First Market

First Market is a supermarket on Santorini catering to everyday shopping needs — groceries, household basics, drinks, and the kind of practical supplies that quickly become priorities once you've settled into a villa or apartment. On an island where dining out is the default and convenience stores charge accordingly, a dedicated supermarket is genuinely useful, particularly for visitors staying more than a couple of nights.

The coordinates place First Market in the central part of the island, in the general area between Fira and the island's interior villages. That position makes it accessible from a wide range of accommodation bases without requiring a long drive. Whether you're stocking up on breakfast supplies, picking up bottled water, or grabbing snacks before a day at the beach, having a full supermarket within reasonable reach is worth knowing about before you arrive.

Santorini's grocery landscape skews toward small convenience stores and tourist-facing shops in the caldera villages, where prices reflect the location. A supermarket like First Market tends to offer a broader product range at more straightforward pricing — an advantage worth factoring into your planning, especially if you're traveling with family or on a tighter budget.

What to Expect

First Market operates as a general supermarket, which on a Greek island typically means a floor plan covering fresh produce, packaged goods, dairy, meats, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), cleaning supplies, and basic pharmacy-adjacent items like sunscreen and paracetamol. Greek supermarkets in this category also commonly stock local products — Santorini-specific items like fava, white eggplant, capers, and local wine often appear on shelves alongside standard national brands.

The shopping experience is straightforward. Greek supermarkets at this scale are usually self-service, with checkout lanes and trolleys or baskets available. Staff are generally helpful, and at least basic English communication is typical in Santorini's retail environment given the volume of international visitors the island receives.

For self-catering travelers, the selection of fresh produce and refrigerated goods is the most important factor, and a properly stocked supermarket will cover the basics: eggs, cheese, yogurt, fruit, vegetables, bread, and cold cuts. Bottled water is widely available and is the sensible choice on Santorini, where tap water is desalinated and not recommended for drinking.

Expect the shop to be busiest during mid-morning and late afternoon, when locals and visitors alike tend to run errands. In peak summer, stock moves quickly, so earlier visits tend to yield better selection.

How to Get There

The coordinates for First Market (36.3562°N, 25.4747°E) place it in the central Santorini area, accessible by car, scooter, or ATV — the most common modes of independent transport on the island. If you're driving, Santorini's main road network connects most villages and accommodation clusters, and a supermarket of this type will typically have some parking available nearby or adjacent.

The public bus network (KTEL Santorini) runs routes connecting Fira with other key points on the island, including Perissa, Kamari, Oia, and Pyrgos. Depending on your exact accommodation, a bus to the nearest stop followed by a short walk may be feasible, though carrying grocery bags on a bus is less practical than having your own vehicle.

Taxis from Fira are available but can be in short supply during peak season. If you're renting a car or scooter — which the majority of independent travelers on Santorini do — reaching a centrally located supermarket is uncomplicated.

Best Time to Visit

For grocery shopping specifically, timing is about avoiding crowds and heat rather than seasonality. Santorini's summers are hot and dry, with temperatures regularly reaching 30°C or above from June through August. Shopping in the morning before 10:00 or in the early evening after 18:00 avoids both the midday heat and the busiest periods inside the store.

The supermarket is likely to be open during standard Greek retail hours, which typically run from morning through early afternoon and then reopen in the late afternoon through evening — though exact hours are not confirmed in the available information and should be verified locally or on arrival. During the shoulder months of April–May and September–October, crowds thin considerably and shopping is more relaxed.

In winter, Santorini sees a significant reduction in open businesses, and some shops operate reduced hours or close entirely. If you're visiting off-season, it's worth confirming the supermarket is open before making a special trip.

Tips for Visiting

• Bring reusable bags. Greek supermarkets charge for plastic carrier bags, as required by EU regulations. A fold-up shopping bag takes no space and saves the small but accumulating cost.
• Check for local Santorini products. Fava (yellow split peas), white eggplant, Santorini capers, and local wines are worth picking up as edible souvenirs or self-catering ingredients at prices well below what you'd pay in tourist shops.
• Stock up on water early in your stay. Bottled water is the practical choice on Santorini. Buying several large bottles at a supermarket is significantly cheaper than purchasing individual bottles at cafes or hotel minibars throughout your trip.
• Use a car or scooter for the trip. Carrying a meaningful grocery shop on Santorini without your own transport is awkward — roads are narrow, hills are steep, and the sun is intense. Rent wheels before you shop.
• Go early or late. Mid-morning to mid-afternoon is the warmest and busiest part of the day. An early shop means better produce selection; an evening shop is cooler and quieter.
• Keep cash on hand as backup. Most Greek supermarkets accept card payments, but having some euros available is useful in case of system issues or a minimum card payment threshold.
• Cross-check opening hours on arrival. No confirmed hours are available for this location. A quick check on Google Maps or a direct inquiry at your accommodation will confirm current trading times before you make the journey.

Practical Information

First Market is a supermarket serving everyday grocery and household needs on Santorini. Its central island location makes it a practical option for visitors based across a range of accommodation areas. The research available for this listing does not include a confirmed street address, phone number, or verified opening hours — these are worth checking locally once you arrive, either through your accommodation host or via a current Google Maps search.

For longer-stay visitors, identifying a reliable supermarket early is one of the more practical steps you can take. Villa and apartment rentals typically provide kitchen facilities, and self-catering even partially — breakfast, packed lunches for beach days — makes a material difference to overall trip costs on an island where restaurant and cafe pricing is high relative to the Greek mainland.

Payment by card is standard in Greek supermarkets, though having cash available is always advisable. The shop is expected to carry the range typical of a Greek island supermarket of this type: fresh and packaged food, drinks, dairy, cleaning products, and basic household goods.