Santaorini - how long?
 

How many days can one stay busy wandering around this island? We are thinking about doing 3 nights in Athens and 6 nights on Santorini - is that too long?

It all depends on you and what holds your interest. On my first trip to Santorini I went without knowing how long I would be there and ended up staying for 6 months! I loved getting into the rhythm of the island, getting to know the locals and watching the parade of my fellow travellers come and go for the season. I made a lot of friends and the memories will last my lifetime.

The devil in my is telling me to say "stay long enough to learn to spell it."

Is that your total time in Greece? If so, I'd opt for only 3 nights in Santorini and 3 somewhere else to get more variety. If you are looking to just veg out on a beach, there are better places than Santorini.

I admire brotherleelove's length of stay, but I'd be anxious to see another island as well as beautiful Santorini.

As beautiful as it is, two nights and three days should do it.

I loved it in Oia so much I even went back 2 years later for another 6 months.

I'd second Patrick's idea, but perhaps even break it 2 nights Santorini and 4 somewhere else, preferably somewhere other than Mykonos (nice as it is).

It all rides on your interests, tho. Post 'em and you'll get more specific advice.

We stayed 5 nights Santorini and 3 nights Athens. i could have stayed longer in Santorini Just depends on you i guess..But it is beautiful!!

We stayed in September for 6 nights and I could easily have stayed for another 6. I was worried about being bored (we are normally pretty high octane on our trips), but we just weren't, and we ended up not even doing too much in the way of sightseeing... just relaxed over breakfast, looked at the view, wandered into one of the towns for a look at shops, had lunch, swam, slept, had happy hour, had dinner... the days took on a lovely rhythm. We did go to the beach side of the island one day, and did a hike on another, but were happy just to take it easy for the most part.

At least 3, then go to Crete. Fly back to Athens from there.