Santorini is infamous for its breathtaking sunsets and rich historical importance. If you’re considering visiting the lighthouse at Akrotiri then you’re in for a treat as you’ll get the best of both these worlds.
Visiting the Santorini lighthouse offers majestic views overlooking the Aegean Sea which is only amplified by a gorgeous sunset.
In this article we will get into the details of the Akrotiri Lighthouse, its history and how to get there.
The History of Akrotiri Lighthouse
As one of the oldest lighthouses in Greece, little is known about its build. However, we do know that it was built in 1892 by a French company.
Later, in 1945, it was recommissioned by the Greek Navy after it had been switched off in World War II.
It used to be fueled by petrol but in recent years, has shifted to automatic sources. The light from the lighthouse flashes almost every 10 seconds onto the sea.
There is a small building beneath the lighthouse which used to be for the warden but is now empty.
Today, the lighthouse stands a mighty 10 meters tall with automatic controls. The public doesn’t have access to the lighthouse itself but you can wander around the grounds nearby.
How Do You Get To The Lighthouse in Santorini
The Akrotiri Lighthouse is located near Akrotiri village (famed for the Akrotiri Frescoes discovered here), which is found on the most south western tip of the island of Santorini.
The lighthouse is only 5km from the main village of Akrotiri but you can not reach it by bus. The bus from Fira drops its passengers off at the center of Akrotiri village and doesn’t go any further.
So, to actually get to the lighthouse, you only have a couple of options. You can either take a car or taxi to drive up there from Fira which will only take half an hour.
Alternatively, you can hike from the village to the lighthouse. There is a distance of 5km between the two so you can estimate this to take around 1 to 1.5hrs depending on your fitness.
If you haven’t yet considered Akrotiri village as a place to stay, we can wholeheartedly recommend it!
See our list of the 15 best hotels in Akrotiri.
What To Do at The Akrotiri Lighthouse
At this point, you may be asking yourself if it’s even worth visiting this place.
While it’s not possible to go to every tourist spot on your trip, if you’re coming to Akrotiri, then going to the lighthouse should be on your list of things to do in Akrotiri.
As mentioned, you will possibly see one of the best sunsets in your life. But even if you do not go at the time of dusk, it still offers a beautiful view.
You will also, undoubtedly, get some great pictures from this view and as it’s a little more difficult to get to than the other main attractions, it’s likely to have much less tourists.
Furthermore, there are taverns that serve delicious seafood and other varieties that you can visit while you’re there.
What More is at Akrotiri
If you’re only coming to Akrotiri for the lighthouse then it’s a missed opportunity. There’s a lot more that this village has to offer.
You can visit the Akrotiri Archaeological Site which has one of the best excavations preserved. Only about 30% of Akrotiri has been excavated and it’s still an insightful experience.
The ruins at Akrotiri display Minoan culture and civilization as they were the last ones present before the volcanic eruption of around 1611. Akrotiri was buried under ash until 1967.
You can also visit one of the many Akrotiri beaches to finish off your experience in this village. Red Beach is the most popular as it’s quite unique but you can pick any of the lesser-known ones too that we’ve mentioned in our list and its quite quick and easy to get from Akrotiri to red beach.
—-
If you liked this article, you may enjoy reading other ones about Santorini on our blog.
Happy reading and traveling!