Oia Photo Spots: 10 Unmissable Locations For Beautiful Shots

Looking for the best Oia photo spots? The charming town is one of the most photogenic places I’ve visited. So to make the most of your trip, this guide covers 10 of my favourite places to capture the perfect shot.

The first time I visited Santorini, it was a whistle stop tour at the end of two weeks island hopping. We were flying home from there, so we did a very quick day trip to Oia. It was crowded and boiling hot, but undeniably beautiful.

I knew I wanted to visit again and take the time to explore it properly, and I’ve just got back from a week relaxing on the island.

Oia is one of the most beautiful places I’ve visited, with its blue-domed churches, cave houses built into the caldera, and charming cobbled streets. So it’s pretty difficult to take a bad picture here.

But, it does get very busy, and I know how overwhelming it can be to be sweaty, fed up, and also trying to find this one spot you saw on Instagram, with no clue where it actually is.

So to help you quickly find the best Oia photo spots, I’ve put together this guide with 10 of my favourites. I’ve also added their Google maps location, and they’re in order of how you’ll come across them as you walk through the town.

*Some links in this post are affiliate links. It won’t make a difference to what you pay, but I may earn a small commission if you purchase something I’ve recommended. I’m really grateful for your trust in my advice, and if I wouldn’t recommend it to a friend, I won’t recommend it to you.

Top tip for getting the best photos in Oia

To capture beautiful shots in Oia, I’d recommend booking a photographer. They know the best places to go, when the lighting will be the nicest in each spot, and how to direct you to get the perfect photo.

It’s very common to see people having professional photos taken in Oia, so you don’t need to worry about looking out of place.

If you’re shooting alone, I’ve made a guide to all of my camera equipment, which includes what camera I use, my lenses, tripod, and all of the accessories I wouldn’t be without!

10 best Oia photo spots

Here’s my 10 favourite Oia photo spots, from the stunning blue domed churches, to the ruins of Oia castle.

1. The Church of Panagia Platsani

Google maps location: 36.4621025,25.3762292

There’s around 70 churches in Oia, but the Church of Panagia Platsani is one of the largest and most beautiful. It’s also one of the first churches you’ll see as you come into Oia, as it’s located in the main square.

The church was originally located inside the walls of Oia castle, but was rebuilt in its new location after it was destroyed in the 1956 earthquake.

The building consists of 5 domes, arched windows, a bell tower and beautiful detailing, and it’s a stunning backdrop for a photo.

Good to know: The square outside the church gets so busy in the day, you can barely move for people. So I really recommend visiting early.

2. Churches of St. Anastasi and St.Spirydon (viewpoint A)

These two churches are next to each other on the edge of the caldera, and they’re one of the best Oia photo spots.

They were built in the 1800s, and are a typical example of Santorinian architecture, with the white buildings and blue domes.

There’s two different viewpoints for getting photos of the churches, but number 2 is definitely my favourite.

Spot A) Google maps location: 36.461278,25.375639

With the Church of Panagia Platsani on your right, follow the main street towards Oia until you see a small church on your left. Turn left down the street in front of it, and then turn right at the end. From here, follow the steps down until you find the perfect place for your photo.

3. Blue domes of St.Anastasi church (viewpoint B)

Spot B) Google maps location: 36.461333, 25.375250

This is probably the most iconic of all the Oia photo spots, and easily my favourite. You’ll get a view of St. Anastasi church and out to sea, and it’s absolutely beautiful.

Although a lot of blog posts mentioned that this spot had a “private property” sign, it wasn’t there when I visited, and you were able to take photos at your leisure.

There was a sign on the wall with a few rules though, mostly that you shouldn’t take longer than 5 minutes so that everyone can take a picture. In general, people stuck to this rule, and I actually didn’t mind having to queue because it meant no one else was in your shot.

We arrived here at about 8:30am, and the queue only took 5 minutes, but I’ve heard that in the middle of the day you can be queuing for over 45 minutes. No thank you!

Good to know: If you’re visiting in the morning, the shade still partially covers the steps, so make sure you walk further down into the sunlight so you get the best lighting.

4. Saint Nicholas church

Google maps location: 36.4610137,25.3740146

Saint Nicholas Church is a beautiful church with a blue dome and stone facade. The cobbled alleyway leading down to it is the perfect photo opportunity – with the blue dome in the background and a view out to sea.

5. Ledge next to Saint Nicholas Church

If you’re standing with Saint Nicholas Church in front of you, look left. There’s a small ledge with incredible views over Oia that makes for a beautiful photo.

It can get a little busy here, as the people queuing for a photo of the ledge will be blocking the view of Saint NIcholas Church, but if you’re there early it shouldn’t be too bad.

6. Kastro House

Google maps location: 36.4606714,25.3731092

Kastro Oia Houses is one of the most iconic Oia photo spots. Its orange facade looks incredible against the whites of the rest of the town. It’s located over by the castle, so it does get busy, but there’s lots of options for different shots, either down by the house, on the stairs next to it, or from the top looking down.

Kastro House is actually apartments, so expect to see people sat out on the balcony.

