When deciding between Oia and Fira, it's simple to see why people make these decisions. Fira, the larger isal town of the two has more nightlife and more shopping than Oia and also is livelier. Oia is obviously the classier town with more classy restaurants and higher-end shopping, however, Fira has more good restaurants and great places to eat.
Both Oia and Fira are beautiful places, but which is more romantic? They are both close to the port of Piraeus, where you can board a ferry to go to Piraeus and then on to different islands. In addition, the two cities have a lot in common: they both have plenty of old monuments and towns that are worth exploring.
On the plus side, Fira has the most historical area, while Oia has the most urbanized area. In many respects, the difference between Oia la Plage de Pirae and Fira Port de Ferry is like comparing a T-shirt with pants.
Fira has the prettiest beaches in Greece, with stunning sunsets and perfect white sand beaches. It also has a lot of urbanization, which makes it slightly more interesting than Oia. On the minus side, the lack of night life may turn off people who want a quieter space.
Fira is also a little bit closer to the sea, so if you want to experience the Greek seascape, taking a ferry to Piraeus is usually a better option. If you do take a ferry, however, you will miss out on all the beautiful sunny weather in the Aegean Sea!
The most appealing thing about Fira and Oia is probably the combination of land and sea. Fira has many beautiful landscapes: mountains, meadows, and small settlements with charming shops and restaurants, all surrounded by beautiful scenery. On the other hand, most of Oia's land is rocky and slopes away into the sea. The contrast between the smooth mountains of Fira and Oia's rocky seaside areas is most striking.
Most visitors to Fira are either drawn to the attractive beaches or the exteriors of the old villages. However, Fira isn't like most other Aegean islands. There aren't many historical exemples de Lieux. And while there are a few, like the village of Saint Pierre de Munt, most of the former villages are vacant. However, one or two exemples de Lieux can be seen in the vicinity of town.
The main attraction of Fira is undoubtedly the beautiful sandy beaches and the wonderful selection of villas and apartments, both in and outside the village. Most of the villas and apartments offer commanding sea views: out to the horizon, towards the crystal blue ocean, or towards the seashore.
Many of them are also close to the beach, making it possible to enjoy the water at full stretch without any difficulty. It's a good place to spend the evening, and it's quite common for couples to come here to enjoy an evening of romance, especially if they're staying at one of the beautiful, romantic, and luxurious beach villas on the island.
If you prefer tranquillity, you might prefer Oia instead. It's a much quieter destination than Fira, and many visitors choose this as their favorite place to stay. The villages themselves hide out in the mountains, with little in the way of tourist traffic.
What you'll see instead of sunlight and sand are pine forests, and there's also the attractions of the Balbec (population 5 km away) and le Plage (population 4 km away). If you like water sports, you'll love them both - and if you're looking for peace and quiet, then La Grange (population 4 km away) is definitely the place for you.
In short, Fira is definitely a more popular place to stay if you opt for a relaxing holiday with a focus on nature. However, the beaches and seas are just as impressive and offer a slightly different perspective altogether.
And if you're in the mood for a little urban adventure, La Cascades is just about the perfect place to stay: there are great restaurants, fantastic nightclubs, and plenty of shops and boutiques to visit - as well as a lively nightlife, with plenty of bars and cafes to enjoy.
For all these reasons, it's no surprise that Fira vs Oia scores very highly when it comes to hotel room prices - and we can only expect to see increases in this price when developers come to build more hotels in the area.