7 amazing Instagram photo spots in Santorini
Probably no island in this world has been more often targeted by aspiring photographers and models as Santorini. Finding great scenery for beautiful pictures is easy, finding a good photo spot without masses of people in the background not so much. I decided to share my newly found insights for the 7 best Instagram photo spots in Santorini without crowds in this post.
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Table of Contents
- Megalochori – best Instagram spot in Santorini
- Pyrgos – castle Pyrgos Kallisitis
- The highest point of the island – Mount Profitis Ilias
- Ruins Castle Agios Nikolaos in Oia
- Kastro Oia Houses
- Red Beach – Kokkini Paralia in Akrotiri
- Fira to Imerovigli hike – surprise Instagram Photo spots Santorini
- Best sunset Instagram photo spots in Santorini
Megalochori – best Instagram spot in Santorini
The small village of Megalochori is in my opinion the best Instagram spot in Santorini to get the famous pictures with the cute white houses, pink flowers, and blue domes.
The scenery looks stunningly and just like in the famous village of Oia, except that there are barely any people there.
One of the biggest perks of shooting in Megalochori is, that there is no need to arrive early. You can pretty much shoot during the entire day without being disrupted.
A very cute spot to take pictures in Megalochori is the famous Six Bells Arch. It is a small arch over one of the alleys decorated with six small church bells.
Pyrgos – castle Pyrgos Kallisitis
The town Pyrgos is nestled around the highest point of the island, Mount Profitis Ilias. Hiking up to the castle Pyrgos Kallistis gives you plenty of opportunities to take a picture of the white houses with a stunning view in the background.
On top of the hill, you will not only find a beautiful church with a blue dome but also picturesque small alleys and plenty of scenic viewpoints.
While you are in Pyrgos, you might want to grab dinner at Pyrgos Restaurant. The restaurant is also known as a wedding location and has an amazing sunset view. There is plenty of great spots in and around the restaurant to take pretty pictures of the sunset over the Caldera. For reservations head here.
The highest point of the island – Mount Profitis Ilias
Right behind the village of Pyrgos, heading southeast, a small road takes you up the mountain from where you can enjoy the most stunning view of the entire island. The drive is leading up narrow and winding roads with steep drop-offs on the side.
Drive up there for sunset and enjoy the most amazing spectacle as the sun sets behind the Caldera. It can be pretty windy up there, so I suggest a more robust hairstyle for your shooting.
On top of the mountain, you can also find the famous Monastery of Profitis Ilias, which can also provide a stunning backdrop for your photo session.
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Ruins Castle Agios Nikolaos in Oia
While the famous lookout point of the castle Agios Nikolaos in Oia is a very well-known and heavily frequented Santorini Instagram photo spot, the true gem of peace and quiet lies right below it. A small walk down a couple of stairs leads you to the ruins of the castle, from where you can take stunning pictures without having to fight for a spot with all the other tourists.
The castle has been built by the Venetians as a watchtower for pirates. It therefore offers a great view of the village Oia as well as the blue ocean and the Ammoudi Bay beneath.
If you wish to come here for sunset, make sure to be a bit early. While many people miss this spot, there is not a whole lot of space in the ruins to find a good spot.
Kastro Oia Houses
Kastro Oia Houses are posing a very nice contrast with its bright orange coloring to the numerous white facades of the town of Oia. Pro tip: go there very early in the morning. Otherwise the town is crawling with people and you will have to stand in line to get a great shot.
During my first visit there, some of the surrounding estates a bit up the hill had beautiful pink flowers planted on their terraces. This made for a stunning contrast with the orange houses. Make sure to check the surroundings, especially above, to get in a truly unique shot.
Red Beach – Kokkini Paralia in Akrotiri
The Red Beach nearby the village Akrotiri is famous for its red-hued volcanic sand and is an amazing backdrop for a unique Santorini Instagram picture. Even better than taking the pictures on the beach is taking them from afar on a Catamaran Cruise.
The beach itself is nestled in between high, red-hued cliffs, which make the pictures even more stunning. Sadly, it can get very crowded on the beach itself. So taking the picture from a distance is probably a safe bet.
Fira to Imerovigli hike – surprise Instagram Photo spots Santorini
Try to venture out on your own and hike the 2 km long path from the capital city of Fira to Imerovigli alongside the Caldera. You will discover plenty of great viewpoints that are worth a picture.
The hike will take you about 30 mins. Additionally, you can include the Rock of Skaros for an impressive backdrop for your pictures. The walk is lined with cobblestones and can be very uneven at times. So walking in high heels is not a great option.
The big hikers amongst us can continue the walk all the way to the village of Oia. This walk is roughly 10 km long and very tranquil since not many people embark on this journey.
This hike will probably produce the most unique pictures since everyone’s attention is being grabbed by different places and spots. Make sure to keep your eye open for the most amazing Instagram photo spots in Santorini.
Best sunset Instagram photo spots in Santorini
If you want to take great sunset shots cliff-side I can only recommend getting a hotel room with a private terrace. It is nearly impossible to take a great shot from the public streets. Unless you book a very expensive hotel room, your terrace will most likely be very close to the public walking path. Therefore they feel less private.
A good option is to split your stay and spend only one or two nights in Oia for the spectacle. Then retreat to a more private and tranquil (and less overpriced) spot somewhere else on the island.
If you want to avoid the steep prices of Oia altogether, try the area of Megalochori on the cliff. From there you have a stunning view of the sunset over the Caldera.
Instagram-photo tips along the way
Make sure to shoot during morning or evening hours. The light during the day can be pretty harsh and will most likely produce dark shadows on your face.
Not only the lights but also the wind is pretty harsh in Santorini. In order to avoid a messy chaos on your head, style your hair in a windproof way.
Try to bring a second, more comfy pair of shoes on your shoot. While high heels look nice in pictures, all the cobblestone roads will kill your feet. Thank me later!
Lastly, do not try to climb on private property. A lot of the famous pictures on Instagram were taken on top of churches or private property. I do not condone that and find it very disrespectful towards the locals. There is plenty of beautiful Instagram photo spots in Santorini that do not involve trespassing.
If you really do want the exact same picture as seen on Instagram, try either booking a hotel or AirBnB with access. Or book a Photoshoot with a local photographer, they usually also have access to some private shooting points.
If you are looking for the famous Santorini flying dress photo shoots, you can book them here.
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