The original source of inspiration for my trip to Santorini was photos of the sunset from Oia. Like so many tourists, those photos are what drew me to Greece and the Greek Isles in particular.
As a budget traveler, I wasn’t interested in or able to stay at the luxury resorts overlooking the caldera sunset right there in Oia—and I didn’t need to! The castle in Oia provides the perfect perch from which to get an expansive and “rich” view.
But if you don’t know where to go, or more importantly when to go, you could be cheated out of the experience. You’ll be battling crowds for an optimal view and standing uncomfortably as people shove into you. Yes, the tourists are a bit much here!
You may not be able to avoid the pushy tourists entirely, but this post gives some insight into the experience of getting optimal, no-cost sunset views in Oia!
First View: The Blue Domes
I arrived in Oia at about 6:00pm after walking along the Caldera cliff side from Fira. I was determined to make it to the Castle about 2 hours before sunset which was at 8:40pm on June 29, 2022. This is the optimal time to get a spot before the crowds make it nearly impossible to get a good view.
The Castle in Oia is arguably one of the best spots to see the sunset unless you’re willing to pay top dollar. Paying top dollar might mean views from luxury accommodation or expensive restaurants along the cliff side. But as a budget traveler, I wanted those sweet no-cost views! :)
There is only one other well-known and free spot to view the sunset—the Blue Domes. I made sure to stop there on my way to the castle.
The Blue Domes are very close to the Church of Panagia Akathistos Hymn. As I continued walking the path in Oia in the direction of the sunset, I saw a large plaza to the right with the church at the back of it.
Immediately to the left, I continued to see views out over the caldera.
Eventually I reached a corner shop called Alexandros Jewelry where I made a left turn down a path. There was already a line forming here, so I knew I was heading to the right spot.
Other travel bloggers note that the Blue Domes line clears as people move to Oia Castle closer to the time of sunset. So waiting out the crowd’s departure from the Blue Domes is a good option if you want to avoid the castle crowds.
I walked by the line to get a view of the area. People were just waiting to get in the photos at a specific spot. But I wanted to see if I could still grab a few photos of the famous Blue Domes from a different vantage point.
I was able to get a shot from the area adjacent the line. On Google Maps it’s labeled “Viewpoint and Photo Point over 3 Dome Church.” Sure, there is an optimal spot to sit in front of the domes but I wasn’t willing to wait on the line for that one. My simple photos of the domes and church bells were enough for me this time around!
I also snapped a selfie just in case I wouldn’t make it back here later. This selfie shows where people sit to the right to take their photo after waiting in line.
Luckily, I was able to come back the next day with Carolina. It was in the afternoon on a Friday and there was absolutely no line. We easily got photos in front of the domes without the wait!
Again, you can just stay and enjoy the sunset views from here at this famous spot. I didn’t. I chose to continue on to the castle.
Optimal View: The Castle
On the way from the Blue Domes over to Oia Castle, I wandered along pathways between high-end restaurants and stores, including plenty of souvenir shops. Some of the restaurants offered sunset views. Of course, you pay for it in the high price of food and drink at these locations.
No thanks! I brought my own snacks and drinks to nourish me while I enjoyed the sunset! This is definitely a hack for this experience—BYOB!
Instead of sharing the crowded pathways in Oia, what I will share are the kitties I saw along the way! Much like my experience in Chania, Crete, there are many well-kept cats hanging out all over Santorini. The ones I walked by were enjoying a bit of dinner before the sunset. They didn’t seem to mind the crowds nearby at all!
I eventually made it to the Oia Castle ruins. Commonly referred to as Oia Castle, the castle is actually called Agios Nikolaos Castle.
This castle has a rich history that many people take for granted as they watch the sunset. Agios Nikolaos Castle dates back as far as 1480. The Dargent family, who were descendants of Romanos Argyros, a Byzantine emperor, lived there as the original inhabitants.
The castle was once used to protect surrounding residences from the threat of pirates. It was difficult to conquer, with all the buildings in the area built close together into the cliffs strategically to avoid threats. It was captured in 1577 by Turkish invaders and the Dargent family was taken to Syria.
Most of the castle collapsed into the sea during a bad earthquake in 1956. The tower, part of the residence, and parts of the walls remain.
I made my way over to what is left of the tower. This is where the majority of people were already gathering and taking photos.
