Santorini Travel Tips

Normal Santorini business hours are from 08:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday, with most businesses being closed on Saturdays and Sundays. The larger department stores and shops typically stay open until 22:00, with most remaining open on Sundays.

Banks: 08:00 to 14:00, Monday to Thursday; 08:00 to 13:30 on Fridays
Post Offices: 08:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 09:00 to 15:00, Monday, Wednesday, Friday; 09:00 to 20:00, Tuesday and Thursday; tourist shops often open longer (09:00 to 22:00) and open on weekends
Museums: 08:30 to 15:00, Tuesday to Sunday
Business Offices: 08:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday

Santorini is one of the safest destinations in the world. Violent crime is almost unheard of on Santorini and more likely to be carried out by visitors than locals. However, petty crimes such as thievery and swindling do occur infrequently, so guard your valuables, as you would whenever travelling. Be wary of taxi drivers or tour operators who may try and overcharge you; check beforehand with your travel agent for details on pricing.

Although there are no tourist police on the island, local police take any reports of crime very seriously. If language is a problem, ask your hotel to provide an interpreter. Usually, crimes are solved quickly and satisfactorily.

Remember that when partying on hotel balconies in Thira and Oia that you are poised precariously above a 300 metre cliff.

Electricity: 220/240V, 50Hz. Plugs typically have two or three round pins, as are common in the European Union.

Santorini has no special health concerns that visitors should be worried about. Visitors should ensure they are up-to-date with their vaccinations prior to travel and might also consider protecting themselves against hepatitis A. All water served and sold on Santorini is bottled, as the local freshwater supply is very sparse. Tap water is fine for showering and teeth-brushing.

Thira Town has a quality hospital and excellent clinics, while large towns, such as Oia, and beachside resorts, such as Kamari, have decent outpatient services.

Santorini Medical Centre
Thira
Phone: +30 22860 23333

The official language on Santorini is Greek, although most locals in the tourism industry can speak English and a smattering of European languages.

Greece has made the change over to the Euro, which is now the official currency. Coins are divided into 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent denominations, while there are 5, 10, 20 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro banknotes.

As tourism is Santorini's main industry, all the cities and major towns have places where visitors can exchange currency, such as banks, hotels, bureau de change counters and travel agents. In addition, many retail outlets and service providers accept travellers' checks and international credit cards. ATMs are common in the busier tourist destinations, but not readily available in the smaller towns and villages. Most ATM machines will process withdrawals for holders of Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, Maestro and Cirrus cards.

Citizens of European Union member countries are not liable for excise on their personal possessions, while members of other countries are subject to limits on the amount of tobacco, alcohol, perfume and other 'duty-free' goods they can bring into Greece. Check with your local Greek embassy if you need to clarify the current allowances.

Greeks are lovers of life and the Santorinians are no exception. Emphatic displays of greeting and farewell are the norm, with long, vigorous, firm handshakes, hugs and cheek-kissing all considered compulsory. When engaged in conversation, Greeks will maintain eye contact to signify that the listener and speaker are paying attention to each other – to let your eyes drift is to insult your host.

Greeks are very sensitive to body language and are generally friendlier to those who smile a lot, are relaxed and seem to be enjoying themselves. Some common Western gestures, such as the 'ok' sign made by forming a circle with the thumb and forefinger and showing your palm to the face of another are considered extremely rude. Be also aware that nodding the head upward means an emphatic 'no' in Greek body language.

In keeping with their casual and relaxed outlook on life, Santorinians are generally flexible with meeting times, starting times and the like. If someone or something is running late, be smiling and accepting – getting upset will only make matters worse.

Eating on Santorini does not mean just sating yourself; the entire event is the focal point of society and people go to restaurants to be entertained just as much as to dine and drink. This is true of both lunch and dinner on Santorini. Greek dinners consist of several courses and cannot be rushed, nor any course skipped. 

Santorinians literally stuff themselves with food and wine at both lunch and dinner, and expect their guests to do the same. To not sample a dish or to not finish most of what's on your plate is considered bad manners. However, leaving a little on your plate is acceptable, as otherwise a second helping will soon be coming your way. In Greek dining etiquette, the fork is always in the left hand and the knife in the right.

When drinking, Greeks never let a glass become empty and will constantly top up your wine, beer or ouzo. Consequently, it is very difficult to know how much you have consumed, so be on your guard and drink in sips if you want to stay relatively sober. Leaving a glass mostly full will indicate to your host that you've had enough.

Members of the European Union do not need a visa to visit Santorini. Citizens from other countries may be granted visas on arrival for various lengths of stay, or may be required to apply for a tourist visa before departure. Contact your nearest Greek embassy or consult your travel agent prior to booking your holiday for further information.

As the island does not have any official tourist information offices or tourist police, Santorini's many travel agencies act as the main source of tourist information on the island and can be found at the airport, ports, Thira Town and popular tourist destinations.

Santorini Airport Tourist Information Office
Santorini (Thira) National Airport
Phone: +30 2310 471170; +30 2310 985215

The Greek National Tourism Organisation maintains an excellent and informative website (www.eot.gr) and they can be contacted by telephone at: +30 210 8707000; or fax: +30 210 6434054.