As your ferry approaches the port of Santorini and you watch the island getting closer and closer, it’s easy to believe that you’re sailing into the view of one of Alfred Sislay’s idyllic paintings.
On the southernmost border of the Aegean archipelago, Santorini is not only considered to be one of the most beautiful islands of Greece, but one of the most stunning in the world.
Once you set foot on the island, Santorini will take you on a trip into its past: it’s here you’ll come face to face with the ancient Minoan civilization and the magnificent frescoes it left behind, the grand and fearsome eruption of its volcano and the huge caldera that’s still marveled at by thousands of tourists each year, and of course, its beautiful re-birth as one of the most picturesque places of this Earth.
These are the four top places to visit while you’re there.
Four Places Worth Visiting in Santorini
The Volcano
First on the list for its wild, natural beauty, the volcano of Thera erupted some 3,600 years ago, completely destroying one of the most prominent ancient civilizations of Greece.
Today, the caldera is rich with volcanic rocks, while the small islets that formed from the volcanic eruptions (namely Nea Kameni and Aghios Nikolaos) are a popular tourist attraction chiefly due to their hot springs and their therapeutic nature.
If you’re in the mood for a bit of extravagance you can always rent a yacht and enjoy the view of the volcano while BBQing next to it!
Photo CC Pedro Szekely
Oia
Only 40 minutes away from Santorini’s capital, Oia is famous for its breath-taking view of the sunset, making the trip worthwhile for thousands of tourists each year.
But the brilliant, fiery sunset is only one of the many reasons you should visit Oia while on the island. Don’t miss out on walking the 214 steps that separate Oia from Ammoudi where you can enjoy the freshest fish.
During this small trip, you’ll have the chance to stroll through this multi-layered and densely built settlement of cave-like houses, bright white churches with blue domes and imposing, traditional houses that once belonged to seamen.
Though one of the less commercial places of Santorini, you can find several first-rate restaurants and café-bars as well as a few boutiques.
Watch the sunset from the hilltop of Oia’s castle which, once upon a time, was built to protect the islanders from pirates!
Photo CC by Nikola Totuhov
Fira
Offering the best view of the caldera, Fira, the capital of Santorini, is truly the heart of the island.
Filled with small businesses of all kinds, in Fira, you’ll have the opportunity to do anything: eat, shop, dance, scuba-dive, or ride a donkey to Firostefani which, as its name suggests, ‘crowns’ Fira.
For a more aerial view of the island you can hop on the teleferic (or cable railway) that will take you to Palio Limani and back. Visit Mpoudi and discover the greatest events of Santorini.
Akrotiri
First inhabited some 6,500 years ago and excavated during the ‘70s, Akrotiri is perhaps the greatest archaeological discovery of Eastern Europe. A picturesque village today, Akrotiri is only 10km away from Fira and closest to one of the most amazing beaches of the Aegean, called the Red Beach.
Perched over this wild beauty, the Apanemo Hotel and the incredible view beyond its infinity pool is sure to offer you comfort and luxury as well as a long list of amenities for a very affordable price.
When you’re ready to leave the coziness of Apanemo, you can venture to Akrotiri for hiking, trail-running and mountain-biking. Make sure to visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri which is open to the public from April 1st to October 31st!
Photo credit: The Apanemo Hotel
Why Visit Santorini
The list of places worth visiting in Santorini is long and difficult to choose from, with villages like Emporeio and Pyrgos being live tokens of Greek islandish tradition. The island brims with the flavors of Greek gastronomy as well as the Greek spirit: hospitable, heart-warming and all-embracing.
Considered a utopia since ancient times and rumored to have inspired in Plato the legend of Atlantis, Santorini still feels like a utopia today. So if by chance it’s still missing from your bucket list go ahead and make it a top destination!
More than an earthly paradise to visit, Santorini is an experience that will envelope you in its company from the very start.
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14 Comments
I think I would like to see the volcano, I have never seen one up close, before.
Ooh, those volcanic therapeutic hot-springs sure do sound enticing, as does hiring a yacht for some caldera spotting! I would love to see the archeological finds at Akrotiri – it is a passion of mine to view these items / sites because it’s like a perfectly preserved snapshot of life. Those blue domes in Oia definitely sum up how I envision Santorini to be – can’t wait to visit!
Santorini is the stuff of my dreams. I’ve heard of the sunsets and seen the pictures of white washed buildings but how wonderful to read about the other villages and archaeological discoveries. One day I’ll return to Greece with my partner in tow, and hopefully avoid some of the crowds while wandering the island. Bookmarking for that itinerary!
A place that truly lives up to expectations, and probably exceeds them !
I agree that sailing on the Caldera is a fantastic activity and preferable for sunset so you can avoid the crowds jostling for the best vantage spots in Oia.
Santorini has to be most beautiful city in Greece. So pristine. I was there about 8 years ago and I definitely need to do return trip and visit the volcano. I had no idea of the volcano Thera.
I didn’t realise there were so many places on the island of Santorini. Having never visited Europe, let alone Greece, I think I had it in my head that Santorini was a small town, rather than an entire island. I like the sound of Akrotiri the most. How is tourism in Santorini? Is it as crowded as I imagine, or only in high season?
This is why I thought about a trip to Greece. Now, to stop thinking and start doing…
Santorini is one of our favorite Greek islands, and we’ve visited twice. Actually I first heard of Santorini in my class about Prehistoric Aegean, and was so glad that I got to visit Akrotiri years later. Back in 2010, we swore to ourselves that we would celebrate our wedding in Santorini once the law for same-sex marriage would pass. But since we didn’t get to turn that dream into reality, we celebrated our 2 years wedding anniversary there last summer instead. It was way more crowded and touristy than 7 years ago, but it is still a paradise! The sunsets are just breathtaking and despite the crowd we loved strolling through the little cobbled streets of Oia! Thank you for this lovely post, you’re taking us back to our sweet memories! :)
Santorini looks so beautiful, it has been on my bucketlist for a while. I didn’t realise there was a huge volcano there, I’d love to rent a yacht there and have a BBQ with a view! I’ve heard Oia is absolutely stunning but I’m not sure I could handle all the crowds of tourists for sunset there!
Great suggestions!! We absolutely loved Santorini and had so much fun at all of these stops. Oia is such a beautiful town and the history at Akrotiri is fascinating. We really enjoyed hiking the volcano too—it’s crazy that it erupted 3,600 years ago! The the Apanemo Hotel sounds like a really great place to stay—will have to look into that next time we are on the island!
These are some really beautiful and great options for Santorini. Many are spots I’ve never heard of – I haven’t been before, but I’d love to make a trip there this year. I had no idea that there’s a volcano there! That’s way cool and would top my list. Plus, if it’s amazing enough to inspire Plato, I’m sure it’ll inspire me as well! ;)
that white landscape always amazing…
What a beautiful place this is … very beautiful. Seeing these photos gave me strong desire to make a pass through this region. Beautiful buildings and this view of the sea is breathtaking :)
Totally agree with this list! I unfortunately didn’t make it out to the volcano, but I’ve heard great things. Akrotiri is super unique and more low-key than the other areas, which is great!