Greece, Europe

Santorini in December

Winter proper. A skeleton of Fira stays open for locals; the visitor island is largely dark until spring.

Think twiceCool, highs near 59F (15C), wind and rain spells

Oia Santorini, Greece — SantoriniPhoto: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

December is a month to think twice about visiting Santorini. Winter proper. A skeleton of Fira stays open for locals; the visitor island is largely dark until spring.

Weather: Cool, highs near 59F (15C), wind and rain spells
Crowds: 1 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What December is like in Santorini

December is winter proper. Highs are near 59F (15C), with wind and rain spells between clear days. A skeleton of Fira stays open for locals, but the visitor island is largely dark until spring, and ferries run on the winter schedule. Rooms that are open are very cheap.

It suits a quiet holiday-season escape for someone who just wants the view, a few simple meals, and long walks with nobody around. Expect most of Oia to be shuttered. Families and anyone after the classic Santorini experience should choose May, June, or September instead.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Santorini this month.

Holiday season in Fira

Local Christmas decorations and church services give the town a small, warm, community feel.

Winter walks on the rim

On dry days the caldera path is quiet and cool, with clear air after a storm.

Akrotiri and museums

The indoor excavation and Fira's museum make good rainy-day plans.

What to pack for December

A warm, windproof coat
A rain shell and umbrella
Warm layers for indoors
Waterproof walking shoes

Our timing tip

Fly in from Athens rather than relying on a winter ferry, since storms can cancel sailings for days.

Book Santorini for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Santorini
Opens a hotel search for Santorini in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Santorini
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Santorini
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Santorini for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

Things to do in Santorini

Full guide

Oia at sunset, and at dawn

See the famous blue domes once at golden hour with the crowd, then come back at 7am when the marble lanes are empty and the light is just as good.

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The Fira to Oia caldera-rim hike

About six miles along the crater edge through Imerovigli. Start early to beat the sun; spring and fall are ideal. The best free thing on the island.

Tickets and tours →

Akrotiri archaeological site

The buried Bronze Age town, under a modern roof so it works even in heat. Pair it with the frescoes' story at the museum in Fira.

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A catamaran caldera cruise

Swim at the hot springs, see the lava islands, and watch sunset from the water. Book the small-boat versions; they skip the crowd-ship rhythm.

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The volcanic beaches

Red Beach's cliffs, Perissa and Perivolos's black sand. The dark sand runs hot underfoot in summer; water shoes earn their space in the bag.

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Santo or Venetsanos winery at golden hour

Assyrtiko flights on terraces hanging over the caldera. Reserve a sunset slot in season.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Check the cruise-ship calendar for your dates: the difference between two ships and six in the caldera is the difference between charming and choked in Oia and Fira from mid-morning to late afternoon.
Invert the famous sunset: watch from Imerovigli, the rim trail, a catamaran, or a winery terrace instead of Oia's castle wall, where the nightly scrum starts two hours early in season.
Do Oia at dawn. The lanes, the domes, and the light are all better before 8am, and the day-trip flow from Fira has not started.
Stay in Imerovigli, Firostefani, or Pyrgos rather than Oia proper: same caldera, calmer nights, better prices, and you can visit the busy towns on your own schedule.

Know before you go

The winter shutdown is real: from roughly November through March, most caldera-view hotels, the bulk of Oia's restaurants and shops, and most tour operators close. Plan a classic Santorini trip inside April through October.
Fira keeps a year-round working core, supermarkets, tavernas serving locals, pharmacies, and flights and ferries continue on reduced winter schedules. You will not be stranded; you will be early.
The season's edges move with Greek Orthodox Easter: many businesses target reopening around it, so a late Easter can push full opening deeper into spring.
Ferry frequency swings hard by season: summer brings multiple fast boats daily to Athens and nearby islands; winter cuts to a thin conventional-ferry schedule, and the meltemi or winter storms can cancel sailings in any month.

Santorini in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit Santorini?

December is a month to think twice about visiting Santorini. Winter proper. A skeleton of Fira stays open for locals; the visitor island is largely dark until spring.

What is the weather like in Santorini in December?

Cool, highs near 59F (15C), wind and rain spells.

Is Santorini crowded in December?

December is one of the quieter months in Santorini; most sights can be done without long waits.