Sunset views, R & R

hey hey frister4
are you planning to fly to athens from turkey with return flight from athens to your home (which is where: USA, Canada, another european country?) or flying back to turkey for flight home (backtracking)
as you mentioned santorini with others saying it's so crowded, it is!!! october is still high season with many traveling everywhere with overcrowding/overtourism, cruise ship season.
we all have our own opinions, we were on a greek island cruise about 8 years ago, there were 6 ships that have between 3,000-5,000 people on each ship, two ways up (cable car or walking up steps with donkeys and donkey poo, packed like sardines wanted to walk, taxi, tour to the views. we went the other way saw great view, churches, the white/blue houses and a family owned restaurant with gorgeous views with a few people. walked to shops down the alleys, crazy crazy, shops /restaurants packed. i had enough and have no plans to go back again. there are other islands that are gorgeous, loved corfu & crete.
it's your vacation you do you & go wherever you want. giving you my own thoughts, take it with a grain of salt. many cities are limiting the amount of tourists they are allowing in and some are charging to enter. good luck & have fun
aloha

We did not enjoy Santorini - not because it was crowded (that is mostly just during the day when the cruise ships are in; at night, Oia at least settles down to reasonable quiet), but because (Fira at least) was a dumping ground for rich entitled European kids to party all night, puke on the streets, and run you over on mopeds. So if you are going to go to Santorini, my two pieces of advice are: go off season (which, in October, you are); and don't stay in Fira. We loved our little resort in Oia (Hotel Aethrio).

Also bear in mind that, at least in Oia, "sunset" and "caldera" are two different directions. The hotel I mentioned was much cheaper because it was not on the caldera, but had amazing sunset views over the Aegean.

I think Santorini tends to get unfairly maligned on this forum. Often the comments are that it is too crowded and doesn't have any beaches. I think the people who say this are mostly staying in/around Fira and Oia. We went in early September several years ago and stayed in Perissa, which has an absolutely beautiful black sand beach (from the volcanic ash). It was peaceful and relaxing, no cruise ships or, what we call here, "boozed up Brits abroad." There was another peaceful beach called Kamari just a short boat ride away. We did a boat trip to Thirasia for very fresh seafood and it was just lovely. Of course there are many islands, you don't have to choose this one, but if you are intrigued by the photos I think you should consider it.

We absolutely loved our time on Santorini! Never once did we observe "rich entitled European kids" behaving badly. We stayed in Firostefani at Lithies Traditional Homes which was thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing. Our visit to Oia was in the late afternoon & evening as many of the cruise ship passengers were leaving the island. If you are concerned about the number of cruisers who will be on the island during your proposed dates, then check the docking schedule to see how many people may be on the island that day. If you have always been lured by the photos of Santorini and want to visit it, then do just that! During our time in Greece, we also found the island of Naxos to be wonderful.

While I agree the best beaches (and quieter places) are on the east side, that is away from the caldera and the sunsets, so not really the Santorini experience. If I were not going to stay on the caldera side, I would avoid Santorini altogether and go to a quieter island like Naxos, Folegandros or Anafi.

Santorini is a series of postcards in itself (or Instagram photos to be in line with the times).

Every year, 90% of the 3.5 million visitors to Santorini go to the same places to do the same things. Namely: Go to Fira, Oia, Firostefani, book a room with a view of the Caldera, hike from Fira to Oia, watch the sunset in Oia, and visit the black and red beaches. A few go to Akrotiri, the Profitis Ilias Monastery, take a boat trip, or visit vineyards.
The remaining 10% also visit a few other places in Santorini (yes, there are other places!)

If you want to see and do these same things, whether you're part of the 90% or the 10%, I don't see why you wouldn't go to Santorini. You'll just have to deal with the crowds, that's the big downside.

And of course, you shouldn't think you've seen a Greek island if you only go to Santorini. You'll have simply been part of the postcard.

If you're looking for a kind of authenticity, fewer crowds, and reasonable prices, there are 20 other islands waiting for you in the Cyclades alone, with their whitewashed houses, blue domes, breathtaking landscapes, sandy beaches, and much more.