Travel experience in Oia village

But that's not all; Oia's appeal also comes from its delicious seafood restaurants, charming stalls selling handcrafted jewelry and pottery. Santorini is also home to leading jewelry designers and skilled pottery artisans, allowing you to discover its unique culture.

Visit Oia early in the morning to witness a stunning sunrise, wait until the afternoon for a spectacular sunset, and at night, when the houses light up, Oia reveals its equally beautiful colors. Oia truly is one of the most beautiful villages in Europe that travel blogger Ly Thanh Co has ever visited.

The most suitable time

April to September is peak season in Oia. The village is very small, so I advise against visiting during this time because every corner is packed with tourists taking pictures. I went in November, which is the off-season, but even by midday, the busiest time of day, it was quite crowded and stuffy, let alone during peak season. However, a positive aspect of Oia is the warm weather, and all the shops are open.

November to February is the off-season, when you can enjoy Oia village to the fullest. The only downside is that it can be a bit chilly during this time, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius.^oC (in November) and many shops will close for the winter break.

Travel to Santorini

Air travel:From Athens, you can fly directly to Thira Airport in Santorini. Several airlines offer frequent flights on this route, including Ryanair, Olympic Air, and Sky Express. Ryanair offers the cheapest fares at around €20/one-way, but tickets are often sold out if you don't book at least a month in advance. Olympic Air costs €50/one-way, while Sky Express is around €100/one-way. The flight time is 50 minutes. You can visit skyscanner.com.vn to check for suitable flights.

Take the ferry:This was my choice because I booked my trip quite late; the one-way ferry fare was 30 euros. The ferry journey takes 7 hours, which sounds long, but you can buy a night ticket to sleep on the ferry, which is more expensive at 40 euros/one-way. The ferry is very comfortable, with seating, restaurants, and restrooms, making the trip very enjoyable. The ferry will stop at Naxos and Paxos along the way, and you can admire the beautiful Aegean Sea scenery in the morning.

When booking your ferry tickets, please select the route from Piraeus (Athens) to Thira (Santorini), as the port has a different name.

Buy tickets here: https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/

Travel from the port to the village of Oia.

Take the public bus:From the port to Oia, you will need to take two public bus rides. The first ride is from the port to the village of Fira and costs 2.30 euros. The second ride is from Fira to Oia and costs 1.60 euros.

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- Bus schedule from Fira to Oia: 6:50, 8:30, 9:15, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 13:50, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00

- Bus schedule from Oia to Fira: 7:30, 8:50, 9:35, 10:20, 11:20, 12:20, 13:20, 14:10, 14:20, 15:20, 16:20, 17:20, 18:20, 19:20

Hire a shuttle service:For €15 per person per way, they'll take you directly to Oia. This is a good option if you have a lot of luggage and don't want to wait too long. I recommend a company I use; their WhatsApp number is +306972372321. Just text them an hour in advance, and they'll pick you up on time.

Accommodation

I advise against being too frugal when finding accommodation in Oia, as cheap rooms are often located in other villages like Fira, which means you'll waste time traveling to Oia and miss out on watching the sunrise and sunset or staying up late to enjoy the scenery. Therefore, it's best to rent a room in the center of Oia village to fully experience the village. The busiest time for tourists is from 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM, so to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Oia, choose a hotel right in the village itself.

Cơ rented a room at Residence Suites for 2,000,000 VND/night, and the room has a stunning view, as you can see in Cơ's photos. Everyone should stay in the center of Oia; avoid the bays like Armenia as they are quite far from the center.

When checking in, you must go to the Tourist Information Center located opposite the bus station because the hotel areas do not have a reception desk. They will give you the key at the Tourist Information Center counter, and someone will bring your suitcase to your room. It's a good idea to tip them around 5 euros because carrying suitcases up the slopes can be quite tiring. When leaving, you can call the Tourist Information Center for help with your luggage, but carrying it yourself is also fine.

Dining places

Here are some budget-friendly dining options:

- Gyros restaurant offers affordable meals, around 5-10 euros per dish, and the portions are quite large; two dishes are enough to satisfy two people. You can find directions to the restaurant via this link: https://goo.gl/maps/DQwoy45e67p

- Hungry Donkey sells sandwiches and crepes quite cheaply, just 5 euros is enough to fill you up. The coffee here is also extremely good, starting from 3 euros per cup. You can find directions to the cafe via the following link: https://goo.gl/maps/HUGjUDs52dK2

- Near the bus terminal, you'll find many supermarkets, which is very convenient if you want to prepare your own food. However, there are no supermarkets in the center of Oia.

Here are some good places to eat:

- Thalami Restaurant: Dishes here start from 10 euros and up, but trust me, the food here is the best on the island. Order seafood dishes like steamed mussels with wine and rosemary, seafood spaghetti – all the seafood is incredibly delicious. You can find directions to the restaurant via this link: https://goo.gl/maps/XdDugUBUM7K2

Skiza Pizzeria serves pretty good Greek-style pizzas, costing between 10 and 15 euros per dish. If you want a light dinner, you can choose Skiza. You can find directions to the restaurant via this link: https://goo.gl/maps/p8ypRFbnL1w

- Lotza is also very delicious, you should stop by. You can find directions to the restaurant via this link: https://goo.gl/maps/wYEf8SGpLRE2

These restaurants all have stunning ocean views in common. If you're not staying in Oia, you might consider trying the food at these restaurants and taking some beautiful photos.