With so many free things to do in Santorini , who would want to plan a day trip away from the island? I surely would and there are plenty more tourists who think like me. No matter how beautiful a place is or how many things you can do there, you’ll want to explore the near-by places.

There are some superb islands located close to Santorini and which can be easily explored during a day trip.

Here are some ideas for your itchy travel feet:

Ios

Ios is, by far, the best option for a day trip from Santorini. It is home to some of the best beaches in Europe and it also rivals with Mykonos and terms of nightlife. Don’t forget to visit the Old Castle and maybe make some time for the Archeological Museum, as well.

There are daily connections between Santorini and Ios. On the high speed ferry operated by Hellenic Seaways, the economy non smoking ticket is €17.50 one way. On the ferry operated by SeaJets, the economy non smoking ticket is €17.40 one way.

>>read more about Ferries from Santorini to Ios

Anafi

Anafi is a quite, unspoiled island in the Cyclades, a world away from Santorini, Naxos, Mykonos or Ios. It’s an excellent choice for a day trip if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Santorini. Visit Kastelli, an ancient settlement located on the way to the Monastery Zoodchou Pigis. There are numerous walking path to tackle and the beaches are excellent, too.

There is a ferry between the two islands on Mon, Tue, Wed and Sat. It takes 1h 30 min and a single adult ticket is €7 (deck), while the airplane type of seat is €9 one way.

Crete

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and definitely impossible to tackle during a day trip. But, you can plan to explore Heraklion. A visit at the Archeological Museum is definitely worth it, as it holds the remains of the 3000-year old Minoan civilization. Also, visit the Palace of Knossos and, if you still have some time left, don’t forget the Venetian fortress.

There is a daily ferry connecting Santorini to Crete and it takes 1h 40 min. On the ferry operated by the Hellenic SeaWays, a single economy non smoking ticket is €51, while on the ferry operated by SeaJets, the ticket is €49.50.

>>read more about Ferries from Santorini to Crete

Naxos

Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades, particularly known for its fertile lands. The most important landmark on the island is Portara, an iconic 6th century BC marble gate, which used to be part of the temple of Apollo. Don’t miss visiting the Old Walled City, which offers some spectacular views of the harbor. Naxos is also a popular island for those looking to try windsurfing, kite surfing and diving.

There are several daily connections between Santorini and Naxos. The high speed ferry takes 1h 25 min. and the economy non smoking ticket is €42 one way (SeaJets). The slow (regular) ferry takes 2h 10 min and an economy class ticket costs €18 per person (Blue Star Ferries).

>>read more about Ferries from Santorini to Naxos

Paros

Paros is located close to Naxos and is third in popularity after Mykonos and Santorini. So, do expect it to be busy, especially during the tourist season. Explore the fishing villages, taste the excellent food and don’t forget to visit Panagia Ekatontapiliani, the church of 100 doors. The island boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the Cyclades, so make sure to soak up some sun while you are here.

There are daily connections between Santorini and Paros and the journey takes 1h 45 min (high speed ferry). The ticket costs €44.50 for an adult, one way on the high speed ferry (Hellenic SeaWays). For a cheaper alternative, take the slow ferry (3h 10 min) and pay only €19 for an adult in the economy class, one way (Blue Star Ferries).

Read more about:
>> Ferries from Santorini to Paros
>> Paros Beaches

Mykonos

Mykonos can easily rival with Santorini in terms of popularity, so it only makes sense to take a day trip and explore some of what it has to offer. Take a stroll in “Little Venice” and say “Kalimera” to Petros the Pelican. The beaches are also worth checking out, especially since you can party during the day, as well.

There are daily ferries between the two islands and the travel time is 2h 35 minutes. On the SeaJets ferry, the economy non smoking ticket is €52.40, while on the Hellenic SeaWays ferry, the same type of ticket costs €52.50.

>>read more about Ferries from Santorini to Mykonos

Photo credit

Ios by GeorgeV6v24 on YouTube ; Anafi by Eleftheria G on Flickr ; Crete by Strange Ones on Flickr ; Paros by Loic Pinseel on Flickr ; Naxos by web4camguy on Flickr ; Mykonos by Apel.les on Flickr

Note: the article was first published in August 2011 and the prices have been updated as of August 2012.