The Santorini windmills, most famously the white round mills of Oia, were 18th and 19th-century grain mills powered by the island’s strong meltemi wind, now restored as iconic photo landmarks and unusual places to stay. This guide covers what they are, the history, where to see them and tips for visiting.
The windmills are a much-loved sight of the wider Santorini travel guide. They crown the villages. The sections below cover the windmills.
What are the Santorini windmills?
The Santorini windmills are traditional whitewashed, round stone mills with conical roofs, built to grind grain into flour using the island’s powerful winds. The most famous stand at the northern tip of Oia, where they frame the village against the caldera, with others at Emporio and across the island.
The windmills are among Santorini’s most photographed landmarks. They are classic Cycladic mills, cylindrical whitewashed towers capped by a conical wooden roof that once carried cloth sails, built to harness the wind for grinding the island’s grain into flour. The best known stand at the northern edge of Oia, where two restored white mills crown the village and appear in countless photographs against the blue caldera, but they are not unique to Oia: clusters survive at Emporio in the south and singly across the island. Picturesque and evocative, they recall an age before electricity when wind power fed the islanders, set within the wider Oia. Their history runs deep.
What is the history of the windmills?
Windmills were used on Santorini from the late medieval period, with most surviving examples built between the 17th and 19th centuries to grind grain into flour. Around 60 to 70 mills once operated, powered by the meltemi wind and often tied to local bakeries, before industrial milling made them obsolete.
The windmills tell the story of the island’s farming past. Some studies suggest wind-powered mills existed on the island as far back as the 1300s, though none of those earliest structures survive, and most of the mills still standing date from the 17th to the 19th centuries. At their height some 60 to 70 windmills operated across the island, an essential part of the agricultural economy, grinding the local barley and wheat into flour, frequently connected to village bakeries. They were driven by the meltemi, the strong northerly wind that blows almost year-round, providing free, reliable power. As industrial milling spread in the 20th century, the windmills gradually fell out of use, set out alongside the guide to Santorini history. They survive in several spots.
Where can you see the windmills?
You can see the most famous windmills at the northern tip of Oia, near the castle and the start of the sunset path, and a cluster of well-preserved mills at Emporio in the south. Single windmills also stand around the island, several now converted into holiday homes and studios.
The windmills are scattered but easy to find. The iconic pair sits at the far northern end of Oia, beyond the castle of Agios Nikolaos near where the sunset crowds gather, framing the village and caldera in the classic view. In the south, the large village of Emporio has a fine row of windmills lined up on a low ridge above the houses, less visited but very photogenic in the late light. Beyond these, individual mills dot the island in villages and on hilltops, and a number have been lovingly restored and converted into distinctive holiday rentals, so you can even stay inside a piece of the island’s history, set out alongside the guides to Emporio and the villages. A few tips help.
What tips help for visiting?
The tips are to photograph the Oia windmills early in the morning or at golden hour to avoid the crowds and catch the best light, to combine the Emporio mills with exploring its old quarter, and to consider staying in a converted windmill for a unique experience. Mind the crowds at the Oia sunset.
A little timing improves a windmill visit. The Oia mills sit right where the famous sunset crowds gather, so for clean photos and soft light, come early in the morning when the lanes are quiet, or at golden hour before the throng builds, rather than the packed minutes around sunset itself. The Emporio windmills are far quieter and pair beautifully with a wander through that village’s atmospheric medieval kastro and maze of lanes. For something special, several converted windmills are available to rent, offering a memorable night inside a round, thick-walled tower with a view. Wherever you go, the white mills against the blue make irresistible photographs, set out alongside the guides to the sunset and a Santorini photoshoot. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Santorini windmills?
The Santorini windmills are traditional whitewashed round stone mills with conical roofs, built to grind grain into flour using the island’s strong winds. The most famous stand at the northern tip of Oia, framing the village against the caldera, with others at Emporio and across the island.
Where are the windmills in Santorini?
The most famous windmills are at the northern tip of Oia, near the castle and the sunset path, with a fine cluster at Emporio in the south. Single windmills stand around the island, several now converted into holiday homes, so you can even stay inside a restored mill.
Why does Santorini have windmills?
Santorini has windmills because they ground the island’s grain into flour, harnessing the powerful meltemi wind that blows almost year-round. Around 60 to 70 mills once operated, mostly built between the 17th and 19th centuries and often tied to bakeries, before industrial milling made them obsolete.