This is your guide to Muslim friendly Santorini one of Greece’s most famous islands. I can guarantee that when you think about Greece, Santorini is one of the first things that come to your mind.
From where should I even start? The sunset? The amazing beaches? Maybe the whitewashed houses?
All 3 are magnificent, and Santorini has lots more to offer when visiting it!
Santorini is Muslim friendly, you can find many private villas with pools, and there is some halal food in Santorini. You’ll actually see many Muslim travellers walking in the streets and having a fantastic time.
In this article, we share information that will definitely come in handy when visiting this amazing Greek island.
Santorini’s History
Santorini has a rich history, and some could say that it’s alive till today. But what has really happened on this beautiful island?
Destructive eruptions have caused whole civilisations to disappear. One of them was the famous Minoan civilisation that got erased.
After that, the island remained uninhabited for centuries until the Phoenicians came and named it “Kallisti” due to the island’s mesmerising beauty.
Many ruled over Santorini, including the Spartans, Persians, Byzantines, and Turks.
It is essential to mention that Santorini was constantly attacked by pirates during the Frankish rule, leading to these unique fortresses that we can see today. The castles in Imerovigli, Pyrgos, Akrotiri, and Agios Nikolaos in Oia.
These archaeological sites really strive to keep Santorini’s history alive for people to see and learn. But except for the ruins, the volcanic activity has granted us the sought-after Caldera and many other breathtaking sightseeings.
Best Places to Visit & Things to Do in Santorini
Oia
Oia is one of Santorini’s most famous villages. Characterised by the jaw-dropping Caldera and breathtaking sunset, Oia is a must-visit place when you’re on Santorini.
There are two Oia sides. The quiet one and the cosmopolitan one. If you want to see the cosmopolitan side of Oia, just visit the village in August and at sunset time.
If you are looking for quieter or halal travel in Santorini, May and September/ October would be the best times to visit the island. There are fewer tourists and generally more peaceful to enjoy.
Walk down the marble pathways and admire the whitewashed houses and the blue church domes.
Here are some things to keep in mind when “chasing” Oia’s remarkable sunset:
- Make sure to visit in May or September/October to avoid the overcrowded narrow streets.
- Go about an hour before sunset in case many people are waiting there.
- Take some pictures with your partner or friends so that you never forget the fantastic time you had on the island.
But enough, with the sunset, there are many other things that someone can also do in Oia.
First of all, you have a variety of museum options.
You can visit the nautical museum as well as the Museum of Musical Instruments.
Galleries are also a great option! The best Oia galleries are the Mnemossyne Gallery, the Oia Treasures Art Gallery, and the Oria Art Gallery.
As for restaurants, there will be a different section down the article that details restaurants with halal food in Santorini, but for now, Oia has many restaurants that serve delicious seafood and vegetables, so don’t worry about it!
Akrotiri Archaeological Site
There’s no doubt that Santorini carries a lot of history behind it. The archaeological site of Akrotiri is there to prove it.
You can get to it either by your own vehicle or public transportation.
A bus will take you from Fira to Akrotiri in about 25-30 minutes. The bus station is about 250 meters away from the archaeological site, so it’ll be easy to get there on foot.
The regular ticket costs € 12 but you can also get a reduced one for € 6.
All the ruins discovered there probably belong to the Minoan civilisation. One of the most significant volcanic eruptions the world has ever seen in the 16th century BC destroyed the settlement. Akrotiri was abandoned and covered in ash until it was excavated in 1967.
But what can you see there today?
There are a lot of houses that consist of many rooms, toilets, food warehouses and kitchens. You will also find many frescos in Akrotiri. Fresco is a painted wall, a mural.
You can always combine your visit to this site with a visit to Akrotiri’s fabulous beach. Very quiet, very clean, everything you could wish for.
Thirasia
Thirasia is an island to the west of Santorini. Thirasia is overlooked, and it’s certainly different from Oia, Fira, and Imerovigli. Tourists do visit Thirasia every day, but the island is not that touristically developed in general.
Many locals don’t rent their homes on Airbnb and have nothing to do with tourism. Of course, that doesn’t mean that Greek hospitality is missing from them!
Thirasia is the most Muslim-friendly place in Santorini. Not many people walk around, there are many seafood restaurants, and you can really enjoy your vacation in peace.
You can visit the island by joining a boat tour. These tours operate daily, so don’t worry about finding or booking in advance.
When you’re on Thirasia, make sure to enjoy the delicious seafood. Most of the taverns and restaurants have a variety of qualitative seafood.
Oh, and don’t be surprised by Thirasia’s hundreds of fat and happy cats!
Fira
Fira is the capital of Santorini. Everyone goes through it when visiting the island. Fira can undoubtedly be called cosmopolitan, and there are a variety of shops, attractions, and experiences to gain.
