Sunset in Fira, Santorini
Digital Nomad FAQ’s
Is Santorini, Greece a good city for digital nomads?
Yes, Santorini, Greece, can be a beautiful but somewhat challenging location for digital nomads due to its stunning scenery, limited coworking spaces, and seasonal tourist demands.
How is the internet connectivity and speed in Santorini?
the internet connectivity and speed in Santorini, Greece, varied depending on the specific location and service provider. In general, larger towns and tourist areas tend to have better internet infrastructure than more remote parts of the island. However, the overall quality of internet service might not be as high as in some urban or more developed areas.
It’s advisable to check with your accommodation provider or potential co-working spaces for information on the internet speed and reliability at their specific location. Some hotels and cafes may offer free Wi-Fi, but the speed can vary.
Is it easy to meet people and make friends in Santorini?
Meeting people and making friends in Santorini, like in many tourist destinations, can depend on various factors such as the time of year, the type of activities you engage in, and your approach to socializing. Here are some considerations:
- Tourist Season: Santorini experiences a significant influx of tourists, especially during the summer months. Many people come for a short stay, making it easier to meet fellow travelers. However, this can also mean a more transient social environment.
- Local Community: Santorini has a local population, and engaging with the community can provide opportunities to make friends. Attend local events, visit local cafes, and explore areas beyond the main tourist spots.
- Social Activities: Participating in social activities, such as group tours, cooking classes, or cultural events, can be a great way to meet both locals and fellow travelers. Many people in Santorini are friendly and open to meeting new people.
- Co-Working Spaces: If you’re a digital nomad, consider checking out co-working spaces or attending local networking events. These environments can be conducive to meeting like-minded individuals.
- Cafes and Bars: Popular cafes, bars, and restaurants can be places where people gather. Striking up a conversation with others in these settings is a common way to make connections.
While meeting people in Santorini is generally possible, keep in mind that the island’s dynamic social scene can vary throughout the year. During the peak tourist season, you might encounter more people, but they may be there for a short period
How much should I budget for a month in Santorini?
Approximately $1500 to $5000 per month, depending on your accommodation, dining, and activity choices.
Are there lots of places to work from in Santorini?
Yes, Santorini, Greece, can be a beautiful but somewhat challenging location for digital nomads due to its stunning scenery, limited coworking spaces, and seasonal tourist demands.
However, there are still places where you can work remotely:
- Cafes and Restaurants: Many cafes and restaurants in Santorini offer free Wi-Fi, making them suitable for remote work. Some may even have outdoor seating with beautiful views, providing a pleasant work environment.
- Hotels and Accommodations: If you stay in a hotel or vacation rental, they often provide Wi-Fi for guests. Some accommodations may even have designated workspaces or business centers.
- Libraries and Public Spaces: While Santorini may not have dedicated coworking spaces, local libraries or public spaces may offer a quiet environment for work. Keep in mind that these spaces may not always have the amenities you’d find in a coworking facility.
- Adaptable Accommodations: Some accommodations, especially those catering to digital nomads, may offer flexible arrangements for remote work. It’s worth inquiring with the place you plan to stay about their facilities for working guests.
- Digital Nomad Events: Keep an eye out for digital nomad meetups or events happening on the island. These gatherings may not only provide networking opportunities but also insights into the best places to work remotely.
What are the best digital nomad neighborhoods in Santorini?
Oia, Imerovigli, Akrotiri and Fira are popular digital nomad neighborhoods in Santorini, offering amenities, cafes, and a conducive environment for remote work.
Does Santorini have a digital nomad visa?
As of right now, no.
Visitor / Working Visas
- Visa Exemptions / Short-Term Visa: Greece, including Santorini, has visa exemptions for citizens of many countries for short stays, typically up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The specific visa exemptions can vary based on citizenship and purpose of visit. Travelers from certain countries may enter Greece, including Santorini, for tourism or business purposes without needing a visa for short stays. However, it’s essential to check the current visa requirements and exemptions based on your nationality before planning your trip to Santorini or any part of Greece, as regulations can change.
