10 Things to Do in Santorini in April

Even in low season in Santorini, you can still do many activities on the island, considering that during this month there are important festivities such as the Orthodox Easter, the resurrection of Lazarus and the feast of St. George.

Each of these activities will give you the opportunity to live a unique cultural experience, which will also help you to learn more about the way of life of the island's inhabitants, their thoughts and beliefs. I assure you that in April, when the high season starts to come in, you will be able to enjoy some of the best things to see and do in Santorini.

The Feast of St George is a very significant celebration in Santorini, as well as in many parts of the world, which takes place every 23rd April.

The feast pays homage to a brave Roman soldier named St George, who was martyred and beheaded in 303 after he converted to Christianity and refused to worship the pagan gods. Over time, St George was venerated as a saint and his feast day became established worldwide in honour of his struggle and bravery.

In Santorini, the Feast of St George is celebrated with various activities you can take part in, such as religious processions in his honour or festivals full of traditional music and dance. All in all, it is a very popular tradition in the city and you will definitely want to take part or at least attend as a spectator. It is also a good time to meet and share with the locals, while getting to know their traditions and festivities. And the procession in particular is a great time to take a tour of Santorini.

Interesting details

• Price: There is no charge to enjoy these traditional festivities in Santorini.
• Time: The processions and other activities take place in the mornings. The festivities usually last for about a week.
• Location: Fira and Oia are the towns chosen to venerate the saint.

The month of April is of great importance to Greek culture due to the celebration of Easter. During this week, Greeks honour their traditions with fervour, especially on Good Friday, which is a very significant celebration in the most traditional towns and villages and Santorini does not escape from these celebrations, so you can find events or religious ceremonies dedicated to this festivity.

One of the activities that will definitely catch your attention are the religious processions that fill the streets of the villages, just after the most important churches on the island let their bells ring. In fact, if you're travelling in April and want to do more than just sign up for a Santorini cruise tour, I recommend you take part in these Easter events.

Easter Sunday is the most sacred and significant day on the island because Greeks have the custom of roasting whole lambs and sharing them with family and friends while drinking wine and singing folk songs, so it's a good time to share with the locals.

Also, during this sacred day you'll want to participate in the tradition involving red eggs, which is another common Greek practice. Red-tinted eggs are cracked against each other, and it is believed that the person with the last remaining uncracked egg will have good luck throughout the year.

Details of interest

• Price: Participation in these events is free, so you don't have to pay anything for it.
• Timetable: The processions and masses take place in the morning, while the gastronomic traditions take place in the afternoons.
• Location: Every village on Santorini joins in the tradition.

World Heritage Day in Greece is celebrated on the third Sunday of April and consists of a series of cultural events organised by UNESCO to promote the importance of world heritage preservation and awareness of cultural diversity around the world.

During this day, you can find different educational activities, visits to historical and cultural sites, and special events to attend throughout Greece. This celebration is certainly an opportunity for you to learn about the rich history and culture of Greece.

Of course this celebration also extends to Santorini, where the opportunity is also taken to pay homage to the national culture and heritage. One of the places I recommend you visit on this day especially, or even if you are travelling to Santorini in winter or at any other time of the year, is the archaeological complex of Akrotiri, which is an ancient city very close to Santorini's current capital, Fira, and which was covered in ash during a voracious volcanic eruption.

Details of interest

• Price: You don't have to pay anything to enjoy these events, they are free of charge.
• Time: This celebration takes place every year on the third Sunday in April.
• Location: These activities take place all over the island, although there are specific sites I recommend you visit, such as the archaeological complex of Akrotiri.

If you are travelling to Santorini in April, you can't miss the opportunity to visit Perissa beach, a stunning black sand beach that is considered one of the most popular places to visit in Santorini.

Although the tourist season is not yet at its peak in this month, Perissa still receives a lot of young visitors who come to enjoy its festive atmosphere, so if you are looking for a party and good atmosphere, this is the place to visit.

Around the beach you'll find plenty of bars and restaurants, making it the perfect place to enjoy a day in the sun and on the beach. In addition to the atmosphere, Perissa offers a wide variety of entertainment options such as water sports and sun loungers and umbrellas for rent. This beach is one of the best options if you travel to Santorini in May or April, thanks to its pleasant temperature and fewer tourists.

Interesting details

• Price: Going to Perissa on your own will not have a specific price. In case you want to go on a guided tour, you will have to pay around 50 euros per person.
• Opening hours: You can visit Perissa at any time you want.
• Location: The Black Beach is located in the village of Perissa.

April 28th commemorates the birth of Maria Callas, one of the most prodigious operatic voices of the 20th century, and both Greece and Santorini celebrate her legacy.

During this celebration, you will have the opportunity to rediscover her personality on stage and her invaluable contribution to the revival of opera. Before and after his time, there was a big difference in the world of music, so the Greeks are convinced that today it is important to show the new generation the importance of his legacy and his musical style.

In honour of the preservation of her legacy, year after year in Santorini, a series of concerts are held for locals and visitors in the theatre of the city of Fira, to highlight the work of this opera singer, whose personality was not only noted for her exceptional voice, but also for her dedication and commitment to music.

Details of interest

• Price: prices may vary according to the activities in which you want to participate. Most of the time you will have to pay around 20-30 euros per ticket to enjoy each event such as concerts and opera performances.
• Schedule: Performances to honour the life of this opera singer usually last the whole week. And about the schedule of these events, you have to know that you can go to see the opera during the afternoon and evening.
• Location: the performances to pay tribute to the opera singer are usually held at the Santorini Theatre in Fira.

