Santorini Tips
Akrotiri Excavations
Akrotiri excavations is a part of an old, important minoan city that got covered by the ashes of the vulcanic eruption in 1645 BC. A part of this historical settlement is now excavated and open for visitors. With the well protected area it is possible for us to walk through the old shopping street and between the 2 level houses. It is easy to get facinated and inspired by the developed and modern way of living at this early period of civiliation. When you have been to Akrotiri excavations you will most probably also like a visit to the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira where several things from the excavations are stored for protection.
Tips / Good to know
At the museum they have many signs with explanations about the excavations. For you to get the best experience, it is recommended to buy a roundtrip with a localguide to get the whole explanation.
Area
Akrotiri
Type
History & Culture
Ammoudi port
Visit the port of Oia! Along the small port you will find several colorful fishing boats. Some of the fishing boats are owned by the fish tavernas and they offer fresh fish every day in their menu. On the small footpath of the port you see the tavernas grilling the fresh fishes and you can eat at a table just 10 cm from the blue, mediterranean sea. You find the port below Oia village. You can go here either by the normal road with transportation or by walking down the red cliffside by the staircases from the village.
Area
Oia
Type
Nature & Food
Ancient Thira
The mountain Mesa Vuono separates the two beach villages, Perissa and Kamari. On the top of the mountain you can visit the ruins of one of the first settlements on the island that was inhabitable for more than thousand years. During exploration you get to know the ancient every-day life and culture together with a very nice view to the Aegean Sea.
Tips / Good to know
Combine your visit with a walk over the mountain via the road to/from Kamari and footpath to/from Perissa!
Area
Kamari & Perissa
Type
History & Hiking
Atlantis Bookstore
In the narrow mainstreet of Oia, that leads you from the square to the sunset, you find this cozy, decorated bookstore. Even though it is a small store it has a lot of books in shelves from the floor to the roof and the owners have created a unique atmosphere. Either if you love books or not, you will have a nice and different experience than all the rest of things you find in Oia.
Area
Oia
Type
Shopping
Bell tower
Park the car at the parking in the beginning of the village of Megalochori and walk down the narrow main road. This main road used to be a river that went through the village. You find many traditional buildings during your walk and half way through you will pass by this beautiful bell tower of virgin Mary church as well.
Tips / Good to know
People are driving car through the main road of the village but is not recommended since the road is very narrow.
Area
Megalochori
Type
Culture & Picture
Boat Kamari - Perissa
Small fishing boats are travelling between Kamari and Perissa during daytime. It is a 20 minuts enjoyable boattrip with a nice mountain view and it gives you a great possibility to visit the neighbour village.
Tips / Good to know
Many people enjoy to combine a hike over the mountain Mesa Vuono and use the boat connection for the return.
Area
Kamari & Perissa
Type
Transportation
Caldera
You definitely have to move around the island during your holiday in order to complete your experience on the island. In east you find the coastline. In west you find the Caldera. The Caldera was created 1645 BC. Before this time Santorini was known by the name "Strongili". The shape of Strongili was round. The colossal vulcanic eruption exploded 1645 BC and a big part of this island sank under the sea. The crater (known as "Caldera") was created with a multicolored, steep cliffside. The view of the Caldera is just breathtaking!
Area
Akrotiri, Megalochori, Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli & Oia
Type
History & Nature
Donkey brewery
At the main road of Mesa Gonia, just a few minuts drive from Kamari, you find this small brewery. They produce 3 kinds of beer; Yellow donkey, red donkey and crazy donkey. The yellow donkey is the most light and easy-going beer. Look a bit around in the bewery and try all 3 types in order to find your favorite one.
Tips / Good to know
Buy the beers directly at the store. It is cheaper and there are not so many places on the island where they sell them.
Area
Mesa Gonia
Type
Beverage
Faros lighthouse
When you reach the lighthouse, you will find yourself at the most southern point of the island. Here there are plenty of cliffs in many different colors depending on the contents of minerals. Especially the black, green, red and white colors are changing the cliffs to magnificant sceneries along the southern part of the island. Park the car and make a small walk down the rocks in front of the lighthouse.
Tips / Good to know
Enjoy the sunset from Faros instead of the busy streets in Fira and Oia!
Area
Akrotiri
Type
Nature
Footpath Fira - Oia
This hike is highly recommended for all people in a good athletic condition. The footpath is a bit more than 10 km and you are almost all the time walking directly on the cliff side. On the way you will pass through the villages Firostefani and Imerovigli. Otherwise you will find yourself walking several kilometers through magnificant nature and breathtaking views. You have to follow the footpath route number 9.
Tips / Good to know
If you don’t want to walk all the way, you can choose just some part of the footpath. Half way at the most narrow spot of the island you can buy a refreshing orange juice.
Area
Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli & Oia
Type
Hiking
Hot springs
The hot springs are located between Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni in the middle of the Caldera. The color of the water is dark blue-green, while the rocks around the hot springs are red and copper-yellow. The boats usually stop around 100 meters away from the spot where the springs gush since it is too shallow and you have to swim the last part to reach it. The stop at the hot springs is included in most of the Caldera excursions.
Area
Caldera
Type
History & Nature
Nea Kameni volcano
This island is created during the last 2000 years by repeated eruptions of lava and ashes. The last eruptions happened in 1953. Nea Kameni has many active sulfur vents and is therefore monitored closely by scientists. Feel the heat and smell the sulfur when you walk around the active vulcanic area. At the top of the island you get the full panorama view of the Caldera as well.
Tips / Good to know
It is recommended to go on a boattrip and watch the steep cliffs from the seaside in order to fully understand the power of the eruption in 1645 BC. It is truely amazing what the nature created.
