Flashback to 2018…. It’s Christmas and we’re at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, which is famous for its sunset (those who have seen the movie La La Land will remember it). We politely ask an American couple to take a picture of us! They respond with a smile and ask us where we are from. At the sound of Greece their eyes light up! “Oh! Mykonos, Santoriniiiii”, they answer us! “The sunset there is much better!”
Yes, they were right… It is truly incredible if you consider that the first thing that comes to the mind of many foreigners when you talk to them about Greece is these two islands. Mykonos and Santorini. And not without reason! In the difficult decades of the '60s and '70s, they pulled the weight of the country's tourism product and made their name reach the ends of the earth. Of course, a lot has changed since then. But Santorini's reputation remains deafening. There is no tourist guide or article on the internet that does not mention it as a place that someone MUST definitely see at least once in their life.
And this is not only contributed by the hordes of all kinds of influencers, who flock to take a selfie with the whitewashed houses and the churches with blue domes in the background. But also by the photogenicity of a landscape that, no matter how you look at it, there is no other like it in the world. Santorini is certainly not the island that those of us who had visited it before knew. Construction is increasing dramatically, traffic in the settlements is becoming unbearable at times, and the island's infrastructure barely manages to serve the needs of the thousands of tourists who visit the island daily.
But… climbing the narrow alleys and facing the caldera, all the previous things take a back seat. Your eyes sparkle, the view captivates you and you are overcome with awe! The landscape is supernatural, lunar and unusual with the small towns standing on the edge of the cliff. The place exerts an inexplicable charm. The volcano in front of you with the islands born from the power of the lava captivates you.
You wonder... What enormous forces emerged from the depths of the earth and created this eerie spectacle? How did destruction bring about so much beauty? And how did man manage to sculpt the rock, creating this unique picturesqueness?
Even if you are not looking to answer all these questions, a visit to the island is a must. However, as you can easily understand, it is a very expensive destination, at least when it comes to accommodation and food. Through this article we will give you some tips that will help you a lot.
When and how to go
The tourist season in Santorini starts from mid-May and lasts until the end of October. If you are interested in combining it with a summer vacation and enjoying the sea, prefer June (early) and September. Whatever you do, DO NOT go in July and August! The traffic both on the roads and in the narrow streets of the settlements is stifling and you will definitely not enjoy it. However, if you are not interested in the sea and want an authentic Santorini experience, read this one the tribute we made when we spent the Easter days there!
For your transfer to the island, low cost airlines have several offers, so you can find tickets for as little as 50 euros round trip, as long as you book them early. Ferries are quite expensive unless you take a slow boat that will take you in about… ten hours.
Where to stay?
Fortunately, there are affordable options here. If you do a search, you will see that in the settlements of Karterados, Messaria, Emporio, etc. there are still reasonable prices. If you search early, of course, you can even find one in Oia or Fira. However, the crowds in these places are not the best way to relax when you return to your room. To reduce the cost of your vacation even more, find an accommodation with a kitchenette so that you can cook something there if you want. If you want to wake up with a view of the caldera and watch the sunset from your room, the most affordable rooms we discovered cost from 300 euros per night and up.
How to get around
The KTEL has frequent routes and if you live in a central part of a settlement it is convenient to move around with it. However, with a little search you can find a motorbike, ATV (pigs) or car to rent at a good price and be able to make your own schedule. Keep in mind that parking in settlements is a difficult task.
What to see
Oia
The most famous settlement on the island is perhaps also the most beautiful! It stands out for its captain's houses and the cave dwellings that have been converted into luxury hotels and Airbnb. Oia has been characterized as a traditional settlement and the undergrounding of lighting and telephone cables further enhances the beauty of the landscape.
You will admire the famous Church of the Resurrection with the blue domes that you have seen in countless photos on social media, you will stop for countless photos at the picturesque corners and viewpoints, and you will enjoy walks on the main marble-paved street of the settlement.
Without a doubt, a walk to Ammoudi, the port of Oia that in the past exported Visanto as far as Russia, is a must. If going up and down the steps seems difficult under the hot sun (and you're right), don't worry because there is also a car available.
When dusk comes, all roads lead to the ruined castle of Oia! That's where visitors to the island go for what is perhaps the most famous sunset in the world. With so many people, however, it's difficult to enjoy it. So look for a good spot either in one of the alleys of the area, towards the windmill of Oia, or on the steps to Ammoudi. The energetic vibes that the place gives off in combination with the vastness of the sea are something that cannot be described in words. You will experience scenes of mysticism...
Fira
The capital of Santorini is undoubtedly the entertainment center of the island, as numerous bars and restaurants bring life and vibrancy to the island at night. However, there are two notable museums that are worth visiting. The museum of Prehistoric Thera (there you will find the wonderful frescoes from the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri) and the Archaeological Museum with important exhibits from antiquity. In Fira you will admire the three bells at the Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, you will enjoy the view from various points and you will see the cable car that takes visitors up from the old port. Our opinion is that Fira has been "touristized" excessively and is losing out in some ways compared to the picturesqueness of the other settlements.
