Santorini Island, Greece

Perched on the lip of a volcanic crater, Santorini is beautiful, romantic and mysterious. Here you will enjoy the most stunning sunsets, unique beaches and unforgettable views. Santorini consists of a group of 5 islands, Thira being the most popular and 4 smaller ones spread around the volcano which erupted in 1650 B.C.

Getting to and around Santorini

The easiest way to get to Santorini is by plane. The flying time from Athens to Santorini is approximately 40 minutes. Numerous charter flights from different European cities fly directly to the island during the summer period.

Another way to reach the island is by the regular ferry and high speed boat from the port of Piraeus. The boat trip takes approximately 5-9 hours depending on the boat type and the ports of call. Santorini is well connected with the nearby Cycladic islands of Ios, Paros, Naxos, Mykonos and it has regular services to Crete.

It is easy to get around Santorini by local buses which have regular services to the most important villages and beaches on the island. Hiring a car is also recommended but only experienced riders should consider hiring a motor bike because the island is hilly and windy at times.

Highlights of Santorini

It can be said that this island has two parts to it. The caldera side (up to 300 metres peak overlooking the volcano) and the low part of the island where most of the beaches can be found.

There are numerous traditional houses, hotels and villas literally built against the rock which enjoy unforgettable views across the sea making Santorini such a unique island. The main town of Fira together with Firostefani and Imerovigli are all perched against the rock offering tremendous views from the many houses, restaurants and bars located in the area.

If you stay at Fira it is recommended that you visit the archaeological museum containing sculptures, vases and clay figurines from the Archaic, Hellenistic and Roman periods.

Oia, one of the most attractive towns of the island, is a traditional settlement located on the northern tip of the island. Here you will enjoy magnificent views and stunning sunsets sipping your cocktail in one of the many bars listening to some classical music. The small maritime museum at Oia, set in an old mansion, is worth a visit.

There is a large choice of volcanic black sand beaches around the island. The most popular ones are Kamari and Perissa beach with numerous tavernas, cafes and bars as well as a large range of hotels for all budgets.

The site of Acrotiri discovered in 1967 is a Bronze Age city with a great collection of wall paintings. These paintings dating back over 3600 years were preserved due to the seal of pumice from the volcano eruption.

It would be an oversight to not mention the local wines and food the visitor can enjoy in Santorini. The island’s cuisine is based on the locally grown produce, fresh fish and seafood from the Aegean Sea. This coupled with the many varieties of local wines and wide choice of restaurants have made Santorini one of the gastronomical locations in Greece.