Fira Travel Essentials

Rating:

 
4.7 /5 Rate This Destination

Weather:

Ideal duration: 1 - 2 Days

Best Time: Apr - Jun, Sep - Oct Read More

Planning a Trip? Ask Your Question

"The capital of Santorini"

Fira Tourism

Fira, the capital of Santorini, is located at the west crescent of Caldera and hence, offers some of the best views of the volcano. The town is small enough to be covered in about half an hour and is known for its unique blend of nature, social activities and nightlife. With hidden churches, arching doorways, concealed viewpoints in a maze of alleys, Fira offers a convenient stay over other towns and villages in Santorini.

Fira is a central location for tourists wanting to get around Santorini and offers plenty of restaurants, cafes, high to medium-range stays and shops. Apart from museums and galleries, Fira also houses Santorini's largest shopping centre and the main spot for the island's nightlife. The stunning volcano and sunset views are visible from almost every point in Fira.

With not much to offer in the day, Fira can be mesmerising after evening when the last ferry leaves the docks. The town offers some beautiful hikes and museums that can be explored during the day and some of the best restaurants and clubs to check out at night. The town is accessible by ferry and is connected to other towns and villages with a frequent public mode of transportation in the form of buses.

Must Know Before You Travel to Fira

  • Getting Around: The town is well-connected with various transportation options, including buses, taxis, and rental vehicles. Walking is also a popular way to explore the narrow, picturesque streets.
  • Operating Hours: Museums open from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM and remain closed on Mondays with an entry fee of a maximum of 3 Euros. Restaurants, cafes, and clubs are open till about midnight. There are some places that operate all night long.
  • Sunset Viewing: There are a few cafes or restaurants that offer rooftop seating with the famous sunset view. Expect them to be more expensive than other restaurants. Fira has the best hotels in Santorini with various price ranges with and without caldera views.
  • Restrooms: There are few restrooms in Fira. Avoid flushing the toilet paper to prevent blocking of the old pipelines in Fira. There are no public restrooms on the Fir to Oia hike trail. Make sure to use one in the shops or cafes in exchange for buying something from the place.
  • Drinking Water: Tap water in Santorini is not safe to drink.

Top Hotels In Fira

More on Fira Travel

Shopping in Fira

Fira, being the capital of Santorini and closest to the ferry port, has a fair share of shopping areas dealing with all sorts of clothing, jewellery, ceramics and souvenirs. The main square Plateia Theotokopoulou of the capital is known for its fresh local produce, a street named god street is famous for its jewellery outlets and plenty of artisan and handicraft shops with items from local designers.

Nightlife in Fira

Fira consists of various lively nightclubs, pubs and bars and offers a variety of clubs. Although the choice is limited, most of the clubs are located in a small area north of Theotokopoulou Square. There are a few rooftop bars in Fira, which might be expensive and do not operate for long hours.

Suggested Itinerary for Fira

Day 1: Start an early morning hike to Oia, wander around narrow cobblestoned streets, and visit beautiful viewpoints of Oia castle and the blue-domed churches. Lineup for sunset viewing at one of these viewpoints and return to Fira, walking down or copying the ropeway.

Day 2: Take an island tour by ferry to Kamari and Perissa Beach. Visit Akrotiri Archaeological site and return to Fira. Wander around the harbour and backstreets to experience a tourist-less Santorini capital at night.

With more days on hand, one can explore the nearby islands of Mykonos, Naxos and Paros.

Best Time to Visit Fira

Browse Package Collections

Fira Photos

Fira
Fira Old Port Cable Car is a way of transportation that connects old port to Fira.
Fira Old Port is the old port of Santorini. It is not fully functional. However, some boat tours can be taken from here.
Narrow streets of Fira comprises of various shops, cafes and bars.

+ 8
photos

Have a Question on Fira?

Ask a question from the travellers who have
experience.

Fira Reviews

Your rating
See 405 Hotels