Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
For anyone who finds Santorini beautiful and exhausting, it is the answer.
Getting there
Two ways, and they give different days.
On an excursion. Most caldera boat trips that include Nea Kameni and the hot springs stop at Thirassia for lunch, usually for an hour or two at the harbour.
Independently. A small local ferry runs from Ammoudi, below Oia, and from Athinios, the main port, on a schedule aimed at residents rather than visitors. That gives you the island for a full day, and it requires checking the return time before you commit.
What to do there
Very little, deliberately:
- Climb to Manolas, the village on the cliff top, by the stepped path or the road. The climb is the day’s work and the view back at Santorini is the reward.
- Eat at one of the tavernas, on the harbour or in the village.
- Swim off the harbour or walk to one of the small beaches.
- Sit, which is the real activity.
There are no organised sights, no museums and no nightlife. Facilities thin out of season.
Who it suits
Good for: travellers on a longer Santorini stay who want a day with nothing in it, and anyone curious about what the island was like before the boom.
Less good for: short trips where the caldera villages are the point, and anyone who needs a plan.
Last checked August 2026. Local ferry schedules are aimed at residents and change - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
What is Thirassia?
A small inhabited island on the western side of Santorini’s caldera, part of the same volcanic rim, with a cliff-top village and a small harbour.
How do you get to Thirassia?
On a caldera boat excursion that stops for lunch, or independently on the small local ferry from Ammoudi or Athinios.
Is there anything to do on Thirassia?
Climb to the village of Manolas, eat, swim and sit. There are no organised sights, which is the attraction.
Can you stay on Thirassia?
There are a few rooms, and it is very quiet out of season when facilities thin considerably.
Is Thirassia worth a day?
On a longer Santorini trip, yes: it is the quietest part of the caldera and shows what the island looked like before mass tourism.
Next
Read day trips from Santorini, Nea Kameni, or Oia.