My Travel Guide to Santorini, Greece
Santorini is one of my all time favourite destinations to visit. I absolutely LOVE this island.
I love it so much, I've already travelled here twice in the course of just over a year. It's more than just romantic, it feels like another world. The sunsets here are incredible, and the charming towns that line the clifftops are beyond beautiful.
You can get to the Cyclades island of Santorini a few ways. Located in the Aegean Sea, most people visit Santorini for the day via cruise ship. You can also fly in (airport code JTR) and even arrive by ferry from Athens (or from many of the other Greek Islands) for longer stays. If you're visiting by cruise ship, you will have to tender (your cruise ship anchors out in the caldera and you are ferried onto the bottom of the cliff of Thira (Fira). You will then have a few choices. You can take a gondola/cable car to the top of the cliff side, a boat to Oia (sounds like EE YA), walk up the stairs or ride a donkey up. I'm going to be very honest, please, please, please do not ride the donkeys up the hill. They are overworked, working in very hot conditions and getting injured. Conde Nast Traveller wrote an article on the donkeys of Santorini that you can find here. Please keep in mind being a socially responsible traveller, especially when it comes to animal welfare. The cable car up is €6 per person, per direction, so €12 per person round trip. I recently did the boat to Oia option on my last trip, taking a boat from where the cruise ship tenders drop off. This option was €15 per person which includes the boat to Oia, bus ride up the hill into Oia and then the bus ride back to Thira.
Getting Around Santorini:
If you decide to check out Thira first, once at the top of the hill, you can't help but take in the magnificent views. This island is just beautiful everywhere. Thira is one of the main towns on Santorini. It's where you will find the main bus terminal (public bus system run by KTEL). A bus ticket to most areas on the island is around a €1.80 to €2.50 per direction, honestly it's a great deal and the public buses are coach style buses. A bus from Thira to Oia will cost you €1.80 per direction.
Here's how to get to the bus station from the cable car (red dot is the cable car, yellow dot is the bus depot, it's about a 10 minute walk):
Map of Thira
Taxis on Santorini are limited and can be expensive. Renting a car, motorbike and/or ATV is the other option most visitors opt for. Rough costs for this depend on the depot and rental company used.
Things to see and do:
There are so many things to see and experience on Santorini. It's a place to take in the beauty, relax and unwind. I've broke down some of the top sights and things to do based on each town.
Oia
- Probably the most iconic town that tourists flock to. Here in Oia, my favourite thing to do is just to wander the streets and enjoy the sights. I love photographing the whitewashed homes, clinging to the cliffside. It's just an incredible view. If you're here for the day, visit early in the morning before the cruise ship crowds descend on this small village. Once 11:00am rolls around it can be very busy here as it is such a popular destination. Crowds don't dissipate until later in the afternoon depending on the cruise ship schedules. Sunsets are absolutely amazing, however Oia can still feel quite busy if there is still a ship in port. There are several restaurants that have stunning sunset views, where you can order a bottle of prosecco or champagne and enjoy the experience. Oia is a tourist town, however there are a few locals shops here offering some beautiful unique products and gifts (don't miss the Atlantis Books Store and a store called Nama). Oia to me it's one of those places to explore, take amazing photos, grab a seat at a restaurant, enjoy a glass of wine with some amazing Greek food and ponder life while taking in the view over the caldera.
Thira
- Thira is a place that most tourists arrive, it's where the cable car brings thousands of tourists almost everyday in the busy season. There are a few local shops here, however it can also be a great starting point to exploring the island of Santorini. Santorini has some amazing wineries and breweries. One wine tour in particular is with
they offer a great half day tour visiting three local wineries on Santorini learning about how the volcanic earth here help creates some great wines.
Red Beach (Akrotiri)
- One of the most scenic beaches on Santorini, within walking distance from the Akrotiri Archaeological Site, a site not to miss. The site is covered and enclosed to protect the discovered and very well preserved ruins from the Minoan Bronze Age. Red Beach itself can be a bit tricky to get onto depending on the level of erosion, but it's a beautiful and unique beach.
Where to eat on Santorini:
Oia
- My favourite place to eat in Oia is Lotza Restaurant. The food here is fresh, home cooked and just delicious. It's a very quaint restaurant with amazing views overlooking the caldera.
If you are ready to start planning your vacation to Santorini, whether by cruise or a customized land package, please contact me here to work with me as your travel advisor.
Until next time, happy travels!
Ariane
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