1. The 3 Blue Domes West
The three blue domes in Oia, Santorini, are a must-see for any photography enthusiast. Located on the northern edge of the village, these traditional Cycladic-style domes are the perfect backdrop for capturing the essence of the island. The striking blue and white color scheme of the domes contrasts beautifully against the deep blue of the Aegean Sea, making for truly breathtaking photos. There is a private path from the west side that leads you to the iconic view of the domes where you can also see the pink bell tower. There is a sign that states photos are allowed on the private property but make sure you are respectful. I recommend waking up early for sunrise photos in this location due to this being such a sought after photo spot.
2. The 3 Blue Domes East
I highly recommend photographing the same 3 domed blue church from the east side path as well. There is a pedestrian path that leads you to the back of the domes and on this side you are able to see stunning blue bell tower. We arrived at this spot very early in the morning and even then had to wait for a few local professional photographers to take their shots here but so worth it. I honestly cannot tell which side I like better.
3. Brown and White Bell Towers
A short distance before you turn down the path that leads you to the three blue domes you’ll find another breathtaking photo location. On Google maps this church is technically called “Kirche des hl Johannes der Täufer.” You can also find it by looking up Aspaki Exclusive Suites as this hotel is right by this location. We also arrived early in the morning for this spot as it was already getting busy by the time the sun was lighting up the city.
4. Blue and White Bell Tower
Located in a park/playground you’ll find the cutest little blue and white chapel. The colors are perfect so be sure to wear your blue dress that I know you packed. The park is right off of the main shopping street and the coordinates from Google Maps are 36.46245, 25.37891. The chapel only has a Greek name so feel free to try to copy and paste Μεταμόρφωσις του Σωτήρος Χρηστού because this little chapel is so worth it.
5. Kastro Oia Houses
Theres a reason you have seen this orange hotel on all of your instagram feeds. It is absolutely stunning and the orange stands out as being very unique against all the white washed buildings. The light blue front door is a dreamy backdrop framed with orange flowers it almost doesn’t even look real.
6. Castle Ruins
The Oia castle ruins offer a stunning and historical backdrop for photography. Perched atop a hill overlooking the Aegean Sea, the ruins of the medieval fortress provide a glimpse into the island’s rich history. The crumbling walls and towers offer a unique contrast against the bright blue sky and sea, making for a truly breathtaking photo opportunity. After photographing the ruins make sure to look over the ledge for the absolute best view of the cliffside and high end hotels. This location becomes extremely busy at sunset but if you can get a spot early it is absolutely breathtaking.
7. Windmills of Oia
There are technically a few antique windmills in Oia but the one we decided to photograph is actually a hotel you can stay in called The Sunset Windmill. There is a public path that runs right next to it. The other windmills are not as accessible if you would like to also be in the photo. Be aware that there is a reason the once active windmills are located where they sit on the island it is very windy up there. We came back to the windmills that night for dinner and ate at Elinikon where we watched the sun set over the windmills. I highly recommend this!
8. Hello Sunshine Door
Located on the path down to Ammoudi Bay and directly across from the Kastro Oia Houses front door you will find another white washed house with a darling bright blue door and cascading pink flowers. Above the door it states “Hello” with a yellow sunshine. You can’t help but smile when walking by this spot especially as it marks that you have finished the 300+ steps up from Ammoudi Bay.
9. Ammoudi Bay
Make sure you wear comfortable shoes as you head down over 300 steps to this next photo location. Ammoudi Bay is surrounded by towering cliffs and is home to a small fishing village. The crystal-clear water of the bay is a deep blue color and is perfect for swimming and admiring as you sip a cocktail at a seaside restaurant. We decided to come back for dinner to eat at Sunset Ammoudi because it is the absolute best spot to watch the sunset in my opinion. The closer I can be to the water the better.
10. Secret Beach
If you crave a little adventure, from the main restaurant area of Ammoudi Bay continue along the cliffside to find the secret beach which is technically called Armonia Beach. The “beach” is actually a rocky area that fair warning you will need to climb. I packed water shoes in my bag. I’m so glad we decided to check it out. The water felt amazing after our long hike down to Ammoudi. If you can muster up the courage you can even swim out to a rock formation and cliff jump. Even if you do not jump I recommend swimming out there to see Santorini from a different perspective.
11. Central Plaza
The Central Plaza is a wide open square that leads you to the Church of Pangia which is one of the most well known blue domed churches in Oia. If you look carefully is it the one most of the gift shop figurines represent. The Central Plaza offers a unique photography perspective since you can capture such a wide space easily while most of the other locations are in tight spaces and require a wide angle lens. As for most of the locations try to arrive earlier in the day before the cruise ships arrive if you want the feeling of having the entire space to yourself.
