Akrotiri village on Santorini with the caldera cliffs behind

Heritage · Akrotiri, Santorini (South Aegean)

Akrotiri, Santorini

Bronze Age town buried by Santorini's great eruption, preserved under a modern shelter

Ambient sound · similar settingA tree full of cicadas on a Greek summer day

Photo: Κλέαρχος Π. Καπούτσης / Wikimedia Commons, Attribution

Discover Akrotiri, Santorini

Akrotiri is one of the most remarkable prehistoric settlements in the Aegean: a Bronze Age town that was buried by volcanic ash and, as a result, survives with its streets, squares and multi-storey houses still standing. Walking the raised routes beneath the modern bioclimatic shelter, you look down into lanes with drains, doorways and stairways, and storerooms where large jars remain in place.

The site lies near the modern village of Akrotiri on Santorini's south-western peninsula. Around 1.2 hectares have been excavated so far, revealing more than 30 buildings, yet this is only part of the ancient town. The famous wall paintings found here, with their swallows, lilies and ships, are now displayed mainly in the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira and the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, so a visit to both the site and the Fira museum gives the fullest picture.

Don’t miss

01Raised walkways through excavated streets, squares and multi-storey buildings
02Ancient drainage channels running beneath paved lanes
03Storerooms with large clay jars and plaster casts of perished wooden furniture
04Buildings named by excavators, such as the West House and Xesti 3
05The bioclimatic shelter protecting the whole excavated area

History & culture

The story of Akrotiri, Santorini

People lived at Akrotiri from the Late Neolithic period, around 4500 BC. During the Early Cycladic period a fishing and farming village grew into an important maritime settlement, and by the Middle Cycladic period it had become a town. After an earthquake in the mid 17th century BC it was quickly rebuilt, and in its final phase it had grand public and private buildings and trade links with Crete, mainland Greece, the other Cyclades and the eastern Mediterranean. Inscriptions in Linear A connect it with the Minoan world.

At the height of its prosperity another earthquake struck. Residents began repairs, but the volcano erupted soon afterwards, probably at the end of the 17th century BC, and the town disappeared under thick deposits. Because few valuables and no victims' remains have been found in the streets, it is thought the inhabitants had warning to leave. Systematic excavation began in 1967 under Professor Spyridon Marinatos and continues under Professor Christos Doumas for the Archaeological Society at Athens.

Local life & traditions

The modern village of Akrotiri is a small farming community on the island's south-western tip, with vineyards and fields on the volcanic soil. Finds from the ancient town are shown in museums on the island and in Athens, and the site is a major source of knowledge about everyday life in the Bronze Age Aegean. Excavation work remains active, so parts of the site may be fenced off as archaeologists continue their research.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Allow one to two hours to follow the marked route around the site, pausing at the viewing points to look into the houses and storerooms. Reading up beforehand, or joining a licensed guide, helps bring the buildings to life, since most finds and frescoes are displayed elsewhere. The shelter keeps off direct sun, but it can still be warm inside on summer afternoons.

Combine the visit with the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira, where wall paintings and objects from Akrotiri are shown. Nearby, the path to Red Beach, with its rust-coloured cliffs, and the Akrotiri lighthouse at the end of the peninsula, a quieter sunset spot, make the south-west of the island a good half-day outing.

When to go

The site is covered, so it can be visited in any season, but spring and autumn bring milder temperatures and fewer tour groups. In summer, arrive at opening time to avoid the busiest late-morning period and the heat on the approach. Winter hours are shorter and the site is closed on Tuesdays from November to March, so check the published timetable before travelling.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Managing authority: Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades, Hellenic Ministry of Culture; excavation under the auspices of the Archaeological Society at Athens. Source: cyclades.culture.gov.gr ↗
Opening hours, summer (1 April–31 October 2026, as published): Mon and Thu 08:30–15:30; Tue, Wed and Fri–Sun 08:00–18:00 (longer hours in September and early October). From 16–31 October: Tue, Wed, Fri–Sun 08:00–18:00, last entry 17:40. Source: cyclades.culture.gov.gr ↗
Opening hours, winter (1 November–31 March, as published): Mon and Wed–Sun 08:30–15:30; closed Tuesday; last admission 20 minutes before closing. Source: cyclades.culture.gov.gr ↗
Admission (as published, Oct 2026): Full €20, reduced €10. Source: cyclades.culture.gov.gr ↗
Where the frescoes are: Wall paintings from Xesti 3 and the West House are displayed at the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira; the Spring Fresco is at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Source: cyclades.culture.gov.gr ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Visit Akrotiri together with the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira to see the frescoes found here.
Arrive at opening time in summer to beat tour groups and heat.
Wear comfortable shoes; there are ramps and some uneven surfaces along the route.
Bring water and a hat for the walk from the car park and for nearby Red Beach.
Treat the walkways as one-way where marked and do not lean on railings over the excavations.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Akrotiri, Santorini: food, markets & places to stay

Akrotiri is on the south-western peninsula of Santorini, a short drive or bus ride from Fira. Red Beach lies just beyond the site and is reached on foot along a rough path; check for any closure notices because of rockfall risk. The Akrotiri lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula is a popular sunset spot. Small tavernas line the coast below the site, and accommodation is mostly in Fira, the caldera villages or the beach villages on the east coast.