minoan civilisation. The complex includes multi-level buildings, vivid frescoes, and storage rooms that date back over 3,000 years. In the city centre, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum houses a vast collection of artefacts recovered from Knossos and other Minoan sites. If you walk along the seafront, you reach the Venetian Fortress of Koules, built in the 16th century to guard the port.
Timings: 8 AM – 7 PM (ferry)
Cost: €50 – 75 / ₹4,500 – 6,800
Major Attractions: Knossos Palace, Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Venetian Harbour
10. Syros
Photo: Georgios Tsichlis / Shutterstock
Syros brings a neoclassical twist to the Cyclades and is one of the most architecturally distinct places to visit near Santorini. Ferries arrive at Ermoupoli, a port town that also serves as the capital of the entire island group. Unlike the typical whitewashed settlements, Ermoupoli features pastel-coloured mansions, marble-paved squares, and 19th-century buildings with ornate balconies. The Apollo Theatre, a scaled-down replica of La Scala in Milan, still hosts performances and guided tours. Just uphill is Ano Syros, a medieval settlement with winding paths and views over the harbour. You can also visit Vaporia, a neighbourhood known for its seafront homes and small swimming platforms carved into the rocks.
Cost: €40 – 65 / ₹3,600 – 5,800
Major Attractions: Ermoupoli town, Apollo Theatre, Vaporia district
The places to visit near Santorini take you beyond the island’s popular spots, offering hidden beaches, quiet towns, and ancient ruins perched above the sea. Whether you’re drawn to remote footpaths or traditional villages untouched by mass tourism, these nearby escapes reveal a more authentic side of the Aegean. Plan your Greek island getaway with TripXL and experience a deeper, quieter, and more rewarding journey beyond Santorini.
Cover Photo: Pawel Kazmierczak / Shutterstock