12. Pathway to the Dome
Of course we had specific things in mind we wanted to capture and see on this trip but we also did a lot of wandering and exploring. One spot we came across while heading to the Church of Agios Nikolaos, another one of the blue domes, offered a beautiful view of the church while surrounded by the orange walls I admired so much. This is a high traffic area so you may have to be patient for your shot or use some photoshop skills.
13. Church of Agios Nikolaos Lookout Point
Once you get to the Church of Agios Nikolaos if you look left the cliffside view is breathtaking. The morning light on the white washed buildings is a sight to see.
14. Yellow Saint Georgios Church
Further east in Oia lies the yellow and blue Saint Georgios Church. There is a large courtyard to walk around and admire but if you walk near the perimeter you’ll find a ledge and an arch which perfectly frames the gorgeous church. This was a less visited area so it was not hard to get the perfect shot.
15. Infinity Pool
One of my favorite parts of our trip and the most peaceful was enjoying the infinity pool at our hotel which looked directly out at the Aegean Sea. If you plan on staying in Oia to be close to the main attractions of Santorini you will notice the prices can be steep. We scoured different hotel sites and came across the Kima Oia Suites which offered everything we wanted in a Santorini hotel at an affordable price. It is a small boutique hotel so if you plan on going during the busy season of June-August make sure to book well in advance. Our trip was in the beginning of September and it was still plenty hot. The cool pool felt amazing after a long day of exploration.
16. Pink Bell Tower Ledge
While most people are crowding around the private entrance to the domes another unique perspective of the famous blue dome and pink bell tower is from a ledge on the west side of the church. A large pink bougainvillea tree peaks out from behind the ledge which makes this location even more magical. The sun was rising directly behind us at the time we were there and I still cannot get over the color of the sky in our photos.
17. Centrally Located Path
As the sun rises from the east the cliffside on the west side of the three blue domes lights up with color. There is a centrally located public path that runs along this cliffside which offers stunning views. This path is very close to the lineup of tourists waiting to see the domes and you can see the line from the path.
18. Path Leading to Ammoudi
I’ve referenced the staircase/path leading to Ammoudi a few times now but if you are like me and a sucker for another picture perfect front door you’ll fall in love with the door on the same side of the path right before you reach the Kastro Oia Houses door. The bougainvillea flowers mixed with the orchids are just perfect.
19. Greek Flag
There is a lot of Greece packed into one photo here. The church is called Ekklisia Agii Anargiri Church and it is located near the windmills on the cliffside. Use a wide angle lens to include a classic Santorini windmill, a blue bell tower, and the Greek flag all in one shot.
20. Private Jacuzzi
Like I mentioned earlier Kima Oia Suites was an amazing boutique hotel and our room included a private jacuzzi as many of the hotels in Oia do. There was nothing like sitting in that jacuzzi with a glass of wine after a long day of exploring. Looking out at the now lit up cliffside and feeling the night breeze. Truly romantic.
21. Path Leading to the Sea
Another spot we found during our sunrise exploration was just inside the gates of Delfini Villas if you are looking to find it. I loved the way the steps were painted a smooth grey and white and how this spot looked directly out to the sea. If you don’t find this one there are so many different opportunities to take a picture like this in Oia. The gates were open at this hotel since it led to the reception but I would still recommend you go at sunrise as to not bother any of the guests staying there.
22. White Dome Sea View
There are so many houses and hotels with a white rounded roofs spanning the cliffside. The trick is finding one that backs up against a path otherwise it may be dangerous to climb up. The stairs/path that leads down to the Kima Oia Suites where we stayed switched back and forth weaving around these rounded rooftops. Sunrise was the perfect time to climb up and take a few quick shots. The light and the sea at this time are spectacular.
23. Cliffside at Night
I highly recommend taking a look out at the cliffside after the sun goes completely down. The entire cliff lights up and it truly looks magical. Honestly any of the above cliffside view spots will do. The photos don’t even do this justice.
24. Terpsi Restaurant
Our breakfast at Terpsi just might have been my favorite part of our entire trip. This restaurant looks directly out above the iconic 3 blue domes. This was my first time to Greece and after dropping off luggage off at the hotel on our first day we headed straight there. I almost started crying as I saw with my own eyes the scene that I had dreamed about for years.
PIN ME:
Fake blonde - Real Memories 
Leave a comment