Ancient Thera is Santorini’s dramatic clifftop classical city, perched on the rocky ridge of Mesa Vouno between Kamari and Perissa, with temples, an agora, Roman houses and breathtaking views. It is the island’s second great archaeological site after Akrotiri. This guide covers the history, what to see, tickets and how to visit.
Ancient Thera is a spectacular and lesser-visited sight in the wider Santorini travel guide. It crowns the headland on the south-east coast. The sections below cover the site.
What is Ancient Thera?
Ancient Thera is the ruined classical and Roman city of Santorini, set high on the rocky headland of Mesa Vouno between Kamari and Perissa. The island’s second most important archaeological site after Akrotiri, it spreads along a dramatic ridge with sweeping views over the south-east coast.
Ancient Thera is the great hilltop city of Santorini. Occupying the long, rocky spine of Mesa Vouno, which rises sheer between the black-sand beaches of Kamari and Perissa, it was the island’s main settlement in classical times, quite distinct from the much older Bronze Age Akrotiri. After Akrotiri, it is the most important archaeological site on the island, an extensive ancient town strung along a windswept ridge some 350 metres above the sea, with spectacular views in every direction that make the visit as much about the setting as the stones, set within the wider things to do in Santorini. Its history spans a thousand years.
What is its history?
Ancient Thera was founded by Dorian Greek colonists in the 9th century BC and inhabited into the Byzantine period. The island and city take their name from the Dorian leader Theras. The visible ruins date mainly to the Hellenistic and Roman eras, excavated by German archaeologists from 1896.
The city’s story stretches across a millennium. It was first settled by Dorian Greek colonists in the 9th century BC, and both the city and the island, Thera, were named after their leader, Theras. From this hilltop the Dorians and their successors governed the island, and the settlement remained inhabited through the Hellenistic, Roman and into the early Byzantine period before being abandoned. The site was uncovered in large excavations between 1896 and by the German archaeologist Friedrich Hiller von Gaertringen, with later work in the 20th century, and most of the ruins you see today belong to its prosperous Hellenistic and Roman phases, set out alongside the guide to Akrotiri, the older site. There is much to explore.
What can you see at Ancient Thera?
At Ancient Thera you can see open-air sanctuaries and temples, the agora or marketplace, public buildings, private houses, a theatre and a well-planned road network with drainage, all spread along the ridge. Greek and English signs explain the ruins, and the coastal views are stunning.
The site rewards a wander along its ancient main street. Stretching the length of the ridge, the city reveals open-air sanctuaries and temples to the gods, the agora that was its commercial and civic heart, public buildings, gymnasia and a small theatre carved to face the sea, along with the foundations of private houses and a sophisticated network of paved roads and drainage. Well-written descriptions in Greek and English throughout help bring the ruins to life. Throughout, the position is breathtaking, with the black beaches of Kamari and Perissa far below and the Aegean stretching to the horizon, set out alongside the guides to Kamari and Perissa. Practical details are simple.
What are the tickets and hours?
Entry to Ancient Thera is around 6 euros, or 3 reduced, with a 15-euro combined ticket also covering Akrotiri and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, valid three days. It opens Thursday to Tuesday, roughly 8.30am to 3.30pm, year-round, so check the day and go early to beat the heat.
Visiting is inexpensive and easy to plan. A standard ticket costs around 6 euros, with a reduced rate of about 3, while a combined ticket of roughly 15 euros, valid for three days, also admits you to Akrotiri and the Prehistoric Thera museum in Fira, excellent value for anyone exploring the island’s archaeology. The site is open year-round but, unusually, closes on Wednesdays, opening Thursday to Tuesday from about 8.30am to 3.30pm, so check the day before going. Because the ridge is exposed and shadeless, an early start avoids the worst of the midday heat, set out alongside the guide to the best time to visit Santorini. Getting up there takes some effort.
How do you get to Ancient Thera?
You reach Ancient Thera by car up the winding road from Kamari, or on foot by a steep trail from Kamari or Perissa taking about an hour, or from the Prophet Elias monastery. There is no bus to the top, so a car, quad or a guided tour is the easiest way, with parking near the entrance.
Reaching the hilltop city is part of the adventure. By car or quad, a steep, winding road climbs from Kamari village to a car park near the entrance, the easiest option. On foot, energetic walkers can hike up a zig-zag trail from Kamari or a steeper path from Perissa, each taking around an hour to an hour and a half in the heat, or follow the trekking route from the Prophet Elias monastery on the island’s highest peak. There is no public bus to the summit, so a hire car, quad or an organised tour is the practical choice. Sturdy shoes, water and sun protection are essential whichever way you go, set out alongside the guides to a Santorini quad rental and getting around. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ancient Thera in Santorini?
Ancient Thera is the ruined classical and Roman city of Santorini, set high on the rocky ridge of Mesa Vouno between Kamari and Perissa. Founded by Dorian colonists in the 9th century BC, it is the island’s second most important archaeological site after Akrotiri.
How do you get to Ancient Thera?
You reach Ancient Thera by car or quad up the winding road from Kamari to a car park near the entrance, or on foot by a steep hour-long trail from Kamari or Perissa. There is no bus to the top, so a car, quad or guided tour is the easiest way to visit.
How much does Ancient Thera cost?
Entry to Ancient Thera is around 6 euros, or 3 reduced, with a 15-euro combined ticket also covering Akrotiri and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera over three days. It opens Thursday to Tuesday, roughly 8.30am to 3.30pm, and closes on Wednesdays.