I was lucky to get there at about 6:45pm—2 hours before sunset, as planned! The tourists at this spot were pretty much free flowing in and around the area. Not many people were permanently perched in position for the sunset yet.
I didn’t let that stop me! I hopped up on the wall and planted myself closest to the corner of the tower wall, feet dangling.
Initially, the crowds were very thinly formed next to me, below the castle walls, and up along the paths. But after about an hour or so, the pathways and castle walls became packed!
The area became so packed that people were literally pushing me and trying to sit in front of and next to me very rudely. I just held my position and sort of chuckled over how monstrous people get just for some photos!
I do understand it, though. You pay all this money and this may be your only night to catch these bucket list views. I mean, that was my mentality. But I planned ahead to get my spot without having to be rude about it! Alas, I really did have to hold my position. I couldn’t be the normally overly nice person I am and let people sit in front of me. They seriously didn’t care and would have completely blocked my view!
It was moments like this when I looked out at the cliff side in admiration of the people who paid their way to the best views in the house.
Certainly, if you have the money spend it.
The folks chilling in their hot tubs or pools adjacent their caldera view, luxury accommodation looks very content and relaxed as they watched the sun cast its golden rays across the white Cyclades buildings.
I will say that having the view of these buildings and luxury accommodations were a part of the view. I would not have gotten that had I been paying to be down there instead!
Another awesome view from this vantage point was Oia’s famous Santorini Windmills. The windmills on Santorini used to ground flour and were used in operation as bakeries. Built in the 17th century, they were eventually converted into accommodations in the 18th century and continue to be tourist attractions and rented out by visitors today.
I absolutely love the views of these windmills, especially as the sunlight changes the colors reflecting off of them and the surrounding buildings!
Ugh! So pretty. These are definitely some of my favorite photos of all from Santorini!
The Sunset Progression
Continuing with the theme of my favorite photos from Santorini, let’s take a look now at the progression of this sunset on the whole view from the castle in Oia.
The color changes from gold hues to orange to a red and purple, were just amazing! And then when the cliff side becomes speckled with lights—pure magic!
I took a panoramic view with my phone since I couldn’t capture the entire area in one shot. Clicking it to open will expand the view. I think this best captures the actual feel of sitting on the castle wall.
I believe you get the best views from this spot of anywhere because of its position jutting out from the cliff side. Even those luxury suite people don’t get the full views that this spot gives!
Below, I share a sped up video I recorded as the sun went down at Oia Castle. Catch me chewing on my snacks at the start and after the music fades turn up the volume to hear the cheers from the crowd!
The cheering was not an unusual occurrence. Apparently it happens all the time. I love that the crowd cheers each time the sun sets here because nature truly is one of the best performances money can’t buy!
Behind The Sunset
Nobody ever looks back! Well, I do and I did. While looking West toward the sunset, I would occasionally glance back East toward the Blue Domes. I loved this view!
And as it progressively turned to dusk, the lights turned on in that direction, as well. I especially loved the color of the lighting out that way. This led to capturing another one of my favorite photos!
The Way Back
As soon as the sun set, the crowds began to slowly disperse. People hopped off the wall. Others rushed upward through the buildings.
Many people were heading back to their accommodation on other parts of the island. The way they got there was either by car, bus, or by walking like me!
I walked there but I definitely did not want to walk back, especially not in the dark for 3 hours! I planned to take the bus back. I first waited for some of the people to clear out. I stayed sitting on the wall for a bit and then I followed google maps over to the bus stop.
Maps took me weaving through some back alleyways. This was an unexpected part of the experience that I really enjoyed. The twilight colors against the old walls of these stone pathways gave it a sort of maze-like, other-worldly feel. I had to stop and snap some photos to capture the vibe!
As expected, I found a long line waiting at the bus stop. Luckily, the buses were lined up and ready.
For €1.80, I made it onto the first bus but I didn’t get a seat. I rode the 20-30 minutes back to Fira standing in the aisle of the bus. No biggie!
In Conclusion
For the cost of a <€2 bus ride, I was able to enjoy the world-famous Oia sunset from the prime location of Agios Nikolaos Castle walls. I held down my spot among the crowd, brought my own snacks and drinks, and managed to get some epic photos and memories I won’t forget.
My biggest tip for this experience is getting to the castle early enough to claim your spot. Then don’t budge for anything or anyone! You did the work and got there early and deserve to reap the benefits of those views! Enjoy! :)
