Pyrgos

At a glance: Central Santorini, around 6 kilometres from Fira and 5 kilometres from the airport and Athinios port alike. The highest village on the island, built around a Venetian castle from the 16th century. Best suited to travellers who want medieval streets, wide views and a genuinely quiet alternative to the caldera towns.

Is Pyrgos worth visiting

Pyrgos, also known locally as Pyrgos Kallistis, is the highest settlement on Santorini and one of its best preserved. Rather than caldera front bars, it offers a maze of narrow stone lanes climbing towards a 16th century Venetian castle, with churches, old mansions and archways at almost every turn. It has none of the crowds of Fira or Oia, and the walk up through the village to the ruined tower at its centre rewards visitors with views over most of the island. It suits travellers who want history and quiet over sunset bars, with easy access back to the busier towns when needed.

Highlights

• The Kasteli castle, built around 1580 under Venetian rule, with narrow multi level houses and churches still lining its walls
• The Goulas tower at the castle’s centre, once used as both a lookout and a storehouse
• The Church of Eisodion of Theotokou, at the castle’s highest point, built in 1660 to 1661
• Franco’s Cafe, a long running bar known for sunset views and live music from its terrace
• The climb up towards Profitis Ilias, the island’s highest peak, with the monastery visible from the village

A castle village built to be defended

Pyrgos grew up around the Kasteli, one of five fortified settlements the Venetians built across Santorini to defend against pirate raids. Its design mirrors the more famous Skaros fortress at Imerovigli, with tall, closely packed houses and churches forming a defensive ring, and the Goulas tower rising at the centre as both a watchpoint and a warehouse. Inside the walls, the Church of Theotokaki dates back as far as the 10th century, while the Church of Eisodion of Theotokou, built in the 1660s at the highest point of the castle, still hosts the island’s most important Good Friday service. During the 18th and 19th centuries Pyrgos was one of Santorini’s main trading and administrative centres, a status the surviving mansions and churches still reflect today.

Where Pyrgos is

Getting to Pyrgos

From Fira: Pyrgos is about 6 kilometres away, around 10 minutes by taxi or car.

From the airport: Around 5.5 kilometres, roughly 12 minutes by taxi.

From Athinios port: Around 5.3 kilometres, roughly 13 minutes by taxi.

Getting around once there: See getting around Santorini, Santorini taxi and the Santorini bus timetable for onward travel around the island.

Arriving on Santorini: For ferry routes and flight options to the island itself, start with how to get to Santorini.

Where to eat

Pyrgos mixes simple, family run tavernas with a handful of more polished restaurants, all within a short walk of each other in the old village. Franco’s Cafe is the best known spot for a sunset drink, with a wide terrace looking out over the island rather than the caldera.

Where to stay

Pyrgos suits travellers who want a quiet, traditional base with the rest of Santorini still within easy reach, and choice here leans towards small guesthouses and converted cave houses rather than large resorts. For a private villa with a pool elsewhere on Santorini, see Santorini villas with a private pool.

Beaches near Pyrgos

Kamari Beach is around 5 kilometres away, the closest beach to the village. Perissa Beach is about 9 kilometres away, both on the island’s black sand east coast.

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn suit Pyrgos well, with cooler temperatures for the climb up through the castle. Good Friday is a particularly striking time to visit, when the entire village is lit with thousands of lanterns and candles for the evening procession through the medieval streets, one of the most impressive Easter celebrations in the Cyclades.