Area
Caldera
Type
History, Hiking & Nature
Nightlife
"In Fira there are plenty of places to go during nighttime. You can find different types of bars. Party bars, cocktail bars and more romantic bars with the sunset view. You also find international and greek nightclubs in the capital. Since Fira is not that big it is nice to make a walk around and find your own favorite place. In Perivolos you can also find different beach bars that are mostly busy during the afternoons with loud popular music or DJ. "
Area
Fira & Perissa/Perivolos
Type
Evening activity
Openair cinema
Spend one summernight watching a movie under the stars! The place has a great atmosphere and even if the movie is not your favorite you will still have an enjoyable evening. At the bar you can buy popcorn, cocktails, beers ect. They show one movie per night and the program is announced on their website.
Tips / Good to know
It is a good idea to be there early to be sure you get a seat. Several times they have to close the door before movie time because it is full.
Area
Kamari
Type
Evening activity
Panagia Episkopi
Panagia Episkopi was built in 1115 and is the oldest church in Santorini. The church has survived several invasions, a fire in 1915 and the big earthquake in 1956. Any damages incurred during the years were quickly repaired. Many of the icons of the church have been stolen but it has still one of the most important icons of virgin Mary. The church has beautiful decorations and it is an important Byzantine monument.
Area
Mesa Gonia
Type
History & Culture
Agios Ioannis Apokefalisthis church
In Santorini you find plenty of white and blue churches. Several of them are located along the cliff side with amazing view but you need to know where to find the hidden spots. This church is located at Skaros in Imerovigli. Find the walk to the ruins of Skaros and follow the small footpath around the hill. At the other side of Skaros you find this beautiful church overlooking the Caldera and the Aegean sea.
Area
Imerovigli
Type
Culture, Hiking & Picture
Agios Spiridon & Agios Anastasi church
Have you seen this postcard picture before? This is one of the most photographered places on the island and most probably you want exactly the same picture yourself. You find this beautiful church picture with 2 blue domes and one small, pink clock tower in Oia. When you are standing at the main square with the main church at your back, you have to walk to the right side towards the sunset. After some meters you turn left just before the clothes shop "Aeriko". In this small road you will find "Bubble suite" on your left hand side. You will now find the "picture spot" when you pass by the hotel and look to the left.
Area
Oia
Type
Culture & Picture
Agios Nikolaos church
In Santorini you find plenty of white and blue churches. Several of them are located along the cliff side with amazing view but you need to know where to find the hidden spots. This church is located close to the main road passing by Megalochori from Fira to the southern part of the island. From the main road you have to turn right where you find the sign "Artemis suites". You go some meters down the road and stop somewhere close by. From here you walk down the footpath to the small white post. You continue down the footpath and you will first pass by "the heart" you find in the ashes of the vulcanic eruption in 1645 BC. Further down you find the beautiful small church overlooking the Aegean sea.
Area
Megalochori
Type
Culture & Picture
Profitis Ilias
Profitis Ilias is the highest mountain of Santorini, almost 600 metres above sea level. The narrow and steap road to the top of the mountain is an experience by itself. At the top of the mountain there is a monastary that is still in use. 7 monks live in the monastary and they have a garden with a small shop where they sell their selfmade products like oliveoil, marmelade and wine. From this mountain you have an amazing view of the whole island.
Area
Profitis Ilias
Type
Culture & Nature
Skaros
Outside of Imerovigli you find Skaros. Today Skaros is a rock, a ruin of an old settlement that was inhabited in medieval times. At that time the fortress was constructed at the rock in order to make protection from pirates. A whole settlement of 200 houses was built around the cliff side. Many earthquakes in the area have damaged Skaros over the time and people started to get afraid of living there. Because of the danger they decided to evacuate to other parts of the island. Around 1800 all the people had left and today it is totally uninhabited with the exception of a small church. You can make a nice small walk around but you will only find a few ruins left.
Area
Imerovigli
Type
History & Hiking
Thirassia
Thirassia is the sister island of Santorini, and it is a very nice idea to explore the island as well during a stay in Santorini. Since the island is small you can make a nice hike around. Manolas village is the biggest village on the island with its own atmosphere. There are several beautiful churches on the island. A good hike is from Manolas village to the southern part and visit the old monastary Moni Kimisi Theotokou. A stop at Thirassia is included in some of the Caldera excursions. Otherwise there is a smaller boat connecting Oia and the two ports of Thirassia.
Area
Caldera
Type
Culture & Hiking
Vlychada
Vlychada is a small port at the southern part of the island. Many fishermen have their boats here and you find them often around the port. Also many luxury catamarans are here. There is a beach next to the port with a beautiful scenery. Make a walk on the beach next to the high rocks made of vulcanic ashes. If you would like to eat fresh fish you can combine your visit with lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants in Vlychada.
Area
Vlychada
Type
Culture, Food & Nature
Weddings
Santorini is a beautiful and romantic island and therefore ideal for wedding and honeymoon. It is possible to organize almost everything and dreams can become true. If you are a normal tourist on the island it is very normal to meet couples with a photographer making beautiful wedding pictures.
Area
Santorini
Type
Weddings
Winery
Grape fields are covering bigger parts of Santorini and therefore they have produced wine on the island for many years. In spring the fields are beautiful, light green and in august it is time for harvest. Assyrtiko is the most normal grape sort in Santorini. This grape is also used when they produce the local dessertwine Vinsanto. You can find more than 10 wineries on the island. The most commercial winery with the most beautiful view of Caldera is "Santo Wines". If you want to watch the sunset during a wine tasting it is a good idea to preorder a table. If you want a more traditional, local atmosphere you can visit "Gavalas" winery close to the main square in Megalochori.
Area
Megalochori
Type
Beverage
