Santorini is an island located in Greece. It is known as Thira and nearly 200km southeast of the Greek mainland. It is the largest island of a circular archipelago and the remnant of a volcanic caldera. The size of Santorini is about 73km2,and only 15000 people live there. Despite its tiny size, Santorini has several lovely towns for tourists. Towns like Oia, Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, built on the edge of the famous Caldera, are famous all over the world for their breathtaking views. Today, we will discuss some vital information regarding a visit to Santorini. Santorini is an island located in Greece.Before Planning a trip,this post might worth a reading vital info regarding a visit to Santorini
There is a saying that no visit to Greece is complete without visiting Santorini. You can plan for Santorini from a day trip to a seven days trip, or even more. Usually, a minimum of four nights stay is recommended to cover most of the places worth seeing. The whole area may be a bit small to explore; still, it has a lot to offer. The best time to visit Santorini is during the summer months. As it is one of the most visited islands in Greece, you might want to plan your trip in Spring or in Fall, if you want to avoid the crowds. April, May, June, September and October seem to be less crowded, but still offering a summery vibe! Even March and November are becoming very popular among Santorini visitors, as the weather is still warm most of the times.
Things to do
At first, there is no way you miss the hike from Fira to Oia. According to many tourists, it is the single best thing to do in Santorini. The best part about this hike is it is entirely free and the views are mesmerizing. It takes somewhere between 2 to five hours to complete, depending on the walking speed. You will enjoy the true beauty of this hiking if you start early in the morning. The roads are hiking friendly; but you better use running shoes than flip flops : ) .
Then, Perissa is the best swimming beach in Santorini. It has black sand that does get hot in the summer. Perissa is about a 30 minutes drive from Fira and 45 minutes drive from Oia. You can check Santorini rent a car rates and rent one to drive there yourself, if you don’t feel like squeezing in a public bus. The black volcanic sand of Perissa , made this beach famous in the first place. If you have already visited other Greek islands, you will be surprised of how different beaches are in Santorini…
Now, Santorini is famous for its natural views. We all see those breathtaking photos of Santorini on Instagram and Flickr. You can try a photographic tour in Santorini to have some outstanding pictures of yours. A professional photographer arranges these tours either with a small group of people with similar interest, or just for you! These tours are a bit expensive, but you will get the chance to view Santorini from some unique places for sure.
On the other hand, Akrotiri is the most interesting historical site on Santorini. You can explore the remaining of the ancient Minoan Bronze-Age village, buried by a volcanic eruption in the 16th Century BC. The site is well preserved till today and a must-visit place for history enthusiasts. You can combine your visit in Akrotiri excavations, with the famous Red beach, which is nearby.
A unique and fun way to see the caldera is by using jet skies. Many people take this ride via boats. However, you cannot compare a ride of a jet ski with a boat ride. The shortest tour lasts about 90 minutes in which you can visit Red Beach and White Beach. The medium package is 140 minutes long, goes all the way into the caldera and stops for a swim in the hot springs by the volcano. The most extended tour takes 200 minutes, including the volcano tour and a tour to Ammoudi Bay and Thirassia.
Moreover, you can explore the countryside of Santorini via Cheap Santorini rent a car. You can quickly get away from the main towns and explore the true beauty of the Santorian countryside. As the island is small, you will always see the lovely sea.
Another exciting activity is to watch open-air cinema in Kamari, voted as one of the best in Europe. You can try this unique way of enjoying a cinema when the sun sets and the sky grows dark. The movie starts at 9.30 pm, but you have to go earlier if you want a seat.
Finally, a trip to Santorini can be one of the most amazing experiences of your life. All you have to do is plan everything early to minimize the costs. I wish you an excellent trip and unforgettable experiences !
How to get there:
1. By plane . There are direct flights to Santorini international airport ( it has the code JTR ) from most major European airports. Alternatively you can fly to Athens El. Venizelos international airport (code ATH ), and get a connecting flight (there are at least 15 domestic flights every day between Athens and Santorini.
2. By ferry / speedboats. There are ferries and fast boats going to Santorini from Piraeus ( Athens port ), Crete, Mykonos, Ios , Paros, Naxos, Kos, Rhodes, and the small Cyclades.
Make sure that you book your tickets in advance as at the moment due to Covid-19 safety regulations, boats can
only get up to 50% full !
Transportation
Like in every modern tourist destination, you can find local bus service, organized taxi service, as well as car and scooter / ATV rentals.
Where to stay
There are numerous hotels and private villas or apartments for every budget. All of them are available in the big booking portals.
The ones offering caldera views though are significantly more expensive than the places near the beach!
