Sights on Santorini
Greece was on my bucket list for years before my sister and I decided to take the plunge and plan a trip together. It was this time 2 years ago that we flew to the Mediterranean and lived out the dream - hopping from Santorini, to Naxos, and Mykonos before ending in Athens.
Santorini was just as pretty as the postcards. White Cycladic homes built upon the cliffs over endless blue water. As an architecture lover, I was floored to see how these cities have not only survived on top of the crater of a volcano for all these years, but completely adapted to their natural surroundings. The environment is unbelievable to see, and I recommend it at least as a once in a lifetime experience.
Background
Santorini (but officially called Thira) is an island in the Aegean Sea, southeast of Greece's mainland. The odd shape of the island was created after the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history 3600 years ago! It left a large caldera, an expansive bay really, which can be seen from every town on it’s West coast.
It was a big adventure, and planning all the logistics was quite a task. But in just a few days I can say we felt like we saw it all and did all there was to do - and I hope this guide will do the same for you!
We spent most of our time in 3 places:
Imeroglivi
Fira
Oia
The island is extremely small, and though hard to believe, it’s actually possible to hike or walk a good portion of it. That being said, Uber here was pretty much nonexistent and taxi’s had to be arranged prior, so it’s not very easy to navigate! That’s why we chose to stay in a few different areas rather than in one place the whole time. Once we got settled into a town we were able to walk around freely without the hassle of organizing more transportation, and that was nice.
When to go
My recommendation would be May - June or September - October. The shoulder season!
Lauren and I went in August because that’s when we could take vacation, which isn’t a good time to go to Europe. The entire continent is on Holiday then, which means more expensive flights and hotels and way more crowds. July and August are both more popular months for global travelers, but it’s also extremely HOT.
Check prices in advance, as flights range greatly! We paid about $950, but some of my girlfriends traveled there 1 week after and scored flights for $590.
How to Get There
Fly to Athens, then fly direct to Santorini. There are many different ways to do a trip around the Greek Islands and this is just my recommendation. But Santorini was the furthest location on our trip, and we felt it made sense to fly that distance, and then take ferry’s to the other Islands that are north of it. It saved SO MUCH travel time at the start of our trip, and the flight was only $120.
Cost
Greece is a pretty expensive travel destination, and our vacation was a big investment which is common. Santorini is one of the most popular tourist locations in the world, so it’s no surprise! Prepare for $20 cocktails. Don’t worry, there are other islands that are much cheaper to help balance out that budget! You’re on vacation - enjoy yourself!
Exploring: Oia
This is the town you see in all the pictures when you Google ‘Greece’ and it should definitely be a stop on your trip to Santorini!
Be prepared, Oia is pretty vertical, and there are no roads of traffic for cars! Just miles and miles of winding pathways and TONS of stairs. It’s not very easy on the knee’s (I know, I sound like i’m 90). Nonetheless, Lauren and I listened to the recommendations before our trip and packed some sneakers in addition to sandals. Make sure your shoes have grips or you will slip on some of the worn cobble paths.
Secret Tip: Wake up for the sunrise, and tour the city when it is quieter. It’s more picturesque, and more peaceful. If you want any good pictures without other tourists in them, that is the way to do it!
The idyllic village of Oia is situated in the north west edge of the island, perched high on a steep slope of the caldera. It’s known for its Cycladic white washed cave houses, the blue domes and little churches, all carved into the face of the rock. It’s a destination that draws visitors from all over the world.
The landscapes and views in Oia are some of the best I have ever seen. Every corner of the town has character, and something special to see.
This snap is from a rare quiet morning in Santorini!
Imeroglivi
This is a smaller town, filled with many luxury hotels, yet a close distance to Fira. It has gorgeous views of the caldera, a few very good restaurants, and access to a nice hiking trail that ends in Oia.
This shot is overlooking the bar and restaurant at the GRACE hotel. One of the most beautiful sunset views in Santorini, and has amazing cocktails!
Fira
Fira is one of the largest cities in Santorini, and much closer to the docks and airport, so it is a good choice to stay here if you are only spending a few nights on the island.
It has tons of places to go ranging from cafe’s and shops to restaurants and bars.
Activities in Santorini
The Island may be small but don’t be deceived. There is a lot to do, and a range of activities to choose from!
Sailing around the Island
This is the best way to see Santorini, by boat! Spend an afternoon sailing and make sure your cruise goes through sunset!
Shopping in Santorini
There are so many adorable shops across Oia, Fira, and Imeroglivi. There are plenty of shops to buy locally crafted goods ranging from dishes and pottery, to jewelry, and breezy dresses or cover ups.
Have some coffee and take a stroll, stopping in the shops to browse.
Hike down to Ammoudi Bay
The island is surrounded by water, yet the beaches are mostly on the South East coast, far from Oia. Many of the towns are hundreds of feet up on cliffs, but if you descend the stairs to Ammoudi Bay you’ll feel like you are right at home with the Sea.
