Hiking the Caldera Trail in Santorini

The Caldera Trail in Santorini

There’s more to Santorini than parties, weddings and honeymooners. There is also the Caldera Trail that takes you on a 10km hike along the cliffs of the island from Fira to Oia.

Fira just after sunrise

The trail starts in the center of Fira - or at least for me it did.  Other blogs I've read said it starts at a church or in different areas.  For me, the taxi dropped me off in the middle of Fira and I walked toward the ocean.  The person at my hotel who told me about trail said to follow the signs for the cable car and you'll end up on the right path.

Another shot of Fira as I got farther away

Once you do find the path -- on whichever route takes you there -  it leads you along a narrow path through the city past the hotels and restaurants. 

Breathtaking views along the Caldera Trail in Santorini

As Fira is spreading, you’ll spend about 30 minutes surrounded by the white homes and buildings before you actually break free and are on the rugged cliffs. But even here the trail is well marked and easy to follow. It is also here that you’ll start to leave the throngs of people behind as the less adventurous wander back.

You also pass Skaros rock. Skaros was one of the five fortified settlements in 1200s and offered protection from pirates.  There was apparently a bunch of other little buildings and homes on the rock, but now there isn't much. It wasn't pirates that destroyed it, but earthquakes in the 17th and 18th century.

Skaros Rock

The longer you hike along the Caldera, the more breathtaking it becomes as you get a panoramic view of Santorini with the white buildings of Fira on one side and the blue domed churches of Oia in the distance in the other direction.

The journey is hilly, but not too extreme if you have no trouble walking 10km – however, the only thing to pay attention to is the heat. I left at 6:30 am and by 8:00 am it was already sweltering hot. Once you leave Fira, they won’t be any place to buy water until you get to Oia so come prepared.

It took me just over 2 hours to complete the hike –perfect timing to arrive in Oia for breakfast.