Sensational Santorini, Greece

Santorini, Greece is an island located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 120 miles southeast of the Greece mainland. It is about 28 square miles and packed with beautiful landscape, which includes lava-layered cliffs with towns built right in. The beautiful sunsets alone make the trip worth every penny! Santorini is essentially the result of a gigantic volcanic eruption, which caused a separation of modern day Santorini from mainland Greece and also leading to the creation of the current geological caldera. While there are countless things to do in Santorini, I am going to highlight a couple that should be considered “Must See’s” when planning your trip.

HOT SPRINGS: Located at Palia Kameni, is one of the two volcanic islands in the middle of Santorini Caldera. The water temperature is around 90 degrees Fahrenheit and contains sulfur (which is good for the skin). You will have to swim from your boat into the into what looks like a muddy bay.

AKROTIRI: This is a very important archaeological site with well preserved findings due to a volcanic eruption that covered the town and inadvertently protected the buildings and their contents. As such, it has been called the prehistoric Pompeii of the Aegean and considered one of the most prehistoric settlements found in the Eastern Mediterranean. There you will see the elaborate drainage system, multi-storied buildings with breath-taking wall-paintings, furniture and vessels. There are also imported objects from other locals like Syria, Egypt, Cyprus and mainland Greece.

COACH TOURS: These are one of the best ways to experience Santorini. There are several options including the full day bus tour where you will take a guided tour of the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira then on to wine tasting in Profitis Ilias and then onto a swim and lunch in Perissa. A traditional bus tour includes a visit to Profitis Ilias, Pyrgos village, Panagia Episkopi, wine tasting, and an opportunity to enjoy the famous Oia sunset. One of the tours I want to highlight is the Caldera trip, which includes a stop at what is considered some of the most popular and important sites of Santorini. Your day starts at the Old Port of Fira where you will view the active crater of Nea Kameni. You then go for a swim at the hot waters of Palea Kameni. Next you will go to Thirassia where you can have lunch at one of the traditional fish taverns, swim and visit the picturesque village of Manolas. The final stop is in Oia where you can stay and take in the breathtaking sunset (and then take a bus back to your hotel) or travel by ship back to the port of Fira.

GIALOS: Port located in Fira and sits about 900 feet below the town and under the caldera. To get there, you will take a donkey or mule down the winding steps (around 600 total steps). The other option is by cable car which can transport up to 1,200 people per hour.

PROFITIS ILIAS: Located between Pyrgos and Kamari and is the highest point of the island. It is named after the monastery sitting atop its peak. There you will take in a 360 degree view of the entire island.

BEACHES: The beaches of Santorini are absolutely gorgeous and diverse. Depending on where you are, you can walk on black, white or red sand, check out amazing land formations and partake in some fantastic water sports. The beaches of Perissa and Perivolos form the longest black-sanded beach on the island. These locals also have a variety of taverns, restaurants and hotels. The beach of Vlychada is amazing and has a “moonscape” landscape, The Red beach has unique vertical cliffs and the White beach is quaint and can only be reached by boat.

NIGHTLIFE: Most nightlife is situated in the main tourist areas of Fira, Oia, Perisa and Kamari. Fira has a lot of cafe bars or clubs which are situated along the Caldera. Some of the cafes offer amazing views over the famous Oia sunset. Searching for a lively nightlife in Santorini, Oia must be the quieter place.

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