On an island overrun by tourists, I found the most photogenic spots

Knock me down with a selfie stick and call me a Kardashian. Add this to the list of things I never thought I’d do: I’ve signed up for a Santorini shore excursion led by a selfie expert, who will lead our group to the most photogenic locations on the island. Along the way, he’ll teach us how to capture the right angles, lighting and composition of the scenery – and of ourselves.

To be fair, I didn’t choose this shore excursion because I love taking selfies. I think the use of selfie sticks is a bit obnoxious, especially in crowded places like the Louvre and the narrow streets of Santorini.

Catching the colours of Santorini in a selfie.Credit: iStock

I chose this tour from the rich selection of complimentary shore excursions offered by Regent Seven Seas Cruises for a far more practical reason. It was the only one that didn’t require a fear-inducing cable car ride up the steep cliff face that connects the tender port with Fira (also referred to as Thira), the capital of Santorini.

After a short transfer from the ship by tender boat, we’re met onshore by an enthusiastic guide, Lorenzo, who introduces himself as the best photographer on the island. After we board an air-conditioned bus, he hands out selfie sticks and explains how to use them in a way that won’t annoy people around you. Self-awareness is key, he says, assuring us all we are just an angle-adjustment away from dreaded double-chin photos.

Boats in a quay at Oia.Credit: iStock

First stop: Oia. If you’ve ever seen a postcard-perfect sunset shot of Santorini’s white-washed buildings and blue-domed churches, it was probably taken right here, on the edge of the caldera.

Santorini selfies … writer Kristy Kellahan.Credit: Kristie Kellahan

An astonishingly photogenic village on the north-west end of the island, Oia’s clifftop paths are lined with shops selling local ceramics and jewellery. Cafes practically cling to the sides of dormant volcanoes, as harried waiters serve customers who are happy to pay three times the going rate for a Coke to soak up those incredible sea views.

Wildly popular with tourists in search of the perfect shot, Oia’s narrow streets are packed shoulder-to-shoulder, but our fearless leader is undeterred. Lorenzo ushers us along like a patient, protective goatherd, occasionally shouting instructions to stop and shoot when he sees an ideal photo opportunity. He knows just the spot to stand for a selfie with the famous blue domes as backdrop.

Did someone say wine o’clock? Shepherded out of Oia, it’s back on the bus for a drive to Exo Gonia, a village in the centre of the island. Local winery Artemis Karamolegos makes some of the finest Assyrtiko white wine you’ll taste, the distinctive crisp, acidic notes reflective of Santorini’s volcanic terroir.

Before we’re invited to sip, we pose like visiting dignitaries, holding up an oversized cardboard frame that Lorenzo has brought along for the occasion.

The winery has a tasting room and local produce shop where we buy full- and half-bottles of the wine, as well as plump vac-sealed olives in hues ranging from chickpea tan to iPhone-black.

The Three Bells of Fira church.Credit: iStock

The final photo call of the day is in Fira. The commercial centre of town is where you’ll find the island’s best art galleries, boutiques, dining and bars. We snap up chic beaded purses for next to nothing, and giggle at cheeky playing cards depicting amorous Ancient Greeks at play.

Standing above the landmark Three Bells Fira Church, we enjoy a dazzling panoramic view of the Aegean Sea, contrasting magnificently with snow-white buildings and the pop of aqua swimming pools at pricey hotels. I’m reminded that Santorini is an island for the active and mobile, with a level of fitness required to navigate her many hills and inclines.

Way down below, we see our floating home away from home, Regent Seven Seas Grandeur. Soon, we’ll be enveloped again in her onboard luxury. For now, there’s taramasalata to taste, Mythos beer to sip, hills to climb and selfies to be snapped.

The details

Seven Seas Splendor at sea.

Cruise
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 12-night itinerary, Amazing Aegean Journey, includes a port stop in Santorini. A Deluxe Veranda Suite on Seven Seas Splendor costs $14,930 per person for an August 2025 departure. Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers unlimited free shore excursions in every port of call. See RSSC.com

The writer was a guest of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.