Santorini may be synonymous with summer sunsets and packed cliffside terraces, but for those who know the island best, autumn is when it truly comes alive.
Even as the heat of July and August fades, the volcanic jewel of the Aegean remains dazzling. Whitewashed houses continue to glow under golden light, but the atmosphere softens, offering visitors a sense that “summer isn’t over yet.”
This year, however, the season opened under difficult circumstances. Seismic activity during the first months of 2025 slowed tourism, causing losses estimated at 25 percent. “That cannot be fully recovered,” locals acknowledge, “but a large part can be covered.” The hope lies in the fall, when Santorini reveals its most authentic character.
Another side of Santorini in the autumn season
September and October bring ideal weather, free from heatwaves, with calmer winds and clearer skies. The island breathes again as crowds thin out, cobbled alleys open up, and the caldera becomes a stage for personal rather than mass experiences.
“September is perhaps the best month,” locals insist. “It’s calmer, with quality visitors who know what they want.” Autumn offers a slower rhythm, where even the luxury of Santorini feels more intimate. Resorts with infinity pools and fine dining still shine but so do boutique hotels and family-run tavernas serving fava and cherry tomatoes with sunset views.
For Georgia Nomikou, president of the Municipal Council and the Tourism Committee of Thira, this season is special. “It’s the time when you can experience Santorini in its most authentic form,” she told Greek Reporter. “The weather remains mild, without strong winds, and visitors enjoy walks along trails, excursions to the caldera, traditional festivals, and seaside dining. It’s an experience that combines serenity and beauty.”
Festivals and experiences
Autumn also means celebration. On September 20, the caldera will light up with Ifestia, a fireworks spectacle that has dazzled audiences for over thirty years, symbolizing the island’s volcanic birth.
Then, from October 10 to 12, the Santorini Experience takes over. This is a premier sporting event that combines open-water swimming from the volcano to the old port with running races along the caldera’s rim. These events don’t just attract global attention—they help extend the tourist season into the fall.
Beyond the calendar, autumn travelers savor the island’s distinctive offerings: vineyard tours, wine tastings of Santorini’s famed Assyrtiko wine, catamaran cruises across crystalline waters, and explorations of ancient Akrotiri. “Scents are more intense with the humidity, and the colors on the cliffs more vivid. It’s a feeling that stays with you,” says local businessman and council member Loukas Katris.
Travelers seeking calm and quality in autumn on Santorini
This shift in seasonality is not incidental. With bookings in June and July falling behind this year, many travelers postponed their visits to September and October. Santorini now attracts Canadians, Americans, Britons, and Australians during autumn—visitors who tend to have greater financial means and a desire for calm.
“The reasons are clear,” Katris explains. “The weather is perfect without the oppressive heat, traffic is reduced, sunsets are sharper, and the atmosphere is calmer. September and the first half of October may be the most ‘high-quality’ period.”
Challenges and outlook
Despite early-season losses, Santorini is working to strengthen its international profile and expand into new markets. The Municipality of Thira is investing in cultural promotion, improving public services, and targeting high-value markets such as South Korea.
For hoteliers, autumn is now indispensable. Antonis Pagonis, president of the Santorini Hoteliers Association, emphasizes the shift. “September has always been the best month for Santorini. October also shows positive signs. Since 2015, the season has gradually been extended into November, thanks in part to favorable weather,” he says.
Pagonis highlights what makes the season unique: “Wine production, smaller festivals, a clearer atmosphere, walks without heat, visits to the volcano and archaeological sites. And of course, sunsets that cannot be compared to anything else.”
A different kind of magic on Santorini in autumn
Autumn in Santorini is not simply an extension of summer but a transformation. The island slows down, becoming more genuine and more enchanting. It’s a season of contrasts—luxury and simplicity, serenity and vibrancy, tradition and cosmopolitanism. For many visitors, this balance makes it the most memorable time to experience Santorini.
Losses from earlier months may not be erased, but the island’s autumn charm is proving to be one of its strongest assets. As Nomikou notes, Santorini in the fall is “an experience that combines serenity and beauty”—a promise that keeps travelers returning long after the summer crowds have left.