If you keep walking, you’ll find a swimming area to cool off! But beware because it’s challenging to get to. You have to cross a thin rocky path over the water. I was sure Lauren or I were going to fall over into the sea but I was so proud of us for being adventurous - it led to such a fun afternoon! Many people swim out to a nearby rock that’s perfect for cliff jumping, and spectators watch and cheer them on.
There are several seaside restaurants to grab lunch or dinner, and the almost seem to touch the water. Talking about a fresh catch!
The walk down there isn’t too bad, and you’ll see some donkey’s making the trip too. But the walk back up is rough, so save enough energy for the return!
Check Out Atlantis Books
I love a good library, but the most famous bookshelves in the world are indoor, towering high. I have never seen an outdoor library or bookstore, let alone one that overlooks the sea! Which makes this is the coolest book store in the world.
Relax with a Beach Day
There are beaches on the South East side of the island, that are actually sea level and much easier to access unlike cliffs on the West!
There are a few nice beaches where you can grab some beach chair and spend the day cooling off in the Sea. Perissa is a popular option for a black sand beach, and the slightly less known Perívolos is a great option too.
There are also a handful of beach bars that provide drinks and food service right from the comfort of your chair. Many have really cute vibes, and fun music, so you can get a little bit of the Mykonos experience. Here are a few options if you are looking to do a beach day in Santorini:
Vlychada Beach: Theros Wave Bar
Agios Georgios: Seaside Santorini
Perivolos Beach: Wet Stories
Perissa Beach: Demilmar Beach Bar
Wine Tasting at Santo Winery
The soil on the island is perfect for wine making, so one popular activity in Santorini is to enjoy a few flights at this local winery. We didn’t get a chance to go, but my friends who have been all really enjoyed it!
It’s not far from Fira so it’s very easy to get to if you schedule a reservation around happy hour. Or better yet head there in the afternoon and add a tour of the winery to your agenda before you enjoy your tasting. The environment is spectacular, with 360 degree views of the sea.
Where the grapes are extra spoiled with their view.
Get Cultured at Akrotiri
Even if you are island hopping with rest & relaxation on your mind, or partying, there is always an opportunity for a history lesson nearby. It’s ancient Greece after all….
Like Pompeii, this town of Akrotiri was completely buried and somehow preserved by the ash from the volcanic explosion. It dates back to 16th Century BC, and has said to have inspired Plato’s Atlantis. My sister and I didn’t have enough time to add this to our itinerary, but if we had another day it would have been very interesting to see! If you’re interested in checking it out, here is more information on Akrotiri.
Sunset in Santorini
This is purposely under the activities section. I am not kidding, this is an attraction like no other! People come from all over the world to watch the sun go down over, especially over the enchanting town of Oia.
Knowing this, check when sunset will be expected during your stay in Santorini, and book restaurants in advance so you can get a front row seat to this spectacular show!!
Where We Stayed
We hopped around a lot, 3 different hotels in 4 nights. In the moment it was a little tiring, but we had a strategy: See as much of the island on this once in your lifetime trip, and get the chance to splurge on some accommodations, even if only for 1 night! It’s all about balance.
We stayed at 1 hotel, 1 airbnb home, and 1 secluded resort. This meant we got very different experiences in each place! They were all beautiful though, and I’d recommend each of them!
Andromeda Villas, Imeroglivi
Our first night in Greece we spent at the Andromeda Villas
It was the perfect hotel to embark on this journey, and very typical to the Cyclades in its architecture and design. We were pretty tired after traveling overnight and our plans for day 1 were limited to lunch, and napping by one of the two guest pools. We grabbed some day beds and spent hours relaxing until the sun almost disappeared into the sea.
I’d highly recommend this hotel if you are interested in staying in Imeroglivi. It had quaint and spacious rooms that were built into the cliff like many of the Greek cave homes. Every room had a private seating area outside, and some Suites had their own hot tubs or pools.
Breeze Cave House, Oia
This home called the Breeze House was one of the coolest places I’ve ever stayed, and one of my favorite Airbnb’s. The pictures on the posting are a little better to grasp the layout, but it’s an amazing home with so much character!
Our little walkway was mostly residential, but the home was only steps away from tons of restaurants and shops!
Funnily enough, this is a popular home to photograph in Oia and so we saw a lot of people stop and take pictures. It made us realize how lucky we were to be in such a special place! It was definitely worth splurging for a night just to get the full experience of staying in a cave house.
Elea Resort, Oia
We loved our stay at the Elea Resort. It was a little far from Oia, so I would only recommend it if you already spent time in the city itself like we did. I’d recommend this adults only hotel if you are traveling as a couple and looking for a more quiet, budget friendly, yet romantic location!