Good to know: If you’re here early in the morning, the house will be completely in the shade, so I’d actually recommend coming here later in the day. It’s a difficult one to photograph without people in because there’s not a place you can queue, unlike the other spots. So you’ll either need to be very patient or photoshop people out later.

7. Sea viewpoint

I haven’t really seen this location on many lists of the best Oia photo spots. And I only discovered it by accident. We were waiting to photograph Kastro House and happened to turn around and stumble across this viewpoint. It’s directly behind it.

It’s not a popular spot so there was no one here, but I think it’s such a beautiful shot. I’d recommend getting there early in the morning when the boats are still docked, as they really add to the picture.

Also, early in the morning the lighting here is absolutely stunning, I hardly had to edit this picture.

8. View from Oia Castle

Google maps location: 36°27’36.7″N 25°22’22.7″E

Located next to the previous viewpoint, the most popular spot for taking sunset pictures in Oia is at the castle of Agios Nikolaos, which offers incredible views over the town. It does get very busy though, so if you can, book a cave hotel, and watch the sunset from the privacy of your balcony.

The castle dates back to the 15th century, where it acted as a viewpoint to keep a lookout for incoming pirates.

After the 1956 earthquake that devastated Santorini, much of the castle was destroyed, and there is now only the watchtower left.

Its high vantage point means you get incredible views over Oia, in both directions, and the photos are some of my favourites.

9. Doorways and streets

The beauty of Oia is that you don’t need to look very far to find something to photograph. Every street, doorway and building is an opportunity to get a stunning shot.

Some of the best Oia photo spots aren’t on any guide or blog post, so keep your eyes peeled for a new place to discover.

10. A cave hotel

Undoubtedly one of the best Oia photo spots is from the comfort of your own hotel, and for the ultimate Santorini experience, you can’t beat a cave hotel. They’re built into the caldera and offer uninterrupted views over the sea and Oia.

I’d recommend staying just outside of the main town so you can look back on the whole of Oia. Plus, it’s quieter.

We checked into Olvos Luxury Suites, which was without a doubt the best place I’ve ever stayed. It was the perfect place to take pictures, as there’s only 3 bedrooms so we often felt as though we were the only ones there.

Each room has a private hot tub, and there’s also a heated infinity pool with breathtaking views.

Anastasia, the host, couldn’t do enough to make our stay special, and was available on Whatsapp for anything we needed. One night, we had dinner on our balcony, made by a local cookery school, and it was my favourite meal of the trip.

Top tips for taking pictures in Oia

1. Visit early in the morning – I can not stress this point enough, Oia gets so busy and hot in the middle of the day, that it becomes really unenjoyable to try and take pictures. There’s queues for most picture spots, and by midday they can be over 50 minutes long. We got up early and had all of our photos done in an hour, leaving the rest of the day free to enjoy.
2. Don’t climb on churches and rooftops – There’s lots of signs telling you not to do this, and I’d have thought it’s just common sense, but be respectful of people’s privacy.
3. Be quick – There’s lots of signs telling you to take no longer than 5 minutes, and it’s best to stick to it. There’s nothing more frustrating than waiting to take a picture and the person in front of you is having a full photoshoot. This happened to me a couple of times and it’s very annoying.
4. Get a tripod – If you’re travelling solo, pack a tripod so you don’t need to rely on anyone else to get the shot you want. This way, you can set up the framing exactly how you’d like it. I have this one for my camera and I love it. It’s sturdy so I know it won’t fall over and break my camera, and it’s easy to set up quickly.

Where to stay in Oia

If you’re looking for somewhere beautiful to stay in Oia, here’s 3 of my top picks:

Oia photo spots: FAQs

1. Is Oia prettier than Fira?

In my opinion, Oia is much prettier than Fira. With its charming cobbled streets, white cave houses built into the caldera, and blue domed churches, it’s like something out of a fairytale. If you’re looking to take pictures in Santorini, head to Oia.

2. Where can I take sunset pictures in Oia?

The most popular spot for taking sunset pictures in Oia is at the castle of Agios Nikolaos, which offers incredible views over the town. It does get very busy though, so if you can, book a cave hotel, and watch the sunset from the privacy of your balcony.

3. Is Oia walkable?

Yes, Oia is very walkable. It’s actually quite a small town and you won’t need very long there to feel as though you’ve seen it all. Public transport will drop you just outside the town, and then you’re free to explore at your own leisure.

4. What time does Oia get busy?

As Oia is such a beautiful location, it gets busy early, but mostly with photographers. We arrived at 8:30am and there were already quite a few people out taking pictures. By the time we left at 10:30am, the streets were packed.

5. Where is the most scenic spot in Oia?

It’s not hard to find a scenic spot in Oia, the views over the caldera from every corner are simply breathtaking. The view over the Churches of St. Anastasi and St.Spirydon are one of my favourites, and you can’t beat seeing Oia from the castle ruins.

Oia photo spots: the wrap up

Finding the best Oia photo spots isn’t a hard task, seeing as every part of this charming town is stunning.

From blue domed churches, to sunset views across the caldera, there’s a photo opportunity waiting around every corner.

It really is one of the most magical places I’ve visited, and I hope this guide helps you find some of my favourite spots on your trip!