10 Things to Do in Santorini in December

Santorini is a very popular tourist destination in the summer months, but in winter it becomes quieter and less crowded, making December an ideal time to visit the island. During this month you will find a cold and rainy atmosphere, with temperatures hovering around 15ºC during the day and 10ºC at night, so it will be very easy to sign up for some of the best things to see and do in Santorini.

As for places to visit, you should know that many of the most popular tourist sites, such as the black sand beaches and blue-domed churches, will be open, but some restaurants, bars and stores may close during the winter. You should also know that major local events in December include the celebration of Christmas, New Year's Day and Epiphany.

In Santorini Christmas is a highly anticipated event, so the "Christmas Village" of the Santorini Municipal Sports and Culture Organization is one of the biggest attractions for visitors. This place is open every day and the entrance is free for the public, so you can enjoy a variety of attractions for all ages.

Inside the village you can skate on an ice rink to feel the cold of the season. It's a great activity to do after signing up for a tour of Santorini. You can also sign up for amazing activities dedicated to the Christmas celebration such as creative workshops and seasonal activities.

All this takes place in the middle of a magical atmosphere that spreads the illusion that only children experience. You will love to take pictures of the entire space that includes bumper cars, elves' houses, a playground and the carousel. Without a doubt this is a good place to feel the magic of Christmas and let yourself be carried away by the joy of this time of the year.

Details of interest

• Price: the entrance to this event is free, so you will not have to pay anything to enjoy it.
• Hours: the village is open from 16:00 to 22:00 from Monday to Friday. Also on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays it is open from 11:00 to 22:00. This event is usually held from the first week of December to the second week of January.
• Location: the event takes place at the Indoor Gym in Fira, Santorini.

December 6th is a very special day on the Greek island of Santorini, because it is the feast day of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors and fishermen. And speaking of fishermen, if you travel to the island during the first days of December, maybe you can go on a Santorini cruise. During the celebration, processions are held and religious ceremonies take place, followed by playful and festive activities in the village square.

St. Nicholas Day in Santorini is a unique experience if you like to delve into the festivities of the places you visit, because you can get to know the rich and significant local culture. This holiday is an opportunity to learn about the history and traditions of the island, as well as enjoy traditional music and dance. You can also taste the delicious local gastronomy and participate in the general celebration together with the islanders.

Details of interest

• Price: the celebration of St. Nicholas in Santorini is free of charge, so you will not have to pay anything to enter.
• Hours: St. Nicholas Day celebrations are held throughout the day, although they usually take place in the evenings.
• Location: this activity usually takes place in the city of Fira, which is the capital of Santorini.

Some villages like Oia, Fira and Pyrgos not only hold Christmas decorations and special events to celebrate the Christmas holidays, but you can also find in these places, some stores and shops selling traditional sweets and cakes for the Christmas season. It is possible that the offer of establishments and the activity related to Christmas varies from year to year.

Some of the traditional sweets and cakes that you can find in this type of Christmas markets are kourabiedes, which are nothing more than butter cookies with almonds and melomakarona, which is a honey and nut cookie. You can also find local wine and liquor, olives and extra virgin olive oil, handmade ceramic and textile products, jewelry and other gift items.

Details of interest

• Price: you will not have to pay anything to enjoy these Christmas markets.
• Hours: in general these markets operate almost all day long, from approximately 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Location: these markets usually operate in Oia, Fira and Pyrgos.

If you find yourself in Santorini during the Christmas season, you can't miss the events dedicated to children on the island. You can find several shows for the little ones, in fact, one of the most popular is the one entitled "The Elves in the Christmas Factory". Within this event you can enjoy the magic and joy of the Christmas season, with playful and fun elves involved in the creation of toys.

This event usually attracts visitors and locals, but you will also have the opportunity to learn about the festive culture of the island and create lasting memories. During these types of children's Christmas events there are usually games of all kinds, as well as children's plays and musical areas to enjoy the different songs of the season.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay around 30 euros to go to these children's events. Although prices may vary according to the type of event.
• Schedule: these events usually take place throughout the month of December and into January.
• Location: you can enjoy these events in different places of the island, especially in the capital of the island, Fira.

One of the things you can't miss in Santorini during the Christmas season, are the very interesting and fun pastry workshops. A professional chef will teach you the sweet touches, aromas and flavors of seasonal Greek desserts. In this type of pastry workshops you will have the opportunity to learn the best kept secrets to make delicious desserts ideal for the holiday season.

In addition to learning delicious holiday recipes and acquiring pastry skills together with an expert in this area, you will also have the opportunity to enjoy the company of locals who take the opportunity to show you their pride in their culinary culture. This is an activity for you if you consider yourself a food lover and want to learn how to create amazing Christmas desserts.