If you are travelling to Santorini in April, when the high season is approaching, I recommend you check out Firostefani, one of Santorini's most famous villages.

This small village is located right next to Fira and is known for its budget accommodation , which makes it an excellent choice if you are looking for budget accommodation on the island. Firostefani is also world renowned for its iconic Greek Orthodox church with the caldera in the background, a breathtaking view that you can enjoy all day long.

If you stay at any of the hotels in the village, you will have the opportunity to enjoy some of the most spectacular views on the island. You will also be able to visit the town's famous church. As for the temperatures, you should know that in April, they are not yet at their highest, so you can enjoy the pleasant weather all day long.

Interesting details

• Price: to visit Firostefani on your own, you don't have to pay anything, but if you go on a guided tour of Fira and Firostefani, you will have to pay at least 30 euros per ticket.
• Opening hours: You can visit Firostefani at any time you like, although I recommend you start in the morning to get a full tour of the village.
• Location: Firostefani is located just a few metres from Fira.

Megalochori, a small village located just 2 kilometres by car from Pyrgos, is a great place to visit in April if you're embarking on a tour of Santorini's inland tourist spots. Although lesser known than other tourist destinations on the island, Megalochori is an undiscovered gem, with charming whitewashed houses and narrow cobbled streets surrounded by vineyards.

At the entrance to the village you will find a free car park where you can leave your car and continue on foot to explore the town's main tourist attractions, including the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the Folklore Museum and the town's main square.

In April, the weather in Megalochori is pleasant and you can enjoy a more relaxed and less crowded atmosphere than in the more touristy months. April is also a good time to enjoy the vineyards surrounding the town while enjoying wine tastings during your visit.

Interesting details

• Price: To visit Megalochori on your own, you won't have to pay anything, but if you go on a guided tour, you will have to pay just over 50 euros per person.
• Time: I recommend arriving in Megalochori in the early hours of the morning, so that you can enjoy all the options this town has to offer during the day.
• Location: Megalochori is located very close to Fira, so you can drive there in a few minutes.

In several villages of Santorini, a very special custom called "Lazarus" is celebrated on Saturday 8th April. It is a celebration symbolising the Resurrection of Lazarus and is carried out by building a diamond-shaped arch decorated with alismaria and flowers.

The tradition of the "Lazarus" has been kept alive in Santorini for many years, and every year it attracts many locals and visitors, who come together to celebrate the Resurrection and to enjoy the beauty of the arches. It is a unique custom in Santorini that showcases the island's rich culture and traditions, making it one of those events that you can't miss if you visit the island during this month.

During the traditional event, you can watch as locals dance around the decorated arches and share food and drink, creating a festive and enjoyable atmosphere. You will definitely enjoy being present during the celebrations because it is a unique moment to appreciate the local culture and traditions of Santorini.

Interesting details

• Price: There is no fee to participate in these tours.
• Timing: Lazarus Day celebrations usually take place from early morning on 8 April until the end of the day. Although some celebrations can last all week.
• Location: This tour takes place in some villages of Santorini such as Fira, Oia, Megalochori, among others.

April is an ideal time to experience the Rebetiko and Zeibekiko dance which is already a tradition in Santorini. It is a celebration of this musical genre that originated in the 1920s and became popular in the 1930s and 1940s. Rebetiko is closely related to the way of life of lower-class urban Greeks and is often associated with taverns and meeting places.

Zeibekiko, on the other hand, is a dance that is associated with Rebetiko and is performed as a solo improvisation. This dance has been used as a way of expressing sadness and melancholy, and can also be festive and joyful depending on the situation.

But beyond that, during the month of April you will have the opportunity to get to know and enjoy this dance in Santorini, as different shows alluding to this dance are organised. Thanks to this tradition, you will be able to get to know and experience first-hand the passion of the Greek people in their music and culture. Throughout the month, a large number of nightclubs and taverns in Santorini join in this celebration which aims to give a good place to Rebetiko music and the Zeibekiko dance.

Details of interest

• Price: Entrance to the taverns is generally free, but you will have to pay for your consumption inside the taverns and during the time you are enjoying this tradition.
• Hours: These dance celebrations run throughout the month and usually take place in the evenings.
• Location: Bars and taverns all over the island join in the festivities for this dance.

In Greece, 18 April is an important date as it is the feast day of St. Eleutherius, considered one of the country's most important saints. This day is a bank holiday and Greeks honour the saint for his work in the church. Saint Eleutherius was a bishop of the city of Rome in the 2nd century and his courage and dedication to the church are remembered to this day.

On this day, many churches around the country hold celebrations in honour of Saint Eleutherius, where liturgical solemnities are held and a procession is made through the streets, and Santorini does not escape from this reality, so it might seem like a good plan to go and see the colourful procession that takes place in the main streets of Fira, in honour of the saint.

In addition to the processions, you can also take part in the family gathering, as it is common for families to get together to enjoy a traditional meal and spend time together. This can be a great opportunity for you not only to get to know the customs and traditions of the island, but also to get to know how the locals think and live.

Details of interest

• Price: you will not have to pay anything to enjoy these celebrations.
• Time: The processions generally take place in the afternoon and late evening of 18 April.
• Location: The celebrations for St. Eleutherius take place mostly in Fira. Less solemnly in other towns of Santorini.