Best Santorini Photo Spots: 12 Locations Beyond the Blue Domes
There are roughly four photographs that Santorini is known for, and you've already seen them: the three blue domes in Oia, the windmill at the end of the caldera path, the cable car cliffside, and a couple holding hands at sunset. They're iconic for a reason — but the island has dozens more spots that produce more interesting images and don't require elbowing 200 other photographers. This guide gives you exact locations, ideal light times, and notes on what to bring.
Quick Answer: Top 5 If You're Short on Time
- The three blue domes, Oia — late morning (10:30–11:30) for soft light, fewer people
- Imerovigli caldera at sunset — better than Oia for sunset photos, less crowded
- Pyrgos rooftop tavernas at golden hour — the underrated village shot
- Vlychada beach moonscape cliffs — late afternoon side-lighting
- Akrotiri lighthouse — sunset with caldera AND open sea behind you
The 12 Locations
1. The Three Blue Domes, Oia
Coordinates: 36.4622, 25.3753 (the actual address is the lane just below the Anastasi church)
The most-photographed angle in all of Greece. The three small blue domes (it's actually two separate churches with a third dome behind) are reached by walking down the main Oia laneway and turning right at the marble steps near the bookstore.
- Best light: 09:30–11:00 (front-lit, fewer people, blue sky behind)
- Worst light: noon to 15:00 (harsh top-light)
- Workaround: 17:30–18:30 in summer is also flattering with side light, but crowds are heavy
Tip: Step back about 15 metres further than the obvious tourist viewpoint — the composition opens up and you avoid 80 % of the queue.
2. The Oia Windmill
Coordinates: 36.4639, 25.3737
The white windmill at the western tip of Oia, framing the cliff and sea. Famous for sunset.
- Best light: 30 minutes before sunset, not sunset itself (sun behind windmill silhouettes it)
- Crowd warning: arrive 90 minutes before sunset or you won't get an angle in summer
3. Oia Castle Ruin (Byzantine Castle)
The very top of Oia. The classic sunset crowd spot.
- Best light: actual sunset, then the post-sunset glow (people thin out within 10 minutes)
- Underrated: the sunrise from this same spot — empty, gold light over the village to the east
4. Imerovigli Caldera Path (between Skaros Rock and the church)
Coordinates: 36.4400, 25.4287
The single best caldera-edge photo location for sunset. You get Skaros Rock in the foreground, the volcano in the distance, and the cliffside cave hotels of Imerovigli all in one frame.
- Best light: 30 minutes before sunset to 20 minutes after (golden + blue hour)
- Crowd: dramatically less than Oia — sometimes you're alone
5. Skaros Rock Itself
A short hike (15–20 minutes from Imerovigli) onto the rock plateau. The view back to Imerovigli is unreal.
- Best light: late afternoon (sun behind you over Imerovigli)
- Note: not for vertigo sufferers — narrow paths
6. Fira → Oia Caldera Hike (10 km)
The best multi-spot photo opportunity on the island.
- Best timing: start at 16:30 in summer, finish at sunset in Oia
- Highlights along the way: Firostefani church, Skaros, Imerovigli's Agios Georgios, Tholos Naftilos, the chapel cluster between Imerovigli and Oia
- Bring: water (no taps for 8 km), good shoes, headlamp for the descent if photographing post-sunset
7. Pyrgos Rooftop Sunset
Pyrgos is the highest village on the island. From the Kasteli ruins or the tavernas in the upper village, you can see Oia, the caldera AND the east coast at once.
- Best light: golden hour (last hour before sunset)
- Why it works: 360° view, very few photographers, completely different aesthetic
8. Vlychada Beach Moonscape
The white tufa cliffs of Vlychada, sculpted by wind, look genuinely lunar.
- Best light: late afternoon (16:00–17:30) for raking side-light
- Walk: park near the marina and walk west along the beach for 600–800 m
9. Akrotiri Lighthouse
The southwestern tip of the island. Open sea on one side, caldera on the other.
- Best light: sunset (sun drops directly into the sea)
- Quiet: tiny crowd compared to Oia
- Bonus: the drive there passes Red Beach viewpoint
10. Red Beach Viewpoint (the cliff above)
The actual access trail to Red Beach is often closed due to landslide risk, but the viewpoint at the trail head is spectacular.
- Best light: 14:00–16:00 (sun lights up the red cliff)
- Park: small car park, fills by 11:00 in summer
11. Megalochori Bell Tower
The double-bell-tower in central Megalochori is a quieter Instagram spot — peeled white plaster, ancient bells, a backdrop with no other tourists.
- Best light: late morning, 09:30–11:00
- Tip: combine with a Megalochori winery visit
12. Profitis Ilias Monastery
The highest peak of Santorini. Aerial view of the whole island.
