Best Photo Spots in Santorini: Top Places to Capture the Island’s Beauty

If you are planning a trip to the Greek Islands, then discovering the best photo spots in Santorini should be at the top of your list. With its iconic blue-domed churches, whitewashed houses, and dramatic cliffs, this island is a dream for photographers and travelers alike.

Santorini offers endless opportunities to capture stunning shots, from sunrise views in Oia to hidden churches tucked away into the cliffs. If you are searching for the top Santorini photography spots, each village has its own unique angles and charm to be captured.

Whether you are after Santorini Instagram spots or just some stunning landscape shots, the island guarantees a collection of gorgeous pictures to frame. From sharing our favorite spots to giving tips for the best time to visit, this photography guide will cover everything you need to know for capturing the best version of Santorini.

Capturing the Best Photo Spots in Santorini: Important Info to Keep in Mind

Are you ready to learn all about taking the perfect pictures in Santorini? Before diving into the top photo spots of the island, let’s go over some of the basics so you can plan your trip just right.

What is the Most Scenic Place in Santorini?

Wondering where the stunning postcard-shots are taken in Santorini? These are mostly taken in Oia, and Fira is also one of the most scenic places to appreciate the white washed buildings and beautiful blue domes.

Is Oia Prettier Than Fira?

Oia and Fira are both gorgeous places to visit while in Santorini! Oia definitely has more iconic views, quainter streets, and more elevated shops and restaurants. Fira is definitely beautiful too though, and shouldn't be missed either!

 Private Property in Santorini

A lot of the best photo spots in Santorini are not accessible to the public! You'll hav e to either stay at the property where they are located, or photograph some spots from a distance. We'll cover a bit more about that later, but this is something important to keep in mind.

What is the Best Time to Take Pictures in Santorini?

The best time to take pictures in Santorini is during sunrise and sunset, when the lighting is soft and you can have a beautiful golden glow. Sunsets are better appreciated in Oia and Fira due to the cities facing the west. However, sunrise is the best time to beat the crowds, and also offers really nice lighting.

Where to Take the Best Photos in Santorini

The best photo opportunities in Santorini are definitely around Oia and Fira, with some incredible spots in Imerovigli. We also love smaller towns like Pyrgos and Megalochori, along with some of the incredible beaches that the island has to offer.

In this guide we're going to share all of the best photo spots in Santorini, from iconic panoramas to cute hidden gems we found while driving around the lesser-known areas.

Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!

The Best Photo Spots in Santorini

Now that you know a bit about what the best parts of the island are, let's jump right into the best photo spots in Santorini.

The Three Blue Domes

Santorini is famed for its vibrant blue domes, and seeking them out and capturing stunning pictures with them was definitely one of our favorite things to do on the island. We've written a complete guide about where to find the best blue domes in Santorini, with all of the tips for photographing them.

Oia Castle

Looking for that famous view you see on all of the postcards? Well, it's located at Oia Castle, and each evening everyone flocks there for one of the most magical sunsets on the island. Make sure to get there early so you can grab a great spot!

Holy Church of Panagia Theoskepasti

This is one of the most secret churches on the island, but is also one of the most beautiful! With incredible views for sunset, sitting behind Skaros Rock, this is the ultimate hidden gem to add on your Santorini photography list.

Heart of Santorini

This little chapel is tucked away down a set of stairs along the cliff. As a bonus, there's a natural rock window on the way down, giving beautiful views and excellent photo opportunities.

❤️ Red Beach

With its dramatic crimson cliffs and striking volcanic sand, Red Beach is one of the most unique places to capture in Santorini. The contrast between the deep red rocks and the turquoise water makes it a photographer’s dream. You can either enjoy the viewpoint shown below, or take the walk right over to the beach itself.

🌒 Vlychada Beach

Vlychada Beach is one of the least popular beaches in Santorini, but also one of the most underrated! It has black(ish) sand and moon-like landscapes contrasting the blue waters making for some really creative photography opportunities. 

Unfortunately we came here mid-day with some harsh lighting, but if you go later in the day you'll be able to catch a great sunset and a golden glow on these fantastic landscapes.

🌊 Caldera Beach

Overlooking the island’s famous caldera, this beach offers breathtaking views of Santorini’s dramatic cliffs and the Aegean Sea. It’s an excellent spot to capture wide shots of the volcanic landscape with a peaceful green foreground up top, or sandy one down below.

🖤 Kamari Beach

Head over the south west of Santorini and you'll find a beautiful black beach complimented by adjacent rocky formations. It's an excellent place to enjoy the sunrise, and also an easy-to-photograph spot since you won't have to fight the crowds.

White Beach

Accessible mainly by boat, White Beach is framed by towering chalk-white cliffs that glow brilliantly under the Greek sun. Its secluded setting and clear blue waters create a stunning backdrop for unforgettable photos.

