What a magical island! Like many first-time visitors, you may be tempted into skeptical thoughts of ‘too many tourists, not enough space’, but those thoughts immediately vanish as soon as you step foot onto Santorini. The rugged beauty of the landscape mixed with the unique charm of the ‘famously Greek’ villages makes Santorini a truly unforgettable experience. Originating as the epicenter of one of the largest Volcanic eruptions on record during the Minoan civilization (circa 1600 BC), Santorini (officially known as Thira) is famed as the most romantic island in the Aegean Sea – but it is so much more. The most striking feature of the island is the height of the Western coastline, which plunges steeply towards the glistening water, which now fills the Volcano’s caldera. This geographic profile has created views that will take your breath away, and coupled with the historical significance and more modern touristic comforts, it makes Santorini an ideal destination for all to enjoy.
Although measuring at only 90km², there is so much to do on (and around) the island, making it perfect for a short break, or a longer getaway. Here are our Top Ten recommendations for your trip:
1) Watch the most memorable sunsets
With the Western coastline rising steeply from the Aegean Sea, Santorini is one of nature’s best theatres to view the sun slowly descending beyond the horizon. The beauty and diversity of the coastline means that wherever you are on the Western side of the island, you are almost guaranteed a spectacular sunset. The most photographed spectacles happen in the northernmost town of Oia - with its dazzling white, blue-roofed buildings, and quaint windmills, Oia guarantees a magical foreground to watch the sun set on the horizon. Be warned, Oia’s beauty means that it is by far the most popular place on the island at dusk, so make sure you get there early to reserve a space for sunset – more on this below. For those with a higher budget, there are also some fantastic hotels in Oia that offer private/hotel communal sunset terraces. Other fantastic spots to watch the sun set include anywhere along the Oia to Fira coastal path, Fira, Santo Winery and Akrotiri Lighthouse, all of which you can see more details of below. Wherever you are lucky enough to watch the sun light dance across the Aegean horizon, plunging the islands beyond into darker and darker shadows, it is guaranteed to be a memory that will stay with you forever.
2) Sail the breathtaking coastline by Catamaran
One of the biggest debates about Santorini is whether the island is most beautiful from the land looking out to the glistening Aegean Sea, or from sea level looking up to the stunning villages above. This question may be unanswerable, but the best way to ponder it is onboard one of the islands elegant Catamarans that navigate the majestic caldera. Booking ahead is a must - as this is one of the islands most popular activities - but it is certainly a essential part of your visit. Regardless of where you are staying, local companies offer a pick up and drop off service to the closest port across the majority of the island. Booking in advance will also give you the most choice and flexibility in planning the perfect trip for you, with a choice of route, size of boat, time of departure and privacy all available. For those most interested in viewing the rugged and breathtaking coastline of the island, the boats that skirt the water’s edge give fantastic views of the villages above, as well as of geological beauty spots such as the red beach, white beach and the volcanic hot springs. Choosing a day trip or a sunset trip is also a very difficult choice, but both options offer a unique experience, meaning that neither is the wrong answer – book whatever makes most sense for your itinerary! For those looking for something a little extra special, most companies also offer a private tour, giving you and your party full use of a private catamaran, and your own dedicated captain and crew (at roughly 5 times the price of a single ticket on a shared sailing). Whatever combination you book, you can look forward to sitting back, feeling the fresh sea air against your face, sipping your drink of choice and marveling at the natural beauty of your surroundings
3) Hike the spectacular coastal path from Oia to Fira
One of the best ways to drink in the full natural beauty of Santorini is on the spectacular hiking path between Oia and Fira. Connecting the islands capital (Fira) with the island Northernmost town (Oia), the coastal path skirts approximately 10km of the Western coastline of Santorini, offering the most picturesque and diverse views of the magnificent caldera. Requiring moderate levels of fitness for this circa 4-hour, multi-elevation walk, means that this activity is one of the least crowded on all of the island, affording a slightly more personal and private experience. Along the way, you will not only become enchanted by the views across the Aegean Sea, but you will also pass many other beauty spots and villages that otherwise may not be on your itinerary! Pristine white churches and quaint monuments offer mesmorising photo opportunities along the pathway, as you wander through the breathtaking streets of Imerovigli and Firostefani. Look out for the mighty Skaros Rock protruding magnificently from the sea below – an additional hiking option with a steep 15-minute path to the pretty Theoskepasti church. If you are pondering whether to start your hike in Oia or Fira, consider that the hike from Fira gives a slightly more downhill route, easier for some hikers. Either way, you can enjoy your well-earned beverage of choice at your destination, before walking, bussing (roughly €1.60pp) or taxiing (roughly €40) back to your accommodation.