Imerovigli – Firostefani
On the contrary, in these two settlements you will feel the peace and romance they offer as everything here flows more calmly, more slowly. The path that connects them together with the picturesque narrows create an idyllic landscape for walks while the sunset from there is equally impressive! The rock of Skaros (there was a settlement and castle during Byzantine times) dominates from any point you stand to see the view.
Commerce
Emporio or Emporio or “Nimporio” is the largest village of Santorini, with a population of 1,938 residents. Its traditional settlement was one of the “castles” of the island, as in medieval times the houses were built next to each other, so that the residents could be protected from pirates. The entrance to the castle of Emporio still exists today and the locals call it the “Gate”. As soon as you pass through it, an eerie little labyrinth of narrow alleys, where only one person can fit, opens up before you!
Cape
Don't be in Santorini and don't visit the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri. There, the "Pompeii of the Aegean" and a civilization that was lost to the fury of nature will be revealed before you. The Minoan eruption (the second largest ever recorded) covered the city and the entire island with volcanic ash, protecting the buildings and their contents. You will encounter four-story buildings, beds, amphorae, and even cooking utensils. The space will captivate you. The bioclimatic roof that has been installed keeps the temperature at pleasant levels even in summer and protects the findings from weather phenomena.
Beaches
If they tell you that Santorini is not worth going to for its beaches, they are wrong! The impressive formations and colors you will encounter here will not be found anywhere else. That is why it is worth including them in your itinerary! The most impressive is undoubtedly the Red beach, with its vertical volcanic red rocks, which you can reach with a short walk or by boat from Akrotiri. Equally impressive is the White beach, to which you will go again by boat. The Kamari is a popular beach, accessible to everyone with several beach bars and black sand. Our favorite spot, right on the beach near the rock! The Perissa and the Precinct are also two popular beaches that gather quite a lot of people but you will always find a place for your umbrella and towel. Of course we should not forget the Monolith, the Agios Nikolaos, the Columbus and the Inside Pigadia.
But we left you our favorite for last! She is none other than Vlychada! Don't go where everyone else goes... put the location on your mobile maps Theros wave bar. You will follow a passable dirt road that will make you believe that you have been transported to some lunar landscape and you will end up at the impressive beach with the white geological formations carved by the weather! If you don't want to sit at the beach bar, there is plenty of space for your umbrella and towel, as these are the calmest beaches on the island.
Food – entertainment
Let's not kid ourselves. Santorini is generally an expensive destination and it will be difficult to find prices within reasonable limits. Not that they don't exist, but you need to look for them. With the help of locals, we will recommend some restaurants where you can eat well and within reasonable limits, without this meaning that there are not others. In Messaria you will find the Aegean Postcards and PentozaleIn the Palm tree the Lily, in the Tower the Cantonment and Brusco, in the Vourvoulo the Rosa, in the Perivolos the Nets, in Cape Nikola's Cave, in Oia the Oia Vineyard, in Firostafani the Aktaion, in Outside Corner the Between us and in a slightly more expensive context but with amazing flavors the Minnow in VlychadaIt goes without saying that you should try the few other exquisite products that can be grown in this wild land, such as wine, fava beans, dehydrated cherry tomatoes, eggplant, and round zucchini.
We won't write much about coffee and drinks. The choices are well-known and many. But we recommend our favorites! Coffee in the morning at Volkan on the Rocks in Firostefani and cocktails at sunset at the Palia Kammeni bar in Fira (you will need a reservation). It is also worth going to one of the many wineries for wine tasting. The most famous is Santo Wines (it seemed a bit touristy to us although it has a nice view), but our favorite is the Venetsanos Winery, in an amazing space with a small museum and a view of the caldera.
What not to do in Santorini
There are some things we saw, we didn't like and we would like to point them out. Don't ride the donkeys for a ride. We really don't understand why in 2023 and in the middle of the hot summer, these lovable four-legged animals have to be subjected to this torture! Since the state has been allowing locals to exploit them for centuries, we must not use them and demand that this stop.
Do not climb onto church roofs or house rooftops for the perfect photo without asking permission from the owners-tenants. It is sad to invade someone's privacy and personal space at will. And unfortunately in Santorini, due to the limited space, this happens a lot...
Don't book a photoshoot package with the dresses and their huge train (Flying dress photoshoot). Really, unless you're doing next day wedding photography, it's the most vain and kitsch thing we've seen on the island. Not to mention it's also extremely expensive!
Closing
Santorini is a creation of lava, ash color and magic and calls you like a siren to visit it. The island that emerged from the bowels of the earth captivates with its uniqueness, its incomparable landscape and its unparalleled beauty. You can't help but go. No matter what you hear, no matter what you read, it is one of the places you must visit at least once in your life. But you need to know what you will encounter and be prepared for it. And we hope that with this article we have helped you enough!
