22 hairpin turns on the coastal road to Ancient Thera

Ancient Thera is an antique city of the 9th century BC, located on the east coast of Santorini, a Greek island. The road to the city has 22 hairpin switchbacks.

Tucked away on the southwestern part of the island, nestled between the beaches of Perissa and Kamari, Ancient Thera is located on the peak of Mesa Vouno (“Inside Mountain”), at 360m above the sea level. The city was named after the mythical ruler of the island, Theras.

Can you drive to Ancient Thera?

The road to the ancient city is extremely challenging. It’s narrow, paved with cobblestone, with steep drop-offs and 22 hairpin turns (Kamari serpentines). Starting at Kamari, the road is 2.7 km (1.67 miles) long. It’s very steep, hitting a 17% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. The elevation gain is 252 meters. The average gradient is 9.33%.

Is the road to Ancient Thera open?

The winding road offers spectacular views down to the sea. The road is closed from 5:30 pm to 7:30 am. Drive at moderate speed. You’re not on a race. Be warned if you want to visit don't walk up the mountain on Mondays: it's closed.
Pic: Rosemarie Stensbirk