On one of my last few days in Santorini, I hopped into a private car and went to Oia! For those who haven't read my previous posts, I stayed in Imerovigli. It's possible to hike to Oia but the terrain seemed a bit too uneven and I did not bring my walking shoes! We arrived before 10AM so most of the shops were closed and there were very few tour groups. Fortunately, when we got to the 3 Domes, there was only one tour group - the wait time was approximately 15-20 minutes to capture a picture at this location.
If you're wondering how long it takes to walk through Oia, you can get through it in a few hours tops. It really depends on whether you want to just walk through the main road or you're more adventurous and prefer going off the beaten path. Most of those Instagram worthy spots require a bit of walking and waiting! When I went, I was surprised no one took pictures in front of the iconic Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants locations! I was thinking that movie may have predated their time but the people in the tour group ranged from tweens to retirees!
Of note, this definitely isn't the ideal place for anyone who has difficulty walking due to the steep steps and uneven terrain.
I highly suggest going early if you want to snap pictures with famous landmarks without standing in a horribly long line. I've heard horror stories and I was able to avoid most of it! If you're unable to arrive in Oia early, there are still so many photo spots all around! Most people didn't even blink twice to the location above so I swooped in and took advantage of the opportunity!
The one place I absolutely wanted to visit was Atlantis Books E.E. Unfortunately, it was closed while I was in Oia. There was no indication when it would reopen but it just seems like a magical place. I love bookstores so I was really looking forward to it. When I posted this on Instagram, it appears as if other tourists had the same experience, they were unable to go inside. Maybe it was closed for some time...
Every single corner is picturesque. This door was on the path down to Ammoudi Bay. On Google Maps, it's labeled as Oia Steps.
XO,
Adrienne