Details of interest

• Price: to participate in this type of event you will have to pay between 60 and 90 euros per person.
• Schedule: schedules may vary, although generally these pastry workshops take place during the afternoons.
• Location: they usually do this type of workshops in Fira, which is where there is more Christmas activity.

Santorini is an island full of life, and in December, the atmosphere feels even more festive thanks to the events scheduled for the Christmas season, being one of the most fun, the Christmas Sports Workshops.

This is an excellent opportunity to experience winter sports in a warm and beautiful location such as Santorini. Generally these types of workshops are geared towards fitness and teach you tips and techniques to enjoy the season while staying in shape.

This type of workshop teaches you a wide variety of winter sports, including ice skating and snowboarding. In addition, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the Christmas spirit of Santorini, while getting to know the local culture and experience the festive and warm atmosphere that Santorini adopts in winter, especially at Christmas. It is certainly a good way to learn a winter discipline from experienced professionals in this area.

Details of interest

• Price: to participate in this type of workshop you will have to pay around 40 euros per person.
• Schedule: these workshops take place in the afternoons throughout the month of December, although they often start at the end of November.
• Location: the workshops take place in the Fira region, although you can also find these special events in the Pyrgos area.

Another Christmas tradition in Santorini has to do directly with the commitment to the environment, and it is none other than the Recycling Games sponsored by the Greek Ecological Project. During this event you will have the opportunity to learn all about recycling and sustainability in sports. At the event participants are encouraged to use eco-friendly materials and they also usually teach the importance of reducing waste.

If you declare yourself a nature lover and you like to look for ways to take care of the environment through different actions, I recommend you to participate in these recycling games. They are usually games of different disciplines, for example recycling games dedicated to basketball, and in the middle of this game you will not only learn the basics of recycling and how to do it, but you will also have the opportunity to demonstrate your basketball skills.

In addition, the event organizers are offering a variety of activities and workshops for players and spectators, including talks on sustainability in sports and art workshops using recycled materials. In this way, the Eco Recycling Game is a sporting event that not only promotes physical fitness, but also environmental awareness.

Details of interest

• Price: admission is generally free for these games.
• Schedule: the games usually take place during the second week of December, although they may change dates from year to year.
• Location: they usually take place in Fira or Oia, which are the regions with the most activities during the Christmas season.

In Santorini, the Christmas season is one of the most exciting of the year and one of the events that are usually promoted is the Christmas Ornament Making Workshop, which is a fun and entertaining activity that will allow you to develop your creative skills while learning sustainable techniques to create ornaments.

During the workshop you will learn how to create beautiful Christmas ornaments using recycled and eco-friendly materials. But in addition, the sponsors of this event usually offer to the public, a lot of informative talks about how you could participate in protecting the environment and how this relates to the Christmas season.

The best thing about this type of workshop is that it is not only dedicated to adults, but also to children who also want to learn how to create eco-friendly Christmas decorations while caring for the environment.

Details of interest

• Price: to participate in these workshops you will have to pay a little more than 30 euros per person.
• Schedule: generally these workshops are held from the first days of December until the last days of the month.
• Location: they usually have their main location in Fira, which is the capital.

Santorini is an island with a wide variety of activities and events during the Christmas season, and among them is the Traditional and Modern Island Music Evening. This event is an exhibition of the musical richness of the island of Santorini, combining both traditional and modern music. Within this event you will have the opportunity to enjoy a night of live music and experience the authentic musical tradition of the island.

The stage is set for the occasion and local groups offer live performances, creating a festive and enjoyable atmosphere. In addition to the music, you will also have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of sweets and drinks typical of the Christmas season. This evening is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the traditional and modern music of Santorini, and experience the local culture in all its diversity.

Details of interest

• Price: to participate in this evening you will have to pay just over 30 euros per person.
• Hours: as this is an evening, it is usually set up during the early evening hours. Generally it can take place during the second week of December.
• Location: generally these evenings can take place in Fira or in Oia.

During the Christmas season in Santorini, the island's Theater presents an adaptation of Charles Dickens' Christmas tale "Scrooge", produced and directed by Stella Karaberopoulou, which has become a tradition for quite some time now. This show features stunning scenery, live music and a cast of approximately 40 actors, making it a must-see event if you love theater and culture.

The performance of Charles Dickens' "Scrooge" offers audiences an unforgettable experience by taking them through the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his encounters with the ghosts of the past, present and future. Live music and the actors' interpretation bring the play to life to take you inside Dickens' world and narrative.

Details of interest

• Price: going to see the Christmas Carol can cost approximately 20 to 25 euros per person.
• Schedule: this play is presented during the afternoon and evening, generally, although schedules may change date after date. It almost always starts at the end of November until the third week of December.
• Location: this play is presented by the Santorini Theater in the city of Fira, every year.