SANTORINI TRAVEL GUIDE
KEY INFORMATION
WHEN TO VISIT?
We have been to Santorini in both May and September. The earlier months of the year seem to be more windy. There is still wind later in the year but it’s less intense. The weather from May to September is warm and dry. Possibly avoid the peak summer months if you can as the island will be very busy. In off season it is still busy but more manageable than in the peak of summer.
WHERE TO STAY?
Santorini is known for its caldera view private villas with plunge pools and hot tubs. Space is at a premium and demand is high driving the price of a single night in such luxurious accommodation into the thousand of Euros. There is cheaper accommodation available from cheaper hotels set further back from the caldera to hostels and camping sites. There should be enough options to suit everyone if booked far enough in advance and this sometimes means more than a year in advance.
We suggest to stay near the capital of the island if Fira sometimes referred to as Thira but our understanding is that Thira is the official name of Santorini. However, Fira and Thira seem to be now used to both describe the town of Fira. If you do stay in Fira you will be in a great place to then explore the rest of the Island.
HOW TO GET AROUND?
Hire cars are available but we wouldn’t recommend it because of the tiny streets and lack of parking in any of the popular spots. ATV hire is a popular choice and a fun way to get around. There are risks associated with the ATV’s though and a number of tourist have gotten into serious accidents because of a lack of experience and unfamiliar terrain. A young British couple died when they drove their ATV into a 200m ravine on the mountain.
Our suggestion is to the use buses that link the island. They are cheap run often and are easy to use. The main bus terminal is located in Fira and you can explore any part of the island by catching the relevant bus. The bus staff can be a bit hit and miss with pointing you to the right bus but be persistent and they will point you to the right bus when it arrives. Just ask around and you will be helped.
WHERE TO EAT?
The choice of food available on Santorini is perfect to suit any appetite. We ate at so many different restaurants during our two trips. Many we can’t remember and some of our favourites we have listed below. We love getting out and exploring and finding great little food spots. We suggest to do the same as you never know what you will find, or you can check out our recommendations below as they are all very good.
Dolphins near the red beach its where the locals go
Pyrgos Restaurant amazing food and amazing views, it is also a wedding venue.
Senor Zorba yummy Mexican restaurant near Santo wines with beautiful caldera views
Kantouni great lunch spot if you are planning on spending the afternoon exploring Pyrgos
Pelican Kipos a well laid out restaurant serving a variety of Greek food in Fira
Los Tres Amigos a burrito bar in Fira, you have to eat here!
WHAT TO DO?
PYRGOS
This is actually our favourite part of Santorini. Set on top of a hill leading to incredible views across the island. It is generally very quiet to tourists and offers a fantastic spot for sunset. It is a very traditional Santorini village on a smaller scale than somewhere like Oia. It is easily reached by the bus service and also has some fantastic restaurants.
OIA
Brave the crowds and watch the sunset from Oia. It is in the north of the Island and over looks the Caldera. It is the town you have most likely seen in photos and is insanely beautiful. That does come with a cost though and the hordes of people around sunset time can be suffocating. The queues for the bus can also be pretty intense and sometimes feels like you have just left a football match. The effort is worth it though when you watch the horizon glow golden and witness what is considered the best sunset in the world.
We would suggest arriving earlier in the morning to explore the beautiful streets of Oia all to your self.
FIRA
From great restaurants, transport links and beautiful hotels, Fira is the centre of the island and the main hub. Its main street is closed to traffic at night time and you can safely explore the shops and restaurants without avoiding the cars and bikes.
SANTO WINERY
Santorini wine is popular and Santo wines offers a place to eat and drink wine with incredible views of the Caldera. Don’t forget to take some of their famous wine home with you.
ANCIENT RUINS & ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES
Santorini has a long history and you can see that in the historic sites.
CALDERA BOAT TOURS
Catch a sunset boat cruise out into the caldera, or a boat tour to the volcanic hot springs.
PROFITIS ILIAS
at almost 800 meters it is the highest point of Santorini. Visit the monastery the sits at the top of the mountain and marvel at the views of the entire island. Be careful though as a young British couple died when they drove their ATV into a 200m ravine on the mountain.
RED BEACH
After continued landslides this beach is now dangerous and officially closed. However, that doesn’t stop many tourist spending the day sunbathing on Red beach. Go and see the beach from a distance but please avoid the beach as another land slip could happen at any time.
PERÍSSA
Black Sand beach that is popular amongst tourist. Santorini is not really an Island that you go to for the beaches but this is probably the biggest and most used. The town itself has a great choice of restaurants and bars.
VLICHADA BEACH
If the beach at Períssa is not your thing then try Vlichada Beach. A slightly quieter black sand beach that is fairly easy to get to.
WATCHING SUNSETS
It doesn’t really matter where you are on the island, if you can find a nice quiet view of the caldera then sit back and enjoy the show. After all this is why most of us go to Santorini for the famed sunsets.