- Best light: late afternoon for layered side light
- Drive: 20 min from Fira; some military telecoms hardware on top is a minor visual nuisance
Drone Rules (Important)
Greek civil aviation rules apply to Santorini:
- Drone weight under 250 g: no licence needed but you must register as an operator (free, online)
- Drone weight 250 g–25 kg: registration plus A1/A3 certification required
- No drones over Oia village, Fira, archaeological sites, monasteries, the airport, or any populated assembly
- Caldera-edge flying is broadly allowed if you're outside village limits and not over people
- Always check the latest rules — laws are tightening yearly
A safer option: charter a 30-minute helicopter sightseeing flight from the airport (€350–550 for two), which gives you genuine aerial photography legally.
Light Timing Cheat Sheet
| Time | Light | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise (first hour) | Soft gold east light | Oia from the castle ruin (empty), Imerovigli looking east |
| 09:00–11:00 | Crisp blue + white | Blue domes, village interiors, white walls |
| 11:00–15:00 | Harsh, avoid | Beach, sea, water-only scenes |
| 15:30–17:30 | Warm side light | Vlychada cliffs, Pyrgos, Akrotiri |
| Last 30 min before sunset | Golden | Imerovigli caldera path, Skaros, Oia windmill |
| Sunset | Spectacle | Oia castle, Akrotiri lighthouse, Santo Wines terrace |
| 20 min after sunset | Blue hour | Fira/Oia village lights, cliffside hotels glowing |
Gear Notes
- Wide lens (16–35 mm or equivalent) for caldera and village shots
- Mid telephoto (70–200 mm) for compressed-perspective sunset and beach moonscape
- ND filter for daytime caldera water shots
- Tripod is welcome at sunset spots but never set up in narrow Oia alleys (genuine fire hazard, regularly enforced by police)
- Lens cloth — Santorini's volcanic dust gets everywhere
How to Photograph Without the Crowd
- Sunrise in Oia: empty until 08:00, light is gorgeous from 06:30–07:30 in summer
- Off-season: November–April, you'll have most spots to yourself
- Imerovigli: roughly 80 % less crowded than Oia for the same caldera shot
- Pyrgos / Megalochori / Emporio: zero crowds, completely different aesthetic from Oia
Final Tip
The blue domes are great. So is the windmill. But if your goal is interesting photos rather than recognisable ones, spend more time in Imerovigli, Pyrgos and along the caldera hike, and less time fighting for the same Oia angle. Your portfolio will be better and your trip will be calmer.
For the broader trip context, see our 3-day itinerary and first-timers' primer.
FAQ
Where are the best photo spots in Santorini?
The classics: the three blue domes in Oia (best in late morning), the Oia windmill at sunset, Imerovigli's caldera path (better than Oia for sunset photos), Skaros Rock, Pyrgos rooftop sunset, the Vlychada moonscape cliffs, and the Akrotiri lighthouse. The Fira-to-Oia caldera hike strings most of these together.
What time of day is best for photography in Santorini?
Late morning (09:30–11:00) for the blue domes and white village interiors. The last 30 minutes before sunset for caldera edges (Imerovigli, Oia, Akrotiri). Sunrise gives empty streets and golden east light. Avoid noon to 15:00 for anything but beach water shots.
Can you fly a drone in Santorini?
Yes, but with restrictions — under 250 g drones need free operator registration, heavier drones need A1/A3 certification. No-fly zones include Oia village, Fira, archaeological sites, monasteries, the airport, and any populated assembly. Caldera-edge flying outside village limits is broadly allowed. Always check the latest Greek civil aviation rules.
Is the Oia sunset really worth the crowds?
Yes once, no twice. The first sunset is genuinely magical — but Imerovigli's caldera path delivers a 90 % similar photo with 20 % of the crowd. Photographers who already have the Oia frame should shoot from Imerovigli, Akrotiri lighthouse, or Pyrgos for variety on subsequent evenings.
Where is the famous Santorini blue dome photo taken?
The three-dome composition is in Oia, on the lane below the Anastasi church (coordinates 36.4622, 25.3753). Walk down the main Oia laneway and turn right at the marble steps near the Atlantis Bookstore. Best light is 09:30–11:00 for soft front-lighting and thinner crowds.
Which Santorini photo spots are uncrowded?
Pyrgos rooftop sunset, the Imerovigli caldera path, Skaros Rock, Megalochori bell tower, Vlychada beach moonscape cliffs, Akrotiri lighthouse, and the Profitis Ilias monastery viewpoint all see a fraction of the crowds that gather in central Oia, especially outside the 18:00–20:00 sunset window.
