Santorini Prophet Elias Monastery

Location: Pyrgos

The Monastery of Prophet Elias in Santorini: The Monastery of Prophet Elias lies on the highest peak of Santorini, at 565 meters above sea level. It is one of the oldest in Santorini since it was built in 1712. It is situated between Pyrgos and Kamari villages, while the road passes through rocky landscapes and vineyards. Walking there is an amazing trekking experience as you can enjoy the natural beauty of Santorini.

In the first two centuries of its construction, the monastery played a major role in the economic and cultural life of the island. Built like a fortress, it used to owe a ship in the 18th century, which carried out trade business with the rest of the Aegean and the Mediterranean, bringing prosperity to the Monastery. In the first half of the 19th century, it housed a school of Greek language and literature. The monastery started to decline in the 1860s and suffered much destruction in the strong earthquake that hit Santorini in 1956.

Today the Monastery of Prophet Elias hosts an important collection of rare ecclesiastical items, hand-written books, and Byzantine icons. It also has workshops on printing, shoemaking, and candlemaking. The monks also deal with winemaking. From the yard of the Monastery, you get excellent and breathtaking views of the whole island of Santorini.

Top Tours and activities

  • Best Seller

    Bus tour around the island (best sights)

    Category: Island, Bus

    This bus tour around Santorini allows you to see the top sights: the Minoan Town of Akrotiri, the Red Beach, the black beaches, Santo Winery, and Oia at sunset time.

    12 hours Map
    from € 59.00
    Book now
  • Night Hike, Wine Tasting and Greek Dinner

    Category: By Night, Hiking, Gastronomy

    Admire the charming views from Prophet Elias chapel and enjoy the beautiful Fira-Oia route without the presence of tourist crowds by walking the trail peacefully in the evening. After the hike, treat yourself to a delicious Greek meal and taste local wines in Assyrtiko Restaurant.

    3 hours Map
    from € 155.00
    Book now
  • All inclusive Jeep Tour

    Category: Day Trips, Island

    Get off the beaten track and discover the hidden marvels around the island in this exciting jeep tour that will reward you with quality dinner, a fascinating trip, and some of the best panoramic views of this volcanic island.

    5 hours Map
    from € 120.00
    Book now

How to get there

The Monastery of Prophet Elias is located 4 km from Pyrgos village.

Tours: Visit the Monastery of Prophet Elias with an organized tour, starting from 50€.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus, or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of scheduling a direct pickup by a local driver at the following numbers: 0030 690 679 4316, 0030 22860 22555.

Car rental: There’s the option of renting a car and picking it up directly from your hotel. You can then visit the Monastery of Prophet Elias but also many other places of interest.

Public transfers: The Monastery of Prophet Elias is 3 km away from the 15th stop of the bus route Fira > Kamari and from the 9th stop of the bus route Fira > Perissa, so the best option is to rent a car.Fira is where the central bus station of the island is located. Bus connections between this bus station and most areas of the island are available. There are buses to Kamari approximately every hour. and buses to Perissa approximately every 1.5 hours. Note that time schedules might change according to the season. Check the official timetables here.
Tip: Since buses don’t always stop at every scheduled stop of their itinerary, our advice to visitors is to inform the driver about their final destination in advance.

Map

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