- Valid Passport: For travelers visiting Santorini or any part of Greece, a valid passport is essential. Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay. Always verify passport expiration dates and entry requirements before traveling, as regulations may vary based on your nationality.
- eVisa: As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, Greece did not offer an eVisa specifically for entry into the country, including Santorini. Travelers from visa-required countries typically needed to apply for a traditional visa through a Greek consulate or embassy. However, entry requirements and visa procedures may have changed since then, so it’s advisable to check the most recent information on the official Greek government website or contact the nearest Greek embassy or consulate regarding eVisa options, if available, for visiting Santorini or Greece.
Cost Of Living / Traveling Through
- 🧍Avg. Cost Of Living (For Single Adult) – $1200 – $3000
- 🏨 Avg. Price Per Night For Hotel Room (near city center) – $150 – $500, I only use Booking for hotel accommodations
- 🏩 Avg. Price Per Night For Hostel Dorm Room (near city center) – $20 – $50, If you’re planning to stay in Greece as a digital nomad, here are the Top 6 Coliving Spaces in Greece you can book right now
- 🏡 Avg. Price for apartments (near city center) – $800 – $2500
- ☕️ Latte -$3.45 – $4.60
- 🍺 – .5 Liter Beer -$4.60 – $6.90
- 🏋️♀️ – Monthly Gym Membership – $34.50 – $57.50
- 🚊 – Local Transport – Avg. One Way Ticket Price – $2.10 – $2.90, Trainline is my go to.
- 🍝 Avg. Dinner Price – $17.25 – $46
- 📱 – Avg. Data Plan Per Month – $17.25 – $34.50, Airalo is the only ESIM company I use.
- 🏢 – Avg. Cowork Per Month (near city center) – $92 – $230
Wifi Speed Tests
Read my guide to getting fast wifi anywhere in the world here
Co-Lives & Where I Stayed
A Map Of The Places I Stayed & Recommend
Fira Backpackers Place
- OVERALL – 4.5/5
- Wifi – 3.5/5 – The wifi near the lobby was quite quick, I was able to have multiple video calls without any problems. The issue is that if you leave from near the lobby it gets very bad as I think they only have 1 router. Below are the results from a couple speed tests I ran while I was there
- Avg. Download Speed = 20.14 MBPS
- Avg. Upload Speed = 3.47 MBPS
- Avg. Latency = 47.66 MS
- Sense Of Community – 5/5 – The staff is super cool and there are a lot of other single / nomadic folks here that are easy to connect with.
- Location – 4/5 – you’re about a 10 minute walk from an incredible coast where you can get some pretty amazing photos See below
- Affordability – 3.5/5 – It’s quite expensive, but in comparison to the price of the other places on the island it’s really not too bad. I was also able to get a discount paying in cash, so you can try that.
- Cleanliness – 4/5 – It’s pretty clean and well maintained
My Favorite Place To Work From
Meze Meze
Kasteli 1663
Atlantis Books
If you’re interested in checking out where else I’ve posted up to work, check out my “Office For Today” highlights on my Instagram
- OVERALL – 4.5/5
- Wifi – 3.5/5 – The wifi near the lobby was quite quick, I was able to have multiple video calls without any problems. The issue is that if you leave from near the lobby it gets very bad as I think they only have 1 router. Below are the results from a speed test I ran while I was there
- Download Speed = 13.45 MBPS
- Upload Speed = 4.2 MBPS
- Avg. Latency = 17 MS
- Service & Friendliness – 5/5 – The staff was super attentive and friendly. Particularly if Olia happens to be working when you go, super friendly gal.