Our motivation to book this beautiful hotel was to get out of the crowds of Oia and relax and have a pool day. After leaving the Cave House we took the quick five minute ride to this resort. We spent the first afternoon entirely by the pool which was so needed after sweating for 24 hours in Oia the day before. We had lunch, swam, napped, read and then enjoyed the hotels complimentary cheese board and wine before heading into Oia at night for dinner!
Top Hotels in Santorini
Santorini has some world renowned hotels, and some of the most luxury accommodations I’ve seen. Here is my list for the honeymooners and those who want to splurge! Each of these look amazing, and would make for such a special trip.
Cavo Tygoo Santorini - Gorgeous Cave Hotel in Imeroglivi with views. Has suites with private pool / hot tub.
Canaves Suites - There are multiple properties in Oia, and many that have private pools.
Adronis Suites - Luxury in Oia! Unbelievable infinity pool. Has suites with private pool / hot tub.
Perivolos - One of the coolest and largest hotels in Oia. Check out the submerged hot tub and outdoor private pools for the suites!
Katkies - One of the 5 star hotels on the island, and for good reason
Art Maisons - Insane private pool villas, and perfect location in Oia.
Grace Hotel - We explored this a bit ourselves when getting drinks here, it’s a top location in Imeroglivi, probably because of its luxury suites and the incredible infinity pool
Chroma Suites - More affordable for Oia. Has apartment style suites with private pool / hot tub.
Restaurants & Local Cuisine in Santorini
I love Mediterranean food so much, and Greek is one of my favorites. Many people I had talked to before my trip said that the food is unbelievably fresh across all of Greece, and that I would be blown away by the simple yet flavorful cooking.
Make sure you indulge in Greek Salads with their massive hunks of feta, fresh tomato and cucumber. And drown everything in tzatziki!
Some of the best dishes we had were the local ones: Moussaka, spanikopita, baklava.
Fine Dining for the Views at Lãuda
Lauda restaurant is located at the very luxe Adronis Suites. The food and service were delicious, but it was the views that really sealed the deal for us. We made these reservations very far in advance, and I’d recommend doing the same!
One thing to note, this restaurant is facing the caldera and Imeroglivi, but you can’t see the sun go entirely down from this side of Oia. Scope out some restaurants above Ammoudi bay for the full sunset experience!
Great Restaurants, Bars & Cafe’s in Santorini
Oia
Ochre Bistro - Some of the most gorgeous sunset dining views in Oia, with lots of seating and cute environment. Decent food, but not as good as the other restaurants we tried.
Eliniko - Supposedly better food than Ochre, and still has sunset views!
Ammoudi Fish Tavern - Fun and delicious food, good dining atmosphere. Tough to get to at the base of the bay, but you can work off your meal with a walk up the hill!
Passagio - Great cafe spot for casual bites or drinks.
Roka - This is commonly rated one of the best meals in Oia and all of Santorini. It’s tucked away down an unassuming path, but actually has some views in its outdoor courtyard. Small menu, make a reservation
MaryKay’s Bar - Best Bar in Oia if you are looking to go out after dinner!
Imeroglivi
Anogi - Authentic Greek food, cute outdoor dining, but no views. Had a short wait, but don’t need reservation.
Avocado - My sister and I LOVED the food here. Nice dining experience being seated outdoor, but no views. Don’t necessarily need a reservation!
Athenian House - Modern Greek and a gorgeous sunset view. Expensive tasting menu. Make a reservation online in advance!
Fira
Argo - Said to be the best restaurant in Fira, and have the best food.
Lucky’s Souvlaki - The best gyro’s, loaded with french fries. Delicious!
Naoussa - Nice views, huge menu, and can make a reservation online in advance.
Remvi - Great food, and beautiful location for watching the sunset!
Pyrgos - Driving Distance from Fira. Gorgeous environment and views. Authentic Greek cuisine, and very large menu. Make a reservation.
Metaxi Mas - Driving Distance from Fira. Very authentic Greek cuisine, great views, call for reservations in advance.
Koo Club - If you are looking to go out, this is a great spot!
PK Cocktail Bar - Great cocktail bar and spot for happy hour.
Special shoutout to my Sis for an amazing trip!
Booking Santorini
Hopefully Santorini will be just one stop on your list of several Greek Islands. I know many people have Oia on their bucket list, but don’t wait forever, this is definitely a trip worth taking one day!
In reflecting on our trip now, it was a beautiful memory, and I’m so glad I got to have this experience with my sister. Funny enough - we both said we’ll probably never go back unless its a stop on a cruise or something! Maybe it was because we we were surrounded by honeymooning couples, or due to the heat and crowds…. But this is all very situational! As a destination in Europe, it definitely fulfilled our expectations.
I’m confident that it would make for the most perfect honeymoon. And it was definitely a MUST (at least once) for any trip to Greece.
Xx Gab
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