4) Explore the magical town of Oia
Perched atop the northernmost peak of the island, with whitewashed houses miraculously carved into the rugged clifftops, the natural beauty and exclusive charm of Oia (pronounced ee-ah) is unlike anywhere else in the world. When imagining one of the many viral images of Santorini, it is extremely likely this is a panorama from the islands most popular and famed destination – and it is not without justification. Whether you are lucky enough to have accommodation in Oia, or are travelling for a day trip, you will never want to leave after ambling through the higgledy-piggledy streets, making a new discovery on every corner. Although perceived as a small town, Oia actually stretches 2km along the coastline, meaning that there are plenty of hidden spots to avoid the crowds. Nestled at almost 100m above sea level, wandering along the main street of Nikolaou Nomikou will offer unrivaled views across the Aegean Sea, and with charming boutiques, plentiful bars and lavish restaurants, this is the perfect place to enjoy the town. The cuisine selection in Santorini is as fresh as it is varied, and taking the opportunity to dine with a full view of the plunging caldera below will be a once in a lifetime experience you will never forget. Further to the sunset spotting advice above, if you can book a sea view dining experience at sunset time, this will give you the best views with the least tourists. There are many other sunset options in the town and taking any street west of Nikolaou Nomikou street will open up fantastic views the Aegean before you (remember to be respectful of the locals). The most popular spot to watch the sunset is by Oia Castle, where you get a stunning view of the windmills and the whitewashed buildings perched on the edge of the caldera as they descend into darkness – be warned, definitely get there early to book your spot. Plunging deep into Amoudi port is also a must for your visit, and you can read more about this below. Whatever your itinerary for this mesmorising destination, you are guaranteed to be blown away by the natural beauty of the area, and come away with fantastic memories (and many, many, many pictures…).
5) Descend the steps to the enchanting Amoudi Port, Oia
100m below the town of Oia sits the port of Amoudi, nestled alongside the sheltered Amoudi Bay. The first part of your trip to the small, yet alluring port is the descent of 270+ steps from Oia to sea level. Along the path, enjoy gazing fervently across the Aegean while being overtaken by a few of the many local donkeys, causing you to dodge plenty of manure on your way! Unfortunately, these donkeys are mainly domesticated for tourism purposes, offering rides up the steep stairway, but with many of these beautiful animals experiencing spinal injuries, saddle sores and exhaustion, it is not an activity you should partake in (and is now under local pressure to stop). Arriving in the port you are welcomed by various charismatic seafood taverns, offering waterside seating and the widest variety of fresh fish on the island. Brought in directly from the Aegean Sea, the wide varieties of local seafood are on show for you to choose, expertly cooked up and served by local experts – and look out for the fresh octopus being hung to dry along the shore line. The best tables with the most incredible views are reserved for those visitors that book ahead, and if your itinerary allows a sunset visit, you are rewarded with a fantastic sea level perspective of the sun setting beyond the bobbing dinghies and yachts in the bay. Depending on your food and drink consumption levels, you can choose one of a couple of options back to the town. An ascent of the 270-step path could be the perfect way to help digest your feast, otherwise you can catch a taxi from western part of the port up the narrow and winding road.
6) Wine tasting, winery tour and breathtaking views at Santo Wines
What could be better than sipping on a selection of fantastic local wines and nibbling on a platter of local snacks while gazing over Santorini’s awe-inspiring caldera and beyond to the Aegean Sea horizon? Located roughly 3km south of the island’s capital Fira (which you can find out more about below), Santo Wines acts as both a wine producing facility and a magnificent tourist centre, dedicated to local ‘wine, farm produce and gastronomy’. For the full experience, book yourself in for a tour of the winery, with an insider look into the local wine making process from grape to bottle. The tour also gives you exclusive access to the site’s cellars, housing a vast collection of wines, white, red and the famous Vinsanto sweet wine, that mature in oak barrels. And you don’t just look at the wine! Once your tour is complete, you will be seated in the attached tourist centre and welcomed by one of the most spectacular views of the caldera the island has to offer! Booking ahead gives you access to the best seats in the house and allow you to time your booking to coincide with the sunset – a truly majestic view (made even better while wine sampling!). When booking your winery tour, add comments that you would like to reserve a table after – from here you can order various ‘wine flights’, which are glasses of multiple variations of the local wine in all colours and tastes. Alternatively, the winery has an on-site restaurant, offering a scrumptious range of local delicacies and fresh seafood, with the same guarantee of exquisite wines and hypnotic views. While waiting for the local bus or your taxi after your visit, you can pick up a bottle of whatever your favourite wine was in the well-stocked wine and deli shop.