Make sure to visit some of the most famous Santorini churches like the metropolitan cathedral of St Stylianos and, of course, the Three Bells of Fira.
When you’re in Fira, hiking the Fira-to-Oia hiking trail is a must. It goes along the astonishing Caldera cliff and is about 10km, and it should take you 1-4 hours to complete.
Fira definitely has everything you need to enjoy your trip on the island. It’s the capital, after all!
Red beach
Red beach is probably the most famous beach on the entire island.
The rocks turned red due to increased volcanic activity on the island.
Some people visit Santorini just to swim in Red Beach.
The waters are cold and crystal clear, precisely what the perfect beach would look like!
You can either access the beach by boat or walk for 15 minutes down a trail until you get there.
While relaxing on the beach, make sure to turn around and admire the overwhelming red rocks that sit there proudly.
For Muslim travellers, you can also enjoy and swim with your burkini without a problem.
Best Sunset options in Santorini
Oia
You probably saw that coming. Oia is, without a doubt, one of the best places to watch the sunset. And that’s because you actually have options to choose from.
But before that, I have to warn you about the crowd. However, please note it gets overwhelming very quickly. Some say that it ruins the experience, but I don’t think that’s true. After all, all tourists on the island visit to enjoy the sunset.
This is why we recommend you visit during the off-season when there are fewer crowds.
You can watch the sunset from the old castle while overlooking the famous blue domes of Agios Spyridonas and Anastasio’s churches.
You can also capture the amazing sunset from the windmills or the hiking trail. The choice is yours!
Just make sure to arrive at your spot an hour ( or two ) earlier to get the best view of the sunset.
Skaros Rock
Skaros Rock is a rock formation outside of Imerovigli. It once was a fortress, but today there’s nothing but ruins to see.
It’s overlooking the bay, and that makes it just perfect for sunset watching. The best part is that Skaros Rock is much less crowded than Oia, so there won’t be a problem with finding a good spot. But in case you want to watch the sunset while having dinner, you can visit Imerovigli, which is right next to Skaros Rock.
Akrotiri Lighthouse
This lighthouse has been operating since 1892, and it is considered one of the oldest in Greece.
It is located on the west coast of Santorini, and it’s not that impressive as a building, but if you aim to watch the sunset… It is perfect!
Even though it is remote, many people visit it every evening to watch the sunset. That’s how amazing it is!
The road leading to the lighthouse is rough, narrow, and incredibly frustrating at sunset.
So, once again, make sure to visit the Akrotiri lighthouse an hour before the sunset to find a parking spot and a good place to sit.
Halal Food in Santorini
Unfortunately, there aren’t many halal restaurants in Santorini Greece, even though many Muslims visit every year. Hopefully, this will change as more Muslim travellers visit and request this option.
For now, you can enjoy some fantastic Greek seafood and many of the traditional vegetarian dishes available.
A halal restaurant in Santorini serves halal Indian dishes called Jaipur Palace in Fira, so there is definitely halal food in Fira Santorini for those travellers that want it. There are great reviews of the restaurant and the food, and although the owner is not Muslim, he has confirmed that his restaurant serves halal food.
Address: Fira, Karterádhos 847 00 Greece
They also have a branch in Athens on 115 Syngrou street near the Hyatt Hotel.
Unfortunately, there are no mosques in Santorini.
Private Pool Hotels in Santorini
The best part about Santorini is that the caves and the ways they have been formed offer some great privacy with many private plunge pools. These make a fantastic Muslim friendly travel experience for those who can afford to splurge on them.
If you are looking for more budget friendly options, go further into the island and you will find amazing private pools that won’t break the bank.
Below are our recommendations of halal friendly pools in Santorini.
Here are our Luxury resort recommendations:
Amazing luxury cave resort with private pools and stunning views.
Divine Cave Experience (Imerovigli)
Stunning deco, private pool and views of Imerovigli for unforgettable moments.
There are many choices offering fantastic villas with private pools inland and provides more privacy for Muslim travellers.
You won’t be in the centre of the action, but you will enjoy a hijab free holiday in Santorini with your family.
Le Blanc Nest Santorini – stunning resort 7min drive with private pool
Aleria Luxury Cave – luxury villa with a private pool in a cave
102 Premium Villa – luxury villa with a private pool for a whole family nestled in the heart of the island
Santorini is a beautiful island worth visiting especially off-season when the tourists and overcrowded areas as emptier.
The sunset is beautiful and staying just outside the popular locations can save you a lot of money but also make the experience more enjoyable. That is is you don’t enjoy crowds.
If you want to enjoy the views and take photos, visit early in the morning around 7 or 8 am just before the cruise ships dock and people start waking up.
If you’re thinking of visiting Santorini, I highly recommend it. I’ve visited myself, and I would go back without a second thought.
Rohaya Zin
Friday 2nd of February 2024
Thank you for your information sister ☺️