SANTORINI
If you watched or read Part I of this series, you’re all filled in on Athens, now it’s time to hit the islands! The second stop on our trip: Santorini.
Before you go: decide if you want to take a ferry or flight. The ferry ride is a little cheaper but can take between 5 and 8 hours, so for a little extra money, we got a flight that took less than an hour!
Accommodations: there are two main hotspots you’ll want to spend some time in: Fira (Santorini’s capitol) and Oia (land of the blue domes). I found Imerovigli to be the perfect place to stay. Being right in the middle, we were about a 20 minute walk to Fira and 20 minute drive to Oia. We were also separate from the cruise ship ports and excessive tourists, and we were able to get a room with a view of the caldera for a fraction of the cost! My hotel choice: Aqua Luxury Suites. Pull up to an unassuming building and enter to a staff that can’t do enough to make sure you have the best time possible in Santorini. Once they escort you out the back door to find your room, prepare yourself for possibly, the most incredible views in the world. Because it is difficult to purchase large clusters of real estate in this area, hotel rooms are often spread apart. Our room, known as the lovebird suite, was its own little hut. While the inside was cozy, we had two balconies: one for lounging and one for breakfast (which is free and delivered to your room every morning). We also lucked out with sunset views. Also, enjoy more views and delicious food at Aqua Luxury Suites’ restaurant. Tips when booking a room: As I said in the first video, book through hotels.com to get the best rates. Get a room facing the caldera (the caldera is that semicircle shape created from the volcanic eruption). Try your best to get a balcony, and, if possible, a small pool.
Things to do:
Fira
Not to be confused with Thira (which was the original name for Santorini yet is still used sometimes in different forms), Fira is the capital of Santorini. A beautiful labyrinth of shops and restaurants, give yourself at least a day to experience all it has to offer. Tip: because Cruise ships dock here, it is pretty busy between 8am and 6pm, have a late start to your day and enjoy the sunset and nightlife. Like Athens, street food did outdo the restaurant food. Yogi’s Gyros ended up being my favorite place to eat. However, if you want a bit of ambience, the best and most popular restaurant seems to be Argo. Go there earlier in the day to make a reservation. Take whatever they give you because they will upgrade you to better seating if it becomes available. We ended up with a lovely sunset view.
Oia
Famous for its blue dooms and white walls, it’s the most photographed city in the world and an Instagramer’s paradise. Oia looks like it was created by an interior designer. Even the gift shops adhere to the color scheme. However, while I’m not one who minds crowds, Oia took it to another level. Avoid July and August, as it tends to be peak tourist season. May, June, and September are your best bet. Anyway, we ended up leaving pretty quickly (after snapping a few photos, of course) and coming back at night. It was still magical and practically empty. We enjoyed a wonderful waterfront dinner at Sunset Taverna, and took in the night views.
Kamari
While Santorini isn’t known for its beaches, they are still pretty stunning. Located in the southeast of Santorini, Kamari is a beach town featuring a lengthy stretch of bars and restaurants. If you don’t want to stay near the caldera on your trip, this is a very fun community with a lot of hotels and more of a laid back vibe. Kamari beach has black sand and offers incredible views of the mountain Mesa Vouno. On the other side of the mountain, you’ll find two more popular black sand beaches: Perissa and Perivolos.
Mesa Vouno
If you want to see some ancient ruins in Santorini, or some really amazing views outside of the caldera, visit Mesa Vouno. While you can walk up the mountain, why do that yourself? A cautious drive will just take you 15 minutes. At the top you’ll have beautiful views of the Aegean Sea, and you can check out Ancient Thera. Ancient Thera was settled around the eighth century BC, and became a very vibrant, built up city during its peak with public buildings, markets, baths, religious centers, private residences, and even a sewage system. You can still see the remains of the roads and buildings and get a sense for what a bustling community this once was.
Emporio
Emporio is the largest village in Santorini but you would never know it because it is extremely quaint, quite, and peaceful. Get lost in the narrow streets that are full of charm. Every door is ready to be on the cover of a magazine and so this is a great place to take some of those artsy photos. Emporio is not overrun with tourists so you can fully immerse yourself in Santorini life.
Sunset Cruise
The sunset cruise was my FAVORITE thing to do in Santorini. There are a bunch of different companies that offer this, we used Spiridakos Sailing Cruises and were so pleased. The company picks you up at your hotel, brings you down to the Vlychada Marina in the southern part of Santorini, where you get onto the Catamaran with a handful of other people (for a semi-private cruise, it seems these companies book up 16 people). On board the super fun staff serves you unlimited drinks and takes you past the red and white sand beaches, the lighthouse and the Caldera, and several places to swim and snorkel (including a hot spring)-TIP: don’t wear a white bathing suit in the hot spring because the sulfate will turn it orange or brown. This 5 hour cruise also includes an awesome dinner the staff makes fresh on board and some of the most picturesque views you will ever see. Also, is there a better way to view a perfect sunset?
Other Attractions
-Santorini has a winery and a brewery, if you’d like to do a quick tasting on your trip.
-A Photo Safari is when you hire a photographer for the day, which I thought was silly, but after three days of telling my husband nonstop to take my picture, I understood why this is a thing here. Even babies are dressed to the 9’s ready for photo shoots.
-the famous donkey rides are starting to be discouraged, as it’s a pretty rough life for a donkey, enjoy the cable car in Fira for the same views and better smell.
Getting Around
The most inexpensive way to get around Santorini is by bus. The main bus station is in Fira and these buses travel to most parts of the island. However, keep in mind they don’t run all night and cabs in Santorini are really overpriced and prices double between midnight and 5am. A fun way to travel if you want a bit of freedom for the day is by ATV. I was scared at first, but this was actually really fun. They are 50 euros for the day and you can fit two people on them. You can get around the entire island on one of these...even go up Mount Mesa Vouno and stop in some random caves on the side of the road.
Santorini is the most romantic, breathtaking place I have ever been. Within the first hour of arriving my thought was, “When can I come back?” Pictures will never do this place justice, you’ll just have to go see it for yourself. Thanks for reading! Don't forget to check out the corresponding YouTube video: 10-Minute Travel Tips: Santorini
Thanks so much!
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