7) Boutique-hop through pretty Fira
Famed as the modern capital of Santorini, Fira’s beautiful white houses are carved into the edge of the 400m high caldera on the central-western edge of the island. Although the town is maybe not as popular a destination as its neighbor Oia in the north, Fira is still comparable in many aspects, with gorgeous Aegean views, quaint architecture, glistening churches and winding cobbled streets. Fira is also the shopping epicenter of the island, with an eclectic mix of boutiques and stalls peppered through the town. Ambling through the narrow streets, pop in to fashion boutiques, galleries, markets and tourist stations, perfect to pick up a local souvenir. And of course, like the rest of the island, the gastronomy of Fira is excellent, with a wide selection of restaurants, cafés, wine and cocktail bars. And for those who want to understand the heritage and history of the island, the Archaeological Museum of Thera is worth a visit, with a fantastic collection ranging from Roman sculptures to Hellenistic vases. Fira’s fantastic central bus station also gives visitors the best (and frequent) public transport connections to the rest of the island, including Oia and Santo Wines.
8) Enjoy the delicious selection of fresh local cuisine
For those who consider themselves ‘foodies’, Santorini is a must. Not only does the island have one of the widest varieties and freshest selection of seafood in all of Europe, it also has a fantastic range of other local produce, giving the cuisine a distinct and memorable blend. The most unique dish on the island is Domatokeftethes, or ‘tomato fritters’ for those struggling with the pronunciation! These delicious appetizers use a local variety of tomatoes that grow nowhere else in the world, giving you a unique local taste of the island’s heritage. Another excellent local dish, which is fortunately much easier to pronounce, is Greek Fava. This dish is not exactly as it seems – although it is indeed Greek, and a specialty of Santorini, it is not made using Fava beans (as the name would suggest) but instead prepared using yellow split peas. Regardless of the ingredients, this delicious dip is another perfect way to start a meal, eaten with some freshly prepared bread. When ordering fish, you really can’t go wrong with anything caught locally in the mighty Aegean – however, for a real culinary treat, the calamari and octopus are some of the best and most succulent in the world. For a lower cost, but tasty option, there are also plenty of gyros and souvlaki stalls all over the island, offering authentic local flavours. And to wash it all down, a glass of local wine or a bottle of the delicious local beer, (Red/Yellow/Slow) Donkey will go perfectly with a crispy Baklava or Halva for dessert!
9) Visit some of the island’s lesser known spots by quad or car
Although the majority of your time on the island will likely be spent in the more famous destinations, Santorini also offers many smaller and less travelled to spots, perfect for a day trip adventure. As mentioned above, Fira has fantastic bus connections to most places on the island, but to get the most flexibility from your trip, you can also rent a small car, or a 4x4 quad bike (ATV) for the day. A must see for your exploration is the place that is locally called Akrotiri archaeological site, but which is theorised the world round to be a window into the lost city of Atlantis. Devastated by the Minoan era volcanic eruption almost 3,000 years ago, Akrotiri was engulphed in ash, beautifully preserving this settlement, which dates back to the bronze age. Think of this as the Pompeii of the Aegean! Just 15 minutes from this site, perched on the very western tip of the island, is Akrotiri Lighthouse, known as one of the first lighthouses in Greece and offering stunning views of the islands coast. If you time your trip well, this is another very highly recommended spot to watch the sunset, offering a more secluded, but no less magical experience. Other fantastic places to visit are the charming villages of Pyrgos and Megalochori and some fantastic beach spots, including Perissa Beach, Agios Georgios, and the volcanically designed Red and White Beaches. To get some fantastic recommendations of the best places to travel, simply ask for more information from your accommodation, or a friendly local.
10) Sail to and ascend the active Santorini Volcano
Known as the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history (c. 1600 BC), Santorini Volcano gives the impression that its most active days are long behind it. Do not be fooled however, the volcano is still very much alive, but currently in a relatively dormant state. It’s major eruption, nearly 3,000 years ago, is also rumored to be the cause of the destructive plagues of Egypt, referenced in the Bible, which helps demonstrate the scale of the event, with Santorini over 1,000km away! Surprisingly, the volcano’s last eruption was in recent times, 1950 - however you’ll be happy to learn that no loss of lives (or plagues) were recorded! The volcano is found on the island called ‘Nea Kameni’, which is a short boat trip from the main island, and can be accessed via a direct tour, or as part of a longer yacht trip, detailed above. From the port, the crater is roughly a half an hour walk over firm, but rocky terrain, so make sure you pack some decent footwear! At the crater, you may be lucky to see smoke hissing from the surface, and the distinct smell of Sulphur will fill your airways. Viewing the crater with the beautifully white, glistening towns of Oia and Fira in the background summons reflective thoughts of the island’s vulnerability; truly at the mercy of mother nature. Upon returning to the port, take a dip in the adjacent hot springs, warmed by the underlying activity of the volcanos core. These springs are known locally as healing waters, consisting of iron and manganese, which act against many diseases – just remember to pack less expensive swimwear for your dip, as the water is known to often leave yellow stains!