The Best Sunsets on Santorini

It won’t disappoint – it woos and seduces you slowly; as slowly as its spectacular sunsets. Unforgettable nightfalls that remain in one’s mind’s eye forever. The sun rises and sets everywhere around the world. It is a natural event that forms part of our everyday existence. But, there is a place where dusk is the most eagerly awaited sight of the day. The crowning moment on the island of Santorini.

Its sunsets are famous around the world, but you have to know where to position yourself to get the best view of a natural event that has become a daily phenomenon in Santorini. Thira, the capital of Santorini, is one of the customary spots to view the sunset; all you have to do is go down one of its winding streets. Of course, you should get there at least an hour before the estimated sunset time to mark out your viewing spot. There are dozens of ideally located bars where you can view the event while sipping a glass of wine to background music. But, be warned – the prices can be exorbitant.

For many, Oia is undoubtedly the best place to see the sunset in Santorini. However, Thira and Oia vie with each other for being the best spots for sundown watching. Frankly, both vantage points afford an equally pleasant view. However, Oia has a privileged siting for this purpose in the guise of Oia Castle. Luckily, you can get in for free, so you don’t need to spend so much at a bar with views of the sunset. The downside is that you can’t always secure a good spot, so you need to get there early – it is usually quite crowded.

There is, however, another place in Santorini where the sun bids its farewell to the Aegean in style. On the south side of the island, on the road that leads to the Akrotiri lighthouse, there are some public viewpoints, as well as a number of bars suitably adapted for the purpose which are perhaps less crowded than Thira or Oia. If you get more than two chances to see the sunsets on Santorini, the south of the island is clearly the more comfy spot.

Text and images by Eddy Lara Brito (Destinos Actuales)