Fira Things to Do

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This is a bustling and facinating place. Many people go through here when they take a day trip to the volcano or other places that go by boat, but if you are not doing that, come down here and have a look. There are the usual souviner shops, cafe's a church (tiny) and the rest.

You can get up and down by 1 of 3 ways, walk (not recomended,) cable car, or donkey.

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On the cliff top of Fira there are numerous alley's/lanes housing small shops, boutiques, cafe's that are fun to wander around and view/shop/eat and drink. This is where I found some of the best restaurants tucked away.

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The sunsets in Santorini are legendary and justly famous. Though Fira is not the best place to see these, you do get a good view.

There are so many restaurant;s/cafe's/bars on the cliff top to choose from, that is half the fun

There are many museums in Fira to visit, Prehistoric, Archaeological, Folklore and Cultural.
I visited the Prehistoric museum which comprises of a single large square room. It is a modern small but beautiful museum made for the remains found in the excavations at Akrotiri, such as weapons,vases, wall paintings, furniture, household equipment, etc, it also holds the impressive Golden Ibex figurine - a beautiful gold model of an ibex discovered in 1999. Well worth the visit just for that!!

Open daily (except Mondays) from 08.30 am to 15.00 pm

Admission Fee 3 euros

There are stunning views from all over the place on this beautiful island with its caldera, colourful volcanic rock and homes and white villages above them, all surrounded by beautiful waters.

Oia is popular for its sunset views - but it is also has fantastic views from here back to Fira and further down the caldera and island of Santorini.

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This museum is just a few minutes uphill slightly from the Archeological Museum and is housed in an old mansion owned by the Catholic diocese of Santorini which has been restored as a cultural centre.

In here I found an excellent collection of old prints and maps but particularly interesting are photographs of the town before and after the 1956 earthquake. And newspaper cuttings from around the world relaying the drastic news.

Entrance was 3 euro. Excellent copies of the prints of women in their various costumes from previous centuries can be purchased as well as an interesting array of books on the area.

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This excellent museum has items from important archeological finds around the island.

Free entrance the day I was there as it was a Sunday - the usual 3 euro entrance fee also includes apparently the Museum of Prehistoric Thira which is at the other end of town between the cathedral and the bus station. A recommended museum as it has remarkable finds from the Akrotiri site of Minoan Thira.

There is a section making up about one third of the collection that cant be photographed apparently as they are private items whereas photography is permitted in the remainder area.

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The Orthodox Cathedral in Fira was originally built in 1827 and, as result of an earthquake, was rebuilt in 1956. The Cathedral is located in the centre of Fira, with a large square outside. The cathedral has beautiful frescoes inside which were painted by a local artist, Christoforos Assimis.

This cathedral sits prominently and can be seen from quite a distance but up close, it can be quite difficult to find the entrance as rolling arches create a courtyard through which you can see an impressive belltower but not quite how to get to the entrance. Walk along the arches and you find the entrance set in the middle.

I visited on a Sunday afternoon and there was a wedding due that same day so the florist was busy setting up the flowers for the wedding.

PATRONS TAKE NOTE : A lady was in attendance at the cathedral when I visited and shortly after people left, she was snuffing out any candles they had been lit and putting them into the bins. I'm not sure if this was because there was a wedding due but I felt that if people had said prayers and lit candles, they should be left to burn.