✝️ Church of the Holy Cross

Another great reason to go to Kamari is the Holy Cross Church, which is one of the biggest churches on the island. We stumbled upon it by just driving by and grabbed a quick shot here, but we're sure there are also plenty of great photo opportunities inside the complex!

😍 Pyrgos Castle

Pyrgos is one of the most underrated villages in Santorini. With it's large castle complex of white washed walls, blue domes, and rocky landscapes, there are so many incredible places you can enjoy around Pyrgos castle, from charming churches to cute cafes on the cliffs.

The Three Bell Towers of Megalochori

Megalochori is another one of the most beautiful and underrated villages in Santorini. Right down the main road you'll find this three-tired bell tower, which is the perfect backdrop for a photo of this charming destination.

Megalochori Archway

As you are entering the center of town you'll find this other incredible bell tower with an archway, framing another breathtaking photo spot of Santorini.

Ancient Thera

Perched on a steep ridge, Ancient Thera is a fantastic archaeological site with ruins dating back to the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. The ruins themselves are great to photograph, and the view from the top is a bonus Instagrammable spot.

Profitis Ilias

This is the highest point of the island, and gives 360 degree panoramas of Santorini's villages, blue waters, and natural landscapes in between.

 The Windmills of Santorini 

Mykonos is famous for their windmills, but you can actually find a few around Santorini that you can stay in! Anemoscope Windmill Villa Santorini and Charisma Suites are two great ones we can recommend, but there are also a few more scattered across the island!

Kastro Oia Houses

We had to save one of our favorite photo spots in Santorini for last - I mean, how gorgeous is this location? Just below Oia Castle and next to Katro Oia Houses is this beautiful pathway that highlights the beauty of the island so perfectly in one picture.

How to Capture the Best Photo Spots in Santorini

Now that you know all of the most Instagrammable spots in Santorini, let's help you capture the moments with the best gear and fun photoshoots you can sign up for.

 Capturing the Best Photo Spots in Cappadocia: Gear (& What We Use)

Want to capture photos similar to ours? Here is the gear we used in the different locations around Santorini.

• Mirrorless Camera: Sony Alpha 7riii
• Wide Lens: Ideal for capturing wide views of the caldera, towns, and churches up close (We use the Sony GM 14")
• Wide-Range Lens: Good for capturing the majority of shots (We use the Sony GM 24-70).
• Telephoto Lens: Good for capturing ships and islands in the distance (We use the Sony GM 70-200)
• Drone: We use the Mavic Mini Pro 4 because it's super light, shoots vertically, and has incredible quality, although we'd also recommend the Mavic 4 Pro for when the winds are high.
• Action Camera: We use the Insta 360 X3 because it's small & can be used with an extra long selfie stick for drone-like shots where you can't use one.
• Tripod: We use the JOBY Rangepod Tripod
• Presets: We use our own Scratch Your Mapa Presets (these ones are mostly with the Into the Wild Preset Collection)

Tips for Taking Incredible Pictures in Santorini

Here are some photography tips for Santorini, as well as things to keep in mind to be a mindful visitor.

Photo Shoots in Santorini

Want to get the most stunning photos in Santorini? Hiring a professional who has connections on the island makes capturing the beauty of it so much easier (and oftentimes, the only way).

Whether it's accessing private properties, going on rooftops, or adding some glam to your shoot, doing a professional photo shoot is one of the best ways to capture incredible memories, and is also one of the top activities in Santorini.

Here are some great photo shoots in Santorini you can sign up for:

The Best Photo Spots in Santorini: Final Thoughts & What's Next

Now you know all about the best photo spots in Santorini! This island can be a dream to photograph, as long as you're prepared.

The Greek islands can be crazy crowded, and a lot of Instagram shots of Santorini are from hotels or places that are unable to be accessed. Always be respectful, and try to get creative with your shots. I bring big dresses with me which helps cover the crowds.

Visiting in the off season gives you the best chances for having clearer shots, and early-morning wake ups are a must here! But finally, get out there and explore more than just Oia and Fira, because the entire island has stunning places to offer!

What's Next?

Now that you know all of the best photo spots in Santorini, you'll probably want to know more about traveling around the island! Right now you can learn about the best things to do in Santorini, along with a guide about visiting the blue domes of Santorini.

We also have a bunch of other Santorini guides coming up, so make sure to stay tuned for our weekly articles each Friday.

So are you ready to enjoy all of the incredible photo spots in Santorini? The island is full stunning photo opportunities we hope our Santorini photography guide has inspired you to explore all of the beauty that the island has to offer.

Want to learn more about visiting Santorini and the other Greek islands? We have a lot of other Greece travel guides coming up, so make sure to subscribe to our newsletter- you'll get all of our weekly article updates, as well as exclusive discounts on our shop!

Ready to start planning the most epic trip to Santorini? Well, we're here to help! Scratch Your Mapa offers custom travel planning services, creating you specially-curated itineraries for each trip. Want to learn more? Simply send us an email for your free consultation!

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