- Location / Ambiance – 5/5 – Look at the picture above haha
Transportation
- Getting There & Leaving
- You can take a ferry, they usually have the slower and faster ferries. The “Faster” ferries still take some time. For example, my fast ferry took about 5 hours to get to Athens. After flying for most of this trip I ended up taking a ferry because I was tired of security etc. You can find the schedules for the ferries on ferryhopper.com
- There are quite a few cheap airplane tickets you can get as well in and out (even Ryan Air fly’s here)
- Getting Around
- Within the town their bus system is quite good and quite cheap (the average price was 1 Euro 50 Cents while I was there). Their schedule’s for the buses changed daily, but generally there were buses running wherever you needed to go every 30 – 60 minutes. This includes the airport, the ferry, etc.
- Taxi’s were quite expensive, but it did appear as though the prices were pretty set, so they’re not going to charge you anymore than they’d charge anyone else.
What I Ate
Not So Healthy Food – I loved the Bugatsa Krema’s, those pastries are amazing. While they originate from Thessaloniki you can find them pretty much anywhere in Greece.
Healthier Food – The salads and omelets or kebabs are always a good choice. Personally I love the Dakos salad’s the most, but they were a but harder to find.
What I Drank / Nightlife
Pretty killer setup for knocking out a bit of work
- Santos Wines had a super chill vibe, and some pretty good white wines. I did a lot of hard research while at their restaurant 😉 and these wines were my favorites
- Santorini Nykteri
- Santorini Assyrtiko Grande Reserve
- Santo Sparkling Rose
- Vinsanto 8 Years
- Ktima Biblia Chora White – This may have been my favorite wine in all of Greece, it’s not from Santorini, it’s from my favorite town in Greece, Kavala. But it’s easy to find across the country
NightLife
- Tropical Bar – this spot was probably my favorite, however the vibe is a bit more like a pub and probably best to go here with some friends from your hostel as it’s not the best for meeting people
- Koo Club – this is probably one of the sexier spots on the island, the lines are crazy long though
- Murphy’s Bar – More pub-like and super popular
Exercise / Outdoors
Entonces, si buscas en Google Maps, podrás encontrar una ruta desde Oia (en el extremo norte de la isla) a Fira.
The path goes between some dirt tracks to walking paths (like above) and even on the side of the road for a bit. The parts on the dirt path weren’t super pretty as the island of Santorini is quite desolate, but walking along these paths through some of the small towns on the coast was pretty cool.
Before Santorini, I rode a bike from Athens to Istanbul. Check It Out Here
The 5 Quick Scores
- Internet Speed – 4/5
- I ran about 10 wifi speed tests while on the island, here are the findings
- Avg. Download Speed = 19.48 MBPS
- Avg. Upload Speed = 7.20 MBPS
- Avg. Latency = 76.35 MS*
- Fastest internet I Got On The Island – was with my Solis Hotspot
- *Not sure what these metrics mean? Read my wifi guide here.
- Internet Speed – 4/5
- I ran about 10 wifi speed tests while on the island, here are the findingsAvg. Download Speed = 19.48 MBPSAvg. Upload Speed = 7.20 MBPSAvg. Latency = 76.35 MS*
- Fastest internet I Got On The Island – was with my Solis Hotspot
- *Not sure what these metrics mean? Read my wifi guide here.
- Ease Of Connecting & Making Friends– 4/5
- While this place is a bit more of a couples destination, you can meet other travelers and digital nomads here. Out of my entire month in Greece and Turkey I actually met the most single digital nomad traveller’s on this island.
- Nightlife – 3.5/5
- This is definitely not Mykonos, Eos or Rhodes but you can party here if you want, there are some cool spots. More details on this below.
- Places To Work From – 3/5
- There are some cool places to work from, however the cafes tend to be small and with all the tourists it does feel a bit like they want you to move on and not hang out as long (which I could understand). More details on this below.
- Affordability – 2/5
- This was definitely the most expensive place I stayed at on the trip. If you’re looking for an affordable, more down to earth authentic experience, Santorini is not the spot. I spent about 16 days biking through rural Greece and Turkey, so I viewed Santorini as a luxurious treat after that.
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