Crowds of tourists have been forming long queues at some of Santorini's most photographed spots, as visitors flock to recreate iconic images popularised on social media. Videos shared online show people lining up in the narrow streets of Oia from early morning to pose in front of the Greek island's famous blue-domed churches, prompting fresh debate about how platforms like Instagram and TikTok are reshaping travel behaviour and putting pressure on popular destinations.

Mandee Migliaccio, chief executive of Stepping Out Travel, said Santorini was a bucket-list destination long before social media but that platforms have amplified the desire to capture identical shots, with crowding worsening when cruise ships dock and thousands disembark at once. She advised visitors to arrive early, stay several days, and avoid Mondays and Tuesdays when more ships are in port, while urging travellers not to build entire trips around a handful of photos and to remember the island is home to local residents. Online reactions have been mixed, with some users praising social media as a useful planning tool and others arguing it strips destinations of surprise and encourages performative tourism.