Exo Gonia sits inland, close to Pyrgos and Fira but with no caldera view — which is precisely why it isn't on most visitors' itineraries, and precisely why it's worth a special mention. It's a small, quiet village that most guidebooks skip entirely.
Metaxi Mas
The village's main claim to attention is Metaxi Mas, a restaurant repeatedly cited among the island's best for food quality specifically, with a Cretan-leaning traditional menu and essentially no view to speak of — see our restaurant profiles and finding a real taverna guide for more context on why a no-view restaurant can outperform the caldera-facing competition on food alone.
Why visit beyond the restaurant
Exo Gonia is a genuine, lived-in village — quiet lanes, a small central church, and none of the tourist infrastructure that's reshaped Oia and central Fira. It's a good stop if you want to see an ordinary Santorini village going about its normal business, rather than one built around visitors.
Getting there
Close enough to Fira and Pyrgos that a taxi or short drive covers it easily; not really walkable from the caldera rim. Most visitors combine it specifically with a Metaxi Mas dinner reservation rather than a standalone daytime visit.
Spotted something out of date, or have a correction? Let us know — we'd rather fix it fast than leave it wrong.