Greece, Europe

Santorini in March

The island starts waking: painting, repairs, first reopenings. Late March can be lovely, but many doors stay shut until Easter.

TradeoffsWarming, highs near 61F (16C)

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

The straight answer

March is a month of real tradeoffs in Santorini. The island starts waking: painting, repairs, first reopenings. Late March can be lovely, but many doors stay shut until Easter.

Weather: Warming, highs near 61F (16C)
Crowds: 1 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What March is like in Santorini

March is the island waking up. Highs climb to around 61F (16C), and you will see painting, repairs, and the first places reopening. Many doors stay shut until Easter, especially in Oia, and the sea is far too cold for swimming. Crowds and prices are still at their lowest.

Late March suits walkers and photographers who like empty lanes and do not need a full restaurant scene. Families wanting beaches and boat trips should wait. If you want the island open but still calm, late April into May is a much better bet.

Make the most of March

What is especially good about Santorini this month.

Freshly whitewashed villages

Owners repaint before the season, so the towns look their cleanest right as the first visitors arrive.

Cool-weather hiking

The six-mile Fira to Oia rim hike is comfortable in March, with no midday heat to fight.

Pyrgos before the crowds

The old hilltop village is quiet and local, a nice lunch stop if its tavernas have reopened.

What to pack for March

A light insulated jacket for evenings
A rain shell for passing showers
Hiking shoes for the rim trail
Sunglasses for bright spring days

Our timing tip

Come in the last week of March rather than the first, since reopenings pick up quickly as Easter approaches.

Book Santorini for March.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Santorini
Opens a hotel search for Santorini in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for March
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 March. 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.

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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 March, quick answers

Is March a good time to visit Santorini?

March is a month of real tradeoffs in Santorini. The island starts waking: painting, repairs, first reopenings. Late March can be lovely, but many doors stay shut until Easter.

What is the weather like in Santorini in March?

Warming, highs near 61F (16C).

Is Santorini crowded in March?

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