Santorini Travel Guide | Travel Santorini

Santorini is the most famous and picturesque island in the Cyclades, the group of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. You would expect to see a fertile island with verdant greenery all around but are greeted instead by a different kind of extraordinary beauty in Santorini. The uniqueness of the island strikes you as you near the island from the sea. The sinking of the centre of a volcano that erupted in 1660 literally gave rise to Santorini and its smaller neighbour islands of Thirasia, Palaia and Nea Kameni.

You will never have a dull or boring moment in Santorini. There are several activities in all the towns and villages to suit people of all temperaments and dispositions. Water sports, wineries and the nightlife offer the most common and popular activities.

This Santorini Destination Guide will help you plan your perfect island holiday, listing some of the Santorini highlights you should check out. An ideal way of seeing these are on a locally run tour in Santorini. For general information about travelling in Greece, check out our Greece country guide.

Things to See & Do in Santorini

Oia in Santorini
Santorini Beaches
Emporio
Hot Springs
Imerovigli
Kamari
Mesa and Exo Gonia
Monolithos
Nightlife
Acrotiri
Perissa
Phira or Fira
Pyrgos
Sports
Vothonas

Oia in Santorini

Oia Village in Santorini - Santorini Hotels and Santorini Travel Built on the edges of the caldera, Oia is Santorini’s northernmost village and unarguably its most charming one. It used to be the commercial hub and the most posh area in Santorini till recent times.

Oia is the town that is associated with the sunset – it offers the most brilliant experience of the sunset in the world and tourists flock to Oia to enjoy it. You should consider yourself very lucky if you manage to rent a place to stay in Oia. You can walk down the caldera to the beach of Ammoudi.

Our local company Mega Travel Advisors offers a range of Oia Hotels in Santorini. If you would like any further information about Oia in Santorini please don't hesitate to contact us today!

Santorini Beaches

Santorini Beaches - Santorini Travel The beaches in Santorini are popular for water sports. Most of the beaches on the island are wide and have black sand. It is wise to exercise caution as the beaches, specifically the beaches on the north-east, are known to have undercurrents and high tides.

Kamari and Perissa are the favourites of tourists, and Amoudi is quite popular for snorkelling. You might like the beaches in Monolithos, Vlichada and Agios Georgios if you fancy calm, quiet, private beaches without too many people and too many things to do.

If you would like more information about the beaches of Santorini please contact our local team based in Santorini! We also offer a range of Fira Hotels in Santorini Hotels and Santorini Tours.

Emporio

The village of Emporio is well known as the setting of Jean-Paul Sartre’s play Les Mouches. The French dramatist and philosopher is known to have visited the village with his author-philosopher compatriot, Simone de Beauvoir before World War II. The goulas or tower is a miniature replica of the Aghios Ioannis monastery in Patmos, built outside the village. Do not miss a visit to Anavrytos, one of the four hot springs in Santorini.

Hot Springs

The other hot springs in Santorini include Thermi in Megalochori, one in Plaka and another in Kokkina Nera. All four are popular tourist spots, and tourists visit them for their therapeutic benefits.

Imerovigli

A village above the capital town of Phira, Imerovigli is your best bet for accommodation on the island. The sunset is mesmerising in this village, which has also survived to this day as a relic. Many houses damaged in the natural disaster have been left as they are, in stark contrast to the vibrant nightlife just a 10-minute walk away.

Kamari

The black sand beach in Kamari is the second most popular beach after Perissa for sea bathing. This town has a lively nightlife and hotels that you can enjoy.

Mesa and Exo Gonia

These two are agricultural villages famous for their vineyards and wineries. The quiet villages house many units/facilities for wine production and storage. The Church of Episkopi is worth a visit while you are in Mesa Gonia.

Monolithos

The only beach in Santorini with white sand, Monolithos is not very far from the airport. The tavernas offering local specialities are the other attractions on this small, quiet beach.

Nightlife

Santorini has a long and lively nightlife, with the capital Phira being the most popular destination. Visit the bars and discotheques in Phira, Kamari and Perissa. If you enjoy soft, live jazz, drop in to the Zafora cafeteria for a memorable evening.

Acrotiri

An ancient city, the city of Acrotiri is home to well preserved pre-historic houses and wall painting datings back to 3,500 years. There are several great ways to enjoy your Santorini tour in the nice city of Acrotiri. You could take a walk through the city, have meals in the rock tavernas, and enjoy a boat ride in a traditional kaiki to Kokkini Akti, the red beach, and Aspri Akti, the white beach, as well as Palea kammeni, the old volcano.

Perissa

The captivating landscape of Perissa includes the beach with black sand and the majestic, but inaccessible Mesa Vouno rock. The swiftly changing hue of the dark blue sea is a rare phenomenon. You can reach the ruins of Ancient Thera through a steep trail, after which an easy night out or restful night in a small hotel is a good way to end an eventful day in Perissa.

Phira or Fira

The capital of Santorini is on the periphery of the caldera. It is a picturesque town characterised by domed churches reminiscent of the Cycladic era, stepped alleys and terraces, all set strikingly against the deep blue backdrop of the sea. Enjoy the easy climb down 600 steps to reach the Phira harbour. You could also opt for the teleferic or the cable-car or even try a ride on donkeys the way the locals do to get back up.

Phira is famous for its active nightlife. The town has a range of restaurants, bars, Santorini hotels and discotheques catering to all kinds of taste buds, and most of them are also strategically located to offer incredible views of the volcano. Try having a meal at a taverna, a small traditional restaurant offering Greek cuisine, for a taste of authentic Greek cuisine and culture.

Pyrgos

Pyrgos is one of the biggest villages in Santorini and is built in typical Cycladic style. It is a fortified village on a hill, with the houses on the perimeter also functioning like a fortress. The streets in the village trace the profile of the hill on which it is built, while the location of the village gives it an unmatched vantage view of the entire island.

Sports

The sports enthusiasts among you could try the following – tennis in Kamari and Karteradeso; mini-golf, go-carting and roller-skating in Perissa; and basketball and volleyball in Phira and Kamari. There are several biking and horse-riding options too. If you want to experience a beautiful though tiring two-hour walk from Imerovigli to Phira, ensure that you carry enough water with you.

Vothonas

A farming village fashioned out of the rocks and sand of a ravine, Vothonas is a pretty testimony to excellent local craftsmanship. Do not miss a visit to the St. Anna Church, which is most renowned for its intricately-carved wooden templon or altar rail.

Santorini Destination Guide